The group left the Qi Blood Soaring Hall in high spirits, arm in arm, excitedly discussing a gathering at the back mountain that night.
However, at that moment, Jiang Wu, who had been striding ahead, suddenly stopped. He slowly turned, expressionless, looking at Zhou Zheng and Huang Qiyi with a faint air of authority.
"Old Five, Old Eight," Jiang Wu's voice was calm and low, devoid of emotion, "I feel like you've been slacking in your cultivation lately."
Zhou Zheng and Huang Qiyi tensed at these words, realizing they might have been too smug in the hall earlier. They exchanged glances, seeing unease in each other's eyes.
"Ahem, uh... Second Brother, I was just joking earlier, don't take it to heart!" Huang Qiyi forced a flattering smile, inwardly cursing. Though he and Jiang Wu were both level 79 Soul Saints, Jiang Wu had been stuck at the level 80 threshold for nearly a decade, making him stronger. And from Jiang Wu's look, he was clearly holding back anger—if it came to a fight, he'd be too embarrassed to show his face tomorrow.
"Yeah, yeah, Second Brother! We're all brothers, no need for this. Just let it go like a fart." Huang Qiyi at level 79 couldn't beat Jiang Wu, and he at level 73 was even further behind. This was a strategic retreat—no shame in that.
However, Jiang Wu remained expressionless and simply said, "Both of you together."
This hit Zhou and Huang like lightning. They exchanged glances, eyes flashing with delight. They'd been worried about getting crushed one-on-one, but now Jiang Wu was offering two-on-one? This was a golden opportunity! Together, they could probably win.
At this thought, their eyes lit up, as if victory was in sight. A legitimate chance to beat Jiang Wu didn't come often!
"How could we, Second Brother? This way, please."
"Yeah, yeah, we'll be in your care soon."
Watching the receding figures, Zhang Tao turned to Chen Zhen, his tone a mix of anticipation and worry: "Old Five and Old Eight won't get beaten to death, right?"
Chen Zhen's lips curved into an enigmatic smile, his reply teasing: "Not to death, but I know..." He dragged it out, then said with a half-smile, "It'll hurt a lot."
Zhang Tao couldn't suppress his grin at Chen Zhen's words. He knew Jiang Wu's strength—if Jiang Wu were still level 79, he might not beat Zhou and Huang together.
However, during a recent mission with the Second Elder, Jiang Wu had broken through the barrier that plagued him for nearly a decade, stepping into level 80.
With the Second Elder's help, he'd even acquired a suitable soul ring, making him a genuine level 81 Soul Douluo. Even together, Zhou and Huang couldn't compete.
The others overhearing guessed the twist, smirking mischievously as they quietly followed, eager for the show.
...
"Second Brother, don't hit the face, ahhh!"
"Bro! Big Bro! I was wrong, really wrong, ah~"
From afar in the hall came pitiful screams, showing how ruthless the attacker was.
"For this sea trip, I plan to try hunting more top-grade whale glue. Then, Old Four, you can attempt breaking through to level 90."
Chu Shanhe poured tea for Hua Yuan and the other as he spoke.
Yuan Hua took the teacup from Chu Shanhe, glanced at the latter's white hair, and smiled self-deprecatingly: "It's all because I was arrogant in my youth, thinking I could create soul skills rivaling the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes at the Soul Saint level. I wasted cultivation time and got stuck at level 89 for twenty years, unable to break through to Titled Douluo. The entire burden of the Body Sect has fallen on you and Sixth Brother."
In his youth, inspired by Clear Sky Douluo Tang Chen's legends and his own top genius talent, he thought if Tang Chen could do it, so could he. He spent massive time researching self-created soul skills, only realizing too late. Even chasing hard, he got stuck at the Titled threshold.
Nearby, Hua Shuwen shook his head at the self-blaming Yuan Hua, comforting: "Fourth Brother, you're wrong. The self-created soul skills you researched benefited the whole sect. Your efforts advanced our Body Sect's research on self-created skills by at least a century. Everyone in the sect knows your contributions are no less than anyone's."
Chu Shanhe added: "Yes, your contributions to the sect are obvious. Who dares call you useless?"
Under their consolation, Yuan Hua finally smiled. He looked at Chu Shanhe and asked: "Sect Master, why did you keep us two behind? What instructions?"
At this, Chu Shanhe's face grew serious. He slowly stood and walked to the window, gazing at the distant sky: "Not long ago, our disciples outside reported that Pope Qian Xunji has fallen, and the long-secluded Qian Daoliu has emerged in rage. Do you think the Clear Sky Sect has a chance in this war?"
Without thinking, the two replied: "Absolutely not. The Clear Sky Sect's current status relies on Tang Chen's prestige, but he's been missing for twenty years. Though his influence lingers, resisting the Spirit Hall's fury with that alone is delusional."
"Fourth Brother is right. Though called the World's First Sect, after Tang Chen's disappearance, it's undeserved. Sect Master Tang Xing's talent is mediocre; he reached Titled Douluo only due to his father's protection. His strength might not even match Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Moreover, this is vengeance for a killed son—even if Tang Chen reappeared, he might not protect the Clear Sky Sect."
Since Tang Chen's disappearance, the Clear Sky Sect's strength didn't match its title. In overall power, it was far inferior to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and its top fighters were weaker than the Sword and Bone Dual Douluos. If not for the Clear Sky Twin Stars emerging years ago, the "World's First Sect" title would have changed hands long ago.
Hearing this, Chu Shanhe smirked and asked again: "Then, do you think the Clear Sky Sect can survive this crisis?"
"This..." The two exchanged glances, clearly struggling. Finally, Hua Shuwen pondered: "Before disappearing, Tang Chen challenged Qian Daoliu and won by a hair. They talked all night—perhaps they made some agreement favorable to the Clear Sky Sect."
Qian Daoliu was renowned as a true gentleman in the soul master world, always keeping his word. If they had such an agreement, even facing vengeance for his son, he might honor it.
Yuan Hua nodded too. The Two Peaks were active nearly a century ago, before their births, so their knowledge of Qian Daoliu came from the previous sect master's records: a upright gentleman, even pedantic.
Oh, and one more thing from the Two Peaks battle twenty years ago: a fool who didn't use his aerial advantage and insisted on clashing head-on with a brute.
"Since you both think the Clear Sky Sect has a way to protect itself, do you think they'll protect the single-attribute four clans along with them?"
"Hard. Even with Tang Chen's great face, protecting the Clear Sky Sect's direct line would be the limit in this situation. Including the four clans is nearly impossible."
Hua Shuwen added: "Moreover, under vengeance for a killed son, whether Qian Daoliu honors any agreement is questionable. To restore his sanity, he'd need to vent first. In my view, the single-attribute four clans are perfect for that."
After all this, Yuan Hua grew impatient and said to Chu Shanhe: "Second Brother, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Chu Shanhe turned to them and said softly: "Since the Clear Sky Sect can't or won't protect those four clans, they'll suffer heavy casualties. If our sect secretly helps at that time, with that favor, do you think we could get the Breaking Clan's ancestral medicine refining formula from them?"
Neither Hua Shuwen nor Yuan Hua expected Chu Shanhe's goal to be the Breaking Clan's prized formula—their foundation. Rumors said even the Clear Sky Sect coveted it but didn't dare force it due to the terrifying attack power of the Soul Breaking Spear.
"The Breaking Clan is known for being forthright and valuing loyalty. If we help during their extinction crisis and exchange for the formula, it might seem like exploiting gratitude, but with Yang Wudi's character, he probably wouldn't refuse. Second Brother, why the sudden interest in the Breaking Clan's formula?"
Sensing their confusion, Chu Shanhe smiled, as if he'd anticipated it. He was direct: "Whale soul beasts aren't rare in the ocean, but they're all top predators in the sea soul beast food chain. Most live in groups, so we can indeed harvest a fair amount of whale glue in the short term. However, this won't last forever."
Chu Shanhe paused to let his words sink in, then continued: "Maybe centuries, maybe just decades—time passes, and we'll eventually grow old. We can't just focus on immediate benefits; we must think of our descendants. We can't guarantee whale soul beasts will remain easy to hunt in the future."
His gaze swept them: "The Breaking Clan's refining arts are renowned across the continent—that's a fact. If we get their methods, in the future, we can refine similar drugs using whale glue. Then, we won't have to swallow it raw like before but can better harness its effects through refinement."
Chu Shanhe's voice grew deeper, full of resolve: "Our sect has some achievements in refining, accumulating experience in enhancing physique and boosting qi blood. What we got from the Ye family was just some drug recipes. For true refining arts, few in the world rival the Breaking Clan."
He sighed deeply: "Now, with the Breaking Clan facing extinction, how many on the continent are willing to help? Probably very few."
"Our sect saving their whole clan—in return, them giving the refining arts isn't excessive." Chu Shanhe said calmly.
Hua and Yuan exchanged glances, inwardly admiring Chu Shanhe's visionary insight. Whale glue's effects had just been discovered, yet he was already thinking centuries ahead—far beyond most people.
However, thinking of the powerful lineup the Spirit Hall might deploy, Hua Shuwen said worriedly: "In that case, I'll go with you, Sect Master. More hands are better."
Chu Shanhe shook his head firmly: "This matter calls for few people, not many. I'll go alone. You take the others to get the whale glue first, then wait for me in Vast Sea City."
Seeing Chu Shanhe's resolve, Hua Shuwen could only nod: "Alright, Sect Master, I'll follow your lead. But when will you depart?"
Chu Shanhe thought briefly: "Tomorrow."