Defense Clan.

"Young Master, what do you plan to do next?" Yang Wudi asked as he stood up.

"The Speed Clan and the Strength Clan are in the Heaven Dou Empire and still maintain ties with the Clear Sky Clan. For now, the only clan we can recruit is the Defense Clan. Let's meet with the clan leader," I replied, already following the strategy I had planned before coming to Rising Dragon City.

"Understood. Let's meet Old Rhino," Yang Wudi nodded.

Before leaving the room, I resumed my initial illusion.

"Oh, you're truly mysterious, Young Master. If I didn't know it was you, I'd never recognize you."

I chuckled lightly at Yang Wudi's comment, and we left the Breaking Clan residence together. The old man who had greeted me at the door seemed surprised to see me accompanied by the clan leader.

The Breaking Clan was located in the eastern part of the city, while the Defense Clan was situated in the west, in opposite directions.

It didn't take long for us to arrive at the Defense Clan's residence. This time, accompanied by Yang Wudi, I entered without any difficulties.

The Defense Clan's residence was in better condition than the Breaking Clan's, as they were experts in construction. However, the clan seemed far emptier. This was understandable, as they had been the frontline defense in the conflict against Spirit Hall, suffering significant losses.

Once we reached the reception hall, we waited for Niu Gao, the leader of the Defense Clan, to arrive.

"Look who's come to visit! Old Goat, I didn't expect you to have the energy after your last deal with Spirit Hall."

With those words, the door to the room opened. A man with short, gray hair, stiff like steel needles, entered. He had a reddish complexion, bright, expressive eyes the size of bells, broad shoulders, and a build that exuded power and authority.

Although his clothing was loose-fitting, it was impossible not to notice the latent strength in his movements. He carried a large wine barrel and had a cheerful expression. However, his aura revealed hints of discouragement, depression, and sorrow.

"Old Rhino, I apologize for not visiting sooner, but I'm more hopeful now." Yang Wudi greeted him with a firm pat on the shoulder.

"And who might this man be?" Niu Gao asked after completing his greeting.

"Haha! You won't believe it, Old Rhino, but this is the second prince of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai."

At Yang Wudi's words, I dispelled my illusion, revealing my true appearance.

Niu Gao looked at me with a surprised expression, which quickly turned into one of doubt.

"The second prince? And I didn't sense any spiritual power fluctuations. You really are something special," Niu Gao smiled before taking a seat.

"And what does the Defense Clan have to offer that the second prince would need Old Goat as an intermediary?" His smile faded, and he stared at me seriously.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Chief of the Defense Clan, Niu Gao. What I wish to discuss is a serious matter," I greeted him with formal etiquette before beginning the conversation.

I explained the situation in detail, much as I had with Yang Wudi. Unlike him, Niu Gao remained silent for most of the time, offering only a cup of wine to me and Yang Wudi as he listened attentively.

After I finished my explanation, Niu Gao remained silent for a few minutes before turning to Yang Wudi.

"Old Goat, has the Breaking Clan allied with him?" Niu Gao asked, still with a serious expression.

"Yes, as the representative of the Breaking Clan, I've sworn allegiance to him. The Young Master managed to convince me," Yang Wudi nodded, falling silent afterward.

According to the original story, Niu Gao was naturally stubborn and didn't easily yield to others. Tang San had convinced him after defeating him in a challenge. However, at the moment, I had no means to break Niu Gao's defense—he was an 82nd-level Spirit Douluo.

Perhaps, if I could craft the True Damage Talisman, I might be able to injure him. However, that talisman was Rank 6, far beyond my current capabilities.

After reflecting for several minutes, Niu Gao finally made a decision.

"Forgive me, Second Prince, but the Defense Clan cannot swear allegiance to you at this moment," he sighed deeply.

I looked at Yang Wudi in surprise, who also seemed shocked by the response.

"And what's the reason?" I asked, as this was not what I had expected to hear.

"Old Rhino, does your clan still wish to follow the Clear Sky Clan after what they did to us? That clan doesn't deserve our loyalty!" Yang Wudi stood up angrily, slamming his fist on the table.

"Old Goat... That's not the reason," Niu Gao sighed again.

"The Defense Clan suffered greatly in the confrontation with Spirit Hall. At this moment, we don't even have 20% of the members we had at our peak. Even if we allied with the Second Prince, we'd be of little help in a conflict against Spirit Hall," Niu Gao murmured, though his voice was loud enough to be heard.

Even so, his justification seemed to hide another truth.

A flash of understanding crossed my mind.

"Chief Niu Gao, do you fear that your clan can't withstand another attack from Spirit Hall? Do you believe that the defense you've always relied on isn't enough to protect you?" I asked, stroking my chin, and immediately saw the answer reflected in Niu Gao's behavior.

"What? Old Rhino... You..." Yang Wudi sat back down, his expression one of shock.

Niu Gao sighed, took a long sip of wine, and answered:

"That's right. In the confrontation with Spirit Hall, our so-called invincible defense was cut like tofu and crushed like powder. We were completely useless. Perhaps the saying 'The best defense is a strong offense' is the truth, and the path of supreme defense we've followed is just an illusion."

As he spoke, tears began to well up in his eyes.

"Even my defense, considered the strongest in the clan, was useless. Even I, an 82nd-level Spirit Douluo, was overcome. And even you, Old Goat, when you were just a Spirit Saint, managed to bypass my so-called 'supreme defense.'"

Tears streamed down Niu Gao's face as he poured out his heart.

"Old Rhino..." Yang Wudi tried to say something, but the words caught in his throat. He could only look at his old friend pouring his heart out, unable to find a solution.

I hadn't imagined that Niu Gao was carrying such a heavy burden on his shoulders. It reminded me of the encounter he had with Tang San. Even though he acted cheerful back then, I can't imagine the weight he bore after having his defense shattered by Tang San, who was only at level 61 at the time.

"Defense is not inferior to offense," I said after pondering for a moment. Both Niu Gao and Yang Wudi looked at me in surprise, not expecting me to speak up.

"Many claim that offense is superior, dismissing defense with phrases like, 'With enough speed, I'm unstoppable,' 'Offense is the best defense,' or 'Defense is just for cowards.' But the truth is that defense is essential for survival. Some forms of life have adopted defense as their means of survival throughout evolution; otherwise, they would have gone extinct."

I looked directly at Niu Gao and added, "Maybe your defense simply isn't strong enough... I can make it the strongest."

Niu Gao stared at me, his eyes still filled with tears. However, upon seeing the determination on my face, something shifted in his expression; a glimmer of hope returned to his gaze.

"Haha! You're confident, Second Prince." He laughed, wiping away his tears. "Very well, I'll stake my life on this. If you make me survive Yang Wudi's strongest attack, the Defense Clan will swear loyalty to you." He stood up with a resolute expression.

"Old Rhino, this is..." Yang Wudi tried to intervene, but he was cut off.

"Old Goat, don't hold back. This is a test. I feel the Second Prince's confidence, and if even that's not enough to withstand your attack, I'll accept my death for failing to uphold the name of the Defense Clan. Come, Second Prince. Show me how you'll make my defense the strongest." Niu Gao opened the door and stepped out, beckoning me to follow. I followed him without hesitation.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Two days after the meeting, Niu Gao, Yang Wudi, and I, accompanied by several members of the Defense and Breaking Clans, stood in an isolated area of the Star Dou Forest. All nearby Soul Beasts had fled, sensing the presence of two Spirit Douluo.

"Do you think the clan master will survive the attack?" murmured one of the Defense Clan members.

"We can only trust him. He wants to lift our spirits, to show us that defense can still be invincible," another sighed, struggling to suppress his worry.

Meanwhile, among the Breaking Clan members, quiet conversations were taking place.

"This is insane. There's no way Niu Gao can survive the clan master's attack. He could already break through Niu Gao's defense back when he was just a Spirit Saint. Now, as a Spirit Douluo, it's impossible to resist. Our clan seeks ultimate offense," a young man whispered to his companion.

"What's gotten into the Defense Clan master? He's putting himself at risk of death," another member muttered, shaking his head in clear concern. Despite their differences, the two clans shared a close connection.

Closer to the two clan masters, a hooded man silently observed the scene. That man was me, Dai Mubai, using an illusion to mask my presence.

"Old Goat, don't hold back," Niu Gao said firmly, giving Yang Wudi a solid pat on the shoulder before walking away to prepare.

"Young Master, this..." Yang Wudi gave me a troubled look, his discomfort clear. The thought of potentially killing his friend weighed heavily on him.

"Yang Wudi, trust me. Use all your strength." I placed a firm hand on his shoulder, offering him a brief smile before stepping back.

From a distance, I activated my Sharingan and Byakugan, determined to analyze every detail of Yang Wudi's most powerful attack.

Yang Wudi looked up at the sky, took a deep breath, and with a resolute expression, activated his Martial Soul.

"Old Rhino, get ready. I won't hold back." A silver spear materialized beside him, surrounded by eight Soul Rings: two yellow, two purple, and four black. They all began glowing intensely as the spear turned pitch black, enveloped in destructive flames and an oppressive aura.

"That's what I'm expecting, Old Goat," Niu Gao laughed heartily as he released his own Martial Soul. Behind him appeared eight Soul Rings: two yellow, three purple, and three black. In terms of quality, he was at a disadvantage.

"True Body!" they both shouted in unison. The energy surrounding Yang Wudi's spear surged even further as he hurled it with full force. A black beam tore through the air toward Niu Gao, leaving a trail of dark flames.

Niu Gao, in turn, was enveloped by silver armor resembling the form of a rhinoceros. He raised his arms, positioning them like a shield to meet the impending impact.

Suddenly, red runes glowed on his armor, forming a pattern that resembled a formation. The energy around him doubled in intensity.

As the spear was about to collide, Niu Gao shouted, "HIERRO!" All the energy around him converged into his armor, condensing sharply.

The impact was devastating. Offense and defense clashed, unleashing a shockwave that made the ground tremble. Moments later, an explosion echoed, scattering black flames in all directions. A cloud of dust rose, mushrooming into the air.

From a distance, only someone with the Sharingan and Byakugan could discern the outcome.

"I hope you survived, Old Rhino," Yang Wudi murmured to himself. Yet he was visibly stunned as he felt his hand trembling. "This is impossible." He stared at the dust cloud with wide eyes.

When the dust finally settled, what emerged was nothing short of astonishing.

Niu Gao stood there, his silver armor unscathed, still surrounded by the black flames. In his hand, he held Yang Wudi's spear, now motionless.

Raising the spear above his head, he roared with all his might: "Defense... I am the strongest defense!"