Chapter 161: He’s Simply Inhuman

At that moment, the Third Elder repeatedly nodded and stepped forward, speaking with righteous indignation:

"Calling Zhao Ling excessive doesn't even begin to cover it! He... he's simply inhuman. It's bad enough that he beat Da Long into a half-wit, but even Xiao Gang is still recovering from his injuries. So pitiful..."

The Third Elder's passionate display stunned the First and Second Elders.

After all, this guy had been particularly ruthless when beating up Yu Xiaogang earlier. His strikes had been harsher than theirs—even broke the kid's legs.

And now here he was, pretending to be deeply aggrieved for Yu Xiaogang's sake? If the two of them hadn't witnessed him beating the unlucky boy senseless, they might have been fooled too.

Yu Yuanzhen, however, felt touched upon hearing the Third Elder speak up so earnestly for his two sons. He composed himself before turning to the current master of the Clear Sky Sect and spoke gravely:

"Master Tang, to be honest, I came to the Clear Sky Sect today because I want to unite with your sect in dealing with Zhao Ling. That man is a titled Douluo and yet lacks the slightest shred of dignity or self-respect.

He has stooped to serving the Spirit Hall, and in order to curry their favor, he went so far as to persecute my two sons. Who knows what he'll do next in the name of serving Spirit Hall? He could just as easily target other disciples of the Upper Three Sects. We must strike first!"

Yu Yuanzhen was playing a bit of a political game here. He deliberately shifted the entire blame for Zhao Ling's brutal beatings of Yu Xiaogang and Yu Xiaolong onto Zhao's desire to please the Spirit Hall.

He also raised the hypothetical threat that Zhao might eventually turn on other Upper Three Sect disciples—an angle intended to make others empathize and side with him.

The current Clear Sky Sect master naturally saw through this attempt to drag his sect into the fray. He knew Yu Yuanzhen was trying to pull the Clear Sky Sect into a confrontation with Zhao Ling.

But he didn't get angry. In fact, from a certain perspective, everything Yu Yuanzhen said held merit.

The Spirit Hall and the Upper Three Sects had long been at odds, maintaining a delicate balance.

If Zhao Ling's presence tipped the scales further in favor of Spirit Hall, it might embolden them to destroy the Upper Three Sects. At that point, resisting would become extremely difficult. For the sake of their own survival, it would be best to eliminate Zhao Ling.

In truth, the Clear Sky Sect had already begun discussing this. After learning that the so-called "Zhenmo Douluo" was the fiancé of the Spirit Hall's current Saintess—and had even been appointed a royal enshrouded advisor by the Heaven Dou Empire—they'd debated whether or not to take action.

After all, Zhao Ling was merely a titled Douluo. He didn't bring along any elders from Spirit Hall. If he dared to show up alone on Upper Three Sect territory, wasn't that a blatant provocation?

He had to be eliminated. Only by removing him would Spirit Hall realize the Upper Three Sects were not to be trifled with. Even if Spirit Hall wanted to wipe them out, they'd have to pay a steep price.

However, Zhao Ling's actual strength remained a concern. The fact that he dared to move alone on hostile turf suggested he was no pushover.

It would be best to test his power first, and only then decide how many titled Douluo would be needed to take him down. Otherwise, failure could mean losing one of their own.

The Clear Sky Sect master furrowed his brows and turned to Yu Yuanzhen, asking in a steady voice:

"By the way, have you asked around at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Why would they offer goodwill to Zhao Ling without first consulting us? Don't they know about his relationship with the Spirit Hall Saintess? Or... do they know and just not care?"

At this, the Second Elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan stepped forward with anger:

"Of course we went to their sect. But their sect master Ning and the two Guardian Douluo warned us not to offend that Zhao Ling.

They even asked our clan master to personally apologize and seek reconciliation with Zhao Ling. Tell me, Master Tang—isn't that laughable? That Zhao brat persecuted our young masters, yet we're the ones expected to apologize to him. Ridiculous!"

"What did you say?! They wanted Yu Clan Master to personally ask for reconciliation from that Zhao Ling?"

The Clear Sky Sect master's eyes widened in disbelief. But then his expression darkened as he asked again:

"Did Sect Master Ning and the two Guardian Douluo say anything else?"

Yu Yuanzhen and the three elders paused in silence, then hesitantly recalled:

"I remember Bone Douluo saying we best not offend this so-called Zhenmo Douluo. Though he lacks any major backing, he himself is his own greatest backing.

When he said that, he seemed extremely guarded, even secretive. I could tell both he and Sword Douluo were extremely wary of Zhao Ling, yet also deeply respectful."

Once Yu Yuanzhen finished, the Clear Sky Sect master fell into silence. The group had by now reached the sect's receiving hall.

After ushering the visitors to their seats, the sect master ordered a servant to make tea. As the servant left, silence fell again.

A few minutes passed before the Clear Sky Sect master spoke in a heavy tone:

"I suspect Bone Douluo has already tested Zhao Ling's strength. And the outcome was likely far beyond what we imagined. Though Bone Douluo isn't the oldest titled Douluo, he's still at least level 92 or 93.

Sword Douluo is even stronger. If both of them are this wary, then Zhao Ling's strength must be unfathomable."

His voice paused briefly, his eyes flashing with sharp light.

"Indeed. If Zhao Ling weren't formidable, would the Spirit Hall's proud and haughty Pope really be willing to marry off her most prized disciple to a mere youth?"

This statement stunned Yu Yuanzhen and the others. That possibility had never occurred to them.

Back when the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect master and his Guardian Douluo kept warning them, they'd been too blinded by anger and the feeling of betrayal to think it through.

But now, with this revelation, it was like a jolt of cold water clearing their heads.

Yes—Bone Douluo may have already fought Zhao Ling and been thoroughly defeated. Why else would he have issued such a strong warning?