Niu Gao's expression was still ugly. He glared at Titan and said, "Old ape, if anyone else had brought him here, I would have thrown him out long ago. Get him to leave immediately. I don't want to see anyone related to the Clear Sky School. Otherwise, don't blame me for not giving you any face."
Titan was growing angry as well. He held Tang San in extremely high regard, and had even considered entrusting the future of the Strength Clan to him. He shot to his feet and snapped, "Fine then, we'll leave together. The Strength Clan won't be attending this gathering either. Young Master, let's go."
With that, he took long strides toward the exit.
Niu Gao hadn't expected Titan to react so intensely, and his expression shifted immediately. He and Titan had been brothers for decades — he knew well that this old companion never made decisions lightly. But he had already spoken his piece, and as the clan master, backing down now would be utterly humiliating.
"Elder Titan, wait." Tang San grabbed Titan's arm. If they left just like this, there would be absolutely no room for negotiation. In front of an outsider, of course, he wouldn't call him Elder Titan.
Titan looked at Tang San. Tang San nodded to him, then turned to face Niu Gao and bowed deeply. "Elder Niu Gao, I apologize on behalf of the Clear Sky School and my father for the trouble they brought upon the four single-attribute clans. I know that such an apology alone cannot undo anything. The reason I came here with Elder Titan is that I hope to find a way to make amends to the four clans."
Niu Gao stared hard at Tang San. "Your Clear Sky School has unsealed?"
Tang San shook his head. "I represent only myself and my father, not the Clear Sky School. The sect remains sealed."
Niu Gao let out a cold snort. "Whether the Clear Sky School is sealed or unsealed has absolutely nothing to do with our Defense Clan. We're doing just fine, and we don't need any compensation. Besides, it's not something a greenhorn brat like you could ever compensate for."
Hearing these words, Tang San didn't grow angry — instead he smiled. He could already detect a thread of wiggle room in Niu Gao's words. Of course, that room wasn't left for him; it was left for Titan.
By now, Titan had turned around and was standing at Tang San's side.
Facing Niu Gao's furious gaze, Tang San appeared remarkably composed. Cradling Xiao Wu, his elegant bearing showed not the slightest trace of panic. One had to remember that Niu Gao was a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse as well. Although he wasn't deliberately releasing his pressure to suppress Tang San, the aura he naturally exuded and the commanding presence accumulated over decades as a clan master were not something an ordinary person could withstand.
"Elder Niu Gao, of course I cannot make sweeping promises about what I can do for the four clans. Empty words — even if you didn't believe them, I myself would find them unconvincing. However, I hope you will give me a chance. Let me stay here and attend this gathering. I don't want the Defense Clan to look at me as though I were an enemy."
Niu Gao suddenly laughed, though his smile was far more chilling than his earlier cold expression. A surge of overwhelming pressure exploded from his body, crashing toward Tang San like a tidal wave.
"Give you a chance? When the Clear Sky School announced its seal, did it ever give us four clans a chance? When your father was fighting Spirit Hall, did he ever think about our interests? Why should I give you any chance? Get out. Get out of here right now. Otherwise, don't blame me for getting rough."
A flash of anger blazed in Titan's eyes, and he was about to erupt, but Tang San forcibly held him back. "Elder Titan, let me handle this myself."
Tang San's goal was to establish the Tang Sect in this other world, to let the Tang Sect flourish across the continent of Soul Land. If he couldn't even handle something like this, how would he ever manage a sect?
Facing the enormous pressure radiating from Niu Gao, Tang San didn't retreat — he stepped forward instead. A layer of faint white light emerged from his body, but rather than radiating outward, it remained condensed around him. When Niu Gao's powerful pressure bore down on him, something strange happened: the massive force seemed to be cleaved in two by Tang San's body, sliding past him on either side without having any effect whatsoever.
Who was Tang San? Even back when his strength was still feeble, he had forcibly withstood the pressure of three commissioners from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, let alone now. The white light was none other than the Killing God Domain inscribed on his Clear Sky Hammer. But the effect he was now displaying was an evolution of the Killing God Domain — the Killing God Assault.
Just as the Blue Silver Domain's evolution had produced the Area Binding, the Killing God Assault was a product of the domain's evolution as Tang San grew stronger. The Blue Silver Domain's evolved skill, Blue Silver Area Binding, was a large-scale restriction ability, excelling in sheer coverage. The Killing God Domain's evolved skill, however, was entirely unidirectional. With the Killing God Domain condensed within his body, the Killing God Assault turned his very being into a blade. Against the non-corporeal pressure, it produced a formidable cutting effect.
In the world of Soul Masters, strength always spoke volumes. When Niu Gao felt his released pressure being split apart so cleanly, he couldn't help but be shocked. His gaze toward Tang San shifted noticeably.
Looking at Tang San with some surprise, Niu Gao said, "Truly worthy of being Tang Hao's son — you can actually withstand my pressure. How old are you?"
Tang San smiled faintly. "Nearly twenty-one."
Niu Gao's expression changed again, clearly startled by Tang San's age. His eyes drifted to Tai Long standing nearby, only to find Tai Long watching him with a look that practically said "this is going to be good." Embarrassment and irritation flared up. "Fine. You want to stay? Then stay. Right here, without destroying any objects — if you can last the time it takes for one incense stick to burn under my attacks, I'll let you stay and attend the gathering. As for the other two clans, I'll handle the explanations."
"Is that true?" The one who spoke wasn't Tang San, but Titan. A smile had already appeared on his face.
Looking at Titan's smile, Niu Gao suddenly felt the hair on his back stand up. He said unhappily, "Old ape, I'm a clan master too — would I go back on my word?"
Titan chuckled. "Good, very good. Looks like we won't be leaving after all. Tonight I can still drink you under the table."
Niu Gao snorted irritably. "Old ape, you really have that much confidence in this kid? My Soul Power has improved over the past two years — eighty-fourth rank, even if I'm still not up to your level. How old is he, again? I said one incense stick's worth of time."
Titan smiled mysteriously. "You'll see for yourself. I guarantee you — if you don't try, you won't know, and once you try, you'll be in for a shock. Old rhino, don't blame your big brother for not warning you. Tang San is unrivaled among the younger generation of the Clear Sky School, with talent that surpasses even his father's. He's the leading figure of the Clear Sky School's third generation and a strong contender for the next sect master."
Hearing these words, Niu Gao's expression turned grave. None of the rest mattered much, but the claim that Tang San was more talented than Tang Hao himself caught his full attention. He and Titan were as close as brothers — Titan would never lie to him, and there was even a subtle note of warning in his words, as if cautioning him not to stumble in the gutter.
Just then, Tang San spoke. "Elder Niu Gao, you are Elder Titan's close brother, and so naturally you are my elder as well. What if we make it simpler? Neither of us uses martial soul abilities, but we may channel our Soul Power. Each of us strikes the opponent three times with our fists. The other side cannot dodge — they must take it head-on. If I can still barely stand here after the three blows, then I'd ask you to let me stay for the gathering. How about that?"
When Tang San said this, not only did Niu Gao freeze — even Titan's eyes went wide. It wasn't because Tang San had found himself an easy way out; it was because the conditions he proposed were wildly advantageous to Niu Gao, the Defense Clan's master.
The Defense Clan, like the Strength Clan, was a single-attribute clan. They devoted all their effort to studying defense. Their defensive power was unmatched among Soul Masters of the same level. Even the Elephant Armored Clan, renowned for their defense, wouldn't dare claim superiority over the Defense Clan in pure defensive capability.
No martial soul abilities, no dodging, taking three attacks head-on — this was essentially the ideal scenario for maximizing the Defense Clan's defensive prowess. Setting everything else aside, it already placed Niu Gao in an invincible position. And as a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, even without using any abilities, Niu Gao's raw Soul Power strikes were terrifyingly powerful.
Titan anxiously shot Tang San a series of meaningful looks, but Tang San seemed not to notice, maintaining his elegant composure as he gazed at Niu Gao, awaiting his answer.
Niu Gao stared at Tang San for a long time without recovering, simply unable to figure out why Tang San would propose conditions so favorable to him. Clearly, this young man absolutely did not want to leave — which could only mean one thing: he had absolute confidence in himself.
"Young man, you're quite arrogant," Niu Gao said coldly.
Tang San smiled and shook his head. "I wouldn't dare. How could I be arrogant in front of two elders? I simply don't want to harm our harmony. Elder, please — strike first." As he spoke, he placed Xiao Wu from his arms into his Hundred Treasure Purse.
Niu Gao strode up to Tang San and halted. "Your proposed method already gives me a massive advantage. How can I strike first? Boy, you go first."
Tang San didn't refuse. "Very well. Please be careful, Elder." With that, he simply took one step forward and threw a punch straight at Niu Gao's chest. The motion was utterly straightforward. But what surprised Niu Gao was that he couldn't sense even a trace of Soul Power in Tang San's fist.
With a soft thud, Tang San retracted his fist. Niu Gao was visibly taken aback — he hadn't felt any attack force at all. Anger flared. "Boy, are you playing me for a fool?"
Tang San smiled and shook his head. "I wouldn't dare. It's simply that I've long heard your defenses are the finest on the continent. Why would I embarrass myself? My attacks wouldn't affect you anyway. It's better for me to devote all my energy to withstanding your attacks. That gives me the best chance of staying."
This mild compliment immediately softened Niu Gao's expression. "Then take my first punch."
Niu Gao would not be polite. If three blows couldn't even knock down a young man barely into his twenties, that would be tremendously humiliating. However, in return for Tang San's goodwill, he decided to hold back — so this first punch carried only thirty percent of his strength.
One should never underestimate thirty percent of a Soul Douluo's power. Though Niu Gao's raw strength wasn't as overwhelming as Titan's, as a defense-oriented Soul Master, his strength was far from weak. Combined with his own Soul Power, this thirty-percent punch was equivalent to the full-power strike of an ordinary Soul Master around the sixtieth rank.
Tang San truly did not dodge, nor did he use his martial soul. Without changing expression, he puffed out his chest and took the blow head-on.
With a dull thud, Tang San's upper body snapped backward.
Niu Gao was secretly thinking that perhaps this young man had been too cocky and couldn't withstand even thirty percent of his strength. It was only natural, really — how old could he be? Fortieth rank at best, if he was lucky. The method he'd proposed was inherently disadvantageous for him.
But before the thought had fully formed in Niu Gao's mind, his eyes went wide once more.
Tang San's upper body tilted back past forty-five degrees, then swung back. Immediately after, his body began to sway violently around his waist like a wave rising and falling — staggering, unsteady, yet never actually falling, not even retreating a single step.
This continued for several breaths' time. Tang San's body stabilized, and he looked at Niu Gao without the slightest flush or heavy breathing, smiling. "Thank you for holding back, Elder."
"Holding back?" Thirty percent was indeed holding back, but Niu Gao hadn't expected Tang San to actually withstand it. The reason he hadn't used more Soul Power was that he feared killing Tang San outright and bringing enormous trouble to the Defense Clan. Even less did he want to put his old brother Titan in a difficult position.
Yet he never could have imagined that after taking his thirty-percent punch — without using any martial soul — this young man would appear completely unharmed, as though the blow had never even landed.
Of course, Niu Gao's punch had connected. It was just that the vast majority of its force had been cleverly redirected by Tang San. The swaying of his body was not entirely caused by the impact. Instead, he had applied his Crane Control Dragon Catch technique to his own body. Each sway dissipated a portion of the force striking his chest. By the end, he had absorbed very little of the actual attack. The technique of using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds had been executed to perfection — though the people of this world would have great difficulty recognizing the extraordinary skill he had just displayed.
Tang San flashed Niu Gao a bright smile. "Elder, here comes my second punch. Do be careful this time — I'll be putting real force behind it." With that, Tang San threw another punch.
Niu Gao had no intention of defending himself. He didn't believe for a moment that Tang San's attack could do anything to him. In his eyes, this punch was even more absurd than the last — drifting lightly toward his chest as if it weighed nothing. His mind was entirely preoccupied with figuring out how much force to use on his next punch: enough to knock Tang San down, but not so much as to cause him serious injury.