Chapter 165: You Want to Enter the Grand Tournament, Too?
One month later.
Outside the Star Dou Great Forest lay a small, nameless town.
Situated approximately fifty li northwest of the Star Dou Great Forest, this town served as the final resupply point for the many Soul Masters preparing to enter the forest to hunt for Soul Rings.
The town was small, consisting of just a single main street lined on both sides by various shops: weapon smithies, armorers, apothecaries, inns, and a few establishments specializing in the purchase of materials harvested from Soul Beasts.
It was high noon, and the sunlight blazed fiercely.
There were few pedestrians on the street; only the occasional Soul Master, weapons slung across their backs, would hurry past before quickly vanishing through the doorway of a shop.
In the center of the town stood a quiet, three-story inn.
At this moment, on the second floor of that inn...
Inside a private dining room overlooking the street, four figures sat gathered around a square table.
They wore identical long gray robes—simple in cut and devoid of any superfluous ornamentation—yet the aura radiating from their very bones set them starkly apart from ordinary Soul Masters.
It was an aura of arrogance.
An arrogance that was ingrained to the bone—innate and absolute.
Outside the private room, in the main hall below, sat another five or six individuals clad in the same gray robes.
They were seated at two separate tables, appearing to be eating and drinking; however, their eyes would occasionally dart toward the stairwell and the windows, vigilantly scanning their surroundings.
Clearly, this group was led by the four individuals seated in the private room.
At the square table, occupying the seat of honor, sat a young man in his early twenties.
He possessed a burly physique—broad-shouldered and thick-backed—and a square-shaped face with sharply defined features, thick brows, large eyes, and a high-bridged nose.
Although dressed in a plain gray robe, he exuded an imposing presence—a natural authority that commanded respect without the need for anger—making it impossible for anyone to overlook him.
Tang Long.
The foremost disciple of the third generation within the Clear Sky Sect.
At the age of just twenty-nine, he had already attained the rank of Level 58 Soul King.
During the decades that the Clear Sky Sect had remained in seclusion, he was one of the few members of the younger generation upon whom the Elders had pinned their greatest hopes.
Possessing extraordinary talent, a steady temperament, and a seasoned approach to his affairs, he was regarded by many as a future pillar of the Clear Sky Sect.
At this moment, Tang Long sat holding a cup of tea, his gaze fixed upon the world outside the window.
Seated beside Tang Long was a young man, likewise clad in a gray robe.
He was tall in stature, yet not burly; on the contrary, he appeared somewhat slender.
His face was sharply chiseled, though it remained perpetually stern—devoid of any discernible expression.
His eyes were deep and tranquil, occasionally flashing with a glint of sharp intelligence before quickly receding once more.
Tang Hu—a Level 45 Soul Sect.
He and Tang Long were not blood brothers; however, as fellow third-generation disciples of the Clear Sky Sect, they had grown up together since childhood and shared a deep bond.
Tang Hu possessed a somber nature and spoke little, yet his mind was meticulous, and his actions decisive.
Seated opposite them, to the left, was a tall figure with short hair and a heroic countenance; his features exuded an air of uninhibited boldness.
Tang Yu—a Level 38 Soul Elder.
He was cheerful and easygoing by nature, enjoying excellent popularity among the third-generation disciples.
Although his cultivation level fell short of Tang Long and Tang Hu’s, he was reliable in his duties and possessed a keen sensitivity to detail.
The young woman seated to the right presented a stark contrast.
She was petite and delicate in stature, appearing no older than fifteen or sixteen, with a round face that still bore traces of childish innocence.
Yet, her eyes were remarkably lively—darting about with restless energy and occasionally flashing with a glint of sly cunning.
Tang Xin—a Level 35 Soul Elder.
She was the youngest of the group who had ventured out together—the beloved "Little Junior Sister" doted upon by all.
Though her cultivation level was modest, she excelled in her quick-wittedness; her mind worked at lightning speed, often allowing her to devise unexpected solutions at the most critical moments.
The four sat gathered together, yet the atmosphere felt somewhat heavy.
After a brief silence...
Tang Hu was the first to speak, lowering his voice: "Brother, we have been traveling for a full month now, and Spirit City is finally almost within sight."
He turned his gaze toward Tang Long, his eyes calm and steady: "What is our next move?"
Tang Long did not answer immediately.
He raised his teacup, took a gentle sip, and kept his gaze fixed upon the world outside the window.
A moment later, he spoke slowly: "Tang Yu, did you uncover anything on your end?"
Tang Yu nodded. She withdrew a neatly folded sheet of paper from her robes and spread it out upon the table.
It was a handwritten intelligence summary, densely covered in script.
"I’ve found it."
Tang Yu pointed to the first line on the paper; her voice was soft, yet clear and forceful: "That Jiang Bai is indeed the Spirit Hall’s newly appointed Elder of Judgment."
"Rumor has it that his power is unfathomable—that he possesses nine 100,000-year Spirit Rings."
She paused, then looked up at Tang Long. "However, few people actually believe that claim. After all... nine 100,000-year Spirit Rings is simply too preposterous to imagine."
Upon hearing this, Tang Hu’s brows furrowed slightly. "Could it truly be an illusion?"
Tang Yu shook her head.
"It’s hard to say. I’ve questioned several people who witnessed the investiture ceremony firsthand, and they all insisted that the oppressive aura they felt at the time was palpable—not something an illusion could fabricate."
"Yet, to suggest that a single individual actually possesses nine 100,000-year Spirit Rings... let alone us, even those powerhouses at the Titled Douluo rank find it utterly unbelievable."
Tang Long fell silent for a moment, then asked, "And what of the six Spirit Bones?"
Tang Yu’s finger shifted to a few specific lines on the paper. "The Spirit Bones do indeed exist."
"They are said to have been taken from Tang Hao... from that Tang Hao. Spirit Hall is currently holding them as the grand prize for the tournament; Jiang Bai is likely keeping them in his personal custody."
"They won’t be brought out for presentation until the tournament concludes."
A glint of sharp intent flashed in Tang Hu’s eyes as he couldn’t help but ask, "Then should we... perhaps find a way to..."
He left the sentence unfinished, yet his meaning was abundantly clear.
Find a way to seize them back!
Tang Long raised a hand, cutting him off.
"There is no rush."
His voice was calm, yet it carried an indisputable air of authority.
Tang Hu parted his lips to speak, but ultimately decided against saying anything further.
Tang Long pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke. "Let us observe this tournament first."
He gazed down at the intelligence report on the table, his eyes deep and profound. "If we can field a team and win the Spirit Bones back through legitimate means, that would be ideal."
"And if we cannot..."
He left the thought unspoken. Yet, the fleeting glint of cold light that flashed within those eyes spoke volumes.
Tang Xin blinked, asking curiously, "Brother Long, are we really going to participate in that—what’s it called—Grand Tournament?"
Her voice carried a mix of excitement and anticipation.
Tang Long turned to look at her, a hint of indulgence flickering in his eyes. "What? You want to go?"
Tang Xin nodded vigorously, her round face beaming with eagerness. "I do! I’ve never taken part in a major tournament like this before!"
She began counting on her fingers.
"I heard this is the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament—it only happens once every five years! Just making an appearance at an event like this is a chance to make a name for ourselves and rise to fame!"
"Plus, the champions get to take home nine ten-thousand-year Spirit Bones! Nine of them!"
Her eyes sparkled brightly. "If we manage to win, not only can we reclaim those two ancestral Spirit Bones, but we’ll also walk away with seven extra ones!"
Hearing this, Tang Yu couldn’t help but chuckle. "Xin, you certainly have a vivid imagination."
He reached out and ruffled Tang Xin’s hair.
"Do you have any idea who competes in a tournament like this? They are the top-tier geniuses from all the major Advanced Spirit Master Academies—many of whom have been groomed with intensive training since childhood. Their resources, instructors, and training facilities are all far superior to ours."
"Although our Clear Sky Sect is powerful, we have remained in seclusion for so many years; our understanding of the outside world is limited. If we rush into this tournament without proper preparation, we might very well end up at a disadvantage."
Tang Xin pouted. "Brother Yu, why are you boosting the enemy’s morale while undermining our own?"
"Our Clear Sky Sect is the greatest sect under the heavens! The Clear Sky Hammer is the greatest Tool Spirit in existence! How could those academy students possibly measure up to us?"
Tang Yu shook his head helplessly, offering no rebuttal.
However, the faint trace of worry lingering in his eyes did not escape Tang Long’s notice.
Tang Long turned to Tang Yu and asked, "Tang Yu, what’s your take on this?"