After understanding what happened, Bai He looked at Yun Chuan with gratitude:
"Tang Chuan, you saved Xiang Xiang's life and brought her safely home. I truly don't know how to thank you. From today forward, you're a friend of the Min Clan."
Bai Chenxiang, the youngest and most gifted of her generation, was treated like a little princess.
But for such life-saving kindness, talk of money or worldly rewards would be crass—especially since the Min Clan wasn't well-off, relying on the other clans for assistance.
So, granting Yun Chuan the clan's friendship was a far more precious gift. In the future, if he needed help, as long as it wasn't excessive, the Min Clan would aid him.
Yun Chuan sensed Bai He's sincerity and accepted graciously. Refusing would look insincere and suspicious, even possibly as if he'd engineered the whole thing as a scheme to earn a favor—so he responded politely and soon prepared to take his leave.
But Bai He wouldn't let his guest slip away so easily—after such a journey, he insisted Yun Chuan come in, at least for some tea and a meal. With Bai Chenxiang clinging fearfully to his arm, Yun Chuan relented and joined them inside.
In the main hall,
the leaders of all four major clans were gathered: Titan of the Li Clan, Yang Wudi of the Po Clan, Niu Gao of the Yu Clan—the host—and Bai He of the Min Clan—plus their juniors.
As the only outsider, Yun Chuan drew every eye.
Before awkwardness could arise, Bai He introduced him:
"Everyone, this is Tang Chuan—the young man who saved our Xiang Xiang…" He briefly explained the situation.
Immediate goodwill spread from all four clans.
These families shared close bonds, often helping each other in times of crisis; saving one clan's little princess won Yun Chuan respect from them all.
But… the surname Tang?
The other clan chiefs exchanged a glance, instantly alert. After all, the surname Tang instantly called up associations with the Clear Sky Sect.
And after the Clear Sky Sect abandoned these subsidiary clans—leaving them to suffer at Spirit Hall's hands—resentment ran deep.
So, they hated the sect that had betrayed them.
"Young man, your surname is Tang? Are you from the Clear Sky Sect?"
As host, Niu Gao of the Yu Clan asked bluntly.
Niu Gao looked seventy or eighty, with short, spiky, steel-gray hair, ruddy complexion, and broad shoulders, his figure like an immovable fortress.
"Clear Sky Sect?" Yun Chuan's face shifted—he hadn't expected such a direct question, and his peculiar origins made him uncomfortable. He quickly replied:
"I have nothing to do with the Clear Sky Sect!"
"You're lying!"
Yang Wudi, Po Clan leader, suddenly interjected—tall, thin, with black hair and a sharp, somber gaze.
It wasn't just Yang Wudi—all the clan leaders were experienced, sharp-eyed elders. Yun Chuan's hesitation and subtle reaction betrayed him; they were convinced he was from the sect.
"No, I'm really not."
Seeing himself mistaken for their enemy, Yun Chuan denied it again. He had no wish to inherit their anger—his momentary hesitation was only from remembering his true roots.
"Hmph, if not, will you show us your martial soul?"
Titan, the Li Clan chief, grunted. He was burly and stocky, with upright, needle-like hair.
"Tang Chuan, are you really from the Clear Sky Sect?" Bai He pressed, his tone now serious.
"I really am not."
Faced with four clan chiefs—plus Bai He, formerly so friendly—Yun Chuan felt frustrated. Was a surname really enough to turn a guest into an enemy?
Now, he had three choices:
Reveal his martial soul, proving he was not from the sect;
Slipping away and implicitly admitting;
Or fighting everyone in the hall.
He chose the first—no reason to take the blame for the sect's sins.
Sneaking out wasn't necessary. Fighting everyone just for fun was more trouble than it was worth.
So, Yun Chuan raised his hand, and with a hazy glow, summoned a vibrant Blue Silver Grass.
At the same time, rings appeared around him—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, red, red!
A full nine rings—the peak Title Douluo!
Of course, these were for show—Yun Chuan had discovered he could simulate soul rings and their aura with five-element power, creating the illusion. The effect was convincing, but they were not true soul rings.
He could model any color—hundred, thousand, ten-thousand, hundred-thousand, million year rings—all with five-element force.
But simulated rings, while hard to distinguish from real ones, were fundamentally different; otherwise, Yun Chuan joked, he could be passing out "god-given" soul rings!
(End of Chapter 105)