Reactions of the Various Powers

Clear Sky Sect, council hall.

A dull boom rang out from the conference table as Tang Zhen slammed his trembling hand down in fury, making the cups and saucers jump.

"Spirit Hall! They have gone too far!" He snatched up the secret report, his knuckles turning white from the force of his grip.

"A mere Li Family dared to openly throw itself into Spirit Hall's arms? Have they forgotten the relationship between the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall? Have they forgotten that Yang Wanqing of the Li Family carries the bloodline of the Breaking Clan?"

His chest heaved violently, and the fury in his eyes nearly burst forth. "This is a betrayal of trust! If this can be tolerated, what cannot?"

"It seems the Clear Sky Sect must show the world what rules truly are!"

"Someone, come with me to the Breaking Clan. I want to see how that old bastard taught his daughter!"

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Tianguang slumped onto the cold sect master's throne. His once-spirited, plump face was now drained of all color, cold sweat soaking his temples.

He stared fixedly at the flimsy sheet of paper in his hand, as though it were not intelligence, but a collapsing mountain.

"It's over... It's all over..." His lips trembled, and his voice was so low it was almost a murmur.

"The Li Family is rich enough to rival a nation. Their commercial network spans both empires, and now they have Spirit Hall's strength behind them... Doesn't that mean a small half of Heaven Dou Empire's economic lifeline has fallen into Spirit Hall's hands?"

Before his eyes rose a despairing vision of the sect's future being completely suppressed. Even the radiance of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda seemed to dim at that moment.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, training grounds.

Yu Jingtian stood with his hands behind his back, watching the rolling storm clouds over the rear mountain. Yet a meaningful smile curled across his lips.

"Of course. Other than that fellow, who else could make such a decision?"

He murmured to himself, recalling the deep-eyed young man he had encountered by chance a year ago.

"Giving up part of one's vested interests in exchange for an unparalleled backer—this move looks risky, but it is actually brilliant."

Electric arcs crackled around him, and his gaze was as sharp as a dragon's. "There will be more time to cultivate in the future. I wonder how powerful your lightning will become."

Star Luo Empire, deep within the imperial palace.

Dai Zhentian set down the secret report and burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the vast hall.

"Wonderful, truly wonderful! The Li Family's departure from Heaven Dou is equivalent to cutting off one of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's thickest money-making arteries."

His eyes gleamed with calculation and delight. "That old Xue Feng wanted to sit back and watch the tigers fight, using the Clear Sky Sect to suppress the Li Family. In the end, he lifted a stone only to crush his own foot."

"Tsk tsk, Heaven Dou's treasury will probably be working through the night to patch up its holes."

Heaven Dou Palace, imperial study.

In stark contrast, Xue Feng was ashen-faced with despair. He slumped weakly on the dragon throne, utterly unaware as the secret report slipped from his hand onto the floor.

"How could this happen... How could this happen..." he muttered, beads of sweat rolling down his face.

"Once the Li Family leaves, tax revenues will plummet. How will we make up the deficit we had been counting on them to cover? And how will those nobles attached to the Li Family act? I... I was truly blind to choose to watch the fire from across the river!"

Spirit Hall, Pope Hall.

Qian Xunji looked at the account list submitted by the Li Family, and his pupils contracted sharply.

Even though he had been mentally prepared, the enormous figures still left him dizzy.

Sixty percent! The scale of just sixty percent of the profits after preliminary consolidation already far exceeded Spirit Hall's total annual income in previous years!

It was as though he saw a mountain of gold collapse, perfectly filling Spirit Hall's treasury.

"Damn... Damn, I'm going to be rich!" Qian Xunji forcibly suppressed the wild joy in his heart and tried to maintain the Pope's dignity, but his trembling fingertips betrayed him.

"Your Holiness, Li Yuntian requests an audience!" his confidant respectfully reported.

"Quick, invite him in! Invite him in!" Qian Xunji was in such high spirits that he even stepped forward to greet him personally.

Li Yuntian entered the hall and calmly bowed to Qian Xunji. "His Holiness the Pope."

"Guardian Yuntian, there is no need for such formality!"

"From this day onward, we are truly one family!"

Qian Xunji beamed, his attitude more cordial than ever before.

Li Yuntian nodded. After a moment of silence, as though carefully weighing his words, he raised his head and said with burning eyes, "His Holiness is correct. To demonstrate the sincerity of the Li Family's allegiance, I am willing to offer Spirit Hall our family's secret inheritance—the Method of Absorbing Over-Limit Spirit Rings!"

The smile on Qian Xunji's face instantly froze, replaced by incredulous shock.

He had thought this secret would require a long time and far more maneuvering before he could reach it, yet it was being offered up so readily?

This was not merely a secret technique—it was the key to overturning the Soul Master cultivation system!

However, when Li Yuntian explained in detail that the core of the method was a substance called "Whale Rubber," and that it needed to be tempered with fire to remove impurities and preserve its essence, Qian Xunji's expression became exceedingly strange.

He stared at Li Yuntian for a long while before suspiciously asking, "Guardian Yuntian... You are not playing a trick on me, are you? Whale Rubber... Isn't that... an aphrodisiac?"

Li Yuntian's old face reddened slightly. He coughed awkwardly. "Your Holiness is wise. It is indeed that substance."

"However, after special processing, it truly has the miraculous effect of strengthening the muscles and bones and stabilizing one's foundation. Although it has some... ah, side effects, they are insignificant compared to the opportunity to increase one's strength."

Qian Xunji looked Li Yuntian up and down, then finally let out an amused sigh. "Brother Yuntian, you truly have some outrageous nerve! Aren't you afraid your wife will find out and give you trouble?"

Though he teased him aloud, a storm had already risen in his heart.

If this method truly worked, even if there were only a ten percent chance, its value would be immeasurable!

What was more, the greatest credit for recruiting the Li Family had already been firmly engraved under his name.

"It is all for Spirit Hall," Li Yuntian said solemnly.

"Hahaha! Good! What a splendid Guardian Yuntian!" Qian Xunji strode forward with a laugh and heavily patted Li Yuntian on the shoulder.

"If this succeeds, Spirit Hall will never let down the Li Family!"

A day later, Qian Xunji held the experimental report on Whale Rubber, ecstatic beyond measure.

"It is actually true! Whale Rubber really can strengthen the body and nourish one's foundation!"

"Hahaha, heaven is helping Spirit Hall!"

At that moment, Qian Daoliu arrived.

"Xunji, what has you so happy? I could hear your laughter from outside the door!" Qian Daoliu looked speechlessly at his crazed son.

Ever since the Li Family joined Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji had become unbearably full of himself.

Even when speaking to him normally, his voice had become much louder, brimming with confidence.

"Hahaha, Father, the Li Family gave me a great gift!"

Qian Xunji then told Qian Daoliu everything about Whale Rubber.

"Hmm, who would have thought Whale Rubber had such an effect?" Qian Daoliu stroked his chin.

"Right, Father! Did you bring the family genealogy?" Qian Xunji looked excitedly at his old father.

"No. What do you want it for?!" Qian Daoliu looked at his son warily.

"Add a separate section to the genealogy! I recruited the Li Family, after all. I deserve great credit!"

"Get lost!" Qian Daoliu's face darkened as he turned and left.

However, after returning to the Elder Palace, Qian Daoliu still added a few more achievements under Qian Xunji's name in the family genealogy.

He even added a few more lines under his own entry.

"Mm, not bad. I should get a little credit too!"

Looking at his own achievements, Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction.