"No need for such formality, everyone—please rise."
Led by Yang Wudi, Ignaz entered the Breaking Clan's new headquarters. Yang Wudi introduced as they walked:
"Alliance Leader, our new clan grounds are nothing like before. At the mountain's base, Old Brother Dugu and I devised a Hundred Insect Poison Fog as our first line of defense. Beyond that, we've also installed the Rank Three Spirit Guidance Ray Cannons you granted us as the clan's standard armaments."
"Combined with the natural terrain, our defenses are now impregnable. In addition, we've cultivated dozens of acres of medicinal fields in the Falling Star Mountains. Within half a year, our clan will see its first considerable profits."
As Ignaz toured the inner compound while listening, he was deeply satisfied.
"Excellent. With you here, Senior Yang, I can rest easy."
Ignaz then released the Azure Saint Unicorn from his treasure pouch. Yang Wudi and the Breaking Clan elders were astonished to see the unconscious unicorn lying on the ground.
"Alliance Leader, this is a living Azure Saint Unicorn? Our clan spent years searching for it, but never even glimpsed its shadow. To think that today you've captured one—and a ten-thousand-year beast at that!"
Yang Wudi's eyes burned with desire. The Azure Saint Unicorn was among the rarest top-tier healing spirit beasts, its entire body a treasure. Its fur and saliva alone were priceless materials for alchemy.
Most precious of all was its blood, flowing with gentle healing spirit power—an unparalleled catalyst for fusing ingredients and enhancing medicinal pills.
"This unicorn was obtained by chance, with my grandfather's help. It is intended as Ye Lingling's fifth spirit ring.
But since I know your clan urgently needs a healing-type spirit beast, until Lingling reaches Rank 50, I'll leave this beast in your care, Senior Yang. Just one condition: do not kill it."
Yang Wudi stepped forward, gently stroking the unicorn's body. The surging vitality within made him even more exhilarated.
"With this beast, those top-tier herbs you gave me will have their pill-forming success rate boosted by 40%, and output could double or even triple!"
"Someone, carry this ten-thousand-year Azure Saint Unicorn to my medicine garden. Guard it well."
...
Not long after, several Breaking Clan clansmen from the city below arrived in carts, hauling crates of supplies up the mountain.
"Young Master, every four years our Four Great Single-Attribute Clans gather. That stubborn old goat refused to attend last time, preferring to stay holed up in his broken territory. Who'd have thought he'd finally leave for this place? This chance to forge weapons is the perfect excuse for a talk."
"But remember—of all the clans, the Breaking Clan suffered the worst because of the Old Master. Nearly half their people were lost. When you go with me, do not say you are the Old Master's son. Otherwise, knowing that goat's temper, he'll turn hostile on the spot."
The speaker was none other than Titan of the Strength Clan, one of the Forging Association's Godsmiths. Seated beside him in the cart was a young man in blue clothes with blue hair, a Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist—Tang San, handsome in appearance.
Half a month earlier, after Tang San and the others joined Blue Tyrant Academy, the academy was renamed Shrek. Because Xiao Wu was so beautiful, she quickly attracted the attention of Tai Long, a student of the old Blue Tyrant Academy. After she rejected him, he challenged Tang San.
As in the original tale, defeat of the son brought forth the father. When Tang San faced the Rank 85 Titan, he revealed his Clear Sky Hammer. From then on, Titan pledged loyalty to him.
At that same time, Tang San had witnessed the Breaking Clan requesting the Strength Clan to mass-produce parts for Rank Three Spirit Guidance Ray Cannons. These mechanical constructs resembled Tang Sect hidden weapons. Thus, Titan brought Tang San to visit the Breaking Clan.
"Why can't I mention my father?" Tang San asked from the front of the cart, confused. To his knowledge, his father was only a village blacksmith, with no enmity toward the Breaking Clan.
"Since the Master never told you, it means he doesn't want you to know. So I won't say more. Just remember: never mention his name in front of that old goat."
Tang San could only nod. If Titan and Ning Clan's master both refused to explain, he would wait until he met his father again to ask. He believed in his father—even if he had done wrong, there must have been no other choice.
For now, his attention was drawn to these devices. They weren't hidden weapons, yet they were astonishingly similar. Just how powerful could these Spirit Guidance weapons be?
According to his teacher, aside from storage-type devices, attack-type spirit tools on the continent were extremely rare, and even then, weak.
Why, then, would the Breaking Clan invest so heavily into mass-producing these weapons?
Whatever the case, he needed to see for himself. If their power proved strong enough, perhaps he could adapt their technology to improve the Zhuge Divine Crossbow.
"Clan Chief Titan, we've arrived. Please do not approach that poison barrier ahead. It is a new toxin devised by our Clan Chief. Even a Titled Douluo would melt into a puddle of blood within minutes."
A Breaking Clan clansman leapt off the cart to warn them.
"Wait here. Someone will come to receive you."
Titan eyed the rolling green fog before them and teased:
"That old goat grows more cowardly with age. To shroud his clan's entrance in poison fog—is he preparing to resist the Spirit Hall itself?"
But Tang San's expression was grave. From the faint scent alone, he could tell—even as a Tang Sect poison expert—that this toxin was beyond his ability to counter. If a Titled Douluo stepped into it, his calculations showed they would die within four minutes.
Soon after, Yang Wudi emerged from the fog with a smile, looking straight at Titan.
"Old Gorilla, who would've thought you'd deliver the shipment personally?"
"Old Goat, it's been three years since our last gathering. Now that you've moved your entire clan to Heaven Dou, of course I had to come see for myself."
Titan laughed heartily. As he spoke, his eyes shifted to Ignaz beside Yang Wudi. At the sight, he was momentarily stunned.
"Well, well! To think Yong-er has grown into this. Truly he inherited Wushuang's looks—handsome indeed! Though that white hair makes him seem a little old."
Yang Wudi quickly stepped in to explain:
"Old Gorilla, where are your eyes? This child isn't Yong-er. He's the grandson of my dear friend."