With Hu Liena conceding defeat, cheers erupted from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's side.
Especially Ning Rongrong, who directly leaped into Tianlin's arms. She was overjoyed—finally vindicated after the humiliation they had suffered earlier at the hands of the Spirit Hall.
Yan immediately stepped onto the stage to help Hu Liena down, casting a hateful glare at Tianlin. Having injured the woman he cared about most, Yan now regarded Tianlin as his mortal enemy.
Gui Mei examined the three injured participants and finally breathed a sigh of relief. While they appeared to have been seriously wounded, their injuries were, in fact, superficial.
Yan's two gashes on his back didn't expose the bone and would heal with time. As for his sealed soul power, it would naturally recover through meditation.
Hu Liena, though weak, was only suffering from significant mental exhaustion, which could be remedied by rest.
Xie Yue was the worst off, having sustained three seemingly fatal injuries. However, upon closer inspection, thanks to Tianlin's exquisite swordsmanship, these were only flesh wounds.
Gui Mei was shocked as he scrutinized Xie Yue's injuries—on the neck, wrist, and chest. Each strike was so precise that if the blade had been off by even one centimeter, it would have been fatal.
Such meticulous swordsmanship was something even a younger Chen Xin might not have been capable of.
Gui Mei cursed inwardly, realizing that Chen Xin had completely fooled him. Claiming that Tianlin had only dabbled in various disciplines and lacked skill in swordsmanship? If this was considered lacking, then wasn't this mastery of effortless precision already the peak of swordsmanship?
Xie Yue had also overexerted his soul power earlier while using the Full Moon skill, but that wasn't a big issue. Gui Mei first stopped the bleeding and transferred some of his soul power to Xie Yue, quickly restoring his vitality.
"Xie Yue, what on earth happened? How was your martial soul fusion skill broken?" Gui Mei demanded, incredulous that a mere Soul Elder could overpower a fusion skill capable of rivaling a Soul Emperor.
In truth, Tianlin's raw power was far below that of the Charming Demon fusion skill. However, his martial soul happened to perfectly counter theirs.
Recalling the incident, Xie Yue recounted with lingering fear, "At that moment, Nana and I had gathered all our soul power and were ready to strike with Full Moon to finish him off in one blow. But unexpectedly, his third spirit skill forcibly separated our martial soul fusion! It was our nemesis!"
"The sudden separation interrupted my Full Moon, and I was completely drained of soul power, leaving me as defenseless as a lamb to the slaughter."
By the end of his explanation, Xie Yue was so enraged that he punched the ground, creating a deep indentation. Without soul power to protect him, his fingers began to bleed, but he hardly noticed, consumed by his fury and frustration.
On the other side, Tianlin basked in the cheers of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan before walking with Gu Ran and Ning Rongrong to stand before Ning Fengzhi.
"Clan Master, Tianlin have fulfilled their mission and returned victorious," Tianlin reported.
"Well done, Xiao Tian, Rongrong, and Gu Ran! Listen carefully," Ning Fengzhi said solemnly. "As the master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, I hereby record an extraordinary achievement for each of you."
Clan achievements weren't just honorary titles—they were a pathway to obtaining clan resources and a guarantee of rising within the clan hierarchy. Even though Tianlin and Gu Ran were disciples of titled Douluos, and Ning Rongrong was Ning Fengzhi's daughter, without earning any merit, they would never command the respect necessary to inherit elder or clan leader positions in the future.
"Thank you, Clan Master," the three said in unison. Even the usually playful Ning Rongrong behaved with uncharacteristic decorum, bowing alongside Gu Ran and Tianlin.
"I can already see the next generation of the Sword-Bone Combination of the Glazed Tile Clan taking shape," Yu Yuanzhen said enviously. "Clan Master Ning, I'm truly jealous. Your clan has such outstanding successors."
Yu Yuanzhen's words were tinged with bitterness. His clan's prized talent, Yu Tianheng, couldn't hold a candle to Tianlin. Even Yu Tianxin paled in comparison to Gu Ran, who had consumed the Iron Armored Peony. And then there was Ning Rongrong, whose potential surpassed even Ning Fengzhi's. Today, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan not only showcased their current strength but also demonstrated their deep foundation.
After all, the younger generation represents a clan's future.
"Heh, Old Ghost, do you have anything else to say?" Dugu Bo quipped, still taunting Gui Mei. Although he had agreed not to attack Gui Mei, that didn't stop him from using sharp words to provoke him.
After spending six months with Tianlin, Dugu Bo had learned plenty of insults from him.
"Hmph, a bet is a bet. You can decide Elder Yin Yang's title yourselves. The Spirit Hall will no longer interfere," Gui Mei said venomously. His expression was as ghastly as his title suggested, a mixture of rage and humiliation.
But Dugu Bo relished his misery and pressed further. "Deciding a title is naturally up to them. What I want to know is about the ten-thousand-year gemstone soul bone. With so many clans and the Heaven Dou imperial family here as witnesses, you're not planning to go back on your word, are you?"
"Poison Douluo, this is a matter between the Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. Why are you meddling?" Gui Mei shot back angrily. He had indeed been tempted to renege, as the gemstone soul bone was incredibly rare—even the Spirit Hall had only a few. But Dugu Bo's public challenge left him no room to back out. Reneging on the deal would ruin the Spirit Hall's reputation, a loss far more devastating than the soul bone itself.
"Who says Poison Douluo has no say in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan?" Ning Fengzhi interjected, stepping forward. "Today, I have a second major announcement to make. Fellow soul masters, I thank you all for attending Elder Yin Yang's title conferment ceremony. However, I also have another matter to declare: the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan will establish a fourth elder position starting today."
"Many of you may have noticed the four seats in the Seven Treasures Hall earlier. You might have thought the fourth seat was empty, left there to inspire the clan's disciples."
"You were wrong. That fourth seat belongs to none other than Poison Douluo. As of today, he will officially join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan!"
Ning Fengzhi's confident declaration left the crowd stunned. One clan with four titled Douluos—this was the foundation of an unparalleled superpower.
Aside from Yu Yuanzhen and Shi Lei, who had already been informed by their grandchildren, everyone else turned their eyes to Dugu Bo, waiting for his confirmation. Dugu Bo was famously independent, having resisted the Spirit Hall's invitations, threats, and even assassination attempts. Could he have chosen to join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan?
Under the watchful gazes of the crowd, Dugu Bo walked up to Ning Fengzhi and said with a smile, "Clan Master Ning, I don't want to call you 'Clan Master.' It makes me feel like I'm beneath you."
Hearing this, everyone assumed Dugu Bo was rejecting the offer.
But then he unexpectedly changed his tone. "How about this? From now on, I'll just call you Fengzhi, like those two old men Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. It sounds closer, doesn't it?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly. "Of course, Uncle Dugu. It would be my honor if you addressed me that way."
Their exchange confirmed Ning Fengzhi's announcement—Dugu Bo had indeed joined the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan.
From this day forward, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan would rise as a superpower, a clan with four titled Douluos!
PS: Hey Guys, please subscribe to our patreon. This book has currently atleast 120 advanced chapters.