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After concluding the matters regarding the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy exchange, Ye Lan and Silver Wolf departed under the reluctant gazes of Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, and Shui Yue'er.
Back at the academy, sparks flew between the eyes of the three girls. According to Ye Lan's instructions, these "Squire Knights" were to head to Spirit City for the Knight Selection Grand Competition once they mastered the Soul Power Limit Addition Method. The faster they practiced, the sooner they would reach Spirit City—and the sooner they would see their idol, Ye Lan, again. Compared to the purely competitive spirit of Feng Xiaotian and Yu Tianheng, the resolve of the three girls burned with a much more personal intensity.
Shui Bing'er had officially acknowledged Huo Wu as a worthy rival. After all, Ye Lan had confirmed that Huo Wu's Body Martial Soul now possessed a potential ceiling comparable to that of the Ice Phoenix.
A few days later, a golden meteor streaked across the sky above the estate of the Strength Clan.
Upon seeing the light, Tai Shan hurriedly straightened his clothes and rushed toward the main gate with urgent speed. Before the golden streak could even settle into a landing, Tai Shan performed a rapid sliding kneel, bowing his head deeply as he cried out:
"This old servant, Tai Shan, respectfully welcomes His Highness the Holy Son!"
Seeing Tai Shan's extreme humility, Ye Lan waved his hand dismissively. "Clan Leader Tai Shan, there is no need for this. The Strength Clan has been integrated into the King's Hall Manufacturing Department. As the Minister of Manufacturing, you may simply refer to me as the Hall Master."
"I wouldn't dare, my Lord!" Tai Shan said with heartfelt gratitude. "The entire Strength Clan has sworn fealty to you. Please, forgive this old servant for his persistence."
"Fine, you may call me that in private," Ye Lan reminded him. "But externally, you must call me Hall Master. Otherwise, how will others perceive my Holy Temple?"
"Yes, this old servant understands," Tai Shan nodded.
Silver Wolf watched the interaction between master and servant, musing inwardly: As expected of Xiao Lan. Even a clan leader is this eager to act as his servant.
"Rise," Ye Lan said. "Tell me, how are the preparations for the matter I mentioned before?"
Tai Shan dusted off his clothes and cupped his fists. "My Lord, following your arrangements, I have dispatched messengers to the other three Single-Attribute Clans. I've moved their annual gathering forward by a month. In a few days, the messengers will reach their respective estates."
"The gathering is set for ten days from now. Previously, it was always held in Longxing City—now known as Myriad Beast City. Considering the friction between the Spirit Hall and the Myriad Beast Sect, I took the liberty of changing the location to Wugeng City."
Ye Lan nodded in satisfaction. "Wugeng City? That's quite a distance. Tai Shan, prepare a carriage. We depart now."
"At once!" Tai Shan bowed.
The carriages produced by the Strength Clan were of exceptional quality; in fact, nearly all carriages used by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the Spirit Hall were manufactured by them. This was due to the Strength Clan's invention of the shock-absorbing spring, which vastly improved the comfort of travel.
With Tai Shan personally driving, they reached Wugeng City in just eight days, stopping only a handful of times.
Tai Shan had chosen Wugeng City for a reason. Due to the tense relations between the Spirit Hall, the Star Luo Empire, and the Myriad Beast Sect, the Spirit Hall found it nearly impossible to collect tithes within Star Luo's borders. However, because the Spirit Hall's influence was so pervasive, almost all soul masters—whether from Heaven Dou or Star Luo—had their spirits awakened by Spirit Hall deacons, most of whom were local residents.
Consequently, while the political relationship was strained, the Spirit Hall branches in many cities had not been abolished. The Star Luo Empire was vast, and without the Spirit Hall, the noble lords wouldn't bother traveling to the countryside to awaken the spirits of commoners. While these branches were excluded from the local power circles and limited to proselytizing and awakening spirits, they remained functional.
Wugeng City was unique. Situated near the Spirit Hall's sphere of influence, it was one of the few cities within the Star Luo Empire that the Spirit Hall actually controlled. This allowed Ye Lan's group to cross the border smoothly.
The carriage came to a steady halt before Wugeng City. Three men stepped out, draped in black robes and wearing black fanged masks. They wore the masks because they were technically citizens of Heaven Dou, and Ye Lan, in particular, did not wish to cause a public commotion with his famous visage.
Ye Lan noted that the style of Wugeng City differed greatly from Heaven Dou; it was darker, more militaristic, and utilitarian.
Before long, they were stopped by the city guards. "Halt! Show your identification!" a guard demanded, leveling a halberd.
Tai Shan pulled a medallion from his robes. When the guard saw the insignia held by the burly man, his face paled instantly. He hadn't expected this black-robed man to be a Spirit Douluo. The strongest person in Wugeng City was Bishop Miles, who was only a Spirit Emperor. To the guard, a Spirit Douluo was a figure from a different world.
"My Lord, please, enter!" the guard stammered, bowing low. His colleague followed suit immediately.
Tai Shan retracted the medallion and bowed toward the carriage. "My Lord, please."
The guards were thunderstruck. To see a man they considered an absolute authority refer to someone else as "My Lord"... just what kind of status did this person possess?
Ye Lan stepped forward. "Where is the gathering point?"
"At the Leisure Crane Villa," Tai Shan explained. "We've chartered the entire place to ensure privacy. I'm not sure which of the three clans has arrived early."
"Well done," Ye Lan approved.
As they walked toward the villa, Ye Lan observed the local customs. He soon saw several Spirit Hall deacons swaggering out of a restaurant after a meal without paying, leaving the owner fuming but silent in fear.
Ye Lan frowned. With a flick of his wrist, a golden flash caught the light. A gold soul coin landed perfectly on the restaurant table.
"Uncle Wolf," Ye Lan whispered, "once we return, have Spirit City send someone to investigate the Wugeng City branch."
Silver Wolf nodded. Had they not been on urgent business, they would have purged the branch then and there.
Aside from the corrupt deacons, Ye Lan noticed a high density of blacksmith shops, the rhythmic clink-clank of hammers echoing through the streets.
"Tai Shan," Ye Lan asked with interest, "how does the manufacturing of Wugeng City compare to your clan?"
Tai Shan scratched his head awkwardly. "In the past, when my elder brother Tai Tan was alive, our top-tier techniques were on par with the Blacksmith Association here. Their president is a Divine Craftsman, and my brother was one as well. I am still one step away from that realm."
"Since my brother's disappearance, we've fallen behind. The Association draws talent from everywhere, whereas we are just a single clan."
Ye Lan nodded. "Don't worry. Before long, your clan's technology will catch up."
"Is that true, my Lord?"
"Of course. Technology isn't like soul cultivation. Once you understand the underlying principles, the catch-up speed is incredibly fast."
They soon arrived at the Leisure Crane Villa, a beautiful estate nestled between mountains and water. As they entered the central square, they were greeted by the sight of numerous burly men.
"These must be members of the Defense Clan," Tai Shan noted. "Their physiques are no weaker than my own people's."
The men of the Defense Clan also noticed the three mysterious, masked figures. One burly man stepped forward. "I am Niu Ben. Are you gentlemen here to seek refuge from the summer heat at the villa?"
Tai Shan removed his mask. "Xiao Ben, it's been a long time. Do you still remember your uncle?"
"Uncle... Tai Shan? Why are you here? Did you become the leader of the Strength Clan?" Niu Ben asked in shock. Usually, Tai Nuo attended these meetings, and the two were close friends.
"Indeed. There were some incidents in the clan. I'll explain everything to your father," Tai Shan said.
"And these two?" Niu Ben looked at the others, noting that their builds didn't seem to match the Strength Clan's typical frame.
"They are important guests. Take us to your father," Tai Shan commanded.
Important guests? Is the Strength Clan trying to summon the soul of the Clear Sky Sect again? Are they from the Sect? Niu Ben wondered. Having moved to Star Luo, the other three clans were largely out of the loop regarding the recent chaos in Heaven Dou.
"Right this way!" Niu Ben led them forward, glancing back at the two strangers. Sensing no leaked soul power from them, he realized they were masters of the highest order.
A few moments later, they saw a shirtless old man repeatedly slamming his body into a decorative rock formation. With every impact, stone chips flew, yet the old man's greyish-white skin remained unblemished. Ye Lan nodded in approval; the Defense Clan certainly lived up to its name.
Sensing their arrival, the old man stopped. Seeing Tai Shan, he was equally surprised. "Tai Shan? Where is your nephew Tai Nuo? Wasn't he supposed to inherit the clan? Did something happen?"
"It's a long story," Tai Shan sighed. "Tai Nuo led a faction to break away and form the 'Titan Clan.' The root of it all was Tang Yuehua, Tang Hao's sister. Under her plotting, Tai Nuo and his faction incited the 'Rebellion of Heaven Dou.' As of now, they have all been executed by the Spirit Hall. The news likely hasn't reached Star Luo yet."
Niu Gao was shaken to his core. "Tang Yuehua planned a rebellion? How could Tai Nuo be so foolish? Why was he still working for her? Has he forgotten the pain the Clear Sky Sect and Tang Hao brought us?"
"The Sect brought us nothing but suffering! Why would he still serve them? How am I supposed to face his father now?!" Niu Gao couldn't believe that in just one year, his nephew had met such a grisly end.
"Please, contain your grief," Tai Shan said, patting Niu Gao's shoulder.
After a moment, Niu Gao composed himself. "Tai Shan, who are these people? And why did you move the gathering forward and change the location to Wugeng City?"
As Tai Shan prepared to answer, Ye Lan stepped forward. "Allow me to answer that."
Ye Lan pulled back his hood and removed his mask. His golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, and he radiated an aura of supreme confidence and imperial majesty.
Looking at the incredibly young man, Niu Gao's pupils contracted. He realized the root of this visit was the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall himself. Thinking of the damage the Spirit Hall had done to the four clans, and the fact that Tai Nuo had died by their hands, Niu Gao's blood boiled.
He grabbed Tai Shan by the collar, veins popping on his forehead. "Tai Shan, what is the meaning of this?! Just because we are at odds with the Clear Sky Sect doesn't mean we cooperate with the Spirit Hall! Tai Nuo died at their hands!"
Tai Shan went to speak, but Ye Lan raised a hand to silence him.
"To be precise," Ye Lan said calmly, "Tai Nuo did not die at the hands of the Spirit Hall. He died at mine. I was the one who extracted the truth from Tang Yuehua—that the Titan Clan was the executioner of the Heaven Dou Rebellion."
Niu Gao stared at Ye Lan in disbelief. What was this man's game? Even if he wanted to recruit the Defense Clan, was this the way to do it?
"People die every moment on the Douluo Continent," Ye Lan continued. "In my eyes, Tai Nuo was nothing special. Do you know how many died in the Rebellion of Heaven Dou? Between the Spirit Hall and the commoners of Heaven Dou, thousands perished. Tens of thousands of families were torn apart, living in grief and agony every single day."
"Tell me," Ye Lan questioned sharply, "is Tai Nuo's death enough to soothe the pain of those tens of thousands? Did he, or did he not, deserve to die?"
"This... I..." Niu Gao's expression was a mask of internal struggle. Slowly, his grip on Tai Shan's collar loosened. He looked down, defeated. "My nephew... he truly did deserve to die."
(End of Chapter)