Shocked as they were, the crowd did not forget what they had come here to do.
Mu Xiyue, Shui Yanyu, and Feng Zhen entered the battlefield, prioritizing the assault on the higher-ranked spirit masters of the Clear Sky Sect.
Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang blocked the only exit of the mountain where the Clear Sky Sect was stationed, while the three academy Elders took to the skies toward the other three directions of the sect's territory, ensuring that no Clear Sky disciples could flee by air or attempt to climb down the cliff.
Everyone took their positions. Mu Yang's gaze turned to Shui Bing'er, who had entered her Ice Phoenix Spirit Possession state, as he unleashed his Iceflame Holy Shadow martial soul.
In the next instant, illusory ice-blue flames and dazzling azure light bloomed. The Iceflame Sacred Shadow martial soul and the Ice Phoenix martial soul combined, a total of six black and three red spirit rings converging. The two figures vanished into the sky, replaced by the Iceflame Phoenix Shadow, long hair fluttering, radiating an awe-inspiring chill.
Casting a glance at Tang Xiao and seeing that he was firmly suppressed by Huo Lie and already at a disadvantage, Mu Yang no longer paid him any mind. The icy-flame wings of the Iceflame Phoenix Shadow spread wide, and it returned to the battlefield, activating its unrivaled slaughter mode.
The three domains of Iceflame, Ice Phoenix, and Killing God burst forth from the Iceflame Phoenix Shadow. A spear of iceflame condensed in its hand, the boundless murderous intent within the Killing God Domain gathering upon it. The Slaughter Iceflame Spear took form, and under Mu Yang's control, it suddenly shot forth, aimed directly at a Clear Sky Hammer Spirit Douluo who was entangling the Second Elder.
Swish—
A faint tearing sound rang out as a streak of ice-blue brilliance cut through the night sky. Carrying boundless killing intent, the Slaughter Iceflame Spear struck straight into the Clear Sky True Body of that Spirit Douluo.
Boom—
A violent surge of spirit power exploded. The massive black Clear Sky True Body collapsed, as the Slaughter Iceflame Spear instantly slew a Clear Sky Hammer Spirit Douluo even while he was in his Martial Soul Avatar state.
Against a Spirit Douluo who had released his Martial Soul Avatar, an ordinary Title Douluo would be unable to one-shot him. Even unleashing a powerful ninth spirit ability would not necessarily accomplish such a feat, much less when facing a Clear Sky Hammer Spirit Douluo, known as the elite among Spirit Douluo of the same rank.
Yet the strength of the Iceflame Phoenix Shadow was not something ordinary Title Douluo could compare with. Moreover, the secret techniques stacked with the power of domains formed a specialized strike of extraordinary might. Unless the opponent possessed an "absolute defense technique" akin to the Invincible Golden Body, no spirit master beneath the nine rings could possibly withstand the Slaughter Iceflame Spear.
One spear after another—within less than a single minute, two eight-ring Spirit Douluo and five seven-ring Spirit Sages of the Clear Sky Sect had all fallen at the hands of the Iceflame Phoenix Shadow.
Another Slaughter Iceflame Spear condensed in its hand. Mu Yang locked onto yet another Clear Sky Hammer Spirit Douluo in the distance, who was jointly resisting Feng Zhen alongside several sect members.
"Stop!"
At that moment, a desperate cry echoed across the blood-reeking battlefield.
Hearing the voice, Mu Yang turned his head and saw Tang Yuehua, who had rushed over in a hurry, not far below.
He paused briefly, then released the force in his hand without hesitation. He showed no intention of stopping. The Slaughter Iceflame Spear shot forth like lightning. An ice-blue flash flared, the massive Clear Sky True Body crumbling apart—yet another Clear Sky Hammer Spirit Douluo perished under the hands of the Iceflame Phoenix Shadow.
"Why? Mu Yang, why are you attacking my Clear Sky Sect?!"
As the six Title-level combatants unleashed their massacre, the sect's disciples fell one after another. Tang Yuehua's expression was filled with grief and indignation as she confronted Mu Yang with her question.
Back when she had taught Mu Yang musical theory at Yuexuan, she had thought that, since the Spirit Hall's power was overwhelming, once the Clear Sky Sect reopened its gates in the future to seek revenge, her sect and the Elemental Academy might well become allies.
Yet who could have foreseen that the very potential ally she envisioned would, on this night, come as the enemy to exterminate them.
This outcome was one she could hardly accept, nor could she fathom why the Elemental Sacred Academy would act in such a manner.
After all, whether it was the current Elemental Sacred Academy, or the former Blazing, Sky Water, and Godwind Academies, none had any irreconcilable hatred or feud with the Clear Sky Sect. Why had they now become enemies of life and death?
"To obstruct my great Dao—the Clear Sky Sect was destined to be my enemy."
The icy, ruthless voice came from the Iceflame Phoenix Shadow's lips. Another Slaughter Iceflame Spear rapidly formed and streaked forth.
Leaving aside the enmity between him and Tang Hao and his son, just the matter of the Asura God's inheritance was already an unavoidable obstacle on his path.
In this era, the difficulty for spirit masters to become gods was extremely high. Perhaps self-creating a divine position would be optimal, but inheriting an existing god position was by far the fastest path.
After all, his "cheat" was only deduction, not a direct gift of godhood. To create his own godhood—who knew how many years that would take?
It was like comparing starting from scratch to build a Fortune 500 company with directly inheriting one whole. There was no comparison!
And of the known god positions in the original story, there were four: Asura, Sea God, Rakshasa, and Angel.
The Angel God position was hereditary within the Qian Clan, and from the moment Qian Renxue awakened her martial soul, it was destined to be hers. No outsider, no matter how gifted, could claim it.
The Rakshasa God position had long since been claimed by Bibi Dong, leaving Mu Yang no chance to intercept.
Thus, the only inheritances with the potential to fall into Mu Yang's hands were the Asura God and the Sea God.
The former was a Supreme God King position, the latter a First-Rank God of the Divine Realm. In comparison, Mu Yang naturally chose the Asura God—one of the Five Supreme Gods of the cosmos. Moreover, the Sea God's inheritance had little affinity with his martial souls.
But if he wanted to inherit the Asura God, Tang Chen—the former divine trial taker—was an obstacle that had to be removed, for the Asura Divine Sword was in Tang Chen's possession.
The supreme Asura Godhood, Mu Yang would never allow to be taken by another. His only choice was to eliminate Tang Chen.
And to kill Tang Chen meant enmity with the Clear Sky Sect.
Thus, eradicating Tang San, slaying Tang Hao, and annihilating the Clear Sky Sect had become Mu Yang's sole choice.
As for the old kindness of Tang Yuehua teaching him music theory?
Mu Yang had long since made preparations. When he and Shui Bing'er went to Yuexuan, it had not been without giving compensation—they had paid with a precious spirit bone as tuition for both of them.
Yes, there was sentiment, but he and Shui Bing'er owed Tang Yuehua nothing. Now, slaughtering members of the Clear Sky Sect came without the slightest burden on his heart.
Hearing this, Tang Yuehua's face filled with desolation.
Though she did not understand what "obstructing my Dao" truly meant, she could comprehend well enough the words "you and I are destined to be enemies."
Once, the Clear Sky Sect had been the most renowned in the spirit master world, hailed as the number one sect under heaven. Over ten years ago, they were forced by Spirit Hall into seclusion. Now, would they truly be exterminated this night?
'Grandfather, oh Grandfather… at this moment, when the Clear Sky Sect faces life and death, where are you?'
At this moment of despair, Tang Yuehua once again thought of her grandfather Tang Chen, the one who had raised the Clear Sky Sect to the summit as the number one sect in the world.
Perhaps, only his return could avert this crisis of annihilation.
But alas, Tang Yuehua knew in her heart—this was but a vain hope.
If Grandfather could return, would he have waited until now?
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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