Strength Clan

The white-haired old man walked to the Training Ground, first glancing at the rubble lying on the ground, then looking at Tai Nuo and his son.

"These two people are almost a hundred years old combined, and they come to the academy to pick a fight with two kids. They have the nerve to do that?"

Tai Nuo lowered his head. "Father, I acted impulsively."

Tai Long stood to the side, clutching the medicine bag, too afraid to speak.

The old man snorted coldly and turned his gaze to Tang San. He hadn't released Spirit Ring, but the aura of an 86th-level Soul Douluo was terrifyingly heavy. The students around him felt a tightness in their chests after just one glance from him.

"Your name is Tang San?"

"Junior Tang San."

"Twelve years old, level thirty-seven, control type, and possesses External Soul Bone." The old man nodded. "Tai Long's loss wasn't unjust, and neither was Tai Nuo's."

Tai Nuo felt a flush rise to his face.

The old man walked up to Tang San: "I Tai Tan, the patriarch of the Strength Clan. You have defeated my son and grandson in succession. If this matter is left to pass, the Strength Clan will have no place in Heaven Dou City anymore."

Liu Erlong frowned. "Tai Tan, you still want to take action yourself?"

I won't hit him.

Tai Tan raised his hand, took out an incense stick, and stuck it in the center of the Training Ground.

"I will only use my Soul Power to suppress him. If he can withstand it for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Strength Clan will apologize to him; if he can't, he will come to my manor for three days and return only after his injuries have healed."

Flender ordered the students to leave the Training Ground and instructed Zhao Wuji to guard the outer circle. Liu Erlong stood Tang San, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on Tai Tan. The bet was acceptable, but the academy's students could not allow outsiders to inflict serious injuries here.

Tai Tan saw their actions but did not stop them; he simply placed the incense stick more securely.

Xiao Wu immediately retorted, "Soul Douluo's pressure suppressing a Soul Elder, and you call that not fighting?"

Tai Tan wasn't angry. "He can refuse."

Tang San looked at the unlit incense stick. "Senior, do you keep your word?"

"The Strength Clan, a word they swear is a promise."

"I'll take it."

Xiao Wu wanted to persuade him further, but Tang San gently squeezed her hand. He wanted to know his limits and also wanted to settle this trouble within the academy. Tai Nuo had already admitted defeat; although Tai Tan's conditions were domineering, they didn't intend to take anyone's life.

Yuan Yu placed his palm on the Sun Wheel Blade, and the Rosy Cloud Pattern on it glowed faintly.

From the moment Tai Tan entered, his gaze remained fixed on Tang San and his son Tai Nuo. He showed no murderous intent, nor did he intend to launch a sneak attack. He stepped aside and said to Xiao Wu, "Let Xiao San try. If he really can't hold on, the teachers are all here."

Liu Erlong glanced at Yuan Yu.

Are you sure?

"He came here to save face, not to take his life."

Upon hearing this, Tai Tan's gaze lingered on Yuan Yu's Sun Wheel Blade for a moment. He had arrived in a hurry and only knew that two powerful young men had emerged from the academy. Only now did he realize that the aura emanating from the White-Clad youth beside him was even stronger Tai Nuo.

Twelve years old, level 59.

A look of surprise flashed in Tai Tan's eyes, but he didn't ask any questions. He raised his hand and lit the incense stick, and the first layer of Soul Power pressure descended.

Tang San's shoulders slumped.

The stone bricks beneath his feet made a soft creaking sound. He immediately activated his Mysterious Heaven Skill, took a half-step apart, and steadied himself. The Blue Silver Grass hung from his palm, not rushing to wrap around anything, but simply swaying gently along the ground.

The Tai Tan's oppressive aura gradually increased.

30%.

Forty percent.

Sweat beaded on Tang San's forehead, and his clothes clung tightly to his body. His Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul couldn't withstand the force; its leaves kept sliding towards the ground, and spiderweb-like cracks spread outwards from his feet.

Tai Tan's eyes showed a hint of approval.

An ordinary Soul Elder would have collapsed under such pressure, but Tang San didn't even bend his knees. His Soul Power wasn't particularly strong, but the endurance of his meridians and body far exceeded that of his peers.

Half an incense stick later, Tai Tan raised the pressure to the Soul Sage level.

Tang San groaned, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The Eight Spider Lances extended from his back, their eight points of support simultaneously plunging into the ground, sharing most of his weight.

Xiao Wu took a step forward, but Yuan Yu raised his hand to stop her.

"Wait a little longer."

He's bleeding.

"I saw it." Yuan Yu stared at Tai Tan. "The old man still has some sense of propriety. The mistress hasn't said anything either."

Tai Tan stared at the Eight Spider Lances, the pressure mounting. He was eager to see just how long this boy, who had repeatedly taken down his own children and grandchildren, could hold out.

When the incense had burned down to the last third, the stone bricks beneath Tang San's feet shattered completely.

The Eight Spider Lances began to tremble, and the Blue Silver Grass was pressed back into his palm. The Mysterious Heaven Skill circulated through his meridians again and again, but it still couldn't withstand the weight of the Soul Douluo's Soul Power.

Tai Tan said in a deep voice, "Admit defeat. At your age, you've lasted this long; there's no one else like you in Heaven Dou City."

Tang San raised his head and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"And fragrance."

He clenched his left hand.

A heavy aura surged from his palm, and a small black hammer slowly emerged. The hammer was not large, and the moment it appeared, the illusory image of the Mighty Gorilla behind Tai Tan trembled violently.

The Tai Tan's Soul Power pressure dissipated instantly.

The incense was still burning, but he took two steps forward, staring intently at Tang San's left hand. Tai Nuo also saw the hammer clearly, his expression changed drastically, and he pulled Tai Long down to kneel.

"Clear Sky Hammer..."

Tai Tan's voice trembled. He looked up at Tang San's face, then at the hammer, and his eyes quickly reddened.

The next moment, this level 86 Soul Douluo knelt down on one knee.

"This old Tai Tan greets the Young Master!"

The Training Ground was completely silent.

Tang San was also stunned. "Senior, please get up. What Young Master?"

Tai Tan did not rise. "May I ask, Young Master, is your father Tang Hao?"

Tang San tightened his grip on the hammer.

"You know my father?"

"My master's kindness to my Strength Clan is as heavy as a mountain. My sect may have wronged him, but I, the Tai Tan, have never wronged him."

Tai Tan raised his head, all his previous toughness gone, leaving only the excitement he had suppressed for many years. He briefly recounted the past between the Strength Clan and Tang Hao, mentioning that when the Clear Sky Sect closed its doors, both Tai Nuo and his son lowered their heads.

Tang San remained silent for a long time before retracting his Clear Sky Hammer.

"My father is not with me right now. Please take back the title of Young Master, Senior."

"Ritual must not be abandoned."

"Then I'll take that as my request."

Tai Tan looked at him, and finally stood up. "In front of outsiders, I will call you Young Master Tang. From this day forward, the gates of the Strength Clan will always be open to you."

Yuan Yu walked over and stuffed a Recovery Sausage into Tang San's hand.

"Eat first. We've acknowledged the old subordinates, and the blood has to be wiped away."

Oscar protested from behind, "I did it!"

"So they didn't consider my favor."

Tang San took the sausage, his tense expression relaxing slightly.

Tai Tan turned to Yuan Yu: "Young friend, you just said that I came here to save face?"

Yuan Yu picked up the Wine Gourd: "Senior, you've saved face and reputation now, so let's not bring up the past."

Tai Tan stared at him for a moment, then burst into laughter.

As soon as the laughter subsided, a doorman came running in from outside, holding a visiting card bearing the mark of the Seven Treasures.

"Dean, the envoy from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has arrived."

"Sect Master Ning will personally visit tomorrow afternoon, accompanied by Senior Sword Douluo."

Ning Rongrong immediately stood up straight.

Yuan Yu looked at Tang San.

Titled Douluo is coming, so Xiao Wu cannot stay in the front yard tomorrow.