Let Everything You Have Become My Nourishment
Mentioning the name "Qian Daoliu," the three men's expressions grew even more solemn. He was a true figure standing at the pinnacle of the continent, the Sea God of the Spirit Hall. If he were to make a move, none of the three of them would have a chance of survival.
After hearing the two guardians' words, Ning Fengzhi's regret deepened, finally turning into a long, helpless sigh, "Yes... I was too arrogant, deceived by their hypocrisy over the past thousand years. I thought they would at least consider the situation and wouldn't act at this time and place... I never expected them to be so shameless..."
One wrong step leads to another. Now, not only is he himself imprisoned, but the Sky-Supporting Jade Pillar and the Sea-Supporting Purple Gold Beam of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are also trapped.
With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect having lost its sect leader and two top combatants, it is leaderless externally and likely in turmoil internally as well. The thought that the sect's thousand-year foundation might be destroyed as a result made Ning Fengzhi's heart feel as if it were being torn apart by a knife.
Silence fell over the cell, broken only by faint groans and curses drifting from the other cells. The atmosphere of despair, like the chill of the dungeon, seeped in and eroded the will of everyone.
The Spirit Hall used the most direct and barbaric method to declare to them, and to the entire continent, that the old era had ended.
·········································
The atmosphere in the cell next to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect School members was as oppressive as the deep sea before a storm.
The royal delegation of the Star Luo Empire is imprisoned here, their former arrogance and majesty largely worn away by the cold shackles and the dark environment.
Whether it was intentional or negligent on the Spirit Hall, the members of the other teams were imprisoned separately, but the brothers Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai were locked up in the same cell.
These two brothers, who used to fight to the death for the throne, were now unusually "calm" at this moment, even though beneath this calm lay turbulent undercurrents and a shared despair. They sat facing each other against the cold corner of the wall, but avoided looking directly into each other's eyes.
Their long, golden hair, once a symbol of the Star Luo Royal Family's nobility, was now dry, disheveled, and covered in dust. Their magnificent clothes had also become tattered and dirty from the previous conflicts and imprisonment, making them look utterly wretched.
Silence weighed heavily on my heart like a boulder.
Finally, unable to contain his anxiety and fear of the unknown, Dai Mubai licked his chapped lips and spoke in a hoarse voice, even subconsciously using a long-forgotten form of address:
"Brother... tell me, what exactly is the Spirit Hall trying to do with all this fuss? Could it be... that they want to establish a nation?"
He turned his gaze to Dai Weisi, his older brother whom he had always considered his greatest rival, who was now the only person he could communicate with in this desperate situation and who might have some understanding of the overall situation. Dai Mubai had been away from the center of power for a long time, and his understanding of the top forces on the continent was far less clear than Dai Weisi's.
Upon hearing this, Dai Weisi raised his eyelids. Though his once-wicked eyes were now filled with weariness, the sharpness and depth characteristic of a prince still lingered. He was about to speak...
"Laugh..."
A clear, undisguised chuckle, tinged with mockery and amusement, suddenly came from the shadows.
Everyone was startled and turned sharply to look at the source of the voice. They hadn't even noticed this person's presence before.
The shadow shifted slightly, and a figure slowly emerged from the darkness. He seemed to have been there all along, blending into the darkness, only speaking now.
Chapter 242 Let everything you have become my nourishment.
The sound came from the deepest, darkest cell in the dungeon. Almost no light penetrated there; it was as black as an abyss that swallowed everything. Combined with its filthy, dark exterior, a motionless figure curled up inside was indeed extremely difficult to notice.
Dai Mubai and the Dai Weisi brothers both turned their gazes to the darkness. Dai Mubai was puzzled. Judging from the man's condition, he had clearly been imprisoned by the Spirit Hall for a very long time and must be of extraordinary status. However, he racked his brains but could not match this disheveled figure with any important figure in his memory.
The figure in the corner seemed to move subtly in response to their gaze. He shifted his body extremely slowly, and a faint ray of light filtering in from the corridor brushed against his cheek. He squinted instinctively, his eyelids trembling violently, as if the insignificant light was too dazzling for him and he needed time to adjust—a reaction only someone who had been in absolute darkness for a long time would have.
"May I ask who you are, senior?" Dai Mubai suppressed his eagerness and spoke respectfully. He knew that he needed someone's help and wanted to obtain information, so he had to be polite.
But the man remained oblivious to the light and ignored Dai Mubai's question.
Unlike Dai Mubai's direct approach, Dai Weisi, though equally eager for information, did not immediately step forward. His sharp eyes, with the caution and suspicion characteristic of a prince, carefully examined the blurry figure, trying to discern its identity from certain features. Unfortunately, having spent many years in the Star Luo Empire, his memory of the faces of prominent figures from the continent years ago had become hazy.
Just then, the older, more experienced and knowledgeable captain of the guard beside him, after careful examination, suddenly changed his expression. He suppressed his pain, leaned close to Dai Weisi's ear, and whispered a few words urgently.
Dai Weisi's pupils contracted sharply, and his expression instantly became extremely strange, a mixture of shock, disbelief, and even a hint of... absurdity. He looked at the figure in the darkness again, his gaze now different.
In the next cell, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect members had also been drawn by the commotion. Although Ning Fengzhi was poisoned and his Soul Power was sealed, his eyesight remained sharp. In the dim light, he recognized the person almost instantly upon seeing the outline of their profile.
Tang Xiao!?
One of the once-renowned twin stars of the Clear Sky Sect, now the Clear Sky Sect leader! (Because the sect is closed off, people outside don't know about Tang Xiao's accident, and the Clear Sky Sect has a new sect leader.)
Ning Fengzhi's heart was filled with shock. He never expected to see this top expert of the world, who should theoretically be in seclusion in the Clear Sky Sect and oblivious to the outside world, in the dark dungeon of the Spirit Hall.
Since the Tang Hao incident, the Clear Sky Sect has been disgraced and has chosen to close its gates. Tang Xiao, who is Tang Hao's half-brother and closest relative, has naturally also suffered greatly in terms of reputation and been questioned.
Ning Fengzhi had privately tried to contact the reclusive Clear Sky Sect in an attempt to form an alliance to fight against the Spirit Hall. However, the proud and precarious Clear Sky Sect looked down on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's approach and ignored Ning Fengzhi's olive branch.
··································
Ning Fengzhi's mind raced. The moment he saw Tang Xiao, his first thought was— the Clear Sky Sect had also fallen victim to the Spirit Hall's treachery!
But he soon realized something was wrong.
Judging from Tang Xiao's appearance, he must have been imprisoned for a very long time.
Given the strength and foundation of the Clear Sky Sect, if the Spirit Hall army had truly breached its gates, it would have been impossible for only Sect Master Tang Xiao to be captured. At least several elders would have been captured as well, or there would have been earth-shattering news spreading across the continent long ago.
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, dragged his still somewhat weak body, and slowly moved to the edge of his cell. Through the thick iron bars, he carefully examined the man huddled in the darkness.
Despite the other person's filthy appearance, emaciated and pale from long-term imprisonment and torture, Ning Fengzhi, relying on his past memories and his sharp eyes, still confirmed from the faintly discernible bone structure that this person was none other than Tang Xiao, the Clear Sky Sect!
"Sect Leader Tang, you... how did you get here?" Ning Fengzhi's voice was slightly hoarse. "Could it be that the Clear Sky Sect was also attacked?"
He paused, then dismissed his own guess, his brow furrowing. "No... judging from your appearance, you've been imprisoned here for quite some time. The Clear Sky Sect is so far from Spirit City; if something had happened to the sect, it wouldn't have gone unnoticed. Could it be... could it be that something happened to the Clear Sky Sect a long time ago, but because you've remained secluded, it hasn't been noticed by the outside world?"
Faced with Ning Fengzhi's relentless questioning, Tang Xiao's cracked lips moved, his eyes filled with a complex and unreadable expression, but in the end, he was too embarrassed to reveal the whole truth. Was he supposed to tell him that he had tried to rob the Spirit Hall, but was outmatched and personally captured by Qian Xunji, and had been secretly imprisoned ever since?
This was hardly a glorious experience, and it further damaged the reputation of the Clear Sky Sect.
He did not directly answer Ning Fengzhi's question about the current state of the Clear Sky Sect, but only sighed deeply, a sigh filled with helplessness and regret.
Tang Xiao steered the conversation to something everyone was concerned about. "Sect Master Ning, there's no need to speculate. The Spirit Hall... its wolfish ambitions far exceed our imagination." Tang Xiao's voice was hoarse and weak, yet carried a chilling heaviness. "After I was captured, they not only imprisoned me, but also... they've been researching my Martial Soul, studying the mysteries of the Clear Sky Hammer..."
He paused, glanced around at the familiar and unfamiliar faces in the surrounding cells, all equally desperate, and said, word by word, "Their goal has probably never been as simple as establishing a nation and becoming emperor. What they want... is to unify the continent, to make all forces and all Martial Soul submit to their feet, and to silence all other voices!"
These words were like a boulder thrown into a still lake!
All the surrounding cells fell silent instantly; even breathing could be heard clearly.
Dai Weisi, Dai Mubai, the Star Luo Empire Guards, the two Douluo from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect... everyone's faces turned extremely ugly in an instant, all the color drained away, leaving only deathly pale and ashen.
If they had previously harbored a sliver of hope regarding the Spirit Hall's objectives—perhaps coercion, negotiation, or simply a means to seize greater profits— Tang Xiao's words shattered all such illusions.
Researching top-tier Martial Soul... to unify the continent...
This means that the Spirit Hall not only wants their lives and their power, but also wants to fundamentally control and even assimilate all power systems!
A bone-chilling cold instantly swept through every corner of the dungeon, seeping into the very marrow of everyone present.
They were not only prisoners, but also... lambs to the slaughter, research samples and stepping stones for the Spirit Hall on its path to hegemony.
··········································
Tang Xiao's words were like a poisoned dagger, piercing the deepest fears in the hearts of everyone present.
The idea of studying Martial Soul is far more chilling than the phrase "the establishment of a nation by the Spirit Hall" or even "the unification of the continent"!
To be honest, even if the Spirit Hall were to successfully establish a nation and even unify the entire continent through ruthless means, as long as the bloodlines of these ancient families and sects remain unbroken, it is not impossible for them to rise again and revive their family glory after lying low for several generations, thanks to the advantages of their inherited top-tier Martial Soul.
This is the underlying logic and basic principle of power shifts in the Douluo Continent over thousands of years: the unchanging martial Martial Soul, the ever-changing empires. Empires rise and fall, imperial power changes hands, but the top-tier Martial Soul bloodlines, as long as they are passed down continuously, are like weeds, impossible to burn out, they grow back with a gust of wind. Power is always rooted in the bloodline.
But what the Spirit Hall is doing now is shaking that very foundation!
"Has the Spirit Hall gone mad?!" In a nearby cell, a prisoner from another faction screamed in a hoarse, trembling voice, his tone filled with incomprehension and unacceptable madness.
The concept of studying Martial Soul is not unfamiliar. All major sects and families are conducting such research. However, that kind of research is inward-looking, based on the exploration of one's own bloodline.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan researches "Dragon Transformation" in order to further unleash the potential of their martial Martial Soul.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect created the "Heart Separation Control Technique" in order to better control their own support-type Martial Soul.
The fixed Soul Ring combination that the Star Luo Dai Family has explored over generations is most suitable for the White Tiger Martial Soul, and it is also a kind of optimization for their own Martial Soul.
All of this research is aimed at making one's own Martial Soul stronger and ensuring its longevity.
However, studying the Martial Soul of other forces, especially by capturing and imprisoning top Soul Master from other forces, completely crosses a taboo and unspoken bottom line!
This is no longer internal optimization, but external plunder and deconstruction!
What is the Spirit Hall planning?
Are they trying to uncover the secrets of all top-tier Martial Soul?
Is the goal to find the weaknesses of these Martial Soul so that they can be better controlled and destroyed?
Or perhaps... they have a far more insane, more sinister purpose, such as... artificially interfering with or even creating Martial Soul?
The thought that their very foundation and the source of their family's honor were being dissected and studied at will by the enemy on an experimental table instilled a fear colder than death in everyone's heart.
This is no longer a simple power struggle, but a racial-level threat concerning the survival and inheritance of bloodlines!
Ning Fengzhi pale. He finally understood why the Spirit Hall dared to defy the world and offend all forces at once. Their schemes were far grander and more... God of Evil than anyone could imagine. They not only wanted the current empire, but also to eliminate future troubles and nip any potential challengers in the bud.
The dungeon was deathly silent. The previous resentment and anger had transformed into a bone-chilling cold and a profound sense of powerlessness in the face of an unknown abyss.
·········································
The contents of the conversation in the dungeon were presented to Pope Qian Xunji almost immediately.
As he listened to his subordinates recount Ning Fengzhi, Tang Xiao, and the others' fears and speculations, his bright golden eyes showed no fluctuation whatsoever; instead, a barely perceptible glint flashed across them...
Speechless and contemptuous.
In his view, these people who were once considered "big shots" by ordinary people were still too limited in their thinking and too "civilized".
They fear being studied, unaware that truly efficient and thorough methods are far more direct and brutal than they imagine.
"Research? Plundering bloodlines?" Qian Xunji tapped the armrest of the Pope throne lightly with his fingertips, as if listening to a not-so-funny joke.
"If that's really the case, why go through all this trouble?"
What came to mind was a vision far darker and more "efficient" than imprisonment and research.
That's a replica of the original story where certain forces dealt with the Six-Winged Angel of the Qian Clan, except now the roles are reversed.
This is what truly brutal and thorough plunder should look like.
First, physical elimination was carried out, cleaning up or crippling all adult Soul Master who posed a threat or harbored loyalty to their former masters, especially the core direct descendants.
Then, from among these survivors, individuals with excellent Martial Soul quality and relatively pure bloodlines are selected.
They were allowed to interbreed with their own family's offspring to optimize and stabilize the Martial Soul of future generations.
After the birth of high-quality offspring, the father or mother is "aborted," completely severing all ties between them and their original family. These children are then placed in a completely controlled environment and subjected to the most thorough brainwashing and training from a young age.
After one or two generations, these children, from bloodline to soul, will be completely separated from their original bloodline family.
They would take pride in the family they have been brainwashed into pledging allegiance to, while perhaps only feeling contempt or even hatred towards the family from which their blood originated.
This is what you call plunder. It's not just about plundering Martial Soul, but about plundering its inheritance, rewriting its history, and distorting its will.