The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Movements

"Sect Master, the young mistress, Miss Lin, and their companions have enrolled at Shrek Academy."

In a lavishly appointed room within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a young man respectfully reported to a middle-aged man dressed in white.

The middle-aged man was Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Heaven Dou Empire's current imperial preceptor, and Ning Rongrong's father.

"Understood. You may leave."

Ning Fengzhi waved a hand, and the young man cupped his hands in salute before departing.

With peace restored, Ning Fengzhi sank into a whirlwind of thought.

His daughter and that girl from the Sun Moon Continent had gone to Shrek Academy.

That was not a place just anyone could endure.

But to cure his daughter of her temper, he had no choice but to prescribe a strong dose of medicine.

Of course, had he not known that Grandmaster had gone there too, Ning Fengzhi would have been more than a little worried.

As for Li Ke, he had also written a letter asking Grandmaster to look after her. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's prestige and gold still carried some weight.

Naturally, Ning Fengzhi knew of Sun Moon's existence and had reached a certain agreement with them.

After all, soul tools were simply too tempting. What the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacked was precisely this sort of "external power."

Why had Ning Fengzhi worked his way into the Heaven Dou Empire's center of power? Why did he support two Titled Douluos? There was only one reason.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect specialized in support.

Even the strongest support was still only support. If they encountered someone who refused to show them any respect, the sect's destruction would be just around the corner.

That was why he pursued power: to keep the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's legacy from being destroyed in his hands.

The two great empires were gradually declining, while Spirit Hall grew stronger by the day. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had no choice but to seek another way out.

Ning Fengzhi was no petty traitor selling out his country. He simply cared more about his sect than his nation.

He had considered letting the Heaven Dou Empire develop this technology, but those fellows were useless. Three of its four princes were busy fighting among themselves, while the fourth had no interest in power and only wanted to live as a wastrel.

Moreover, all three princes scoffed at soul tools, confident in the strength of Soul Masters themselves. Ning Fengzhi could hardly demonstrate the tools for them, either. That would violate his agreement.

Of course, he had also considered having Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo attack together to subdue and imprison the other party.

But that group also had a Titled Douluo who, together with his own soul tools, possessed the strength to fight both of them at once.

Ning Fengzhi had not intended to provide support then, either, because the man had other capable companions keeping the sect in their sights at all times. He could only leave the fighting to the Titled Douluos.

The Sun Moon Empire was powerful. Not only was its soul tool technology highly advanced, but even its Soul Masters were formidable.

It was better, then, to befriend them and secretly learn their technology.

In Ning Fengzhi's eyes, unless some mighty warrior descended from the heavens onto the Douluo Continent, Sun Moon's chances of victory were extremely high.

If Sun Moon intended to turn hostile and disavow their ties, he could only hope that Li Ke's connection would allow Ning Rongrong to live out her life safely.

Every plan left him reacting to others. There was no helping it. As a support martial soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was just that unfortunate.

If it were the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, a single Blue Lightning Dragon Claw would do the job.

If it were the Clear Sky Hammer, sheer strength could overcome ten kinds of finesse.

Neither would leave him so helpless.

If only his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could fire soul guidance rays too.

"Haha, Sect Master Ning! I trust you've been well!"

Suddenly, a hearty voice rang out, interrupting Ning Fengzhi's thoughts.

Ning Fengzhi knew that Sun Moon's leader had arrived.

"Fengzhi! How could you let Rongrong and Li Ke go to that Shrek Academy?"

Two more figures approached. One had white hair and a stern face, while the other had black hair and wore an inscrutable smile.

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo had arrived as well, both carrying a hint of displeasure.

"Brother Xu Sheng, Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, why aren't you still out enjoying the mountains and rivers?"

Ning Fengzhi rose to greet them.

Xu Sheng waved a hand and laughed. "Hahaha! Heaven Dou's scenery may be lovely, but my Li Ke's affairs are more important."

Xu Sheng was the captain of the Sun Moon Organization, a Titled Douluo whose martial soul was the sun. He was immensely powerful.

The green armor he wore consisted of various enhancement soul tools.

At his waist hung a melee soul tool whose quality rivaled Sword Douluo's martial soul: the Golden Great Saber.

Moreover, the man was not only formidable but also straightforward and generous. That was the foundation of Ning Fengzhi's willingness to cooperate with the Sun Moon Vanguard.

However, even Ning Fengzhi probably had not realized that Xu Sheng was one of the Sun Moon Continent's foremost experts in both disciplines. Those at his level could be counted on one hand.

It was also through his formidable personal strength and powerful soul tools that Xu Sheng had fought two opponents at once and intimidated the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, allowing their cooperation to proceed smoothly.

Fortunately, Ning Fengzhi was a cautious, intelligent man with an immense appetite for soul tools.

Had he been even a little unwilling to believe what he had seen, and unafraid of other factions becoming stronger than him after obtaining soul tools, he could have simply summoned other top experts to swarm them.

Then all the Sun Moon Vanguard Squad's efforts would have come to nothing.

On the present-day Sun Moon Continent, progress in soul-guided weaponry was relatively slow. Soul tools were still used more often to enhance martial souls, in pursuit of individual Soul Masters' fighting power.

However, the Soul Guidance Hall was carrying out reforms. Perhaps in another thousand years, powerful fixed-installation soul tools could become widespread.

"Fengzhi, you'd better hurry and bring Rongrong and the others back. If they suffer so much as a scratch, you'd better watch out!"

"Uncle Jian, there's no need to make such a fuss. How can they see a rainbow without weathering wind and rain? With you two spoiling Rongrong, her talent cannot be properly realized."

"And rest assured, I've learned that Grandmaster is there too."

"Grandmaster? That brat who likes playing with shit, piss, and farts? Then that's even more unacceptable!"

"Oh? Who is this Grandmaster?" Xu Sheng asked, seeing how much Ning Fengzhi seemed to trust the man.

"A very learned man with astonishing wisdom. Though weak in strength, he is not someone to underestimate."

Ning Fengzhi recalled his single encounter with Grandmaster. They had met while he was traveling in the Star Luo Empire, discreetly inspecting his holdings there.

They had discussed many questions concerning Soul Masters and martial souls, and Ning Fengzhi had gained a great deal. Afterward, he had reported Grandmaster's theories targeting the white tiger martial soul to the authorities.

Such a fine talent could not be left in the Star Luo Empire.

"If he were to lead the Douluo Continent's research into soul tools, perhaps we could soon catch up to your level, Brother Xu Sheng."

"Oh? If he's that talented, why haven't you recruited him?"

Xu Sheng grew interested. Although the soul tools he supplied here were all obsolete models with no potential for further development, their technology was still a rare treasure to the Douluo Continent.

"He personally dislikes attaching himself to any faction. If he joins one, he insists on holding a high position from which he can influence it."

"That very pride makes him difficult to recruit."

"I see. In that case, I'll have to go and take a good look. Would that be all right, Sect Master Ning?"

Xu Sheng considered it, intending to check on Lin Like and investigate Shrek's background.

In any case, preparations for the plan were nearly complete. The main force had skirted Sea God Island and would reach the Douluo Continent in another few years.

His intelligence gathering here was also nearly finished. In Heaven Dou, cooperation with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had already been established, and infiltration of the Star Luo Empire was nearly complete.

Only Spirit Hall remained, but that could wait until the Elite Tournament...

"We old folk should refrain from meddling in the young people's affairs. Watching over them from a distance will suffice."

Ning Fengzhi's meaning was clear: looking was fine, but preferably without making a big fuss.

"Naturally. I understand that principle too. Old Chen, Old Bone, want to come along?"

"You and Chen Xin can go. I still have to protect the sect master."

"Mm. Let's go."

Although their allegiances differed, the three Titled Douluos had spent years enjoying themselves together and had developed a measure of friendship.

But when faced with a real battle, they would not allow those feelings to sway them.