Deal Reached

Heaven Dou City, Shrek Academy.

"Hahahaha! I've broken through to level thirty! I've broken through to level thirty!" Yu Xiaogang laughed wildly, as if possessed.

Having been stuck at level 29 for over twenty years, Yu Xiaogang had thought there was no hope of breaking through in this lifetime. Yet heaven never sealed off every path. A copy of the Sunflower Scripture had fallen from the sky and allowed Yu Xiaogang to successfully break through his bottleneck.

At this moment, because of cultivating the Sunflower Scripture, Yu Xiaogang's beard had fallen out entirely, and his voice had become incredibly shrill. At first listen, one might have mistaken it for a woman's voice. But to Yu Xiaogang, as long as he could break through the bottleneck that had troubled him for years, such a price was nothing.

Xue Ke's original intention in "giving" the Sunflower Scripture was to harm Tang San. She had never even spared a glance for trash like Yu Xiaogang, yet Tang San had escaped harm while someone next door suffered instead.

This altered Sunflower Scripture could indeed help Spirit Masters break through their bottlenecks and accelerate their cultivation, but it did so by overdrawing their cultivation talent, much like using drugs or secret arts to forcefully burn through one's potential. As for "castrating oneself with a blade," that was purely Xue Ke's twisted sense of humor.

By Xue Ke's estimation, regardless of whether Tang San castrated himself before cultivating, as long as he cultivated the Sunflower Scripture for half a year, his talent would be completely ruined and he would never be able to break through level 60 for the rest of his life.

Tang San had cultivated the Sunflower Scripture for barely over a month before giving up halfway through. Although its effects had not met Xue Ke's expectations, it had still overdrawn a small portion of Tang San's talent. Better than nothing.

But not everyone was Tang San. Tang San could cultivate by overdrawing his talent, but for useless trash like Yu Xiaogang, whose Innate Soul Power was only half a level, there was no talent left to overdraw. What the Sunflower Scripture would drain instead was Yu Xiaogang's life force.

Other than the physiological and psychological changes, Yu Xiaogang did not feel that there was anything wrong with his body. He only felt refreshed and invigorated after each session of cultivating the Sunflower Scripture.

"I need to hurry and tell Little San and the others this good news, then have Flender or Er Long take me to hunt my third spirit ring."

Yu Xiaogang stroked his nonexistent beard, changed into a gaudy robe, and smiled as brilliantly as a blooming chrysanthemum. After tidying himself up a little, he left the room.

Xue Ke contacted Ning Fengzhi through Xue Qinghe, and the two agreed to meet at a teahouse in Heaven Dou City.

"Have I kept Her Highness the Princess waiting long?"

Ning Fengzhi slowly climbed the stairs into the teahouse. An old man still followed behind him, but it was not Sword Douluo Chen Xin, whose aura was as sharp as a blade. Instead, it was a tall, ugly man whose entire body radiated an eerie presence—Bone Douluo Gu Rong.

Xue Ke rose to her feet, bowed slightly, and gave Ning Fengzhi a standard noble's salute. "Hello, Uncle Ning!"

Ning Fengzhi still wore his ever-present smile and nodded to Xue Ke. Beside him, Gu Rong's eyes lit up at the sight of Xue Ke. A glint of gold flashed through his eyes as he inwardly sighed:

That sword bastard said when he returned from the Auction House last time that this little girl Xue Ke had already reached Soul Power Level 38. Yet judging by her Soul Power fluctuations now, she has clearly reached level 39. She's progressing remarkably fast!

Ning Fengzhi and Xue Ke sat facing each other. A teahouse maid served them fragrant tea before quietly withdrawing.

After each took a sip of tea, Ning Fengzhi was the first to speak in his gentle voice. "May I ask what the treasure concerning my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is that Her Highness mentioned in her letter?"

Xue Ke took out the Aromatic Silk Beauty from her Storage Ring and said, "This is it. It is called the Aromatic Silk Beauty, an immortal herb."

Xue Ke handed the immortal herb to Ning Fengzhi. He carefully examined it for a while and faintly sensed his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul stir. He immediately realized that this item was extraordinary.

"Your Highness, may I ask what effect it has?"

Based on the records in the Sunflower Scripture, Xue Ke slowly explained:

"As Uncle Ning can see, it is elegant and luxurious, making it especially suitable for Spirit Masters with gemstone-type martial souls. If a Spirit Master consumes it, not only will their cultivation speed increase, but there is also a high chance that their martial soul will evolve. More importantly, consuming it has no side effects whatsoever."

Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi quickly grasped the crucial point. Coupled with the stirring of his own martial soul, he could be certain that everything Xue Ke had said was true.

Having been in business for many years, Ning Fengzhi was skilled in every social situation and even more composed than Xue Qinghe. Though inwardly ecstatic, he remained expressionless on the surface.

With immense reluctance, he returned the immortal herb to Xue Ke and said, "Would Her Highness be willing to sell this item to my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to pay any price!"

It was common knowledge that although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda bore the reputation of being the world's number one support-type martial soul, those who possessed it could never break through to the Soul Douluo realm in their lifetimes. This had plagued the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for generations.

After succeeding to the position of sect master, Ning Fengzhi had devoted himself to finding a solution to the martial soul's flaw. He had studied the precious ancient texts passed down through generations of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and his attainments in Soul Master Theory had surpassed the "theoretically invincible" Master by miles. Yet he had still found nothing. Ning Fengzhi had believed that, like his predecessors in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he would remain stuck at level 79 for life.

But the Aromatic Silk Beauty that Xue Ke had brought out today gave Ning Fengzhi a powerful feeling. As long as he consumed this immortal herb, he would certainly break through the limits of his martial soul and enter the Soul Douluo realm.

"Uncle Ning, this immortal herb is incomparably precious. I went through countless hardships to find it, and I believe you have also seen how important it is to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul. Since that is the case, I'll shamelessly name an exorbitant price."

At this point, Xue Ke picked up her teacup and took another sip, thoroughly whetting Ning Fengzhi's appetite.

"I require half of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's wealth in exchange for this immortal herb."

"What!"

Bone Douluo, who had stood silently to the side all this time, could no longer hold back. "Your Highness, that truly is an exorbitant demand. You aren't being polite at all!"

Ning Fengzhi waved a hand at Bone Douluo and lowered his head in thought for a while.

Money is merely a worldly possession, but there may be only one such immortal herb. For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, no matter the cost, I must obtain it.

Ning Fengzhi finally made up his mind and said, "All right, I agree to Her Highness's terms. Allow me a few days to prepare. Before long, I will send someone to deliver gold cards of the required value to Her Highness."

"I trust Uncle Ning's character."

Xue Ke handed the Aromatic Silk Beauty to Ning Fengzhi, then reminded him:

"Uncle Ning, I have only this one Aromatic Silk Beauty, and the earlier it is consumed, the better its effects will be. I advise you to carefully consider who should take it."

"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness."

Xue Ke and Ning Fengzhi exchanged a few more pleasantries before she left the teahouse.