Soul Land: I Am the True Grandmaster

Chapter 151: The Clear Sky Clan's Escape, Part 2

Qian Daoliu scrutinized the man before him, the son of an old friend. After a long silence, he sneered coldly, "Tang Chen really lost his mind. To think he abandoned passing on the true training method for the Clear Sky Hammer to chase after some divine trial… No wonder you're only at level 97, even at your age."

Without further words, he raised his hand, summoning forth a sword of interwoven gold and white light the famed Angelic Sword, the very weapon that had earned Qian Daoliu the title of Sword Immortal across the continent.

Tang Wei seemed to understand but sighed in resignation as he closed his eyes, realizing the end was near. As the son of an old friend, Qian Daoliu showed mercy, ending Tang Wei's life with a single strike to the heart and then departing without looking back. Tang Wei slumped into the grand chair, regret shadowing his eyes. He reflected bitterly on his life, on how he might have prevented this disaster if only he had been a better guide to Tang Hao and Tang Xiao.

"Xiao has a steady disposition; he may yet keep the Clear Sky Clan alive," he thought, just before his eyes finally closed, leaving only an empty shell.

When Spirit Hall's troops reached the now deserted grounds of the Clear Sky Clan, they found only Tang Wei's lifeless body. None dared disrespect a fallen Title Douluo, as even in death, their aura commanded respect. Tang Wei's remains would later be transported to Spirit City's sacred Douluo Shrine, where all Title Douluo were honored.

Thus began the Clear Sky Clan's grueling escape. Led by the four single attribute clans, the survivors split into four groups, scattering to confuse Spirit Hall's pursuing forces. After this catastrophic defeat, no one dared to speak of an association with the Clear Sky Clan, fearing that Spirit Hall would hunt them down.

The four single attribute clans, while formidable, were primary targets. Except for White Crane, Tang San's future uncle, the other clan leaders were all slain in the chaos. White Crane's exceptional Swifttail Swallow Spirit enabled him to evade capture, though his spirit's greatest strength was in speed, not combat.

As reports of the escape flooded in, Bibi Dong's expression remained cold and unfazed. "Continue the hunt. Make sure no affiliated force has any Spirit Douluo left alive. Clear Sky must be thoroughly weakened."

The Clear Sky Clan's escape plan was carefully orchestrated, with the clan splitting into five groups, each led by a Title Douluo. As per Qian Daoliu's orders, any Super Douluo above level 95 was to be eliminated.

Using his formidable sensing abilities, Qian Daoliu quickly locked onto the Great Elder's group, which had already fled dozens of kilometers. While he remembered this Elder from past encounters, sentiment meant nothing to him. With a single, swift strike, he decapitated the clan's pillar of strength, the 97th level Great Elder.

Having casually disposed of two Title Douluo, Qian Daoliu felt no satisfaction. He cast a cold glance at the Clear Sky disciples nearby, who now trembled, many of them paralyzed with fear. Without hesitation, he dispatched them all within moments, leaving only blood stained ground behind.

While the Great Elder's strength had drawn followers, it ultimately made them the first to fall. Qian Daoliu's serene demeanor belied his ruthlessness; he was, after all, an executioner in the name of Spirit Hall. To solidify Spirit Hall's dominance, he had scoured the continent for threats, once even deploying five Spirit Douluo to a small, remote country called Xili Stone because of its citizens' impressive natural talent. He viewed it as a threat that needed to be quashed.

In another instance, Qian Daoliu had slain Dustheart Jun, Sword Douluo's father and the former Supreme Douluo, during a duel. His single minded dedication to power left a bloody trail.

After finishing his bloody work with the Great Elder's group, Qian Daoliu moved on to the Second Elder, another 95th level Clear Sky Douluo, cutting him down without mercy before returning to Spirit City with his bloodlust satiated.

Qian Daoliu assumed that this violent purge would serve as a deterrent, that none on the Douluo Continent would dare oppose Spirit Hall. Little did he know, this massacre would instead deepen the fear and resentment felt by the continent's two great empires and the Three Upper Sects. The realization hit them like a thunderbolt: they could not afford to leave Spirit Hall unchecked, like a tiger poised to pounce on them at any moment.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan soon issued a proclamation of solidarity among the Three Upper Sects. Seizing the moment, the two empires began efforts to court these powerful clans, recognizing the importance of their alliance.

They even considered recruiting the Tianxing Academy. After all, Ye Wen's formidable power as a 98th level Super Douluo made him a highly desirable ally, one whose presence would strengthen their defenses immensely. Unfortunately for them, the Tianxing Academy had declared its strict neutrality upon its founding, forcing the empires to abandon the idea.

Still, they marveled at the academy's methods of training spirit masters, admiring how it transformed students into formidable powerhouses. In secret, both empires started sending their most promising talents to the Tianxing Academy, hoping to foster a new generation of powerful spirit masters who might one day turn the tide. Even if their students didn't reach the heights of Ye Wen's Ten Great Disciples, achieving even half of that potential would greatly increase their strength and stability.

With three of Clear Sky Clan's six Title Douluo eliminated, Bibi Dong reviewed the escapee reports with an icy smirk. Her disdain wasn't directed at the clan itself but rather at Qian Daoliu.

"Too weak for grand ambition," she thought. "His hesitation shows that he's unfit to see his goals through." This insight came from years spent under Ye Wen's mentorship.

Once you've made an enemy, any leniency will only breed greater danger in the future. Qian Daoliu's age and strength meant little; time erodes even the greatest, and the Clear Sky Clan would undoubtedly regroup if given a chance.

In a future that seemed almost inevitable, the ten Title Douluo of the Clear Sky Clan would eventually rise to threaten Spirit Hall.

"How short sighted," Bibi Dong whispered. By missing this opportunity, Spirit Hall had forfeited its best chance to eliminate a mortal enemy. The next strike against them could be years away, hidden until the moment they least expected.

"Fine then," she murmured, voice laced with cold resolve. "With us in Spirit Hall, your Clear Sky Clan will never rise again. You may survive for now, but the gods have already sealed your fate."

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