More than twenty li from the city gates, in the southern outskirts of Heaven Dou City.
An expansive estate stood in a valley basin, with two stone statues of Great Strength Gorillas over ten feet tall flanking its entrance.
This was the Strength Clan's residence.
Late at night.
Inside the study of Tai Tan, the Strength Clan's patriarch.
Dressed in a coarse cloth jacket that exposed his mountainous, corded muscles, Tai Tan was inspecting an order for forged weapons.
Suddenly,
An invisible force pushed open the study window, and a black-robed figure appeared soundlessly in the middle of the room.
The newcomer was shrouded entirely in black robes, even his face tightly concealed.
"Who's there!"
Tai Tan's pupils contracted. He sprang to his feet, his Soul Power instinctively surging toward release.
"You skulking rat! You dare trespass on my Strength Clan's..."
"Tai Tan, it's me."
The black-robed man spoke in a low voice, raising a hand to remove his hood.
The candlelight revealed a resolute, weathered face.
"Master!"
Tai Tan shuddered, his eyes instantly filling with unconcealable excitement and respect.
Without the slightest hesitation, he dropped heavily to his knees with a thud.
"You... you've finally agreed to see this old servant!"
Tai Tan's voice trembled.
Tang Hao looked at Tai Tan kneeling before him, a trace of complicated emotion flickering in his eyes.
After the Clear Sky Sect sealed its mountain, the Four Single-Attribute Clans had suffered Spirit Hall's suppression, sustaining devastating casualties.
The Defense Clan, Breaking Clan, and Speed Clan all harbored resentment toward him to varying degrees. Only the Strength Clan had remained unwaveringly loyal from beginning to end.
Tai Tan, in particular, had always addressed him as "Master," regarding him as the sole recipient of his loyalty.
"Rise."
Tang Hao's voice was low.
"Yes, Master."
Only