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Inside the Hao Tian Sect's Council Hall—
At this moment, ten Title Douluos were gathered in this small council hall—a far cry from the original storyline.
The newly added Eighth Elder and Ninth Elder were Title Douluos who didn't exist in the original story, yet over the past two years, they had inexplicably skyrocketed in strength, breaking through to become Title Douluos.
Such an assembly of Title Douluos was an unprecedented event for the Hao Tian Sect, even when tracing back a thousand years.
As for how they broke through, these lower-ranking elders themselves were also baffled. They had simply followed their usual cultivation routines, only to inexplicably surge forward and achieve breakthroughs.
However, the higher-ups of the Hao Tian Sect paid little heed to this phenomenon, attributing it to the blessings of their ancestors—a reversal of fortune after a long decline.
After all, the concept of gods had yet to enter their understanding.
Unfortunately, these newly minted Title Douluo elders were born at the wrong time. The current Hao Tian Sect was far inferior in every aspect compared to its former glory. Despite possessing formidable strength, they could do little more than eat an extra piece of meat each day—pitiful indeed.
Because of this unprecedented lineup of Title Douluos, the reclusive members of the Hao Tian Sect, who had been lying low and biding their time, grew increasingly restless.
At this moment, Tang Xiao was slowly reading the secret letter sent by the White Tiger Emperor.
Bai Yi's arrival had caused quite a stir, directly alarming all the high-ranking members of the Hao Tian Sect.
Even with Tang Xiao's current overwhelming strength at level 97, he couldn't possibly suppress nine Title Douluo elders single-handedly.
As Tang Xiao calmly read the letter, the nine seated elders grew increasingly impatient.
The former Fourth Elder, now the First Elder, was the first to speak up.
"Lord Sect Leader, what does the White Tiger Emperor want in this letter?"
The contents of the letter weren't lengthy, and Tang Xiao finished reading it quickly. However, instead of answering immediately, he folded the letter and fell into deep thought.
But the other elders couldn't contain themselves and began pressing him with questions.
"Lord Sect Leader!"
"What can't you say? We're all here—just speak plainly."
"Yes, Lord Sect Leader! With ten Title Douluos in our sect, why are you being so hesitant?"
In no time, the once solemn council hall turned into a chaotic scene akin to a bustling marketplace.
Tang Xiao's expression darkened as his terrifying aura erupted.
Among the elders present, only the First Elder, with his level 95 cultivation, managed to remain composed. The others visibly struggled under the pressure.
"Enough, Lord Sect Leader. Let's not escalate this further. The other elders are merely concerned about the sect's affairs," the First Elder quickly interjected, trying to smooth things over.
He shot meaningful glances at the other eight elders.
Over the years, Tang Xiao's contributions to the Hao Tian Sect had been evident to all. He hadn't overly disciplined the newer Title Douluo elders, leading them to develop a sense of arrogance, mistakenly believing that their higher ranks made them comparable to their former selves at lower levels. Only now, under Tang Xiao's display of power, did they realize the vast gap between them, shrinking back like frightened cats.
"Hmph!" Tang Xiao let out a displeased snort.
In his youth, Tang Xiao had immersed himself in cultivation, unwilling to waste time, and thus had little exposure to the sect's internal dirty dealings.
After the Hao Tian Sect went into hiding, the atmosphere within the sect remained subdued, and no major incidents occurred. But as the number of powerful individuals increased, chaos inevitably followed.
Fortunately, the people of the Hao Tian Sect had been thoroughly intimidated by the Spirit Hall. Even with several new Title Douluo-level elders, they still dared not leave their secluded hideout, subsisting on meager rations in the mountains.
But as the saying goes, "When one wields a blade, the desire to kill naturally arises."
These elders, whose strength placed them near the pinnacle of ordinary soul masters, began harboring ulterior motives once again. The White Tiger Emperor's letter had stirred them, prompting them to gather eagerly.
After weighing the pros and cons, Tang Xiao realized there was no way to keep this matter hidden.
But should they truly step back into the limelight?
Would the combined strength of ten Title Douluos be enough to face the Spirit Hall head-on?
The once cowardly First Elder had grown much calmer after years of self-cultivation and seemed to sense Tang Xiao's concerns, remaining silent.
Only those who had faced the terrifying might of the Spirit Hall's top-tier forces could truly understand the disparity between them.
The strongest weapon-type martial soul in the world?
In the face of absolute power, such titles meant little.
Ignoring soul power levels and focusing solely on martial souls was nothing short of absurd.
Even a Blue Silver Grass soul master with thirty levels of soul power could overpower a Heaven's Hammer wielder with only ten levels of soul power.
Moreover, for Title Douluos, surpassing level 95 meant ascending to an entirely new realm. The First Elder, at level 95, didn't believe that two of himself could defeat the current Tang Xiao.
After carefully considering the Hao Tian Sect's current predicament, Tang Xiao let out a deep sigh. Managing so many people was truly troublesome.
With an almost resigned air, he handed the letter to the First Elder. "Pass it around. Take a look."
The First Elder opened the letter steadily and began reading. His brows furrowed deeply as he remained silent, passing it along after a while.
For a moment, the council hall fell into an eerie silence.
The White Tiger Emperor's letter was brief, and a quick glance was enough to grasp its general content.
Aside from Tang Xiao, the First Elder, and the Third Elder, the newer elders who had recently ascended to their positions couldn't help but flush red with greed upon reading the letter, their eyes gleaming with desire.
This sight did not escape Tang Xiao's notice.
Truly, prosperity blinds the eyes.
"Let's hear your thoughts," Tang Xiao said.
The Fourth Elder immediately spoke up. "Lord Sect Leader, this is a golden opportunity for our Hao Tian Sect to make a comeback! With the full support of the Star Luo Empire and the return of our former affiliated factions, I believe we can achieve great things!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiao and the First Elder exchanged looks, regarding the Fourth Elder as if he were a fool, leaving him flustered.
"W-what? What's wrong?"
The First Elder sighed and rubbed his temples. Though the Hao Tian Sect didn't emphasize education, this was just too naive, too foolish.
"Fourth Elder, your words were excellent—don't ever say them again.
When we abandoned those affiliated factions, did you really think they'd come back to help us? If you were in their shoes, would you?"
With this perspective, the Fourth Elder seemed to realize his mistake. His aged face flushed red with embarrassment. Though somewhat simple-minded, he wasn't entirely ignorant of worldly matters. It was just that the Hao Tian Sect had been so dominant in the past that he hadn't thought before speaking, inadvertently making a fool of himself. He could only shrink back silently.
The other elders wanted to laugh but, considering the setting, suppressed their amusement and awkwardly shrugged instead.
"Continue," Tang Xiao said.
The elders exchanged glances once more. The fiery-tempered Seventh Elder blurted out, "Let's step out, Lord Sect Leader! After all these years, it's time to settle the score with the Spirit Hall. With ten Title Douluos in our sect and the support of the Star Luo Empire, we'll surely make the Spirit Hall pay!"
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