A figure stood behind Demon Blade, watching Mu Rong with narrowed eyes. A trace of astonishment flashed across his face.
The young man had shown no fear at all. He had even been able to stay calm in front of a Soul Emperor, and had clearly guessed the young sect master's intentions. He was far cleverer than an ordinary child.
The smile on Demon Blade's face deepened. He clapped his hands.
"You're my kind of person—the only young friend I've met who possesses both courage and wisdom."
"And you've even managed to see through my intentions."
I like you. You're worthy of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's investment.
He rose to his feet, his expression solemn.
"In that case, I formally invite you to join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. What do you say?"
Mu Rong had arrived.
Demon Blade was an old fox. Though he wore a genial smile, he was never short of cunning schemes.
If Mu Rong refused, it would only be a matter of time before he met with an "accident" in the Imperial City.
"Thank you, Elder."
Mu Rong stood as well, wearing a sincere expression.
"I've long admired the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. It's the wealthiest sect under heaven. After joining, I'll certainly have no regrets."
"But I still want to rely on my own efforts and make a name for myself on the mainland, to achieve something of my own."
His voice was quiet, but it held the firm resolve of a young man who refused to yield.
"Though my martial soul is a beast, and my soul ring is that of a beast, even if my talent isn't exceptional, I'll still fight my way forward on the road of soul masters!"
"Elder, your kind intentions can't be repaid with an answer just yet."
"But as the young sect master of one of the three upper sects, you can still offer a place in the sect to someone like me. I'll remember this kindness forever."
"If one day I truly can't make it on my own, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will surely be the first place I think of!"
Demon Blade listened quietly. The seriousness on his face gradually faded, giving way to a genial smile.
He was young, ambitious, and had a promising future. This wasn't false modesty.
Mu Rong was an extraordinary young man: his temperament, intelligence, and talent all surpassed those of ordinary people. More than that, he had a heart that refused to settle for an ordinary life.
A jade worth polishing was worth waiting for.
Demon Blade sat back down, picked up his teacup, and blew on the steaming tea.
"Very well. Then I'll wish you success on the road to becoming a Soul Sage."
"If you grow tired one day, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's gates will always be open to you."
His words were sincere, with not a trace of deceit.
He had both the backing of a powerful sect and the means to live comfortably in the days ahead.
That was the confidence of being the young sect master of one of the three upper sects.
Mu Rong's resolve wavered ever so slightly.
This was certainly tempting.
Demon Blade was young, yet already shrewd and experienced. When dealing with people, he weighed every step as carefully as if he were walking on thin ice.
If Mu Rong really thought he was a gentle, harmless gentleman, he was dead wrong.
"Thank you for understanding, Elder."
Mu Rong rose to his feet and brushed off the nonexistent dust on his clothes, looking as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
He seemed to hesitate, as though making a decision that went against his better judgment.
Demon Blade set down his teacup, then looked calmly at the young man.
"Why hold back? Don't you trust me, Elder Brother?"
Mu Rong drew a deep breath, as if he had finally made up his mind.
"People are bound by kindness and obligation. I have to repay them."
"The soul coins I took from you were a loan. If I don't pay you back, I'll be carrying that burden with me—and I won't be able to keep it up for long."
"More importantly, I owe the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect a favor."
Only a bond of mutual benefit could be the strongest guarantee.
"Elder Brother, I have a secret. I don't know if I should tell you."
Mu Rong hesitated, then took half a step forward.
"When I was very young, I heard my parents mention a special herb. They said... it could make a martial soul evolve."
"Oh?"
Demon Blade had been wearing a gentle smile, but when he heard the words "martial soul evolve," he leaned forward slightly.
Those four words were a fatal temptation for any soul master.
"I don't know what kind of effect that herb has on martial souls. It can be used on people or objects alike, and has the miraculous power to break through the original limits of a martial soul."
Demon Blade gave him a look, studying his reaction.
Sure enough, Mu Rong's fingers tapped the tabletop. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Your martial soul is the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, isn't it? I was thinking that if you could find that herb, might your martial soul evolve into an Eight Treasures... or even a Nine Treasures Pagoda?"
"Clang!"
A crisp sound rang out.
The teacup in Demon Blade's hand slipped and fell.
It struck the floor and shattered into pieces.
Scalding tea soaked the bright carpet, but no one paid it any attention.
Everyone froze in place.
Nine Treasures?
Those two words represented the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's greatest pain in the past hundred years—and its greatest dream.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was named for its seven treasures. Its users could only possess seven soul rings.
It had never been able to break through to the Soul Douluo realm.
It was both a curse and fate.
A figure appeared behind Demon Blade. He stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. The terrifying pressure of a Titled Douluo erupted in an instant, fixing Mu Rong in place.
"You brat! Do you know what you're saying?"
"Do you think you can just say anything? Where on the mainland are you going to find such an herb? If you dare toy with the young sect master, I'll tear you apart!"
The air seemed to freeze, heavy as lead.
Mu Rong felt the pressure on him, but he still had no fear.
"If this senior wants to kill me, go ahead. I won't take back what I said."
Mu Rong stood firm, his gaze fixed on the old man's intimidating face.
"I became an orphan when I was three. Before that, my parents were both soul masters."
"My father's martial soul was a Healing Scepter. He loved studying ancient medical texts and the laws of fate."
Those words had been repeated countless times in his mind.
Even if he died, this was his best chance.
"When I was little, my father told me there was a kind of herb in this world that could absorb the essence of heaven and earth and gather the power of the sun and moon."
"It was called... what?"
Mu Rong deliberately paused, scratching his head as though he were struggling to remember.
The room was so quiet that even the sound of a hairpin falling to the floor could be heard.
Demon Blade wiped the tea from his clothes. His usual calm composure had long since vanished.
He stared hard at Mu Rong's lips, listening for every word.
"What was it called?"
"Wait, Elder Brother. It's been too long. I need to think for a moment."
Mu Rong furrowed his brow and paced around the room twice.
He had to leave them hanging.
Only then would they consider the secret precious—and believe he was telling the truth.
Besides, Tang San and Yue Guan were the only people in this era who knew what that herb was called.
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