The Strength Clan Exterminated

Titan struck first.

His right fist, wreathed in dark red light, smashed toward Gu Qingshan's chest.

"Titan Firmament Breaker."

A mass of energy, compressed to the absolute limit, erupted from Gu Qingshan's left arm like a cannonball fired from its chamber, carrying the force to shatter the heavens and destroy the earth.

"BOOM!"

"CRACK!"

A series of explosions crackled across Titan's chest before he was sent flying backward. After smashing through the courtyard wall, he tumbled dozens of meters across the ground, finally coming to a stop on the stone steps.

Titan's chest was now a horrific, gaping hole; his heart had been obliterated, and his eyes were wide open.

Master, where are you... This old servant can no longer...

Titan was dead.

The patriarch of the Strength Clan, an affiliate of the Clear Sky Sect and an eighty-sixth-level Soul Douluo, had been blasted to death just like that.

"Ah! Patriarch... The patriarch is dead!"

"No! Grandfather!"

At this moment, the main force of the Strength Clan finally arrived.

Seeing their patriarch lying dead on the ground, they were all stunned!

Gu Qingshan brushed some non-existent dust off his clothes. "Dying to the Titan Firmament Breaker—it can be said he died in a fitting manner."

"If you want to blame someone, blame the Clear Sky Sect. Who told you to willingly act as the dogs of the Clear Sky Sect?"

Yue Guan walked over from behind, casting a glance at Titan's corpse and the wailing, devastated members of the Strength Clan.

"Martial Soul Hall Holy Son, what is next?"

Gu Qingshan pulled a Blue Silver Leaf from his pocket again, took one out, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed.

"Leave none alive."

Instantly, shrill, miserable wails echoed through the courtyard as blood flowed across the ground, converging into streams of dark red.

"Let's go, next one."

The Strength Clan was annihilated.

Gu Qingshan turned and walked toward the main gate, his boots making soft pat-pat sounds as they stepped into the pools of blood.

Pedestrians on the street stood far away, not daring to approach.

No one knew what had just happened, but everyone could smell the thick, nauseating stench of blood wafting from the open vermilion gate.

The outskirts of Heaven Dou City grew increasingly desolate.

Leaving the Strength Clan mansion and heading toward the Speed Clan, Gu Qingshan even thought Elder Chrysanthemum had taken the wrong road.

The carriage had traveled along the wide stone roads of Heaven Dou City for less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea before turning from the main southern thoroughfare into a narrow alley.

The alley was barely wide enough for a single carriage to squeeze through; the walls on both sides were mottled and peeling, with withered yellow weeds growing atop them, their stalks shivering in the wind.

Passing through the narrow alley led to an even narrower one, followed by a dirt road. The road was riddled with potholes, causing the carriage to jolt violently.

At the end of the dirt road lay a cluster of low, dilapidated buildings.

The courtyard walls were made of rammed earth and covered in cracks; they were less than a zhang high, and in some places, they had already collapsed.

If not for the fact that the intelligence system of Martial Soul Hall had confirmed the address, Gu Qingshan would have assumed this was an abandoned village.

"Elder Chrysanthemum, the intelligence said the Speed Clan hasn't had it easy these years, but I didn't expect it to be this miserable."

Yue Guan replied, "Back when Martial Soul Hall suppressed the Four Single-Attribute Clans, the Speed Clan suffered the most grievous losses. Their assets were confiscated, over half their disciples were killed or wounded, and the remaining clansmen could only hide in places like this to eke out a living. Over the years, they have relied on taking low-level guard missions or even odd jobs to survive; their days have been very difficult."

Gu Qingshan: "..."

Fine, since we are here.

Knock on the door.

The door opened a crack, and the face of a middle-aged man appeared. He wore a washed-out gray robe covered in patches, and his complexion was sallow.

His gaze swept quickly over the three of them, and seeing their noble attire and extraordinary presence, his expression grew even more guarded.

"Who are you three looking for?"

Gu Qingshan stated directly, "Martial Soul Hall Holy Son Gu Qingshan, here to visit the patriarch of the Speed Clan."

The middle-aged man's pupils contracted sharply. His fingers, gripping the door panel, tightened involuntarily, and his body instinctively retreated half a step.

The Martial Soul Hall Holy Son—why would he come to the Speed Clan?

"Please wait a moment, I will go inform the patriarch."

The middle-aged man took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

Soon, footsteps could be heard from inside, and an old man walked out. He looked to be in his seventies, thin and slightly hunched, yet his spine remained straight, refusing to bow.

The patriarch of the Speed Clan, Bai He, known as Old White Bird, is a pure agility-type Soul Douluo who claims the title of fastest.

Bai He's gaze swept over the three of them: the Martial Soul Hall Holy Son, twelve or thirteen years old, a Soul Saint above level 70, with combat power far exceeding his rank.

He could not see through the other two, but one of them had a feminine appearance, which he assumed must be the legendary Chrysanthemum Douluo.

A lineup like this would be more than enough to wipe out the Speed Clan ten times over.

Bai He took a deep breath, stepped aside, and gestured with his right hand.

"Your Highness, please enter."

The courtyard floor was packed earth, with no bricks or stones laid down.

The members of the Speed Clan in the yard—some standing at the doors of bungalows, others under the corridors, and some in the corners—watched these three strangers with curious, wary, and complex gazes.

Like the middle-aged man, they all looked sallow and gaunt.

Gu Qingshan looked at them, never expecting that a once-renowned Soul Master clan would have fallen into such a miserable state; it was clear at a glance that these people had long been suffering from hunger.

Once everyone was seated.

Gu Qingshan couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Patriarch Bai, I have come today to invite the Speed Clan to submit to Martial Soul Hall."

The air in the main hall froze for a moment; the expressions of several elders shifted, some frowning, some pursing their lips, others bowing their heads in silence.

Bai He's expression remained unchanged, his gray eyes fixed on Gu Qingshan.

"Your Highness, the Speed Clan is an affiliate of the Clear Sky Sect. For hundreds of years, the Speed Clan has served the Clear Sky Sect generation after generation. I am afraid I cannot agree to your request."

Several elders opened their mouths as if they wanted to say something.

What had they sacrificed for the Clear Sky Sect?

And what had the Clear Sky Sect given them in return?

When their properties were confiscated by Martial Soul Hall, where was the Clear Sky Sect?

When their disciples were killed by Martial Soul Hall, where was the Clear Sky Sect?

When their clansmen couldn't even afford a full meal, where was the Clear Sky Sect?

Gu Qingshan looked into Bai He's stagnant, pool-like eyes: "One hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins every year. Enough to let your clansmen eat their fill, let the children wear new clothes, and let the elders live in decent houses."

"There will also be cultivation resources, pills to increase soul power, assistance in hunting soul rings, and honorable status."

"If the Speed Clan submits to Martial Soul Hall, Martial Soul Hall will give you everything you desire."

The hall fell silent.

Gold Soul Coins, full stomachs, new clothes, good houses, pills, soul rings, honorable status.

These were things they wanted too much.

They had lived truly bitter lives all these years!

Seeing that they seemed moved, Gu Qingshan decided to administer one more dose of strong medicine.

"Furthermore, the Strength Clan no longer exists."

Everyone's breath hitched.

No longer exists?

The Strength Clan, ranked second among the Four Single-Attribute Clans.

Wiped out?