The dense, suffocating canopy of the Star Dou Great Forest filtered the harsh midday sun into a mosaic of dappled, emerald light. The air was thick with the scent of decaying foliage, damp earth, and the ever-present, primal musk of lurking danger. Moving through this ancient, untamed wilderness were two figures who presented a striking contrast in both stature and demeanor.
Leading the way was Tang Xiao, the formidable Sect Leader of the Clear Sky Sect. His broad, heavily muscled shoulders easily brushed aside thick vines and thorny undergrowth, his presence radiating an unyielding, oppressive weight that instinctively drove lesser spirit beasts to flee in terror. He walked in complete, stony silence, his dark eyes continuously scanning the shadowy depths of the forest.
Trailing a few paces behind him was Ma Hongjun. The portly youth was currently panting softly, his clothes clinging to his sweaty skin despite the fact that his body was practically an internal furnace. Due to his recent, highly vigorous escapades in a high-end brothel back in Star Luo City, he had successfully vented the dangerous, accumulated lust of his Evil Fire. For the moment, his meridians were calm, free from the maddening urges that usually plagued him. However, his respect and deep-seated fear of the silent Super Douluo walking ahead of him kept his usually boisterous, talkative mouth firmly shut. Tang Xiao was not a man who deigned to engage in idle chatter, and Ma Hongjun was terrified of provoking the senior expert's ire.
They were operating on highly specific, classified intelligence provided directly by the Imperial Family of the Star Luo Empire. The royal scouts had located a creature that perfectly fit the stringent requirements for the fat youth's crucial sixth spirit ring.
"Brace yourself, boy," Tang Xiao's deep, gravelly voice suddenly broke the hours-long silence, not even turning his head to look back. "We are approaching the designated coordinates. Ensure you are ready and in top condition."
"Yes, Senior Tang!" Ma Hongjun replied hastily, straightening his posture and wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead.
They pushed through a final thicket of towering ferns, emerging onto the edge of a scorched, rocky clearing. The vegetation here had been burned away to black ash, the ambient temperature spiking drastically.
Resting atop a jagged spire of blackened rock in the center of the clearing was their target.
It was a Blazing-Crowned Sunbird. The massive avian spirit beast boasted a wingspan of nearly ten meters. Its feathers were a dazzling, blinding array of crimson and vibrant gold, shimmering with a volatile internal heat. A distinct, crown-like crest of pure, concentrated fire burned perpetually atop its head. While it did not possess the true, mythical name of a phoenix, the royal scholars had confirmed that this specific species harbored a very faint, highly diluted trace of ancient flame-bird bloodline, making it an exceptional match for the Evil Fire Phoenix. Judging by the depth of the crimson hue and the sheer, suffocating heat radiating from its form, Tang Xiao accurately assessed its cultivation to be hovering right around the twenty-five-thousand-year mark.
The Sunbird let out a piercing, metallic shriek as it detected the intruders. It unfurled its massive wings, generating a localized wave of searing heat that caused the surrounding air to warp and distort.
Tang Xiao did not waste a single second. He did not summon his spirit avatar, nor did he unleash the full, terrifying might of his ninety-six levels of spirit power. Such overwhelming force would obliterate the beast entirely, ruining the ring.
Instead, he merely raised his right hand. A heavy, suffocating pressure descended upon the clearing as a compact, deep blue Clear Sky Hammer materialized in his grasp.
"Stay back," Tang Xiao commanded curtly.
The Sunbird flapped its wings violently, launching a barrage of dozens of crescent-shaped blades of concentrated fire directly at the towering man. Tang Xiao simply snorted. He stepped forward, swinging the dark hammer in a tight, precise, horizontal arc.
The sheer concussive force generated by the blunt weapon collided with the incoming fire blades. The air cracked loudly, the physical shockwave instantly snuffing out the flames as if blowing out a candle. Tang Xiao used the momentum of his swing to launch himself into the air, closing the distance to the jagged spire in a fraction of a second.
The avian beast shrieked in panic, attempting to take flight, but Tang Xiao was already above it. He brought the hammer down, striking the beast squarely on the back, avoiding the vital organs and the head. The calculated, crushing blow shattered the Sunbird's spine, sending the massive creature crashing down onto the scorched earth with a piteous squawk, completely incapacitated and stripped of its ability to fight.
"Finish it," Tang Xiao instructed, stepping back and allowing his hammer to dissipate.
Ma Hongjun hurried forward, his heart pounding with excitement. He summoned his own martial spirit, the phantom of the Evil Fire Phoenix wrapping around his chubby frame. He manifested a sharp blade of condensed fire in his palm and swiftly ended the beast's suffering.
Almost immediately, a deep, vibrant black spirit ring began to rise from the Sunbird's corpse, hovering in the heated air.
Ma Hongjun sat down cross-legged, drawing the heavy black ring toward his body. The absorption process of a twenty-five-thousand-year ring was no small feat for a newly ascended level sixty Spirit Emperor. For the next two hours, the clearing was silent save for Ma Hongjun's strained, pained grunts. His skin turned a deep, alarming shade of red as the volatile flame energy of the Sunbird clashed and merged with his own mutated bloodline. Tang Xiao stood watch, his arms crossed over his broad chest, silently ensuring that no wandering predators disturbed the youth's critical breakthrough.
Finally, with a loud, triumphant exhale, Ma Hongjun opened his eyes. A powerful surge of searing spirit power washed over the clearing. Six spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and two deep black—pulsed rhythmically around his body. His flames had noticeably changed, shifting from a chaotic, dark red into a much more intense, blindingly bright crimson that carried a terrifyingly high temperature.
"I did it!" Ma Hongjun cheered, jumping to his feet. He felt brimming with an explosive, newfound strength.
"Show me the ability," Tang Xiao ordered, his expression remaining perfectly stoic.
Ma Hongjun nodded eagerly. His newly acquired sixth black spirit ring lit up with a brilliant flare.
"Sixth Spirit Ring Ability: Scorching Cloud Piercing Ray!" Ma Hongjun shouted.
He drew his arms back, concentrating a massive volume of his newly refined Evil Fire. In front of his chest, the flames rapidly condensed, taking the form of a one-meter wingspan, red-golden phoenix composed entirely of highly compressed, substantial energy. With a forceful thrust of his hands, he launched the construct.
The miniature energy phoenix shot forward with blinding speed, leaving a vacuum of scorched air in its wake. It slammed into a distant, massive boulder. The impact did not create a wide explosion; instead, the concentrated, piercing nature of the attack effortlessly melted a perfect, glowing hole straight through the dense stone before detonating on the other side.
It was a pure, highly lethal long-range attack. While it was inherently much weaker in scale and destructive radius than a true, legendary Phoenix Cloud Piercing Strike might have been, it brilliantly combined all of the fat youth's strengths—heat, compression, and precision—into one formidable ability. His combat potential as a top-tier spirit master had genuinely solidified.
"Acceptable," Tang Xiao grunted, turning away. "We should depart for the capital."
However, their swift journey back toward Star Luo City soon revealed a highly alarming, deeply troubling complication.
A few hours into their rapid transit, while they were resting near a small stream, Ma Hongjun began to twitch uncomfortably. His skin, which had returned to a normal hue after the absorption, began to flush a deep, unnatural red once more. Heavy beads of sweat rolled down his face, and his breathing grew ragged and shallow.
Tang Xiao noticed the shift immediately. "What is wrong with your meridians, boy?"
"Senior Tang..." Ma Hongjun gasped, clutching his chest. "It's... it's the Evil Fire. It's growing again. Too fast."
Tang Xiao's brow furrowed in deep concern. He stepped forward, placing a massive hand on the youth's shoulder, sending a pulse of his own neutral spirit power to assess the situation. The heat radiating from Ma Hongjun's body was staggering, almost burning to the touch.
The Sect Leader quickly understood the grim mechanics of the problem. The successful absorption of the high-tier black ring and his overall increase in strength as a Spirit Emperor had directly, proportionally increased the inherent power of his mutated martial spirit. But tragically, it had also massively increased the sheer intensity, the frequency, and the volatile nature of the Evil Fire defect tied to his bloodline. The dark lust and burning heat were accumulating at an unprecedented rate.
If Ma Hongjun did not constantly, regularly find a woman to vent off this excess, corrupted fire through the act of sex, the internal temperature would literally boil his organs. He would be burned to death from the inside out by his own power.
This was no longer a mere inconvenience or a crude joke among friends; it was becoming a much more serious, fatal issue.
Fortunately, they were still on the mainland.
"Hold your breath," Tang Xiao ordered gruffly. He grabbed Ma Hongjun by the collar, launching them into the sky at maximum speed.
They reached the sprawling, heavily fortified walls of Star Luo City within a few hours. Tang Xiao didn't bother taking the youth to the opulent halls of the Imperial Palace just yet. He dropped Ma Hongjun directly into the bustling, neon-lit heart of the capital's premier brothel district, handing him a heavy pouch of gold.
"Go. Deal with your affliction," Tang Xiao commanded, his tone brokering no argument. "Do not leave this place until it is dealt with."
Ma Hongjun didn't need to be told twice. He practically scrambled toward the nearest establishment, his eyes glazed with a desperate, burning need.
Standing in the shadows of the alleyway, Tang Xiao watched him go, a deep frown creasing his scarred face. He knew that this biological defect would be a massive, unavoidable issue if he simply dragged Ma Hongjun back to Sea God Island in this volatile state. The island was a sanctuary of divine purity; there were no brothels, and the devout Sea Spirit Masters would hardly accommodate the crude, desperate needs of an outsider.
Yet, the Third Trial of the Sea God, which was the final trial mandated for Ma Hongjun's purple-branded destiny, remained waiting for him on the island. Tang Xiao had no choice but to eventually take the youth back. He could only silently hope that the High Priestess, Bo Saixi, or the profound, purifying environment of the island itself possessed a better, more permanent method to suppress or cure Ma Hongjun's fatal Evil Fire.
With the youth temporarily occupied, Tang Xiao adjusted his dark cloak and made his way toward a very different, highly exclusive sector of the Star Luo capital.
Before departing for the arduous journey back across the ocean, he had a vital, personal reunion to attend to. He needed to meet up with his little sister, Tang Yuehua.
It had been many grueling months since he had last laid eyes upon her, back when the Clear Sky Sect was forced to uproot their entire existence and flee the Heaven Dou Empire. He found her situated in the newly established, breathtakingly elegant Star Luo branch of the Moon Pavilion.
The pavilion was a masterpiece of refined architecture, projecting an aura of serene nobility amidst the militaristic aesthetics of the Star Luo capital. As Tang Xiao was guided into her private, fragrant receiving room, he saw her sitting gracefully behind a carved wooden desk. Tang Yuehua looked as elegant and composed as ever, her silver dress immaculate, her demeanor radiating a calming, sophisticated charm.
"Brother," Tang Yuehua smiled warmly, standing up to embrace the towering Super Douluo.
Tang Xiao returned the hug gently, incredibly mindful of his own crushing strength. "Yuehua. It is good to see you safe. Tell me, how have you been? Has anyone in this harsh court dared to try and bully you while Tang Hao and I were away across the sea?"
Tang Yuehua let out a soft, melodic laugh, pouring him a cup of fragrant, calming tea. "You worry too much, Brother. Everything is very fine. I have successfully, seamlessly integrated the Moon Pavilion into the high society of the Star Luo Empire over these past few years. The nobles here are just as eager to learn true etiquette and refine their brutal auras to appear more elegant as the ones in the Heaven Dou Empire. With the Imperial Family's explicit backing, no one dares to show me any disrespect."
She sat back down, her expression turning slightly more serious, her eyes gleaming with sharp intelligence. "In fact, I have not just been teaching manners. A few months ago, I managed to successfully re-establish contact with my deepest, most trusted informants hidden among the Noble Families back in the Heaven Dou Empire."
Tang Xiao paused mid-sip, his eyes narrowing. "How? The borders are heavily monitored, and courier pigeons are easily intercepted by Zhang Tian's patrols."
Tang Yuehua reached into the drawer of her desk and pulled out a sleek, rectangular object made of polished jade and etched metal. She placed it on the table between them.
"I can acquire incredibly detailed, sensitive information from them instantly, using this," Tang Yuehua explained, tapping the smooth surface of the device. "It is the new generation Communication Spirit Tool."
Tang Xiao stared at the object, recognizing the general shape, but noting the vast improvements in its design. "We used earlier models of these to send encoded text messages. Has the design advanced?"
"Leaps and bounds, Brother," Tang Yuehua replied, her tone a mix of deep admiration and profound wariness. "These new generation tools are exclusively manufactured and distributed by Crimson Zenith City. They no longer merely send delayed text. They allow individuals to actively converse with each other easily and instantly, transmitting voice in real-time across vast distances. I came to know about this technological marvel because of my secret contacts—young heirs and daughters of the northern Noble Families who had previously been trained in noble etiquette at my Moon Pavilion when we still resided in Heaven Dou City. They owe me favors, and they use these devices to whisper the court's secrets directly into my ear."
She leaned forward, her eyes locking onto her brother's. "We are operating in the dark, Brother. While we train in isolation, Zhang Tian's empire communicates with great speed. You must acquire a large supply of these devices for our forces."
Tang Xiao frowned deeply, staring at the sleek piece of technology. He loathed the idea of utilizing the enemy's creations, but he was a pragmatic leader. He understood the undeniable, crushing tactical advantage of real-time communication.
"Where can I procure them?" Tang Xiao asked gruffly. "I assume they are not legally sold to exiled sects."
"They are heavily regulated," Tang Yuehua confirmed. "But merchant caravans frequently transport bulk shipments of these tools from the northern foundries down toward the southern borders to supply the border garrisons and wealthy merchants."
She offered him a knowing, subtle smile. "I request that you intercept one of these shipments, Elder Brother. Loot the new generation Communication Spirit Tools. Procure enough for yourself, and for everyone coordinating on Sea God Island. If you all possess these tools, you can communicate to and fro regularly with our allied forces and my intelligence network here in the Star Luo Empire without relying on delayed messages from previous generation Communication Spirit Tools."
Tang Xiao nodded slowly, recognizing the sheer brilliance of the strategy. It was a necessary theft.
For the next few days, Tang Xiao operated as a shadow. He utilized his immense speed to sneak across the heavily fortified borders, venturing into the southern territories of the Heaven Dou Empire. He did not engage the military patrols. Instead, relying on exact transit routes provided by Yuehua's informants, he silently ambushed three separate, heavily guarded merchant caravans belonging to the northern commerce guilds.
He did not kill the guards; he simply utilized his overwhelming, Super Douluo-level spiritual pressure to render them instantly unconscious. He broke open the secured crates, looting dozens of the pristine, new generation Communication Spirit Tools, before vanishing back across the border like a phantom.
Returning to the Moon Pavilion, he sat with Yuehua for hours. She painstakingly taught him how to operate the complex jade interfaces, registering specific numerical spiritual frequencies. He made absolutely sure to securely connect and sync his own device with the private contacts of Emperor Dai Tianxiong, Empress Zhu Leihua, and his sister.
Tang Yuehua had built a formidable shadow empire. Since leaving the north, she had utilized her teachings to gather exhaustive, detailed information about the internal weaknesses of each Noble Family, keeping tabs on the shifting alliances within the Star Luo Palace. She promised to monitor the continent and ordered them to contact him instantly in case anything drastic happened.
With his communication network established, Tang Xiao took his leave. However, before collecting Ma Hongjun, he had one final, crucial stop to make on the mainland.
He flew toward the rugged, mountainous province that the Star Luo Emperor had generously granted to the Clear Sky Sect.
The sect's new settlement was a sprawling fortress of stone and iron, nestled within a highly defensible canyon. As Tang Xiao landed in the central courtyard, he was immediately greeted by the remaining elders and the core disciples of the sect, their faces reflecting a mixture of hope and weary resilience.
Tang Xiao called for an immediate, closed-door meeting in the main hall. He sat at the head of the heavy stone table, looking at the weathered faces of his clan. The current Grand Elder, a stern, grey-haired man who belonged to the same venerable generation as their grandfather, Tang Chen, sat to his right. Although the Grand Elder was not overly powerful in terms of raw combat strength, his deep seniority commanded the utmost respect, and the other elders dutifully listened to his counsel.
"I bring news from the ocean," Tang Xiao announced, his deep voice carrying across the silent hall.
He proceeded to handle the necessary administrative matters, reviewing their resource stockpiles and confirming the perimeter defenses. But the true purpose of his visit was to deliver a monumental revelation.
"My nephew, Little San, has achieved the impossible," Tang Xiao declared, a rare, profound pride swelling in his chest. "He has been explicitly chosen by divine mandate. He is currently undergoing the ultimate trials to become the next Sea God."
A collective gasp of sheer, unadulterated shock and soaring hope echoed through the stone hall. The elders exchanged wide-eyed glances, the heavy burden of their exile suddenly feeling incredibly light. A God in their lineage meant ultimate, undeniable victory.
"Because of this fragile, monumental transition," Tang Xiao continued, raising a hand to quiet their murmurs, "we must exercise extreme caution. Until Tang San completely finishes those divine trials and officially ascends... and until I, Tang Hao, and our grandfather Tang Chen return to lead you... the Clear Sky Sect must remain entirely dormant."
He leveled a strict, commanding glare at the assembly. "You are to rein yourselves in during this period. The Clear Sky Sect must not engage in any and all battles, border skirmishes, or political conflicts against the Spirit Hall or the Heaven Dou Empire. We cannot afford to draw Zhang Tian's monstrous gaze upon this valley while our greatest weapons are across the sea. You will train, you will fortify, and you will wait in silence."
The Grand Elder nodded solemnly, understanding the strategic necessity. "We will be ghosts, Sect Leader. No hammer will strike outside these walls until you return."
Satisfied with their obedience, Tang Xiao spent the remainder of the day distributing the stolen Communication Spirit Tools to the Grand Elder and the key perimeter commanders. He meticulously connected their numbers to his own device, explicitly ordering them to contact him immediately in case anything breached their valley. Knowing the sect was secure under the Grand Elder's cautious command, Tang Xiao felt a significant weight lift from his shoulders.
His mainland errands concluded, Tang Xiao returned to Star Luo City to pick up his charge.
He found Ma Hongjun sitting lazily in the opulent lobby of a high-end tavern, looking remarkably drained, thoroughly exhausted, but undeniably relaxed. Over the past week, the fat youth had successfully, albeit exhaustingly, managed to vent and temporarily handle the raging Evil Fire that had grown significantly stronger due to absorbing his sixth spirit ring. His meridians were calm, his mind clear.
"Get up, boy," Tang Xiao grunted, grabbing him by the shoulder. "Your vacation is over. We return to the island."
The grueling flight back across the ocean was uneventful, though Tang Xiao frequently tested the range of his new Communication Spirit Tool, finding the signal remarkably stable even miles out to sea, a testament to the terrifying engineering prowess of Crimson Zenith City.
When they finally breached the protective mists and landed upon the pristine white sands of Sea God Island, they were greeted by the familiar, imposing figures of Tang Chen and Tang Hao, who had been waiting for their return.
The two veterans looked expectantly at Tang Xiao.
"The boy has acquired his Spirit Ring which is quite impressive from a good spirit beast," Tang Xiao reported simply, gesturing to Ma Hongjun, who immediately scurried off to find Dai Mubai and the others to boast about his new ability.
Tang Xiao then turned to his grandfather and brother, his expression turning incredibly grave. "However… quite a few changes have occurred on the mainland."
They walked toward the serene, crystal-clear pool at the base of the mountain, where Bo Saixi stood waiting. Once they were gathered in private, Tang Xiao relayed the extensive, highly detailed intelligence he had gathered from the Star Luo Emperor.
He explained the bloodless coup in Heaven Dou City, the sudden abdication of Emperor Xue Ye, and the swift ascension of the new Emperor, Xue Qinghe. He detailed the terrifying, highly coordinated purges that had completely eradicated the corrupt Noble Families, drastically centralizing the empire's power and endearing the new regime to the common populace.
Tang Chen and Tang Hao were profoundly startled by the sheer scale and efficiency of the changes made by the Heaven Dou Empire. The political landscape they had known was gone, replaced by a unified, highly militarized machine.
"Zhang Tian has effectively conquered an empire without marching an army," Tang Hao murmured, his hands clenching into fists, frustration evident in his dark eyes.
"Yes," Tang Xiao agreed grimly. "However, there is a silver lining. We were incredibly fortunate. I was deeply relieved to learn that Zhang Tian had not taken advantage of our prolonged absence to launch a preemptive war against the Star Luo Empire. The borders remain quiet. He is focused entirely on internal consolidation."
Tang Chen nodded slowly, stroking his chin. "Fortunately…The raw strength of their side, whether it is the Spirit Hall or the Heaven Dou Empire remains nearly the same as before."
With the geopolitical briefing concluded, Tang Xiao reached into his spatial ring. He pulled out several sleek, polished jade slabs, handing them out to his brother, his grandfather, and offering one respectfully to Bo Saixi.
He had already ordered a few trusted, swift aquatic messengers of Sea God Island to distribute the rest of the devices to Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the other youths training higher up on the mountain.
"What are these Spirit Tools?" Tang Hao asked, turning the device over in his massive hands, eyeing the glowing runes suspiciously.
"They are the newest generation of Communication Spirit Tools," Tang Xiao explained, his tone a mix of reluctance and awe. "They are manufactured and heavily distributed by Zhang Tian's Crimson Zenith City. I know he is our greatest enemy, but the strategic value of this technology is simply too vast to ignore. This device can drastically reduce communication time to zero. It allows us to talk to each other in real-time, across oceans and continents, using our actual voices."
Tang Hao and Tang Chen, being hardened mainlanders who had previously seen the older, clunky text-based versions of Zhang Tian's tools spread across the commerce guilds, recognized the massive leap in technology immediately. They understood the terrifying logistical advantage Zhang Tian possessed if his entire army was equipped with these.
However, for Bo Saixi, the revelation was entirely novel.
The High Priestess held the smooth jade device delicately in her hands, her deep blue eyes wide with genuine intrigue and fascination. She had spent centuries isolated on this sacred island, steeped in ancient divine magic and oceanic traditions. She had never seen anything even remotely resembling this level of highly advanced, mortal engineering.
"You claim this small piece of jade can carry a voice across the sea?" Bo Saixi asked, her melodic voice filled with wonder. She gently traced the metallic etchings on the side.
"Yes, Senior," Tang Xiao confirmed respectfully. "I have already established a secure frequency connection with our allies on the mainland. If an attack occurs, we will know the very second a blade is drawn."
Bo Saixi smiled softly, feeling the faint, intricate hum of spirit power trapped within the circuits. "It is a very unique, incredibly clever invention. To bend the ambient spirit particles to carry sound over such distances... the mind that created this is truly formidable."
She looked up, her gaze shifting toward the northern horizon, contemplating the sheer intellect of the young monster Tang Chen feared so deeply.
"It seems the mortal world has birthed wonders while I watched the tides," Bo Saixi murmured. "Let us hope his ingenuity is limited to these trinkets or else dealing with him would be very troublesome."
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels [Villain: Manipulating The Heroines Into Hating The Protagonist] and [Harem Master: Seduction System].
Also, check out 20 Chapters Ahead for this fanfic on my P.atreon. [Check Out Art Of Characters On My Patreon. It's Free To View btw.]
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