The next day, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Lingling and me entered an already prepared carriage, there was also Tai Long accompanying us, as he was the grandson of the Strength Clanmaster. Due to Tai Tan's relation with Tang Hao, Tai Tan already offered his clan's support to Tang San, so we were informed that there would be a gathering of the 4 single-attribute clans. This gathering the perfect occasion to make all of them join.
The gathering was to take at the Defense Clan headquarters. Before going to there, we passed to the Strength Clan, Tai Tan joining us. It took a total of 1 day to arrive at the Defense Clan. During the travel, we talked characteristics of the other clans and what would be the most effective way to make them join under the new sect of Tang San.
For what it seemed, they continued respecting the Clear Sky Hammer but were mad at them for abandoning them and hiding away, having goodwill to Tang Hao. This wouldn't make any problem to Tang San own sect, as they would want to follow Tang Hao's son, there was also the fact of how could their power be increased with Tang San's weapons. The only problem would be for them to accept Tang San as the sect master, as it is difficult to make people follow people weaker than them.
In conclusion, Tang San should show his invention and his progress, showing that he is worthy of their loyalty. At final, all is reduced to power. So, the most probable is that the clan leaders decided to make a little spar to him. The difference is spirit rank is wide between them, so the clan masters won't go full power, the most probable would be for them to prove Tang San with few moves.
We finally arrived at the Defense Clan and left the carriage. Chenxiang was silent all the way, and it seemed to have opted to ignore me, not even looking at my eyes. For Tai Tan, it seemed that he already knew about Mayi and he simply glanced at me with a murderous look. I could only sigh, anyway, it's not like he would gravely hurt me, he knew that my clan's finance support was completely necessary for Tang San's sect.
Entering the Defense Clan, I was surprised as to how robust and well made were their constructions. It must be known that the Defense Clan specialized in architecture as a side job.
We directly meet the clan leader Niu Gao. After some talk with Tai Tan, which seemed to have a very good relation between them, we told about Tang Sect. Niu Gao was against at first, but we were interrupted by Huyan Zhen, the clan master of the Elephant Armored Clan, one of the 5 elemental clans of Heaven Dou Empire.
Huyan Zhen had affiliated his clan with the Spirit Empire and tried to make the Defense Clan join him as both clans specialized in defense. Niu Gao refused even when Huyan Zhen threatened with his clan destruction by Spirit Empire. Finally, after one punch between both, Huyan Zhen left letting Niu Gao time to thing about. During all Huyan Zhen stay, I was clenching my teeth, his clan had helped in the attack to mine. However, I couldn't act, we couldn't afford a fight against Spirit Empire starting now.
After Huyan Zhen's visit, Niu Gao knew that his clan couldn't last alone, so he accepted Tang San's proposition, with the condition that Tang San must be able to damage him, with 3 opportunities to do it.
Tang San's two first intents seemed very weak, but in truth he was only testing his defense. The last intent he went full out, even using his Deathgod Domain. As the Deathgod Domain was a soul attack rather than a physical one, focusing on weakening, he broke against Niu Gao's defense and lightly injured him, the Defense Clan accepting joining the Tang Sect.
The next clan that appeared at the meeting was the Speed Clan. This time was even easier than with the Defense Clan. Chenxiang was Bai He's favorite and most talented granddaughter, and even Tang San was his grandnephew. Bai He accepted joining following Chenxiang's decision With Chenxiang rank 71 at 20 years old, even being able to overcome the lack of attack power of their spirit, she was the clan's idol and future clan mistress so her words were almost equal to Bai He. Thus, the Speed Clan joined the Tang Sect.
Finally, it came the turn of the Breaking Clan, the last to arrive. The Breaking Clan, specialized in attack power, all their abilities improving the penetration power of their spear, making that even at the douluo rank they have an attack power equal as a titled douluo. Its clan master, Yang Wudi, came with the intention of uniting the four clans in one, only to be shocked by the news that they already decided to join Tang San's sect. He then challenged Tang San to be able to survive one of his attacks, Tang San accepting it.
Yang Wudi threw his Soul Breaking Spear to Tang San. Tang San used his strange movement evading the spear that chased him, slowly he used his Blue-Silver Grass Emperor stopping the spear momentum while using all his abilities, it seemed that his new 6th skill was some skill that caused his grass to grow, making all his other skills stronger. It finished, with Tang San invoking a Blue-Silver Grass spear facing Yang Wudi's spear. Yang's spear broke the grass spear, but Tang San answered with his Clear Sky Hammer in combination with the Deathgod Domain. Even with some internal injuries, Tang San stopped the spear, making the Breaking Clan part of his sect.
With this, all the four single-attribute clans joined the Tang Sect. Tang San decided to reform them as part of his clan, focusing on their specialties. All four clans were known for their pure attribute system, but they were one of the best in the continent in their side jobs. The Strength Clan were specialists at blacksmithing. The Defense Clan in architecture, making them the managers of building the Tang Sect's headquarters. The Speed Clan focused on intel gathering, so they would be the spies and the informants of the clan. Finally, the Breaking Clan were experts in poison, as poison could be also used as a medicine, they had a vast knowledge of it, and become the medical branch of the Sect.
After forming the Sect, Tang San needed more people to create weapons, so it was decided that he would go to Metal City, a city where the most important industry was blacksmithing, with the biggest concentration of refineries, trying to gain some good blacksmiths and materials. For the trip, he was accompanied by the other of Shrek, I decided to stay where the Tang Sect's headquarters were being built, at the past Defense Clan's place that was greatly destroyed with all the fights, supervising the constructions.
As part of the Seven Treasure Clan, I was educated to be its heir, so I have vast knowledge in finance. Needing me to control all the constructions. For Tang San's money issues, Rongrong was with him, like me she was also trained by dad so there won't be any problem.
I was in an improvised office making some numbers when Bai He appeared. He came flying from the windows without making any noise. "So, you are Ning Bai?" He was an old man with a slim built with long snow-white hair, he wore white robes and an open fan in his hand
I stopped my accounts and lifted my head looking at him. I lightly bowed my head "I am Ning Bai, son of the Seven Treasure Clan master"
"Oh? You have manners?" he said closing a fan "I was expecting someone like my little beast"
"Are you referring to Chenxiang?" I asked.
"Of course, the little beast never followed my word, always doing whatever she wanted" he was complaining but he couldn't hide a little smile "But seeing all that she accomplished, it not like I can blame her. She greatly surpassed me, she already is stronger than me and it's only a matter of time until she even surpasses my speed" he stated proudly.
Suddenly, he turned serious and looked straight at my eyes "What are your intention with her?" He asked putting some pressure on me, not that someone full focused in speed had a great pressure "I already know that my granddaughter is in love with you. I won't like to interfere with her life, however, this would change if you want to hurt her"
"I want her to be happy" I stated firmly "However, I don't know if I can be the one who will make her happy. I love her, but before corresponding her and need to clear some important matter, until then I will stay away from her. If she decides to stay away from me and find someone else to love, I will accept and give my congratulations"
"You didn't seem a bad boy" He said taking out a wooden box and giving to me.
I looked at him with doubt and opened the box, I was shocked finding a Crystal Blood Ginseng. This ginseng was an invaluable immortal herb, a complete treasure that could improve the body. I turned with an incredulous look at Bai He, it must be known that the speed clan was broken, not having almost any money, how could they have such a treasure and give it to me "What is the meaning of this?"
"There's no more talented person than my little beast, of course, her dowry must live to her" He proudly said.
"D-dowry?" I stuttered.
"I will accept her decisions, for now, you're her. Keep it and never make her cry" he said quickly disappearing before I could even answer.
I looked at the Ginseng and closed the box and sighed leaning to my chair "A dowry, eh?"
"Brrrrrrr!" Only to be interrupted by a loud sound that was quickly approaching my position. I put the Ginseng at my storage and invoked my sword prepared for the one approaching.
"BAAAAAM!" the door of the office exploded, Tai Tan entering the office "What are you do-?!" I was caught by the neck and was thrown to the windows, I twisted my body safely landing at the outside courtyard.
Tai Tan then also jumped. He looked angrily at me "I was containing due to young master, but now that he left I can finally vent my wrath" he said stretching his knuckles.
"So it's about Mayi? I am very sorry about her. It was my faul-" He didn't wait for me and threw a punch to me, I blocked it with my sword surrounded by Retaliation Intent only being pushed some meters.
"I already told that her death wasn't truly your fault, but is your fault don't protect her!" He shouted angrily invoking his spirit, 8 spirit rings surrounding him, his already tall figure, growing taller, his muscles growing.
He charged to me and punched me. This time I didn't defend, I opened my hand wide and accept his attack. His punch hit my stomach. An attack of a spirit douluo it wasn't any joke, the punch seemed like a giant boulder hitting me, breaking my bones, almost splitting me in half.
I was shot 20 meters away, blood all over my body, until a crashed to a wall, that broke at my impact. Tai Tan slowly approached me. He looked down at me "I know your strength, you specialized in defense, that attack won't be able to go against you. Why did you not defend?"
My body was torn apart, being extremely difficult to speak. I put all my strength, focusing my Life aura in my vocal cords "I needed to accept" I slowly said while spitting blood "Mayi died because of me. I will take any retribution of you, I deserve every punishment from you"
Tai Tan then shot another punch, this time at my head. As I saw the punch, I know that it could kill me, but I simply accepted it. The punch stopped an inch away from me, its wind pressure even hurting my wounds.
Looking at Tai Tan, he had some tears in his eyes. "She wouldn't have liked this. Don't forget her, but, continue forward" He turned around left trying to hide his tears.
I focused my Life intent around my body, slowly healing my wounds, that would take 3 days to heal "I won't lose anyone more. I would protect them" I vowed to myself, thinking about Mayi's death and Chenxiang.