I've recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Name: 'Pokémon But Stardew Valley'
----------------------
On the other side—
Ye Wen and Dugu Bo did not rush directly to Sea God Island by flying at top speed. Instead, they chose to walk slowly, taking their time to make the journey.
Ye Wen was well aware that once he entered the Sea God Island, it would be akin to receiving an immunity card, but at the cost of losing a certain degree of freedom. Thus, Ye Wen decided to take this opportunity to explore the world before entering. Moreover, he believed that the cultivation gains sacrificed during this period would be more than compensated for by the rewards from the divine trial.
Otherwise, how could Tang San achieve his title as a Title Douluo and ascend to godhood in his twenties? Wasn't it all thanks to the divine trial's "cheat codes"?
Additionally, Ye Wen had the intention of inspecting the offline development of the Medical Alliance.
As the saying goes, "A tunnel a thousand miles long can collapse because of an ant hole." Given the complex composition of the Medical Alliance's personnel, Ye Wen didn't want his hard-earned alliance to be ruined by a few bad apples.
Ye Wen also planned to see if, after the fall of the Spirit Hall, he could use the Medical Alliance to replace its role in awakening martial souls and gathering faith.
As they made their way toward the Sea God Island, Ye Wen indeed discovered some issues among the Medical Alliance's subordinates. Some scoundrels were secretly raising prices to line their own pockets, abusing their authority, and engaging in other corrupt practices.
Ye Wen, having studied history, naturally had contingency plans for such minor problems. Thus, he transmitted a message back to the Medical Alliance, introducing two new systems.
The first was a Thought and Skill Assessment, primarily targeting physicians and certain individuals in positions of power. Those who passed could continue in their roles, while those who failed would be recalled to headquarters for retraining. In severe cases, offenders would have their Medical Alliance membership revoked outright.
The second system was much harsher. Ye Wen established a special Undercover Enforcement Department. Members of this department would pose as patients and conduct surprise inspections and covert investigations in various regions. Once someone guilty of egregious crimes was discovered, they would be granted the authority to execute them on the spot.
With the introduction of these two systems, cries of despair erupted throughout the Medical Alliance. After all, many individuals had obtained their positions through opportunism or connections.
These two systems, inspired by the imperial examination system and the Imperial Guard, effectively filtered out the incompetent and the unscrupulous, bringing order to the previously chaotic structure of the Medical Alliance.
While the major powers marveled at the boldness of the Medical Alliance's actions, none sought to emulate these systems. Their organizations were primarily bound together by bloodline martial souls, forming networks of relationships. Implementing Ye Wen's systems would only result in self-inflicted harm.
However, as the saying goes, "In a large forest, there are all kinds of birds." Ning Fengzhi regarded these two systems as nothing short of genius and quickly introduced them into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
That's right—there was no hiding the fact that Ning Rongrong's martial soul had evolved. Thus, Ning Fengzhi renamed his sect the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
From the moment Ye Wen accepted Ning Rongrong, it was equivalent to fully embracing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. There was no need to hide this fact; concealing it would only create cracks in their relationship.
At first, Ye Wen worried that Ning Fengzhi might demand Ning Rongrong's return. However, Ning Fengzhi was a shrewd man who understood Ye Wen's desire to avoid straining relations between them. Naturally, he refrained from making such a foolish move.
What left Ye Wen feeling awkward, however, was that Ning Fengzhi would occasionally drop by unannounced, subtly inquiring about the status of his grandchild.
Ye Wen, of course, knew what Ning Fengzhi was up to. Intermarriage between major powers in the Douluo Continent was not uncommon, even considered quite normal. However, if a descendant awakened the exclusive martial soul of another family, that child would typically join the other family's lineage rather than being incorporated into their own sect.
But as mentioned earlier, high-level soul masters often struggled to have children. It wasn't that Ye Wen hadn't tried—it was simply that Ning Rongrong herself wasn't cooperating.
Upon learning that Ye Wen was willing to follow tradition—if their future child inherited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda or even the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—they would allow the child to return to Ning Fengzhi's sect. Though Ning Fengzhi appeared calm on the surface, Ye Wen could tell he was delighted.
Ning Fengzhi's eagerness to adopt these two systems was closely related to the inherent structure of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect itself.
As everyone knew, despite being one of the three great sects, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was not renowned for its combat strength. Its direct descendants were all martial soul masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, which led to a core tenet of their sect: their partners must be battle-type soul masters to ensure their safety.
Regardless, over the years, the non-combat-related branches of the sect had become an inseparable yet burdensome part of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, always scheming for power and influence.
Fortunately, these individuals were pragmatic enough to understand that without Title Douluos, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would cease to exist. Thus, they refrained from challenging Ning Fengzhi's authority.
However, their factionalism and greed ultimately weakened the sect's finances year after year—a situation Ning Fengzhi, striving to elevate the sect to new heights, could not tolerate.
Previously, Ning Fengzhi had no effective solution, but Ye Wen's two systems provided him with direction: to restrict these branches from a moral high ground.
Ning Fengzhi didn't oppose capable individuals holding most of the resources, but only if they possessed the corresponding talent—not relying on their elders' achievements.
However, the Imperial Guard system was too brutal and bloody. Ning Fengzhi made some adjustments, as the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was fundamentally different from the Medical Alliance. Most of the sect's leaders still shared blood ties.
After Ning Fengzhi's modifications, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's version of the Imperial Guard focused on undercover inspections of financial records across various regions. If any issues were found, local leaders would be held accountable, with powers of arrest and review.
Because Ning Fengzhi's reasoning was sound, the sect's elders were left speechless and unable to object.
They naturally engaged in covert activities behind the scenes, embezzling sect funds being a common practice. While no one had investigated them before, now that someone was looking into their affairs, they felt as though they were sitting on pins and needles.
Meanwhile, the wily old fox Ning Fengzhi sat calmly atop the mountain, confident in his position. With two Title Douluos as his bodyguards, he trusted no one would dare rebel. He merely hoped to curb their corruption and improve the sect's financial situation.
As time passed, Ye Wen arrived at the southwestern seas of the Douluo Continent—the Han Hai City from the original storyline.
Standing at the gates of Han Hai City, Ye Wen felt a strange sense of familiarity when he saw the words "Han Hai." Though he couldn't quite put his finger on it, he didn't dwell on it. Sometimes, people just had inexplicable feelings.
Thanks to prior arrangements, Ye Wen quickly acquired the Dragon Abyss Boat, the nautical equipment he needed, from Han Hai City's branch office. He also found someone willing to guide him to the Sea God Island.
This leg of the journey went smoothly for Ye Wen. He didn't encounter any troublemakers who might divert him to the Devil Whale Sea Region. Instead, he took a detour and arrived safely at the port of the Sea God Island.
------------------------------------------------------
Join my Patreon to read an exclusive novel – 'Douluo: Rebuilding Hao Tian Sect'
400+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)