Chapter 13: Friends, if you want to read chapters in advance, subscribe to my patreon.

Chapter 13: The Outbreak of War

As Tang Zhen's words sank in, the expressions of those gathered grew even more solemn.

Tang Zhen continued, "Whether it's the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, their reinforcement today will come at a price we'll have to repay. Even our affiliated clans, the four single-attribute families, who may suffer losses in the war, will require our efforts to console them after the battle."

"If we fight to the end, our sect's resources might be completely drained."

At that, the First Elder spoke up, "Sect Master, we are the mighty Haotian Sect, the strongest on the continent. Even if we fall in battle, we will never surrender."

The other elders echoed his sentiments, "Sect Master, Haotian Sect will fight to the death."

Tang Zhen took their resolve in stride. "Very well, elders. Haotian Sect will hold firm and fight to the last."

As the atmosphere steadied, Tang Zhen asked, "First Elder, is there any news of Hao'er?"

"Sect Master, Tang Hao has indeed reached Titled Douluo status, now known as the Clear Sky Douluo. But since he announced his departure from the sect, there's been no word of his whereabouts."

"Hao'er... After his battle against three, he's likely injured. First Elder, send out our people to search for him. He must be found."

At that moment, a disciple rushed in, his expression tense. "Sect Master, Spirit Hall's forces have arrived outside the sect."

Tang Zhen and the elders stepped out together to face the news.

Outside the gates, Spirit Hall's forces stretched out in a seemingly endless line of soul masters, each dressed in white in solemn tribute to the fallen Supreme Pontiff Qian Xunji. There were over ten thousand of them, with a staggering number of high-ranking soul masters among their ranks.

Then, a booming voice from Spirit Hall's camp declared, "Haotian Sect, hear us! You have one hour to surrender Tang Hao, the murderer of our Supreme Pontiff. If you refuse, we will attack, leaving no one alive."

Tang Zhen ignored the call and turned to the First Elder instead. "First Elder, how long until reinforcements from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Heaven Dou Empire arrive?"

"Sect Master, even at the fastest pace, the two clans' forces will take at least half a day to reach us. The Heaven Dou Empire's army may need a full day."

"It seems Spirit Hall intends to strike before our reinforcements arrive. Notify all inner disciples and affiliated clans to prepare for battle."

"First Elder, personally go to Spirit Hall's forces and tell them Tang Hao has already been expelled from the sect and is no longer here."

Tang Xiao, standing nearby, quickly objected, "Father, while Hao has made grave mistakes, Spirit Hall clearly intends to target us regardless. They've mobilized their forces with such speed; this was clearly premeditated."

The First Elder spoke again, "Sect Master, for Spirit Hall to assemble so many soul masters in such a short time, they must have prepared long ago to attack us."

Tang Zhen shook his head, his expression heavy. "I understand their motives, but the fact remains—Tang Hao did kill their Supreme Pontiff. They're here for revenge, and no one can fault them for that. Go, First Elder. See if they might accept any other terms."

The First Elder nodded and swiftly flew toward Spirit Hall's army.

In less than ten minutes, he returned with a grave expression. "Sect Master, Spirit Hall's stance is unyielding. They won't accept any terms other than the surrender of Tang Hao. If we refuse, they will attack."

"It seems Spirit Hall is dead set on destroying us. Order everyone to prepare for battle, and have the Agility Clan send messages to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, urging their leaders to hasten their arrival."

The First Elder looked hesitant. "Sect Master, I'm afraid the Agility Clan may not make it out. Spirit Hall has us completely surrounded."

"It's clear Spirit Hall has planned every move. They're determined to either destroy or severely cripple Haotian Sect. First Elder, arrange for the children of Haotian Sect to retreat to the ancestral grounds."

"Sect Master, while the ancestral grounds are defensible, they may not withstand a full attack from Spirit Hall's forces."

"We can trust in this, at least. My father, Tang Chen, made an agreement with Qian Daoliu that as long as their duel remains unsettled, Spirit Hall is forbidden from entering our ancestral grounds."

"But the old sect leader has been missing for many years. Can we really expect Spirit Hall to honor this pact?"

"My father may have disappeared, but he's not dead. Qian Daoliu is a man of his word and will not break his promise."

Hearing this, the elders quickly moved into action.

Meanwhile, outside Haotian Sect's gates, the leaders of the four single-attribute clans gathered, each visibly tense at the sight of the overwhelming enemy forces.

A messenger arrived, delivering a message that the Agility Clan's leader, Bai He, quickly read and passed to the others.

Yang Wudi, reading the message, spoke firmly, "Our four clans have long been under Haotian Sect's protection. Since the sect has made its decision, we of the Po Clan will fight to the death."

The other three leaders agreed, pledging to fight with their full strength. They each returned to their clans to prepare for battle.

As Tang Zhen had surmised, Spirit Hall's attack had been meticulously planned. Releasing news of Qian Xunji's death and declaring war on Haotian Sect were carefully orchestrated moves, denying the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan any time to react. Had the three powers managed to unite with the Heaven Dou Empire's forces, Spirit Hall would have found itself in a tough spot.

The strength of the Three Great Sects was indeed formidable. Together, they could muster between nine and ten thousand soul masters—enough to challenge Spirit Hall directly.

But with Spirit Hall's surprise assault, the Three Sects lost the initiative. Roughly twenty percent of each clan's disciples were scattered on missions, intensifying the precariousness of the situation.

An hour later, Spirit Hall dismissed Haotian Sect's attempts to negotiate, rejecting the excuse that Tang Hao was no longer part of the sect and launching their assault.

Spirit Hall had clearly planned their strategy: they dispatched a smaller force to engage and hold off the four single-attribute clans, pitting three thousand soul masters against the clans' combined two thousand.

Meanwhile, they concentrated the bulk of their forces in a direct assault on Haotian Sect's main stronghold. Haotian Sect's two thousand inner disciples now faced an onslaught from seven thousand soul masters. Each disciple was forced to contend with multiple enemies, utterly overwhelmed in terms of numbers.

Though Haotian Sect's gate was fortified by the meticulous craftsmanship of the Defense Clan, it could not withstand an assault from seven or eight thousand soul masters, especially with Spirit Hall's forces including numerous high-ranking soul masters and even Titled Douluos.

(End of Chapter)