The scene was in utter chaos!
Zhao Wuji was being chased down by an old man, relying entirely on Ling Bo Wei Bu (Ghostly Steps) to flee for his life.
—This was his "salary" for being the academy's dean.
The pursuer was an elderly man with white hair and beard, his short hair standing upright like steel needles. His burly physique was even more imposing than Zhao Wuji's.
His martial soul was also extremely familiar—it was the same Vigorous Orangutan as Tai Long's.
His identity was obvious—Titan, the patriarch of the Strength Clan.
His loyalty to Tang Hao was unwavering. The first time he saw Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer, he immediately knelt down and called him "Young Master."
—Another small opportunity.
"Patriarch!" Zhao Wuji spotted Tang Lan and immediately shouted, "Please think of something! This old orangutan is an 86th-level Assault-type Spirit Douluo! His attack power is something only a Title Douluo can withstand!"
He frantically signaled toward Gu Rong.
Gu Rong was here, naturally waiting for Tang Lan.
As for Zhao Wuji…
He wasn't familiar with him, so he simply watched for fun.
—Knowing Tang Lan's identity, he understood that this whole ordeal was nothing more than a farce.
The moment Tang Lan appeared—
Gu Rong was about to do him a favor by explaining Tang Lan's background.
But before he could speak, Tang Lan directly summoned his Thunderflame Clear Sky Hammer, enlarged it, and slammed it into the ground.
"Titan, look at this."
Titan instinctively looked over—
His eyes widened!
Without hesitation, he abandoned Zhao Wuji and sprinted toward Tang Lan.
Zhao Wuji was startled!
"Don't harm my patriarch!"
"Seventh Spirit Skill—Martial Soul Avatar!!!"
Zhao Wuji transformed into the Vigorous Vajra Bear, radiating an imposing aura as he prepared to fight Titan to the death.
But—
Titan suddenly dropped to his knees, sliding forward and pressing his forehead against the Thunderflame Clear Sky Hammer.
"Clear Sky Hammer! It's the Clear Sky Hammer!" Titan was trembling with excitement. "Child—no! Patriarch Tang, what is your father's name?"
"Tang Hao," Tang Lan replied indifferently.
Titan, however, was so excited that he was trembling all over!
Right then and there, he bowed his head in salute.
"This old servant, Titan, patriarch of the Strength Clan, pays respects to the Young Master!"
This dramatic turn of events—
Left Zhao Wuji, who was ready to fight to the death, completely dumbfounded!
He couldn't advance, nor could he retreat.
Wait, what?!
What the hell is going on here?!
This makes me look really stupid!
Tang Lan simply waved his hand.
"Old Zhao, step back. There's no problem here."
Titan glanced at Zhao Wuji, then back at the Thunderflame Clear Sky Hammer.
"Since Dean Zhao is Young Master's subordinate, then the grudge for injuring my clan brother shall be written off."
Zhao Wuji's expression turned rather complicated!
Back in the day, he was a notorious troublemaker, untouchable in his prime.
But just because he had injured Titan's clan brother, this grudge-bearing old orangutan had chased him across the entire continent!
In the end, he had no choice but to hide in Shrek Academy, laying low all these years.
And now…
Tang Lan merely showed up, and the grudge was wiped clean?
Just like that…?
His feelings were… complicated.
He withdrew his Martial Soul Avatar, turned around, and left in silence.
"Wait," Tang Lan called out. "Take this."
Tang Lan tossed him a Spiritual Light Orb.
"This Undying Seal Technique, practice it well. If you can grasp the basics, I'll give you another opportunity."
A bulk order of Immortal Herbs was on the way.
As one of the earliest elders to follow him, Zhao Wuji naturally had to be taken care of.
Not necessarily to the point of making him a god in the future, but at the very least, he should become a Title Douluo.
Otherwise—
Once they ascended to godhood, who would oversee the lower realm?
"Thank you, Patriarch, for your gift!" Zhao Wuji said excitedly.
This Undying Seal Technique suited him perfectly!
Had he mastered it earlier, he wouldn't have been helpless against Titan's relentless pursuit.
Tang Lan simply waved him off, signaling for Zhao Wuji to leave.
Then, he supported Titan by the shoulder, helping him rise.
"Titan Patriarch, I have a general understanding of the Strength Clan's situation. Don't you resent my father?" he asked.
"How could I?!" Titan's voice rose. "It was the Clear Sky Sect that abandoned our four affiliated clans, not the Master!"
Tang Lan nodded in understanding.
Titan might look like a brute, but he was actually quite sharp.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have become one of the Three Great Divine Blacksmiths on the continent.
Moreover—
Titan's loyalty to Tang Hao was unwavering, making him the easiest to recruit.
"In that case, I heard that the Strength Clan specializes in blacksmithing?"
Tang Lan got straight to the point—
"Would the Strength Clan be willing to join Tang Sect and take charge of all forging matters?"
"I can establish a Forging Hall, with you as the Hall Master, continuing to lead your clan."
"What do you think?"
Titan barely hesitated before clasping his hands and bowing deeply.
"This old servant originally came here to negotiate cooperation with Tang Sect."
"Now that I know it was founded by the Young Master, it is only natural for me to offer my service!"
"I am willing to lead the Strength Clan and integrate into Tang Sect!"
"However!"
"If, in the future, the Young Master intends to merge Tang Sect into the Clear Sky Sect, then please forgive this old servant for not being able to follow!"
That request…
Was reasonable!
Back then, the Clear Sky Sect had shut its gates, leaving the four affiliated clans in a dire situation.
That was an undeniable fact.
However—
The anime version later added an explanation—The Clear Sky Sect had actually dispatched a group of disciples to inform the clans, but they were intercepted and completely wiped out by the Spirit Hall.
Among them was the only son of the Seventh Elder, Lie Yang Douluo.
Well…
And what does that have to do with Tang Lan?
Tang Sect was something Tang Lan was cultivating for future faith harvesting. There was no way it would merge with the Clear Sky Sect.
"No problem!" Tang Lan nodded. "Tang Sect was founded by me and my younger brother, Xiao San. It has nothing to do with the Clear Sky Sect."
Titan bowed once more.
"Titan is willing to lead the Strength Clan into Tang Sect to serve the Young Masters!"
[Host has gained Titan's allegiance and recruited the Strength Clan into Tang Sect. Slightly seizing Tang San's fate!]
[Reward: "+1 Level"!]
His internal strength increased slightly.
'Only a slight amount of fate?'
'That doesn't make sense!'
The Strength Clan was the foundation of Tang San's Tang Sect, even offering their ancestral home as the sect's base.
How could this be just a slight amount of fate?
Oh—
The Strength Clan joined Tang Sect under Tang Lan, but Tang San was still Tang Hao's son and handled the hidden weapons and firearms.
Titan, a divine blacksmith, was someone Tang San definitely wouldn't let go of.
So…
In the end, Tang San would still benefit.
'So that's how it is…'
'But there's no need to throw Titan out because of this.'
'Might as well let Xiao San get a small advantage.'
'Besides, when they forge good stuff, I'll just take my share.'
With that thought,
Tang Lan simply said, "Hall Master Tai, I'm going to meet Poison Douluo. Go find Xiao San in the lounge. He's in charge of hidden weapons and firearms—discuss it with him."
"Yes, Patriarch!"
Titan eagerly ran off.
At last, he had found a "backer"!
And it was the Master's son—he was in a great mood.
—With Tang Sect's current status, it ranked just below the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect within the Heaven Dou Empire.
It was worthy of being called a backer.
Gu Rong stepped forward, giving Tang Lan a strange look.
"What is it, Uncle Bone?"
"You know your own origins?" Gu Rong asked.
Tang Lan helplessly spread his hands.
"The Clear Sky Hammer is the world's number one Tool Martial Soul. Even if the sect has been secluded for years, there are still many books documenting it."
"And the Clear Sky Sect has shut its gates. For an outsider to have twin martial souls and be born with innate full spirit power…"
"Besides that Clear Sky Douluo, who else could be my father?"
Uh…
Gu Rong scratched his head, utterly bewildered.
"You little monster, you figured it out just like that?"
Terrifying!
(End of Chapter)