After the battle with the Red Thunder Dragon family, Crocodile Doulou and Azure Luon Doulou returned to the Spirit Hall to report their failure to the Qian Doulou. As they entered the Worship Hall, a thundering voice rang out, "You both have disgraced the face of the Spirit Hall!"
Crocodile Doulou bowed and said calmly, "Elder Qian, they have 9 Title Doulou, with 2 at level 98. One of them was the Azure Poison Dragon Doulou, and the other 7 were between levels 96 and 97. We did not have the power to fight them, so we followed your second command to measure their strength, but we were overwhelmed by their power."
Qian Doulou appeared before them, his expression worried. "My friend, you should have just left after seeing their power. Why did you have to fight them? You could have died!"
Crocodile Doulou replied, "Friend, they let us escape. I am certain that the power I felt from the Red Thunder Dragon Doulou was very powerful, and if he uses the Red Thunder Dragon transformation, he could even rival you in raw power. I just wanted to follow your order after observing your state of mind due to the death of your son and the power of their family."
Qian Doulou said, "They have become very powerful without being discovered." Crocodile Doulou then suggested, "Brother, all the Title Doulou in their family can protect their family for at least the next 100 years, so I suggest that we do not provoke them. Though we can rule due to your presence, you cannot move against them due to your duty to the Angel God."
Qian Doulou nodded and said, "Then I will announce a decree that we will leave all the sects alone and change the order to request for assistance, as the Red Thunder Dragon family and all the lower sects were the first to receive the decree. If they change it now and request assistance from the top sects, it will show that the Spirit Hall has taken a step back."
Crocodile Doulou then asked about Lion Doulou, and Qian Doulou replied, "He will be returned to us. I now know how their family works. They will injure him, but they will return him." Crocodile Doulou then mentioned that the Red Thunder Dragon family's patriarch had ordered the capture and removal of their soul bones.
Qian Doulou said, "It's okay. He will lose three of his limbs, and his level will drop from 97 to 96. I will use medicine and soul skills to regrow his limbs. This can be said that we have paid the price of the arrogance we had."
Qian Doulou then instructed Crocodile Doulou and Azure Luon Doulou to suppress the Haotian Sect, but Azure Luon Doulou asked if they would eradicate them. Qian Doulou replied, "Do you not know about Tang Chen? Even now, at level 99, supported by the Angel God at the peak of cultivation, I feel that he can defeat me. Do not underestimate the Haotian Sect. They are far more powerful than you thought. Plus, I made a promise to Tang Chen that I will not attack them if they return to their ancestral land." With that, Qian Doulou disappeared.
As the two Doulou left the Worship Hall, they could not help but feel a sense of unease. The power of the Red Thunder Dragon family had caught them by surprise, and they knew that the Spirit Hall was now in a precarious position.
Crocodile Doulou turned to Azure Luon Doulou and said, "We must tread carefully from now on. The Red Thunder Dragon family has proven to be a formidable opponent, and we cannot afford to provoke them further. We must focus our efforts on suppressing the Haotian Sect as Elder Qian has ordered, but we must be mindful of Tang Chen's strength and the promise he has made."
Azure Luon Doulou nodded in agreement, his expression grim. "I understand, Crocodile. We must be cautious in our dealings with the Haotian Sect as well. They are not to be underestimated, and we must use our resources wisely to ensure the Spirit Hall's dominance."
The two Doulou made their way back to their respective quarters, their minds racing with the implications of their latest encounter. They knew that the balance of power in the cultivation world had shifted, and they would need to adapt quickly if they were to maintain the Spirit Hall's position.