As the scene transitioned back to the Defense Clan's headquarters, another carriage arrived, pulling up to the entrance.
From the carriage emerged an elderly man clad in black, tall and lean, with jet-black hair and a face that, while ruddy, bore a deeply gloomy expression. His brows were furrowed, and a hint of darkness lurked in his eyes. Accompanying him were two young men, both looking equally solemn.
It's me!
Watching this unfold in the livestream, Yang Wudi couldn't help but scowl. He recognized the moment immediately. Now, entering the Defense Clan's territory felt like walking into a den of wolves. The other three clans—the Strength Clan, Defense Clan, and Agility Clan—had already submitted to Tang San. And with their combined persuasion, it was only a matter of time before his resolve would waver too.
Had there been any benefits to following Tang San, perhaps things would've been different. But the result? The Four Great Clans didn't just fail to gain anything—they walked straight into extinction.
The Four Great Clans were some of the most powerful families on the Douluo Continent, each excelling in their fields. The Strength Clan was unmatched in forging, the Defense Clan in construction, his own Breaking Clan in poison and medicine, and the Agility Clan in intelligence gathering.
Under normal circumstances, each clan could have thrived and flourished independently. There was no reason for any of them to meet such a tragic end. It was only because they had foolishly aligned themselves with the deceitful Tang San.
Yang Wudi clenched his fists. As much as he hated the situation, there was no denying it. The loyalty of Tai Tan from the Strength Clan to Tang Hao, combined with the familial ties between the Agility Clan and Tang San, meant that resistance was futile. The only clan left standing was his Breaking Clan, and they were woefully outnumbered.
While Yang Wudi simmered with frustration in the present, the livestream continued.
After Yang Wudi and his two companions exited the carriage, they were greeted by two towering youths from the Defense Clan. The young men escorted Yang Wudi and his entourage inside the headquarters.
It didn't take long for them to be led into a hall where they were introduced to Tang San.
Of course, Yang Wudi didn't recognize him at first. He knew Tang Hao well enough, but Tang San's appearance, changed by his Blue Silver Emperor bloodline awakening, bore no resemblance to his father.
As usual, Tai Tan was the first to step forward, laughing heartily as he began to introduce Tang San. In Tai Tan's mind, with the first three clans having already submitted to Tang San, the Breaking Clan was the last domino to fall. Without the support of the other clans, Yang Wudi couldn't possibly resist for long.
But as Yang Wudi looked at Tang San, his face darkened. The presence of outsiders at what was supposed to be a private gathering of the Four Great Clans was an immediate red flag.
"I don't want any outsiders here," Yang Wudi snapped, his voice filled with irritation.
It was a reasonable demand. Traditionally, these clan meetings were strictly family affairs. But now, with the other clans already in Tang San's pocket, they were quick to defend him, offering subtle justifications for his presence.
Despite the tension, they were aware of Yang Wudi's temper. The matter wasn't pushed too far.
Sensing Yang Wudi's rising displeasure, Niu Gao tried to steer the conversation in a different direction, asking him what had happened to make him so agitated.
Yang Wudi didn't hesitate to explain. Spirit Hall had recently destroyed the Upper Three Sects and was preparing to hold a Grand Tournament to re-establish a new hierarchy. In the city where Yang Wudi's Breaking Clan was based, a sect from the lower four of the original seven had come to his doorstep, demanding his clan submit or face destruction.
Upon hearing this, the livestream audience was filled with dread.
Spirit Hall destroyed the Upper Three Sects?
What exactly was Spirit Hall planning?
For the more perceptive viewers, the mention of Spirit Hall's actions triggered memories of a previous livestream—the Battle of the Three Gods. It dawned on them that in the future, Tang San might very well be fighting Spirit Hall in that monumental battle. If not directly against Spirit Hall, then certainly something tied closely to it.
Have our plans been exposed?
In Spirit City, both Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei felt a shiver of anxiety as they watched the stream unfold. Their minds raced, wondering if the livestream was about to reveal Spirit Hall's grand designs.
Yet, seated atop the grand throne in the Supreme Pontiff's Palace, Bibi Dong remained serene and composed, her exquisite features betraying no sign of concern.
To her, the future depicted in the livestream was nothing more than one possible outcome. The present was already shifting. Thanks to the mysterious influence of the livestream itself, Bibi Dong had abandoned her earlier, more extreme plans. Her desire to lead Spirit Hall in conquering the Douluo Continent had faded, along with the intense hatred that had once consumed her.
Those original plans, born from her quest for revenge against Spirit Hall and the world, had been a recipe for disaster. They would have made enemies of everyone, and even if she succeeded in uniting the continent, the backlash would have been catastrophic. The sheer number of enemies would have been impossible to manage.
Now, her goals had changed. She still sought to unite the Douluo Continent under Spirit Hall's banner, but her purpose was no longer revenge. She wanted to bring peace and prosperity to the common people, to lead the continent into a new era. In doing so, she hoped to atone for the guilt she carried toward her daughter, Qian Ren Xue.
Her daughter had sacrificed her childhood to serve Bibi Dong's plans, infiltrating the Heaven Dou Empire as Prince Xue Qinghe. Now, Bibi Dong wanted to offer her daughter the greatest gift she could—the gift of a united world.
Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi, leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, also watched the livestream with a calm expression, though he too frowned when he heard that Spirit Hall had destroyed the Upper Three Sects. But like Bibi Dong, he didn't dwell too much on the revelation.
Ning Fengzhi had been paying close attention to the changing tides of the continent. He knew that the future shown in the livestream was no longer set in stone. The current trajectory of the Douluo Continent has shifted drastically.
For example, Tang San and Tang Hao's fates had already diverged from the original timeline. Instead of living peaceful lives, they were now fugitives, constantly hunted by Spirit Hall.
Moreover, in a recent diplomatic visit, Spirit Hall had expressed an interest in cooperating with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. They had even arranged a marriage between one of their top healing-type spirit masters and Ning Fengzhi's beloved daughter, Ning Rongrong.
All of this indicated that Spirit Hall, as it currently stood, was not the same Spirit Hall that had laid waste to the Upper Three Sects in the livestream's future.
Even if Spirit Hall were to follow a similar path in the future, Ning Fengzhi was confident that his clan could maneuver through the storm and come out stronger.
He believed in his insight and judgment. And for now, that was enough.