"Little Fanfan! Uncle Niu's here!"
Niu Gao's boisterous voice echoed from afar.
The belated arrival of the Defense Clan marked the Four Attributes Sects' reunion after two years.
"Uncle Niu." Yang Fan, as the junior, stood behind clansmen and gave a distant wave.
"You little rascal!" Niu Gao boomed. "No more running off! Stay home and cultivate properly!"
All four sect heads knew of Yang Fan's innate full soul power—but none would mention it in broad daylight.
Such overwhelming talent was too sensitive.
After joking about the "returned missing person," the elders embraced warmly and strode into the Breaking Clan's hall.
"Uncles," Yang Fan murmured to the youths, "be gentle with my dad later."
These gatherings always began joyfully… and ended in fury.
Why? Drunken boasting. None would yield—tables overturned, bowls shattered.
Yet sobered, they'd be thicker than blood brothers.
Age bred camaraderie:
Elders with elders. Adults with adults.
Leaving only the minors to their own devices.
Yang Fan planned to retreat to his room—to ponder Bai He's weakness—but Third Uncle dumped the "honor" of entertaining Bai Chenxiang's group on him.
Per tradition…
Tai Long should've started bragging by now.
"What're your levels?"
"I'm Level 29—soon to be Soul Elder!" Tai Long blurted before others could answer, eyes gleaming with expectation.
Six years Yang Fan's senior.
Becoming a Soul Elder before sixteen showed modest talent.
With normal progression, he might reach Soul Saint—though surpassing Grandfather Tai Tan seemed unlikely.
"What about you all?"
Only four present—but none besides Tai Long volunteered their levels.
Bai Chenxiang, barely seven, had awakened her martial soul just a year ago. Still far from her first ring—and secretly disliked her non-combat Needle Tailed Swift.
The other: Niu Tian, Niu Gao's grandson, two years Yang Fan's senior.
But his innate Level 3 soul power nearly mutated his inherited Armor Plated Giant Rhinoceros martial soul. His future cultivation prospects? Bleak.
Yang Fan guessed the eleven-year-old had barely passed one ring.
Such mediocrity doomed him as the Defense Clan heir.
Chat continued…
Tai Long remained oblivious to his own insufferability.
"I've joined Blue Tyrant Academy in Tian Dou City!"
"You know it? Best commoner soul master academy there! After this Elite Tournament, I'll be their next Chief Disciple!"
Not entirely lies.
Five Elemental Academies rejected many martial souls. Tian Dou Royal Academy? A den of aristocratic brats Tai Tan despised.
Outside banter mirrored the hall's revelry.
After several jars, the four elders' faces flushed with wine.
"My brat's not bad," Tai Tan boomed. "Fifteen this year—soon to be a Soul Elder!"
"With Tai Long's talent, Soul Douluo's within reach. With luck or a mentor? He might become our sect's first Title Douluo!"
Yang Wudi drained his cup. "Mm… possible."
"Old Goat!" Tai Tan clapped his shoulder. "Now that Yang Fan's safely back—keep him home! Cultivate hard! Don't waste that innate full soul power. He might even surpass Tai Long someday!"
Only among the four could Yang Fan's gift be spoken aloud.
Gifted? Yes.
But one ring at nine? Disappointing.
"Mm… right, right."
Once upon a time, Yang Wudi would've flipped the table.
Why must Yang Fan "surpass" Tai Long?
Now? He played along—blind to Tai Tan's performance.
Humans are like this:
Poor? Flaunt wealth to hide poverty.
Rich? Conceal riches to avoid envy.
Fear of being coveted.
"Old Goat," Tai Tan's tone darkened. "I heard the Elephant Armor Sect's been eyeing your clan?"
The table tensed.
"Those bastards destroyed 300,000 gold soul coins' worth of our goods!" Yang Wudi snapped.
Bai He aside, the other two elders paled.
300,000 gold? Even Tai Tan's Tian Dou City branch couldn't liquidate that instantly.
"No goods… how will the Breaking Clan survive?"
Boasting aside—when brother clans faced crisis, Tai Tan's resolve hardened.
"It's settled," Yang Wudi said flatly. "I went to Star Luo City personally and explained everything to the buyer."
The debt was paid. The grudge? That was a different story.
"Hmph!" Tai Tan slammed his cup down. "That Elephant Armor Sect struts on Spirit Hall's leash! One day, I'll crush those bastards!"
The rage was real.
But the Four Sects lacked any power for vengeance.
"Huyan Zhen approached me recently," Niu Gao growled. "He wanted my Defense Clan to submit to his Elephant Armor Sect."
"Go to hell!"
He crushed his wine cup to powder.
The Elephant Armor Sect had coveted the Defense Clan for years—both being defense-oriented clans.
The difference? Elephant Armor's power dwarfed theirs.
"Enough!" Yang Wudi waved a hand. "No more talk of those bastards."
Wine drowned sorrows.
As alcohol flowed, burdens seemed to numb.
…
Meanwhile.
Without bragging, Tai Long was… tolerable.
Yang Fan led the trio through Yunluo City—Tai Long footing every bill.
"Order anything!" he declared. "We're family—no need for courtesy!"
"Yang Fan! Where's the good food in Yunluo? I'll treat you all!"
Yang Fan didn't answer.
His gaze locked on a street corner less than a hundred meters away—expression turning grim.
"What's wrong?" Tai Long followed his stare—
Eight Diamond Mammoth soul masters in earth-yellow robes blocked the street's end.
All Elephant Armor Sect's youth generation.
Ages eight to twenty.
And at center stage: Huyan Li!
"You again?" Huyan Li sneered. "The Four Attributes Sects hiding in this shithole again?"
"Got business?" Tai Long stepped forward, shielding the others.
Not bad— he radiated elder-brotherly courage.
Tai Long was burly by Breaking Clan standards—but beside the two-meter-tall Elephant Armor youths? A chick among eagles.
The size disparity pressed down on Niu Tian and Bai Chenxiang.
"Tai Long," Huyan Li's eyes slid past him to Niu Tian. "This doesn't concern you."
Elephant Armor and Blue Tyrant Academies both competed in Tian Dou's district. Clan rivalries made Huyan Li and Tai Long "old acquaintances."
"I want Niu Tian."
Niu Tian's weak talent made him silent even in his own sect—breeding cowardice.
He couldn't even meet Huyan Li's glare.
"Niu Tian's busy!" Tai Long snapped. Letting Niu Tian get bullied? His reputation would shatter.
"Wanna get beaten?" An Elephant Armor youth cracked his knuckles. They'd happily "accidentally" crush Tai Long while targeting Niu Tian.
"You want to stand up for him?" Huyan Li smirked. "Beat me—walk past today."
Tai Long accepted instantly.
Yang Fan sighed inwardly.
All brawn, no brain.
Didn't even ask why they targeted Niu Tian before accepting the challenge.
The duel began right there on Yunluo's street.
Yang Fan clearly saw the Elephant Armor youths' smug, twisted grins.
"Hah—!"
Tai Long roared—two yellow rings flared. The Vigorous Orangutan manifested—muscles swelled, height increased, chest broadened further.
Across from him—
Huyan Li summoned his inherited Diamond Mammoth martial soul simultaneously.
Tai Long was strong—but against Huyan Li's near-two-meter frame? He was dwarfed.
"Three rings?!"
Tai Long's shock was palpable.
Same age—but at their last meeting, Huyan Li was also a Soul Grandmaster.
"Do you think everyone's as weak as you?" Huyan Li's contempt dripped.
The Diamond Mammoth's quality surpassed the Vigorous Orangutan. A single ring gap created an uncrossable chasm.
"Let our fists talk!"
Ring disparity didn't cow Tai Long—ignited fiercer fighting spirit.
Grandfather said I could wrestle Soul Elders now.
I can do this!
"Hmph… suicidal."
Speed was the Diamond Mammoth's weakness—Huyan Li waited calmly for Tai Long's charge.
Yang Fan assumed Tai Long wouldn't fall for it—but he overestimated the brute's brain.
Tai Long struck!
Knowing he couldn't endure a war of attrition, he unleashed full power immediately.
First Soul Skill: Giant Bursting Strength!
The whole continent knew the Strength Sect walked the pure-power path.
Thus, Mighty Gorilla soul masters fought fist-to-flesh—demanding iron bodies.
Their first skill always enhanced physical durability.
Second Soul Skill—Explosive Might!
Tai Long leapt—fist like a sandbag crashing toward Huyan Li's face.
Then—
Huyan Li's first ring flashed. Earth-yellow soul power armored his body.
As the "Continent's Premier Defense Clan," Diamond Mammoth's first skill was naturally defensive:
Copper Wall, Iron Shield!
True to its name—it deflected Tai Long's blow effortlessly.
A counterpunch sent Tai Long flying fifteen meters.
But as Tai Long hit the ground—he sprang up like a coiled spring, shooting Yang Fan's group a "I'm fine!" glance.
"This guy… really is tough," Yang Fan mused.
Beast-type soul masters' bodies truly surpassed weapon-types.
A Breaking Clan Soul Grandmaster taking that punch? Would've stayed down.
"ROAR—!"
Tai Long's soul power erupted—momentum surging as he charged Huyan Li again.
But before he closed in—
Huyan Li's third ring glowed.
Death Crush!
Yang Fan named the skill before Huyan Li unleashed it.
He'd seen it when slaughtering Huyan Hai in the soul beast forest—Elephant Armor's signature move to compensate for speed.
Tai Long's in danger!
A crushing aura silently locked onto Tai Long's charging form.
For a pure strength-type soul master?
Martial soul quality and ring disparity made escape impossible.
Watching Huyan Li's massive body plummet toward him, Tai Long knew—
he was finished.
Then—
Yang Fan struck!
Spiritual power erupted from his mind—mountainous, oceanic—crushing down on Huyan Li midair.
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