Douluo Dalu: Volume 25: Single Category Clans

by Tang Jia San Shao

  “The other three were all established within a hundred years, their history isn’t as long as our Strength Clan, but each clan all has their own strength, thereby making up the deficiencies of the Clear Sky School. Like our Strength Clan is expert in forging, the Defense Clan is expert in construction. Originally, when the Clear Sky School grounds was being built, it was all done by the Defense Clan. And what the Speed Clan is good at is scouting, because they cultivate speed with all their heart and soul, they’re astonishingly quick, they can be said to be the best scouts. And the Breaking Clan relies mainly on attacking, they’re actually expert in making medicine.”

  “At present, our Strength Clan has set roots in Heaven Dou City, considered the best adapted. Even though the losses of the Breaking Clan were disastrous back then, any country would welcome their medicine refining, therefore their circumstances are roughly the same as the Defense Clan. Only the Speed Clan is currently the most miserable, they don’t want to join other Spirit Master clans, on their own they also don’t have any good trade skills. If not for our other three clans frequently supporting them, I’m afraid the Speed Clan would have waned even faster.”

  Hearing Tai Tan say this, Tang San had an initial understanding of the four single attribute clans, secretly thinking that it was no wonder the Clear Sky School was number one under heaven back then, when these four subsidiary single attribute clans were already so outstanding. Unfortunately the sect was sealed too impetuously back then, without asking these talents to stay. Otherwise, it would be a lot easier for the Clear Sky School to rise again.

  “Elder, you just said the Breaking Clan was experts in medicine, what medicines can they refine?”

  Tang San asked.

  Tai Tan said:

  “I’m not to clear on the details either. It seems they’ll refine medicinal drugs, but will equally refine poisons. Among the four clans, the Breaking Clan could be said to be the most mysterious. Back when they originally attached themselves to the Clear Sky School, they were the ones most distantly related to the sect, and moreover kept their clan’s drugs confidential. The old sect master once got dissatisfied with them. But they were nevertheless most severely implicated with the sect. Could be said to be truly unfortunate.”

  The corners of his mouth revealing a faint smile, Tang San secretly already had some plans.

  “Elder, how many clansmen does the four clans have right now?”

  Tai Tan said:

  “Our Strength Clan has more than two hundred directly related disciples, the total number of family members exceeding five hundred. Of the other three clans, the Defense Clan and the Agility Clan is more or less the same as us. The Breaking Clan’s directly related disciples should be just a hundred. Their vitality is far from recovered.”

  Tang San said somewhat pondering:

  “That means the four single attribute clans added together has close to a thousand people.”

  Tai Tan said:

  “Back when the Clear Sky School was like the sun at zenith, the directly related clansmen were still only three hundred, but the subsidiary Spirit Masters still numbered more than five thousand. They were also split into a number of small clans, and our four single category clans were the leaders among these clans. The Clear Sky Clan going into seclusion lead to the monkeys scattering when the tree falls. Only a tiny handful really stayed behind. Our four clans directly suffered Spirit Hall’s formidable pressure and couldn’t get the backing of any sect, compelling us to collapse and fall apart, those small clans scattered even faster, there were a lot of them who chose to accept being incorporated into Spirit Hall. You might say that even though the Clear Sky School and Spirit Hall didn’t have a true battle, the sect being sealed was already a major defeat. If not for being forced, who would want to give up on their homeland and separate from their sect?”

  At the end, Tai Tan’s voice clearly grew heavy. One could imagine, when a former big player of the Spirit Master World fell from the heavens without even a fight, what kind of heavy blow it was to these subsidiary clans.

  It was quiet in the carriage, but the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

  After a long time, Tai Tan spoke up once again,

  “Actually, I know the sect’s choice really was the smartest. The old sect master was dead. The new sect master had just taken the position. The master had also killed the Supreme Pontiff. There was already rigid hatred between our Clear Sky School and Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall even had enough reason to forcefully invade. Even if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wanted to help us, there would still be more than a seventy percent chance of the Clear Sky School being exterminated. And choosing to live in seclusion could undoubtedly preserve the Clear Sky School’s true strength. Even if the subsidiary clans scattered, the sect wouldn’t lose its own force. If the sect stood again in the future, still with the force to resist Spirit Hall, would there be any lack of Spirit Masters joining?”

  This old man’s voice was filled with bleakness. He was secretly telling Tang San that common Spirit Masters and clans were only chess pieces for those great powers. When they had to be abandoned, they would be kicked and trampled. This was also an important reason they had such resentment towards the Clear Sky School.

  Drawing a deep breath, Tang San didn’t know how he should comfort the old man, empty promises held no meaning.

  “Young master. I have a request.”

  Tai Tan’s gaze suddenly grew fiery.

  “Elder, speak.”

  Tang San hurriedly said.

  Tai Tan lowered his voice:

  “If the Clear Sky School truly returns again, and you want to join with the Clear Sky School, please let me lead the Strength Clan to withdraw from Tang Sect.”

  Tang San said resolutely without the slightest hesitation:

  “That won’t happen. Tang Sect is Tang Sect, Clear Sky School is Clear Sky School. Even if I’m a Clear Sky School descendant, I’ve always wanted to establish the Tang Sect as a Spirit Master Sect. Impossible to merge with the Clear Sky School.”

  Hearing him say this, Tai Tan’s expression clearly relaxed somewhat,

  “When young master says so, I’m relieved.”

  Tang Sect was Tang Sect, those were all of Tang San’s memories of his last life, raising and developing the Tang Sect in another world was the only though he had when he just came to this world, how could he easily leave the Tang Sect to others? Let alone merging with the Clear Sky School, leaving authority to the Clear Sky School.

  In order to keep Tai Tan from sinking into painful memories again, Tang San said:

  “Elder, you’re a leading scholar of the world of forging, the road is long, it would be better for us to discuss some hidden weapons.”

  Hearing the words ‘hidden weapons’, Tai Tan’s spirit was immediately roused, gasping in praise:

  “Those blueprints young master found could be said to be art surpassing nature, even though I can roughly understand them, if you had me design them, there would definitely be no designs.”

  Tang San smiled slightly saying:

  “Actually, there are still a lot of hidden weapons more tremendous than the Godly Zhuge Crossbow. Among them there’s one kind of hidden weapon that’s quite small, equally only one chi, but it’s cylindrical, if it could be made, by conservative estimates, it could at least split open the defense of Spirit Sage level Spirit Masters, including Spirit Avatar. Even if it was Title Douluo, if caught off guard, might still be seriously injured.”

  Tai Tan’s eyes brightened, crying out:

  “There’s still such tremendous hidden weapons?”

  Tang San nodded with certainty:

  “Just that manufacturing them is seriously difficulty. Not only are the material demands extremely high, but the manufacturing skill needs to be even more perfect, with just a hair fine error, it couldn’t be made.”

  Tai Tan was the celebrity of a generation in the forging world. Hearing Tang San say this
, he immediately had an itch that was difficult to scratch,

  “Young master, what’s this hidden weapon called, do you have the designs? I don’t dare speak of other things, but on the Continent, in terms of skill, if I can’t make it, perhaps no one can.”

  Tang San said:

  “Back then I recorded all the plans in that secret book in my mind, I can easily give you an introduction. When this hidden weapon is fired, it’ll be like a peacock spreading its tail, gloriously brilliant, but while the eye is dazzled, it will take your life. Therefore it’s called Peacock Plume.”

  Tai Tan sighed:

  “Good, good Peacock Plume, if it’s like you say, and we can make large quantities of Peacock Plume, how Spirit Hall will shiver.”

  Tang San smiled wryly:

  “It’s not that easy. Even though the Peacock Plume’s power is out of the ordinary, not only are the demands for skill extremely difficult, but furthermore, the material demands are also extremely high. Otherwise, how could it break Spirit Sage level defenses? Making the Peacock Plume requires profound iron. Only mechanical and spray hidden weapons made from profound iron can reach that kind of power.”

  Tai Tan looked distracted a moment,

  “Profound iron? What metal is that? How come I haven’t heard of it?”

  Tang San’s heart twitched, thinking to himself that what was called profound iron in his previous world might not be called the same in this world,

  “Profound iron is a kind of extremely rare metal, several times heavier than the same volume of ordinary iron, as long as a smidgen is included in hidden weapons they can become sharper. If weapons were made from pure profound iron, it could practically restrain any other metallic weapon.”

  Tai Tan’s eyes revealed a trace of pondering light,

  “Don’t tell me what you call profound iron is black lined iron? Black lined iron seems to have roughly the same effects as the profound iron you speak of. It’s really also extremely rare. Its price a lot higher than gold, it’s always forged the king of metals.”

  Hearing Tai Tan say this, Tang San immediately exulted. What he most feared was that this world didn’t have profound iron. That it was rare was very ordinary, but as long as it existed, there was the chance of creating the Peacock Plume.

  Tang San smiled slightly, saying:

  “It seems that after this four great single attribute clan gathering, I really have to go with you to metal capital Gengxin City. I hope we can reap some harvest.”

  Tai Tan’s interest was already completely drawn out by Tang San,

  “Young master, tell me quickly, what are the designs for this Peacock Plume?”

  Tang San said:

  “Peacock Plume, it’s one of the most formidable kinds of hidden weapons recorded in the secret book. It’s shape is cylindrical, one chi long, the cross section diameter three cun. Two buttons on top. The first button is used to wind the mechanism. The same principle as the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, they both fear the mechanism being wound for too long, leading to wear. Only winding the Peacock Plume’s mechanism is a lot more intricate than the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, it only needs one push to instantly complete the process. And the second button is used to shoot, difficult for supernatural beings to escape. The entire Peacock Plume has altogether three large sections. The plume, the internal mechanism, as well as the fitted hidden weapon. Among them, the most difficult to produce is the internal mechanism. It’s extremely complex. The Peacock Plume holds altogether three hundred sixty five hidden weapons, shot at once. If ejected, it can cover an area of several dozen square meters. The three hundred sixty five hidden weapons are divided into twelve types, due to volume, they’re all needle shaped hidden weapons. They’re each made from profound iron, still with some special qualities. The reason it uses profound iron, besides the hidden weapon’s own killing power, is because weight is also extremely important. Without a certain weight, after the hidden weapon erupts, its might will naturally be limited. After ejection, its might will be greatest within a thirty meter range, past thirty meters, its power will gradually drop, reaching fifty meters at most. The twelve hidden weapons included are each Bone Piercing Needles, Thunderflame needles, Armor Breaking Needles, Blade Splitting needles, Devil Subduing Needles, Overlord Needles, Deep Yin Needles, Dragon Breaking Needles, Lust Drowning Needles, Dragon Beard Needles, Meteor Extermination Needles and Seven Murder Needles.”

  “These twelve types of needles practically include all the most representative and most powerful of needle type hidden weapons. Each kind is made in a different way, their style and materials used also all different. For example, the Bone Piercing Needle’s effect is mainly puncturing, the front thin and back round, made entirely from profound iron, there are eight grooves on the tiny needle. The distance between each must be exactly the same. Possesses extremely powerful puncturing capabilities. The Thunderflame Needle contains an explosive substance, its outer shell is also made from profound iron, but the explosive substance within must be highly concentrated, the explosion can shatter the profound iron at impact, vastly increasing killing power. The Armor Breaking Needle’s effect is somewhat similar to the Bone Piercing Needle, but the Bone Piercing Needle is directed at protective spirit power, and the Armor Piercing Needle aims at physical defenses. Like the Elephant Armored School’s tough skin would be completely ineffectual against the Armor Breaking Needle. Others like the Deep Yin Needle are highly poisonous, the Dragon Breaking Needle momentarily paralyses the enemy, instantly increasing blood circulation speed tenfold. If they’re not given treatment, their heart will burst. The Dragon Beard needle is made from the hair gold of the best crystals, after entering the body it will instantly curl up, making the opponent prefer to die. As for the most powerful Meteor Extermination Needle and Seven Murder Needles, they can instantly take a life. If these twelve kinds of needles are instantly fired, unless the opponent’s defense is already at a level where the Peacock Plume’s twelve needles is unable to break through, as long as one hits, they will definitely die.”

  Tang San’s account really was very plain, but it still made the listening Tai Tan’s scalp tingle. When Tang San began to talk about how the Peacock Plume could destroy Spirit Sages he still didn’t believe it, but after hearing Tang San describe these twelve kinds of needles, he suddenly felt that he previously might have been viewing the sky from the bottom of a well. If this hidden weapon really could be made, then, let alone Spirit Sages, even Spirit Douluo like him might be unable to block it.

  “No wonder young master says making this hidden weapon is extremely difficult, this old man has truly had his eyes opened. Just making these twelve kinds of needles is already difficult beyond difficult, let alone making the Peacock Plume capable of holding them all. Making this thing would require extremely detailed plans. At the same time, all types of rare metals are equally indispensable. Even in the Strength Clan, perhaps only me and another two brothers have the skill to make it. Funny, just now I wanted to mass produce them. In order to produce immense power, one must pay an equally immense price!”

  Tang San smiled slightly. In fact, if he was given enough time, this Peacock Plume could also be made. The Peacock Plume was originally ranked third of the Tang Sect’s three great lost mechanical hidden weapons kings, ranked second was the Torrential Pear Blossom needle, and ranked number one was the Buddha Fury Tang Lotus.

  He could even research the production of the Buddha Fury Tang Lotus by himself, if he was given time, making the other two wouldn’t be impossible.

  * * *

  [1] Gengxin City - (庚辛城) geng and xin refers to the seventh and eighth of the ten heavenly stems, and by extension are used to denote the seventh and eighth items in lists, thus a translation might be GH City, or VII-VIII City, or 7-8 City.

  [2] Defense Clan - (御之一族) or “Only Resistance Clan”

  [3] Speed Clan - (敏之一族) or “Only Agility Clan”

  [4] Breaking Clan - (破之一族) or “Only Splitting Clan�
�, the character refers to all sorts of things related to breaking things.

  Chapter 170: The Three Vulgar Cheap Customers

  But the Buddha Fury Tang Lotus and the other two great hidden weapons were somewhat different. The greatest difficulty of making the Buddha Fury Tang Lotus was the gunpowder recipe. It had to be concentrated in order to produce a sufficient effect. That instantly erupting power needed such capability. And among these three hidden weapons, the Peacock Plume had the highest demands regarding production, the kind with the most difficult requirements of skill. And the Torrential Pear Blossom Needle had the most pitiless material requirements. The three great hidden weapons could be called victors in their own arena. The ranking was established according to the power they produced. As for dodging these three great hidden weapons, that was of course impossible.

  Tang San’s face revealed a faint smile,

  “When that moment comes I’ll trouble you elder. If the Peacock Plume can be successfully produced, even a small number will be equally capable of being a formidable deterrent. Unfortunately……”

  Tai Tan asked:

  “Young master, what’s unfortunate?”

  Tang San sighed, saying:

  “Unfortunately, there are still two kinds of hidden weapons that might not be made. If those two hidden weapons could be created, even Title Douluo would be killed or injured.”

  “What? There are still such hidden weapons?”

  Tai Tan turned pale with fright, looking at Tang San, the expression in his eyes couldn’t help turning somewhat monstrous. If such hidden weapons really did exist, then what would Spirit Masters still cultivate? Before such hidden weapons, wouldn’t that be certain death without reprieve?

  Tang San said:

  “There are, but creating them is too difficult. They’re the most powerful single target attack Torrential Pear Blossom Needle, as well as the most powerful group damage Buddha Fury Tang Lotus. These are temporarily not within our considerations.”