Ning Fengzhi's Great Sacrifice

"Teacher is right. Yu Yuanzhen probably won't make any major moves. I was overthinking it."

Xue Qinghe put on an enlightened expression and clasped her fists toward Ning Fengzhi.

She wanted to win over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the continent's strongest support sect.

She had only brought this up to use the academy matter to drive a wedge between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

That would make things easier for her in the future.

She had infiltrated the imperial family for many years and had already achieved initial results.

No one in the Heaven Dou Empire could stop her from moving forward anymore. Xue Beng, Prince Xue Xing, and the like did not even register in her eyes.

As long as she tightened her grip on the power in her hands over the next few years, that would be when Spirit Hall began its unification of the continent.

Now, it seemed that the Upper Three Sects were not as united as they appeared. That was good news for her.

Li Xun stood to the side, listening to their conversation as he fell into thought.

Compared to the uncertainty of awakening Martial Souls in commoner children, academies were the key places where the major sects recruited talent.

Especially elite academies like Heaven Dou Royal Academy, which could reliably produce mid- to high-level Soul Masters.

Even the proud Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had no choice but to invite outsiders into the clan due to its own circumstances.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, being a support sect, was even more so.

This is the downside of maintaining pure bloodlines. If they don't frantically have children and use quantity to bring about quality, decline is inevitable sooner or later.

Other than Yu Yuanzhen, that one Titled Douluo, who else in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is worth mentioning now?

Li Xun glanced at Qian Renxue.

Compared to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul had an even stronger bloodline and was even harder to pass down.

By now, Qian Daoliu had only this one granddaughter left.

The reason he had not exposed Qian Renxue's disguise was that he feared something might happen to her in Heaven Dou.

Neither he nor the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect yet had the strength to directly confront Qian Daoliu and the many elders of the Worship Hall.

"Xiao Xun, when do you plan to go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy?" Ning Fengzhi watched Xue Qinghe depart before turning to ask Li Xun.

"Teacher, I still have some matters to attend to. It will probably take some more time." Li Xun thought for a moment.

"Oh? Can you tell Teacher about them?" Ning Fengzhi became interested upon hearing this.

Li Xun's eyes lit up. This was exactly what he had been waiting for.

"Teacher, over the past year, while studying pharmacology, I discovered that there is a medicinal ingredient on the continent that has been severely underestimated. Other than certain groups of people, hardly anyone buys it."

"This medicinal ingredient can improve a Soul Master's physique and also help Soul Masters absorb Soul Rings of a higher age."

"You mean there is still quite a large supply of this medicinal ingredient, enough for the sect's disciples to use?" Ning Fengzhi's heart stirred.

"Yes, Teacher. And compared to its effects, the price is absurdly low."

"Xiao Xun, you seem hesitant. Does this medicinal ingredient have side effects?"

Ning Fengzhi understood at once, then smiled.

On the continent, how precious should a medicinal ingredient capable of increasing the age of Soul Rings one could absorb be? How could it possibly have remained so overlooked?

It must have some unsolvable side effect. Otherwise, there was no way he would not have known about it.

Still, regardless of whether it was useful or not, since his young disciple had brought it up, he could not undermine the boy's confidence.

"Teacher, this medicinal ingredient does indeed have side effects."

Li Xun let out a long sigh, looking as though it pained him greatly. "It may affect your reputation."

"Affection my reputation?" Ning Fengzhi frowned, unable to understand.

Seeing his Teacher frown, Li Xun hurriedly lowered his voice. "Yes, Teacher. This medicinal ingredient is called Whale Rubber."

"An aphrodisiac?"

Ning Fengzhi froze, his expression gradually turning serious.

"Teacher, you know about it?" Li Xun was surprised. Other than certain groups of people, no one usually paid attention to this stuff.

"Xiao Xun, you are still young. Read fewer miscellaneous books. They are not good for your growth." Ning Fengzhi looked at Li Xun sternly.

"Teacher, I only read the Pharmacological Travelogue. A healer's heart is benevolent!"

Li Xun immediately felt wronged.

"Teacher really has it rough!" Li Xun looked at the thousand-year Whale Rubber in his hand and sighed softly.

Since it concerned improving Soul Masters, Ning Fengzhi might have appeared resistant on the surface, but he actually cared deeply about it.

After Li Xun finished explaining, Ning Fengzhi began gathering Whale Rubber that very day, preparing to conduct experiments.

After several disciples absorbed it, its effectiveness was confirmed. Ning Fengzhi then began purchasing it in large quantities.

However, such matters often came with drawbacks.

No one knew when it had started, but word that Ning Fengzhi had a hidden ailment spread rapidly.

In just over ten days, the news reached Emperor Xue Ye's ears.

Emperor Xue Ye deeply sympathized with Ning Fengzhi's plight.

He had fathered five children in his life. Though two had died young in succession, he still had three left.

Ning Fengzhi was different. As the head of a sect, he currently had only one daughter, Ning Rongrong.

The difference in their physical constitutions was immediately apparent.

He promptly sent someone to the royal treasury to retrieve two treasured thousand-year Whale Rubbers and deliver them.

Li Xun had one in his hands, while Ning Rongrong had the other.

"My Second Spirit Ring Absorption Limit should be between eight hundred and nine hundred years. If I consume this piece of Whale Rubber, the absorption limit for my second spirit ring should reach around twelve hundred years."

Consuming thousand-year Whale Rubber could raise one's Spirit Ring Absorption Limit by four to five hundred years.

The earlier one consumed such a thing, the better.

If Tang San had taken it before reaching level twenty, his second spirit ring should have been able to reach a thousand years as well.

Li Xun placed the Whale Rubber into a specially made high-temperature furnace.

Once it softened, he quickly removed it with tongs.

He placed it in a small bowl prepared beforehand, then set it above the furnace to continue heating until it had completely melted.

"It looks rather like donkey-hide gelatin. I wonder how it tastes." Li Xun picked up the small bowl and swallowed it in one gulp. A wave of nausea immediately surged up.

Forcing himself to swallow the Whale Rubber despite the nausea, Li Xun sat cross-legged and prepared to enter meditation.

He had no idea what would happen next. In any case, meditating had to be the right move.

Before long, a strange fragrance rose from his mouth, followed by a stream of heat that spread from his stomach through his limbs and bones.

Then, the flow of heat gradually accelerated as it circulated through his body, until Li Xun felt as though his skin were being steamed by scorching heat.

"Hot."

That was Li Xun's only feeling at the moment. The heat was strange, a dry, burning heat that spread from within to without.

The blazing heat made Li Xun's heart pound.

Although he was only eight years old, still at an age where he had the desire but not the ability, his mind was that of an adult.

He did not know how long it took before the discomfort finally passed. By then, Li Xun looked as though he had just been pulled out of a bucket of water.

He entered the bathroom and washed the filth from his body.

"Whew! It's finally over." Li Xun let out a long breath.

"I wonder if I'll have to suffer like this again next time I take it."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would continue purchasing Whale Rubber. No one would ever complain about having too much of something that could make Soul Masters stronger.

Even if their own people could not consume it all, stockpiling it and selling it outside would still be good business.

Some disciples had already headed to coastal cities, hoping to purchase more before everyone else caught on.

"Teacher's great name will surely resound throughout the entire continent."

Just as Li Xun was teasing Ning Fengzhi, Aunt Xue's voice came from outside the door.

"Young Master, a child has come to sell books. Would you like to see them?"