The Theory Goes Public

Su Cheng had calculated in advance that this would be the time to leave the sect.

By his reckoning, Ah Yin's Sacrifice was about to occur, followed by Qian Xunji being severely injured by Tang Hao and then finished off by Bibi Dong.

He had chosen this exact timing because he had no desire to waste effort earning Qian Xunji's trust when the man was doomed to die anyway.

Besides, once power changed hands, figuring out how to switch allegiance to Bibi Dong would be another troublesome matter.

With the address Ning Fengzhi had given him, Su Cheng went to a bookstore operated by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect after leaving the sect. Once he identified himself, he smoothly met the bookstore's manager, Yan Mo.

"Mr. Su, may I ask what subject the book you wish to publish concerns?"

Yan Mo naturally knew that Su Cheng had already left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. But he was merely an ordinary businessman, and knew best how to seek advantages and avoid danger, so he remained extremely respectful in his speech.

"Cultivation." As Su Cheng spoke, he took out some materials he had organized in advance from his Soul Tool.

However, they contained only methods for Cross-Year Absorption of the First Soul Ring and Second Soul Ring. He intended to keep the later material as bait.

Yan Mo hurriedly accepted them. Though respectful on the surface, he was rather dismissive inside.

In his view, with Su Cheng's mere 0.5 level of Innate Soul Power, if he had not been born into such a good family, he might have struggled even to cultivate to level ten. For someone of that caliber to dare publish a book on cultivation was simply laughable.

He had been thinking of brushing him off and sending the young master on his way.

Yet when he skimmed through the contents, his expression changed drastically.

"Mr. Su, please forgive us, but we cannot publish this."

"Why not?"

"This..." Yan Mo stammered for a moment without managing to give any real explanation, but his refusal remained resolute.

Su Cheng had actually expected this. Extending his right hand, he said, "Go ahead and publish it. I'll be going to Spirit Hall later to assess my Soul Power Level."

At that moment, a cracked broken sword floated silently above his right hand.

But that martial soul was not the important part.

The pale-purple Second Soul Ring nearly blinded the bookstore owner.

Su Cheng understood that the other party was simply worried that the book's contents might be false, and that he would be unable to bear the consequences if anything went wrong.

That was only natural. After all, these theories were equivalent to shattering the cultivation rules that martial souls on the Douluo Continent had followed for countless years.

There was no reliance on talent or aptitude, nor any need to consume precious high-year soul bones. The cost was merely stimulating several acupoints for a short time and applying medicinal liquid that was not particularly expensive.

"You... this... I..."

Yan Mo looked at the broken sword martial soul, then at Su Cheng, then at the book in his hands. Finally, he rubbed his eyes and fixed his gaze on the Second Soul Ring, whose glow was not especially dazzling.

"Can you believe what I wrote now?" Su Cheng asked flatly. "It describes methods for Cross-Year Absorption of the First Soul Ring and Second Soul Ring. I am proof that they work. What do you think?"

As the manager of a bookstore under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and someone who had spent years in a thriving place like Heaven Dou City, Yan Mo's cultivation was not high, but he had seen a great deal.

The more he knew, the more shocked he became.

His lips trembled for a long while, but he could not say a word.

Seeing that he had yet to recover, Su Cheng continued, "After these cultivation materials are released, I won't take a single coin of the profits. I only ask that you keep the price as low as possible. Small profits and quick turnover will do."

"Do you truly intend to make these methods public?"

The way Yan Mo looked at Su Cheng had completely changed.

If his earlier show of respect had been because of Su Cheng's adoptive father, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, then now it was entirely due to Su Cheng's ability to break past limits and his selfless spirit.

"Of course. I'm a good person." Su Cheng looked somewhat impatient. "Are you willing or not? If not, I'll find another place."

That was the advantage of having an exceptional background.

If he did not have Sword Douluo as his backer, even if he had developed methods like these, he would have had no chance to promote them. Worse, his life might have been in danger.

If he were lucky, he might have been placed under house arrest by some great sect, with no room whatsoever to maneuver.

"You may tell Ning Fengzhi about this, but don't slow down the publication of my theories." After glancing at Yan Mo, Su Cheng warned, "Otherwise, I can simply go to another sect. Even if I go to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, I'm sure these methods will still have plenty of chances to be promoted."

"Of course, of course..." Yan Mo's expression tightened at those words, and he suppressed his original little schemes.

What a joke. He was only the manager of a bookstore. Why should he concern himself with matters involving those high-ranking figures? If he carelessly got swept into it, he might not even be able to withstand the aftermath.

After settling the matter of publishing the book, Su Cheng headed to the Heaven Dou City Spirit Hall Branch.

The order of things was important as well. Although Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong might not have the attention to spare for him at this moment, it was always better to be cautious.

To put it dramatically, this was an innovation capable of overturning the cultivation system of the Douluo Continent to some extent.

Moreover, different people had different constitutions. For gifted prodigies, paired with this Soul Ring Absorption Method, who knew how high they might be able to raise the theoretical limit of the First Soul Ring.

Even within the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Spirit Hall was the building with the strongest presence.

"Stop right there!" A guard stationed before the hall stepped forward to block him.

"Hello, I'm here to assess my Soul Power Level."

After the guard let him through, Su Cheng entered the Heaven Dou City Spirit Hall Branch.

Looking at the vast and imposing hall before him, its orderly arrangement, and the large number of branch guards, he could not help sighing inwardly. This was the genuine number-one force in the world.

Overthrowing it would not be easy.

Compared to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect where he had stayed before, there truly was no comparison between the two.

One relied on inherited family martial souls, while the other welcomed all talent from across the world. That difference alone placed them on entirely different levels.

"You are... Mr. Su from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Su Cheng turned around and saw a Female Receptionist from Spirit Hall. He had no idea how she recognized him.

"I am no longer a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Su Cheng corrected her calmly.

"Yes, my apologies." The Female Receptionist smiled apologetically and asked, "Did Mr. Su come to Spirit Hall today to assess his Soul Power Level?"

She had just noticed that Su Cheng was heading toward the Soul Power Assessment Hall.

"Yes."

"Please release your martial soul and Soul Rings first."

Su Cheng nodded. Without concealing anything, he directly revealed his broken sword martial soul and two Soul Rings.

"A two-ring Great... Soul... Master..." The Female Receptionist's voice distorted slightly.

"This is..." She pointed at the purple Second Soul Ring, her face full of confusion.

"Oh, I developed some minor techniques that can help soul masters absorb Soul Rings beyond their year limit."

"All soul masters?!" The Female Receptionist stared at Su Cheng in shock.

"All soul masters." Su Cheng nodded. "For now, though, it only applies to the First Soul Ring and Second Soul Ring. I have some ideas regarding the Third Soul Ring, but nothing fully confirmed yet."