Spirit Hall joining the group had been Ye Qingcang's initiative.
As for Tianshui, Blazing Fire, and Godwind Academy joining the group, Liu Erlong had agreed to it after discussing it with Ye Qingcang.
The reason Tianshui, Blazing Fire, and Godwind Academy had joined was not hard to guess. In the eyes of their three headmasters—Shui Feng, Huo Lie, and Feng Wuji—the current situation across the land was exceedingly delicate. The Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire were hostile toward each other, yet both tacitly maintained a balance against Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall's ambitions had been exposed many years ago. The moment even the Upper Three Sects, working together, had failed to protect Tang Hao from Spirit Hall, the three Soul Douluo and countless soul masters across the land had understood one truth: Spirit Hall was the inevitable tide of the times, intent on swallowing the world!
If Ye Qingcang had merely been an ordinary genius.
If he had not possessed the ability to refine soul bones...
If he had not known Stellar Martial Path and Alchemy...
If he had not been a God Trial Taker...
Then, in the face of Spirit Hall's overtures and Ye Qingcang's reciprocal attitude, they truly would not have been so anxious, much less approached Ye Qingcang with such a supplicant attitude.
But Ye Qingcang happened to possess everything mentioned above.
Being able to refine soul bones meant that if Ye Qingcang stood with Spirit Hall, Spirit Hall's influence would become unimaginably terrifying. If Ye Qingcang stood with the Heaven Dou Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire's influence would likewise become unimaginably terrifying. He even had the right to declare: "All who join my ranks shall obtain soul bones; all who die in my service shall gain eternal life." Or words to that effect. He truly