Schemes and Ambition

"Innate Full Soul Power, a Top-Tier Beast Martial Soul."

Ning Fengzhi's hand fell open.

As the letter slipped from his fingers, a trace of dejection flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He had already been surprised by Golden Crocodile Douluo's appearance.

That child was precisely the peerless genius their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had pursued for countless years.

For generations, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had sought to break through the limitations of their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul.

One of their ancestors had once achieved that breakthrough by grafting in an outsider's bloodline.

Unfortunately, before that ancestor could leave behind a bloodline, he died while training away from home.

Now, if they brought that child into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to be with Rongrong, and he became the sect's son-in-law in the future, their children might be able to help the sect break through the Soul Saint limit and advance toward Soul Douluo, or even Titled Douluo.

"In the end, we still can't match Spirit Hall's methods of gathering talent."

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath. Over the years, he had exhausted himself expanding his sect's influence across the entire Heaven Dou Empire, even binding the sect to the gradually declining empire for the sake of talent. Yet the talent he had sought had slipped through his fingers.

Still, the little fellow's birthplace...

Ning Fengzhi bent down and picked up the intelligence report again. "Vast Sea City..."

He turned to look at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's intelligence network map hanging over the mural in his study, which only he, as sect master, and the two Douluo who guarded the sect were allowed to see.

Elsewhere, the markers were packed densely together. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had a presence in virtually every village and town.

Only Vast Sea City, which bordered the vast sea, and the surrounding provinces had a mere handful of markers.

It was as though something were clearing away the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's influence, preventing it from extending its commercial and intelligence networks across the whole Heaven Dou Empire.

"Uncle Jian, we may need to devote some effort to Vast Sea City from now on."

"Also, I intend to agree to His Majesty Xue Ye's request."

Ning Fengzhi's eyes shone with excitement.

If that place could produce one person with Innate Full Soul Power, it would only produce more.

As long as one appeared in his lifetime, whether male or female, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might be able to take another step forward.

As long as he cooperated with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, he might be able to secure that genius for himself before Spirit Hall could.

As for getting the better of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, Ning Fengzhi was absolutely confident.

How could that world of intrigue and backstabbing compare with the comfort of their quiet, peaceful sect?

As for Golden Crocodile Douluo's journey, Ning Fengzhi had already cast it to the back of his mind.

Now that the Clear Sky Sect had sealed itself away, their so-called Upper Three Sects could only live at Spirit Hall's mercy, in a sense.

Whether there was one more mountain or one less pressing down on them would change nothing.

"If we can just find one..." Ning Fengzhi paced, a hint of hope on his face.

Sword Douluo glanced at Ning Fengzhi, who was in some ways more cold-blooded than the two of them, those old fellows, and rubbed his brow. "Let me be clear: if Rongrong doesn't like the child you find, you can't force her."

But...

Before Sword Douluo could say anything else, Ning Fengzhi turned to him. "Uncle Jian..."

Though he was only at the peak of the Soul Saint realm, the presence of a man who had concealed his strength for years while commanding a sect whose influence reached across the entire empire erupted in an instant. "Rongrong has received the sect's nurture and consumed a great many resources. She must shoulder everything required to revitalize the sect."

"Fengzhi!" Sword Douluo could plainly see how fixated Ning Fengzhi had become.

But before Sword Douluo could use his Soul Power to rouse Ning Fengzhi from his near-mad state, Ning Fengzhi calmed down on his own.

Yet in Sword Douluo's eyes, Ning Fengzhi was worse now than he had been in his earlier frenzy.

"Still, Uncle Jian, your words reminded me: if the child doesn't like Rongrong, or if the child is a girl, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will also need to prepare a boy worthy of her."

"Among Third Uncle's boys, Ning Rongyu has level-seven Innate Soul Power. It's a little lower than Rongrong's, but it's enough..."

Seeing Ning Fengzhi cast aside his usual refined gentleness, Chen Xin sighed.

A man who had devoted everything to the sect...

Knowing that Ning Fengzhi would not listen to him now, he turned and headed for his Hidden Sword Room.

With all this pent-up gloom, he was better off not seeing Rongrong for now.

But he had only taken one step when he seemed to remember something. He stopped, looked back, and hooked a raised hand, drawing the paper containing the intelligence on Mu Tian'en into his grasp.

Whatever else could be said of the future husband of little Rongrong, whom he had raised with his own hands, the fellow had to be outstanding.

This child with Innate Full Soul Power would serve as a reference.

With Ning Fengzhi's order, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect began pulling back its far-flung eyes and ears and sticking to honest business. Its members were primarily support-type Soul Masters, and most worked as appraisers on the side; its auction houses and material trading outlets stretched across half the continent. Meanwhile, another sect, famed for having the number-one Beast Martial Soul under heaven, received the same news.

"That old thing still hasn't died?" Yu Yuanzhen took a deep breath.

He paid considerable attention to the old monster who had once competed with his father.

But over the years, Golden Crocodile Douluo had lived in seclusion, rarely venturing out or even undertaking Martial Soul missions. Even people within Spirit Hall might not recognize the strapping old man, let alone the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect's spies.

Not only had they failed to obtain any news of the old man, but they had nearly been captured themselves.

Still, Yu Yuanzhen had learned that Golden Crocodile Douluo had all but created a Golden Crocodile Clan by himself.

Though its numbers were not great, had every sect not started out that way?

Yu Yuanzhen had thought that those people, whom he believed had long since lost the support of Golden Crocodile Douluo, might break away from Spirit Hall and become one of the many factions it controlled from afar.

But things had not developed as Yu Yuanzhen had imagined.

He had been pondering the reason.

Now it seemed the answer was simply that the pillar holding the sea steady was still there. Naturally, they had no need to rush to break away from Spirit Hall and seek another chance to grow.

Still, the information now revealed about Golden Crocodile Douluo brought a smile to Yu Yuanzhen's face. He had taken over as master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect from his father several years ago.

The Martial Soul was a Black Hole Whale.

He had never heard of that Martial Soul, but one listen told him that their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon was its natural bane.

Yet a child like that had actually prompted Golden Crocodile Douluo to come in person and take him as a disciple.

Golden Crocodile Douluo, whose heroic spirit had once reached the clouds, had truly grown old and lost the boldness to contend with his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

For a moment, Thunder Douluo burst into hearty laughter.