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Jin E Douluo led Qing Luan Douluo, Xiong Shi Douluo, and Guang Ling Douluo to the Hao Tian Sect. Additionally, several elders from the Elder Hall accompanied them.
(T/N: These are the Worships from Spirit Hall, more specifically the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th worships.)
Moreover, the Spirit Hall had secretly stationed dozens of Soul Douluo and Soul Sage-level experts around the Hao Tian Sect to ensure that no disciple of the sect could escape.
Jiang Mo Douluo and Qian Jun Douluo, along with Porcupinefish and Snake Spear Douluo, were sent to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family.
(T/N: Qian Jun and Jiang Mo are the 6th and 7th worships)
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family had Yu Luomian as an insider, so they planned to launch a full-scale assault on the mountain stronghold.
Leading the charge would be disciples from the Elephant Armor Sect.
Jin E Douluo couldn't help but sneer. "The Hao Tian Sect relies solely on a few cableways to connect with the outside world. While it's extremely difficult for a large force to invade, it's equally hard for them to escape."
"Guang Ling, you stay hidden in the shadows and shoot down anyone attempting to flee through the air!"
Guang Ling Douluo possessed a bow-and-arrow martial soul and was an immensely powerful expert at Level 97. From a sufficient distance, even super Douluo of the same level would find it nearly impossible to evade his shots.
Pausing briefly, Jin E Douluo added, "Young Master, all the strong individuals around you have been dispatched. You must take extra care tonight—best not to leave the premises."
"Don't worry, Grandfather Jin E. I know what to do."
With confirmation that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect wouldn't be targeted, Xue Qinghe finally felt at ease.
---
Inside the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect
Ning Fengzhi hadn't slept all night, his heart filled with unease.
Not long ago, he had recalled Ke Jie to the sect to safeguard its security.
"Fengzhi, what exactly are you worried about? Old Sword and I have thoroughly searched the areas surrounding the sect and found no signs of intrusion—not even any strangers," Gu Rong asked, puzzled.
Ning Fengzhi replied gravely, "I don't know why, but I can't shake the feeling that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will be attacked tonight."
Ke Jie responded, "Before returning to the sect, I specifically inspected the area outside the gates and found nothing suspicious. If you're still uneasy, why not call the elder from the Snow Mountain Sect stationed in Tiandou City to strengthen our defenses?"
The Snow Mountain Sect and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect were strategic partners. The elder from the Snow Mountain Sect was stationed in Tiandou City to collaborate with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect in generating revenue and preparing for their eventual emergence.
If the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect were attacked, they would undoubtedly come to assist.
Taking a deep breath, Ning Fengzhi waved his hand. "No need—it's probably just my overthinking. What about Tianchen and Rongrong? Are they inside the sect?"
Ke Jie replied, "They returned to the sect this afternoon. I heard Tianchen brought back some treasures, and Bao Zhen and Huang Wu's injuries seem to have been healed by them."
Ning Tianchen's personal treasures were his to use as he pleased; there was no obligation to report them to the sect.
Ning Fengzhi didn't dwell on the matter and instead instructed, "Uncle Ke, tonight you guard them closely. Remember, no matter what happens, do not let them leave the sect."
Meanwhile, Ning Tianchen and the others had originally planned to meditate separately. However, noticing unusual activity within the sect, they instinctively gathered together.
Oscar said, "I've checked. The sect leader is restless tonight, fearing an attack on the sect, and has arranged for all disciples to take turns keeping watch."
Feng Xiaotian spoke gravely, "It seems my instincts weren't wrong—something major is bound to happen tonight. I must return to my family."
As he prepared to leave, Ning Tianchen pressed down on his arm. "You won't be able to get out."
"The sect is under lockdown—no one is allowed to enter or leave. Don't break the rules. Moreover, your family maintains constant communication with the sect. If anything happens, we'll receive intelligence immediately and send reinforcements."
Anxious, Feng Xiaotian could only compromise. "Fine, I won't leave the sect. I'll wait for news near the entrance."
"We'll all go together. If the sect is attacked, we can respond immediately."
The group quickly made their way to the outer walls of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, keeping a close eye on the area outside the gates.
---
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family Stronghold
The stronghold was surrounded on three sides by a lake, with dense jungle on the far side.
Tonight, a group of nearly 3,000 soul masters appeared in the jungle.
This group used no torches and made no noise, quietly lying in wait.
These were the main forces the Spirit Hall had arranged to invade the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family.
Meanwhile, inside the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family…
Yu Luomian, accompanied by his trusted followers, approached the mountain gate.
The gatekeeper disciple asked, "Vice Sect Leader, where are you going at this late hour?"
Yu Luomian stopped and glared at him. One of his followers angrily cursed, "Blind fool! When does the Vice Sect Leader need to report his actions to you?!"
The disciple was innocent—he was merely following the sect leader's rule that everyone leaving the sect at night must report. "Apologies, Vice Sect Leader. It was just a routine inquiry," the gatekeeper said.
Yu Luomian ignored him and continued toward the gate with his followers.
Once behind the gatekeepers, his followers suddenly sprang into action, subduing the four guards simultaneously.
"Vice Sect Leader, we'll secure this area. Hurry back soon," one follower said.
Yu Luomian nodded firmly.
His deal with the Spirit Hall was finally coming to fruition tonight.
The Spirit Hall had promised to eliminate Yu Yuanzhen and support him in ascending to the position of sect leader. Empress Bibi Dong herself had even vowed to help him achieve the rank of Title Douluo.
In exchange, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family would pledge allegiance to the Spirit Hall and accept their leadership.
To Yu Luomian, this condition was laughable. He could outwardly comply while secretly defying the Spirit Hall—they would have no way to hold him accountable.
Of course, Bibi Dong had no intention of honoring her promise.
Both parties were clear-headed—Bibi Dong was fully aware, while Yu Luomian remained lost in unrealistic fantasies.
Leaving the gate, Yu Luomian boarded a boat to cross the lake, intending to personally welcome the Spirit Hall's experts into the stronghold.
"What took you so long?" Snake Spear Douluo, waiting on the shore, impatiently questioned.
Yu Luomian forced a smile and explained, "My influence within the family is limited. It took time to coordinate my followers. Where are your people? Have they all arrived?"
From this close distance, Yu Luomian could sense a squad of soul masters hiding in the forest behind the other party.
He wasn't sure how many there were. In his estimation, the Spirit Hall wouldn't send too many—perhaps just over two hundred.
After all, this operation was only meant to eliminate Yu Yuanzhen's faction, not attack the entire sect.
"They're all here—we were just waiting for you," Snake Spear Douluo sneered, signaling behind him. Porcupinefish Douluo stepped forward.
"We'll go up first. The others will follow later under your guidance."
Yu Luomian repeatedly assured them.
He led the two Title Douluo toward the mountain gate, unaware that Qian Jun and Jiang Mo Douluo were quietly trailing behind.
If Yu Luomian discovered their full lineup, suspicions would surely arise.
Once the group departed, the 3,000-strong army retrieved small boats from their soul-guiding devices and charged directly toward the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family's stronghold under the leadership of the two Great Elder Guardians.
---
Elsewhere, near the Hao Tian Sect
Jin E Douluo and his team effortlessly eliminated all the Hao Tian Sect disciples stationed outside without making a sound.
The terrain of the Hao Tian Sect ensured that the Spirit Hall's massive army of soul masters would struggle to invade.
Thus, the Spirit Hall had sent numerous Title Douluo-level experts to directly strike at the heart of the Hao Tian Sect.
Standing before the chains linking the Hao Tian Sect's stronghold, Xiong Shi Douluo sneered. "Tang Chen truly picked a fine gravesite for the Hao Tian Sect."
With a wave of his hand, Jin E Douluo signaled several Soul Douluo experts to sever the chains. The remaining forces concealed themselves around the stronghold to prevent anyone from escaping.
Once the outer defenses were arranged, the Title Douluo swiftly flew toward the Hao Tian Sect's stronghold.
---
Inside the Hao Tian Sect's Main Hall
The sound of chains breaking and falling into the valley echoed loudly. Hearing the commotion, Tang Xiao and the five elders quickly gathered.
"That sound just now—it must be the chains outside breaking. Not just one, but multiple," the second elder stated gravely.
The hot-tempered seventh elder cursed, "Sect Leader, let me go check. If I find out who did this, I'll hang them up and beat them senseless."
Tang Xiao was puzzled.
If someone were invading, the Hao Tian Sect disciples would have cut the chains themselves, and sounds of battle should have come from outside the gates.
Yet, everything within the sect was eerily quiet. Even the disciples guarding the mountain had reported no signs of enemy activity.
But if it wasn't an attack, how could multiple chains have broken?
After some thought, Tang Xiao said, "Seventh Elder, go investigate. If there's no attack, repair the chains as soon as possible. The next shipment of supplies from Yuehua is arriving in a few days, and without the chains, we won't be able to leave the sect."
After the seventh elder left, the second elder slowly spoke. "Sect Leader, relying solely on chains to connect us to the outside world is rather impractical. Why not build a plank road?"
"Walking on the chains is dangerous. Several disciples have already fallen into the abyss over the years."
Tang Xiao furrowed his brows.
Building a plank road would require significant effort, and Tang Yue and the others had yet to return. All the sect's covert disciples were busy searching for them—there were no hands available to purchase building materials.
Just then, the voice of the seventh elder rang out from outside the hall. "Enemy attack!"
Without time to think, Tang Xiao and the elders rushed to confront the threat.
Outside, Jin E Douluo and Qing Luan Douluo led the charge.
The seventh elder, with only Level 92 soul power, stood no chance against two powerful super Douluo. He was quickly subdued.
When Tang Xiao and the others arrived, the seventh elder was being held by the throat by Jin E Douluo, his life hanging by a thread.
"Spirit Hall, have you forgotten the original agreement?!" Tang Xiao's eyes were bloodshot with rage. "Release the seventh elder immediately, or we will fight to the death!"
Jin E Douluo sneered, tightening his grip and snapping the seventh elder's neck before casually tossing the body aside.
"I'm surprised," he said mockingly. "I didn't expect that in less than twenty years of seclusion, your sect would have six Title Douluo. Given time, you would surely become a grave threat to the Spirit Hall. But alas, without Tang Chen, and with Tang Hao banished from the sect, today marks the end of the Hao Tian Sect."
"Second Brother, there's no point in wasting words with them."
Xiong Shi Douluo moved like a wolf among sheep, ruthlessly slaughtering the disciples of the Hao Tian Sect.
Several disciples with flight-type soul bones attempted to escape into the air, only to be mercilessly shot down by Guang Ling Douluo, who was stationed high above.
"Four Great Elder Guardians." Tang Xiao's eye twitched slightly.
At his current strength of Level 96, he was still some distance away from breaking through to Level 97. Whether he could defeat Jin E Douluo was uncertain, let alone the other guardians.
"Eight Soul Skill, Blood Boiling Fury." Ling Yuan Douluo in the air scattered fiery feathers across the sky.
The disciples of the Hao Tian Sect needed only to come into contact with a single feather for their bodies to spontaneously combust, burning until every inch of flesh was consumed.
Fear spread rapidly throughout the Hao Tian Sect.
Many disciples rushed toward the chains, only to find they had already been severed. As the flames approached, countless disciples leapt off the cliffs in despair.
"Spirit Hall!"
Tang Xiao roared, summoning his Heaven Hammer martial soul and revealing nine soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—around his feet.
"Sect Leader, we old ones will hold them off. The rest is up to you." The second elder gritted his teeth and stepped forward.
The elders of the Hao Tian Sect, at most Level 94, stood no chance against the Level 97 Qing Luan Douluo and Xiong Shi Douluo, even with numerical superiority.
Jin E Douluo sneered as his Golden Crocodile King martial soul erupted from the ground, illuminating the night sky with golden light.
"I once fought Tang Chen in the past. Let's see what you, the current leader of the Hao Tian Sect, are capable of!"
---
By the late hours of the night, Ning Tianchen and the others stood on the walls of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, having detected no unusual activity.
The entire sect was eerily calm.
Just as everyone began to feel drowsy, vibrations echoed from the ground. Looking out beyond the walls, they saw a sea of firelights in the distance.
"Enemy attack!"
The disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, always on high alert, immediately sounded the alarm for an enemy assault.
"Something's definitely wrong," Feng Xiaotian cracked his neck, preparing to act.
Ning Tianchen, however, was confused.
Xue Qinghe had assured them that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect wouldn't be targeted. So why was this group charging toward them?
If it were an enemy attack, the scale of this operation seemed too large. If it were the Spirit Hall's army of soul masters, they wouldn't make such a blatant move.
"This isn't the enemy."
Ning Tianchen shouted loudly, quickly instructing the guards on the wall not to attack this group.
The disciples weren't sure what he was thinking, but since Ning Fengzhi hadn't issued any orders, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong held the highest command authority on the wall—and Ning Rongrong trusted Ning Tianchen unconditionally.
Upon hearing his command, the disciples lowered their firearms.
As the approaching group drew nearer, a loud voice rang out: "Friends of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the Crown Prince has sent me to provide support!"
For a moment, everyone on the wall was baffled.
They hadn't been attacked—so what kind of support was this?
Ning Tianchen jumped off the wall to meet with this group.
The leading general asked, "Young Master Ning, I am General Rockson, commander of the Third Royal Knight Regiment. Where are the enemies? The Crown Prince sent us to assist."
Ning Tianchen was puzzled but soon understood Xue Qinghe's intentions.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family had been attacked, while the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect remained untouched. This would inevitably raise suspicions that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was behind it.
After all, the strained relationship between the two wasn't exactly a secret.
This detachment of the Royal Knights likely came to prove that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had no movements tonight.
"The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect hasn't been attacked. Who told the Crown Prince that?" Ning Tianchen feigned confusion.
Rockson immediately sensed something was amiss. "Someone sent a secret letter to the Crown Prince's residence claiming the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was under attack. Damn it, we've been deceived—this must be a diversion tactic!"
"Wait." It wasn't Ning Tianchen who spoke, but Ning Fengzhi and Sword and Bone Douluos who had arrived upon hearing the news.
"General Rockson, what exactly happened?"
Rockson bowed his fist. "Sect Leader Ning, I need to return immediately to provide support. The Crown Prince mobilized us, likely falling for a diversion. We must go protect the Crown Prince."
Seeing that Ning Fengzhi still had many questions, Rockson left his deputy to handle the inquiries while he led his troops back into Tiandou City.
"General, has something major happened in the city?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
He believed his unease wasn't unfounded—something significant must have occurred within the city.
The deputy replied, "Sect Leader Ning, our forces were originally stationed outside the city. We were urgently called here because the Crown Prince received a secret report claiming the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was under attack."
Pausing for a moment, he recalled something and added, "Our base is dozens of miles away from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family. When we departed, I noticed multiple fires breaking out on their mountain stronghold."
"I don't know the specifics, but it's highly likely they were attacked."
"Fengzhi, who would dare attack the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family?" Gu Rong asked gravely.
Despite their decline, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family was still one of the top three sects. Who would have the audacity to do this?
Ning Fengzhi's mind was in turmoil.
If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family had been attacked, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect might be next.
He had to prepare for the worst and brace for potential threats.
"Everyone, stay on high alert. Uncle Bone, come with me to see Qinghe. Uncle Sword, you guard the sect. If we're attacked, fire signal flares immediately—we'll return to support you as soon as possible."
Tiandou City was the imperial capital, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family's stronghold wasn't far. He had to enter the palace to discuss city defenses with Emperor Xue Ye.
After a pause, Ning Fengzhi turned to Ning Tianchen. "Tianchen, you and Rongrong assist in the city's defense."
After the two left, Chen Xin patted Ning Tianchen's shoulder. "The hours before dawn are the most dangerous. Stay sharp, and let's hold on until daylight."
---
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night for the various factions around Tiandou City.
Inside the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, when Yu Luomian realized that the Spirit Hall had sent thousands of soldiers into their stronghold, he finally woke up to reality.
The Spirit Hall had never intended to cooperate with him—they had merely used him to completely annihilate the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family.
Unfortunately, by the time he realized this, Yu Yuanzhen had already been severely injured by the combined efforts of Qian Jun and Jiang Mo Douluo and was on his last legs.
Yu Luomian, only a Soul Douluo, was utterly dominated by Snake Spear Douluo when he joined the battle.
As the sect's upper echelons fell one by one, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family was utterly destroyed.
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