Ning Fengzhi's Attention

Ghostfire flickered in Bone Douluo's eyes as he nodded.

"Don't worry, Fengzhi."

"With an old man like me personally making a move, how could a six-year-old child possibly escape?"

"If he doesn't know what's good for him..."

Bone Douluo did not continue, but the faintly distorted ripples in the air had already explained everything.

[White World]

Nuoding City, Tang Sect Merchant Association.

Top-floor reception room.

Bai Tang San was reviewing this month's account books.

"Profits have increased by three hundred percent."

"The Whale Rubber stock can last another two months."

"It's about time to release version 2.0 of the 'Pure Body Strengthening Liquid.'"

Just as he was planning out his commercial empire.

Bzz—!

The air in the room suddenly froze.

The previously bright sunlight seemed to have been swallowed by something, and the room instantly darkened.

A terrifying pressure, enough to make one suffocate, descended without warning.

There were no footsteps.

A black hole-like vortex appeared out of thin air in the center of the room.

Immediately after.

A tall, gaunt old man radiating a cold, sinister aura stepped out of the vortex.

Bone Douluo, Gu Rong.

Even the slightest leakage of a Titled Douluo's pressure was enough to make ordinary Soul Masters kneel and beg for mercy.

The merchant association's president rolled his eyes and fainted on the spot.

But Bai Tang San did not.

He remained seated in that Grand Tutor's Chair.

Even the account book in his hand did not gain a single crease.

"Hmm?"

A trace of surprise flashed through Bone Douluo's eyes.

"Kid, you've got some nerve."

Bai Tang San closed the account book and slowly raised his head.

There was no fear in those dark golden pupils, only a calmness that seemed to have anticipated this long ago.

"I've heard much about you."

"Your Excellency Bone Douluo, the greatest defense in the world."

"May I ask whether your visit to my humble abode is to buy medicine or kill someone?"

Bone Douluo grinned, revealing a mouthful of gleaming white teeth.

"Interesting."

"No wonder Fengzhi thinks so highly of you."

"I'm neither here to buy medicine nor kill anyone."

With a casual wave of his hand, Bone Douluo sent a gilded letter and a Purple Gold Card steadily onto the table before Bai Tang San.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect invites you to join us."

"This is the Sect Master Token."

"As long as you nod, you will become the youngest Guest Elder in the history of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Resources, wealth, and status will all be within your grasp."

These were terms enough to drive every Soul Master in the world mad.

With the wealthiest sect among the Upper Three Sects at his back.

It meant he would never need to worry about cultivation resources for the rest of his life.

It meant he could walk sideways across Douluo Continent.

Yet Bai Tang San did not even glance at the Purple Gold Card.

He picked up his teacup and took a light sip.

"Thank you for Sect Master Ning's favor."

"But Tang has grown used to freedom."

"I cannot bear restraints."

He had refused!

Cleanly and decisively, without a trace of hesitation!

Bone Douluo's expression instantly darkened.

The surrounding temperature plummeted by ten degrees.

"Kid."

"Do you know what you're refusing?"

"Or do you think that having an External Soul Bone and a little money gives you the right to challenge the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

The killing intent of a Titled Douluo locked onto Bai Tang San as if it were tangible.

If Bone Douluo wished it.

The next second, this genius would become a corpse.

Bai Tang San set down his teacup.

He neither became enraged nor begged for mercy.

He merely extended one finger and lightly tapped the tabletop.

"Even if a deal falls through, friendship remains."

"Why should Your Excellency be angered?"

"My not joining the sect does not mean we cannot cooperate."

"I know what Sect Master Ning wants."

Bai Tang San pulled out a blueprint he had prepared long ago.

"I can give your sect the formula for the Body Strengthening Liquid for free."

"Furthermore, I can offer a great gift."

Bone Douluo snorted coldly. "A great gift? Do you think the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacks whatever little thing you have?"

"What if..."

Bai Tang San lowered his voice slightly, carrying a strangely enticing force.

"It concerns an improved approach to the 'Divided Mind Control Method'?"

Boom!

Bone Douluo's gaunt body suddenly shook.

In that instant, the killing intent around him vanished, replaced by utter disbelief and shock.

"What did you say?!"

"Divided Mind Control?!"

"How do you know that name?!"

This was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's closely guarded secret!

It was the core technique that allowed Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Masters to support multiple people at once!

Other than direct disciples, outsiders could not possibly know of it, much less improve it!

"Is it that hard to guess?"

Bai Tang San pointed to his head, wisdom gleaming in his eyes.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is known as the world's greatest support martial soul."

"But every person has only one heart and one share of Mental Power."

"To precisely support three people, five people, or even a hundred people on a battlefield at the same time."

"The only method is to divide one's Mental Power and perform multiple streams of thought at once."

"That is the so-called—Divided Mind Control."

Bai Tang San paused, a confident curve lifting the corner of his mouth.

"I've studied the battle records of your sect's disciples. (Actually, it was a combination of memories from his previous life and deductions from this one.)"

"The Three Orifice Heart of Control, the Four Orifice Heart of Constancy..."

"Far too crude."

"It relies entirely on rote memorization and muscle memory."

"While researching Blue Silver Grass Idle Cultivation, I happened to derive a new algorithm."

"By using Mental Power Anchor technology."

"It can increase the efficiency of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Masters by forty percent on the foundation of the Seven Orifice Exquisite Heart."

Bone Douluo was completely dumbfounded.

He stared blankly at the six-year-old boy before him.

Happened to?

Derived?

Forty percent?

Was that even human language?

The secret technique the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had researched for centuries was being called "far too crude" by this kid?

The crucial part was... judging by his theory, it actually seemed feasible!

"You..."

Bone Douluo swallowed, his voice somewhat dry.

"What do you want?"

He knew this bargaining chip was far too weighty.

Weighty enough that Ning Fengzhi would absolutely be unable to refuse it.

Bai Tang San smiled.

He smiled like a little fox.

"Very simple."

"I want access to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's rare metal channels."

"Cold Heart Iron Essence, Deep Sea Sinking Silver, Plate Crystal Gold..."

"I want as much as you have."

"Of course, I will pay market price."

"I only want... priority purchasing rights."

Bone Douluo gave Bai Tang San a deep look.

After a long while.

He put away the Purple Gold Card, along with his contempt.

In its place was the solemnity he would show an equal.

"Fine."

"This old man will make the decision. Agreed."

"Kid, you're even more terrifying than I imagined."

"The wisest thing Ning Fengzhi has ever done in his life was probably not becoming your enemy."

Bone Douluo took a deep breath.

He turned and stepped into the void.

He had arrived like a god or demon descending upon the world.

But when he left... there was a hint of haste and shock in his departure.

[Black World]

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi sat in the main hall, watching the images Bone Douluo had sent back through the Sky Curtain.

Watching Bai Tang San speak with such confidence that even a Titled Douluo was left utterly bewildered.

He remained silent for a long time.

At last, he let out a long sigh.

"Alas..."

"If this child had been born in my sect, why would we need to worry about not prospering?"

"Why would we need to worry about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda being unable to evolve into the Nine Treasure?"

He turned to look at another image.

Hei Tang San was following behind Yu Xiaogang, haggling with a vendor over a few Copper Soul Coins.

He was even defending Yu Xiaogang's clumsy theories.

"What a pity..."

"Tang San of the Black World clearly has the same foundation."

"Yet that useless Yu Xiaogang has taught him into a fool."

"A piece of uncut jade has been carved into a roof tile."

"How tragic. How lamentable."

Ning Fengzhi shook his head, his eyes filled with regret.