"I wonder what brings His Highness the Third Prince to our humble Clan of Strength?"
Tai Tan's tone reflected his confusion. There was no history between the Clan of Strength and Dai Mubai, so the prince's sudden visit was puzzling at best.
Dai Mubai waved his hand casually. "I'm here for one purpose only—to bring the Clan of Strength under my banner."
Tai Tan froze momentarily before anger flickered across his face. Just as he was about to order Dai Mubai out, the latter continued, "Clan Chief Tai Tan, please hear me out before making your decision."
"Fine, speak," Tai Tan replied curtly. His earlier politeness was gone.
Bring the Clan of Strength under his command? This audacious young man? What a joke!
Tai Tan was determined to hear what Dai Mubai had to say, if only to amuse himself before driving the prince out. His clan would never again serve under anyone else!
"Tang Hao is dead. I killed him."
Dai Mubai's expression remained calm as he delivered this statement, watching Tai Tan closely.
Tai Tan was momentarily dumbfounded. What had Dai Mubai just said? Had he misheard?
Tang Hao was dead?
"W-what did you just say?" Tai Tan stammered, his face filled with disbelief.
Once, Tai Tan had been fiercely loyal to Tang Hao, but what had come of it? His son and grandson had been slain by Tang Hao's son, Tang San. Even now, though Tai Tan harbored deep resentment towards Tang Hao, he had to admit that the man was one of the most powerful figures on the continent.
This was why vengeance seemed impossible.
"Tang Hao is dead. I killed him," Dai Mubai repeated, as composed as if he were recounting an everyday matter.
Tai Tan stood up, pacing around Dai Mubai as if trying to measure the truth in his words. Finally, he laughed bitterly. "Kid, I'll admit you're the most monstrous talent I've ever seen, even surpassing Tang Hao in his youth! But do you take me for a fool? Tang Hao is a Titled Douluo. And you—kill him? Hahaha..."
Dai Mubai: "..."
So this is what happens when you're too young, huh? If Dai Mubai were forty years old, Tai Tan might have doubted his words but wouldn't have dismissed them so easily.
Shaking his head, Dai Mubai decided to let his strength speak for itself.
He released his martial spirit.
Black, black, black, red. Black, red, red, red.
Four black rings, four red rings—a total of eight spirit rings ascended from Dai Mubai's feet, and his imposing aura instantly filled the entire Clan of Strength's compound.
"Old Tai Tan, do you still think I'm incapable of killing him?" Dai Mubai asked coldly.
Tai Tan: "..."
His eyes widened in shock. How old was this boy? And he was already a Spirit Douluo? That alone was unbelievable, but his spirit ring configuration—four black, four red—was utterly monstrous.
In all his years, Tai Tan had never seen or even heard of such an extraordinary combination.
The gap between them was unfathomable, even though they were both Spirit Douluos.
"I believe you. I believe you!" Tai Tan stammered, his earlier bravado crumbling. With such a spirit ring configuration, even as a Spirit Douluo, Dai Mubai could indeed kill a Titled Douluo.
Four 100,000-year spirit rings!
As Dai Mubai retracted his martial spirit, the Clan of Strength's courtyard was already swarming with curious clansmen. The overwhelming aura just now clearly hadn't come from Tai Tan, and they feared something might have happened to their leader.
"Go, go, go!" Tai Tan waved his hand, dismissing the onlookers.
As the Clan Chief, Tai Tan's word was absolute. Despite their confusion, the clansmen reluctantly dispersed.
"My apologies for the disturbance, Your Highness," Tai Tan said, his attitude now drastically different. He poured Dai Mubai a cup of tea, smiling warmly.
"It's fine. Clan Chief Tai Tan, have you considered my proposal?" Dai Mubai remained expressionless, though inwardly he mused, As expected, strength speaks louder than words.
Tai Tan sat down, his expression serious as he contemplated Dai Mubai's offer.
Dai Mubai's youth and unparalleled talent, combined with his achievement in slaying Tang Hao, made his future boundless.
Tai Tan no longer doubted Dai Mubai's claim. With four red spirit rings, killing Tang Hao was entirely plausible.
"If the Clan of Strength were to follow you, what would we gain in return?" Tai Tan asked after a long silence.
Under normal circumstances, even with Dai Mubai's power and potential, Tai Tan wouldn't have considered swearing allegiance to anyone. After their betrayal by the Clear Sky Sect, the Clan of Strength had resolved to rely on no one but themselves.
However, could they really walk away from this situation unscathed?
"I can't guarantee specific rewards," Dai Mubai said, shaking his head. "But I can promise that your lives will be far better than they are now."
Wealth, status, and even spirit bones—Dai Mubai could offer these as a prince of the Star Luo Empire. But he saw no need to dangle such promises unnecessarily.
"The main reason I want to recruit the Clan of Strength is because I plan to attack the Clear Sky Sect. If there are spirit bones to be had…"
Dai Mubai left the sentence unfinished. After all, what if the Clear Sky Sect didn't have any?
"Attack the Clear Sky Sect?" Tai Tan's eyes widened in shock, his entire body trembling. The Clear Sky Sect was the number one sect in the world. Was such an assault even feasible?
Then again, Dai Mubai had killed Tang Hao. Without Tang Hao, could the Clear Sky Sect still hold its title?
Slamming his hand on the table, Tai Tan rose to his feet and dropped to one knee before Dai Mubai. "I, Tai Tan, swear on behalf of the Clan of Strength to follow His Highness the Third Prince!"
His eyes burned with killing intent. The Clan of Strength had suffered greatly under Tang Hao's betrayal. How many clansmen had died because of him?
And Tang Hao's son, Tang San, had killed Tai Tan's own son and grandson!
Revenge had once seemed impossible, but with Dai Mubai, that hope was now within reach.
"Wait a minute—spirit bones aren't as motivating as attacking the Clear Sky Sect?" Dai Mubai muttered to himself. "Seems like Tai Tan already had this idea in mind."
If that were the case, then the Clan of Destruction might be even easier to win over. Of the four subsidiary clans, their hatred for the Clear Sky Sect—and Tang Hao in particular—ran deepest.
Next in line would be the Clan of Defense.
As for the Clan of Speed… that was trickier.
Old White Crane was Tang Hao's uncle, and while the Clan of Speed had also been abandoned by the Clear Sky Sect, their ties to Tang Hao were far more personal.
In retrospect, the Clear Sky Sect had been remarkably consistent in alienating all its allies.
Helping Tai Tan to his feet, Dai Mubai reflected that this successful negotiation was within his expectations.
Of the four clans, the only truly troublesome one was the least capable—the Clan of Speed. The others…
(End of Chapter)