Balancing the Waters

"So you had Bibi Dong purge the Martial Soul Hall's internal affairs to draw attention, preventing her from interfering with your next move?"

"It's more than that. The first three benefits I mentioned are indeed things the Martial Soul Hall desperately needs to reform. Instead of us running around, it's better to let Bibi Dong take the blame. While she's engrossed in political games and plotting within the Martial Soul Hall, we'll have already extended our reach across the entire Douluo Continent. Besides, what if we give her the Martial Soul Hall? As long as the Worship Hall remains, and Master is still here, the Martial Soul Hall will forever belong to the Qian family!"

"Mmm..."

Qian Daoliu strongly agreed with this statement. The Qian family had established the Martial Soul Hall and protected the Douluo Continent for ten thousand years. With his own presence, Bibi Dong truly couldn't stir up any significant trouble.

"Establish the Martial Soul Chamber of Commerce to raise funds, recruit victims to cultivate an intelligence organization, use Bibi Dong to improve the Martial Soul Hall's reputation, clear out spies planted by other forces, and control public opinion by compiling intelligence into newspapers. You only went out for a short trip, yet you've set the Martial Soul Hall's development direction for at least the next five years."

Qian Daoliu looked at Feng Xinglie with a strange expression. These arrangements were all interconnected, and the overall direction was almost flawless. At this moment, his talent of Innate Soul Power level 20 didn't seem so dazzling anymore.

"It's just a pity for those who will be purged by Bibi Dong; in your plan, they are destined to be sacrificed."

"Please rest assured, Master. I will minimize the losses as much as possible. When victims appear, I will screen them and secretly recruit personnel from the Martial Soul Hall who are about to be purged. If they cannot be saved, besides a subsidy from the Martial Soul Chamber of Commerce, they will also be recruited into the intelligence organization 'Heavenly Secret Pavilion' depending on the situation."

"Heavenly Secret Pavilion? I thought your first step in establishing an intelligence organization would involve my help. I didn't expect you to have everything arranged already, and my approval is just the final step... Never mind, if you want to do it, go ahead. If you encounter any trouble, remember to come back to Master."

"Yes! Thank you for your support, Master! However... there is one thing I would like to ask for your help with. Bibi Dong has assigned Elder Ghost to monitor me. Could you perhaps...?"

"There's no need to worry about that."

After listening, Qian Daoliu waved towards the shadows. Soon, a beautiful woman in a black tight-fitting outfit appeared before them.

"Ling Yuan, from today onwards, you will stay by Lie'er's side to protect him."

"Yes, Great Enshrined."

Looking at the graceful figure of Titled Douluo Ling Yuan, Feng Xinglie felt a surge of joy:

"Excellent, a second Titled Douluo bodyguard acquired. Having her and Elder Ghost counterbalance each other will greatly expand my room for maneuverability."

After expressing his profuse gratitude to Qian Daoliu, Feng Xinglie left the Worship Hall under Ling Yuan's protection. As the warm sunlight fell upon him, a lazy feeling made Feng Xinglie squint his eyes and look at the azure sky:

"Sigh... this is truly difficult to navigate..."

To emerge victorious in the battle against Tang San, the divided Worship Hall and Pope's Palace were indispensable. To give both sides a chance to reach a consensus, the distribution of benefits when seeking opportunities for the Martial Soul Hall must be balanced. Although this approach was like being a fence-sitter, leaning to both sides, Feng Xinglie truly had no other choice. After all, it's not poverty but inequality that is the concern, and the main conflicts between the two factions were too subjective, not something that could be unified simply by relying on interests.

"To make Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu reconcile, the only point of entry is Qian Renxue. Qian Daoliu goes without saying; he dotes on his granddaughter so much that he's willing to sacrifice himself. Although Bibi Dong has always shown extreme dislike towards Qian Renxue on the surface, she still expressed her love for her daughter before her death. Therefore, how to make Bibi Dong open up, and how to make Qian Renxue accept Bibi Dong after learning the truth of her father's death, are the core issues to be resolved."

Thinking of this, Feng Xinglie couldn't help but cover his eyes. Was this something a human could do?

There was no other way. Since he had chosen this path, he could only grit his teeth and press on.

"Is Holy Son feeling unwell?"

Facing Ling Yuan's concerned inquiry, Feng Xinglie immediately composed himself and put on a smile:

"It's nothing, Sister Ling Yuan. I might be a bit tired from the long trip. I'll rest when we get back."

A thousand people, a thousand faces. To win people over and achieve his goals, Feng Xinglie was a passionate youth who upheld justice when facing ordinary people, a steady and loyal subordinate when facing Bibi Dong, an obedient and lively disciple when facing Qian Daoliu, a mysterious Holy Son who hid his strength when facing Elder Ghost, and now, a considerate and sensible younger brother when facing Ling Yuan. If asked which was his true face, one could only say it was all of them, yet also only a part. Perhaps only in the carefree Fengmen Village, or after his position was completely stabilized, could he return to his true, complete self.

For a period afterward, things unfolded almost exactly as Feng Xinglie had planned. Bibi Dong established a secret guard organization codenamed "Shadow Spider" and began purging all dissenting voices within the Martial Soul Hall. Feng Xinglie, seizing this opportunity, cultivated the first batch of members for the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, preparing to expand his influence by leveraging the Martial Soul Branch Halls scattered across the continent. Everything was developing in an orderly fashion, until...

"Holy Son, you are still young. You mustn't touch such things!"

Ever since Bibi Dong fulfilled her promise and handed over financial control, Feng Xinglie had his own office. At this moment, Elder Ghost stood before the desk, his tone full of worry as he advised:

"This whale rubber is used by those dissolute young masters... for indulgence. Holy Son's future is bright; you mustn't let pleasure distract you from your ambitions."

Ever since obtaining a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, Elder Ghost's attitude towards Feng Xinglie had improved dramatically. Recently, upon hearing that the Holy Son had actually embezzled public funds to privately purchase whale rubber, he rushed over to dissuade him immediately.

"Elder Ghost, don't worry. I've prepared a portion for you as well."

"Holy Son! I'm not joking with you!"

Seeing that Feng Xinglie was impervious to his advice and was even handing him this item, Elder Ghost's expression immediately turned cold. However, Feng Xinglie also dropped his smile and replied seriously:

"I'm not joking with you either, Elder Ghost."

"...Holy Son, have you perhaps discovered something?"

Seeing Feng Xinglie's expression, Elder Ghost felt a sense of relief.

"I've perused countless texts in the Scripture Repository and accidentally discovered that the efficacy of whale rubber is not merely for nourishing and strengthening yang. When melted and consumed, it has the benefit of enhancing physical strength and allowing one to absorb soul rings beyond their level."

"What!?"

Elder Ghost was greatly alarmed. He immediately looked around to ensure no one was eavesdropping before leaning closer and lowering his voice to ask:

"Is this true!?"

On the Douluo Continent, the higher the year limit of the absorbed soul rings, the greater the benefits. However, limited by physical constitution, forcibly absorbing beyond one's level would only cause the body to explode. Elder Ghost was well aware of the value of this intelligence; it held extremely significant strategic importance for the entire Martial Soul Hall.

"Of course. I've personally conducted experiments. Please take this information to Your Excellency the Pope, Elder Ghost. It details the specific usage method and side effects of whale rubber."

Saying this, he handed a box on the table to Elder Ghost. Inside was a piece of whale rubber of Ten Thousand Year quality.