"What… what did you just say?"
Bibi Dong thought she must have misheard something and asked in a daze, her voice trembling.
"Are you saying… the sect you encountered was the Clear Sky Sect? One of the Upper Three Clans that declared themselves closed off from the world?"
Qian Daoliu was equally shaken as he spoke, needing to confirm that he hadn't misunderstood.
"The very same. The so-called number one sect under heaven, the Clear Sky Sect."
This time, Dugu Bo stepped forward, stroking his beard as he confirmed the claim.
Even though he'd had past conflicts with the Spirit Hall, it was obvious he was standing on their side this time.
Truthfully, his personal grudge with the Spirit Hall wasn't anything major—and with Aether present, it was unlikely they'd come after him again.
Besides, he had personally witnessed this entire event unfold, so he might as well recount the whole story to clarify why they ended up at the gates of the secluded Clear Sky Sect.
Once Dugu Bo finished his detailed account, both Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong felt like they were dreaming.
Good heavens.
Even the exact location of the Clear Sky Sect remained unknown to the Spirit Hall, and yet the cat had just wandered in and smacked right into their front gates?
And that wasn't all. When they heard that there were at least ten Titled Douluo in the Clear Sky Sect, Qian Daoliu was completely dumbfounded.
The Spirit Hall had spent years lying low and accumulating power. Even so, they had only around a dozen Titled Douluo, hidden aces rarely seen in the outside world.
But the Clear Sky Sect—just one of the Upper Three Clans—possessed that same level of top-tier combat strength?
If it hadn't been for this treasure-hunting accident, and they had clashed with the sect head-on later down the line…
It was really hard to say who would come out on top.
"Your Excellency Dugu, you mentioned there were several black-robed individuals?"
Bibi Dong caught an important detail from Dugu Bo's recounting. The black-robed figures—could they be the same group she had encountered?
"Yes. I fought two of them. Both had spirit power levels that reached the rank of Titled Douluo."
Dugu Bo nodded seriously.
"There were seven black-robed figures in total. Though the last five were all obliterated in a single strike by Lord Xiao, all of them revealed nine spirit rings."
"Seven black-robed Titled Douluo… That confirms it."
Combining what she knew with Aether's suspicions, Bibi Dong was now certain of the black-robed group's identity.
"They didn't seem to be from the Clear Sky Sect," Dugu Bo added, noting the confusion. "Their martial spirits weren't the Clear Sky Hammer. Do you know where they're from, Your Holiness?"
"They're from Seagod Island, beyond the continent," Bibi Dong affirmed, glancing at Aether.
"Seagod Island?"
Qian Daoliu, who had remained silent until now, visibly jolted when he heard the name, blurting it out instinctively as if something deep inside him had been stirred.
"Oh? Great Worship, do you have some insights to share?"
Bibi Dong noticed Qian Daoliu's urgency. The name "Seagod Island" clearly held special meaning for him.
"Ah, no… nothing,"
Qian Daoliu quickly composed himself, though a twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed his unease.
Hearing Seagod Island mentioned again, and knowing that the black-robed experts from the island had been effortlessly annihilated by the Conqueror of Demons…
He couldn't help but ask, despite himself:
"Your Excellency Dugu, among those black-robed individuals—was there anyone… unique?"
"Unique?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow.
"What exactly do you mean by unique?"
Not only was Dugu Bo puzzled, but the others present who had encountered the same group also looked toward Qian Daoliu with curiosity.
Aside from being strong, none of the black-robed people had left any deep impression on them.
"…I mean, uh, someone distinctive—like, their personality, appearance, or, well… gender?"
Faced with so many stares, Qian Daoliu suddenly found it difficult to articulate—especially under Bibi Dong's gaze.
"…No, not that I noticed. Maybe I wasn't paying close enough attention."
Dugu Bo shook his head. What the hell is this old codger really trying to ask? Why not just say it outright?
"Wait, wait! One of the black-robed people was killed by Zhuqing—is that considered unique?"
Suddenly, Dugu Yan chimed in, her hands excitedly pushing Zhu Zhuqing forward.
"..."
"..."
"Zhuqing killed a Titled Douluo?"
The others stared blankly at the girl, until Aether finally broke the stunned silence.
Zhu Zhuqing, blushing slightly, met Aether's gaze and nodded softly.
"Th-that was only thanks to the divine weapon Your Excellency gave me…"
As soon as she admitted it, the entire room collectively drew a sharp breath.
Especially Bibi Dong—her gaze toward Zhu Zhuqing now resembled that of a ravenous wolf eyeing a plump little lamb.
Such a monstrous genius… why isn't she part of the Spirit Hall?!
But just as the thought emerged, Bibi Dong crushed it immediately.
This little girl belongs to His Excellency. I absolutely mustn't even think about it.
"Young lady, did any of those black-robed people appear to be female?"
Even though Qian Daoliu was shocked, there was something more important he needed to confirm.
"Hm?"
Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head in confusion before answering after a moment's thought:
"I don't think so… I didn't hear any voices that sounded female."
The two black-robed opponents she had faced may have been fully covered, but judging by their voices, they had not been women.
Though later, after killing one of them, she passed out from exhaustion—so she couldn't speak for the rest.
"Thank you…"
Qian Daoliu let out a quiet sigh of relief. He still couldn't be completely certain, but at least the rock weighing on his heart had lightened a little.
As long as none of those black-robed figures were women, then she probably wasn't among them.
The she in his heart referred to a woman he had loved long ago: Bo Saixi.
Though the feelings had been one-sided—he was the flower, she the unyielding stream—his love for her had never changed, even after all these years.
Now, upon hearing unexpected news about Seagod Island, he couldn't help but worry for her safety.
"My lord, from what I know, Seagod Island has no connection with the continent. Why would they be involved with the Clear Sky Sect?"
Dugu Bo voiced the question everyone was thinking. Since Bibi Dong identified the black-robed group as Seagod Island's envoys, he couldn't understand what business they had with the Clear Sky Clan.
In his eyes, Aether knew everything and more.
"The one trying to save Tang San is a god named Asura. From what I know… his relationship with the Sea God isn't simple."
Aether didn't give a direct answer, but offered the reasoning behind his inference.
Why would the Seagod's envoys appear at the Clear Sky Sect? Most likely, it was due to some agreement between the Asura God and the Sea God.
_
(CAUGHT UP WITH THE RAWS IN MY PATREON)
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