He Came to Steal Tang San's Immortal Herbs?! Xu Zhao: It Was No Trouble at All! (Please Read On!)

Ever since the Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion, life for the Four Single-Attribute Clans had steadily gone from bad to worse.

Although the Defense Clan had it slightly better than the other three, thanks to their work building houses and other structures, they were still barely getting by.

Just then.

"Clan Chief!

Clan Chief!

Something terrible has happened...

No, a very important person is here!"

The guard rushed into the hall in a panic, gasping for breath as he shouted.

"What are you panicking for?

Have you no sense of propriety?"

Niu Gao glared with his tiger-like eyes. The iron balls in his hands clacked together with a sharp sound.

"Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up!

Tell me, who's here?"

The guard swallowed and stammered, "A... A man and a woman are at the gate. The man claims to be...

Claims to be the Crown Prince of Great Ming Empire, Sun-Moon Douluo, Xu Zhao!"

"What?!"

Niu Gao, who had been as steady as a mountain, sprang from his chair the moment he heard those words.

His massive frame sent up a gust of wind, flipping over the tea table beside him.

"Who did you say?

Xu Zhao?!

The Crown Prince of Great Ming Empire?!"

Niu Gao's eyes widened, shock written all over his face.

And there was even a hint of excitement he could hardly hide!

As clan chief, he naturally had far better sources of information than the gate guards.

What had been the biggest news in the Soul Master World these past few days?

It wasn't the Elite Tournament for Advanced Soul Master Academies Across the Continent.

It was the rise of the mighty and overbearing "Great Sun Prince Mansion"—or rather, what should now be called "Great Ming Empire"!

Linhai City had fallen in half an hour!

The Star Luo Crown Prince, Dai Weisi, had been captured alive!

Even Duke Nether, Zhu Zihao, had become a prisoner!

There were even rumors that Great Ming Empire had several Titled Douluos, and even someone who possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!

And Xu Zhao was the one behind it all: the mysterious, peerlessly talented Crown Prince of legend!

"Quick! Come with me to greet him!"

Niu Gao didn't bother with the dignity of a clan chief. He strode toward the entrance.

As he walked, he straightened his rough leather armor and muttered, "Good heavens, a true god has come!

He even dared to slap the Star Luo Imperial Family in the face. I've been wanting to meet him for ages!"

Abandoned by the Clear Sky Sect and suppressed by Spirit Hall, the Four Single-Attribute Clans had little affection for either of the Two Great Empires or Spirit Hall.

The Star Luo Empire in particular had often looked down on them.

Now that the Star Luo Empire had suffered a humiliating defeat and lost half its territory, Niu Gao couldn't have been happier.

An enemy's enemy was a friend!

At the main gate.

Xu Zhao stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

Lan Yiyi was idly kicking a small stone by her feet and humming an unknown tune.

Just then.

Heavy, hurried footsteps sounded from within the gate. The ground seemed to tremble faintly with every step.

"Hahahaha! Your Highness, I had no idea you were coming! Forgive Old Niu for failing to greet you sooner!"

His voice boomed before he even appeared. Then a figure like an iron tower emerged at the gate.

It was Niu Gao, clan chief of the Defense Clan.

He strode up to Xu Zhao, his enormous, bell-like eyes quickly taking in the young man.

When he sensed the unfathomable Soul Power within Xu Zhao—vast as an ocean—the last of his doubts vanished.

He really was a Titled Douluo!

And that aura... It was more concentrated and profound than that of any Titled Douluo he had ever met!

Even more astonishing, the Crown Prince looked... incredibly young!

"I, Niu Gao of the Defense Clan, greet Your Highness!"

Niu Gao clasped his hands and bowed, greeting him with warmth and unmistakable respect.

In a world where strength reigned supreme, the strong were worthy of respect.

And Xu Zhao was not only the Crown Prince of an empire, but also a man whose strength and status were more than enough to make even an arrogant Soul Douluo like Niu Gao bow his head.

"Clan Chief Niu, there's no need to be so formal."

Xu Zhao smiled faintly and raised a hand to help him up. He didn't put on any airs as Crown Prince; instead, he seemed quite easygoing.

"I've long heard that the Defense Clan is unmatched in defense, and that Clan Chief Niu is a generous and honorable man. Meeting you today, I see the rumors were true."

"Ha! Unmatched in defense? We're just good at taking a beating. Forgive me for making a fool of myself in front of you!"

Niu Gao laughed heartily, then stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.

"Your Highness, this isn't the place to talk. Please, come inside! I'll have some good food and wine brought out. We can talk over a drink!"

Seeing Niu Gao's beaming face, Xu Zhao's smile grew.

It seemed the Defense Clan would be even easier to win over than he'd expected.

The atmosphere in the Defense Clan's reception hall was warm and lively.

Niu Gao was a straightforward man. Since Xu Zhao wasn't putting on airs and was so powerful, a few cups of strong liquor soon got him talking.

After several rounds of drinks and a good meal, Xu Zhao looked at Niu Gao.

His fingers tapped a steady rhythm on the table. The soft sound gradually quieted the noisy hall.

"Clan Chief Niu, I'll speak plainly."

Xu Zhao sat up a little straighter. His smile faded, replaced by the solemn bearing of an emperor.

"I came here not only to pay you a visit, but more importantly, to invite the Defense Clan out of seclusion and into my Great Ming Empire."

At that, the smile on Niu Gao's face stiffened. The wine cup he had raised to his lips stopped in midair.

He'd already suspected that the Crown Prince hadn't come without a reason.

Still, now that Xu Zhao had openly stated his intention to recruit them, Niu Gao couldn't help feeling uneasy.

Niu Gao set down his cup, his brow furrowing as he replied hesitantly, "Your Highness, we're honored that you think so highly of us.

"But you know the situation with the Defense Clan. Back then, the Clear Sky Sect... Ah, never mind."

"We old fellows just want to live out our days in peace.

"And apart from being tough, our clan doesn't have much to offer. If Your Highness expects us to charge into battle, I'm afraid..."

Niu Gao didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.

He was afraid Xu Zhao wanted them for their defensive strength and intended to use them as cannon fodder on the battlefield.

After all, Great Ming Empire had only just been established. It was expanding its territory, and war was breaking out everywhere.

Seeing Niu Gao's wary, conflicted expression, Xu Zhao couldn't help chuckling.

"Clan Chief Niu, you've misunderstood."

"Charge into battle?

My Great Ming Empire has plenty of elite Soul Masters for that kind of rough work. Why would I need to send the Defense Clan?"

"Then what did you have in mind, Your Highness...?"

Niu Gao was at a loss.

Xu Zhao stood and walked to the center of the hall, smiling.

"My Great Ming Empire has only just been founded. We've taken Linhai City, but it's only a port. It's too small in scope."

"I intend to build a true imperial capital for Great Ming Empire!

"A magnificent city unlike any before it or any to come—a city so grand that even Spirit City will pale in comparison!"