Chapter 331: "Elder Bai He, Perhaps You'd Like to Hear My Proposal?"
"A prince of the Star Luo Empire? And a Spirit Hall member? Ha! How typical of Spirit Hall," Bai He sneered, fixing a cold gaze on Dai Yao. He didn't believe for a second that Dai Yao's Qinglian Sect had no connection to Spirit Hall. The fact that Dai Yao had received support from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan only confirmed his suspicions—they must have sided with Spirit Hall to back Dai Yao's sect.
Turning sharply to Niu Gao and Titan, he demanded,
"Niu Gao! Titan! Just what are you two up to? How did our Four Great Single Attribute Clan meeting turn into this mess? You owe me an explanation!"
Titan snorted, casting an indifferent glance at Niu Gao before saying flatly,
"Elder Bai, maybe don't call him 'Niu Gao' anymore. He's not one of us anymore. If you want answers, ask him yourself."
Niu Gao ground his teeth, suppressing his anger. Titan was welcome to side with Tang San, but should his Defense Clan be forced to follow him to certain doom? Even so, Niu Gao couldn't shake the feeling that he had betrayed an old friend, so he sighed and said to Bai He,
"Elder Bai, it's a long story. Come with me to the clan's main hall, and I'll explain."
With a last wary glance at Dai Yao, Bai He followed him into the hall. Tang San lingered behind, his brow furrowed as he pondered the significance of "Qinglian Sect."
"'Qinglian Sect'... Why would Dai Yao choose 'Qinglian'? Could it hold some special meaning?" His eyes gleamed as he thought, Perhaps there's a secret here—maybe even Dai Yao's weakness. If I uncover it, I might finally find a way to defeat him!
With renewed focus, he clenched his fists, feeling his pulse race as his deep-seated resentment toward Dai Yao surged once more. Years of being defeated repeatedly by him, the death of Xiao Wu at Dai Yao's hands, left Tang San in a near-frenzy to settle the score. The words "Qinglian Sect" felt like a lifeline he clung to, determined to unearth any hidden meaning.
"Third brother, let's go!" Ma Hongjun's voice snapped Tang San out of his thoughts. With a nod, he followed the others into the main hall of the Defense Clan.
Inside, a massive stone table occupied the center. Niu Gao took the head seat, with Tang San's group and Dai Yao's group seated on opposite sides, the tension in the air so thick it was palpable. The Speed Clan, who sat across from Niu Gao, couldn't help but feel caught in the crossfire.
Finally, Bai He broke the silence, saying dryly,
"Niu Gao, let's hear it, then."
Niu Gao opened his mouth to speak, but Dai Yao raised his hand, signaling him to stop.
"Elder Niu Gao," Dai Yao said calmly, "allow me. With your ties to the other clans, it's best if I explain, to avoid jeopardizing your relationships with them."
Relieved, Niu Gao sighed, nodding his thanks.
"Thank you, Sect Leader."
In his quiet seat nearby, Sword Douluo's lips curved into a subtle smile of approval. Dai Yao's keen insight had lifted Niu Gao's burden and helped cement the Defense Clan leader's growing trust in him.
Facing Bai He, Dai Yao began,
"Elder Bai He, as you're well aware, the continent is on the brink of war. Nearly every faction must choose between supporting the two empires or Spirit Hall, with no other paths available."
"Now, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has chosen a third path—to remain neutral, untouched by the power struggles. Their strength alone can shelter a neutral alliance."
"However, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wants to avoid undue attention and the enmity of the two empires and Spirit Hall. Hence, they're backing my sect, the Qinglian Sect, which aims to unify other forces desiring neutrality. The Defense Clan joined Qinglian Sect to safeguard their survival."
Bai He cast a solemn look at Niu Gao, sighing heavily,
"I see. I understand your choice, old friend, but…" He hesitated, glancing warily at Dai Yao. "But Dai Yao is with Spirit Hall, and we all remember well the scars Spirit Hall has left on us."
Niu Gao sighed, knowing that the terrifying power Dai Yao had shown the other night left him no choice. With a talent like that, harboring a grudge could spell certain death for his clan. Bracing himself, Niu Gao added,
"I trust in Sect Leader Dai Yao's integrity and his word to us."
With a weary sigh, Bai He replied,
"Well, Niu Gao, if you've placed your faith in him, then I can only wish you luck."
Even Bai Chenxiang couldn't resist taking another look at Dai Yao, mystified as to how he had gained the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and won such trust from the Defense Clan.
Meanwhile, Titan sat with his arms crossed, snorting dismissively,
"'Protecting your clan'? I think it's more about toadying up to power! I thought you were my brother!"
"You!" Niu Gao leapt to his feet, glaring at Titan with barely restrained fury. Did one choice erase years of loyalty and friendship? After a moment, he slumped back into his seat, unable to voice his disappointment.
Observing their standoff, Dai Yao felt a smirk tug at his lips. He'd worried that Niu Gao might cling to his old bonds, but Titan's reaction had effectively severed any lingering loyalty Niu Gao felt toward him.
Titan, however, fumed inwardly. Dai Yao was cunning and ruthless, and he had stolen Tang San's prized spirit ring. That was unforgivable! His closest friend had not only refrained from helping Tang San but had also joined Dai Yao's sect. Though Tang San hadn't voiced his displeasure, Titan felt a deep sense of betrayal.
"Enough, Elder Titan, please," Tang San intervened, pulling Titan back into his seat.
When Titan finally calmed, Tang San turned to Bai He, his expression regretful.
"Elder Bai He, I can't undo the harm caused by the Clear Sky Sect's retreat. But on behalf of my father, Tang Hao, please allow me to say, I'm sorry."
With that, Tang San rose and bowed deeply to Bai He, who turned away, pointedly ignoring him. Undeterred, Tang San continued,
"I know an apology isn't enough, but please take a look at this."
Bai He raised a skeptical eyebrow.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
Tang San took out the Zhuge Crossbow from his Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges storage and placed it on the table. As the sleek, metallic weapon gleamed under the hall's light, a spark of fascination lit up in Tang San's eyes.
"This is the Zhuge Crossbow," he explained, "capable of penetrating a fortieth-ranked Spirit Master's defenses. And for your Speed Clan, Elder Bai He, this weapon could be wielded with such speed that it could even threaten a Spirit King."
At his words, the dozen Speed Clan members fixed their gazes on the black device, eyes alight with both curiosity and skepticism. It was hard to believe such an unassuming object could threaten a Spirit Master of such rank. But if it could, it would indeed be a game-changer in their hands—a weapon worth any price.
Bai He stared at the Zhuge Crossbow for a long moment, then raised his doubts.
"Why should I believe that this black box is as powerful as you claim?"
"As the saying goes, 'Seeing is believing, Elder.' Please, allow me to demonstrate," Tang San replied smoothly. He skillfully loaded the crossbow, aimed at the ground, and fired.
Thwap, thwap, thwap.
With the sharp clanking of the crossbow's mechanism, sixteen steel bolts plunged into the ground, creating sixteen precise holes that seemed to appear almost instantly. Many people couldn't even follow the movement with their eyes.
Bai He's eyes widened as he stood up abruptly, eyes aflame with enthusiasm as he stared at the neat row of holes. He knew well how resilient the floors of the Defense Clan's stronghold were, able to withstand attacks from a Soul Elder's power. Yet the Zhuge Crossbow had punched through as if it were soft clay—a clear testament to its strength.
Due to their swift but fragile martial spirit, the Speed Clan had always craved powerful weapons to balance their weaknesses. He took a deep breath, struggling to contain his excitement as he asked,
"How much for two hundred of these? Name your price!"
Seeing Bai He's enthusiasm, Titan couldn't help but smirk in satisfaction. With such a powerful weapon, which for the Speed Clan was akin to a divine tool, he was confident Bai He would have no choice but to join Tang Men. Given the clan's meager resources, they had only one option if they wanted to arm themselves with such weapons.
Tang San replied with a calm smile,
"It's quite reasonable—150 gold soul coins apiece."
Bai He hesitated. One hundred and fifty gold coins was a steep price, especially given the Speed Clan's limited means.
"Could you lower the price…just a little?"
At this, Dai Yao finally couldn't hold back a laugh, finding the scene all too familiar.
"What are you laughing at?" Bai Chenxiang, who had been observing the cloaked stranger, frowned in annoyance.
Hearing Dai Yao's laughter, everyone turned to look at him with mixed expressions—Bai He with confusion, Tang San with a frosty stare.
Dai Yao chuckled.
"Elder Bai He, don't get your hopes up. That price of one hundred and fifty coins is per crossbow, not for the whole set."
Bai He's face flushed red as the painful truth set in. Because of his pride, he had refused support from Spirit Hall for the Speed Clan, and the resulting poverty weighed heavily on him. Now, to have this harsh reality laid bare, his embarrassment quickly turned to anger.
"Tang San, is this true?" Bai He demanded, glaring at Tang San.
After a tense pause, Tang San nodded.
"It is, Elder Bai He. However, it was not my intention to insult you. I simply quoted the necessary cost. The Zhuge Crossbow requires refined iron, which alone costs more than a single gold coin, not to mention the labor."
Bai He fell back into his seat, deflated, the painful reality sinking in. The Speed Clan had finally found a weapon that could grant their members greater power, yet they lacked the means to buy it.
White Chenxiang shot Tang San a glare, feeling that he was mocking the Speed Clan's hardship.
Sensing Bai He's hesitation, Tang San smiled and added,
"But…there's another option."
"What option?" Bai He asked with a frown.
"If the Speed Clan joins Tang Men, each member will receive a set of Tang Men's signature hidden weapons, including not only the Zhuge Crossbow but also other models like the Hensha Arrow," Tang San explained.
Watching his clan members' expressions, Bai He took a long, thoughtful look at Tang San before replying gravely,
"So you would have us join the Tang Men out of sheer interest? If we were that easy to sway, we would have joined Spirit Hall long ago."
"Hey, Elder Bai He, the young master didn't mean it that way!" Titan quickly interjected, striding over and resting a heavy hand on Bai He's shoulder. "I only want to bring us all back together. And if the Zhuge Crossbow makes that easier, then it's worth it!"
At Titan's words, Bai He's rigid stance softened. The Speed Clan had longed to return to the camaraderie they once shared with the other three clans. Moreover, with Tang San being Tang Hao's son and sharing blood ties with them, joining Tang Men didn't seem as far-fetched.
At that moment, Ning Rongrong spoke up,
"Elder Bai He, before you make a decision, there's something you should know."
Titan scowled at her; he'd nearly convinced Bai He to join Tang Men, and now the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's young mistress was interfering. But with Sword Douluo at her side, he dared not interrupt her.
"What do you mean?" Bai He asked, intrigued.
All eyes turned to Ning Rongrong, many captivated by her beauty. She noticed the stares and frowned before addressing Bai He with a graceful smile.
"Elder, Tang San's promise to provide your clan with a set of hidden weapons is unrealistic," she said.
Bai He's face darkened as he glanced at Tang San before refocusing on Ning Rongrong.
"What do you mean?"
Tang San's expression soured, glaring at Ning Rongrong. She had interrupted his plans twice now, as if challenging him to respond.
Ning Rongrong continued,
"My clan, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, is one of Tang Men's biggest clients. My father ordered five hundred sets of hidden weapons for a price of one thousand gold coins per set, totaling fifty thousand gold coins."
Due to her father Ning Fengzhi's more cautious approach, he had not offered an exorbitant price of ten thousand coins as in the original story. Nonetheless, fifty thousand coins was still a steep amount.
Hearing the figure, the Speed Clan members gasped, marveling at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's wealth.
Ning Rongrong pressed on,
"Tang San needs substantial resources to establish Tang Men, and fifty thousand gold coins is just a fraction of what he'll need. Do you really believe he could afford to equip every Speed Clan member with a full set of hidden weapons?"
This version of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, unlike in the original tale, did not provide Tang San with unrestricted support. Without their backing, Tang San lacked the resources to fully establish Tang Men. His promise of arming the Speed Clan was merely an empty offer.
"Is that true, Tang San?" Bai He asked, fixing him with a cool stare.
After a moment's silence, Tang San nodded reluctantly.
"Yes, it's true."
Titan stepped forward, trying to salvage the situation.
"Elder Bai He, don't forget that the Defense Clan is full of smiths. We could cut costs significantly. If we tighten our belts for a while, we can deliver on our promise."
Bai He shook his head slowly.
"That would make us no different from a group living off another's charity."
A heavy silence settled over the hall until Dai Yao finally spoke up.
"Elder Bai He, perhaps you'd like to hear what I have to offer?"
"She couldn't even react—looks like she's all show and no skill!"
Just as Bai Chenxiang gathered her strength to launch an attack on Dai Yao, her heart skipped a beat. The next instant, an overwhelming pressure, vast as the ocean, surged toward her from all directions, swallowing her whole.
A golden light flashed, and Dai Yao's spirit activated. His whole form grew even more powerful, the golden lines on his forehead glinting brightly. The oppressive force was emanating entirely from him.
Bai Chenxiang was stunned, staring at him in disbelief, her pupils contracting with shock. From his spirit alone, she felt a deep, soul-piercing fear, as though he might tear her apart at any moment. She was powerless under the weight of his spirit power, her body immobilized, forced to her knees.
She was a four-ring Spirit Ancestor and had activated her third spirit skill, but Dai Yao's sheer spirit pressure left her helpless. How terrifying was his true power?
Only now did she realize how ridiculous her assumptions had been. Dai Yao wasn't just hiding behind the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—he was the tiger itself. Perhaps the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was backing him because of the power he possessed and was simply investing in him to support his goals.
After Dai Yao's spirit transformation, it wasn't only Bai Chenxiang who felt the crushing fear. All present could sense it clearly. For the three single-attribute clans, all of whom had beast spirits, the suppression was all the more potent, making them want to flee from the Defense Clan's stronghold.
Amidst the fear-stricken gazes of everyone around, Dai Yao calmly approached Bai Chenxiang, who lay immobilized on the ground, and looked down at her with cold eyes.
"I'm standing right here. All you need to do to win is touch me," he said, his tone indifferent. "But tell me, can you even do that?"
Dai Yao's approach was far more ruthless than Tang San's in the original story, where he had outmaneuvered Bai Chenxiang through skill. Here, Dai Yao had directly rendered her incapable of movement.
With her weaker constitution, the massive spirit and power level difference left Bai Chenxiang struggling even to move.
She gritted her teeth, her white forehead beading with sweat, which soaked her bangs. The bold words she had spoken earlier now seemed to mock her, filling her with humiliation and a fierce desire to disappear. Yet, as she remembered the price of losing this duel, fear welled up.
"No…I can't lose this!"
She gritted her teeth harder, summoning every ounce of strength to push forward. Dai Yao was so close—just a reach away—but under the crushing pressure, her efforts were laughably futile. She could barely lift a hand, let alone reach him. Even as she forced her bleeding lips into a thin line, her hand, after lifting a mere inch, fell back to the ground, feeling as if it were nailed down.
Despair filled her heart.
The Speed Clan members looked on in shock. Just how strong was this man named Dai Yao?
Meanwhile, the Defense Clan had already seen Dai Yao defeat Titan in a fight a few days ago, so they'd anticipated this outcome, though they hadn't expected the difference to be so vast.
Elder Bai He shut his eyes painfully and, after a long silence, spoke with difficulty,
"Enough, Xiangxiang…you've lost."
Dai Yao smiled faintly and withdrew his spirit. The immense pressure vanished, and Bai Chenxiang slowly rose to her feet, though the few minutes had felt like an eternity to her. Her so-called pride had been crushed to dust by Dai Yao.
Thinking of the duel's wager—that she would be subject to Dai Yao's commands—filled her heart with dread. She prided herself on her beauty, well aware of men's intentions, and could already picture the consequences of being at his mercy.
"I…"
She lowered her head, words caught in her throat. She knew this was her own doing and that she had to bear the cost of defeat. But the bleak future weighed heavily on her, filling her with resentment.
Dai Yao, however, didn't even look at her. Instead, he addressed Bai He,
"Elder Bai He, that wager was just in jest, and the stakes were simply words. I hope neither you nor your granddaughter takes it to heart."
Bai He let out a deep sigh of relief, grateful that his precious granddaughter would be spared. Despite his shame, he clenched his teeth and said,
"Thank you…"
But before he could finish, Dai Yao interrupted him,
"Elder, how about a new wager? Same as before: if you touch me, you'll receive a million gold soul coins. But if you lose, you and the Speed Clan will join my Green Lotus Sect."
Bai He was silent for a long time before uttering one word.
"Agreed."
In his view, he was a pure agility-type Contra, and though Dai Yao's tactics worked against Bai Chenxiang, they would be useless against him. To him, Dai Yao's challenge was nothing short of a gift.
Still, he accepted the terms. Dai Yao's concession of the previous wager might have appeared gracious, but to his pride, it had been like a thorn in his side. After he defeated Dai Yao, he intended to forfeit the million coins and repay Dai Yao's act of 'generosity.' The Speed Clan owed no one.
Hearing Dai Yao's offer, Bai Chenxiang felt as if she'd been pulled from drowning, breathing a deep sigh of relief. Yet, Dai Yao's indifference stung—why wasn't he like other men who crowded around her, like that persistent fatty she couldn't seem to shake off? Who did he think he was to ignore her?
Seeing Dai Yao's growing influence over Bai He, Tang San finally sensed the danger. Although he doubted Dai Yao could defeat Bai He, his decision to forfeit the wager had clearly won Bai He's favor. If Tang San didn't act soon, Dai Yao would surely sway the Speed Clan toward the Green Lotus Sect.
Tang San clenched his fists, his expression darkening.
Dai Yao's challenge of Bai He left many others frowning. The Speed Clan's leader was renowned as the fastest soul master alive—wasn't Dai Yao being arrogant?
The only one unfazed was Niu Gao, who had full confidence in Dai Yao. He'd witnessed feats just as extraordinary only a few days ago.
Bai He comforted Bai Chenxiang briefly, then strode onto the arena. He stood with hands clasped behind his back, his wise, aged eyes focused steadily on Dai Yao as he calmly said,
"Prepare yourself!"
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