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The hundred-thousand-year spirit ring was the supreme existence among all spirit rings.
Even the sect masters of the Upper Three Sects, Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiao, did not possess a hundred-thousand-year ninth spirit ring.
Within Spirit Hall, among its many Titled Douluo, only a few had obtained such a ring—the current Pope Bibi Dong, the Second Priest, Golden Crocodile Douluo, and the Grand Priest Qian Daoliu.
This alone showed how unimaginably rare a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring was.
But what Qian Renxue had never expected was that all the Titled Douluo of the Heavenly Dragon Sect possessed hundred-thousand-year spirit rings.
How could she not be shocked?
It wasn't just Qian Renxue. Even the well-informed members of the Upper Three Sects were left utterly dumbfounded, their mouths hanging open in disbelief.
Seeing their expressions, Lan Minghua let out a satisfied grin. This was exactly the effect he had hoped for.
Tang Hao, are you dumbfounded now? You always flaunted your single hundred-thousand-year spirit ring as if it made you unrivaled. Little did you know—this is standard issue for a Heavenly Dragon Sect Titled Douluo.
Tang Hao's jaw dropped so wide it looked as if he could fit an egg inside. He stood utterly stunned.
The expressions of Yu Yuanzhen and the others turned grim.
As Titled Douluo, they understood better than anyone the overwhelming boost a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring provided.
Sword Douluo's face turned ashen, regret gnawing at his heart.
Fengzhi, oh, Fengzhi! If you hadn't indulged Rongrong's whims, letting her leave home while you schemed endlessly, how could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have fallen into such a calamity?
His spirit power was level ninety-six, one level higher than the Heavenly Dragon Sect's Titled Douluo hovering above.
Ordinarily, that one-level advantage would have been decisive against a Titled Douluo whose ninth ring was merely black.
But against a level ninety-five Titled Douluo equipped with a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring? That single level meant almost nothing.
Yu Yuanzhen's expression also darkened. To prevent Spirit Hall's attention from falling upon the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he had chosen to oppose Lan Minghua.
Who could have guessed this decision would plunge the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan into the abyss?
"Alas, in the end, it was my own shortsightedness. Had I not been fooled by the words 'the unity of the Upper Three Sects,' my clan would not be in such a dire state. Gu Rong, you have ruined me!"
Yet the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had already sacrificed so much. Even if this path was a mistake, he had no choice but to follow it to its bitter end.
A trace of guilt flashed across Tang Xiao's face. His favoritism had dragged the Clear Sky Sect into this crisis.
Even before the outcome was decided, half of the sect disciples they had dispatched had already perished.
Regardless of how things ended today, his time as sect master was over.
But he still felt no regret. As long as he could aid his younger brother and nephew, it was all worth it.
"Little Hao, after today—whatever the outcome—I will step down as sect master. If you have the strength, then take the mantle. Lead the Clear Sky Sect back to its former glory."
Exhaling deeply, Tang Xiao's gaze grew resolute.
At the same time, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo wore equally grim expressions.
"Chrysanthemum Guan, you've doomed me," Ghost Douluo sighed.
Chrysanthemum Douluo gave a bitter smile, his tone heavy. "Old Ghost, if I had known, I would have listened to you. We should have used our Martial Soul Fusion Technique to escape."
But now, it was far too late. Lan Minghua's eyes were fixed on them. He would never let them slip away so easily.
Lan Minghua took in their shifting expressions—regret, resentment, determination.
Yet he felt not the slightest trace of pity.
Be it the Upper Three Sects, Spirit Hall, or even Blazing Fire Academy, their fate was the result of their own choices.
It was their greed and their schemes that had driven them, step by step, into the abyss.
At this thought, an amusing idea occurred to Lan Minghua.
With a simple lift of his hand, Tang Hao and the others tensed as if facing a great enemy, sweat beading on their foreheads.
Lan Minghua shook his head, amused.
He had no intention of acting personally. As he had said before, their level of strength was not enough to stir his desire to fight.
Instead, he casually waved his hand. In an instant, countless sword auras shot skyward.
Then, from the heavens above, they descended in all directions, forming a cage of blades that sealed the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The translucent sword aura could not be seen or touched, but it was terrifyingly real.
Outside the sect, the Heaven Dou Empire's army had received Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's order and was charging in.
"Charge!"
With the general's command, hundreds of cavalry thundered forward, hooves shaking the earth as dust billowed into the sky.
They stormed through the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's grand gates, intent on establishing their might.
But then, strange ripples coursed through the air. Countless strands of nearly invisible sword aura shimmered faintly under the sunlight.
Carried by their momentum, the warhorses charged straight through the gates.
The next moment, both riders and mounts split apart. With a sickening crash, their dismembered bodies hit the ground, blood splattering everywhere.
The cavalrymen behind them were pale with horror, but their steeds were already galloping too fast to stop.
One after another, they plunged headlong into the unseen sword web. Flesh and blood were shredded like paper before its sharp edge, leaving only mangled corpses.
Screams rose in waves, only to be abruptly cut off.
Before long, the entrance was piled high with the butchered remains of the Heaven Dou Empire's elite cavalry.
Tang Hao's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
A dreadful thought struck him. To test it, he gathered his spirit power and smashed his Clear Sky Hammer down on the sword web.
"Boom!"
A muffled crash rang out. The sword web did not shatter. Instead, the Clear Sky Hammer was forcefully repelled.
Worse still, deep white scars now marred the hammer's surface—it was damaged.
Tang Hao's face darkened. In a low, grim voice, he said, "Such terrifying power… Is he planning to trap us here like turtles in a jar?"
At his words, Gu Rong, Yu Yuanzhen, and the others sank into despair.
They had thought that by uniting the Upper Three Sects with the Heaven Dou Empire, they could ensnare Lan Minghua and his disciples.
But instead, he had turned their own scheme against them.
Yes, it was indeed turtles in a jar—but they were the turtles.
Seeing the grim expressions on their leaders' faces, the disciples of the Upper Three Sects fell into a panic.
Some still refused to give up, attempting to break through the sword web to escape.
But every strike they landed was instantly rebounded, and the deflected sword aura from their own attacks cut them down on the spot.
Many disciples tried, and all died without exception.
Lan Minghua couldn't help but laugh at the sight.
"Are the disciples of the Upper Three Sects all brainless? If even Tang Hao's full-strength strike couldn't break it, what makes them think they can?"
But to him, this was nothing more than a minor diversion.
He cast a sidelong glance at Tang Hao and the others and said indifferently, "Enough. The arena is ready. Now—fight to your heart's content."
As he spoke, another thought occurred to him. Reaching into his Devouring Pouch, he pulled out a Blue Silver Grass adorned with golden-veined rings.
He casually tossed it beside the hundred-thousand-year spirit bone, smiling as he addressed his five Titled Douluo.
"Whoever kills the most shall claim this spirit bone. As for this little plant, don't underestimate it."
Lan Minghua deliberately paused, his eyes gleaming with mockery as he looked at Tang Hao. "This is a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor. Though gravely injured, with proper care, it will soon recover to its full power."
"Oh, and by the way…" he added with a smirk, "I found this one in a small village in Fasno Province, southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire."
Hearing these words, Tang Hao felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
His eyes shot toward the Blue Silver Emperor floating in the sky, and a raw, anguished roar tore from his throat.
"T-That's… Ah Yin?!"
(End of Chapter)