Spreading Harmony

At this point, Emperor Xue Ye had not yet been too severely corroded by the poison, so his spirits were still fairly good. He put down the memorial in his hand, lifted his eyes to look at him, and there was a trace of surprise in his tone.

"Mm, Qinghe, what has made you so flustered?"

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, his voice carrying a grave note. "Father, something major has happened. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is going to sever ties with our Heaven Dou Empire."

Emperor Xue Ye's gaze sharpened, and he hurriedly pressed him.

"What happened?! Tell me in detail."

It was no wonder he was so agitated. The Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had formed an alliance for the sake of mutual benefit.

The Heaven Dou Empire needed the two top-tier combatants of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.

And the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect also needed the empire's help to resist Spirit Hall. Yet now, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had actually ended this cooperation unilaterally.

Were they not afraid of Spirit Hall anymore?!

Xue Qinghe's expression was solemn, his tone especially heavy.

"Father, a completely new force from a continent beyond our domain has arrived on Douluo Continent. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has already completely sided with them. At the time..."

Immediately afterward, Xue Qinghe clearly recounted, selectively, what he had seen and heard at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect today.

But he deliberately concealed the two most crucial pieces of information. The first was Tang San's identity as Tang Hao's son, and the second was the fact that Ye Yun was the successor of a god.

He knew very well that once these two pieces of information were spoken, Emperor Xue Ye would only panic and completely lose the confidence to check and maneuver against them.

Only by downplaying the other side's terrifying strength could he force the Heaven Dou Empire to step forward and obstruct them of its own accord, buying enough reaction time for Spirit Hall in the shadows.

"How outrageous! Do they truly think my Heaven Dou Empire has no one?!"

Emperor Xue Ye flew into a rage and slammed his palm hard onto the imperial desk. Even the teacup on the desk jumped from the shock. His face flushed crimson, and his chest heaved violently.

"Closely monitor every move of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as well as that Universe Continent force that suddenly appeared. If there is the slightest unusual movement, report to Us at once! We absolutely cannot allow an outside force to expand recklessly within the borders of my Heaven Dou!"

"This son understands."

Xue Qinghe answered respectfully. Only after Emperor Xue Ye waved his hand to dismiss him did he slowly turn and walk out of the bedchamber.

The instant he stepped through the palace doors, the worry on his face vanished completely.

Ye Yun, Ning Fengzhi... let me see what trump cards you have.

Meanwhile, inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's council hall.

Chen Xin and Gu Rong were both staring at Ning Fengzhi in disbelief.

"Fengzhi, have you gone mad? The foundation built over so many years, and you're turning around to give it away??"

"Exactly! Though the weapons in their hands are indeed strange and formidable, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has stood on Douluo Continent for so many years and weathered countless storms. We were not frightened into greatness! Why go this far?"

Faced with their questioning, Ning Fengzhi helplessly rubbed his brow, then raised a hand to signal for the two of them to stay calm.

Only after the hall quieted down did he speak slowly, his expression solemn.

"Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, you are only seeing the surface. You have no idea how terrifying the foundation behind Xiao Yun is."

"The family he belongs to is protected by the [Harmony] Aeon. It is a true divine force. And Xiao Yun himself is the successor chosen by the Aeon!"

"A god?!"

Those two words exploded through the council hall like a thunderclap.

Gu Rong's eyes went wide, his face filled with astonishment.

Having spent his entire life on Douluo Continent, he knew of Title Douluo and Limit Douluo, but as for gods, he only knew of the Angel God worshiped by Spirit Hall.

He had never expected that in his lifetime, he would still be able to see a living successor to a god.

Chen Xin pinched his chin, looking as if everything had suddenly clicked.

No wonder Fengzhi would do this. So that was how it was.

"I understand. But isn't this still too hasty? The Heaven Dou Empire won't allow us to expand unchecked."

Ning Fengzhi had long anticipated this as well. After all, if a family wanted to flourish and grow, it had to continuously absorb fresh blood.

And those people would definitely have to be dug out from the great empires and Spirit Hall.

This was digging at their roots. The empire would certainly not allow such a thing to happen.

Ning Fengzhi's gaze was steady as he voiced the next step of their plan. "Now that the sect has merged into Xiao Yun's family branch, our territory and foundation have already stabilized. The most urgent matter right now is expanding our manpower. Relying on our original disciples alone is far from enough to support the situation."

Gu Rong pondered. "You mean recruiting soul masters from outside? But most high-level soul masters on the continent already have their own affiliations. Getting them to come voluntarily probably won't be easy."

"That is why we must show enough sincerity." Ning Fengzhi's tone was firm. "I plan to use the wealth the sect has accumulated over many years, and also take out a batch of heavenly treasures as payment and rewards, specifically to absorb high-level soul masters with profound soul power. With heavy rewards, naturally, some people will be tempted."

At the side, Chen Xin slowly nodded when he heard this, and his expression completely eased. Knowing there was a god supporting them from behind, he no longer opposed the choice they had made.

"This method is feasible. High-level soul masters urgently need resources for cultivation to begin with. Ordinary forces simply can't take out so many good things. If we throw out these conditions, the attraction will be strong enough. Adding the name of a god on top of that would make it even better."

The three of them then went back and forth, finalizing the rules for recruitment, the division of benefits, and the message they would release to the outside world.

They decided to first spread the news, using abundant wealth and rare spiritual medicines as bargaining chips, prioritizing the absorption of Soul Ancestors, Soul Kings, and even Soul Emperor-level experts to rapidly strengthen the branch family's combat power and connections.

Once the discussion was settled, Ning Fengzhi immediately gave the order, arranging for the sect's disciples to begin preparing supplies, spreading the news, and pushing forward the recruitment of high-level soul masters at once.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several months had passed.

Over these months, news that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was spending heavily to recruit talent spread across more than half of the Douluo Continent.

Countless unaffiliated soul masters, along with powerful figures from small and medium-sized sects, were all moved by the sky-high resources and natural treasures offered by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

In particular, large numbers of high-level soul masters at the Soul King and Soul Emperor ranks streamed endlessly toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, voluntarily applying to join the Universe Branch Clan.

As great numbers of high-level soul masters continued to pour in, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's momentum grew more terrifying by the day, naturally stirring intense unease among the major sects across the continent.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, likewise one of the upper three sects, was especially wary of this.

They specifically sent people to pay a visit. In name, it was an inquiry; in reality, it carried the tone of an interrogation.

As fellow members of the upper three sects, just what was your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect trying to do by suddenly and frantically taking in high-level soul masters from across the entire continent and wildly expanding your power?

Yet when faced with the people from the Blue Lightning Family, Ning Fengzhi's attitude was extremely cold, and he could not be bothered to explain much at all.

Simply put, it came down to one sentence: if you have the ability, then recruit too. If you have no resources and no strength, then stop standing off to the side and telling others what to do.

This attitude left the Blue Lightning Family's envoy absolutely furious, but under the deathly stares of two Titled Douluo, he could only swallow his bellyful of anger and leave in resentment.

And while the various great powers secretly feared and suspected them, the disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who went out were constantly spreading the ideals of the Harmony Aeon.

There was no coercion, no deception; it was only to let everyone escape suffering and live happier lives.

On top of that, the current Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had money to burn and experts gathered in droves, with tangible benefits laid out before everyone's eyes.

Countless ordinary soul masters and lower-class commoners began to sincerely acknowledge this brand-new faith.

Even though the Heaven Dou Empire issued prohibitions and Spirit Hall secretly sent people everywhere to smear them with rumors, deliberately slandering the ideals of Harmony and defaming the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it had no effect at all.