"Senior, now that you have heard the conditions that Tang San and the others have given, before you hear about the bargaining chips I can offer, why don't you listen to my story?"
Dai Yao arranged a chair for Niu Gao and said with a smile.
Niu Gao couldn't figure out what Dai Yao was up to, but now he had to make a choice.
They could either accept Tang San's invitation to join the Tang Sect, agree to Dai Yao's conditions, or establish their own sect with the other three single-attribute clans.
He sat opposite Dai Yao, arms crossed, like a mountain. Looking at Dai Yao sitting across the table, he said in a deep voice:
"you say."
Dai Yao poured tea for Niu Gao. As the fragrant tea steamed, Dai Yao's gaze became distant, his face filled with reminiscence, and he slowly began to speak:
"Senior Niu Gao, you heard from Tang San that I am the fourth prince of the Star Luo Empire."
"Why did you give up being the Fourth Prince and join the Spirit Hall?"
Niu Gao asked angrily, "You're so unambitious!"
Dai Yao smiled and explained, "While the status of a prince is certainly noble, the intensity of the competition far exceeds what outsiders can imagine."
"In the Star Luo Empire, if one cannot become the final victor in the competition for the throne, then death is the only outcome. As the youngest prince, compared to the older princes, I have virtually no chance of winning."
"When I obtained my first spirit ring, the First Prince had already obtained his third. With a difference of more than twenty levels, how could I possibly defeat him?"
"So you betrayed the Star Luo Empire?"
Niu Gao said disdainfully.
He was straightforward and always wore his thoughts on his sleeve, never hiding them. Dai Yao betrayed the family that raised him to save his own life, and Niu Gao, who valued family ties highly, could not forgive Dai Yao's actions.
Dai Yao waved his hand, pursed his lips, struggled for a moment, and then raised his head to look into Niu Gao's eyes and said:
"No, if I were given a normal competitive environment, even if the Crown Prince is more than ten years older than me, what would I fear from him? The real reason I left the Star Luo Empire is that I have an irreconcilable enemy—the Star Luo Empress."
"She killed my mother."
Although Dai Yao spoke calmly, the burning flames of revenge in his eyes sent a chill down Niu Gao's spine. This hatred was irreconcilable, a fight to the death!
Being watched by someone like that makes it impossible to sleep soundly at night, as you worry that the owner of those eyes might silently appear by your bedside.
He already felt some sympathy for the current Empress Xingluo.
Dai Yao didn't use any soul skills or martial souls. He knocked away Titan, who was using his martial soul true form, with his self-created soul skills. His talent is evident. Given his young age, the Star Luo Empress must be having trouble sleeping and eating.
However, he can now understand why Dai Yao defected from the Star Luo Empire and joined the Spirit Hall.
Moreover, although Dai Yao didn't say it, he understood Dai Yao's situation in the Star Luo Empire back then. With an enemy like the Star Luo Empress, how could Dai Yao have been happy?
The only one who can help him take revenge is the Spirit Hall.
"You've got guts, kid, daring to take on the behemoth that is the Star Luo Empire all by yourself."
Niu Gao looked at Dai Yao and praised him.
"You flatter me, senior."
Dai Yao cupped his hands in greeting.
In truth, Dai Yao didn't want to say these things; it felt like having a wound reopened. But in order to gain Niu Gao's trust, he had no choice but to do so.
He took a small sip of fragrant tea to moisten his throat, looked at Niu Gao, and continued:
"Because of my identity as a traitor, I am not highly regarded in the Spirit Hall. But in order to seek revenge, I need to build my own power."
"Therefore, I have borrowed the power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to establish my own sect."
"So senior, you don't need to feel resentful because of my identity as a member of the Spirit Hall. Apart from completing my revenge, I will not let the sect get involved in the war on the continent."
"Senior should also be aware of the current situation. Everyone has to choose between the two great empires and the Spirit Hall. But after the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School joined the neutral camp, the situation changed drastically."
"Under the protection of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, many forces have found a new home: neutrality. And I can use my influence in the Spirit Hall to try my best to prevent the Spirit Hall from coveting the neutral camp."
"At that time, single-attribute clans will be able to survive intact during the catastrophe on the continent. Why not do it?"
Niu Gao remained silent for a long time, his brows furrowing deeply. After a long while, he finally made a decision and looked at Dai Yao with difficulty, saying:
"Young man, your background is touching, and your promises are very moving, but... how can a man live in this world and submit to the power of his enemy just to survive for a while?"
"I would rather die on the battlefield alongside my old brothers than submit to the tyranny of the Spirit Hall!"
Looking at the loyal and brave Niu Gao, Dai Yao couldn't help but sigh. He hadn't revealed his trump card yet, so he wasn't too worried.
What he needs to do now is to find out the real reason why Niu Gao is unwilling to join his sect, and then point out his mistakes incisively.
He said calmly:
"You joined Tang San's Tang Sect, but didn't you also submit to the Clear Sky Sect? You can accept it, but can that person from the Broken Clan accept it?"
Niu Gao was taken aback.
Yes, while the Yu clan hates the Clear Sky Sect, their hatred hasn't reached the point of irreconcilable enmity. But the old goat of the Po clan is different; he hates the Spirit Hall, but he hates the Clear Sky Sect even more!
If it weren't for the Haotian Sect's abandonment, Old Goat's younger brother would never have died!
Seeing Niu Gao stunned, Dai Yao had a better understanding of Tang San and his group's bargaining chips. A confident smile appeared on his face as he said:
"Senior Niu Gao, please take a look at something."
Niu Gao, still reeling from the entanglement of the Broken Clan, instinctively replied upon hearing Dai Yao's words:
"What?"
With a thought, Dai Yao's soul power flowed automatically throughout his body, causing him to move without wind. An aura that made Niu Gao's heart tremble instantly engulfed him like a tsunami.
That was the oppressive aura emanating from the divine martial soul, the Sacred White Tiger.
Niu Gao, whose martial spirit was merely a plate-armored giant rhinoceros, felt the fear emanating from his martial spirit as he faced a predator at the top of the food chain. But what shocked him was not yet over; the next moment, he completely lost the ability to think.
Buzz—
Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, red!
Six spirit rings, an extraordinary configuration beyond the ordinary, appeared one after another before Niu Gao. Especially that last touch of crimson, which left Niu Gao's mind blank.
Niu Gao felt as if all his strength had been drained from his body. He staggered back a few steps and almost fell to the ground, but his eyes remained fixed on the bright red soul ring.
It took him a while to come to his senses.
He swallowed hard, his voice filled with disbelief:
"A hundred thousand years! It's actually a hundred thousand year spirit ring! How is that possible?! How could you have absorbed a hundred thousand year spirit ring when you were only at the sixth spirit ring stage?!"
Dai Yao did not answer, but stood quietly, his six soul rings revolving silently around him.
Niu Gao finally managed to shift his gaze away from the bright red spirit ring, only to see Dai Yao's other spirit rings, which were also beyond the limit, and he immediately gasped a few times.
"Your second spirit ring is a thousand-year spirit ring, and your fourth spirit ring is a ten-thousand-year spirit ring. Could it be that you have surpassed the limit with every single one of your spirit rings? Just what kind of monster are you?!"
Niu Gao stared at Dai Yao in shock, his mouth agape, unable to close.
"Yes, every single one of my spirit rings has surpassed the theoretical limits of the spirit master world."
Dai Yao nodded, acknowledging Niu Gao's conjecture.
Niu Gao took a few heavy breaths, and after a long while, he finally said, "Good lad, you're forcing me. Forcing me to choose between you and Tang San."
Dai Yao nodded and said, "You can understand it this way: unlike Tang San, I don't have a senior like Titan who has a close relationship with you. Therefore, I have no choice but to use such methods. Please understand."
"I understand."
Niu Gao said slowly.
"Now, can you make a choice?"
Dai Yao stared at Niu Gao and asked.
Niu Gao gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with struggle. Indeed, Dai Yao's strength was far superior to Tang San's, but... just now, Tang San had revealed his second martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer!
The talent of having twin martial souls is enough to make up for the shortcomings of Tang San's insufficient soul ring configuration and Dai Yao's deficiency.
Dai Yao frowned. With what he had shown so far, he still couldn't impress Niu Gao.
Although he didn't know what Niu Gao was still struggling with, he knew that there was only one last straw to persuade Niu Gao! He took a deep breath, and as his soul power surged, eight pairs of wings unfurled, and three cold rays of light shot out from his left palm.
Two external soul bones: the White Tiger with Eight Wings and the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear's Left Palm Bone!
"Senior, these are my two external soul bones. If this is still not enough to impress you, then I have nothing more to say."
Although he possesses the heaven-defying martial soul of the Chaos Green Lotus, he would not reveal it in order to win over Niu Gao, as that would be giving Niu Gao too much credit.
Upon seeing the external soul bones on Dai Yao's back and left hand, Niu Gao was already somewhat numb with shock.
He had heard of external soul bones before; they were legendary treasures, yet Dai Yao actually had two! However, no matter how precious an external soul bone was, it seemed so cheap compared to that bright red 100,000-year soul ring.
But these two external soul bones, like the last straw that broke the camel's back, settled his wavering heart.
"Dai Yao, how old are you this year?"
Niu Gao asked meaningfully.
"Just turned twenty."
boom!
A sudden explosion of thoughts exploded in Niu Gao's mind. Twenty years old, a Soul Emperor! A 100,000-year Soul Ring—he knew exactly what that meant.
In the future world of Soul Masters, there will be no match for Dai Yao!
Without further hesitation, he took a deep breath, clasped his hands in a firm gesture, and said:
"Dai Yao, I am not an ungrateful person. Since you have invited me so sincerely, I cannot refuse. From now on, the fate of our Yu clan, consisting of more than four hundred people, rests in your hands!"
Seeing that Niu Gao finally agreed, Dai Yao's heart, which had been pounding, relaxed, and he smiled with relief:
"Senior Niu Gao, you're too kind. From now on, there will definitely be a place for the Yu clan in my sect. However, since the sect has just been established, I will have to trouble you to help me win over the Min clan and the Po clan."
Niu Gao laughed heartily and said, "That's easy. Since you've joined the sect, you have to think about the sect's interests. I will do my best to win over the old white bird and the old goat!"
At this point, he changed the subject and asked with a hint of doubt:
"However, Sect Master, what is the name of the sect you founded?"
Upon hearing this, Dai Yao's gaze faltered, a slight smile curving his lips. His tone was filled with emotion as he slowly said:
"Let's call it the Azure Lotus Sect."
Everything he has is thanks to the Chaotic Green Lotus in his spiritual world; without the Chaotic Green Lotus, he would not be who he is today. Therefore, he named his sect after the Green Lotus.
"Azure Lotus Sect... Alright, then my Yu Clan will be the first force to join the Azure Lotus Sect!"
Niu Gao laughed heartily.
"Before that, I need to tell Titan and the others that they're still waiting for my news!"
"Alright, Senior Niu Gao, please go ahead."
Dai Yao nodded.
Leaving Dai Yao's room and gazing at the tightly closed door of Tang San's room, Niu Gao sighed deeply:
"Old gorilla, don't blame me for being disloyal. I am, after all, the head of a clan. My decision concerns the lives and fortunes of hundreds of members of the Yu clan!"
"Although I want to live and die with you, I have to think about my family."
"Blame it on Tang San's potential; it's not as good as Dai Yao's!"
Niu Gao knew that Dai Yao and Tang San were both outstanding individuals, but there were differences even among geniuses.
Although Tang San possessed twin martial souls, Dai Yao was no less capable, with a soul ring configuration that exceeded the limits, especially the 100,000-year soul ring, which was enough to make up for the difference in the number of martial souls between the two.
Moreover, Dai Yao's divine-level martial soul is more powerful than any of Tang San's martial souls.
With those two external soul bones, even after Tang San became a Title Douluo and added soul rings to his Clear Sky Hammer martial soul, he might not be able to compare to Dai Yao.
Although Tang San had the Clear Sky Sect as his backing, Dai Yao also had the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Spirit Hall behind him.
Most importantly, Dai Yao promised to ensure the neutrality of the Qinglian Sect amidst future turmoil on the continent. Being able to remain aloof from worldly affairs and protect his family during chaotic times was what Niu Gao valued most.
······
"What?! Old Rhino! You actually want to join that kid's sect!"
Upon hearing Niu Gao's words, Titan stood up angrily and glared at Niu Gao.
He thought it would be easy to get Niu Gao to join the Tang Clan, but things didn't go as he expected. What kind of magic did Dai Yao have that made Niu Gao disregard brotherhood and join his sect?
"Old brother, I'm sorry for what happened, but even so, I have to join Dai Yao's sect. Of course, our friendship will not change."
Niu Gao looked at the furious Titan, sighed inwardly, and explained.
Don't call me brother!
Titan angrily shook his hand and turned his head away, not wanting to see Niu Gao.
Niu Gao sighed helplessly, ignored Titan, and turned to leave the room.
After Niu Gao left, Titan seemed to have all his strength drained away. He sat in a chair, staring at the ceiling, his mind blank. He couldn't understand Niu Gao's decision.
"Senior Titan, please don't be angry. Everyone has their own ambitions, there's no need to force it."
Tang San offered words of comfort.
Although he said that, his regret was no less than Titan's.
The Yu clan is a powerful clan comparable to the Li clan, and its leader is a Soul Douluo. Not only did Tang San fail to recruit them into the Tang Sect, but he also forced Tang San to join Dai Yao's sect, which made Tang San secretly resentful.
Titan sighed:
"Young Master, this old servant is not only lamenting Niu Gao's departure, but also worried that when the four single-attribute clans gather together, Old Xi… Niu Gao will help Dai Yao win over the Min clan and the Po clan!"
Tang San was taken aback. Thinking of this, his face darkened considerably. After a long pause, he finally said in a deep voice:
"Senior Titan, I came here to gain the understanding of the four single-attribute clans, not to compete with Dai Yao. If they want to join Dai Yao's sect, then let them join."
"In the future, I will definitely make them regret it!"
Hearing Tang San's answer, Titan smiled with satisfaction:
"Young Master, it is all the better that you think this way. As for the Min clan, this old servant is very confident that we can win them over."
"On the one hand, the old white bird has a special relationship with you; on the other hand, the hidden weapons in your hands, young master, are of great benefit to the Min clan."
He paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice:
"As for the Broken Clan... let's do our best and leave the rest to fate..." (End of Chapter)