Yu Fengzhi's Compromise

"How do you feel?" Qian Xunji asked.

"Very strong." Qian San closed his eyes to sense the changes.

"The first is Devour. Once the spider spear pierces the target's body, I can forcibly extract their soul power and life force to convert into my own replenishment."

"The second is Strengthen. The spider spear can increase all my attributes by 50% and my movement speed by 50%. It comes with a potent poison, and it can continue to evolve in the future."

"And your soul power?"

Qian San probed his internal state and shook his head: "No change. Still level forty-seven."

"As expected." Qian Xunji stood up and patted his son's shoulder.

"Alright, go back and consolidate your gains. I have other matters to attend to; if you need me, use the feather to contact me."

At night, Kelaishi Academy was very quiet.

Yu Fengzhi brought Gu Xin and quietly arrived at Qian Xunji's temporary residence. As soon as they met, Yu Fengzhi bowed deeply.

Gu Xin stepped forward, holding a storage ring, and handed it over. Yu Fengzhi kept his head lowered, speaking in a respectful tone:

"Your Excellency, inside are two million Gold Soul Coin and a thirty-thousand-year right leg bone. This is a token of apology Fengzhi prepared specifically for last night's offense. Please accept it, Your Excellency, and let go of your anger."

Qian Xunji took the ring and scanned it casually with his spiritual power. He nodded; Yu Fengzhi had truly paid a heavy price to save his life. Two million Gold Soul Coin was not a small sum even for a major sect.

"I accept these items." Qian Xunji pulled over a chair and sat down.

"Gu Xin, go outside and keep watch. Sect Master Yu, let us talk in private."

Gu Xin retreated obediently and closed the door behind him.

Only the two of them remained in the room. Qian Xunji looked at Yu Fengzhi and cut straight to the point:

"In a few days, I will take Qian San and the others away from the academy to undergo a special trial in the outside world. I intend to take Yu Rongrong with us as well."

Hearing this, Yu Fengzhi jerked his head up, his expression shifting.

His first instinct was to refuse. Yu Rongrong was his only daughter and the future hope of the sect. For Qian Xunji to take her away, even a fool could see he intended to use her as a hostage. Qian Xunji wanted to hold the lifeline of the Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect to prevent them from pulling any strings behind his back during this time.

Yu Fengzhi gave a dry laugh and said with some difficulty: "Your Excellency, Rongrong has been pampered since childhood and has a difficult temper. I fear she will cause you trouble if she follows you on this trial. Perhaps..."

"Sect Master Yu." Qian Xunji interrupted him, his tone becoming playful. "You are a smart man. You must have seen very clearly last night what happened to Old Poison's martial soul, right?"

Yu Fengzhi froze; of course, he had seen it clearly. Dugu Bo's original martial soul had turned into a Red Heaven Python Emperor—that was undoubtedly Martial Soul Evolution. During the day, he had been itching with curiosity, desperate to know what kind of divine opportunity Dugu Bo had encountered.

Most importantly, when Qian Xunji released his martial soul at that time, it was clearly an eight-winged Angel. Combined with Dugu Bo's transformation, he already had the answer in his heart.

Watching the longing in Yu Fengzhi's eyes, Qian Xunji continued: "You guessed correctly. That was Martial Soul Evolution. You are a smart man; do you think all of this is a coincidence?"

Yu Fengzhi's breathing began to quicken.

Qian Xunji stood up and began to paint a picture for him:

"Sect Master Yu, your Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect can only remain at seven levels for a lifetime due to the limitations of your martial soul, correct? The trial I am taking them on is not for sightseeing, but to obtain an opportunity that you might not encounter in hundreds or even thousands of years."

Qian Xunji walked up to Yu Fengzhi and stared into his eyes: "Let Yu Rongrong follow me. As long as she is obedient, I can give her a chance to break the martial soul limitation. If her martial soul can break through to the eighth or even ninth level, do you think this is a bad deal for you?"

Yu Fengzhi fell completely silent.

Qian Xunji's words struck his softest spot.

A martial soul breakthrough was something every past Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect had dreamed of achieving. He knew Qian Xunji was taking Yu Rongrong as a hostage, but if this hostage could trade for a breakthrough in the sect's martial soul, then this was a transaction that had to be made.

Moreover, the most critical point was that he was facing a Peerless Douluo; he had no qualification to say "no."

After a long while, Yu Fengzhi sighed deeply, nodded, and said: "Fengzhi understands. It is Rongrong's good fortune to be able to follow Your Excellency and see the world. I agree to let her go."

"That's more like it." Qian Xunji smiled with satisfaction.

However, a heavy stone still weighed on Yu Fengzhi's heart. He hesitated before asking: "Your Excellency, Rongrong's matter is settled, but as for the sect... yesterday, Gu Xin followed your orders and killed so many geniuses from Haotian Hall. Haotian Hall will never swallow this insult; they will surely investigate everywhere like madmen. If they press us for answers, what should we do?"

Qian Xunji retorted: "You are the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect; you are asking me what to do?"

Yu Fengzhi was choked into silence by this remark.

Qian Xunji continued: "I am taking people for a trial; I have no time to deal with the bickering between your sects. You did the deed; how to erase the traces and how to handle Haotian Hall's investigation is your business. If you cannot even handle this bit of cleanup, then the title of one of the Upper Three Sects is wasted on you."

Qian Xunji's words were clear: he intended to be a hands-off master. This was not only a test but also a way to completely cut off Yu Fengzhi's retreat.

Yu Fengzhi now had to keep this matter strictly hidden. If Haotian Hall found out, the Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect would be finished. If Yu Fengzhi dared to betray Qian Xunji, then once Qian Xunji returned, the Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect would be finished all the same.

Yu Fengzhi felt bitter, but he knew he had no way out. He had to stake all his chips on Qian Xunji.

"Fengzhi understands." Yu Fengzhi gritted his teeth and promised solemnly:

"Please rest assured, Your Excellency. During the time you are away, I will personally lead my men to guard the sect. No matter what happens, I will never cause trouble for you, and I will certainly not let Haotian Hall find a single trace."

"Very good. Remember what you said today." Qian Xunji patted Yu Fengzhi's shoulder. "Guard your sect with peace of mind. When we return, I guarantee I will return a brand-new daughter to you."

The conversation ended there. Yu Fengzhi and Qian Xunji reached a consensus.

Yu Rongrong would join Qian Xunji's team as a hostage and a subject for cultivation. Meanwhile, Yu Fengzhi, carrying a heart full of helplessness and a glimmer of hope for the future, returned to the Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect overnight with Gu Xin to face the coming storm.

Qian Xunji walked alone on the academy's path, calculating his next steps.

Once they reached the Surface World, these children would definitely need training; he and Huang Tian could not accompany them like nannies all day long. After thinking it over, he needed to find a reliable lead teacher.

Wasn't there a ready-made candidate right in front of him?