Subduing the Strength Clan

"Tang Hao is nothing but a homeless cur."

"You're courting death!" Tai Tan roared in fury. Eight Soul Rings burst forth beneath his feet as he directly unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar. The enormous phantom of a Power Gorilla appeared behind him, and he threw a punch at Lin Fan.

Before the fist could land, however, a black shadow flashed past. Gui Mei was already standing before Lin Fan, casually catching Tai Tan's full-force blow.

Then he flung the dog-like servant away, sending him crashing into the Spider web.

"Clan Chief Tai Tan, don't be impulsive." Gui Mei gave a sinister smile. "Our Young Master hasn't finished speaking."

Ghost Douluo Gui Mei had already reached level 96 last year. Tai Tan's full-force attack at level 82 was effortless for him to handle. He was at the peak of level 96, only half a step away from level 97.

Catching Tai Tan's full-force attack, given that he was only level 82, was simply effortless.

Tai Tan's pupils contracted. Gui Mei's strength far exceeded his expectations, yet he still craned his neck and roared, "Kill me or torture me as you please! But you want me to betray Tang Hao? Not a chance!"

"Oh, right. Of the current Four Single-Attribute Clans, only your Strength Clan has yet to submit to Spirit Hall." As Lin Fan spoke, he took out the clan leader tokens of the Agility, Defense, and Attack Clans. He swept his gaze across the crowd with a cold sneer. "You can continue serving a homeless cur whose shadow can't even be found, or you can choose to live, join Spirit Hall, and enjoy wealth and glory."

Tai Tan struggled up from the spider web, his face full of rage. Just as he was about to curse, Gui Mei sealed his voice with Soul Power.

Lin Fan slowly stepped forward, his gaze passing over the Strength Clan members. "Your clan chief is old, stubborn, and beyond redemption. He isn't worth dying for. Step forward and submit to Spirit Hall, and you'll be spared. Continue serving Tai Tan, and die!"

As his words fell, Evil God Space sank into brief silence.

The Strength Clan members looked at one another. Some had hesitation flicker in their eyes, while others gritted their teeth and held firm. But even more of them began to think.

"Do you really think Tang Hao will come back?" Lin Fan sneered. "He couldn't even protect his own sect, couldn't even look after his own clansmen, and vanished without a trace for six years. Yet you still treat him as your pillar? How laughable!"

"Will you choose an illusory former master, or an organization that can give you strength and a future?"

"Spirit Hall is the future!"

A Strong Man with a face full of flesh suddenly spat on the ground and strode to Lin Fan's side. "I've had enough of these damn clan rules! Following Spirit Hall and living well isn't better than being Tang Hao's watchdog?"

He tore off the Strength Clan emblem from his chest.

That man was one of the Strength Clan's only two Soul Saints, as well as its deputy clan chief.

People began stepping forward one after another. Even Tailong and Tainuo hesitated.

Tainuo's fists clenched until they turned white.

Staring at Tai Tan's miserable figure tangled in the spider web, then catching sight of the uncertainty flickering in his clansmen's eyes, he slowly spoke. "Father! If Lord Tang Hao truly cared about us, he wouldn't have abandoned the entire sect for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast back then!"

Even Tailong stepped forward and said, "Grandfather, he's right. Tang Hao has been missing for six years. We can't keep waiting any longer. Spirit Hall can give us a better future."

"Tai Tan, listen to them. Your clansmen no longer trust you." A cold smile tugged at Lin Fan's lips. "Your so-called loyalty is nothing more than your obsession."

Tai Tan's eyes widened as he stared at his son in disbelief. "Tailong, you... you actually betrayed Lord Tang Hao?"

"I'm not betraying him. I'm merely choosing reality," Tailong said in a low voice. "Our Strength Clan cannot be buried because of one man's obsession."

Tainuo fell silent for a moment before finally stepping forward as well. "Father, I'm sorry. I don't want the Strength Clan to be exterminated because of our stubbornness."

"Young Master, how should Tai Tan be dealt with?" Gui Mei cast a sinister glance at Tai Tan, who was trapped in the spider web, and asked softly.

Lin Fan casually glanced at Tai Tan, a cruel smile curling across his lips. "Seal his Soul Power and take him back to be a breeding stud."

"W-what?!" Tai Tan's body shuddered. Blood instantly filled his eyes as he struggled and roared, "You little bastard! How dare you?!"

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Lin Fan gave a derisive laugh and looked down at him from above. "What value does a loyal dog of a homeless cur have? Still, with your Soul Douluo cultivation, your children should at least possess level-seven Innate Soul Power. It barely counts as putting waste to use."

"You—!" Tai Tan's eyes nearly split apart as he struggled madly. But the spider web in Evil God Space only tightened further, completely suppressing even his Soul Power. He could not break free at all.

"Gui Mei, do it," Lin Fan ordered indifferently.

"Yes, Young Master." Gui Mei raised his hand with a sinister smile. A dark surge of Soul Power instantly pierced into Tai Tan's body, thoroughly sealing all the Soul Power in his body.

Tai Tan let out a muffled groan, his face turning deathly pale. His entire body went limp like mud.

"Take him away." Lin Fan turned around without sparing Tai Tan another glance.

The Strength Clan members stood silent as cicadas in winter, watching their once-dignified clan chief get dragged away like livestock. Yet not a single one dared speak up to stop it.

"From this day onward, the Strength Clan submits to Spirit Hall." Lin Fan looked around at everyone, his voice icy. "Harbor any disloyalty, and your entire clan will be exterminated."

Tainuo and Tailong lowered their heads, their fists clenched white and their expressions terribly grim, but in the end, neither dared resist.

The entire place was silent. Everyone's eyes focused on the Strong Man named Taiyue.

Taiyue had once been the deputy clan chief of the Strength Clan, but he had now become the first to betray his clansmen and pledge allegiance to Spirit Hall.

"My lord, it's me." Taiyue grinned, making no effort to hide the smugness in his eyes. "My name is Taiyue. I was previously the deputy clan chief of the Strength Clan. But now, I'm no longer one. I am loyal to Spirit Hall."

Bound by the spider web, Tai Tan glared at Taiyue with his eyes wide open, his teeth grinding as fury nearly burst from his gaze.

"You traitor!" Tai Tan roared hoarsely. "You actually dare betray Lord Tang Hao!"

"Tang Hao?" Taiyue scoffed, his face filled with disdain. "Is a homeless cur whose shadow can't even be found worth my loyalty? Clan Chief, you're too naive. Rather than wait to die with you, I'd rather submit to Spirit Hall and enjoy true wealth and glory."

Lin Fan gave a slight nod, a cold smile appearing on his lips. "Very good. From today onward, you are the new clan chief of the Strength Clan."

Ecstasy flashed through Taiyue's eyes. He immediately dropped to one knee, his voice loud and clear. "Thank you for your cultivation, Young Master! Taiyue swears to be loyal to Spirit Hall unto death!"

"Tang Hao has already been gone for six years." Taiyue continued, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. "He can't even look after his own sect. Why should we be buried for him?"

Tainuo and Tailong exchanged a glance. Struggle flashed through their eyes, but neither spoke in the end.

"From today onward, the Strength Clan officially submits to Spirit Hall," Taiyue declared. "Anyone harboring disloyalty... should kill themselves."