Stealing Tang San's Immortal Herbs?! Xu Zhao: A Small Matter! (Seeking Follow-up Reading!)

Ever since the Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion, the days of the Four Single-Attribute Clans had been going from bad to worse.

Although the Defense Clan managed to live slightly more comfortably than the other three clans by helping others build houses and structures, it was still merely a subsistence-level existence.

Just then.

"Patriarch!

Patriarch!

Something terrible has happened...

No, a great personage has arrived!"

The guard rushed into the main hall in a panic, shouting while gasping for breath.

"What are you panicking for!

Have you no sense of decorum!"

Niu Gao glared with his tiger-like eyes, and the iron balls in his hands collided with a sharp, ear-piercing clack:

"If the sky falls, I'll be the one to hold it up!

Speak, who has come?"

The guard swallowed hard and stammered:

"At... at the gate, there is a man and a woman. The man claims to be...

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

"What?!"

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

His massive frame stirred up a gust of wind that directly overturned the tea table beside him.

"Who did you say?

Xu Zhao?!

That Crown Prince of the Great Ming Empire?!"

Niu Gao widened his bull-like eyes, his face full of shock.

There was even a hint of undisguised... excitement!

As the head of a clan, his channels of information were naturally much better informed than those of the guards at the gate.

What was the most sensational news in the entire soul master world these past few days?

It wasn't the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

It was that "Great Sun Prince Mansion" that had appeared out of nowhere with unparalleled dominance, or rather, what should now be called the "Great Ming Empire"!

They breached Linhai City in half an hour!

They captured the Star Luo Crown Prince Dai Weisi alive!

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

There were even rumors that the Great Ming Empire possessed several Title Douluo, and even owners of 100,000-year soul rings!

And this Xu Zhao was the very mastermind behind all of this, the legendary, mysterious, and monstrously talented Crown Prince!

"Quick! Quickly follow me out to welcome him!"

Niu Gao didn't care about the airs of a patriarch at all, striding toward the gate with long, swift steps.

As he walked, he adjusted his somewhat rugged leather armor, muttering to himself:

"Good heavens, this is a true god!

To dare to slap the face of the Star Luo royal family—I, old Niu, have long wanted to see this for myself!"

For the Four Single-Attribute Clans, who had been abandoned by the Clear Sky Sect and suppressed by the Martial Soul Hall, they had no good feelings toward the two great empires or the Martial Soul Hall.

Especially the Star Luo Empire, which had often given them a hard time in the past.

Now that they saw the Star Luo Empire suffer a setback and lose half of its territory, Niu Gao couldn't have been more delighted.

The enemy of an enemy is a friend!

At the main gate.

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

Lan Yiyi was boredly kicking small pebbles at her feet, humming an unknown little tune.

Just then.

A heavy and hurried sound of footsteps came from inside the gate, and the ground seemed to tremble slightly with each step.

"Hahahaha! I didn't know that Your Highness the Crown Prince would grace us with your presence. Old Niu failed to welcome you properly, please forgive me, forgive me!"

Before the man himself appeared, his voice arrived first.

A voice as loud as a booming bell exploded, and immediately after, a figure like an iron tower appeared at the main entrance.

It was none other than the patriarch of the Defense Clan, Niu Gao.

He strode up to Xu Zhao, his large, copper-bell-like eyes sweeping rapidly over him.

When he sensed the unfathomable, vast, ocean-like fluctuations of soul power within Xu Zhao, the last shred of doubt in his heart vanished completely.

It really was a Title Douluo!

And this aura... it was more condensed and profound than any Title Douluo he had ever met!

What was even more terrifying was that this Crown Prince looked... truly far too young!

"Niu Gao of the Defense Clan, greets the Crown Prince!"

Niu Gao cupped his hands and bowed, his attitude quite enthusiastic, even carrying a hint of reverence.

In this world where strength is respected, the capable are teachers.

Not to mention that the other party was the heir to a nation; both his strength and status were enough to make a Soul Douluo like him lower his proud head.

"Patriarch Niu is too polite."

Xu Zhao smiled slightly and reached out to gesture for him to rise, not putting on any airs of a Crown Prince, appearing quite easygoing instead:

"I have long heard that the Defense Clan's defense is peerless, and that Patriarch Niu is a man of heroic spirit and loyalty. Seeing you today, the reputation is well-deserved."

"Ha! Peerless defense? It's nothing more than the ability to take a beating. You make me blush, Your Highness!"

Niu Gao let out a hearty laugh, then stepped aside and made a "please" gesture:

"Your Highness, this is no place for a conversation. Please, come in! I will have my men prepare fine wine and food, and we can chat while we drink!"

Looking at Niu Gao's enthusiastic, beaming face, the smile at the corners of Xu Zhao's mouth deepened.

It seemed that this Defense Clan would be even easier to win over than he had imagined.

Inside the reception hall of the Defense Clan, the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Niu Gao was a straightforward man. Seeing that Xu Zhao had no airs and possessed formidable strength, after a few cups of strong wine, his chatterbox opened up.

After three rounds of drinks and five courses of food.

Xu Zhao looked at Niu Gao.

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, the light sounds causing the once-noisy hall to gradually quiet down.

"Patriarch Niu, let's speak plainly."

Xu Zhao sat up slightly straighter, reined in his smile a little, and added a touch of imperial solemnity:

"My visit this time, beyond paying my respects, has a primary purpose: I wish to invite the Defense Clan to come out of seclusion and join my Great Ming Empire."

Hearing this, the smile on Niu Gao's face stiffened slightly, and the wine cup he had raised to his lips paused in mid-air.

Although he had a premonition that the Crown Prince wouldn't visit without a reason, when the offer was truly laid out on the table, he couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.

Niu Gao set down his wine cup, his brows furrowed, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation:

"Your Highness, I am honored by your regard."

"But you know the situation of our Defense Clan. Back then with the Clear Sky Sect... sigh, it's better left unsaid."

"We old fellows only want to live a peaceful life now.

Besides, our Defense Clan has no other skills other than having thick skin and sturdy bodies.

If Your Highness wants us to charge into battle, I'm afraid..."

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

He feared that Xu Zhao had taken a fancy to their strong defensive capabilities and wanted to use them as meat shields or cannon fodder on the battlefield.

After all, the Great Ming Empire had just been established, and it was a time of expansion and raging war.

Looking at Niu Gao's vigilant and conflicted expression, Xu Zhao couldn't help but chuckle:

"Patriarch Niu has misunderstood."

"Charge into battle?

For that kind of rough work, my Great Ming Empire has plenty of elite soul masters; how could it ever be the turn of your Defense Clan?"

"Then, Your Highness, what do you mean..."

Niu Gao was a bit confused.

Xu Zhao stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and smiled:

"My Great Ming Empire has just been established. Although we have taken Linhai City, it is ultimately just a port; the scale is too small."

"I want to build a true imperial capital that belongs to the Great Ming Empire!

A magnificent, massive city that has never been seen before and will never be seen again, one grand enough to make even Martial Soul City pale in comparison!"