The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Ning Fengzhi's Allegiance!

"Your Eminence Heavenly Phoenix, since you and this young master have grand plans to establish a faction."

"My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to devote all its wealth and connections to assisting you, helping you establish your faction in the shortest possible time!"

Ning Fengzhi lifted the slightly cooled tea before him and drained it in one gulp.

His usually refined, composed face flushed with excitement, and even his breathing grew heavier.

"Oh? And what do you want from me in return?"

Leng Yaozhu propped her exquisite cheek on one hand, reclining lazily in the seat of honor.

Her phoenix eyes, which seemed capable of seeing straight through people's hearts, studied Ning Fengzhi with interest, a faint, ambiguous smile curving her lips.

"After all, bargaining chips never come free in this world."

Ning Fengzhi drew a deep breath, his gaze burning:

"If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ever faces a calamity that threatens its very survival, I ask that Your Eminence lend us your aid."

"In return, we can devote all our resources to raising your faction to the head of the Upper Three Sects, completely replacing the Clear Sky Sect as the dominant power!"

"Replace the Clear Sky Sect? I feel... that would be far too dull."

Leng Yaozhu chuckled, her laughter carrying an arrogance that looked down upon the world.

"If you want my help, why not erase the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's name and merge your entire sect into my faction instead?"

"What do you mean by that, Your Eminence?!"

The flush instantly drained from Ning Fengzhi's face. His expression froze completely, and even his voice shot up an octave.

How could one of the mighty Upper Three Sects so easily become someone else's vassal?

"Exactly what I said."

Leng Yaozhu sat upright, setting aside her languor as a terrifying, invisible pressure flickered through the hall.

"If your entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect joins, I will allow you to maintain your own branch within the faction and grant you three core elder seats outright."

"Not only that, once you join, no one on this continent will dare lay a finger on you. Most importantly—"

She paused, a beguiling gleam flashing through her beautiful eyes:

"I can help you completely resolve your martial soul's flaw and evolve your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda directly into the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

"Is that enough?"

"Your Eminence... you, you can evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?!"

Ning Fengzhi sprang to his feet, dragging the red sandalwood chair beneath him with an ear-piercing scrape.

He stared fixedly at Leng Yaozhu.

His hands clenched into tight fists, and his voice shook violently with overwhelming shock and excitement.

"Of course."

Leng Yaozhu nodded calmly, as though discussing something utterly insignificant.

Ning Fengzhi's chest heaved as his mind frantically weighed the possibilities.

If she truly could break the curse on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, what did it matter if he pledged allegiance to Leng Yaozhu?

So long as the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda bloodline could be passed down.

A hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand years later, who would control this faction remained to be seen!

He drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the raging waves in his heart, and sat back down, his expression becoming more solemn than ever:

"If Your Eminence truly can evolve our sect's martial soul into the Nine Treasure... no, even the Eight Treasure would suffice!"

"I, Ning Fengzhi, am willing to lead the entire sect into your faction as a subordinate clan!"

"Then, Your Eminence, have you... decided on a name for your faction?"

Ning Fengzhi asked cautiously, his manner already lowering unconsciously.

Leng Yaozhu did not answer directly.

Instead, she lowered her head and affectionately pinched Lu Xuan's soft, fair cheek as he nestled in her arms. "Ask Xiao Xuan. He decides."

Lu Xuan rubbed his chin.

The image of himself ascending to the Divine Realm and gathering the faith of countless people flashed through his mind. A sharp light gleamed in his eyes, and he declared:

"Then let's call it—the Dao-Seeking Sect! Seek the Great Dao, unite all paths as one!"

"The Dao-Seeking Sect! What spirit, what a name!"

Ning Fengzhi immediately clapped in admiration beside them, delivering his flattery without leaving a trace.

Then Ning Fengzhi swallowed, turning an eager gaze toward Leng Yaozhu:

"Your Eminence, may I ask... when can this martial soul evolution take place?"

"In such a hurry?" Leng Yaozhu raised an eyebrow.

"To be frank, there are several elders in the sect with great seniority and considerable prestige. Bringing the entire sect under your banner will mean satisfying many conflicting voices."

"Only by personally displaying the miracle of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda can I silence every voice of opposition within the sect!"

Ning Fengzhi explained honestly.

"Wait here."

Leng Yaozhu left him with those two indifferent words, then took Lu Xuan by the hand and turned toward the inner hall.

Before long, the two returned.

In Leng Yaozhu's hand was a peerless immortal herb radiating a peculiar halo.

The immortal herb had an exceedingly unusual form. Its stems and leaves below were as fine and delicately arranged as curtains of trailing vines, interwoven into a net.

At its tip, however, a brilliant golden tulip bloomed proudly.

An intensely rich tulip fragrance, soothing the mind with a single breath, instantly filled the entire reception hall.

Its golden radiance exuded an unmistakable splendor and regal elegance.

"Your Eminence, this is...?"

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had remained hidden in the shadows until he could no longer resist revealing himself, both stared blankly at the immortal herb.

"This is an immortal-grade medicinal herb, aromatic silk beauty," Leng Yaozhu said solemnly.

"It is naturally majestic and elegant, capable of absorbing the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of the sun and moon."

"Its medicinal properties perfectly complement your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, each enhancing the other."

"Consume it, and your martial soul will break its shackles and evolve!"

Ning Fengzhi accepted the aromatic silk beauty with trembling hands.

He examined the immortal herb, which resembled a work of art, but had no idea where to begin eating it:

"May I ask Your Eminence how one should consume such a divine treasure?"

"Gently suck at the flower's stamens, slowly drawing its purest essence into your body. Then immediately sit cross-legged in meditation and circulate your soul power to guide it gently, allowing its medicinal effects to spread throughout every limb and bone," Leng Yaozhu instructed.

"Thank you for bestowing this treasure, Your Eminence! I will return to the sect at once and attempt it in seclusion."

"If I truly succeed, I will honor Your Eminence as my liege, and everyone in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will bow in allegiance!"

Ning Fengzhi was so excited that his words tumbled over one another, and he turned to leave.

"Hey, what's the rush? Stay here."

Leng Yaozhu waved her hand, and a gentle yet irresistible surge of fire-attribute soul power sealed the doors.

"Absorb it right here. With Sword Douluo and me guarding you, nothing will go wrong."

"...Very well!"

Ning Fengzhi immediately stopped declining.

He sat cross-legged in the center of the hall and, following Leng Yaozhu's instructions, lowered his head to gently suck at the flower's stamens.

As the minutes and seconds slipped by, the aura within the hall began to change dramatically.

Before Ning Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, originally shining with a seven-colored halo, manifested on its own and hovered silently in midair.

Suddenly, an exceptionally dazzling burst of pure golden light erupted from within the pagoda.

Accompanied by the aromatic silk beauty's rich fragrance, the golden light rippled outward in successive waves.

The entire reception hall shone with golden splendor, a magnificent spectacle!

His martial soul was undergoing a transformation that would remake it from the inside out!

Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had been standing silent guard nearby, stopped breathing altogether.

His sword-sharp eyes remained fixed on the pagoda blazing with boundless radiance.

As the golden light gradually withdrew and dissipated, the transformed Glazed Tile Pagoda finally revealed itself in full before everyone.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... eight... nine?!"

Chen Xin's voice rose from an initial murmur into an incredulous cry.

"Nine stories! It really is a nine-story pagoda!!!"

At Chen Xin's cry, Ning Fengzhi's tightly shut eyes snapped open.

Deep within his eyes, alongside shock, was wild joy!

Because in that very instant.

The soul power bottleneck that had plagued him for more than half his life, holding him firmly at level 79, had been pierced like a thin sheet of paper!

He was now a genuine level 80 Quasi-Soul Douluo!

The first thing Ning Fengzhi did upon awakening was stare fixedly at the martial soul hovering before him.

As he gazed at the crystal-clear, nine-story pagoda flowing with nine-colored divine radiance, two streams of hot tears spilled from his eyes.

"Nine Treasure... it really is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!" Overcome with joy, Ning Fengzhi threw back his head and cried out.

This was the miracle that generations of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ancestors had yearned for their entire lives, and now it had actually come true through him!

The next instant, Ning Fengzhi dropped to one knee without hesitation.

He struck his chest hard with his right hand, looking toward Leng Yaozhu and Lu Xuan with fervent, utterly devout eyes:

"Thank you, Your Eminence Heavenly Phoenix, for granting me this rebirth!"

"I, Ning Fengzhi, swear today upon my Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul that, from this day forward, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will follow Your Eminence and the young master with unwavering devotion!"

"We will devote the strength of our entire sect wholeheartedly to expanding the Dao-Seeking Sect, without shrinking even from ten thousand deaths!"