While the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which Ning Rongrong had dismissed as contemptuous of Five Hearts Toward Heaven, was now witnessing an entirely different scene.
Inside the sect master's main hall.
"This is wonderful, truly wonderful!"
Ning Fengzhi stared at the Sky Screen with feverish eyes, not missing a single subtle movement from the short-haired youth, muttering under his breath.
"I had originally planned to wait until that Wang Er survived the full year, then join forces with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Sect to compete with Spirit Hall for this cultivation method. I never expected to obtain it so easily!"
"Moreover, the Sky Screen broadcast is letting the entire continent cultivate this technique. Spirit Hall cannot do anything about it!"
"Heaven is helping me! Heaven truly is helping me!"
Ning Fengzhi burst into somewhat crazed laughter.
Originally, his greatest concern had been that Spirit Hall would seize this technique. He had planned to use threats, temptations, and every possible means to acquire it. He had even considered joining forces with other sects to share it and resist Spirit Hall together.
But he had never expected events to develop so abruptly.
The next moment, without the slightest hesitation, this sect master of the greatest sect beneath heaven—usually lofty and exceptionally concerned with his bearing—actually lifted the hem of his robe and impatiently lay flat on the floor of the main hall.
There was none of his usual majesty left.
He directly assumed the Five Hearts Toward Heaven posture, closed his eyes, and forced himself to calm down.
Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo, standing nearby, exchanged a glance. Both saw a trace of silence in the other's eyes.
Neither of them began cultivating as impatiently as Ning Fengzhi had.
Both were old monsters who had lived for most of their lives, and naturally had their own considerations.
They had already become Title Douluo. They had gone far, far too deeply down the path of martial soul cultivation. The Soul Power within them had long since taken deep root, and their meridians had already adapted to a Soul Master's circulation routes.
Having them change paths now and attempt a completely unfamiliar system from another world was not a wise choice.
Besides, the short-haired youth had just clearly mentioned that the people of that higher-dimensional world could cultivate only because, after the Great Nirvana era, something called Cosmic Energy had appeared, giving rise to Genetic Origin Energy.
So the question was, did Douluo Continent truly possess this so-called Genetic Origin Energy?
If there was only Soul Power and not that special energy, then whether this Five-Heart-to-Sky Cultivation Method could produce any effect on Douluo Continent remained unknown.
Even if it did have an effect, would there be any side effects?
As Title Douluo, they already possessed martial soul cultivation. Whether it was compatible with the so-called Five-Heart-to-Sky Cultivation Method was also unknown.
All of these were unknowns.
In any case, they were already among the continent's strongest. There was no need to rush at a time like this.
It would be better to wait until there was a successful example before cultivating. Falling half a step behind was still better than falling into danger.
Out of a Title Douluo's caution, the two did not begin cultivating immediately. Instead, they tacitly took up positions on either side and silently stood guard over Ning Fengzhi, who lay on the ground.
At the same time.
Spirit City, Pope Palace.
Within the vast, empty hall, the atmosphere was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
Bibi Dong stood at the top of the steps, her gaze passing through the open dome of the hall as she watched the short-haired youth patiently explain the cultivation posture on the Sky Screen.
She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, even feeling somewhat powerless.
According to the original plan, once someone brought back this technique, Spirit Hall would immediately reclaim it and forbid its spread—or at the very least, prevent it from spreading on a large scale for a period of time.
After Spirit Hall's people cultivated it and established an early advantage, it would not matter if the technique was then allowed to spread.
But her entire plan had been undone by the slightest change.
The Sky Screen's broadcast was directed at the entire continent.
Every commoner, every beggar, every farmer could now clearly hear the technique the youth was teaching.
Once this Five-Heart-to-Sky Cultivation Method truly became widespread and could function on Douluo Continent, the class known as ordinary people would completely disappear.
Everyone could cultivate. Everyone could wield power.
The foundation upon which Spirit Hall depended for survival would vanish completely. This colossal entity that had stood for a thousand years would crumble in an instant.
"Your Holiness, we absolutely cannot allow this technique to spread. At the very least... it must not be allowed to spread without restraint!"
Below the steps, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan dropped to one knee with a thud, his voice filled with terror.
He too had realized the severity of the situation.
"This subordinate begs you to immediately issue a papal decree and suppress this technique across the entire continent! Any commoner who dares imitate it and cultivate in secret shall be executed as a heretic!"
Bibi Dong glanced down at him, her voice cold and devoid of emotion.
"Suppress it across the entire continent? How?"
"The Sky Screen's light illuminates every corner. This technique has already spread throughout the world. Can you kill all the hundreds of millions of commoners on Douluo Continent?"
"If you kill the commoners, must you also kill the Soul Masters who have cultivated this technique?"
Yue Guan trembled all over. He opened his mouth, yet could not say a single word.
Bibi Dong's expression remained calm as she said coldly, "Better to guide than block."
"Before the temptation of absolute power, any prohibition is nothing but waste paper. Since this change cannot be stopped, we might as well seize the initiative within it."
Bibi Dong suddenly planted her scepter against the floor, producing a dull impact.
"Yue Guan, Gui Mei."
"The idea of forbidding its circulation will no longer work. Since the entire continent is following the Sky Screen and attempting this cultivation method, we will go with the flow."
"Convey my order. Spirit Hall's major branch halls are to act immediately. Mobilize all deacons and clerics to tally the success rate of commoners cultivating the Five-Heart-to-Heaven Method!"
"Since martial soul awakening is not required, this technique must have its own criteria for selecting geniuses."
"I want Spirit Hall to register, at the first opportunity, all those who can successfully guide energy into their bodies, and determine the standards by which this technique selects geniuses."
Bibi Dong's voice regained its authority.
"A new era is coming. Since Spirit Hall could control the old era, it can naturally steer the new one as well!"
Time passed second by second.
The entire Douluo Continent fell into an eerie silence.
Across Douluo Continent, hundreds of millions of people closed their eyes, sensing the air around them and attempting to draw even a trace of so-called 'Genetic Origin Energy' from it!
And just then.
Tang San, lying on Shrek's training ground, suddenly trembled slightly.
Under the guidance of Five Hearts Toward Heaven, he felt an extremely faint yet incomparably violent, scorching current force its way through his palms and into his skin!
Then it continuously spread through his limbs and bones!
Before you continue