Chapter 123 - Refusal to go to war

"Emperor Tian, we have already destroyed many human cities. It's time to stop."

"Demon Spirit, you're too cowardly."

"Bear God, you were rejected by the last descendant of the Angelic God, and yet you still strut around here proudly."

Emperor Tian stood atop a wave of soul beasts, listening to the bickering among the beasts around him. He was dissatisfied with the ordinary soul masters in the nearby cities. These soul masters lacked the strength to hunt 100,000-year-old soul beasts.

His gaze turned toward the city that oppressed soul beasts. The Title Douluo of these powerful armies were the main threat when it came to hunting ten-thousand- and hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts.

This was why Emperor Tian hadn't taken action earlier and allowed Qian Daoliu to drive away the Bear God. They had already reached their limit by massacring cities near the Star Dou Great Forest.

Once Qian Daoliu was killed, those Title Douluo would surely flee. If they wanted to kill them then, they might have to let the wave of soul beasts sweep across the entire Douluo Continent—which would definitely draw the attention of the gods. The Silver Dragon King must not be exposed.

In this case, let the Title Douluo come to them. Tian was just waiting silently for the humans to gather their team. He was full of confidence in his own strength and in the strength of the soul beasts.

If the humans were scared and crippled this time, they would no longer dare to enter the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt 100,000-year-old soul beasts, giving his master time to recover.

Meanwhile, on the walls of the Beast City, the main forces had set up their defenses. Soldiers from the two empires were scattered across the walls as the basic line of defense.

Sects led by the Clear Sky Sect, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Star Crown Sect were responsible for guarding one of the three divided walls. Their numbers weren't large, and they were mainly tasked with handling powerful soul beasts.

"Lord Xu, I didn't expect we'd meet again like this."

"Yes, we'll ask Lord Ning for help later."

"No problem. But who's the masked man behind you?"

"This is a junior from my Star Crown Sect. Hasn't Bone Douluo seen him before?"

"Is that so? Congratulations, Lord Xu."

Ning Fengzhi smiled as he watched the sect master walk away. Bone Douluo beside him seemed to realize something and whispered a few words in his ear, stirring waves in his heart.

This masked man was the junior from the Star Crown Sect who had obtained a spirit ring witnessed by Uncle Gu earlier. So, the Star Crown Sect had at least two Title Douluo guarding it. That sect was truly thriving.

Ning Fengzhi thought about the two elders from the Clear Sky Sect who had recently broken through to the Title Douluo level. He struggled to manage his expression. Over the years, it seemed only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hadn't produced a new Title Douluo.

But that was about to change. Before he left, he had given two ten-thousand-year soul bones he had obtained from the Clear Sky Sect to a trusted disciple. This time, that disciple might break through, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would also have three titled members.

Standing among the Star Crown Sect crowd in front of the city wall, Tang Xiao crossed his arms and stared at the wave of soul beasts in the distance with sharp eyes. This time, he would make the Star Crown Sect's name known and let the world see what the number one offensive weapon spirit could do.

Beside him, Tang Ziyi sensed something was wrong. He looked at the leaders of the Star Crown and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sects talking happily in the distance and felt uneasy.

Looking around the Clear Sky Sect, aside from Titan, no sects or clans stood with them. Even the Po Yi and Yu Yi Clans, who had followed the Clear Sky Sect closely in the past, now stood behind the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

This was bad. The Clear Sky Sect had been isolated by the other sects on the continent.

"Sect Master, let's greet Sect Master Ning."

"No need."

Tang Xiao firmly refused. He still remembered that Ning Fengzhi had tricked him out of two ten-thousand-year soul bones. If he had absorbed those soul bones, he would surely be beyond level 92 by now.

Seeing he couldn't persuade Tang Xiao, Tang Ziyi sighed helplessly and walked toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's team. He had to consider the Clear Sky Sect. If they left the mainland sect alliance, even with four titles, they wouldn't withstand the Spirit Hall's attack.

Soul beasts and humans were preparing. War could break out at any moment. Everyone on the Douluo Continent was waiting for the final outcome of the war—including Tang San.

He was staying in a forest somewhere outside of Soto City, studying the Clear Sky Sect's unique skill—the Chaos Cloak Hammer Technique—with his father.

Sweat poured down onto the ground. Tang San swung the last blow, slamming the Clear Sky Hammer into the ground, leaning on it and gasping for breath.

Then he looked at his father, sitting under a tree, leaning against the trunk with his eyes closed, pouring cheap white wine into his mouth. He walked closer.

"Dad, the beast tide has erupted. I heard the Clear Sky Sect has gone there. Aren't you going?"

"No. The Spirit Hall claims to be righteous, so of course, they should fight the beast tide."

"I see."

Tang San returned to training, but a doubt lingered in his heart that he couldn't shake. In his previous life, even the killer sect he belonged to would stand up when the Central Plains were invaded.

Why didn't his father go to support his sect when humans and soul beasts were at war? This was a racial war. For the first time, he doubted his mighty father's image.

"Maybe it's because of Mother."

Tang San consoled himself and continued practicing. Tang Hao, lying under the tree, sipped another mouthful of wine and opened his eyes to look at his son swinging the Clear Sky Hammer.

If possible, he definitely wanted to fight the beast tide and make a name for the Clear Sky Sect, but now he had lost an arm, and his soul power was permanently stuck at level 91. If he appeared, the Spirit Hall would know his true strength.

War wasn't something to be taken lightly—especially not with the mixed strength of all kinds involved. Every human power had its own selfish motives. They had to fight not only soul beasts, but also guard against the schemes of their own kind.

Tang Hao was worried about the Clear Sky Sect disciples participating in the war. The beast tide was dangerous, but the Spirit Hall was even more dangerous. Brother Xiao, you must be careful.

---

Not far away in Soto City, Master Yu Xiaogang was also drinking wine. Naturally, he had heard news of the beast tide. The news of the major sects joining the war reminded him of the destroyed Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and his deceased father.

If not for the Spirit Hall, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect would surely have shined in this war. So Yu Xiaogang thought, and due to his frail body, he eventually passed out drunk at the table.

In the end, Flender knocked on the door and came in, carrying him to bed. He knew the immense pressure his friend was under. Erlong's tragic death and the hatred over the extermination of his clan weighed heavily on him.

Now Tang San had been training with His Excellency Clear Sky Douluo for years. His friend had no way to contribute, and he was depressed every day, drinking just to drown his sorrows.