Chen Fan watched Chen Jianjun's retreating figure and fell into deep thought.
Giving the [Targeted Martial Soul Evolver: Sword-Type] to Chen Jianjun instead of giving him the [Super Douluo Pill] had also been a decision Chen Fan had made after careful consideration.
Although the [Super Douluo Pill] could help Chen Jianjun reach Level 99, the realm of a Limit Douluo, the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul was still far too weak compared to the Clear Sky Hammer. And it also fell short of the Six-Winged Angel.
This was an innate shortcoming of the Martial Soul, one that was hard to make up for, even if their Soul Power Levels were equal.
In other words,
even with the [Super Douluo Pill], Chen Jianjun could at most become the weakest Peerless Douluo.
So,
after careful consideration, Chen Fan decided it would be better to take a gamble and try the [Targeted Martial Soul Evolver: Sword-Type]. Who knew? Maybe he could turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.
Perhaps this could advance the Seven Kill Sword, letting it stand shoulder to shoulder with them—or even surpass them.
Once Uncle breaks through, we can hold an open marriage selection!
Innate Level 8 Soul Power is still a real problem... I've been stuck at Level 49 for almost a year, unable to break through.
Chen Fan mulled things over.
Eighteen years old, Level 49 Soul Ancestor.
In the Soul Master World, this kind of talent could certainly be called monstrous.
But he knew very well that this was basically the limit of his personal ability. The further he advanced, the more inadequate his Innate Level 8 Soul Power would become.
After all, Feng Xiaotian, who had Innate Full Soul Power in the original story, had only reached Level 44 at the age of twenty-four.
The fact that Chen Fan had reached Level 49 Soul Power at eighteen was, at its core, thanks to the benefits of being the ultimate well-connected scion.
More than eighty percent of the resources for the younger generation of the Seven Kill Sect had practically been piled onto him.
So,
Chen Fan knew very well that unless he could get his hands on an Immortal Herb, relying on his own ability to improve was completely unrealistic.
So...
If I want to improve quickly, the only way is to have more children and collect system rewards.
And if I want more children, I have to marry more women.
To marry more women, I need the sect's support.
And the sect's support depended on Chen Jianjun's strength!
So...
When all was said and done, he still had to make Chen Jianjun stronger first.
As long as Chen Jianjun could evolve his Martial Soul and take his strength to another level, the Seven Kill Sect's standing across the entire continent would rise with the tide.
By then, with an open marriage selection, people would come in droves!
But then,
instead of waiting for Chen Jianjun to emerge from seclusion, Chen Fan received...
an invitation?
The signature read...
"Star Luo Imperial Family?"
Chen Fan looked surprised. "Does our Seven Kill Sect have any ties with the Star Luo Imperial Family?"
Although he had taken over as sect master, he had handled relatively few matters. Most were managed by the Seven Kill Sect's eighteen elders.
After asking one of the maids, Chen Fan learned that the Second Elder was in charge of external affairs.
He immediately summoned the Second Elder.
"Oh, that!"
The Second Elder slapped his forehead and said awkwardly, "Sect Master, I forgot to report this to you... Back when you and the Grand Sect Master went to Spirit City, we old fellows weren't sitting idle either!"
"When I was young, I had some connections with the Dai Family of the Star Luo Imperial Family. Now that our Seven Kill Sect has returned to the Soul Master World, I figured I'd get in touch and ask whether they had any unmarried women of suitable age."
"The Star Luo Imperial Family's reply at the time was... that they'd have to look into it first."
As he spoke, the Second Elder spread his hands. "After that, you were busy arranging a marriage with Bishop Ling Yuan, and then the wedding procession was attacked... I stopped paying attention to the matter."
"I just didn't expect this!"
"Now that you've recovered, the Star Luo Imperial Family has finally sent word."
Chen Fan nodded. "Right. They said their eldest princess has reached marriageable age."
But...
He searched through his memories. Wasn't there anyone like that in the original story?
It must still be too early!
I remember that the year Chen Xin broke through to Level 92, Chen Jianjun died at the hands of Spirit Hall and told Chen Xin the secret of what lay beyond Level 95. After that, Chen Xin disbanded the Seven Kill Sect. He didn't appear at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect until more than ten or twenty years later...
In other words, the current Star Luo Imperial Family probably still had Dai Mubai's father as the crown prince?
Chen Fan was still thinking when the Second Elder seemed to have a sudden inspiration. He slapped his thigh. "Sect Master, this is a great opportunity!"
"Hmm?"
"Although the Star Luo Empire can't compare to Spirit Hall, the princess is a member of the imperial Dai Family. She can't be a bad match!"
"Besides, given your situation..."
He paused and lowered his voice. "The more children, the more blessings. One more woman means one more path!"
Chen Fan glanced at him without a word.
This old Second Elder was always thinking about finding him women. He was even more invested in it than Chen Fan himself.
"Fine."
Chen Fan gave him a helpless look and nodded. "I'll take my cousin along and go see her."
"Uh..."
The Second Elder froze and scratched his head.
With Chen Jianjun in seclusion, Chen Xin was the Seven Kill Sect's only Titled Douluo standing guard.
Wasn't sending him out a bit... like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?
"Enough. Xiao Fan was just ambushed. If something happens to him on the road, which one of you will take responsibility?"
Just then, Chen Xin walked in, dressed in white.
Clearly, he had heard their conversation.
After hearing that, the Second Elder immediately fell silent.
The last time the wedding procession was attacked, Chen Fan had gone missing for a whole day and night. They'd nearly been scared to death.
If it happened again...
He felt his old heart might not be able to take it.
"Cousin, when did you get here?"
"Just now."
Chen Xin replied casually, "Father said before that I'm your Dao Protector now."
"Last time, you insisted on leaving me at the sect gate, and that's how trouble found you."
"From now on, no matter what you say, I won't let you travel alone."
Chen Fan awkwardly rubbed his nose.
He'd kept Chen Xin from following him to Spirit City because he'd wanted to try and charm Bibi Dong, hadn't he?
How could he let Chen Xin watch that?
Before long,
after Chen Fan and Chen Xin made a few preparations, they set off for Star Luo City.
But...
The Second Elder, frowning as he saw the two off at the sect gate, seemed to suddenly remember something. His face changed dramatically as he slapped his forehead. "Oh no!"
"What a blockhead I am!"
Elder Shan, who had come to see them off as well, was taken aback. "Second Brother, what's wrong?"
"I remember now!"
The Second Elder wore a pained expression. "When the Grand Sect Master first emerged from seclusion, I was so excited that I got a little... carried away when I contacted the Dai Family!"
"What do you mean?"
"I... I directly told them that the Seven Kill Sect's new sect master was going to ask for their princess's hand in marriage..."
The Second Elder ruefully slapped his thigh. "That's it, then. The news must already be spreading like wildfire in Star Luo City!"
Elder Shan looked baffled. "What's there to worry about?"
"It's not as though the Seven Kill Sect proposing is something shameful."
The Second Elder glared at Elder Shan, exasperated. "Are you stupid?"
"Have you forgotten what the Sect Master was after when he went to Spirit City?"
Elder Shan paused. "What?"
"We all thought the Sect Master had gone to marry Spirit Hall's Saintess, but what happened?"
At that, Elder Shan understood too, though he looked just as awkward. "Then..."
"Forget it. We'll tell the Grand Sect Master when he emerges from seclusion. Hopefully, we're not too late..."
Star Luo City.
Just as the Second Elder had feared, news that the Seven Kill Sect's new sect master was coming to propose to a member of the imperial family had already set Star Luo City abuzz.
People were talking about it in every street and alley, teahouse and tavern.
"Have you heard? The new sect master of the Seven Kill Sect is coming to marry our eldest princess!"
"The Seven Kill Sect? The one that made a high-profile return a while back and took a female Red-Robed Bishop from Spirit Hall as a bride?"
"That's the one! I heard that the Seven Kill Sect's Grand Sect Master, Chen Jianjun, recently broke through to Level 97 and became a Titled Douluo!"
"Level 97?! My heavens! Doesn't that put them on the same level as Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect?"
"Of course! That's why they've got the nerve to come and propose!"
"But speaking of which, what was the name of the Seven Kill Sect's new sect master again?"
"I think it was Chen Fan. He's only eighteen, and I heard he's already a Level 49 Soul Ancestor!"
"Level 49 at eighteen? Tsk... With talent like that, could Chen Jianjun have taught him personally?"
"That seems unlikely. I've never even heard of the Seven Kill Sect. They're probably the reclusive sort, and he must've gotten where he is by relying purely on resources, with no real combat experience."
Similar conversations were unfolding in every corner of Star Luo City.
Some welcomed the match, believing that the Seven Kill Sect and the Star Luo Imperial Family joining forces would benefit them both.
Others were against it, thinking that the Seven Kill Sect's new sect master wasn't worthy of the eldest princess.
Either way, the matter had become the biggest topic in Star Luo City.
But in the eyes of the other factions, the whole affair had taken on a different meaning!
"What does the Star Luo Imperial Family mean by this? Are they trying to win the Seven Kill Sect over?"
Inside the Clear Sky Sect,
Tang Cang, who had taken over as the Clear Sky Sect's young sect master, furrowed his brow and spoke in a grave voice.
The current sect master of the Clear Sky Sect was still Tang Chen. But after Tang Cang broke through to become a Titled Douluo, Tang Chen had gradually handed authority over to his son, while he devoted himself to cultivating the Great Sumeru Hammer in pursuit of greater mastery and insight.
"Young Sect Master, I heard Qian Xunji gave the Seven Kill Sect a Pope Token. It seems he's trying to win them over."
"The Pope Token?"
Tang Cang's brow furrowed even deeper. "Qian Xunji really did spare no expense, huh?"
He fell silent for a moment, then said, "Tang Wei, take Xiao'er and go propose to them."
"A mere Level 97 Titled Douluo. If Father weren't busy, taking them down would be child's play. And they still dare to build alliances?"
Though Tang Cang said that, he was indeed wary.
The Clear Sky Sect was now at the height of its power since its founding, but its younger generation was still somewhat thin on talent.
Other than the Peerless Douluo Tang Chen at the very top, the strongest in the entire Clear Sky Sect was the First Elder, Tang Wei, whose Soul Power Level was only 94. He was also Tang Chen's cousin and already too old to improve any further.
Now the Seven Kill Sect had allied with Spirit Hall through marriage. If they also formed a marriage alliance with the Star Luo Imperial Family, the web of connections centered around the Seven Kill Sect would be beyond anything the Clear Sky Sect could match.
So...
The Seven Kill Sect absolutely couldn't be allowed to form a marriage alliance with the Star Luo Imperial Family!
"Yes, Young Sect Master!"