Chapter 276: The Strength Clan, Tang Hao, and Tai Tan, Master and Servant
The Strength Clan.
Once the foremost of the four single-attribute affiliated clans under the Clear Sky Sect.
They were also the most loyal branch of the four clans to the Tang family.
Their defining traits were a cultivation path focused on pure strength and some of the finest forging techniques on the continent.
After Tang Hao left the Clear Sky Sect, Tai Tan, the patriarch of the Strength Clan, chose to lead the clan away from the Clear Sky Sect as well.
They later settled in the southern district of Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Today, the Strength Clan estate stood behind towering walls and heavy tiles, exuding a deep sense of power from every corner.
At the deepest part of the estate was a completely sealed secret chamber.
A massive black iron stone door isolated all sounds from the outside world. Not even a trace of wind could enter.
There wasn't a single window inside the chamber. Only several luminous pearls floated in midair.
Their cold, pale light filled the entire room, making everything appear lifeless.
The air was saturated with the pungent scent of medicinal herbs.
Mixed within it was a lingering, thick smell of blood.
Lying on a stone bed was a man wrapped from head to toe in white bandages.
Dark red blood continuously seeped through the gaps in the layers of cloth, staining the pristine fabric with blotches.
The man had lost his entire right arm and left leg.
The empty sleeve and pant leg hung limply against the cold stone bed, devoid of life.
This man was Tang Hao.
The former Clear Sky Douluo, who once shook the entire Douluo Continent.
But now, all that remained of him was an unshakable sense of decay and a vicious aura so deep it seemed etched into his very bones.
Suddenly, Tang Hao's chest heaved violently.
His bloodshot eyes widened.
A surge of metallic sweetness rushed uncontrollably up his throat.
He abruptly turned his head.
Cough! Cough! Cough!
A mouthful of black blood sprayed out.
The dark blood splattered across the white bandages like a grotesque flower suddenly blooming.
At the same moment,
The same excruciating pain that Tang San had experienced erupted from the deepest part of his soul.
It was the agony of a soul being forcibly torn apart.
As though something that had coexisted with him for decades was being ripped from its roots.
A ninth soul ring, which should never have appeared due to his permanently fallen soul power, suddenly manifested.
It was the hundred-thousand-year soul ring produced by Ah Yin's sacrifice.
And under his horrified gaze, it shattered with a crisp crack.
"No! Ah Yin!!!"
Tang Hao let out a cry of agony.
He could clearly feel it.
His connection to the hundred-thousand-year soul ring had been severed!
It was as if Ah Yin had completely left his side.
In an instant, crimson blood vessels filled Tang Hao's eyes.
His already gloomy gaze became so filled with rage and grief that it seemed capable of tearing apart the air itself.
The first thing he thought of was Spirit Hall.
It had to be those despicable villains from Spirit Hall who had tampered with Ah Yin!
Unable to kill him, they had turned their malicious schemes toward Ah Yin instead.
Other than them, no one else would use such underhanded methods to harm a soul beast that had already sacrificed herself.
"Spirit Hall!!!"
He ground out these words through clenched teeth.
Even the bandages covering his body split open in several places as his muscles tensed violently.
Fresh blood seeped out faster than before.
At that moment, the black iron door of the chamber was gently pushed open from the outside.
A burly man over two meters tall entered slowly, carrying a steaming bowl of medicinal soup.
He was Tai Tan.
The patriarch of the Strength Clan.
A Power-Attack System Soul Douluo whose martial soul was the Vigorous Orangutan.
He was one of the continent's foremost pure-strength soul masters.
His astonishing physical strength allowed him to exchange several blows head-on, even against Titled Douluo-level experts.
The Strength Clan had originally been one of the four single-attribute clans affiliated with the Clear Sky Sect.
For generations, the entire clan had served the Clear Sky Sect with unwavering loyalty.
But when Tang Hao was expelled from the sect,
Tai Tan did not hesitate.
He immediately led the entire Strength Clan away from the Clear Sky Sect and established an independent branch.
In his heart, Tang Hao would forever be his master.
The only person he was destined to serve in this lifetime.
The moment his gaze landed upon the glaring bloodstains on the stone bed, his expression changed dramatically.
His massive fists clenched so tightly that they crackled.
"Master, what happened? Has your injury worsened again?"
Tang Hao slowly leaned against the head of the bed.
His face was pale as paper, devoid of all color.
Yet the hostility in his eyes remained undiminished.
His voice was hoarse, like rough stone scraping together.
"It's nothing. Just a backlash from old injuries."
Tai Tan's eyes reddened instantly.
His chest rose and fell violently.
"Spirit Hall! It's all because of those shameless scoundrels from Spirit Hall!"
The words were practically squeezed out through gritted teeth.
"If they hadn't set a trap and gathered several Titled Douluo to ambush you together, Master, how could you have fallen to such a state?"
Now Tang Hao had lost an arm and a leg and had forcibly removed two soul bones.
His soul power had fallen to Rank 75.
"Master, we will definitely avenge you!"
The more Tai Tan spoke, the more emotional he became.
His soul power began leaking out uncontrollably.
He genuinely felt heartbroken.
The man before him had once been the Clear Sky Douluo who faced three Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall by himself.
He had been the most dazzling genius the Clear Sky Sect had seen in a hundred years and even the entire Douluo Continent.
Yet now he had fallen to such a miserable state.
Tai Tan wished he could immediately summon his martial soul, charge into Spirit City, and tear every one of those sinister villains from Spirit Hall into pieces to avenge his master.
"..."
Tang Hao's fingers dug deeply into the bedsheet beneath him.
The durable cloth was twisted into a wrinkled, nearly torn mess.
"Tai Tan, go to Blue Tyrant Academy and bring Xiao San here."
Tai Tan froze.
The fury on his face immediately turned into surprise.
"Master, you mean... the Young Master?"
"That's right. Xiao San is my son, and he's a genius with twin martial souls. Only when he grows stronger will he be able to stand against Spirit Hall without fear."
Tang Hao knew that he was completely crippled.
His son, Xiao San, was now his only hope.
"Spirit Hall may move against him at any time."
"Only by keeping him under my watch can I be at ease."
Now that Ah Yin had disappeared and his connection with the ninth soul ring had been severed,
Tang San was the only remaining reason he had to live.
He absolutely could not allow anything to happen to Tang San.
Tai Tan immediately understood and nodded heavily.
His huge palm slammed against his chest with a dull thud.
"Rest assured, Master! Even if this old servant must give up his life, I will definitely bring the Young Master back safely!"
With that, Tai Tan turned and strode away.
The heavy black iron door closed behind him with a deep rumble.
Once again, Tang Hao was left alone in the chamber.
Under the cold white light, only his heavy, suppressed breathing echoed through the empty room.
Leaning against the bed, his cloudy gaze stared toward the void.
Again and again, he softly repeated Ah Yin's name.
The hostility in his eyes grew heavier and heavier, nearly becoming tangible.
'Ah Yin.'
'Once I have properly nurtured Xiao San, I will definitely make the entire Spirit Hall accompany you in death!'
End of Chapter