Chapter 112 – 129. The Tragic Strength Clan
On the other side of the battlefield, a group of powerful soul masters appeared behind the territories of the Four Great Clans. Their numbers were no less than Spirit Hall's own forces, and each one looked… peculiar.
Some had arms so muscular that their proportions looked inhuman, others had heads so large they resembled inverted gourds. When they unleashed their martial spirits, neither weapon spirits nor beast spirits appeared—yet their soul power was terrifyingly strong. Many had even reached thousand-year cultivation at their second ring.
Their sudden entrance created an opposing force equal to Spirit Hall's legion.
Yue Guan, having stabilized his chaotic soul power, looked across at Zhao Quan and Lu Yuan. "You two," he said coldly, "I come here under direct orders from Spirit Hall's Grand Worshipper to deal with the Four Single-Attribute Clans. Are you truly willing to stand against Spirit Hall for their sake?"
Zhao Quan replied indifferently, "Chrysanthemum Douluo, the Four Single-Attribute Clans now belong to the Body Sect. We won't sit idly by and watch them perish. If you want a fight, the Body Sect will accompany you to the end."
Seeing that intimidation failed—and considering that both he and Gui Mei's spirits had been countered by their enemies, not to mention the sheer number of extraordinary soul masters now arrayed against them—Yue Guan knew the situation was no longer in their favor.
If they fought here, Spirit Hall could very well lose the confrontation.
"Fine," Yue Guan said in a low voice. "I hope you won't regret your choice today. We're leaving."
With that, he and Gui Mei withdrew with their army.
The Four Great Clans breathed a collective sigh of relief. But before they could celebrate, a vast and thunderous voice rolled down from the heavens like divine decree:
"Clan masters, the Body Sect has just freed you from Spirit Hall's siege. Isn't it time we discuss our… relationship?"
The clan leaders looked around but found no source for the sound.
"Don't bother searching," the voice said. "I'm right above you."
Looking up, they saw it—a massive, otherworldly eye opening in the sky, gazing down upon them.
Though the owner of that gaze had not descended, the oppressive force it carried was far more terrifying than anything that Zhao Quan or Lu Yuan could project. The Body Sect had already revealed two Title Douluo, yet this one's presence was on another level entirely—proof that the sect's power rivaled that of the Upper Three Sects.
"Senior," Yang Wudi said humbly, "who… might you be?"
"I," the voice boomed, "am Huo Qiqiang, Sect Master of the Body Sect, Title—Fate Douluo. Now tell me, what is your answer?"
The clan leaders hadn't expected such overwhelming power from the Body Sect, enough to drive Spirit Hall away with ease. Now, with Spirit Hall gone, they found themselves facing another mountain of dominance—and realizing too late that their earlier promises had trapped them.
Reluctance and regret weighed on them; but even hesitation could invite annihilation.
Yang Wudi finally gritted his teeth. "Very well. Since it was my earlier promise, I, Yang Wudi of the Breaking Clan, will join the Body Sect as an affiliated power."
"A wise decision," the eye said approvingly. "Now, you two?" It shifted its gaze to White Crane and Niu Gao.
Swallowing their fear, both nodded. "We too shall join," they said through tight lips.
At last, the eye turned to Tai Tan. "And you, Master of the Strength Clan—what is your choice?"
"Forgive me," Tai Tan said boldly, spreading his hands, "but I refuse. And I do not believe I've broken any word. When your envoy Lu Zhou came, he only spoke with Niu Gao, Yang Wudi, and White Crane. Not with me."
His words shocked his clansmen, who stared at him in terror.
"You're right," the voice mused. "Lu Zhou did seem to forget you. So you believe that since you weren't asked, you aren't bound by any promise—correct?"
"That's exactly right," Tai Tan said, standing firm.
In an instant, an invisible force descended over the entire Strength Clan. The oppressive might was suffocating—every member of the clan fell to their knees, crushed by sheer spiritual pressure. Not a single one dared to breathe.
Only Tai Tan, trembling, managed to stand beneath that immense weight.
"Impressive," said the voice. "Even under one-thousandth of my power, you can still resist. Not bad."
As those words ended, Tai Tan's knees buckled with a thunderous crack, slamming into the earth so hard that spiderweb fractures spread beneath him.
"You may be clever," the voice continued, "but the Body Sect saved your clan from annihilation. Shouldn't you offer something in return?"
"What… do you want?" Tai Tan asked hoarsely.
"An arm—or perhaps…"
Without warning, Tai Tan's right arm was severed cleanly by an unseen force. Blood splattered the ground. A moment later, he let out a strangled wail as blood soaked his trousers.
"Urrgh—ahhhhh!" His agonized cry echoed for miles.
Behind him, Tai Nuo and Tai Long—his son and grandson—also screamed as their arms were sliced away by invisible blades. Then came a second cut—castrated like livestock.
The rest of the Strength Clan looked on in horror. They wanted to plead, to surrender, to promise allegiance—but the crushing pressure rendered them mute and immobile.
"Good," said the cruel voice. "Eunuchs suit your servile bloodline. Every member of the Strength Clan—cut off one arm. Then let them go."
The giant eye vanished.
Zhao Quan waved his hand, and the Body Sect's warriors drew their blades.
"Wait—please, no! We'll join you!" one clan member screamed.
Shhk! The blade came down. "Urrgh—ahhhh!"
"I surrender! Spare me! I renounce the Strength Clan and join the Body Sect—"
Shhk! Another arm hit the ground. His screams joined the chorus.
Within moments, the scene devolved into a nightmare of blood and shrieking. Not a single person from the Strength Clan was left uninjured. One by one, every last one of them became one-armed cripples—the so-called "One-Armed Heroes."
Zhao Quan sneered. "Don't blame us. This is your Patriarch's choice. The Body Sect only honors decisions made by clan masters."
The surviving members didn't speak, but their hearts burned with hatred for Tai Tan.
"Well," Zhao Quan said. "You're all free now. Leave. From today onward, this place will serve as a Base for the Body Sect."
Tai Tan picked up his severed arm, clutching it to his chest. From his pants he pulled out bloodied scraps of flesh, glaring venomously toward the sky. "You'll see… our master will avenge the Strength Clan."
With that vow, he turned and limped away with his broken people.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10