The following evening.
In the square of the temporary encampment.
The members of the Strength Clan trickled back, each carrying a large basket on their back filled with various ores.
"My lord, today's samples from the Strength Clan."
Tai Nuo stepped forward, his expression deferential, though a flash of smugness passed through the depths of his eyes.
These ores were all inferior specimens he had carefully selected.
They looked decent enough on the surface, but their quality was more than a grade below genuinely good ore. Ordinary people would never notice, let alone the black dragon before him.
Chen Qianqiu walked over to the pile of ore.
He lowered his head and sniffed, then-
Crunch!
He opened his mouth, bit into a piece of ore, and began crunching away.
"What? My lord, you mustn't!!!"
Tai Nuo's eyes widened. However inferior these ores were, they were still ore. This black dragon could actually crush them with his mouth?
The other members of the Strength Clan were stunned as well.
Was he eating ore as food?!
Chen Qianqiu chewed a few times, swallowed, then bit into a second piece.
Crunch, crunch. Those incredibly hard ores were like crackers in Chen Qianqiu's mouth, easily crushed and swallowed.
After eating seven or eight pieces of ore in succession, Chen Qianqiu finally stopped at a leisurely pace.
He raised his head, his dark golden slit pupils turning a cold gaze on Tai Nuo.
"These rare ores are nothing like the ones treasured in your vault."
Tai Nuo's heart jolted, but he still put on an innocent expression.
"My lord, this is what we dug up today. This is simply the quality of the vein. There's nothing we can do."
"But rest assured, my lord. Even if the quality is poor, our Strength Clan will still forge fine divine weapons for you."
At that, Chen Qianqiu snorted out white vapor.
"Divine weapons? Do I need trash like you to forge them for me? As I recall, the one and only task I gave you was mining, wasn't it?"
"Where did you dream up this business about forging weapons?"
For the first time, Tai Nuo felt things slipping out of his control. He had never imagined that someone would subjugate their Strength Clan without intending to exploit their talent for forging, and instead truly send them out to do nothing but mine.
"My lord, I..."
Before Tai Nuo could explain, Lor Diarra immediately stepped forward and spoke respectfully.
"My lord, shall your subordinate punish them?"
Chen Qianqiu shook his head.
"Since the rules have been laid down, follow them."
He said indifferently,
"The Strength Clan's samples failed inspection today. Withhold their food for one day."
"What?!"
Tai Nuo's expression changed drastically.
The other clan members erupted in an uproar as well. Although they had spent half the day slacking off, they hadn't eaten so much as a mouthful all day. Even a man made of iron couldn't bear that!
"But my lord, let me explain..."
"Carry out the order."
Chen Qianqiu ignored Tai Nuo's plea and turned to leave. The contents of the Four Great Clans' vaults would arrive here later, and he had no time to waste arguing with these people.
"Yes."
Lor Diarra bowed respectfully, then waved for his subordinates to carry out the order.
The Strength Clan members waited a long time, but seeing there was no room for negotiation, they could only leave with their heads hanging.
After they had gone far away, Chen Qianqiu summoned Lor Diarra back.
"Cut off food for the other three clans as well."
"My lord?"
Lor Diarra froze.
"They all bear responsibility for this poor start."
"But don't tell them the reason. Let them investigate it themselves."
Chen Qianqiu spoke indifferently.
"Understood."
That night.
At the Breaking Clan's temporary encampment.
"Damn that Tai Nuo! That useless wine sack and rice bag!"
A Soul Master slammed his fist hard on the table.
"Our Breaking Clan went into the forest with our heads hanging from our belts, fighting Thousand-Year Soul Beasts with everything we had, and because of those useless bastards, we don't even get dinner!"
"Exactly! Why should we be punished because they refuse to work?"
"Clan Leader Yang, you have to think of something! We can endure it, but the younger ones must be having a hard time going hungry."
Yang Wudi fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Don't worry, everyone. I'll go speak to Tai Nuo. This matter won't end here."
The Defense Clan and the Speed Clan were likewise filled with complaints.
Bai He watched his clansmen wailing incessantly from hunger, a trace of sorrow flashing in his eyes.
Niu Gao was so angry that he cursed up a storm.
"That idiot Tai Nuo! He's made us go hungry along with him!"
Lor Diarra's orders had been carried out quite thoroughly as well. The Four Great Clans hadn't received so much as a scrap of food, and everyone's resentment soared to the heavens.
Night fell.
Tai Nuo tightened his belt around his empty stomach and lay down in bed, planning to sleep early so he wouldn't have to suffer the hunger. Suddenly, a clamor of shouts and cries to kill rang out beyond the encampment.
Tai Nuo's eyes snapped open, and he rushed out of the room.
In the darkness, a dense mass of shadows was creeping toward them.
"It's you?"
Tai Nuo recognized those people. They were all Soul Masters from the other three clans!
What were they doing at the Strength Clan's encampment so late at night? They didn't have a single grain of food either and were going to bed hungry.
"Tai Nuo!"
A Soul Master from the Breaking Clan recognized him and roared,
"It's your business if you don't want to work! Why the hell should you drag us down with you?!"
"We're going to take tonight's meal out of your hides!"
"Brothers, that show-off wearing a belt! Beat him!"
The instant he finished speaking, dozens of figures closed in and began punching and kicking.
"You dare... ah!"
Before Tai Nuo could even release his Martial Soul, a fist smashed into his face.
The Strength Clan members rushed out one after another, but the three clans quickly joined forces to suppress them.
These people had gone hungry all day, with bellies full of rage and nowhere to vent it. Now they had finally found a target!
A chaotic brawl erupted in the night.
The Strength Clan members were beaten black and blue, while Tai Nuo was pinned to the ground and given a vicious beating.
"Remember this, Tai Nuo!"
An elder from the Defense Clan stomped hard on Tai Nuo's face.
"If you dare cause trouble again, next time you won't get off with just a beating!"
"We really didn't do it on purpose."
Tai Nuo forced the words out.
"Then don't fucking drag us down with you!"
"Work tomorrow or don't, it's your choice. But if you make us go hungry again, I'll kill you!"
With that, the members of the three clans left in fury.
The Strength Clan's encampment was a complete mess. Tai Nuo lay on the ground, staring at the dark night sky, wanting to cry but having no tears.
It wasn't that Tai Nuo hadn't wanted to fight back just now. He had simply felt the presences of three Soul Douluos locking onto him. He hadn't dared move at all and could only endure the beating.
Early the next morning, before the sky had even brightened.
The Strength Clan members assembled early and set off before the appointed time.
Every one of them was bruised and swollen, looking rather comical. Whenever they encountered members of the other three clans, they hurried along with their heads lowered, not daring to say much.
Chen Qianqiu lay atop the high platform, watching the great procession head toward the mines, and nodded in satisfaction.
That old saying really was right: a sapling wouldn't grow straight without pruning. Look, one beating had produced immediate results.
"Human nature really is interesting."