If he fought now, even if he himself could break free, the clan members he had brought would all perish here.
Worse still, he would drag the other three clans down with him.
Yang Wudi's heart was heavy.
"Your Highness, Clan Leader Ge, please hear me out. I can swear on the Breaking Clan's honor, their deaths had nothing to do with Old Goat!Since Yang Wushuang is in Heaven Dou City, we brothers are willing to personally kill him to prove our innocence!"
At this critical moment, Tai Tan quickly spoke up.
Hesitate a moment longer, and this would truly end in annihilation.
"Old Gorilla…"
Yang Wudi's eyes reddened slightly.
"Old Goat, there's no need to say more. Since Yang Wushuang chose that path, he is our enemy.
Old Crane, Old Rhino—will you strike with me?"
On this day, Yang Wushuang had to die. Without his death, nothing could be resolved. And since he had already become Spirit Hall's dog, then he must die.
After all, Yang Wudi was Clear Sky's loyal hound hence he had every reason to cut down a traitor.
"We brothers will fight once more—think of it as cleansing betrayal." Old Rhino was the first to agree.
Bai He, however, glanced toward Yang Wudi.
No matter what, Yang Wushuang was still his younger brother.
Yang Wudi cupped his fists toward Titan and the others, his voice loud and resolute:
"My Breaking Clan has produced a traitor who committed grievous sins. Today, I will give Heaven Dou's royal family an explanation. I only ask that His Highness give us the chance!"
Though Prince Xue Xing's face remained cold, inside he was laughing with delight.
Just as Dugu Feng had predicted.
Push the four single-attribute clans to the edge, and to survive, they would inevitably move against Yang Wushuang.
Of course, Tai Tan, Bai He, and Niu Gao already loathed Spirit Hall and that played a part as well.
The Dugu Clan was vicious indeed. This borrowed-knife strategy had been executed with perfection.
Spirit Hall had never openly admitted Yang Wushuang had defected, nor had the Breaking Clan acknowledged it.
But in the soul master world, everyone knew it was true.
If Heaven Dou had killed him directly, it would have been tantamount to slapping Spirit Hall across the face.
Prince Xue Xing wasn't ready for open war.
The Dugu Clan had long since discovered Yang Wushuang, but they waited until today, using the clans' gathering as the stage.
Borrowing others' blades for the kill, really truly sinister.
Boom!
Just then, a thunderous crash echoed across the city, stabbing into everyone's ears.
It was a sound like blade striking shield, harsh and jarring.
"That should be Commissioner Bai engaging Yang Wushuang. If Clan Leader Yang truly wishes to cleanse his household, then strike at once.
The rest of you...drop your weapons and remain inside the Strength Clan's estate!"
Ge Long stepped forward, glaring at Yang Wudi and the others.
At this point, Tai Tan and the rest did not hesitate further.
Tai Tan, Bai He, Niu Gao, and Yang Wudi all surged toward the source of the battle.
Ge Long did not rush. He watched closely as the clans' remaining members surrendered their weapons, then posted guards over them.
Only after securing the estate did he head for the battlefield. If Yang Wudi's group dared betray them, every last one of the clans' people here would be slain.
At the battlefield's center—
It had once been a humble apothecary, but now the building lay in ruins.
Four figures were locked in battle.
At the heart of it stood a tall, thin man wielding a black spear. Its glow was savage, buzzing with a chilling hum.
Facing his spear directly was a fat man, straining under its pressure.
His weapon was strange—a golden cauldron inlaid with seven stars, radiating a heavy aura.
This was Bai Baoshan of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, one of the board of education. His martial spirit, the Heavenly Star Furnace, was holding back Yang Wushuang's spear.
Supporting him from behind was an elder in black robes, vines whipping out again and again to entangle the spear's strikes. This was Zhi Lin, another of the Academy's board members.
The last figure was a massive serpent covered in green scales—it was Old Snake.
His role was simple: ensure Yang Wushuang's toxins never had a chance to spread.
Not far away, Dugu Feng, Old Scorpion, and Ye Qingxin, patriarch of the Ye Clan, watched coldly.
"Yang Wushuang is cautious indeed. He even spread colorless, odorless poisons around the shop, no wonder he detected us early."
Dugu Feng clicked his tongue.
"So what if he noticed? In Heaven Dou City, does he really think he can escape?"
Old Scorpion's tone was dismissive.
With the Dugu Clan present, Yang Wushuang's poisons were useless.
All he had left was his Breaking Spear.
Though a Soul Douluo himself, his strength fell short of his brother Yang Wudi's. His spear was fierce, but not at the level of a Titled Douluo!
With Bai Baoshan, Zhi Lin, and Old Snake hemming him in, escape was impossible.
Dugu Feng's eyes weren't on Yang Wushuang.
What he feared were Qian Renxue's two guardians—would they intervene?
Both were Titled Douluo.
But the odds were slim. This was Heaven Dou City.
The three imperial education board members were nearby, and Dugu Bo himself was in the capital.
Moreover, secrecy was paramount. The false crown prince Qian Renxue likely only now realized what was happening. She would have no time to respond.
Inside the Crown Prince's residence—
In the study, Qian Renxue's mask of serenity had shattered. Her face was pale with fury.
"Young Master, Prince Xue Xing and Ge Long suddenly mobilized the heavy infantry, surrounding the Strength Clan.
I sensed something amiss and immediately sent word for Yang Wushuang to flee, but it was too late!
The Imperial Academy's Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin, along with the Dugu Clan's Old Snake, have already surrounded him!
He hid so deeply...how was he discovered?"
The Porcupinefish Douluo frowned. Yang Wushuang had lived quietly in the apothecary Spirit Hall had long controlled, never stepping outside.
Yet still, he had been found.
"The real question is...do we save him?"
Qian Renxue's eyes flashed with anxiety.
"Young Master, give the order. Xuelong and I can strike—we still have a strong chance to rescue him!" Porcupinefish Douluo bit down, voice hard.
Qian Renxue rose to her feet, her face pale as she seethed:
"Prince Xue Xing. Ge Long. The Imperial Academy. The Dugu Clan. The Wind Sword Sect. What a grand move.
And I had no inkling of it!"
Her fists clenched. Rage coursed through her veins.
"But what if this is bait?
If my teacher is nearby with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, if Dugu Bo is lying in wait? If you act, my forces will be exposed.
One misstep, and the game is lost.
Go! Inform Salas. Have him deny that Yang Wushuang killed the princes. He must act to protect him.
Hopefully, it won't be too late."
With that, she strode from the study. She needed to see with her own eyes who had orchestrated this.
With Prince Xue Xing's meager strength, there was no way he uncovered Yang Wushuang.
So who had?
Her curiosity burned.
Moments later, at the battlefield's edge, Dugu Feng's pupils narrowed.
He had spotted someone.
Xue Qinghe!
Qian Renxue, in disguise, had arrived.
Her face was calm, her steps unhurried, ten guards following in her wake as she approached the fight.
Such audacity!
Dugu Feng's heart tensed, wary.