The Defense Clan's estate stood in the northeastern corner of Longxing City and covered a considerable area.
Compared with the Strength Clan and the Speed Clan, the Defense Clan's estate could be called a palace, and it also boasted exceptionally strong defenses.
Bai Chenxiang stepped forward and raised her right hand, knocking three times on the iron gate.
The gate opened a crack, and a young face peered out.
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 two middle-aged men wore golden and black robes, both bearing the insignia of Spirit Hall.
"Who are you?"
"Spirit Hall. We've come to visit the Defense Clan."
The young disciple's expression changed again. He said he would go inform the clan leader.
A middle-aged man came out. He wore a dark blue robe, had a fair, clean-shaven face, and fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.
His gaze swept over the four of them. Then he stepped aside and gestured for them to enter.
"The clan leader invites you in. Please, come inside."
When Niu Gao received the disciple's message, he was practicing in the back courtyard.
His fist stopped in midair, never coming down.
"Spirit Hall? How many people came?"
The disciple was still catching his breath.
"Four. A young woman, a young man, and two... two middle-aged men in golden and black robes."
He then gave a rough description of the two middle-aged men.
Niu Gao brought his fist down, smashing it into the stone post in front of him. The post shattered on impact, sending fragments flying. His brow furrowed tightly.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
These two were Spirit Hall's most active Titled Douluo. Their arrival meant Spirit Hall hadn't come to "pay a visit" this time.
Moreover, the two Titled Douluo were extremely respectful toward the young man. There were only a handful of people in all of Spirit Hall whom Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo would treat with such respect.
By the time Gu Qingshan entered the main hall, Niu Gao was already seated in the place of honor.
He looked to be in his fifties, though his actual age was already over eighty.
He was powerfully built, broad-backed and thick-waisted, his arms hanging at his sides like a pair of massive iron pillars.
At a glance, he could tell that the young man was leading the group.
"This old man is Niu Gao, clan leader of the Defense Clan. I didn't know several honored guests were coming from afar, so I failed to welcome you properly."
"And this young friend is?"
Gu Qingshan sat in the chair opposite the place of honor, took a Blue Silver Leaf from his pocket, and chewed on it.
"Gu Qingshan, Holy Son of Spirit Hall."
Niu Gao's expression changed. He had heard the name before: the Holy Son of Spirit Hall, twelve or thirteen years old, a Soul Saint with over seventy levels, whose fighting strength far exceeded his level.
He hadn't expected this legendary young man to come to the Defense Clan in person.
Gu Qingshan got straight to the point. "Clan Leader Niu Gao, I came today to invite the Defense Clan to submit to Spirit Hall."
Niu Gao's expression darkened, and his right hand unconsciously tightened around the armrest.
"Your Highness the Holy Son, the Defense Clan is an affiliated clan of the Clear Sky Sect. For hundreds of years, our clan has served the Clear Sky Sect from generation to generation. I'm afraid I can't agree to your request."
Gu Qingshan had expected as much.
"The Strength Clan refused to see reason and has already been wiped out. The Speed Clan chose to submit."
At those words, Niu Gao flushed with rage, his lips trembling.
He slammed his right hand down on the table. With a bang, it shattered, and tea spilled across the floor.
"What? Tai Tan, he's already..."
He and Tai Tan had shared life and death. In their youth, they had roamed the continent together and faced countless dangers side by side.
One specialized in offense, the other in defense. They worked together seamlessly, the perfect partners.
And now Spirit Hall had wiped out his clan.
"Spirit Hall, your methods are vicious!" He shot to his feet, knocking over the chair behind him.
He pointed at Gu Qingshan, his finger shaking violently.
"You wipe out entire clans at the drop of a hat. You won't come to a good end!"
His gaze shifted to Bai Chenxiang.
"That old fool Bai He! The Clear Sky Sect treated your Speed Clan well, and you still went and joined Spirit Hall! Spineless cowards!"
Bai Chenxiang's expression turned ugly.
When the Speed Clan was being hunted, living in constant terror, hiding from place to place, and unable to get enough to eat, where had the Clear Sky Sect been?
And he called that treating us well?
Hmph! Stubborn old fool!
This time next year would probably be the anniversary of the Defense Clan's deaths.
No, there wouldn't be an anniversary. After all, all nine clans had already been wiped off the board.
From what she knew of His Highness the Holy Son, the Defense Clan was definitely finished today.
Seeing how things stood, Gu Qingshan knew there was no chance.
There was no point wasting his breath. More words wouldn't help.
"Elder Chrysanthemum, Elder Ghost, get to it."
Chrysanthemum Douluo drew his hands from his sleeves and spread his fingers. Golden beams of light shot from his fingertips.
Ghost Douluo spread his fingers as well, and ghostly blue Soul Power surged from his fingertips.
The two colors of light intertwined and fused in the air. It was a new trick they had come up with—convenient, easy to use, and quite powerful.
Niu Gao's body flew backward and crashed through the wall of the main hall, sending bricks and stones flying.
He landed in the courtyard, smashing into the ground and leaving a deep crater. Several of his ribs had broken.
He struggled to get back up, but Chrysanthemum Douluo's golden beams had already wrapped around his limbs, pinning him firmly to the ground.
Ghost Douluo turned into a shadow and rushed into the house. The Defense Clan's members fell one after another.
The entire estate filled with chilling screams, wails, and pleas for mercy.
"No... stop!"
"You bastards, they're just children!"
"Stop it, now!"
But no one paid him any heed. Niu Gao was restrained and unable to move, forced to watch helplessly as his clansmen were slaughtered.
"Stop... I agree! I'll submit! I'll submit!"
Gu Qingshan glanced at him impassively. "Too late!"
Niu Gao was so furious he nearly burst a blood vessel.
This Holy Son of Spirit Hall had no honor!
He'd already agreed. What more did they want?
Whenever other factions had tried to recruit the Defense Clan, they had always been exceedingly courteous. Even when he turned them down, they had left with smiles on their faces.
Who would smash the table and start killing at the slightest disagreement?
They could still have talked!
This was utterly unreasonable!
"Ho... Holy Son, this old man was wrong. The Defense Clan will submit. I beg you to show mercy!"
Gu Qingshan remained unmoved.
"Elder Ghost, hurry it up!"
Niu Gao broke down. There was no reasoning with them at all.
In less than the time it took to finish a cup of tea, the Defense Clan's estate had fallen completely silent.
Niu Gao lay on the ground, blood tears streaming from his eyes.
The Defense Clan was finished!
At that moment, he regretted it. He had failed his ancestors!
If he'd known Gu Qingshan was so utterly ruthless, he would have agreed from the start.
Compared with keeping the clan alive, what did brotherhood matter? What did pride matter?
And now, the clan was gone. Everything was gone!
Niu Gao regretted it so much his guts turned green.
At that moment, Niu Gao had lost the will to live. There was no grief greater than a dead heart.
"You bastards, kill me! I'll wait for you underground. You won't come to a good end either!"
Gu Qingshan made a Heroic Leap and stomped Niu Gao's head apart.
"Annoying."
"Such a blabbermouth."
"Let's go. On to the next one."
Before you continue