The Schemes of the Various Factions, the Ill-Intentioned Golden Crocodile Douluo

With Tuo Ba Yun's formal announcement, all the Black Dragon Sect's disciples and elders broke into applause in unison.

The visiting factions joined in the applause.

The music began, and the Tianshui Family performed a dance to accompany it, surprising the assembled factions.

They whispered among themselves: the Black Dragon Sect was truly remarkable!

It had actually managed to bring the Ice Phoenix family, which possessed a top-tier Beast Martial Soul, into its fold.

The Star Luo Empire's prince and the Heaven Dou Empire's prince exchanged a glance, making no attempt to hide the contempt in their eyes.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he sneered, "Prince Xuelin, the Tianshui Family's dance is truly beautiful!"

Heaven Dou's prince, Xuehua, grimaced for an instant. Naturally, he could hear the implication.

He calmed himself.

The man stared at Zhu Zhuyu beside him and said mildly, "Is that so? I think the Tianshui Family's dance is less beautiful than your country's Zhu Family dance."

Anyone with eyes could see the thick smell of gunpowder between them. The Star Luo crown prince was mocking Heaven Dou over the Tianshui Family joining the Black Dragon Sect.

The reason was that the Heaven Dou Empire had spent a hundred years trying and failing to recruit the elemental families, only for the Black Dragon Sect to bring one into its fold as soon as it was founded.

Just then.

Tuo Ba Yun, the host, came down from the stage to offer toasts to the various factions.

He walked over to the area occupied by the Two Great Empires.

Tuo Ba Yun glanced around and saw that the Two Great Empires had sent only princes. Their attitude displeased him greatly.

He offered each a toast with half a cup and took only a light sip, giving neither prince any face.

The two were jolted out of their argument. This Black Dragon Sect master was a little too arrogant!

But after reminders from their respective consecrators, both men forcibly held back.

Tuo Ba Yun did not care what they thought. Neither king of the Two Great Empires had come; their attitude showed they held him in no regard, so why should he respect them?

I finally managed to cultivate to Super Douluo after all that effort, and I'm still supposed to humble myself? Just how low can I get?

Tuo Ba Yun continued forward. Next, he faced Spirit Hall's current master, Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen stood shoulder to shoulder, both having been lost in thought for some time.

They had discovered that the Heaven and Earth Essence at the site where the Black Dragon Sect had been founded was far too concentrated.

The presence of life was also frighteningly abundant. It truly was a place where Soul Beasts grew!

There also seemed to be an endless supply of energy deep within the sect.

They had seen a place like this in only one other location: a lake in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.

If they cultivated here, they could surely achieve twice the results with half the effort...

Just now, Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu had exchanged voice transmissions. Both seemed to have sensed the presence of heavenly treasures inside!

The two nodded in unison. Tang Chen rubbed his hands, already unable to resist the urge to explore the Black Dragon Sect.

When Tuo Ba Yun came before Qian Daoliu, the two finally stopped talking.

"Your Holiness the Pope, you are welcome to visit my Black Dragon Sect often. I'll drain this cup first."

"You're too kind, Sect Master Tuo Ba. That your sect could establish itself in a Soul Beast forest truly puts this old fellow to shame, haha."

Qian Daoliu raised his cup with a smile that did not reach his eyes and drained it.

Tuo Ba Yun also swallowed the strong liquor in one gulp.

A maid appeared beside him and refilled his cup.

Then he looked at Tang Chen beside Qian Daoliu,

"I presume you must be Sect Master Tang? Your Excellency Haotian's presence truly brings light to our humble sect. I'll drain this cup first."

"Good, I'll join you."

Tang Chen was a straightforward man as well. He picked up the wine beside him and immediately drank three cups.

Then he stood shoulder to shoulder with Qian Daoliu again, and they continued whispering, looking nothing like members of opposing factions.

Tuo Ba Yun continued on.

The next sect was one of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Compared with the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was far more courteous. A delicate fragrance wafted over.

"Ning Meilan of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect greets Sect Master Tuo Ba."

A beautiful woman in luxurious purple robes approached with graceful steps.

Ning Meilan had a voluptuous figure and was a woman of ripe beauty.

Her long purple dress was made of sheer gauze.

Her lovely figure was tantalizingly visible beneath it.

Even Tuo Ba Yun could not help swallowing.

Beside Ning Meilan stood Long Hua, an old man with white hair and a white beard.

The visitor stroked his beard and said, "I heard long ago that Sect Master Tuo Ba was a man of remarkable appearance. Seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary."

"You're too kind, Senior Long. I offer you this cup. I still have matters to attend to, so I won't keep you two company."

"We understand, we understand. Please go about your business, Sect Master Tuo Ba."

Ning Meilan covered her mouth and chuckled, her gaze wandering.

She sized up the unfathomable Sect Master Tuo Ba while surveying the scenery of Black Dragon Mountain around her.

The Heaven and Earth Essence here was abundant, and energy was plentiful. It possessed undeniable commercial value.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had become the only support sect among the Upper Three Sects, and Ning Meilan's eye for investment was far beyond that of ordinary people.

To tell the truth, she was already tempted to invest.

But Long Hua's words brought her back to her senses.

"Sect Master, Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen came at the same time. The way the wind is blowing today doesn't seem quite right."

Hearing this, Ning Meilan withdrew the flecks of golden light in her eyes. Her expression grew grave, and she decided to wait and see how things unfolded.

At this moment, Yu Chenxiao of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan regarded Tuo Ba Yun, the master of the newly established sect, with a solemn gaze.

Both possessed dragon Martial Souls, and he had already sensed a faint dragon's might coming from Tuo Ba Yun.

It seemed to be of even higher quality than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. How could he not be shocked?

Beyond his shock, he felt even more jealousy, because the Soul Masters of the continent unanimously regarded the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon as the number one Beast Martial Soul.

As the master of a sect, Yu Chenxiao quickly suppressed the darkness in his heart. Forcing a faint smile, he cupped his fists in greeting:

"Yu Chenxiao of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect congratulates Sect Master Tuo Ba on your Sect Founding Ceremony."

As the head of one of the Upper Three Sects, he could be said to have given Tuo Ba Yun ample face by cupping his fists in greeting.

"Sect Master Yu, your great name has struck my ears like thunder. I'll drain this cup!"

With that, Tuo Ba Yun drank the cup of wine and turned to leave.

But he sensed a hand reaching out behind him. It belonged to Yu Chenxiao.

"Sect Master Yu, what is this?"

In the end, Yu Chenxiao could not contain his doubts and spoke up.

"May I ask what Martial Soul Sect Master Tuo Ba possesses? Why does it make my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul tremble so?"

Tuo Ba Yun chuckled softly. "It's merely a Mutated Martial Soul."

"May I ask what Martial Soul it is, Sect Master?"

"Golden-Eyed Black Dragon."

"Thank you for enlightening me, Sect Master Tuo Ba."

"You're welcome."

Tuo Ba Yun nodded and continued exchanging pleasantries with the other sects.

He first met with the Lower Four Sects. This was five hundred years before the events of the original story.

At this time, the Lower Four Sects were the Cold Prison Ice Scorpion Sect, the Illusory Eye Nether Spider Sect, the Devouring Space Ao Sect, and the Black Abyss Turtle Sect.

They possessed Martial Souls with ultimate ice, spiritual, spatial, and top-tier defensive attributes, respectively.

Tuo Ba Yun was very courteous to them, treating them with respect and even personally pouring wine for the sect masters.

His purpose was simple: to recruit their weaker sects. This was his master's wish...

Tuo Ba Yun's behavior took the sect masters completely by surprise.

Why was this Black Dragon Sect master being so courteous to them?

All of them accepted their cups and drank in trepidation.

After the pleasantries, the four sect masters exchanged glances, conveying messages with their eyes.

They first talked about the Tianshui Family joining the Black Dragon Sect, then thought about their own circumstances.

After being harassed by Spirit Hall for so long, if nothing else worked, they might as well join the Black Dragon Sect and be done with it.

But...

One of them shared Ning Meilan's thoughts: could the Black Dragon Sect really stand on equal footing with Spirit Hall?

As they pondered this, a deep, resonant voice rang out.

"I heard that Sect Master Tuo Ba is a Super Douluo. This old man also recently broke through to Super Douluo and would like to have a match. Would you do me the honor, Sect Master?"

The newcomer was unshaven and dressed entirely in gold, but had the unmistakable look of an old man.

"Golden Crocodile Douluo!"