After learning from the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Sky Bull Python about the conditions for reviving Xiao Wu, Tang San left the Star Dou Forest, preparing to search for rare treasures during his next training session to help resurrect her. His Hao Tian Hammer martial soul had gained a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring—how could he not be overjoyed?
With a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and spirit bone, his physical abilities had undergone a qualitative leap, and his soul power had also increased by six levels, reaching Level 68.
"Ning Tianchen, just wait. If I ever get the chance, I will definitely wash away this humiliation," Tang San silently clenched his fists.
The spirit bones of his "birth mother" and Xiao Wu's spirit ring and spirit bone were his foundation for confidence.
He firmly believed that Ning Tianchen couldn't possibly have such opportunities. In terms of strength, with his twin martial souls, he had already far surpassed Ning Tianchen.
Without lingering in any cities along the way, he quickly made his way to Tiandou City.
Obtaining the hundred-thousand-year spirit ring fulfilled one of the three requirements.
Next, he needed to complete the remaining two conditions before bringing Tang Hao back to the Hao Tian Sect.
On his journey back, Tang San learned about the destruction of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family and immediately felt uneasy, fearing Yu Xiaogang might do something reckless.
Moreover, he was certain that the Spirit Hall was behind the massacre. As for the other unknown sect, he didn't care much about it.
Days passed quietly, and he hurried back to Tiandou City, covered in dust from the road.
Rather than rushing to find Yu Xiaogang, he first headed to the residence of the Strength Clan.
For him, uniting with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to oppose the Spirit Hall was the most urgent matter.
Looking at the tightly closed gates of the Strength Clan's residence, Tang San felt an unsettling unease.
"Could it be that the Spirit Hall has also targeted the Strength Clan?"
With a nervous heart, Tang San approached and knocked on the door.
After knocking several times, someone finally opened the door, and he let out a sigh of relief.
The gate was slightly ajar, and a disciple of the Strength Clan asked, "Who are you, and why are you knocking on our door?"
"I'm Tang San. What happened that makes you so cautious with visitors?" Tang San asked, puzzled.
Clearly, many significant events had occurred in Tiandou City during his absence.
Upon hearing his name, the gatekeeper quickly led Tang San inside and closed the gate behind them.
Inside the hall, Tang San couldn't help but ask, "Elder Tai Tan, what exactly happened?"
Tai Tan gazed toward the east and sighed deeply. "Young Master, there's something you may not know—the Hao Tian Sect… is gone!"
A few days ago, Tang Xiao had visited the Strength Clan, and that was when Tai Tan learned of the Hao Tian Sect's misfortune.
Sealing off the entire family was their way of preventing disaster.
After some explanation, Tang San's eyes widened, and his entire body trembled. "Spirit Hall—I will never forgive you."
The Spirit Hall's destruction of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family and the Hao Tian Sect was like cutting off both his arms. It seemed impossible for him to gather enough strength to resist the Spirit Hall in the future.
Tai Tan placed his heavy hand on Tang San's shoulder and gently patted it. "Young Master, please grieve with restraint. The Hao Tian Sect's leader was your uncle, and your teacher is still waiting for you—go to him as soon as possible."
"The situation on the continent will not be peaceful in the coming days. Bring your master back quickly to take charge, and the Strength Clan will fully support you."
Tang San lowered his head, silent.
The Spirit Hall had first persecuted his parents and now targeted his teacher's family, making it clear they intended to leave no survivors.
If they couldn't hide themselves well, they would inevitably face the Spirit Hall's retribution.
After a moment, Tang San's gaze hardened, and he asked, "Tai Tan, are the hidden weapons ready?"
Tai Tan summoned a disciple, who brought over the hidden weapons Tang San had requested.
After inspecting them, Tang San was very satisfied with the quality of this batch.
"Young Master, everything is here. However, due to material shortages, the strength of some components may not meet standards. Please bear with us."
Tang San didn't care.
These were export goods, not for personal use, so quality wasn't important.
"Tai Tan, I plan to establish a sect. With the Hao Tian Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family gone, relying solely on our individual strength won't allow us to form a force capable of opposing the Spirit Hall."
"If we establish a sect, we can organize a large number of able-bodied fighters. And after selling these hidden weapons to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, we'll earn a lot of funds. We might even bring them on board."
Tai Tan knelt on one knee, pledging loyalty. "This old servant and the Strength Clan are willing to follow you to the death. Besides us, there are three other families originally affiliated with the Hao Tian Sect. Perhaps we can try to recruit them."
The Hao Tian Sect was gone, and the grudges of the other three families should fade with time.
In Tai Tan's view, this was the perfect opportunity to recruit them.
Among the four great families, a single clan's strength alone might not make waves, but if united, they would become a formidable force.
Tang San agreed with his idea, but building a sect required a lot of money. For now, he had no choice but to sell this batch of hidden weapons to Ning Fengzhi to secure startup funds.
"Young Master, this old servant will accompany you."
"Two of the top three sects have been destroyed, and the defensive pressure on the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is immense. Your hidden weapons should fetch a good price."
Tang San breathed a slight sigh of relief.
For him, this was the silver lining in an otherwise dire situation.
Since the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had a need, he naturally intended to raise the price of the hidden weapons.
---
In the study
Ning Fengzhi kept a close eye on Ning Tianchen and the others' movements.
Ning Tianchen's sect could alleviate a lot of pressure for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Before its establishment, all potential mishaps must be avoided.
Soon, a disciple came to report, "Sect Leader, the Strength Clan's Tai Tan wishes to see you."
"The Strength Clan?" Ning Fengzhi murmured softly.
He thought: With the Hao Tian Sect destroyed, the Strength Clan had completely lost its backing.
Tai Tan's visit likely meant he wanted to join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect for protection.
For the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the Strength Clan's strength was not to be underestimated. Recruiting them would add a large number of battle soul masters.
Other than that, Ning Fengzhi couldn't think of any other reason for Tai Tan to come calling.
In the reception room, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Douluo met Tang San and Tai Tan .
"Tai Tan, who is this?"
After changing his appearance, Ning Fengzhi didn't recognize the current Tang San.
Having already exposed his identity in front of the Spirit Hall, Tang San didn't hide and proactively revealed who he was.
Since it was a collaboration, he needed to show sincerity.
Ning Fengzhi's brow twitched slightly, his expression displeased.
During the Soul Master Tournament, Tang San and his teacher had displayed despicable behavior to the extreme.
Such people, Ning Fengzhi didn't want to deal with at all.
Tang San got straight to the point, taking out hidden weapons from his Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Moonlight. "Sect Leader Ning, six years ago, you purchased my hidden weapons at the Tiandou Auction House."
"Today, I've decided to sell you a large batch of hidden weapons to strengthen the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's defenses. Does Sect Leader Ning have any interest in this deal?"
Starting with talk of cooperation was too obvious.
Moreover, without the backing of the Hao Tian Sect, Tang San lacked the capital to negotiate with Ning Fengzhi.
Using hidden weapon transactions to draw them in first, he could later ensure their compliance.
Gu Rong chuckled and whispered to Ning Fengzhi, "Fengzhi, this kid probably doesn't know we already have his blueprints for these hidden weapons. The weapons are just a facade; pulling the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect into helping him seek revenge is his real purpose. Such a young age, yet he plays a good game."
To these two old foxes, Tang San's intentions were practically written on his face.
The range of hidden weapons was a hard limitation, and in terms of power and portability, they were far inferior to firearms.
Ning Fengzhi had already ordered craftsmen to fully transition to producing firearms. Hidden weapons were no longer of interest to them.
However, the fact that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect possessed the blueprints for these hidden weapons couldn't be revealed to Tang San, lest it make an enemy of him.
"So, what's the price for these hidden weapons of yours?" Ning Fengzhi asked indifferently.
Tang San replied, "Silent sleeve arrows and Zhuge Divine Crossbows, one thousand gold coins each. Boot knives and two other types of hidden weapons, five hundred gold coins each. If Sect Leader Ning buys them in sets of five, each set will cost you three thousand gold coins."
Gu Rong inwardly sneered.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had already mass-produced these hidden weapons. Three thousand gold coins would be enough for them to produce dozens of sets.
It was clear that Tang San was trying to take advantage of the destruction of the two major sects and the increased defensive pressure on the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to extort them.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Too expensive. Let me give you a number."
He extended two fingers.
Tang San exclaimed, "Two thousand gold coins per set?"
Pretending to struggle, he reluctantly said, "Fine, but only if you purchase more than two hundred sets to qualify for this price."
Tai Tan added, "Sect Leader Ning, this price is already very reasonable. Each of these hidden weapons uses rare metals, and the production costs are not low. At two thousand gold coins per set, we're only earning processing fees."
Gu Rong turned away, barely suppressing a laugh.
Ning Fengzhi internally cursed how greedy the other side was.
He calmly said, "Two gold coins per set—that's the bottom line for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Not a single coin more. Of course, if you're willing to offer a lower price, I'd gladly accept."
Tang San: ". . ."
Wasn't this supposed to go according to script?
The entire Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect consisted of auxiliary-type soul masters—why weren't they buying hidden weapons?
Offering two gold coins per set was clearly a lack of sincerity!
"Sect Leader Ning, are you insulting us?" Tai Tan angrily stood up, pretending to leave.
In his view, Ning Fengzhi was deliberately trying to drive down the price.
And they needed to act as though "this was a one-time offer" to force the other party to yield.
Understanding his meaning, Tang San also stood up.
Ning Fengzhi slowly leaned back in his chair and waved his hand. "Show them out."
Tang San: "???"
Tai Tan: "."
Both were utterly astonished by Ning Fengzhi's line of thinking.
Since they were here to negotiate business, why couldn't he have a proper discussion? Why resort to showing them out at the first sign of disagreement?
"Sect Leader Ning, we've shown our utmost sincerity. You—" Seeing Ning Fengzhi close his eyes, Tai Tan waved his sleeve and chose not to press further. He left in anger, unwilling to waste effort on someone uninterested.
Tang San felt helpless and could do nothing but be escorted out of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Gu Rong chuckled. "Fengzhi, it seems Tang San has already heard about the destruction of the Hao Tian Sect and is growing restless. Regardless of whether his actions are being directed by someone else, we should avoid getting involved in their affairs."
Ning Fengzhi said expressionlessly, "He wants to drive wolves to devour tigers. By selling us hidden weapons, he hopes to tie us down so that later we become their pawns in seeking revenge against the Spirit Hall."
"His intentions are despicable!"
---
Outside the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect
Tang San stood there, utterly bewildered.
Unable to sell his hidden weapons to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, all of his subsequent plans had fallen apart.
For the first time, he felt an overwhelming sense of failure.
Tai Tan, filled with regret, said, "Young Master, it's all my fault for being too rash. If only—"
Tang San shook his head and weakly replied, "Elder Tai Tan, this isn't your fault. If Ning Fengzhi truly wanted to buy the hidden weapons, he wouldn't have acted the way he did."
Gradually calming down, Tai Tan countered, "Young Master, could it be that the technology behind the hidden weapons you previously sold to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has been cracked, and they've already achieved independent mass production?"
Tang San fell into deep thought.
Among the mechanical hidden weapons of the Tang Sect, aside from the top-ranked ones that couldn't be replicated even with blueprints, the most secure device was the Zhuge Divine Crossbow.
As for the anti-theft mechanisms inside the other hidden weapons, Tang San couldn't guarantee that skilled craftsmen wouldn't crack the technology.
If that were indeed the case, Ning Fengzhi's behavior just now made perfect sense.
After some thought, Tang San voiced his opinion. "Perhaps the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is very confident in their defensive capabilities."
Of course, it was also possible that the sect had already prepared secret escape routes. In the event of an attack, their disciples could flee to safety immediately.
Auxiliary-type soul masters would never engage in combat with battle-type soul masters unless they were in a desperate situation with no other options.
Perhaps Ning Fengzhi's refusal stemmed from this kind of reasoning.
"Elder Tai Tan, let's put this matter aside for now. Don't lose heart. Go see your aunt—she might support you."
Tang Yuehua had managed Moon Pavilion for many years and collected resources for the Hao Tian Sect. She undoubtedly had significant funds at her disposal.
This was something Tai Tan couldn't say outright, so he hinted at it indirectly.
---
Longxing City
After more than half a month of travel, the carriage carrying Ning Tianchen finally arrived here.
Chen Huayu, who was driving the carriage, lifted the curtain and asked, "Boss, where is the Defense Clan's residence?"
The last time the Defense Clan was hired to build the Seven Treasures Mall, it was arranged by the disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. How would Ning Tianchen know their exact location?
"A large family like the Defense Clan should be easy to find. Let's ask around on the streets," Oscar suggested.
After stepping out of the carriage, to their surprise, the locals didn't seem welcoming to outsiders. When questioned, they responded indifferently.
"What's going on?" Chen Huayu stood there, confused.
Ning Tianchen stepped out of the carriage and casually stopped a passerby. "Excuse me, where is the Defense Clan's residence? We're friends of Elder Niu Gao and have been invited here."
As he spoke, he revealed five gold coins in his hand.
Seeing the coins, the passerby opened his pocket.
After the coins landed in his pocket, he finally spoke. "You're outsiders, right? I suggest you don't go to the Defense Clan. They've gotten into serious trouble recently, and their relationship with the Elephant Armor Sect is extremely hostile."
"If you don't want to offend the Elephant Armor Sect, leave quickly."
Ning Tianchen smiled. "No worries. Just tell us where the Defense Clan's residence is. Whether we go or not, we'll decide carefully."
Having received the money, the passerby gave detailed directions. If it weren't for fear of the Elephant Armor Sect, he might have personally led them there.
Having obtained the information he needed, Ning Tianchen turned to Chen Huayu and Oscar. "All people hustle for profit; all people bustle for gain. As long as there's profit to be made, there's no answer you can't get."
The two nodded awkwardly.
They weren't wealthy and weren't used to solving everything with money.
"By the way, Boss, why is the Elephant Armor Sect causing trouble for the Defense Clan? Will our visit bring trouble to the sect?" Chen Huayu couldn't help but worry.
There had been friction between the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Elephant Armor Sect, but both sides had exercised restraint, and no large-scale conflict had erupted.
Given Ning Tianchen's status, confronting the Elephant Armor Sect directly during this trip would inevitably escalate tensions between the two sects.
"It's likely because of the Seven Great Sects Re-selection Conference, which has given the Elephant Armor Sect unrealistic ambitions. They're trying to recruit the Defense Clan to strengthen themselves and elevate their status." Ning Tianchen said, "No need to worry. Let's proceed as planned."
---
Knowing the route, the carriage's speed increased significantly.
An incense stick's time later, the carriage stopped in front of the Defense Clan's residence.
At that moment, Niu Gao and Huyan Zhen were standing at the entrance, facing off.
To avoid exposing their presence, Ning Tianchen and the others kept their distance.
After a long while, seeing that Niu Gao wouldn't budge no matter what, Huyan Zhen left after throwing a harsh remark.
"Let's go and see what's happening."
Ning Tianchen signaled, and they moved forward.
Niu Gao, who had been standing solemnly at the gate for a long time, was about to return to the residence when he heard Ning Tianchen and the others' voices.
Looking toward the source of the sound, his face lit up with a long-absent smile. "It's you! Hahaha, come in quickly!"
The Defense Clan had built the Seven Treasures Mall, and later, the mall became famous. With someone deliberately exaggerating the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's "masterful stratagem," it was impossible for Niu Gao to forget Ning Tianchen.
During the construction of the mall, he had learned from Ning Fengzhi that the project was proposed by Ning Tianchen.
Thus, that "masterful stratagem" must have also been Ning Tianchen's doing.
Ning Tianchen shook hands with him. "Elder Niu Gao, it's been a long time. Your demeanor remains unchanged. This visit is to request the Defense Clan's assistance in constructing a project."
Niu Gao grinned. "There's no rush to discuss the commission. Visitors are guests. Let's drink for three days and three nights first."
Ning Tianchen replied, "Alright, let's talk while we drink."
After inviting the three into the residence, Niu Gao immediately ordered food and wine to be prepared.
Among the four great single-attribute families, the Defense Clan lived comfortably thanks to their architectural skills. Their prosperity even surpassed that of the Strength Clan, who relied on blacksmithing.
Inside the hall, Niu Gao raised his cup and asked loudly, "I haven't yet had the pleasure of knowing the names of these two young brothers?"
"We, your juniors Oscar (Chen Huayu), pay respects to Elder Niu Gao."
Niu Gao's eyes brightened. "Ah, I remember now. You were part of the champion team from the Soul Master Tournament. It's an honor to meet you."
With that, he drained his cup in one gulp.
Ning Tianchen and the others followed suit.
The Defense Clan favored strong liquor, and theirs was particularly potent.
After one sip, Oscar and Chen Huayu started coughing uncontrollably.
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