Niu Gao, Bai He, and Tai Tan greeted the late-arriving Yang Wudi with playful complaints.
"You old monster, what took you so long?" Tai Tan grumbled with a grin. "Were you so caught up in your alchemy business that you forgot about us worn-out relics?"
Niu Gao chuckled and added, "Wudi, you haven't lost your edge, have you? Or are you just slowing down with age?"
The group burst into light-hearted laughter, years of camaraderie softening the bite in their words. Yang Wudi merely snorted at their teasing, clearly unimpressed.
"Refined taste doesn't come with age, clearly," he huffed. "While you old savages waste your days chasing after fights, I've been expanding my poisonous herb collection. Alchemy isn't just fascinating—it's a way of life."
Curiosity shining in his eyes, Yang Wudi turned to Tai Tan and asked, "By the way, Old Tai, why did you call us out here so suddenly? Is there something urgent going on?"
Tai Tan glanced around cautiously before replying in a grave tone, "This isn't the place to talk. If word gets out, our four clans could be wiped off the face of the continent. Let's head somewhere safer—I have a place in mind."
Yang Wudi's curiosity only deepened. What secret could be so dire it threatened all four families? Still, a guess was already forming in the back of his mind.
"Does this something have to do with that damned Martial Soul Hall?"
Tai Tan gave a subtle nod and raised a finger to his lips in a gesture for silence, his tone dropping to a whisper. "Not here. Let's move—somewhere with no prying eyes. Come on."
With that, Tai Tan rose to his feet, and Bai He and Niu Gao followed him without question. Yang Wudi felt something was off—but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Hmm… is it just me? Or do they already know something?" Yang Wudi muttered to himself, frowning slightly. That's when his eyes landed on someone vaguely familiar, standing quietly beside Tai Tan—Tang Yin.
Tang Yin had been subtly suppressing his aura, practically blending into the background like mist at dawn. No wonder Yang Wudi hadn't noticed him earlier. Most men wouldn't have.
Tang Yin had an uncanny way of drawing attention specifically from women—his presence carried an almost natural allure. There was something in his bearing, his quiet confidence, that seemed magnetic.
As for a group of grizzled old men? Why would they waste time fussing over a pretty face?
Tai Tan remained silent as Tang Yin wordlessly joined them. Without asking any questions, Bai He, Niu Gao, and Yang Wudi climbed into the carriage behind him. The vehicle rumbled along a narrow forest path, branches brushing against its sides, until it emerged onto a barren stretch of land.
Yang Wudi's frown deepened. Not because of the landscape—but because neither of his so-called friends had asked a single question about where they were going.
By the time they stopped, they were nearly ten kilometers away from the Defense Clan's base. As Tai Tan descended the carriage, both Niu Gao and Bai He stood by Yang Wudi's side, pretending to be curious.
"Alright, Tai Tan, tell us quickly—what's so important that you asked us to come here?" asked Yang Wudi, trying to sound clueless. But Tang Yin smirked coldly, having already seen through his pretense.
"Alright, I'm going to say it. But don't be too surprised. Martial Soul Hall is planning to hunt down two of the top three sects—both the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect—within the next three to five years."
"What? How did you even get this sensitive information?" asked Yang Wudi, truly shocked. Bai He and Niu Gao also acted surprised—because they were. This news was like a powder keg—too explosive.
"Anyway, I can't tell you how, but soon enough, the Hao Tian Sect will be their final target. So I'm going to ask you—will you join me when they attack the Hao Tian Clan? Or are you going to watch as bystanders? Because I'm telling you, their ambition won't stop there. Sooner or later, it'll be our turn."
Yang Wudi frowned, his face darkening at the mention of the Hao Tian Clan. He gritted his teeth with hatred, his fist clenching tightly, making crackling sounds.
"Are you kidding me, Tai Tan? Even if they attack our clan, I'm never going to bow my head and help those who abandoned us." Yang Wudi's eyes blazed with hatred.
Just as he was about to erupt, Tang Yin sent telepathic signals to the others to launch their most powerful and lethal strike at once. Almost instantly, Tang Yin, Tai Tan, Niu Gao, and Bai He cornered Yang Wudi.
"Fifth Soul Skill—Emperor's Boost!"
As his fifth ring shone brightly, the Blue Silver Emperor gained eightfold amplification in all aspects. Without hesitation, he launched his second ring, controlling the vine to bind:
"Second Soul Skill—Cloud Vine Binding!"
Yang Wudi's limbs were tightly bound by the enhanced Blue Silver Emperor. He tried to struggle, but it only made creaking sounds—instead of shattering the vines, as he had imagined.
"Eighth Soul Skill—Spirit Doppelgänger!"
The final of Bai He's eight spirit rings lit up. In that instant, his Needle-Tailed Swift floating in midair turned into five. Each doppelgänger possessed equal speed and defense as the original. All five could be said to be both real and fake—as he attacked his old friend without mercy.
"Eighth Soul Skill—Vigorous Boost!"
Tai Tan immediately released his beast spirit—Vigorous Orangutan. His 8th spirit ring came from the 30,000-year-old Fifteen Ton Ant King, increasing his overall strength. He punched in a flurry, straight at Yang Wudi, who was bound by Tang Yin's strengthened vines.
"Eighth Soul Skill—Diamond Mammoth Slam!"
Niu Gao channeled the crushing might of a mammoth with the unbreakable hardness of diamond. He raised his massive forearm, now hardened like diamond, and slammed it down with overwhelming force. Shockwaves rippled—"The best defense is offense."
Though Yang Wudi was strong, he didn't even have time to release his Breaking Spear. He was utterly defeated in less than a minute, beaten unconscious by the ruthless assault.
Tang Yin didn't waste a moment. He fed the disoriented Yang Wudi potent herbs that lowered his spiritual defenses.
After thirty minutes, he launched his telepathy and began reorganizing each and every memory to avoid mishaps. He branded himself as the benevolent master Yang Wudi would follow for life.
Inside Yang Wudi's memory lay even deeper information on immortal herbs and many rare treasures—things Tang Yin found extremely valuable. When he stumbled upon one specific stash, he began laughing boisterously.
"I can't believe it. This old man has stashed a lot of Whale Rubber precisely because he knew its medicinal value in cultivation. And not just many—but high-aged ones. With this, I'll have four Titled Douluo under my command."
Tang Yin smiled widely as he snatched Yang Wudi's storage rings. Tai Tan and the others watched Tang Yin with strange expressions, but said nothing about his shameless behavior
"Alright, Tai Tan—pick up Yang Wudi. We're heading back to the Defense Clan base. I've got something important to do. Hahaha!" Tang Yin laughed as he stepped into the carriage, enthusiastically.
Back at the Defense Clan's base—
Yang Wudi had already woken up from his beating and was hissing in pain as he clutched his bruised injury.
"You old guy—you're ruthless, even to your own friend! Just wait and see. I'll make sure to pay it back tenfold!" he cursed loudly.
"All right, everyone, we've got something important to do. I've got some gifts for you guys," Tang Yin said shamelessly, pulling out the same Whale Rubber he had stolen from Yang Wudi and presenting it to the four old men.
Except for Yang Wudi, everyone looked curiously at the Whale Rubber in confusion.
"Lord Tang Yin! We aren't so old that we need to use aphrodisiacs just yet," stated Tai Tan, while the others nodded in unison.
"WHO SAID IT WAS FOR THAT?!" retorted Tang Yin loudly, embarrassed that he hadn't explained himself clearly. He coughed to hide his embarrassment before continuing,
"This is a my secret—something you must keep to your deathbed. This Whale Rubber has a special effect... not just that kind of effect."
"Anyway, you'll consume this fifty-thousand-year-old Whale Rubber and cultivate. It should help you break through to level ninety. If not, I've got something else for you," Tang Yin added, making sure they heard his generosity loud and clear.
"Understood, Lord Tang Yin," said Tai Tan and the others expectantly.
Tang Yin began boiling the four Whale Rubber one after another and had them consume it. Since their spiritual power was sufficient to control themselves, they didn't suffer much while channeling the excess soul power.
Three hours later—
All four of them had finished cultivating. Black goo began spilling from their viscera, and Yang Wudi expelled the most, due to years of working with poisonous herbs that had seeped deep into his bone marrow.
They all experienced the legendary cutting of the marrow and washing of the tendons, and were left utterly flabbergasted. Yang Wudi was the most excited—his cultivation instantly surged to level 90. The other three were on the verge of breaking through.
Seeing this, Tang Yin took out three soul bones—each over thirty thousand years old—that he had originally hunted for Xiao Mei, and gifted them to Tai Tan, Bai He, and Niu Gao.
The three were so moved they kowtowed to Tang Yin. "Great Lord Tang Yin, you're our clan's greatest benefactor!"
Tang Yin watched, amused by their worship, as they began absorbing the soul bones. Soon, one after another, they broke through to level 90.
Tang Yin's grin widened in satisfaction as he nodded in approval at their progress.
Now, Tang Yin had four Titled Douluo as Tang Sect's future protectors.