Chapter 241: Submission
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The night was as dark as ink, yet Soto City remained brilliantly lit.
News of the conclusion of the Sect Hegemony Tournament spread as if on wings, flying through every street and alleyway of the entire city.
In teahouses, restaurants, and on street corners—everywhere—people were discussing the shocking outcome.
The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had claimed the championship; the Elephant Armored Sect had ascended to the ranks of the Three Upper Sects; and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had fallen into the dust.
Some marveled in astonishment; some sighed in regret; some gloated with schadenfreude; and others felt a secret chill of apprehension.
But everyone knew that, from this day forward, the landscape of sects on the Douluo Continent had changed completely.
The delegation from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect departed Soto City under the cover of twilight.
There were no ceremonial guards, no pomp, and no fanfare.
A dozen or so carriages, carrying their crestfallen disciples, drove silently out through the city gates.
Sitting inside his carriage, Ning Fengzhi lifted the curtain to cast one final glance at the city he had once entered with such high spirits and vigor.
The lights were brilliant; the streets buzzed with the clamor of the crowd.
Nothing had changed.
The only thing that had changed was him.
He lowered the curtain and closed his eyes. Upon his refined and scholarly face, nothing remained now but weariness and desolation.
Chen Xin sat opposite him, his head still bowed as he stared at his own slightly trembling hands.
The Seven Kill Sword—the blade that had accompanied him his entire life—was shattered. His Sword Heart, too, was broken.
Inside the carriage, there was only silence.
A deathly silence.
Meanwhile, Tang San lay in a carriage trailing behind them, his wounds still throbbing with pain.
...
On the top floor of the city’s most luxurious restaurant, another gathering was just beginning.
This establishment was known as the "Moon-Gazing Tower"—Soto City’s most renowned dining destination.
The top floor of the restaurant housed a massive banquet hall, spacious enough to accommodate dozens of guests.
Tonight, the entire floor had been reserved by the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Inside the banquet hall, the lighting was dazzling. Long tables crafted from red sandalwood were laden with a sumptuous spread of rare delicacies.
Sweet Madame, Northern Smoked Chicken, Satisfying Salad, Mondstadt Potato Pancakes, Mushroom Pizza, Fisherman’s Toast, Cold Cut Platter... every single dish was of considerable value.
Yet, no one had the inclination to pick up their chopsticks.
Seated on either side of the long table were the representatives of the Five Great Sects.
On the left, Hu Yanzhen—Sect Master of the Elephant Armored Sect—sat upright; beside him sat Kamisu, Sect Master of the Rock Antelope Sect; and next to her was Hu Xiaotian, Sect Master of the Black Tiger Sect.
On the right, Yu Yuanzhen—Patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—sat with dignified composure. Clad in a deep black robe, with hair and beard as white as snow, he exuded an aura of natural authority that commanded respect without the need for anger.
His expression was somewhat grim, and a complex glint flickered within his aged eyes.
Beside him, the Sect Master of the Fire Leopard Sect remained silent. His short, fiery-red hair resembled burning flames; his features were stern, and his brows were tightly furrowed—clearly, his mind was far from at ease.
And seated at the head of the long table was Jiang Bai.
Bi Ji sat at his side, clad in a long, emerald-green gown; she appeared gentle and elegant, like a celestial maiden stepped right out of a painting.
Her gaze was as calm as still water; she seemed utterly indifferent to everything transpiring around her.
Jiang Li’er sat on Jiang Bai’s other side, propping her chin in her hands as she gazed listlessly at the delicacies spread across the table.
Her eyes sparkled with eagerness—she clearly longed to pick up her chopsticks and dig in—but sensing that the atmosphere was ill-suited for such things, she reluctantly held back.
The Ice Empress and the Snow Empress were not in attendance.
Having absolutely no interest in such social gatherings, they had long since returned to the tower.
As for Shui Bing’er and Ye Lingling, they had gone up to the second floor to have their meal.
Jiang Bai raised his teacup and took a gentle sip.
Then, setting the cup back down, he swept his gaze across everyone present.
That gaze was as calm as still water, yet it made every single person in the room feel an invisible, palpable pressure.
"Gentlemen," he began—his voice soft, yet carrying clearly into the ears of everyone present—"I have gathered you all here tonight to discuss a few matters."
Upon hearing his words, everyone straightened their postures and sat up attentively. Jiang Bai continued, "The first matter: the Seven Sects Hegemony Tournament has concluded, and the new rankings have been established. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect stands at the head of the Upper Three Sects, followed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, with the Elephant Armored Sect taking third place."
He paused briefly. "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has fallen into the ranks of the Lower Four Sects."
As his words fell, a profound silence descended upon the banquet hall.
"As for the second matter..."
His voice suddenly rose, carrying an indisputable air of authority.
"The Spirit Hall shall unify the continent and reorder the hierarchy of the Spirit Master world."
Upon hearing this, the entire assembly was struck with astonishment!
Yu Yuanzhen’s pupils constricted slightly; the teacup in his hand nearly slipped from his grasp. The Sect Master of the Fire Leopard Sect jerked his head up, his eyes wide with shock.
Even Hu Yanzhen’s towering, iron-like frame gave a slight tremor.
Unify the continent?
Reorder the Spirit Master world?
Everyone present understood—all too clearly—exactly what this implied.
Jiang Bai gave them no time to process the news as he pressed on: "From this day forward, the Spirit Master world shall no longer be fragmented by independent sects vying for territory. Every sect must submit to the direct command of the Spirit Hall."
His voice was not loud, yet every word struck like a hammer, pounding against the hearts of everyone in the room.
"This is not a negotiation; it is a decree."
A deathly silence pervaded the entire hall.
Yu Yuanzhen’s expression shifted from grim to ashen. His hands clenched tightly around the armrests of his chair, his knuckles turning white.
The Spirit Hall had grown increasingly dominant over the years—yet they were still not satisfied?
They sought to unify the entire continent as well?
The Sect Master of the Fire Leopard Sect’s lips quivered slightly; he appeared to want to speak, yet no words escaped him.
Jiang Bai swept his gaze across the room, his eyes lingering briefly on every face present.
"Those who submit shall prosper; those who resist shall perish."
"Gentlemen... what is your decision?"
As his words faded, the atmosphere within the banquet hall instantly solidified.
It was as if the very air had ceased to flow.
Silence.
A long, drawn-out silence.
"The Elephant Armored Sect pledges its allegiance and awaits Sect Master Jiang’s command!"
A voice, booming like thunder, shattered the deathly stillness. Huyan Zhen rose to his feet, his tower-like frame leaning slightly forward as he clasped his fists together.
In a deep, resonant voice, he declared: "The entire Elephant Armored Sect places itself at the complete disposal of Sect Master Jiang and the Spirit Hall!"
There was no hesitation in his voice, no trace of reluctance—only absolute candor.
Jiang Bai looked at him and gave a slight nod: "Sect Master Huyan demonstrates a profound understanding of the greater good. Excellent."
Huyan Zhen took his seat again, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
Immediately thereafter, a second voice rang out.
"The Rock Antelope Sect is ready to heed Sect Master Jiang’s commands!"
Kamis rose to her feet, her lithe figure bowing slightly; her voice was husky, yet firm.
He lacked Huyan Zhen’s unreserved candor, but he was far more astute. The fate of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lay right before their eyes, and he had no desire to suffer the same fate.
Jiang Bai nodded: "Sect Master Kamis knows how to adapt to the times. Excellent."
A third voice rang out almost simultaneously.
"The Black Tiger Sect is ready to heed Sect Master Jiang’s commands!"
Hu Xiaotian rose to his feet, his broad-shouldered, bear-like frame bowing slightly as he spoke in a booming voice.
Jiang Bai smiled faintly: "Sect Master Hu is refreshingly straightforward. Excellent."
With three sects pledging their allegiance in unison, the collective momentum was truly staggering.
Within the banquet hall, only the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Fire Leopard Sect remained—neither had yet declared their stance.
All eyes in the room turned to rest upon Yu Yuanzhen and Huo Bao.
Yu Yuanzhen sat there, his face ashen, uttering not a single word.
His hands gripped the armrests of his chair with crushing force, the veins on his forearms bulging visibly.
Surrender?
His Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had endured for a thousand years; when had they ever bowed down to another?
Yet, if he did not surrender...
His gaze drifted involuntarily toward Jiang Bai.
The young man remained utterly composed, his demeanor as leisurely as ever—as if everything were already firmly within his grasp.
Beside him sat a woman with golden hair and crimson eyes, idly twirling a strand of her hair out of sheer boredom.
She appeared utterly harmless—innocent as a lamb—yet Yu Yuanzhen knew she was, in truth, a monster capable of blasting him into oblivion with a single punch.
And then there was that little girl known as the Ice Empress; that aloof, ethereal woman known as the Snow Empress; and that gentle, water-like woman clad in robes of jade-green...
Each and every one of them was utterly unfathomable. As for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he was the only Level 95 Titled Douluo they possessed.
The new generation of disciples—Yu Tianxin and Yu Tianheng—had yet to fully mature.
With what, then, could they hope to contend?
Jiang Bai looked at Yu Yuanzhen and spoke slowly: "Sect Master Yu, are you facing some sort of difficulty?"
His voice was soft, yet it carried an oppressive weight that could not be ignored.
Yu Yuanzhen fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a hoarse voice: "Sect Master Jiang, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has preserved its legacy for centuries; never have we..."
"Never submitted to anyone?" Jiang Bai interrupted him with a smile.
"Well, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has never fallen from its place among the Four Great Sects, either. Yet, rules are merely conventions established by men."
Yu Yuanzhen’s body stiffened slightly.
Jiang Bai continued: "Sect Master Yu, you understand the current situation better than anyone. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is currently propped up by you—its sole Titled Douluo. The new generation of disciples has not yet come into its own."
His voice was neither hurried nor slow, as if he were merely stating a simple fact: "Meanwhile, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect boasts five Titled Douluo. And the Spirit Hall possesses even more."
"How long do you think you can hold out?"