Three days passed quickly.
The Spirit Hall's soul masters had surrounded the stronghold of the Four Great Clans. Yue Guan and Gui Mei floated mid-air, looking down as Yue Guan said:
"Three days have passed. Have you made your decision?"
Yang Wudi responded first. "Sorry, the Breaking Clan refuses."
"My Sensitive Clan's answer is also no," Bai He said.
"My Defense Clan will not join the Spirit Hall," Niu Gao added.
Titan spoke proudly, "A loyal minister does not serve two masters. I, Titan, on behalf of the Strength Clan, refuse to join the Spirit Hall."
As soon as the words were spoken, the soul masters of the Spirit Hall released an overwhelming killing intent.
Yue Guan turned to Gui Mei. "Old Ghost, looks like the negotiations failed."
"In that case, let them be buried along with the Rat Clan," Gui Mei said coldly.
Yue Guan nodded. He activated his Martial Soul True Body—a massive chrysanthemum bloomed in mid-air.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red—nine soul rings surrounded Yue Guan.
The scarlet red ring, in particular, struck deep fear into the Four Great Clans below.
"He's... a Titled Douluo with a 100,000-year soul ring. This is going to be trouble," Niu Gao said gravely.
"What's there to fear? Let's fight him!" Yang Wudi summoned his Soulbreaking Spear.
"Sixth Soul Skill: Golden Petals Rain Light!"
The petals of Yue Guan's Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum danced with the wind, transforming into countless golden, razor-sharp blades.
The petals rained down like a deadly meteor shower toward the Four Great Clans.
Faced with the overwhelming force of a Titled Douluo, everyone felt immense pressure.
Just as Yang Wudi gripped his Soulbreaking Spear to meet the attack head-on, a hand rested on his shoulder.
A man wearing red with a white cap stepped forward. "Let me handle this. You're not his match."
With that, he crossed his arms in front of his chest and then flung them open—flames surged around him, incinerating his shirt and revealing a terrifyingly muscular body.
Vast, powerful soul energy erupted from him.
Three purple, three black, and three red soul rings replaced Yue Guan's.
His Martial Soul True Body wasn't a beast or a phantom giant wielding a weapon, but rather a reflection of himself—a fiery red giant.
He instantly became the center of attention.
"Th-three 100,000-year soul rings…" Yang Wudi muttered, ignoring the fact that his first soul ring was only a thousand years, and his fourth ten thousand years.
"Third Soul Skill: Flame Barrier."
Flames swirled around the fire-red giant, forming a massive dome of fire.
The dome shielded the Four Great Clans from the incoming petals.
Every petal that struck the barrier was instantly incinerated into ash.
"You... who are you? Three 100,000-year soul rings, and fire that counters my Martial Soul…" Yue Guan asked in shock.
The mysterious Titled Douluo adjusted his cap and replied, "Zhao Quan, Title: Firebody, from the Body Sect."
"Body Sect…" Yue Guan murmured.
Gui Mei said, "Chrysanthemum Guan, don't be intimidated by his soul rings. Even though his Martial Soul counters yours, his soul power might not be much stronger than yours. We have two Titled Douluo here. You keep him occupied, and I'll strike from the shadows and take him down with a sneak attack."
"Alright," Yue Guan agreed.
Yue Guan engaged Zhao Quan head-on. Despite being at a disadvantage due to the Martial Soul counter, he managed to hold his own.
Meanwhile, Gui Mei vanished into the shadows, maneuvering stealthily. At the perfect moment, he emerged from the shadow and darted toward Zhao Quan at high speed.
Just then, a flash of light appeared above Gui Mei.
It took the form of a man.
With a crooked smile, he said, "Oh ho, sneaking through shadows and assassinating like a ghost—what a monstrous soul skill you have."
"You—!" Gui Mei's face twisted in horror. The man above him moved too fast to evade, and he had a light attribute—naturally countering Gui Mei's darkness.
"Ever been elbowed by light?" the man asked, then brought his elbow down.
Gui Mei was smashed to the ground like a cannonball. The impact shattered the ground beneath him into spiderweb-like cracks.
Meanwhile, Zhao Quan's flaming punch took the form of a fire dragon, tearing through Yue Guan's Martial Soul True Body and sending him flying.
Crashing down, Gui Mei clutched his wounds and retreated into Spirit Hall's formation as a shadow.
Yue Guan also returned, his soul being heavily damaged after his Martial Soul was broken.
Both stared warily at the two new Titled Douluo.
Though these two didn't have higher soul power levels, their Martial Souls were special.
Zhao Quan's fire reached the level of Ultimate Flame, capable of burning Yue Guan's otherwise indestructible Martial Soul. The light-attribute Douluo completely outpaced Gui Mei's speed and countered him on an elemental level.
On the other side, a group of powerful soul masters appeared at the base of the Four Great Single-Attribute Clans. Their numbers were no fewer than those brought by the Spirit Hall, and each of them had a distinct and unusual appearance.
Some had disproportionately muscular arms, others had brains so large their heads resembled an upside-down gourd…
They activated their martial souls, yet no tool spirits or beast spirits manifested. Even so, the overwhelming aura of soul power emanating from them was undeniable. Many had even broken through to the second soul ring at the millennium level.
They arrived and stood in direct opposition to the Spirit Hall's soul master legion.
Yue Guan, having steadied the chaotic soul power in his body, looked at Zhao Quan and Lu Yuan on the opposite side and threatened, "You two, I've come on the orders of the Grand Worship of Spirit Hall to take down these Four Great Single-Attribute Clans. Are you sure you want to oppose Spirit Hall for their sake?"
Zhao Quan replied nonchalantly, "Chrysanthemum Douluo, the Four Great Single-Attribute Clans have already pledged allegiance to our Body Sect. The Body Sect will not stand idly by and watch their destruction. If you want to fight, the Body Sect will gladly accompany you to the end."
Seeing his threat was ineffective, Yue Guan remembered that both he and Gui Mei were countered by the opponents' martial souls, not to mention the soul master legion with strange soul rings supporting the Four Great Clans. If they really fought, it would actually be disadvantageous to Spirit Hall.
"Very well. I hope you won't regret today's decision. We're leaving." Yue Guan and Gui Mei left with their soul master legion after dropping that final threat.
The Four Clans breathed a collective sigh of relief watching Spirit Hall retreat. Suddenly, a majestic voice echoed in their ears, as if it descended from the heavens:
"Clan leaders, the Body Sect has now rescued you from Spirit Hall's siege. Isn't it time we had a proper talk?"
Everyone looked around, trying to find the source of the voice, but to no avail.
"No need to look. I'm above you."
They looked up to see a deep and profound eye opening in the sky, staring down at them.
Although the person had not physically arrived, the pressure they exuded was far greater than even Lu Yuan or Zhao Quan—both of whom were titled Douluo.
The Body Sect had already revealed two titled Douluo publicly, but the owner of this eye was likely stronger than both.
This made it clear—the Body Sect's strength was at least on par with the Upper Three Sects.
"Senior, you are…?" Yang Wudi asked respectfully.
"I am the Sect Master of the Body Sect, Destiny Douluo Huo Qiqiang. So—what is your answer?"
The Four Clans hadn't expected the Body Sect to easily drive Spirit Hall away. Now that the enemy was gone, they were left to face this powerful force alone.
After finally escaping the control of the Clear Sky Sect, they naturally didn't want to fall under another faction's rule. But how could they take back the words they had already spoken?
Even if they did want to back out, they'd first have to survive the Body Sect's wrath.
"I…" Yang Wudi hesitated for a moment before saying, "Very well, since I made that promise earlier, the Breaking Clan will join the Body Sect as an affiliated force."
"A wise decision. Now, what about you two?" The giant eye turned to Bai He and Niu Gao.
"Since we gave our word, we'll join too," the two said reluctantly.
Finally, the eye turned to Titan. "And your decision, Clan Head of the Power Clan?"
"Forgive me, but I must refuse. Besides, I don't believe I ever gave my word." Titan spread his hands and explained, "When Lu Zhou came, he only spoke to Niu Gao, Yang Wudi, and Bai He, didn't he?"
The moment he said that, many members of the Power Clan looked at Titan in terror.
"You're not wrong. It seems Lu Zhou overlooked you. So you think that since you never promised, you don't need to follow through, correct?"
"That's exactly my reasoning, isn't it?" Titan replied defiantly.
At that moment, a formless pressure precisely enveloped all the members of the Power Clan. Under the overwhelming force, everyone in the clan fell to their knees instantly, unable to move or even breathe.
Only Titan remained standing, gritting his teeth against the crushing force.
"Damn it." Titan activated his martial soul—the Strength Gorilla—to resist the pressure. He roared, "These knees of mine only kneel to my master!"
"Interesting. I didn't expect you could withstand even one-thousandth of my pressure… (soul power suppressed to one-thousandth of level 98). Not bad."
As the voice faded, Titan's knees gave way under the gravitational pressure and slammed into the ground, cracking the earth beneath into a spiderweb pattern.
"You played a clever little trick. But since the Body Sect saved your Power Clan from ruin, shouldn't we get some return for our efforts?"
"What… do you want?" Titan looked up and asked.
"An arm… or perhaps…"
Titan's dominant arm was instantly severed. Then, blood soaked his trousers.
"Aaarghhh—!" Titan screamed in agony.
Behind him, his grandson Tai Nuo and great-grandson Tai Long, both on their knees, had their arms severed as well. They were also castrated by an invisible blade.
Seeing the miserable state of Titan's family, the other members of the Power Clan wanted to speak up, wanted to submit and join the Body Sect—but under the immense pressure, they couldn't even move their lips.
"Not bad. Eunuchs are the most fitting identity for lackeys, don't you think? Every member of the Power Clan—lose an arm, then let them leave." With those words, the eye vanished.
Zhao Quan waved his hand, and the Body Sect soul masters unsheathed their blades and approached the Power Clan.
"Wait—no! I'll join! I'll join the Body Sect!"
Shlick! A sharp blade sliced off his arm.
"Aaarghhh—!"
"No, spare me! I quit the Power Clan! I'll join the Body Sect—!"
Shlick! Another scream echoed.
"Aaarghhh—!"
One after another, the cries of agony filled the air. Before long, none of the Power Clan were spared—each had become a one-armed "hero."
"Oh, dear members of the Power Clan, don't blame me. This was your clan head's decision. The Body Sect only recognizes the authority of the clan head." Zhao Quan sneered.
Hearing this, although no one spoke, every member of the Power Clan resented Titan in their hearts.
"Well then, now you're free. You may leave. From now on, this will be the Body Sect's base." Zhao Quan announced to the Power Clan.
Titan picked up his severed arm and fished a piece of flesh from his trousers, glaring hatefully.
"Just you wait. Our master will avenge the Power Clan."
With that, he led his people away.