Douluo: Soul-Breaking spear

Chapter 128: The Four Clans Break Apart

On the day of the Four Single-Attribute Clans gathering, Yang Potian arrived at the Min Clan's territory with his parents, grandfather, Yang Tianyue, and Yang Ping'an.

Yang Potian noticed that his grandfather, Yang Wudi, seemed less spirited than usual, as if burdened with worries.

Yang Potian addressed his grandfather directly, "Grandfather, what's your current stance on the Clear Sky Sect?"

After a moment of thought, Yang Wudi replied, "Our Potian Clan will never forget the wrongs of the past. I feel nothing but hatred toward the Clear Sky Sect. We will not reconnect with them."

Yang Potian nodded in agreement. "Grandfather, I, Yang Potian, have never bowed to anyone. With my abilities, I'll ensure the Potian Clan flourishes—even without relying on anyone else."

Yang Wudi gave his grandson a nod, remaining silent afterward.

Within an hour, they arrived at the Min Clan's territory. Though located outside Heaven Dou City, it was noticeably humbler than the other three clans. Unlike the others, the Min Clan had few resources and refused Spirit Hall's support on principle, so they occasionally relied on assistance from the other clans, especially the Potian Clan, which helped by entrusting them with transporting medicinal herbs and elixirs.

The gathering was divided into three tables. At the central table sat the clan leaders, though Yang Potian's second granduncle, Yang Wushuang, was notably absent. The left table was for the younger clan leaders, where his father, Yang Zhentian, and mother, Niu Jinfeng, also sat. The right table was for the younger generation: Yang Potian, Yang Ping'an, Yang Tianyue, along with Tai Long, Niu Meng, Bai Xiaofei, and Bai Chenxiang—though Tai Long hadn't yet arrived.

At that moment, Tai Long's family arrived. Besides Tai Tan, Tai Nuo, and Tai Long, there was a young man with them—Tang San, whom Yang Potian had last seen at the administrative building.

His maternal grandfather, Niu Gao, who had a notoriously fiery temper, immediately spoke up. "Old Ape, this is a Four Clans gathering. Why did you bring an outsider?"

Tang San stepped forward from behind Tai Tan and addressed him respectfully, "Senior Niu Gao, greetings. My name is Tang San."

Niu Gao froze for a moment. "Your surname is Tang?"

Tang San nodded and continued, "My father is Tang Hao."

The moment Tang San revealed his identity, the room fell silent.

Upon hearing this, Niu Gao could no longer sit still. He stood up abruptly, his expression darkening as he glanced angrily at Tai Tan. "Old Ape, what's the meaning of this? Hasn't the Clear Sky Sect caused us enough suffering? If it weren't for Tang Hao, we wouldn't be in this mess."

Tai Tan frowned but remained calm. "Old Rhino, calm down. Do you really think Spirit Hall would have spared the Clear Sky Sect if my former master hadn't intervened? I resent the Clear Sky Sect as well for discarding us as if we were nothing, but what does that have to do with the Young Master?"

Niu Gao's face was still clouded with anger. "I don't care if he's Tang San or Tang Hao's son—tell him to leave. I don't want anything to do with the Clear Sky Sect anymore."

Tai Tan, visibly provoked, rose to his feet. "If you insist on the Young Master leaving, then I'll leave as well. The Li Clan will no longer participate in this gathering."

Tang San quickly grabbed Tai Tan's arm. "Senior Tai Tan, please wait."

Tang San then respectfully addressed the other three clan leaders. "Honored seniors, I understand that the past actions of the Clear Sky Sect have caused your clans much trouble. I am here to apologize on behalf of my father and to offer you some form of reparation."

Niu Gao scoffed. "No need. The Yu Clan wants nothing to do with the Clear Sky Sect. We're doing well enough on our own and don't need any compensation from you."

Yang Wudi spoke up, too. "The Potian Clan has no ties to the Clear Sky Sect and no need for your so-called reparation."

All this time, the Min Clan's leader, Bai He, had remained silent, watching the proceedings without comment. Yang Potian suspected that Tang San and Bai He had already met, perhaps even resolved past grievances.

Tang San was, after all, only a low-level Spirit Elder, while Niu Gao, his maternal grandfather, was a Title Douluo. Just the pressure of his aura was overwhelming for Tang San and even daunting for Tai Tan.

Tai Tan moved to stand in front of Tang San. "Old Rhino, this is my Young Master. Please don't be so harsh."

Niu Gao snorted. "Old Ape, I don't understand why you hold this Tang San in such high regard, but I'll say it one last time—I have no connection to the Tang family. Nothing will change that."

Tang San, clearly struggling, tried to speak again, but Niu Gao's intense aura stopped him cold. Even Tai Tan was feeling the pressure.

Suddenly, Bai He spoke up. "Old Rhino, we're all old friends. There's no need for hostility. Let's at least hear Tang San out."

Before Niu Gao could respond, Yang Wudi cut in, "Old White Bird, there's no need to continue. Whatever he has to say, it makes no difference to the Potian Clan. We have no ties with the Clear Sky Sect or anyone named Tang, and continuing this conversation is a waste of time."

Bai He looked as if he wanted to say more, but Yang Wudi's glare kept him silent.

The tension in the room was mounting, but then a powerful voice rang out, "Hold on a moment!"

The force behind the voice silenced even Niu Gao's intimidating aura, marking the speaker as a Title Douluo.

A tall, muscular man entered. He was clad in a tattered black robe, his face unkempt, reeking of alcohol and looking more like a beggar than a high-level spirit master.

When Niu Gao and Yang Wudi saw his face, their anger deepened. "Tang Hao, how dare you show yourself here?"

Tang Hao's face was dark. "Uncle, Senior Yang, Senior Niu—it's been a long time."

Yang Wudi glared at him. "What are you doing here, Tang Hao?"

Tang Hao shook his head. "I'm here to apologize for the past. Please, allow Little San to finish speaking. He might be able to offer some compensation."

Yang Wudi and Niu Gao exchanged a look before nodding slightly. "The Potian Clan is doing fine on its own. We don't need your compensation; in fact, we'd prefer that you two leave us alone."

"The Yu Clan feels the same. We want nothing more to do with you two."

After they spoke, Bai He remained silent.

Niu Gao looked at Bai He incredulously. "Old White Bird, have you been swayed by a few favors from these two? Don't you remember the hardships our four clans endured?"

After a pause, Bai He finally spoke. "I simply want to restore the Min Clan's former glory. We no longer wish to live like this."

Niu Gao was speechless. "Old White Bird, being Tang Hao's uncle may give you some perspective, but I must put my clan's welfare first. If you're determined to side with Tang Hao, then we have nothing more to discuss."

Unable to meet the gazes of Niu Gao and Yang Wudi, Bai He's silence conveyed his position.

The room grew quiet until Yang Wudi raised his glass and spoke directly to Bai He and Tai Tan. "Old Ape, Old White Bird, after all these years, I didn't think our friendship could be broken by a single word from Tang Hao."

"Let's drink this cup, and from this moment on, the Four Single-Attribute Clans are no longer allied."

Reluctantly, Niu Gao raised his glass as well.

Tai Tan lifted his glass with a resolute expression.

With visible pain and hesitation, Bai He also raised his glass.

Yang Wudi drained his cup and smashed it to the ground. "Old Rhino, let's go."

Niu Gao drained his glass and let it shatter on the ground as well.

Tai Tan and Bai He exchanged a final look and drank, marking the end of their alliance with a shared toast of farewell.

Afterward, Yang Wudi and Niu Gao left the Min Clan's territory with their clans, their faces reflecting a resolute determination.

Tai Long and Bai Xiaofei, though reluctant, said to Yang Potian, "Big Brother, we're sorry, but we won't be joining the second team anymore."

Yang Potian raised his own cup. "From this day forward, we have nothing more to do with each other."

He drained his cup, and Yang Ping'an and the others followed suit, sealing their parting with a final toast. After today, they would walk separate paths.

Niu Gao and Yang Wudi led their clans out of the Min Clan's territory.

Tang Hao and Tang San remained silent, one out of guilt, the other too weak to act. Besides, Tang Hao was injured; if a fight broke out, Tang San would have little chance of escape.

Thus, the Four Single-Attribute Clans officially split. From that moment on, only the Yu Clan and Potian Clan would support each other.

Relieved, Yang Potian felt secure in his team, knowing there'd be no more potential traitors. Training and other matters would now be much easier without fears of information leaks.

Back at the Potian Clan's base, Yang Potian was summoned to a secret chamber with his maternal grandfather Niu Gao, uncle Niu Meng, grandfather Yang Wudi, father Yang Zhentian, and mother Niu Jinfeng.

Niu Gao looked at his grandson in confusion. "Potian, what now? The four clans are split, and it's likely the other two will make a move."

It was clear that both Niu Gao and Yang Wudi were in low spirits. Both had considered Tai Tan and Bai He as brothers, having supported them in many ways over the years. They had even extended substantial help to the Min Clan, only to see their bonds severed for the sake of a mere thirteen-year-old boy.

Yang Potian shook his head. "Don't worry about them. For now, Tang Hao won't dare show his face publicly, and the Clear Sky Sect won't reemerge. I expect they'll attempt to form a new sect with the Li and Min Clans as their base and grow from there."

"For Tai Tan, serving Tang Hao as his master is deeply ingrained. It's unlikely to change after decades of loyalty."

"As for the Min Clan, they were once the most esteemed of our four clans, and now that they've fallen so far, it's no wonder they'd want to restore their former glory."

"But given the current climate in the Spirit Master world, anyone who rises too quickly risks being taken down. All we need to do is stay quiet and observe. When chaos eventually breaks out, that will be our time."

His uncle, Niu Meng, seemed puzzled. "Potian, what makes you so sure there will be chaos?"

"Uncle, you lived through the turbulent times of the Spirit Master world, didn't you? Conflict and bloodshed were everywhere. Today, the peace is merely the calm before the storm."

"I've already discussed it with Crown Prince Xue Qinghe—after the Spirit Master Tournament, Armo Mountain will be granted to me as my fief. At that time, our two clans will relocate there and wait for the world to change."

Everyone listened intently, intrigued by Yang Potian's mention of Armo Mountain, curious to hear more about his plan.

(End of Chapter)

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