As the initiator of this meeting.
Ning Fengzhi actively stood up after everyone had arrived.
"Everyone!"
"Fengzhi won't beat around the bush here."
"The reason for gathering everyone this time is because according to our investigations, we can now confirm that Spirit Hall is conducting large-scale recruitment of soul masters."
By this point in the conversation, there was actually no need to continue.
Just as Dugu Bo had guessed, those summoned by Ning Fengzhi this time were all more or less sects and families that didn't want Spirit Hall to dominate alone.
Everyone present understood!
Spirit Hall's current intentions toward the Douluo Continent were like Sima Zhao's heart—known to all.
Recruiting soul masters—the purpose was already self-evident!
"Could they really be planning to openly declare war on the two great empires like this?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head with a heavy expression.
With Spirit Hall's current strength, wanting to openly declare war on the two great empires was still unlikely.
To say that Spirit Hall's current soul master power was already far higher than the Tian Dou and Star Luo empires, especially Titled Douluo-level experts who occupied more than half of the Douluo Continent.
Military and political power was clearly insufficient!
Obviously not yet possessing the ability to lead a country.
But...
Spirit Hall's current actions had already revealed their fangs.
"The reason for inviting everyone this time is to ask if anyone has any good suggestions."
"..."
Throughout the entire meeting, Yang Fan maintained a state of silence.
Not saying a word!
This continued until the meeting ended and Ning Fengzhi kept him behind.
"Little Fan!"
"Normally I see you as quite eloquent, so why didn't I see you speak today?"
Yang Fan smiled slightly.
But he didn't express any views on Spirit Hall's recruitment of soul masters.
"Alright!"
"Uncle Ning kept you here today for personal matters."
"You know I only have Rongrong as my daughter, so Uncle won't beat around the bush with you."
"Uncle Ning wants to ask if besides the Beautiful Silk Tulip, are there any other methods to evolve the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda?"
Yang Fan let out a long breath!
He had thought Ning Fengzhi was going to send Ning Rongrong, that spoiled princess, washed and dried to his room.
"No!"
"From what I know now, only the Beautiful Silk Tulip is possible."
He was still very grateful that he had watched Ning Fengzhi eat the Beautiful Silk Tulip. If Ning Fengzhi had confirmed the effects before choosing, it would probably have been fed to a dog.
"Then... what about Elder Yao?"
Ning Fengzhi knew Yao Lao was definitely present, and could definitely hear his words.
At this moment…
The air behind Yang Fan suddenly became distorted.
Yao Lao appeared!
Like an immortal, suspended within the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's conference hall.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin both showed expressions of respect toward Yao Lao when they saw this.
Douluo Continent, the strong are respected!
This universal respect was completely a manifestation of powerful strength.
"What he said is not wrong."
"The evolution of martial souls is not a simple matter. Ordinary pills absolutely don't have this ability. Unless Sect Master Ning can find another Beautiful Silk Tulip on the Douluo Continent or an immortal treasure herb with similar effects."
Yao Lao wasn't lying!
He truly had no way to evolve the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul.
Of course!
It was also because he hadn't conducted detailed research.
If this matter were happening to Yang Fan, he might find a solution within a year or so.
However…
He really didn't have the energy for outsiders' matters.
"Thank you!"
Ning Fengzhi smiled.
But it was a bitter, helpless smile.
Ever since he enjoyed the martial soul changes brought by the Beautiful Silk Tulip, he had mobilized the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's power on the Douluo Continent almost that very night.
Soul masters on the Douluo Continent simply didn't know what the Beautiful Silk Tulip was.
Nowhere to find, nowhere to search!
He had also thought of finding something with similar medicinal effects, even if it could only evolve Ning Rongrong's martial soul to the Eight Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, it would be a good thing.
But...
So much time had passed without any news.
In this despair and helplessness, Yao Lao's words just now were no different from sentencing Ning Rongrong's martial soul evolution history to death.
"Sect Master Ning is too polite."
"If there really is a method in the future, I will definitely come to inform you."
Ning Fengzhi directly bowed ninety degrees!
If he could really solve Ning Rongrong's or the entire family's martial soul evolution problem, what did it matter if Ning Fengzhi knelt down and kowtowed?
...
Yang Fan had originally wanted to leave just like this, but after thinking about it, he decided to speak his mind.
"Uncle Ning!"
"Actually, I have an immature little suggestion here."
"Spirit Hall gives out benefits to those low-level soul masters every month, but if I'm not mistaken, this money should be provided by the two great empires."
Ning Fengzhi was an intelligent person!
At these words...
He immediately understood what Yang Fan wanted to express.
Yang Fan was right!
The soul master subsidy was one gold spirit coin per month, a Soul Grandmaster got ten gold spirit coins per month, and when reaching Soul Elder, the monthly subsidy became one hundred gold spirit coins.
On the Douluo Continent, these three levels of soul masters were actually the most numerous!
For the two great empires, this was a considerable expense every month.
"Uncle Ning."
"I hope the Breaking Clan can participate in this matter."
This was Yang Fan's meaning!
Every month, the two great empires would take out a considerable sum of money, and Spirit Hall would use the Spirit Hall branch halls distributed in various large and small cities to distribute it.
Whether Spirit Hall took a cut from this was hard to say, but the goodwill of soul masters was indeed earned to the brim.
If at this time, the Tian Dou and Star Luo empires cut off the monthly subsidies provided to Spirit Hall, and chose other methods to distribute subsidies to soul masters...
He believed!
This move would definitely cause some soul masters to fundamentally change their views of Spirit Hall.
Spirit Hall's response would only have two options!
Either continue distributing gold spirit coins at their own expense, or stop distributing gold spirit coins.
Whichever result would affect the process of Spirit Hall's expanding ambitions.
"You little rascal!"
The corners of Ning Fengzhi's mouth curved into a meaningful arc.
Yang Fan's method was indeed a clever plan!
He also understood what Yang Fan wanted to express—nothing more than wanting to replace Spirit Hall after the Tian Dou Empire cut off funding to them.
It had to be said!
If this good deal really fell on the Breaking Clan's head, it would mean the Breaking Clan had completely established themselves on the Douluo Continent.
"This matter isn't something that can be easily accomplished."
"However, your suggestion is very mature. Uncle Ning will take your suggestion to discuss with His Majesty the Emperor tomorrow."
Ning Fengzhi considered it agreed.
For nothing else!
Just for Yao Lao's promise to help the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect pay attention to methods for martial soul evolution.
...
Yang Fan didn't plan to reveal Qian Renxue's undercover identity.
Because it wasn't the right time!
With the strength of Yao Lao, Dugu Bo... and other Titled Douluo, wanting to keep Qian Renxue, this undercover agent, in the Tian Dou Empire wasn't a difficult matter. But doing so would inevitably trigger a full-scale conflict with Spirit Hall.
The Breaking Clan's wings were not yet fully grown!
Obviously, this wasn't the time to do such a thing.
Taking a step back…
No one knew how much power Qian Renxue had developed in the Tian Dou Empire by now. Wanting to unmask a fake crown prince, the first difficulty faced would be those Tian Dou nobles.
"Fengzhi."
"What are you looking at?"
"Is there something wrong with this kid?"
Ning Fengzhi stared in the direction Yang Fan had left.
Pondering, puzzled!
"I feel Yang Fan was very strange just now."
"His suggestion just now was very good, a move that could be called pulling the firewood from under the pot, yet he didn't bring it up at the meeting."
Ning Fengzhi's face was full of confusion.
"Perhaps he just didn't think of it then."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head.
"No!"
"I feel he was worried."
Ning Fengzhi looked at several tea bowls in the conference hall that hadn't been put away yet.
Self-evident!
There must be someone here that Yang Fan didn't trust.
"This kid's mind is mature and steady, not at all like a child of this age. Having a few people he hasn't met that he worries about doesn't seem strange."
Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly after brief consideration.
Hopefully he was overthinking it!
...
Night.
Yang Fan packed his things and prepared to leave.
Yes!
He wanted to improve his strength in the shortest time possible—he couldn't just sit idly at home.
Although like ordinary soul masters, summoning his martial soul and using meditation to cultivate could also improve his strength and level.
But... too slow!
After the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament ended, the clan had officially established themselves in Tian Dou City. Relying on the fame gained from the tournament plus the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's support, they had pushed the Breaking Clan's alchemy business to its peak.
Even more prosperous than when they were previously affiliated with the Hao Tian Sect.
Now the sect had Dugu Bo, allies had the Tian Dou Huo Family and Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, plus the Speed Clan's intelligence support.
Spirit Hall definitely wouldn't attack Tian Dou City for the time being.
Yang Fan walked out of his room, his brows raising slightly, his peripheral glance toward the side revealing a somewhat helpless expression.
Silently counting in his heart: Three, two, one!
"Brother Yang Fan."
"Are you preparing to slip out for training again?"
"Take me with you!"
Bai Chenxiang, wearing a capable outfit, bounced out from the back courtyard.
Obviously!
From the way Yang Fan looked at her, he knew this little girl seemed to have already made preparations to roam the Douluo Continent with him.
Ever since the Speed Clan joined, they had lived at the Breaking Clan's place.
They had very few people!
Even with the entire clan moved in, they couldn't fill the Breaking Clan's rooms. And because the two clans had always been on good terms, there was no need to worry about unnecessary friction.
"Who said I'm going out for training?"
"I have something to go out for. You hurry back to sleep."
Bai Chenxiang demonstrated the speed of a Needle-Tailed Swift soul master at this moment.
A flash of light and shadow!
Her hands spread out, already blocking Yang Fan's path.
"Don't lie to me!"
"I know you must be going out for training."
"Just take me with you!"
Bai Chenxiang also wanted to be a combat system soul master like Yang Fan.
Dreamed of it!
But the characteristics of the Needle-Tailed Swift martial soul destined her to only pursue speed.
"Freeze!"
Yang Fan's palm pushed forward emptily.
Thick soul power directly suppressed Bai Chenxiang so she couldn't move, as if a body-binding spell had been cast on her.
His current strength was different from before!
Facing a little girl like Bai Chenxiang who only had Soul Elder strength, he could really do whatever he wanted.
"You're very smart!"
"But I can't take you with me."
"Take care of Grandpa Bai at home. He needs you more here."
"Right!"
"Don't tell anyone about my leaving. Someone as smart as you should understand what I mean."
Take Bai Chenxiang with him?
Absolutely impossible!
The place he was going next was extremely dangerous. He couldn't even take care of himself, so where would he have the ability to bring a girl along.
Yang Fan left!
Choosing to leave under the cover of night was precisely so others wouldn't know.
...
Outside Tian Dou City.
Yang Fan took out the map of the Great Star Dou Forest.
And set the direction!
Then headed toward the core area of the Great Star Dou Forest.
His current goal was very clear: obtain his eighth soul ring.
This was the most direct and effective way for him to improve his strength now.
As for his eighth soul ring, he had actually already thought it through...
He patted the hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit soul bone in his storage spirit guide device.
Hehehe—
The move doesn't need to be new, as long as it works!
The rabbit's soul bone could attract the Titan Giant Ape, so presumably it could also attract the Sky Azure Bull Python.
According to his understanding…
The Sky Azure Bull Python was a thunder-attributed soul beast. This type of attribute soul beast could usually provide thunder attacks for soul masters.
Although this was different from his fire attribute, it could serve as the icing on the cake.
Most importantly…
The Sky Azure Bull Python was a super soul beast, whose bloodline was completely incomparable to the hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit.
This was why he could become the Emperor of the Forest!
And at the super soul beast level, bloodline was actually more important than attribute.
"Move out!"
Preparing to enter the Great Star Dou Forest once again, Yang Fan felt a special kind of wonderful feeling in his heart.
Recalling the last time when targeting that Titan Giant Ape, the King of the Forest, he had brought along his grandfather Yang Wudi and the powerful expert Dugu Bo.
Even finally resorting to using the Snow Swan Kiss extract.
Yet this time…
Even facing the even more powerful Sky Azure Bull Python, he and Yao Lao similarly had the ability to take it down.
Because their master and disciple had both grown stronger!
...
Two days later.
Yang Fan arrived at the ten-thousand-year soul beast area of the Star Dou Great Forest.
With his rich experience of having lived in the soul beast forest for two years, this area was approximately where thirty-thousand-year soul beasts were most active.
Going further ahead would be fifty thousand years!
At this moment…
Yang Fan took out the only remaining piece of Xiao Wu's soul bone in this world.
Although the area he was currently in still had some distance from the core area of the Great Star Dou Forest, with the Sky Azure Bull Python's strength, it would definitely be able to detect Xiao Wu's aura.
To be safe!
He even dripped a drop of the Snow Swan Kiss extract he had kept onto the soul bone.
Instantly…
A special rabbit gamey smell assaulted his nose, making Yang Fan frown from the stench.
Steady!
With this smell's enhancement, the Sky Azure Bull Python would definitely appear.
Yang Fan sat cross-legged…
What he needed to do now was conserve his energy and wait for the Sky Azure Bull Python to appear.
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