Subduing the Broken Clan, Father Emperor, the Chess Piece Can Be Placed!

As his voice trailed off, Yang Wudi took a half-step back, straightened his robes, and cupped his hands in a formal salute.

Then, this old man who had held his spine straight for the better part of his life slowly bowed to Dai Mobai.

"I, Yang Wudi, am willing to lead the Breaking Clan in pledging allegiance to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

His voice was raspy, yet every word rang out with absolute clarity.

Li Yue stood at Dai Mobai's side, and upon witnessing this scene, her cool, clear eyes curved into crescents.

She lifted her chin slightly, the corners of her lips curling into an undisguised arc, her inner thoughts written plainly across her face—

No matter how arrogant you were, haven't you still been brought to heel by His Highness?

In contrast, Dai Mobai's expression remained calm throughout.

From the moment he had recited the words "Six Harmonies Great Spear" in the hotel, the allegiance of the Breaking Clan had ceased to be a matter of suspense.

He knew all too well what this Spear Manual meant to a man who wielded the spear.

Therefore, this bow before him was merely an expected outcome.

He simply rose from his chair the moment Yang Wudi bent his waist.

"With the help of the Breaking Clan today, my Star Luo Empire will surely be like a tiger that has grown wings."

Dai Mobai smiled and reached out, his hands supporting Yang Wudi's elbows to steady him as he rose.

His movements were neither hurried nor slow, his strength perfectly measured—appearing neither overly intimate nor in the least bit distant.

"I shall certainly not fail Your Highness's high expectations!"

Yang Wudi straightened his body, his voice solemn, as if he were making a vow heavier than life itself.

His eye sockets were slightly red, but his demeanor had regained its composure; only the hand that still gripped Dai Mobai's arm showed fingers trembling ever so slightly—

It was not nervousness, but the lingering, intense excitement from having just seen the Spear Manual that had yet to fully dissipate.

Dai Mobai released his grip, the smile on his face slowly fading.

He looked at Yang Wudi once more, his gaze becoming earnest and focused, his voice dropping to a lower register.

"Moving forward, you may pass on the Six Harmonies Great Spear to the elites of your clan. I give you one month to map out a secret path that can traverse the Border Mountains."

Traverse the Border Mountains?

Yang Wudi was momentarily stunned.

Subconsciously, he unfurled the topographical map of the area surrounding the Gilchrist Kingdom in his mind.

The Gilchrist Kingdom stood at the border, its rear backed by the Border Mountains that stretched between Heaven Dou and Star Luo.

They spanned thousands of miles, with treacherous peaks like a forest.

What could His Highness want with a path through the mountains?

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

Yang Wudi's pupils contracted slightly, his heart churning, but it took him less than a breath to forcibly suppress that shock.

Having lived for so many years, he naturally knew what should be asked and what should not.

Since he had already pledged his allegiance, he would simply execute the Crown Prince's orders.

"Your Highness, rest assured. Leave this matter to me."

Yang Wudi nodded, agreeing readily.

On one hand, having just joined, he truly wanted to prove himself and show His Highness that the Breaking Clan was no mere freeloader.

On the other hand, this task was hardly a challenge for the Breaking Clan.

The Gilchrist Kingdom already sat at the foot of the Border Mountains, and his clansmen had spent years entering the mountains to gather herbs, making them intimately familiar with the terrain.

One month was more than enough time to scout out a path.

"Then I shall leave it to you, Clan Master Yang."

Dai Mobai nodded, that gentle smile reappearing on his face.

He did not linger any longer; with this matter concluded, it was time to return.

Yang Wudi personally escorted the two to the gates of the clan grounds, watching the figures of the man and woman walk further and further away until they vanished completely from sight, before finally withdrawing his gaze and turning to stride back into the clan.

The moment he returned, Yang Wudi ordered his men to strike the old bronze bell in the courtyard.

The tolling was deep and resonant, ringing out one after another, shaking the leaves from the old locust tree until they fell in a rustle.

In less than half an hour, every Soul Master of the Breaking Clan currently in the grounds had assembled on the plaza.

A hundred Soul Masters stood in two rows, left and right, their backs straight as boards, their burning gazes fixed upon Yang Wudi on the high platform.

Their attire was not flashy, but standing there, the sharp, piercing aura they exuded was like a forest of spears, making one dare not look them in the eye.

"I have summoned you today to announce only two things."

Yang Wudi stood on the high platform, his lean, gaunt frame casting a sharp, long shadow under the midday sun.

He offered no superfluous opening, simply holding up one finger.

"The first matter: from this day forth, the Breaking Clan shall join the Star Luo Empire, becoming a spear in the hands of His Highness the Crown Prince."

As his words fell, a few low gasps rippled through the crowd.

Several young clansmen exchanged glances, their faces etched with shock.

They had all heard of the time the Star Luo Emperor sent men to recruit them, and some had even privately wagered on whether Yang Wudi would agree.

As it turned out, the lobbyist sent by the empire had been blasted away before he could even catch a glimpse of Yang Wudi.

They had assumed that today, with His Highness the Crown Prince visiting in person, the outcome would be the same; they never expected that what the Star Luo Emperor could not accomplish, the Crown Prince had achieved.

Yang Wudi ignored the commotion among his clansmen and raised a second finger.

"The second matter: for the next month, you are all to cultivate this Spear Manual alongside me."

With a flick of his wrist, the scroll of plain white rice paper unfurled in his hand.

Delicate, small regular script was densely laid out under the sunlight; the ink had long since dried, yet the sharp, piercing aura of a spearhead seemed ready to lunge right off the page.

The plaza fell silent for a moment.

Then, the expression in everyone's eyes shifted.

The previous shock was replaced by a more intense emotion—the instinctive reaction of a spearman encountering peerless spear techniques.

Pupils dilated, breathing quickened, and fingers clenched involuntarily.

As fellow users of the spear, how could they fail to see the brilliance of the manual in their patriarch's hands?

No wonder!

No wonder the patriarch had accepted the recruitment!

The allure of such profound spear techniques was beyond words for their Breaking Clan.

On the other side, Dai Mobai and Li Yue did not pause again.

Once outside the city, the two soared into the air, flying swiftly toward the direction of the Star Luo Imperial City.

It was late at night by the time they returned to the Star Luo Imperial Palace. The lanterns on the palace walls swayed gently in the night breeze, and the guards on duty bowed in salute as they recognized the arrivals. Dai Mobai merely nodded, his pace never faltering.

He did not even return to the East Palace to change his clothes, heading straight toward the Imperial Study.

The lights in the Imperial Study were still on.

The Star Luo Emperor had not yet retired for the night, which was within his expectations.

Pushing the door open, warm yellow light flooded the entire Imperial Study.

The Star Luo Emperor stood with his hands behind his back before a massive map, his silhouette as steady as a mountain.

Hearing the footsteps, he did not turn around, merely speaking in a calm tone.

"You've returned?"

"I have returned."

Dai Mobai walked to a spot three paces behind him and came to a halt.

The Star Luo Emperor turned slowly, his gaze landing on his son's face.

He did not ask about the outcome of the trip, for he had already seen the answer in Dai Mobai's eyes.

There was no fatigue, no trepidation in those eyes—only the resolute calm of one who has everything in place.

Dai Mobai met his father's gaze, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he spoke the words he had held in his heart the entire journey.

"Father, you may make your move."