The Defense Clan, Annihilated

The Defense Clan's estate is located in the northeast corner of Longxing City, occupying a significant amount of space.

Compared to the Strength Clan and the Speed Clan, the Defense Clan's estate is practically a palace, and it possesses an incredibly formidable defensive capability.

Bai Chenxiang stepped forward and raised her right hand to knock on the iron gate three times.

The gate opened a crack, and a young face peeked through the gap.

He glanced at Bai Chenxiang, his gray eyes lingering on her face for a moment before shifting to the three people behind her.

His expression stiffened; the golden robes and black robes worn by the two middle-aged men both bore the insignia of Martial Soul Hall.

"Who are you?"

"Martial Soul Hall, here to visit the Defense Clan."

The young disciple's expression changed again, and he said he needed to report to the clan leader.

A middle-aged man walked out, dressed in deep blue robes, clean-shaven, with fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

His gaze swept over the four of them, and he stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter.

"The clan leader invites you in; please, everyone, come inside."

When Niu Gao received the disciple's report, he was practicing in the backyard.

His fist hung in mid-air, failing to descend.

"Martial Soul Hall? How many people came?"

The disciple was still catching his breath.

"Four. A young girl, a young boy, and two... two middle-aged men wearing golden and black robes."

He then proceeded to give a rough description of the two middle-aged men.

Niu Gao's fist slammed down onto the stone pillar in front of him; the pillar shattered upon impact, sending stone fragments flying as he furrowed his brows.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.

These two are the most active Title Douluo of Martial Soul Hall. Their arrival meant that Martial Soul Hall was not here for a mere "visit" this time.

Furthermore, those two Title Douluo were extremely respectful toward that young boy. There are very few people in the entirety of Martial Soul Hall who could command such respect from Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.

When Gu Qingshan walked into the main hall, Niu Gao was already seated in the primary chair.

He looked to be in his fifties, though his actual age exceeded eighty.

His build was burly with broad shoulders and a thick waist, his arms hanging at his sides like two massive iron pillars.

He saw at a glance that the group was led by that young boy.

"This old man is the leader of the Defense Clan, Niu Gao. I do not know why these distinguished guests have traveled from afar, but please forgive my lack of a proper welcome."

"And who is this young friend?"

Gu Qingshan sat down in the chair opposite the main seat and pulled a Blue Silver Leaf from his pocket, chewing on it.

"Gu Qingshan, Martial Soul Hall Holy Son."

Niu Gao's expression shifted. He had heard this name before: 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 had not expected this legendary youth to come to his Defense Clan in person.

Gu Qingshan got straight to the point: "Clan Leader Niu Gao, I have come today to invite the Defense Clan to submit to Martial Soul Hall."

Niu Gao's expression darkened, his right hand instinctively gripping the armrest of his chair.

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

Gu Qingshan had anticipated this.

"The Strength Clan was ignorant of the times and has already been wiped out; the Speed Clan chose to submit."

Upon hearing this, Niu Gao's face flushed with anger, his lips trembling.

He slammed his right hand onto the table with a bang; the table shattered, and tea splashed all over the floor.

"What? Titan, he has already..."

He and Titan shared a bond forged in life and death, having traveled the continent together and faced life-or-death situations in their youth.

One focused on offense, the other on defense; they were the perfect partners with seamless coordination.

Now, they had actually been wiped out by Martial Soul Hall.

"You of Martial Soul Hall, what vicious methods!" He stood up abruptly, his chair toppling over behind him.

He pointed his finger at Gu Qingshan, trembling violently.

"Destroying clans at every turn—you will not have a good end!"

His gaze shifted to Bai Chenxiang.

"That old thing Bai He! The Clear Sky Sect treated your Speed Clan well, yet you actually defected to Martial Soul Hall! Spineless, cowards!"

Bai Chenxiang's expression was unsightly.

When the Speed Clan was being hunted, living in constant fear, hiding here and there, and unable to even get enough to eat, where was the Clear Sky Sect?

You call this treating me well?

Hmph! You stubborn old fool!

This time next year will likely be the death anniversary of your Defense Clan.

No, there won't even be a death anniversary, since your entire clan is about to be wiped off the map.

Based on her understanding of the Martial Soul Hall Holy Son, the Defense Clan was finished today for certain.

Gu Qingshan took one look at the situation and knew it was hopeless.

He didn't waste any more breath; there was no point in talking.

"Elder Chrysanthemum, Elder Ghost, do it."

Chrysanthemum Douluo extended his hands from his sleeves, fingers splayed, as golden beams of light shot from his fingertips.

Ghost Douluo also splayed his fingers, and deep blue soul power surged from his tips.

The two-colored lights intertwined and fused in the air—a new technique they had developed, convenient, easy to use, and possessing formidable power.

Niu Gao flew backward, crashing through the hall wall as bricks and stones scattered.

He landed in the courtyard, creating a massive crater, several ribs in his chest shattered.

He struggled to climb up, but the golden light from Chrysanthemum Douluo had already coiled around his limbs, pinning him firmly to the ground.

Ghost Douluo transformed into a shadow and rushed into the house, where members of the Defense Clan fell one after another.

The entire estate was filled with chilling screams, wails, and pleas for mercy.

"No... stop!"

"You bastards, they're just children!"

"Stop it, quickly!"

Yet no one paid him any mind; Niu Gao was restrained and unable to move, forced to watch as his clansmen were slaughtered.

"Stop... I agree, I submit! I'll submit!"

Gu Qingshan looked at him with an expressionless face: "Too late!"

Hearing this, Niu Gao was so furious that smoke practically poured from his seven orifices.

This Martial Soul Hall Holy Son had no sense of honor!

He had already agreed, what more did he want?

Whenever other factions came to recruit his Defense Clan in the past, they were always incredibly polite, and even if rejected, they would still greet him with a smile.

None of them would flip the table and start killing the moment things didn't go their way!

Everything was still negotiable!

This was simply unreasonable!

"Holy... Holy Son, this old man was wrong, the Defense Clan submits, I beg you to show mercy!"

Gu Qingshan remained unmoved.

"Elder Ghost, hurry it up!"

Niu Gao broke down; there was no communicating with them at all.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the Defense Clan estate fell completely silent.

Niu Gao lay on the ground, tears of blood streaming from his eyes.

The Defense Clan was finished!

In this moment, he felt regret; he had failed his ancestors!

Had he known Gu Qingshan was this deranged, he would have agreed long ago.

Compared to the survival of the clan, what did brotherhood matter? What did pride matter?

Now, the clan was gone, everything was gone!

Niu Gao's guts were green with regret.

At this moment, Niu Gao felt life was no longer worth living; there was no greater sorrow than a dead heart.

"You bastards, kill me then! I'll be waiting for you in the underworld, and you won't have a good end either!"

Gu Qingshan performed a Heroic Leap, crushing Niu Gao's head with a single stomp.

"Noisy."

"So much nonsense."

"Let's go, next one."