Bait

"Innocent Bystanders Suffer."

The phrase suddenly surfaced in everyone's minds.

The Seven Kill Sword's offensive was aimed at all the Sect Disciples, and one unlucky soul after another was knocked down by that fierce blast of air.

Only Han Tao was the exception.

When Ning Rongrong ran off, Han Tao had already sensed that the atmosphere was wrong, so he followed Ning Rongrong's route and quietly slipped far away from the Training Field.

Sword Douluo's targeting had not landed on the real culprit.

In that case, he might as well knock all of you flat. Only then would you understand what the might of a Titled Douluo was.

At this moment, the idea that "a Titled Douluo must not be provoked" sank deep into the hearts of all the disciples.

Teaching by example cut deeper than words, and pain left a stronger mark than comfort.

Chen Xin swept a casual glance over them and let out a cold snort before finally putting away his Martial Soul.

With his strength as a Titled Douluo, Ning Fengzhi's movements could not escape his eyes.

His eruption of Soul Power carried both the intent to avenge Ning Rongrong and the deeper purpose of cooperating with Ning Fengzhi to educate the Sect Disciples.

Not every school was called Shrek. Compared with the bizarre School Motto "those who dare not cause trouble are mediocrities," "a Titled Douluo must not be provoked" was the mainstream on the continent.

"Rules are used to protect the weak, but if you're strong enough, you can naturally ignore them."

Bone Douluo stood in midair, chatting and laughing with ease.

"Sect rules? Screw sect rules. If you were a Titled Douluo like me, why would you need to care about any of that?"

On this Douluo Continent, in an era where great power belonged to the self, strength was everything.

Wealth, authority, and status were all derivatives of strength. Without strength, everything was a castle in the air.

The reason the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could stand tall to this day and still maintain its position among the Upper Three Sects was inseparable from the contributions of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, its two peak combatants.

In this year-end assessment, quite a few disciples in the sect were injured by Sword Douluo's Soul Power pressure.

The wounded needed treatment.

Before long, a middle-aged woman with blue hair arrived at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Who is she?"

Han Tao felt she looked somewhat familiar, but he was certain he had never seen her before, so he asked Manager Ning beside him.

"Ye Junlan, the most powerful healing Soul Master in the Heaven Dou Empire."

Manager Ning suddenly revealed an inscrutable expression and continued, "But she has another identity as well."

"Oh?" Han Tao was puzzled.

"Ye Lingling's mother, the owner of the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul."

Han Tao froze, finding it somewhat hard to believe.

"Why?"

"I mean why? Aren't Nine Heart Begonia and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect mortal enemies? Why would she be willing to come treat us?"

"Are you sure she won't do anything malicious, like mix in some extra ingredients while treating people?"

With a smile on his face, Manager Ning began to analyze it for Han Tao in a careful and orderly manner.

"You're right. Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are mortal enemies, but after all, many generations have passed. In the end, it can't really be called a life-and-death feud."

"Last time, Ye Lingling targeted you, and that undoubtedly infringed upon our sect's reputation."

"Now that our power is immense, all we need is to target them a little, and mother and daughter will have a very hard time. Letting her come treat people this time gives both sides a way out."

This was the difference between a force and an individual. Sect powers placed interests above all. In the face of interests, even a generations-long feud was unable to withstand a single blow.

"After this treatment, it means that matter is over."

At that moment, Ning Fengzhi walked over and patted Han Tao on the shoulder.

"Han Tao, you're young and hot-blooded. This time, you absolutely must not have any thoughts of revenge."

He suddenly leaned close to Han Tao's ear and quietly added in a hush.

"A Titled Douluo can ignore sect rules, so naturally, he can also ignore sect interests."

Han Tao: "."

Titled Douluo? Master, you really think too highly of me.

Nine Heart Begonia was worthy of being Nine Heart Begonia. Its healing ability could be called the best on the entire continent. Under Ye Junlan's Soul Skill, the injured Sect Disciples recovered one by one, and soon it was Han Tao's turn.

"You are Han Tao?"

Ye Junlan's bearing did not lose the slightest propriety. As she spoke, she condensed her Martial Soul with incomparable elegance.

"Fallen Red!"

This was not a Soul Skill. It was more like some kind of Secret Method.

A certain feeling of "one leaf withers, one leaf grows" emerged; as the fallen red withered, the decaying petals and leaves bred fertile power and transformed into Vitality.

Han Tao held his breath and focused, carefully sensing the microscopic changes taking place inside his body.

"Fertility." His soul power had turned into an energy akin to "fertility," not only restoring Han Tao's body, but also nourishing his own martial soul, Blue Silver Grass.

Under the Blue Silver Grass's intense perception, Han Tao realized that his martial soul had, imperceptibly and unbelievably, become tougher.

Impossible. Why?

Han Tao looked at Ye Junlan with a puzzled gaze.

And at that very moment, her soul power came to an abrupt stop.

As the soul power faded, the "fertility" contained in Fallen Red also vanished without a trace, as though it had been an illusion.

Seeing Han Tao's expression, Ye Junlan looked somewhat surprised.

"You can actually sense it?"

Han Tao's brows furrowed slightly. He did not understand what she meant.

"The effect of your Secret Method seems to go beyond that."

"Of course." Ye Junlan's expression returned to a bland, false smile.

"This Secret Method is called 'Fallen Red.' It can prompt plant-type martial souls to evolve. It's just that ordinary Soul Masters can't sense the changes in their martial souls."

Clearly, she had investigated me.

This time, she had come with a purpose.

She knew that Han Tao's martial soul was Blue Silver Grass, knew that his Innate Soul Power was only rank one, and knew what Han Tao lacked most.

Even more rarely, the opening provided by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had given the two of them a chance to make contact.

Then, when the bait of Martial Soul Evolution was placed before you, could you really suppress your own desire?

Han Tao gave a noncommittal smile. He did not believe Martial Soul Evolution was that simple.

Seeing Han Tao's smile, Ye Junlan's heart suddenly lurched. She abruptly realized that her plan for this trip might not go as smoothly as she had expected.

"Martial Soul Evolution is something that can drive countless Soul Masters mad."

"The effect of the Fallen Red Secret Method is very strong, but if you want Blue Silver Grass to transform, that is definitely impossible."

The Nine-Leaf Begonia lay in her palm, its white and pink petals interweaving under the fluorescent light. She stared at the fresh, tender petals upon it.

"You're right. Fallen Red alone truly cannot make a martial soul evolve."

"The Secret Method only serves as assistance. If you want Martial Soul Evolution, additional conditions must be fulfilled."

Han Tao still shook his head. "Why should I believe you?"

This time, she ignored Han Tao's doubt and continued, "Nine Heart Begonia is already the pinnacle of Healing Type martial souls, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is not the pinnacle of support-type martial souls."

"The generations-long feud between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Nine Heart Begonia is not, as the rumors on Douluo Continent claim, a struggle for the title of 'number one support.' It is purely and simply a matter of profit."

"Every generation of Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has wanted to obtain from me the method for Martial Soul Evolution!"

A cold wind blew past.

Han Tao's scalp tightened.

At this moment, Manager Ning and Ning Fengzhi had already gone far away.