Mo An's Idea, Ning Fengzhi's Idea

Mo An arrived at the quarters the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had arranged for him. The room's staggering luxury might once have shocked him, but after seeing the sect's wealth so many times, he was beginning to get used to it.

His quarters stood in the heart of Seven Treasure City, near Ning Fengzhi and the others. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth was abundant here, and the scenery was beautiful. He could look out over the entire city and even see Heaven Dou City in the distance.

Without a doubt, it was a fine place to stay.

After looking around, Mo An, unsure what else to do, sat down and resumed reading the Treasure Record.

The Azure Bamboo had begun compiling the Treasure Record when the clan was founded. It documented rare treasures they had collected or heard of. Only by memorizing its contents could they truly make use of their Martial Soul's treasure-seeking ability.

Having a mountain of treasure but no way to use it properly was deeply frustrating. The clearest example on the Douluo Continent was Poison Douluo Dugu Bo: he possessed a treasure trove like the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, yet had made little use of it.

The Herbal Medicine section of the Azure Bamboo's Treasure Record listed the names and effects of quite a few Immortal Herbs. These entries had been copied from the Breaking Clan's texts.

According to the book, after learning of Immortal Herbs, the Breaking Clan and the Azure Bamboo had joined forces with other factions under the Clear Sky Sect to search far and wide across the Douluo Continent. They had found nothing.

Because no Immortal Herbs ever turned up, one Azure Bamboo elder had even declared that they did not exist, that the accounts were entirely fabricated. The Breaking Clan remained convinced they existed and simply had yet to be found. For a time, the search became an obsession that haunted the whole clan.

After reading that passage, Mo An rubbed his chin. He was beginning to suspect that the Speed Clan's Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng had very likely been found during that search.

When he finished the section on Immortal Herbs and considered his current circumstances, an even bolder, wilder idea took shape in his mind.

He had not considered pursuing the Immortal Herbs before because he had lacked the strength.

Now he could consider it because he could borrow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's power to make himself stronger.

If I take the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot while I'm still a Soul Scholar to strengthen my body, then use the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew to bolster my mental strength, could I obtain a thousand-year First Soul Ring?

The advantage was that it would strengthen him enormously. An older Soul Ring could give a Soul Master a tremendous boost.

In the book Douluo Continent, Yu Xiaogang had given Tang San a concrete example while teaching him. In numerical terms, he had said, a compatible Ten-Year Soul Ring could raise the Martial Soul's corresponding ability by ten; a hundred-year ring, by one hundred; and a thousand-year ring, by one thousand. The gap between Soul Masters would open at once.

Yu Xiaogang might have been somewhat hungry for fame, but he was unquestionably well-read. He could not have been wrong about such basic knowledge. After studying the subject himself, Mo An also felt the description was apt.

The drawback, of course, was that Mo An would have to reveal he was an heir of the Azure Bamboo. Otherwise, he could not give a convincing reason for what he knew.

Lying was no solution. He had a bamboo Martial Soul, and he would have to bring up Immortal Herbs and a treasure trove like the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Add in everything he had done so far, and a lie would amount to treating Ning Fengzhi like a fool.

Mo An put the Treasure Record into his Azure Jade Ring and rubbed his temples, weighing whether he should do it.

After a long while, he decided to observe Ning Fengzhi and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect first. For now, he could still take Whale Rubber to strengthen himself, and he had plenty of room to improve. There was no rush to pursue the Immortal Herbs.

He took the thousand-year Whale Rubber he had bought on the road from his Azure Jade Ring and cut off a piece. After heating it in a pot until it melted, he wrapped it in Soul Power and swallowed it to strengthen his body.

"Whale Rubber can directly strengthen the body? Let someone absorb a First Soul Ring older than four hundred and twenty-three years? Is that really true?"

In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's council hall, Sword Douluo listened to Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo's account. Disbelief spread across his usually impassive face.

"Heh, I knew you wouldn't believe it, you old bastard." Bone Douluo chuckled and tossed him a solid piece of thousand-year Whale Rubber. "Try it yourself. The kid said to melt it with heat before taking it, but you can force it to melt with Soul Power too."

Still skeptical, Sword Douluo used his Soul Power to melt the Whale Rubber and swallowed it. A little over ten minutes later, he felt its effects and opened his eyes in shock.

Seeing Sword Douluo fall silent, Bone Douluo asked teasingly, "Well? I wasn't lying, was I?"

"No, you weren't."

Once he had accepted it, Sword Douluo regained his usual expression and studied the Whale Rubber still left in his hand with curiosity.

"I plan to put Ning Haitian of the Seven Treasure Trading Company in charge of buying Whale Rubber," Ning Fengzhi said. "He's a member of the same family who recommended Mo An, and he knows what it does."

"This could make the sect flourish, so it must be done in secret. If anyone discovers it, we can reveal that Whale Rubber is used to make two kinds of virility pills."

Once Uncle Jian and Uncle Gu had finished talking, Ning Fengzhi, who was sitting at his desk handling documents, shared his plans with the two elders.

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo did not take part in managing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but Ning Fengzhi still told them what he had in mind. It was a sign of respect.

With the sect's business settled, Ning Fengzhi turned to another matter. "Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, what do you think of Mo An and Rongrong...?"

After confirming what Whale Rubber could do, Ning Fengzhi had formed another plan: to bind Mo An firmly to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo doted on Ning Rongrong. If he tried to play matchmaker without their consent, resentment would be hard to avoid.

"If that boy really can become a Titled Douluo someday, I see no reason why not."

Sword Douluo had no objection. No matter how formidable Ning Rongrong became, she would still be a support-type Soul Master. To stand firm on a continent where strength ruled, she needed a Power Attack System Soul Master at her side, just as Ning Fengzhi had him and Bone Douluo.

After Sword Douluo had spoken, Bone Douluo gave his view. "Mo An and Rongrong are both still young. It's a little early to discuss this. Let's wait."

"Hahaha, you're right. We can talk about it when they're older. By then, they might not even need us to push them."

With a genius possessing Innate Full Soul Power in Mo An and an opportunity like Whale Rubber, Ning Fengzhi no longer had to worry so much about the sect's future. Even his voice sounded more relaxed.