Tainuo's Patricide

"How can you guarantee that?"

Though surprised by Bibi Dong suddenly speaking up, Bai He remained calm as he asked.

"What do you think your Speed Clan can bring to Spirit Hall?"

Bibi Dong smiled and countered with a question.

Bai He was momentarily speechless.

That was right. The Speed Clan's usefulness to Spirit Hall seemed little more than icing on the cake.

Gathering intelligence? Spirit Hall's influence spread across the entire continent. They had plenty of ways to replace the Speed Clan's advantage in swiftly delivering information.

Collecting all manner of rare treasures? The same principle applied. Spirit Hall had no shortage of channels.

The two tasks the Speed Clan had often handled for the Clear Sky Sect did not seem so irreplaceable once they came to Spirit Hall.

Thus, Bibi Dong's—rather, Spirit Hall's—intentions were already very clear.

Compared to the Strength and Defense Clans, each of which specialized in its own field, Spirit Hall's reason for recruiting the Speed Clan was simply that more talent was better. Taking them in was preferable to letting them fall into another faction's hands.

As for their relationship with the Clear Sky Sect?

The Clear Sky Sect itself was practically on the verge of being brought down by Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall was even preparing to "mass-produce" Clear Sky Hammer Martial Souls. Would they really regard a mere Speed Clan as worthy of such hostility?

While Bai He remained silent in thought, Tuoba Xi had already led the Holy Dragon Legion to surround the Strength Clan's camp.

"Good dog—when this old man calls you that, you seem awfully dissatisfied. Since you have such backbone, then step out."

"Bring your clansmen out with you."

"Or do you actually intend to drag your three old friends beside you into death with you?"

At those final words, Titan panted like a bull. He had originally truly intended to stay put and persuade his old friends to fight alongside him to the bitter end rather than submit to Spirit Hall. But now, he strode several steps forward and shouted:

"Children of the Strength Clan, step forward!"

Afterward, some people walked out in scattered groups, hesitant and uncertain. Among them, however, was not Titan's son, Tainuo.

"Tainuo, what are you doing?!"

Titan turned toward Tainuo, roaring in an angry, stern tone as his eyes grew increasingly bloodshot.

"Father..."

The young Tainuo stood with his wife amid the four clans' camp, holding a sleeping child in his arms. Lowering his head, he said softly:

"Your grandson is still so young. Must he die like this?"

Titan's whole body trembled, but he quickly hardened his resolve again.

"To die for old master Tang Chen, new master Tang Hao, and the young master who has yet to grow up is only right!"

"But does your death have any meaning?"

Tainuo could not help raising his voice as well.

"Look again at the clansmen who stepped forward. Are they willing to die?"

"Must you harm the entire clan for your so-called loyalty and righteousness?"

"...Get out here! All members of the Strength Clan, come out! Otherwise, from this day forward, you will no longer be my clan's descendants!"

Though Titan wavered for a moment upon hearing this, he still roared once more toward the four clans' camp.

If he could have been persuaded so easily, he would not have been known throughout the Douluo Continent as an "old slave."

A moment later.

The entire Strength Clan stepped forward after all. Every one of them remained silent, and the atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive.

Several hundred Mighty Ape Martial Souls possessed their wielders at once. For a time, the entire area shone with the light of Soul Rings, yet under these circumstances, it seemed somewhat tragic and solemn.

Seeing this, Tuoba Xi on the opposite side felt no admiration whatsoever. At most, he pitied the Strength Clan members who were about to die alongside their foolishly loyal clan leader.

Just then, Tainuo stepped before his father, who was still somewhat angry with him, and suddenly said in a resolute tone:

"Father, since we will die either way, let your son go first!"

As he spoke, the four strength-type Soul Rings on his body lit up simultaneously.

Titan's expression softened, and he nodded. Then, with a trace of gratification and fervor, he said:

"Good! Good son! Father and son shall die for our master together!"

Across from them, Tuoba Xi, whose hands had long been itching after seeing the Angel Legion display such might earlier, immediately ordered the entire army to undergo Martial Soul Possession.

The scene was equally breathtaking. Moreover, because the White Armored Earth Dragon Martial Souls were stronger and nobler than the Mighty Apes, the White Gold legion of White Armored Earth Dragon Soul Masters appeared even more splendid.

Just as Tuoba Xi raised his hand, preparing to order the entire army to attack and seize the initiative—

Something happened on the other side that nearly made his jaw drop.

Under the enhancement of his four strength-type Soul Rings, Tainuo faced his utterly unguarded father, Titan, and suddenly sent him flying into the Strength Clan with a fierce punch.

Immediately afterward, three Soul Saint clan elders within the Strength Clan simultaneously unleashed their Martial Soul Avatars and struck Titan, their clan leader, with all their strength.

"What... are... you... doing..."

Caught off guard and with no time to resist at all, Titan was instantly grievously wounded and brought to the brink of death.

"Father, the future of the Strength Clan..."

At that moment, Tainuo stood before the three Soul Saint clansmen, holding his young son Tailong, who was crying loudly, in his arms. Tears filled his eyes as he said:

"Cannot be destroyed like this!"

A trace of despondency appeared in Titan's eyes.

He understood completely now.

The three Soul Saint clan elders must have secretly discussed this with his son earlier. They had intended to join forces and bring down him, the "utterly loyal" clan leader, in exchange for a chance at survival.

Sigh...

He sighed inwardly, silently closed his eyes, and said nothing more.

When a person was nearing death, their words might not necessarily be kind, but their thoughts would certainly become much clearer in an instant.

At this moment, Titan seemed somewhat relieved, yet also somewhat self-mocking.

Meanwhile, no matter how unbearable his grief was, Tainuo could no longer afford to dwell on it. After giving his father one final look, he instructed the other clansmen to care for him for the moment. Then he resolutely turned around, leading the three Soul Saint clan elders to stand at the very front of the Strength Clan.

Then, facing Spirit Hall, he dropped to his knees with a thud.

"My Strength Clan's leader was ignorant, unable to recognize the greater situation, and stubbornly insisted on his own course. I, Tainuo, shall now temporarily assume the position of clan leader. I am willing to lead the entire Strength Clan in submitting to Spirit Hall. I only beg the Saintess to show mercy and spare my clan's lives."

Immediately afterward, several hundred clansmen behind Tainuo knelt as well and cried out in unison:

"We beg the Saintess to show mercy and spare our clan's lives!"

"..."

At this moment, Bibi Dong was somewhat stunned as well.

Wang Zhao had specifically told her that the Strength Clan must be destroyed that night. Yet given this sudden turn of events, it was clearly no longer suitable for Spirit Hall to keep pressing them.

Otherwise, if it caused the other three clans to develop dissenting thoughts, it would become difficult to completely subdue them.

After thinking for a moment, Bibi Dong finally waved her hand.

"Since that is the case, Spirit Hall naturally will not pursue the matter any further. You members of the Strength Clan may follow the Holy Dragon Legion over later."

After saying that, she turned her gaze toward the other three clans once more.

But at present, the leaders of the three clans had already gathered around Titan.