Douluo: Breathing Makes Me Stronger, Tang San Is Terrified! Chapter 40

Ning Fengzhi's Collapse

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

Under Dugu Bo's attack, Chen Xin, whose body had suffered severe injuries, was immediately sent back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect through the Gate of Space opened by Bone Douluo.

"Cough... cough cough..."

Chen Xin's face was pale as paper, his breath weak as a thread, and he kept coughing up blood. He lay flat on a bed, his breastbone completely caved in.

Dugu Bo's tail strike had nearly taken half of Chen Xin's life. Fortunately, he was a Titled Douluo with Soul Power as high as level 96.

His shattered body was only being sustained by his Soul Power. Otherwise, he would have been dead beyond saving.

Returning to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was only the beginning. If Chen Xin could not receive proper treatment, then even if he barely survived, his strength would suffer greatly, and he would be left with serious lasting effects.

Ning Fengzhi, the continent's number one Support Spirit Master, had no healing abilities himself. However, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did not lack Spirit Masters with healing abilities.

Ning Fengzhi had lost his usual refined and easygoing demeanor. Upon returning to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he shouted irritably, summoning Support Spirit Masters with healing abilities to treat Chen Xin.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly had deep foundations. After more than half a day of treatment by several Support Spirit Masters with healing abilities, Chen Xin was finally saved.

The broken tendons and bones throughout his body had been reconnected, while his nearly shattered internal organs had been patched up and barely restored.

Chen Xin's breathing steadied, indicating that he had passed the most dangerous stage. However, returning to his peak condition would require a long period of recovery.

For the time being, Chen Xin could no longer fight. Even if he had to, he could at most display half of his combat strength.

After the treatment was completed, the Support Spirit Masters with healing abilities tactfully withdrew from the room.

Before long, only Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and Chen Xin, who lay on the bed, remained in the room.

Chen Xin looked utterly defeated. His once-sharp eyes were now clouded by an indescribable gloom.

There was no sorrow greater than a dead heart!

That was exactly how Chen Xin felt now!

He was the dignified Sword Douluo, known as the Titled Douluo with the greatest attack power on the continent, yet he had lost to Dugu Bo, the weakest Titled Douluo.

Chen Xin was a proud man. A loss was a loss. He would not make excuses for himself. He could only question himself again and again, wondering why he had lost to someone like Dugu Bo.

What was too rigid was easily broken!

That was the principle. The more unyielding a person was, the more likely he was to torment himself after suffering a setback, and the harder it was for him to move on.

If Chen Xin could not see through his current state of mind and emerge from it, then he would likely remain stuck at level 96 Soul Power for the rest of his life, never improving another step.

Suddenly, Chen Xin turned his head. His dim eyes looked toward Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong as he tugged at the corner of his mouth and said with difficulty:

"Fengzhi, I'm truly sorry. I ruined everything this time. I can't even defeat Dugu Bo anymore..."

"From now on, though I'm unwilling to accept it, the heavy responsibility of protecting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can only be handed over to Old Bone."

Ning Fengzhi's heart sank upon hearing this. Chen Xin had always regarded protecting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as his duty, yet now he was entrusting Gu Rong with it as though he were making final arrangements.

Chen Xin's fighting spirit had scattered!

Without that spirit, even if Chen Xin possessed the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul and Soul Power as high as level 96, he would likely no longer be the Sword Douluo who once radiated sharp brilliance!

Ning Fengzhi hurried forward, tightly grasping Chen Xin's hand as he consoled him solemnly:

"Uncle Sword, you mustn't say that! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect cannot do without you!"

"Today's defeat was all my responsibility. My support abilities were inferior to Lan Chen's, and that caused this."

"You are the pillar that holds up the heavens and the beam that supports the seas for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Please don't say such disheartened words again."

"Think about it. When I step down in the future and Rongrong becomes the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she will still need your protection. Even if you won't consider me, you must consider Rongrong more."

"For now, focus on recovering properly. I'll have Rongrong come keep you company. Uncle Sword, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I, and Rongrong all still need to rely on you."

Ning Fengzhi said a great deal, but only when Ning Rongrong was mentioned did a faint glimmer finally appear in Chen Xin's dim eyes.

Ning Rongrong had been raised under the watch of Chen Xin and Gu Rong. Both of them treated Ning Rongrong as their own granddaughter.

Chen Xin found meaning in life once more. He nodded and said weakly:

"I understand. I still have important things to do. I will take good care of my body."

Seeing Chen Xin regain some of his spirit, Ning Fengzhi finally relaxed slightly. He gave Gu Rong a look, and the two left the room one after the other, allowing Chen Xin to rest alone.

After leaving the room, Ning Fengzhi walked several hundred steps. Beneath his sleeves, his hands clenched tightly into fists. The more he thought about it, the more stifled and regretful he felt, and his face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

He suddenly stopped, let out a heavy sigh, and said with nearly violent eyes:

"Uncle Bone, I regret it!"

"Back in Heaven Dou City, I shouldn't have stopped you. If we had killed Lan Chen then, even if we offended Dugu Bo, or even Qinghe and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, at least we could have eliminated a serious threat."

"Now, not only did we fail to kill Lan Chen, but Uncle Sword was also defeated by Dugu Bo. Uncle Sword's fighting spirit has scattered. We have suffered a tremendous loss, a tremendous loss!"

"That Lan Chen's Martial Soul support abilities far surpass the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. We no longer have any chance to get rid of him. As long as Lan Chen remains alive, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda will forever become nothing more than a supporting act."

Ning Fengzhi spoke until his voice turned hoarse. Suddenly, a sweet, bloody taste rose in his throat, but he gritted his teeth and forcibly swallowed it back down.

In life, desires were always endless.

Those at the bottom struggled from dawn to dusk just for a full meal.

Those in the middle, once their stomachs were full, wanted to raise their status.

Those at the top pursued an endless variety of things once they had status.

Infinite wealth, a respected reputation, privileges above others, a legacy passed down through countless generations...

Ning Fengzhi was the continent's number one Support Spirit Master, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the continent's number one support sect.

Was Ning Fengzhi satisfied with that?

He was not!

Ning Fengzhi had attached himself to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and become the teacher of Heaven Dou's Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe. All of this was for the sake of advancing further.

He wanted to become the National Preceptor of the Heaven Dou Empire and make his sect the state religion of the Heaven Dou Empire.

This showed just how far Ning Fengzhi's ambitions had expanded.

Ning Fengzhi had expended countless efforts to make the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda the continent's number one support Martial Soul and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect the continent's number one support sect.

Yet now, he could only watch helplessly as Lan Chen rose to prominence. That was even more unbearable to him than being killed.

After hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, Gu Rong's eyes filled with viciousness. He raised a hand and drew it across his throat.

"Fengzhi, then we'll make another move. Even if we have to launch a sneak attack or an assassination, we must completely eliminate Lan Chen, this hidden danger."

Ning Fengzhi smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"We have no chance now. Uncle Sword is seriously injured. With only the two of us, it will be impossible to find an opportunity to kill Lan Chen under Dugu Bo's protection."

"Besides, I have a feeling that Dugu Bo will not let this go. If that Old Poison, whose entire body is poison, comes to cause trouble at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then only you, Uncle Bone, will be able to stop him."

"Uncle Bone, I will order the sect's disciples not to leave in the near future. I'll also need you to watch over the sect's defenses. From now on, we must strengthen our guard. We absolutely cannot let Dugu Bo exploit any opening."

After saying that, Ning Fengzhi continued walking forward in a daze.

The facts had now proven that his concern over Lan Chen had been entirely correct. Unfortunately, he no longer had any chance to snuff out Lan Chen's rise.

Xue Qinghe's Arrangements

Heaven Dou City!

Crown Prince Mansion!

Inside a simply decorated study!

Two middle-aged men in golden armor, one fat and one thin, were recounting what they had witnessed that day with incredulous expressions.

"Reporting to Young Master, you asked us to keep an eye on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Today, we have obtained the results."

"Today, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect went north of Jialing Pass to intercept and kill Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Lan Chen."

"The events exceeded our expectations. Lan Chen possessed a Domain Ability that could suppress Titled Douluo. He could even control plant vines and entangle Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong for a certain amount of time."

"Furthermore, in the battle between Dugu Bo and Chen Xin, Dugu Bo, with Lan Chen's support, defeated Chen Xin head-on despite Chen Xin having Ning Fengzhi's support."

"For the publicly acknowledged weakest Titled Douluo to defeat Sword Douluo, who was known as the continent's strongest attacker, head-on... Lan Chen's support abilities far surpass Ning Fengzhi's. His value is simply immeasurable."

Clearly, these two middle-aged men in golden armor were the two Titled Douluo Lu Chen had sensed through the Blue Silver Domain.

They were Snake Lance Douluo She Long and Pufferfish Douluo Ci Xue.

They directly obeyed the young master of Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue.

Or rather, the identity she had assumed after disguising herself.

Heaven Dou's Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe.

At that moment, Xue Qinghe stood behind the desk with her hands clasped behind her back, facing away from the two men and dressed in plain white clothing.

After hearing Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo describe what had happened, a brilliant light bloomed in her eyes.

He possessed a Domain Ability that could suppress Titled Douluo, and his support abilities were terrifyingly powerful, even surpassing Ning Fengzhi, the publicly acknowledged number one Support Spirit Master on the continent.

In Xue Qinghe's eyes, Lu Chen was like Guan Yu, who had proven his worth by slaying Hua Xiong while the wine was still warm.

Back then, Cao Cao had adored Guan Yu greatly.

Now, Xue Qinghe adored Lu Chen just as greatly.

At that moment, Xue Qinghe's desire to recruit Lu Chen reached its peak.

Xue Qinghe suddenly turned around. Her eyes shone as she exclaimed:

"Lan Chen truly did not disappoint me. Not only does he cultivate quickly, but his soul skills are also terrifyingly powerful. If I can recruit him, he will surely help me accomplish great things!"

Xue Qinghe could already imagine it: she would be responsible for battle, while Lan Chen would provide support. With her Angel Spirit, Angel Domain, and Lan Chen's support abilities and Domain Ability, they would be able to fight anyone.

Even when both of them became Titled Douluo, they would be enough to sweep aside every enemy on Douluo Continent, including her mother, the Pontiff of Spirit Hall.

Bibi Dong!

Xue Qinghe frowned in thought and paced back and forth. Only after a long while did she speak solemnly:

"Lan Chen has now gained Dugu Bo's protection. With Lan Chen's support, Dugu Bo can even defeat Chen Xin head-on."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can no longer threaten his life. I have no way to grant Lan Chen a favor, so I have no opening to recruit him."

"At present, the only option is to learn about his past. Only by starting with Lan Chen's past will it be possible to successfully draw him over."

Having made her decision, Xue Qinghe looked toward Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish Douluo and ordered:

"Snake Spear Elder, return to Spirit Hall and search through Spirit Hall's archives. Find information regarding Lan Chen's Martial Soul and Domain."

"The name Lan Chen is fake, and his appearance is fake as well. However, his Martial Soul and Domain cannot possibly be false."

"Spirit Hall's archives contain everything. They hold records of every Martial Soul and Domain that has appeared on Douluo Continent over the past tens of thousands of years."

"As long as you search carefully, you will surely find clues. Then we can deduce Lan Chen's true identity and family background. Once we know his past, there will be no need to worry about finding a way to recruit him."

At the end, Xue Qinghe's expression became extremely serious.

"Snake Spear Elder, if necessary, you may seek out my grandfather and have him provide assistance. Tell him it is my wish."

"Also, none of the matters I have instructed you to handle may be known by that woman. Do you understand?"

Snake Lance Douluo stood tall and cupped his fists in salute.

"Rest assured, Young Master. This subordinate understands."

"I have already memorized Lan Chen's Martial Soul. It gives me a strangely familiar feeling, as though it is connected to some events from more than ten years ago."

"Once this subordinate returns to Spirit Hall and uncovers the full story, I will come back to Heaven Dou City and report to you, Young Master."

After saying that, Snake Lance Douluo turned and left. With a single flash, he disappeared from the Crown Prince Mansion.

Strangely familiar...

Some events from more than ten years ago...

A grave expression appeared on Xue Qinghe's face. After hearing Snake Lance Douluo say that, she had a feeling that a tremendous secret was hidden within this matter.

But no matter what that secret was, it could not affect her determination to recruit Lan Chen.

Then Xue Qinghe looked toward Pufferfish Douluo.

"Pufferfish Elder, continue watching the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Ning Fengzhi led Chen Xin and Gu Rong in an attempt to intercept and kill Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Lan Chen, but they failed. Enmity has already formed between both sides, and they will never let the matter go easily."

"There will certainly be further developments. I need to know what they do next so that I can better control the current situation."