Dragon Rise City, Defense Clan!

"This is Sand-Spraying Shadow..."

"This is Leg Crossbow..."

Tang San introduced more than a dozen kinds of Hidden Weapon before pausing to catch his breath, while Tai Tan handed Zhou Chen and Tang San a cup of tea at the opportune moment.

"Glug glug glug..."

Thirsty, Tang San gulped down a cup of wine, looked up at the sky outside the blacksmith's shop, and said, "Is it... noon?"

"Yes, young master."

Tai Tan nodded, turned to look at Zhou Chen, and said, "Your Highness, the luncheon has been prepared. We invite you to join us."

"Haha, Titan Clan Leader, you're too kind."

Zhou Chen nodded slightly, and then, with the help of Tang San and Tai Tan, he arrived at the Tang Sect's banquet hall.

Inside the banquet hall, a round table was set up, laden with various dishes, their colors vibrant and their aromas enticing, clearly indicating meticulous preparation.

"Your Highness, please."

Tai Tan respectfully extended his hand and bowed, and the two sat down happily to begin drinking and eating.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Zhou Chen put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a silk wet wipe, looked at Tai Tan, and said casually but with great meaning, "Titan Clan Leader, I have heard that your Strength Clan was once an annex of the Clear Sky Sect."

"Indeed, I wonder what Your Highness means..."

Tai Tan was a little confused. Why bring this up all of a sudden?

Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow and said, "I've also heard that, along with your Strength Clan, there are several other single-attribute sects affiliated with the Clear Sky Sect!"

Upon hearing this, Tai Tan instantly understood.

The arrival of this Palace Master of Purple Micro Palace and Nation Protecting Prince today is clearly not for a reason!

He wasn't there to see the Tang Sect Hidden Weapons at all; he was there to inquire about the situation of the other three Single Attribute Clans.

It seems that the Purple Micro Palace wants to recruit the other three clans!

If others asked about the other three races, Tai Tan would never mention a word, but when this Nation Protecting Prince asked, Tai Tan could only give a detailed account.

After all, their Tang Sect was already under the control of the Purple Micro Palace and the Heaven Dou Empire.

Tai Tan sighed and said, "Back then, the Clear Sky Sect was the First Sect Under Heaven, with a large number of Soul Master sects and families under its command, among which our single-attribute sect was the most prominent. This included the Strength Clan, the Defense Clan, the Speed Clan, and the Breaking Clan."

"Later, the Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion, and the affiliated Soul Master had to fend for themselves. Meanwhile, our major single-attribute sects have always helped each other. We gather together every two years."

After a pause, Tai Tan continued, "Your Highness, you have come at the perfect time. If you had come tomorrow, I'm afraid you wouldn't have been able to see me."

"Oh, really?"

Zhou Chen said with a smile.

"Senior Tai Tan, are you embarking on a long journey?"

Tang San, standing to the side, asked in confusion.

"Hmm. I plan to take some of my clan's disciples to the Star Luo Empire tomorrow to attend a gathering of several major single-attribute sects."

Tai Tan nodded and gave Zhou Chen a meaningful look.

This Nation Protecting Prince didn't come early or late, but just when the Strength Clan was preparing to go to the gathering. It's clear that he had already found out the situation and did it on purpose.

Thinking of this, Tai Tan's heart stirred. He looked at Zhou Chen and said, "Your Highness, if it's convenient for you, you can come with me. Your presence at our gathering of major sects would surely be an honor."

"Haha, since the Titan Clan Leader has extended an invitation, then I will not refuse."

Zhou Chen laughed and nodded in agreement. Although Tai Tan was stubborn and obstinate in the original story, it seems to be quite perceptive now.

Tang San, still young at heart, upon hearing of the lively gathering, enthusiastically asked, "Senior Tai Tan, I'd like to join you. Would that be convenient?"

Upon hearing this, Tai Tan's expression immediately changed, and he said with a wry smile, "Young Master, if you insist on going, that's fine, but the patriarchs of the other three clans harbor deep resentment towards the Clear Sky Sect, and even hate it very much."

"Oh, why?"

Tang San said somewhat awkwardly.

"Because the Clear Sky Sect angered the Spirit Hall back then, these major Single Attribute Clans were also attacked by the Spirit Hall, especially the Breaking Clan, whose clan suffered nearly half of its losses and has not yet recovered."

Tai Tan sighed and continued, "But the Clear Sky Sect backed down in the face of battle, only caring about its own direct descendants, which chilled the hearts of the major clans."

"Moreover, in recent years, because the Spirit Hall cannot find the Clear Sky Sect, it can only take its anger out on the clans that were once affiliated with the Clear Sky Sect, which has made life quite difficult for these clans."

"Our Strength Clan is relatively well-off because we live in Heaven Dou City, where the Spirit Hall's power is weaker, and we also possess the skill of forging. But the situation of the other clans is far more than just unsatisfactory."

Upon hearing Tai Tan's account, Tang San sighed. It was indeed wrong of the Clear Sky Sect to retreat in the face of battle back then, and abandoning its affiliated sects was even more despicable. As a result, whenever the Soul Master World mentions the Clear Sky Sect, they think of a coward.

"Senior Tai Tan, it is the Clear Sky Sect that has wronged them."

Tang San smiled wryly and said, "Senior Tai Tan, let me go with you. We should try to resolve any grudges that need resolving. I also hope to make amends to them as much as possible. What do you think?"

"Well, as expected of a mistress."

Zhou Chen clapped his hands at the opportune moment and said with a smile.

Although Zhou Chen's purpose in coming here was to make the other three clans submit to the Purple Micro Palace, he didn't mind Tang San going with him.

In any case, with Tang San's current meager strength, it's impossible for him to subdue the other three races by force as in the original story.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Zhou Chen stood up and said, "Third Brother, Elder Tai Tan, I'm full and ready to head back now. I'll meet up with you again tomorrow to go to the Star Luo Empire for a gathering of the major clans."

So, Tang San and Tai Tan respectfully escorted Zhou Chen to the gate, watching him transform into a golden light and shoot off towards the palace...

The next day, early morning.

Zhou Chen arrived at the Tang Sect early in the morning to meet up with Tang San and Tai Tan before the group set off.

Tai Tan didn't bring many people with him. Besides his son Tai Nuo and grandson Tai Long, there were dozens of his clansmen, all of whom were Soul King with Soul Power level of over 50.

Tai Tan originally planned to travel light, with only a few people. However, since His Nation Protecting Prince Zhenguo was going to accompany him, Tai Tan had no choice but to bring more people to create a grand spectacle, and dozens of carriages were mobilized.

Inside a spacious carriage, Zhou Chen, Tang San, and Tai Tan sat facing each other.

Tai Tan slowly said, "This journey will take us over seven thousand miles. We will cross half of the Heaven Dou Empire and enter the Star Luo Empire to meet them in Dragon Rise City. The Defense Clan is based there."

"The Martial Soul of the Defense Clan is the Plate Armor Rhinoceros. Their skin is thick and their defense is no less than that of the Elephant Armor Sect among the Seven Great Sects. It's just that their attack power cannot compare with that of the Elephant Armor Sect."

"Moreover, they are also your relatives, young master."

"Um?"

Tang San was completely bewildered. What was going on?

Seeing Tang San's bewildered look, Tai Tan smiled kindly and said, "Actually, the original patriarchs of these single-attribute clans were all relatives of the Clear Sky Sect."

"Our Strength Clan is one of the earliest established among the major clans. My great-grandmother was a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Sect, and my great-grandfather's strength was close to that of a Title Douluo. He also had a passion for forging, so with the support of the Clear Sky Sect, the Strength Clan was established."

"The other three clans were all established within the last hundred years, so their history is not long. Each clan has its own specialties. Our Strength Clan is strong and good at forging. The Defense Clan has strong defense and is also good at construction. The Speed Clan is fast and good at exploration. The Breaking Clan has strong attack power and is good at medicine making."

"I see."

Tang San nodded, then felt even more ashamed. The Clear Sky Sect was truly ruthless; they didn't even care about their relatives when they retired.

"Right now, our Strength Clan is doing the best. The Defense Clan often builds mansions for nobles and lives quite well. Although the Breaking Clan suffered heavy losses in the past, their medicines are very popular and they are relatively wealthy."

"Only the Speed Clan is in a worse situation. They are unwilling to serve other forces and have no means of making a living, so they can only rely on the assistance of the other three clans."

At this point, Tai Tan glanced at Zhou Chen, and a faint smile appeared on Zhou Chen's lips.

On the surface, this old Tai Tan was explaining the situation of Single Attribute Clans to Tang San, but in reality, he was explaining it to Zhou Chen.

Hmm, this old man is quite pragmatic.

Looking approvingly at Tai Tan, Zhou Chen asked with a smile, "Elder Tai Tan, how many clansmen do the major clans have in total now?"

"The major clans together probably number around a thousand people, and excluding the Strength Clan, there are nearly seven hundred."

"Tai Tan said slowly."

"Oh, that's quite a lot."

Zhou Chen said with a smile.

Although the Strength Clan has pledged allegiance to the Tang Sect, the combined strength of the other three clans can greatly bolster the power of the Purple Micro Palace.

Although the Spirit Hall has been keeping a low profile, it is precisely this low-profile Spirit Hall that is most terrifying.

He must use every means to expand the power of the Purple Micro Palace as soon as possible, and then take the initiative to attack the Spirit Hall!

Two weeks later.

Dragon Rise City.

Dragon Rise City is located on the northern border of the Star Luo Empire.

This city itself is not directly under the jurisdiction of the Star Luo Imperial Family, but belongs to a kingdom granted by the royal family.

Similar to the Heaven Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire's kingdoms and duchies were not peaceful and had mostly submitted to the Spirit Hall, standing against the empire and becoming separatist forces.

Therefore, although Dragon Rise City was nominally a city of the Star Luo Empire, it was actually already the territory of the Spirit Hall.

As the Star Luo Empire's power was gradually undermined, the Defense Clan became increasingly uneasy, because the Spirit Hall had been suppressing the Defense Clan all along.

In particular, the Elephant Armor Sect, which had allied with the Spirit Hall, frequently threatened the Defense Clan under the guise of wanting to recruit them.

The fact that this gathering of the major clans was held in Dragon Rise City is actually because the Defense Clan felt a sense of crisis and wanted to discuss the future with the other three clans.