Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda

Qian Xunji used the same tactics again, mixing threats with promises as he invoked the Angel God to win over Prince Xue Xing. The prince proved even easier to persuade than Dai Tianfeng. Mind Control helped, of course. For diplomacy, the ability was absurdly effective. Even a Titled Douluo would almost never notice if Qian Xunji was careful and kept the ideas he planted close to what they already believed. They would gradually accept his views without realizing they were being brainwashed.

The Heaven Dou Empire would still need Xue Ye's final approval, but that should not be a problem. At worst, Qian Xunji could go there and persuade him in person.

By then, even if they realized Spirit Hall had deceived them, they would race to establish the Angel God's faith and standing. After all, if everyone else worshipped her and supported Spirit Hall while you refused, you would fear becoming their next target.

Spirit Hall truly was a superpower capable of influencing, even controlling, the Two Great Empires. Add the faith of everyone on the continent, and there's no way that much fortune could still end in failure, right?

If it does, then there's only one thing to say:

Asura, you win.

Ning Fengzhi was next. As for Yu Yuanzhen, he was merely a backup pawn.

"Sect Master Ning."

The voice behind him made Ning Fengzhi shudder. He could not help it; what he had seen of Spirit Hall's strength at the Clear Sky Sect Ruins had frightened him.

Sword and Bone Douluo immediately took defensive stances, shielding Ning Fengzhi as they faced Qian Xunji. They saw that he had come alone.

"Seniors, please don't be alarmed. There were matters I couldn't discuss in front of everyone earlier, so I came to speak with Sect Master Ning privately."

The three from Seven Treasure Glazed Tile relaxed a little, but they remained watchful. Spirit Hall might have waited until they were separated from the others to silence them, and Qian Jun and Jiang Mo could spring an ambush at any moment.

Ning Fengzhi composed himself, stepped in front of Sword and Bone Douluo, and gave Qian Xunji a slight nod.

"What else did you wish to discuss, Eighth Worshipper? I'm listening."

Qian Xunji gathered his thoughts. He could not handle the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as he had the Two Great Empires. One was a sect; the others were nations.

It was only a support-focused sect. It had no need for the Angel God's protection and no ambition to dominate the continent—at least, not yet.

Besides, worshipping the Angel God carried too much risk for a sect. Unlike an empire, a sect had little room to absorb such a risk. One misstep could leave it entirely under Spirit Hall's control, and Ning Fengzhi would never want that unless he had no choice.

With Ning Fengzhi's intelligence, he could not fail to see it. Even if threats and promises won his agreement, the matter would probably end in endless wrangling.

So the best way to make the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect worship the Angel God was to win over the Two Great Empires first. Once faith in the Divine Ancestor spread across the continent, the sect would eventually have to yield.

Qian Xunji had come to Ning Fengzhi for another purpose.

"Sect Master Ning, as head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, you must understand how difficult it is to manage Soul Masters."

"Of course. Soul Masters often grow arrogant because their strength exceeds that of ordinary people. They look down on others, and conflicts follow. If they commit a crime and become wanted fugitives, their strength makes them difficult to capture and leads to even more trouble."

"Exactly. Tang Hao is a prime example. For countless years, Spirit Hall has worked tirelessly to help the Two Great Empires manage Soul Masters. We have hardly ever shown anyone favoritism, doing it all for the continent's peace and stability. It has been no easy task."

As Qian Xunji spoke, he began to cry, tears and snot streaming down his face as though he had suffered some terrible injustice.

Ning Fengzhi's mouth twitched at the sight. He forced out a couple of tears of his own and tried to comfort Qian Xunji.

"Sect Master Ning has done the same for years, helping Spirit Hall manage Soul Masters throughout the land. Yet despite all our efforts, the calamity with Tang Hao still occurred. If word gets out, who knows how many people with ulterior motives will use it to slander Spirit Hall? They'll claim we tried to seize something from Tang Hao by force, then turned on the Clear Sky Sect when we failed..."

And so the two traded complaints, consolation, and tears, as though they were old friends reunited after many years.

Sword and Bone Douluo frowned, glancing at each other, then back at the pair...

"Mmgh..." Ning Fengzhi sniffled.

"Eighth Worshipper, please, just tell me what you need. If I—no, if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can help, we absolutely will!" Ning Fengzhi could bear it no longer and spoke first.

"It's nothing major. Spirit Hall wishes to strengthen the management of Soul Masters, and we need your help."

"My help? What would you have me do?"

"Spirit Hall intends to issue Soul Master Identity Credentials to Soul Masters across the continent. A credential will show its holder's sex, Innate Soul Power, martial soul type, birth year, and Soul Power Level. Every Spirit Ring they obtain must also be recorded."

"Soul Master Identity Credentials?" Ning Fengzhi looked puzzled. He did not quite understand the concept.

"Like this... These two digits indicate martial soul type, such as tool or beast. Spirit Hall can give certain martial souls, like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, a special designation to reflect their status. These digits indicate the empire or province, and these indicate the date of birth..."

"Ahem. In short, Spirit Hall intends to issue a Soul Master Identity Credential to every Soul Master. In the future, anyone acting as a Soul Master in dealings with Spirit Hall or the Two Great Empires will have to present one. Anyone without one will be arrested as a fallen Soul Master. If an investigation clears them, a credential can then be issued."

After Qian Xunji's explanation, Ning Fengzhi more or less understood. The credentials would indeed make management easier, but they would also expose personal and sect information.

He had no desire to give Spirit Hall details on every Soul Master in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Such information was among any sect's greatest secrets and most valuable assets.

"Ahem. Eighth Worshipper, I agree that this is a sound policy, but implementing it would be terribly difficult. And the Two Great Empires..." Ning Fengzhi launched into evasions.

"Sect Master Ning, forget everyone else. Are you willing to cooperate with Spirit Hall in carrying out this policy?" Qian Xunji cut him off.

"It isn't that I don't want to. It's simply..."

Qian Xunji listened to Ning Fengzhi's evasions and nodded thoughtfully. Then, in an almost casual tone, he interjected:

"What if I had a way to evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"

"Eighth Worshipper, you know as well as I do—wh... what?! The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! Is that true? You aren't deceiving me?!"