đź’– If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon! I'm offering advanced chapters there as a thank-you to readers.
--------------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/Veni_V
---------------
Outside the imperial palace, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of upcoming slaughter. A massive force of Royal Knights and Spirit Hall Spirit Masters had formed a tight, impenetrable battle formation. They stood like a wall of steel, waiting to crush anyone who dared to challenge them. Facing this overwhelming army, the five Elders of the Clear Sky Sect did not waver.
Though they were outnumbered, they were seasoned warriors of the most powerful sect in the world. They were alarmed by the sheer scale of the ambush, but they did not panic. Instead, they instantly moved into their own combat formation, ready to fight their way through.
The Second Elder, Third Elder, and Fifth Elder stepped to the front. Almost simultaneously, the air around them began to vibrate with immense power. Nine spirit rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—spiraled up from beneath their feet. The sight was terrifying.
The majestic pressure of three Titled Douluo crashed into the Spirit Hall formation like three massive mountains rising from the earth. The weaker Spirit Masters in the front lines felt their breath catch in their chests as the gravity around them seemed to double.
"Form the Clear Sky Formation! We are charging through!" the Second Elder roared. His long white hair and beard stood on end, charged with static and spirit power. He gripped his palm, and a surge of black light erupted. In an instant, a huge, ancient-looking Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand. It was the world's most powerful tool martial soul, and its presence alone changed the temperature of the battlefield.
The Third Elder was known for his short temper and aggressive fighting style. He didn't wait for another command. "Hammer Shakes Mountains and Rivers!" he screamed, launching the first strike of the battle. His third and fifth spirit rings flashed in quick succession.
The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand expanded violently, growing until it was the size of a small building. It carried a terrifying aura that felt like it could collapse mountains and split the ground open. He swung it downward with raw, brutal force, aiming directly at the group of Spirit Saints and Spirit Douluo leading the opposition.
"Defend! Hold the line!" several Spirit Douluo commanders shouted at once. They knew they couldn't dodge, so they had to stand their ground. They and the dozens of Spirit Masters behind them frantically poured every drop of their spirit power into the core of their formation. A thick, wall-like shield of light condensed in front of them, glowing with the combined energy of a hundred men. They hoped it would be enough to stop the furious blow of a Titled Douluo.
The collision was like a clap of thunder. The Clear Sky Hammer smashed into the light shield with a deafening explosion that echoed through the palace grounds. The sturdy shield trembled violently, and within seconds, spiderweb-like cracks raced across its surface.
The Spirit Douluo at the center of the formation groaned in pain. Their faces turned pale as the recoil hit them, and blood spilled from their mouths. Behind them, the lower-level Spirit Masters were knocked off balance. The impact sent a shockwave through the ranks, and the once-perfect formation fell into sudden chaos.
"Change formation! Exterminate them!" the guard commander yelled, realizing that a static defense was suicide against the Clear Sky Sect. In an instant, the light of the battle formation shifted. They gave up on the shield and turned to offense. A rain of spirit abilities filled the sky—wind blades, fireballs, ice cones, and poison stings. Sharp shadows of spears and swords flew toward the Third Elder from all sides, trying to catch him while he was recovering from his massive swing.
"What a bunch of small tricks!" the Fifth Elder snorted. He moved like a ghost, flickering to the Third Elder's side. He didn't make his hammer grow large. Instead, he swung it with incredible speed, creating a whirlwind of black light. He used the "Defend" and "Quake" techniques from the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes. The hammer shadows became a solid barrier that no attack could pass through.
The long-range abilities slammed into the barrier with a sound like rain hitting metal. Most of them were simply deflected or shattered on contact. Even the few attacks that had high piercing power were nullified by the intense vibration force built into the hammer's movement. The Fifth Elder stood like an immovable rock, protecting his brother from the storm.
"Second Brother, Seventh Brother, clear the path! Fourth Brother, watch our back!" the Second Elder commanded. He was the most experienced among them and took natural control of the battlefield.
"Understood!" the Fourth and Seventh Elders replied. The Fourth Elder held a smaller, more agile version of the hammer. He and the Seventh Elder moved to the sides and rear, forming a pincer shape. They swatted away any Spirit Masters who tried to sneak up on them. Even though their strikes weren't as flashy as the Third Elder's, the pure quality of the Clear Sky Hammer allowed them to knock Spirit Saint-level opponents away as if they were children.
The Second Elder watched the enemy closely. He noticed that the formation was still messy after the Third Elder's strike. Their spirit power wasn't flowing smoothly anymore. "Fourth Spirit Ability, Earth-Splitting Boom!" he cried out.
His purple fourth ring and his black seventh ring glowed brightly. He didn't fully transform into his Martial Soul True Body because he wanted to save energy, but he concentrated all his power into a single point on the hammer's head. He lunged forward, thrusting the hammer like a spear toward the biggest crack in the enemy's shield.
This strike was the essence of the sect's power: breaking an entire surface by hitting one weak spot with everything you have. The guard commander saw the hammer coming and his eyes widened in terror. "It's going to blow! Scatter! Get out of there!"
It was too late. The black hammer tip pierced the light shield as easily as a knife through butter. Then, the concentrated energy exploded. The shield shattered into a million pieces. The violent force of the hammer rushed back through the spirit power connections like a flood.
"Ah!" The Spirit Douluo commanders were hit the hardest. Their protective spirit power was torn apart, and they were sent flying like broken kites. They crashed into the stone walls of the palace, leaving deep craters. It was impossible to tell if they were still alive. The Spirit Masters behind them were swept away like wheat in a hurricane. Screams filled the air as the first line of defense completely collapsed.
"Don't stop! Charge in and save the Sect Master!" the Second Elder shouted. He didn't waste time finishing off the wounded. He pointed his hammer toward the side hall and ran into the gap they had created. The Third and Fifth Elders followed him, their hammer swings clearing any remaining obstacles. The Fourth and Seventh Elders stayed at the rear, making sure no one could regroup behind them.
The ground was covered in blood and broken weapons. The raw power of the Clear Sky Hammer had been proven once again. However, the Elders knew this was just the beginning. The outer guards were nothing compared to what was waiting inside. They knew Tang Xiao was likely fighting for his life against even stronger enemies. They turned into five streaks of black light, pushing their bodies to the limit to reach the side hall where the sounds of battle were the loudest.
But just as they were about to reach the heart of the palace, the air suddenly turned cold. Three incredibly powerful auras appeared out of nowhere, pressing down on the Elders like the weight of the ocean. Three streaks of light descended from the sky, moving faster than the eye could follow. They landed directly in the Elders' path, blocking the way to the side hall.
When the light faded, three men stood there. On the left was a slender man in a green robe. It was embroidered with Azure Luan patterns that looked like they were alive. He looked middle-aged with sharp, blue-gold eyes that looked down on the Elders with cold indifference. This was the Third Supplicant of Spirit Hall, Azure Luan Douluo.
In the middle stood a giant of a man. He was as big as a mountain and wore heavy dark gold armor with lion-head shoulder guards. His hair and beard were wild and gold, looking like a lion's mane. He exuded a sense of pure, physical dominance. This was the Fourth Supplicant, Lion Douluo.
On the right was a younger-looking man, also in green, but his robes had patterns of ice and feathers. He was handsome in a feminine way, with pale skin and a mocking smile. This was the Fifth Supplicant, Light Feather Douluo.
The three of them didn't even have their martial souls out yet, but the spirit power coming off them was suffocating. These were Super Douluo, all at level 96 or higher.
The Five Elders stopped dead in their tracks. Their faces turned pale. The Second Elder's hand trembled as he gripped his hammer. "Azure Luan... Lion... and Light Feather? Spirit Hall sent three Supplicants at once?"
The Third Elder gasped, his previous bravado gone. "They are level 96... maybe more. Three Super Douluo at the same time!"
The Fifth Elder hissed through his teeth, "No wonder the guards outside were so weak. They were just bait to lead us into this trap."
The hope they had felt after breaking the first line died instantly. They were surrounded. Behind them, the guards were regrouping. In front of them stood three of the strongest men in the world. And further inside, their Sect Master was still in danger. The path was closed.
Azure Luan Douluo looked at them with his cold green eyes. His voice was calm, but it sounded like a final judgment. "Clear Sky Sect, your journey ends here today."