The Clear Sky Sect publicly declared its seclusion from worldly affairs.
Yet secretly, Tang Cheng operated outside, and Tang Yuehua remained in Heaven Dou City.
Were there others?
After all, over a decade later, the Clear Sky Sect suddenly gained five additional Titled Douluo.
Many strong talents also emerged among the younger generation.
Where did their resources come from?
Had none of their Spirit Ring absorptions ever been discovered?
Dugu Feng felt it necessary to investigate.
With the Azure Phosphorus Scarlet Venom, no matter how strong a person's willpower was, he could break them.
Dugu Feng was confident.
Moments later, as his venom took deeper effect, the knife-wielding man's mind fell into confusion.
He answered every one of Dugu Feng's questions without reservation.
"Tang Hao killed the previous Pope with his hammer. The sect master judged that unless the Spirit Hall was given an explanation, the Clear Sky Sect would be annihilated.
The only way to quell the Spirit Hall's fury was through his own death.
Hah! But did you really think our sect master died?
He was a Titled Douluo, still in his prime—how could he die from rage? The one who died was merely a clansman who resembled him!
From that moment, the sect master devised a plan to endure hardships in secret while biding his time.
Once the sect's elders reached Titled Douluo and the sect master further broke through in strength—what could the Spirit Hall do then? What could they do?!"
The completely deranged man rambled endlessly about the past's secrets.
When he finished, Dugu Feng drove his sword through the man's heart, ending his life.
"Truly shocking news!"
Dugu Feng's expression darkened.
Tang Hao's father wasn't dead?
According to this man, Tang Bo—the old sect master of the Clear Sky Sect and father of Tang Hao and Tang Xiao—had not, as rumored, disapproved of Tang Hao's actions.
On the contrary, he supported Tang Hao's deeds, even applauding when Tang Hao killed Qian Xunji.
But Tang Bo feared the Spirit Hall's power, knowing the Clear Sky Sect couldn't oppose them at the time.
The main reason was Tang Chen's absence.
Thus, to preserve the sect, he had to appease Qiandao Liu's wrath.
Hence, the staged death—while secretly searching for Tang Chen.
Tang Cheng had been sent to Slaughter City for this very purpose.
Dugu Feng doubted his words, but the man had answered under complete mental collapse.
He couldn't have lied.
Yet, as someone familiar with the original events, Dugu Feng knew Tang Bo had never appeared.
Not during Tang Hao's decline, nor when Tang San faced danger, nor in the later war for the continent's unification.
Had he been killed midway?
Tang Bo's death was indeed highly suspicious. According to Old Snake's recollections, Tang Bo had been a domineering figure, much like Tang Hao.
But after news of Tang Hao's actions spread, the sect announced Tang Bo had fallen gravely ill from rage.
Later, even the Spirit Hall saw his corpse.
Naturally, no one questioned it.
But upon reflection—a Titled Douluo, not even seventy at the time, still in his prime—how could he suddenly die of illness?
Abruptly, Dugu Feng realized: regardless of the truth, this was a real world. How much of the original plot could truly encompass everything?
One must never rely solely on the plot known from memory.
In the future, actions must be based on the family's intelligence and one's own strength.
Dugu Feng felt a sense of vigilance—he couldn't overly depend on the knowledge in his mind.
He turned and walked toward the street.
Just as he stepped out the door, he felt something sticky beneath his feet.
Looking down, Dugu Feng saw the ground covered in blood.
The stench of blood assaulted his nostrils.
"Poison Demon King!"
"Poison Demon King!"
Suddenly, hoarse shouts erupted around him.
A murderous aura surged into the sky, waves of cold, bloody energy spreading through the surroundings.
On the street, all the standing Soul Masters instinctively cleared a path, chanting Dugu Feng's name.
Today's events would undoubtedly be recorded in the annals of Slaughter City.
In Slaughter City, these people could lose their lives at any moment.
Insignificant as ants, far weaker than Tang Cheng, yet together, they had accomplished something truly exhilarating.
Dugu Feng slowly advanced, reaching the center.
The first thing he saw was Tang Cheng, reduced to a pulpy mess.
If not for recognizing the traces of spiritual poison, he wouldn't have been able to identify this as Tang Cheng.
Tang Cheng had been utterly shattered.
Confirming Tang Cheng's death, Dugu Feng felt immense satisfaction.
He lifted his gaze to the right, where a towering figure stood at the mouth of an alley.
This man stood over two meters tall, his body covered in thick black hair.
Broad-shouldered and barrel-chested, he hardly seemed human.
When Dugu Feng looked over, all the Soul Masters followed his gaze.
It was Xiong Ba!
Another powerhouse of Slaughter City.
Meeting Dugu Feng's eyes, Xiong Ba swallowed hard and hastily took a step back.
He wouldn't have dared claim superiority over Tang Cheng's strength, yet here Tang Cheng lay dead.
The surrounding Soul Masters looked at him without a shred of fear.
Instead, they seemed eager, itching to charge at him.
Xiong Ba's eyes flickered, then suddenly lit up as he bellowed, "Great King of Slaughter, I wish to join Slaughter City!
I wish to join Slaughter City!
I wish to join Slaughter City!"
After his declaration, Xiong Ba exhaled deeply and looked at Dugu Feng with defiance.
Now that I've joined Slaughter City, surely you won't kill me?
Dugu Feng was stunned. Who would have thought this burly Xiong Ba had a bit of cleverness in him at the critical moment?
"Poison Demon King!"
"Poison Demon King!"
All the Soul Masters were in a frenzy, overwhelmed by Dugu Feng's dominance.
A single glance had forced Xiong Ba to withdraw from Hell Slaughter Arena and join Slaughter City.
Xiong Ba sighed inwardly—they were all mad, completely mad.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't fathom how Dugu Feng had rallied these people.
Why were they willing to follow him?
But it no longer concerned him. Now that he had joined Slaughter City, he was safe.
He turned his gaze toward the right side of the street.
The sound of footsteps echoed.
This time, they were orderly.
Rows of black-armored knights formed ranks around them, dousing the crowd's fervor like cold water.
These were the King of Slaughter's men.
"Poison Demon King, the King of Slaughter summons you!"
A woman wearing a dark red veil stepped out from the knights, her cold eyes fixed on Dugu Feng.
The King of Slaughter had just ordered the Poison Demon King and Tang Cheng to meet, yet the Poison Demon King had orchestrated this spectacle in Slaughter City.
It was as if he held no regard for the King of Slaughter.
He had killed one of Slaughter City's two strongest and forced the other to abandon Hell Slaughter Arena.
What a Poison Demon King—everyone had underestimated him.
The black-armored knights surrounding them rode on majestic warhorses, their weapons gleaming with the light of Soul Tear, their imposing aura awe-inspiring.
It brought the entire street to silence.
"Blood flows for miles, corpses pile like mountains, heroes shed no tears—only kill! You are all heroes!"
Dugu Feng shouted loudly, cupping his fist in salute to those around him.
Only then did he step before the woman in red gauze. "Lead the way!"
At Dugu Feng's words, the clamor rose once more.
This scene today was destined to be etched in everyone's memory.
(End of Chapter)