Niu Gao glanced at Titan impatiently. "Enough, stop trying to entice me. I need to think this over carefully. To be honest, while this thing of yours is tempting, it's not quite enough to sway me yet. After all, we can still rely on our defense to keep ourselves safe. However, for the Agility Clan, this stuff would be extremely useful!"
"Oh?" Niu Gao's words seemed to deliberately point something out to Tang San. As clever as Tang San was, he immediately understood the implication. The Agility Clan's primary strength lay in their speed, which was beyond doubt. But precisely because of their single-attribute focus, while they had speed, they were quite lacking in other areas. Speed allowed them to substitute evasion for defense, but what about attacks? While speed and strength were proportional, the boost to offensive power was ultimately limited.
If the Agility Clan's speed were paired with the attacking power of Hidden Weapons, their overall strength would undoubtedly rise dramatically. Moreover, among the four single-attribute clans, the Agility Clan was the least successful. Niu Gao seemed to be suggesting that instead of courting his own Royal Clan, Tang San should perhaps look to the Agility Clan instead.
Just as Tang San was pondering the deeper meaning behind Niu Gao's words, a member of the Royal Clan rushed into the courtyard. He strode quickly to Niu Gao's side and whispered something in his ear.
After hearing this, Niu Gao's expression shifted slightly. "What are they doing here? Old Ape, people from the Elephant Armor Sect have come."
Titan frowned lightly. "Which one from the Elephant Armor Sect?"
Niu Gao stood up. "It's the Heavenly Elephant, Hu Yen Zhen, in person. I must show him some face."
Titan nodded. "Alright, I'll go with you to take a look." Both men stood, and the younger generation naturally followed. Tang San, not pulling rank, walked alongside Tai Long and Ma Hongjun, following the two clan heads out.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, everyone's gaze was drawn to the five massive figures. The one in the lead appeared to be over seventy years old. His height, estimated by sight, was at least two and a half meters, and standing there, he resembled a mountain of flesh. His skin was dark, his large eyes like copper bells. A peculiar sheen seemed to float on his dark skin. This was the sect master of the Elephant Armor Sect, the Heavenly Elephant Hu Yen Zhen.
The four men following behind Hu Yen Zhen all appeared to be over sixty, their physiques only slightly less imposing than his. They were each restrained in their aura, and together, the five of them stood like five great mountains, radiating immense pressure.
Hu Yen Zhen and Niu Gao were obviously old acquaintances. Seeing Niu Gao emerge with the group, Hu Yen Zhen let out a hearty laugh and strode forward. "Brother Niu, it's been quite a while! How have things been lately?"
Niu Gao returned the greeting with a half-hearted smile. "Thanks for asking, my health is still robust. May I ask what brings the Heavenly Elephant here unannounced?"
Hu Yen Zhen laughed again. "Brother Niu, that's not very hospitable. Can't you invite your old brother in for a seat and some tea before we talk? Oh, this gentleman here has such a sturdy frame. Might I ask who he is?" His gaze fell upon Titan.
Niu Gao replied evenly, "This is my elder brother, Titan. Let's continue this in the reception hall."
A hint of surprise flickered in Hu Yen Zhen's eyes. "So it's the head of the Strength Clan, Brother Titan. How wonderful! This saves me a trip to Heaven Dou City."
Observing coldly from the side, Tang San had already formed a rough conjecture about the Heavenly Elephant's purpose in coming.
Inside the reception hall, everyone took their seats according to host and guest. Tang San naturally stood behind Titan and did not sit down. In front of the Elephant Armor Sect, he did not want to reveal his identity. Thus, only the two clan heads and the Heavenly Elephant himself were seated in the hall.
Niu Gao ordered tea served, forced a thin smile, and asked Hu Yen Zhen, "Brother Hu Yen, speak plainly. We're all straightforward people. You wouldn't climb this mountain without a reason, surely!"
"Good, straightforward." Hu Yen Zhen dispensed with further pleasantries. Although Titan's presence had somewhat disrupted his plans for this visit, it wouldn't stop him from achieving his objective.
"You two brothers must have heard. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family was destroyed, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was severely damaged. The former Upper Three Clans among the Seven Great Sects are now merely names. And His Majesty, the Pope of Spirit Hall, has issued a decree: one year from now, a Grand Conference will be held to reselect the Seven Great Sects."
Niu Gao said, "What does that have to do with us? My small Royal Clan naturally doesn't have the strength to compete in such matters."
The Heavenly Elephant Hu Yen Zhen chuckled. "To be honest, Brother, this little brother of yours does have some thoughts about this upcoming selection. This time, I am determined to secure one of the Upper Three Clan positions. That is why I've come to visit, hoping to gain your support, Big Brother! If my Elephant Armor Sect could join forces with your Royal Clan, who in the entire Soul Master world could match our defense? We would be invincible. Our status with Spirit Hall would naturally rise, and becoming a regional power would be no problem. Just agree, Brother, and the position of Vice Sect Master of the Elephant Armor Sect is yours. I would treat you as an equal. What do you say?"
The more Niu Gao listened to Hu Yen Zhen's words, the darker his expression became. It sounded noble on the surface, but the underlying meaning was that he wanted to swallow Niu Gao's Royal Clan whole. This crossed a fundamental line for Niu Gao.
"Brother Hu Yen, have you forgotten who it was that forced us into being like stray dogs, nearly unable to find our footing?"
Hu Yen Zhen countered, "Brother Niu, that was so many years ago. As they say, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Can't you see Spirit Hall's power? Who in the world can stand against Spirit Hall today? With your strength and the Royal Clan's unique traits, if we walk the same path, the Royal Clan's future would be limitless! Name your conditions. As long as this little brother can meet them, I won't refuse. And even if I can't, Spirit Hall can."
Niu Gao's temper finally snapped. He slammed his hand down on the table and stood up. "Hu Yen Zhen! Since when did you become such a loyal running dog for Spirit Hall? If you want to lick their boots, that's your business—don't drag me into it! My Royal Clan has zero interest!"
Niu Gao's outburst first stunned Hu Yen Zhen, then his expression darkened in turn. As one of the Seven Great Sect Masters, being berated like this by Niu Gao was a huge loss of face. He also stood up, his sharp gaze flashing. "Niu Gao! I call you 'Brother' out of respect! Did you not see what happened to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family? Do you really believe your little Royal Clan is stronger than they were?"
Niu Gao said coldly, "I'd rather be a shattered jade than a whole tile. Though Haotian Sect wronged the four single-attribute clans back then, we still developed under their shelter. We may have split from them, but that doesn't mean we'll cooperate with Spirit Hall! I, Niu Gao, will not become their lackey! If you've got the guts, come destroy me then! And stop spouting nonsense in front of me!"
Hu Yen Zhen's face was grim, his large eyes flickering with a fierce light. "So, you're refusing to give me face?"
Niu Gao let out a cold snort, his aura surging violently. Both were Soul Douluos. Although Hu Yen Zhen was stronger in raw power, when it came to defense, Niu Gao was actually superior, even to Hu Yen Zhen with his Diamond Mammoth Martial Soul, though his attacks were far weaker.
Titan also slowly rose from his side, an equally domineering aura erupting from him. In terms of Soul Power, he was not significantly inferior to Hu Yen Zhen—there was only a slight inherent gap due to their different Martial Souls.
Pressured by two Soul Douluos simultaneously, even Hu Yen Zhen's massive body swayed slightly. The four elders who had accompanied him quickly took positions behind him. Instantly, a heavy, oppressive counter-pressure surged forth. These four men, all over sixty, were actually Soul Saint-level experts, each above level seventy.
Niu Gao curled his lip dismissively. "Hu Yen Zhen, if you want to deal with me, I suggest you bring the main force of the Elephant Armor Sect next time. You few aren't enough to handle."
Hu Yen Zhen was secretly frustrated. Before coming, he had never anticipated that the Great Power Titan would be here. Otherwise, with himself and his subordinates, he could have suppressed the Royal Clan. Now, while his aura wasn't weaker than Niu Gao and Titan's, this was still the Royal Clan's territory. It was hard to gain the upper hand.
A flicker of malice crossed Hu Yen Zhen's eyes. He spoke coldly, "Fine, Niu Gao. Rivers may change, mountains may endure—we'll meet again. I hope the next time I see you, you still have the nerve to speak to me like this."
With that, Hu Yen Zhen turned and left with his four companions.
As the five from the Elephant Armor Sect departed, the sharp auras of Niu Gao and Titan gradually receded. Niu Gao's expression had become extremely ugly. With a violent wave of his arm, a heavy thud rang out as a solid wooden table beside him shattered into pieces.
"I've even hidden away in a place like Dragon Rise City, yet they still won't let me be! These Spirit Hall bastards—what the hell do they want?"
Tang San spoke up. "They are issuing a warning. The annihilation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family—anyone with eyes knows who did it. But who can do anything about it? Spirit Hall paid a considerable price to attack those two great clans. From their own perspective, it wasn't hugely beneficial. But the important thing is that the warning was effective. Haotian Sect sealed itself away, and the other two Upper Three Clans are gone. Spirit Hall's message to everyone is clear: no one can rival them. This has certainly alarmed the two great empires. However, Spirit Hall's own power has fully matured. With so many kingdoms and principalities as puppets, they fear nothing even if full-scale war breaks out. Under this kind of deterrence, many smaller sects that were on the sidelines have no choice but to seek survival by siding with Spirit Hall. Once the Grand Conference they organize next year concludes smoothly and all the Seven Great Sect positions are under their control, I'm afraid the continent will truly become Spirit Hall's domain."
Tang San's tone was calm, his analysis clear and logical. "How many people like you, Senior Niu, are there who dare to stand against such power? Very, very few. When the battle for the Seven Great Sects concludes, Spirit Hall will no longer stay in the shadows. They will openly challenge the two great empires, perhaps even launch aggressions first. Given the number of powerful experts Spirit Hall commands, if war comes, the two empires will be at a severe disadvantage."
Here, Tang San shifted his focus. "My reason for establishing the Tang Sect, besides some personal ambition, is to do everything I can to prevent that situation. While there are many high-level Soul Masters in the world, the vast majority are low-level. The tens of thousands of low-level Soul Masters in Spirit Hall's hands are the greatest threat to the two great empires. That's practically an invincible army. You've seen our Tang Sect's Hidden Weapons, Senior. If we can mass-produce them and supply a sufficient quantity to the two empires' governments, then on a real battlefield, at least the empires will have a fighting chance. Spirit Hall is ultimately a religious entity. The two empires have existed for a very long time. It's hard to say who would triumph. While I know you haven't forgotten Haotian Sect's abandonment back then, you also can't deny their status as the continent's number one sect. If a stalemate arises between Spirit Hall and the two empires, don't you think Haotian Sect would seize such an opportunity?"
"I can tell you a secret. Haotian Sect's twenty years of seclusion were not in vain. Though their numbers are small, they are all experts. They have six Titled Douluo-level powerhouses. You should understand what a Titled Douluo with the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul means. In times of chaos on the continent, whoever wins will be greatly influenced by Haotian Sect's existence. If our plan succeeds, then the Tang Sect's influence will be no less than Haotian Sect's. I can guarantee to you, Senior, that the Tang Sect will never be incorporated by Haotian Sect. The Tang Sect is the Tang Sect. It stands independently of any Soul Master faction. We are simply an organization that produces Hidden Weapons, protects itself, and is self-sufficient. We aren't even considered a proper Soul Master sect. Senior Niu Gao, I sincerely invite you to join the Tang Sect. The Tang Sect will place absolutely no restrictions on the Royal Clan. All Royal Clan members will remain under your command. If, at that time, you feel the Tang Sect isn't suitable, you may lead the Royal Clan out at any time."
"To be honest, right now the Tang Sect only has the Strength Clan, myself, Fatty, and two other partners. If you can't trust me, can't you trust Senior Titan?"
As soon as Tang San began speaking, he had already captured Niu Gao's attention with his words. His thorough analysis, his sincere invitation without excessive promises—every word he spoke struck Niu Gao as solid and genuine.
These were abilities Tang San's aunt had taught him during his time at Moon Pavilion. That year had seemed wasted, but in reality, Tang San had learned many principles of conduct. A phrase Tang Yuehua often said was that in this world, strength alone did not make a person. To be a person who possessed both strength and worldly wisdom—that was the mark of true power.
Titan was also listening intently to Tang San, the smile on his face growing. He understood Niu Gao's character perfectly well. Tang San had chosen the perfect moment to make his persuasion. Although Niu Gao had been extremely forceful in front of Hu Yen Zhen, that was only because Hu Yen Zhen had crossed his底线. As a clan head, could he truly not care about his clan's survival? The answer was undoubtedly no.
Niu Gao's expression was uncertain, shifting between light and shadow. He stared at Tang San for a long time without speaking. Present in the hall besides them were Ma Hongjun, Tai Long, and Niu Ben. Niu Ben now finally understood the true purpose of Tang San's visit. Having heard his words, he also fell into deep thought, clearly weighing the pros and cons.
Titan patted Niu Gao on the shoulder. "Before coming out, I already told Tai Nuo to start purchasing some of the surrounding residential properties to prepare for expanding the estate. I remember when my estate was built, you helped out. This time, I might have to trouble you again. Our brotherhood has kept us separated across two empires for all these years. I truly miss the days when we would drink and eat meat together every day. I'm not trying to convince you to join the Tang Sect because of this, but... Old Rhino, are you willing to take this gamble with me? If we lose, brother can absolutely tell you this: my Strength Clan will definitely be destroyed before yours."
Niu Gao looked at Titan, their gazes meeting. With a sharp gesture, he declared, "Spirit Hall pushes too far! Alright, Old Ape, I'll take this gamble with you! Tang San, remember what you said today. No matter what happens in the future, my Royal Clan has no further relationship with Haotian Sect. This is our bottom line. As long as what you do benefits everyone, my Royal Clan will support you unconditionally."
Tang San smiled, meeting Niu Gao's gaze with unwavering eyes. He said nothing more, simply nodding firmly at him.
Titan laughed heartily, opening his arms to Niu Gao. "My good brother! Welcome to the Tang Sect!"
Niu Gao laughed too, sharing a powerful embrace with Titan. "Come on, let's keep drinking! That old fool Hu Yen Zhen almost ruined our mood. Can't let him spoil our fun!"
Sitting back at the wine table, the atmosphere was noticeably different. The hidden hostility that had been in Niu Gao's eyes when looking at Tang San was completely gone. He had always been an open-minded man. Once he made a decision, he never regretted it.