Accompanied by Bai He, Ignaz and Yang Wudi walked into the Speed Clan estate. As the three entered the main hall, the representatives of the four clans had already gathered.
"Old Goat, I've long heard that your Breaking Clan moved to the Heaven Dou Empire and has even gained recognition from the imperial family. You're easily the wealthiest and most developed among us brothers," Niu Gao said cheerfully, approaching Yang Wudi. He felt genuinely happy for the Breaking Clan. If they hadn't moved to the Heaven Dou Empire, who knew how the Spirit Hall would have treated them?
"Old Rhino, that's all thanks to Iggy's help. Our clan not only escaped the Spirit Hall's oppression, even Yang Yong joined the Heaven Dou Royal Academy and took first place in this Spirit Master Tournament," Yang Wudi replied.
However, sitting on the stone bench to the left, Titan looked displeased. If it weren't for Ignaz leading the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, could a single Spirit King have really defeated the Shrek Academy team, the champions of the Spirit Hall? In truth, the other members contributed very little in the team battles. This so-called All-Continent Elite Spirit Master Tournament championship was largely inflated.
Still, since the four clans had been single-attribute clans and had maintained friendship for over forty or fifty years, Titan wasn't about to speak too harshly. Holding two cups of wine, he walked toward Yang Wudi.
"Old Rhino, I may have acted improperly before. Consider this my apology."
Yang Wudi looked at Titan with irritation. He refused the wine, saying, "Titan, I have no need for your drink. From now on, just focus on being a lackey for the Tang family!"
Hearing such disrespect, Titan's anger flared. He slammed the cup to the ground, the sharp shattering echoing through the hall.
"Old Goat, what are you implying? You never let up on Tang San, huh? Haoran has already been expelled from the clan; he's no longer a disciple of the Clear Sky Clan, and even his son, Tang San, isn't considered part of it. Was it wrong for me to take them in? Don't try to pin the sins of your past on Haoran and Tang San."
At this, Niu Gao and Bai He stepped forward.
"Tang Hao, Tang San, what's going on? Old Ape, are you saying your Strength Clan accepted them?"
Titan looked at the two, seeing their confusion and anger, and recounted everything that had happened recently. Niu Gao and Bai He's expressions shifted dramatically.
"Tang San, the one who shocked everyone at the Spirit Master Tournament with his twin spirit abilities, is actually Tang Hao's son?"
"What? You actually accepted the Tang family? After everything they did to us, your Breaking Clan just let it slide?"
Bai He felt both surprised and conflicted. On one hand, he wanted to see his grandson properly; on the other, he cared deeply about the opinions of the other three clans, especially Yang Wudi. After all, over the years, the Breaking Clan had provided plenty of support to the Speed Clan.
Niu Gao felt differently. After the Strength Clan was abandoned by the Clear Sky Clan, their losses were far worse than Speed Clan's. His only daughter and son-in-law had been killed during the escape, and his daughter had been pregnant. The Strength Clan had sworn eternal enmity against the Spirit Hall and harbored deep resentment toward the Tang family—even toward anyone named Tang.
"Tang San is a twin-spirit Spirit Master. His second spirit, the Haotian Hammer, is the strongest weapon spirit in the world. His future achievements will be extraordinary," Titan said. Yet even this didn't fully convince everyone present.
He continued, "Most importantly, the young master discussed with me his plan to use our four single-attribute clans as a foundation to build a Tang Clan sect. This sect wouldn't belong to the Clear Sky Clan, and that's why I truly respect his intentions."
"Do you mean our four clans are going to stay divided and continue being bullied by other sects?"
At this, Niu Gao and Bai He exchanged glances. Bai He, fast but lightly built, had long thought that if the four single-attribute clans united, groups like the Elephant Armor Sect or Wind Sword Sect would be no match. But Speed Clan was the poorest, and Bai He cared too much about appearances; uniting the clans was something he could only speak of in passing, never act on.
"What Titan says is exactly what I feel too. But I won't join any Tang Clan. Call it Tang San's sect if you like, but at the end of the day it's tied to the Clear Sky Clan. Tang San is, after all, from the Clear Sky Clan's main lineage," Yang Wudi said firmly.
"As long as Tang San and the Tang family exist, I will never join the Tang Clan. If Old Rhino and Old White Bird are also willing, then the three of us can form our own sect."
After saying this, Yang Wudi glanced at Ignaz standing just behind him. He had no choice: the Strength Clan wanted to recruit people, and the Breaking Clan wanted to absorb the Strength Clan. By indicating interest in Speed Clan as well, he prevented both Min and Strength Clans from joining Tang Clan—otherwise, their visit would have failed entirely.
The two clan heads saw the tension between Titan and Yang Wudi and realized the gathering was about to get extremely difficult and unpleasant.
As the hall fell into a deathly silence, the clan heads fell into deep thought.
Just then, Bai Chenxiang returned to the estate, with Ma Hongjun trailing behind like a stubborn shadow. Not even the guards could stop him.
"Grandfather, I bought the wine back."
Entering the main hall, she saw two men deep in thought and the other two glaring at each other. Fearfully, she asked, "Grandfather, what's wrong with the others?"
At her words, the four men snapped out of their reverie. Niu Gao approached Yang Wudi, and Bai He slowly moved closer to Titan. Smiling, they said, "It's nothing, we were just discussing some matters."
Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun, following Bai Chenxiang, caught sight of Ignaz. Clenching his fists, he glared with a mix of anger and resentment.
"Again with Ignaz. Why does he have to follow me everywhere I go?"
Ignaz noticed Ma Hongjun as well. Though slightly surprised, it wasn't entirely unexpected to encounter him in this city.
(End of chapter)