The best way to wash away worldly distractions is to calmly devote oneself to doing one thing, and during that time, to truly learn how to maintain inner peace. Only then can one fully master the killing intent that leaks out and restrain it within the body.
As for how to do this, there is no strict definition. As long as the thing you do benefits you and is effective, then it is a viable choice.
Therefore, Oscar did not choose Tang San's original path of entering Noble palace, since the royal princess Xue Ke was there.
If Oscar were to go to Noble palace with his current identity, he would very likely attract much attention, for example from Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who was actually Qian Renxue.
On top of that, Oscar's clone was already openly managing affairs in More City, so naturally Oscar would not go to Noble palace.
However, Dugu Yan could go to Noble palace to study. From now on, she would not think about her seventh spirit ring. She had to wait until she fully mastered the Killing God Domain before obtaining it.
This was because if she could not control her emotions, then obtaining the seventh ring would carry risks. After all, her seventh spirit ring had already been chosen, and when the time came she only needed to accept the sacrifice.
Yet no spirit beast would willingly sacrifice itself to someone filled with murderous intent, so the first problem she had to resolve was her own killing aura.
Therefore, Noble palace was currently a very good choice for Dugu Yan. Even if her identity drew some attention, with Dugu Bo as her backing, there was practically nothing that could threaten her.
As for Oscar, what he chose was sword training. For him, nothing was better for tempering his mind than practicing swordsmanship.
He was also attempting to condense his first spirit core. His seventh spirit ring was an unexpected surprise, giving him the confidence to form a spirit core.
Training at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well while being guided by Jian Yue and Dugu Bo on condensing a core could be considered killing two birds with one stone.
This was the main goal planned for the next half year to a year.
Oscar and Dugu Yan's plans were very clear. Meanwhile, within the Sword Sect, Niu Gao and others had also raised their spirit power by one rank during this year with the help of Oscar's Beyond Limit Black Gold Sausage.
Now Niu Gao had reached level 89, only one step away from level 90. Soon, he might break through and become a Title Douluo.
In addition, the Sword Sect welcomed two new friends, a pair of top-level spirit masters: an 89th-level Contra and his wife.
The husband and wife even possessed a martial soul fusion skill, and when combined, their strength rivaled that of a Title Douluo. This was undoubtedly a huge help.
They were the famous Peerless Dragon and Snake couple. Long Gong, Meng Shu, had the martial soul Dragon Staff and was an 89th-level Contra. She Po, Chao Tianxiang, had the martial soul Snake Staff and was a 72nd-level Spirit Saint.
Oscar was familiar with them, though they had never interacted. In the original story, the two were connected with Shrek Academy.
In the original, they encountered Shrek Academy in the Star Dou Great Forest, and Shrek seized their granddaughter Meng Yiran's spirit ring twice, forming a grudge.
However, Tang San's seizing of the two-thousand-year Human Faced Demon Spider actually saved Meng Yiran's life, since it had already exceeded its limit.
Later, when Tang San was ambushed by Spirit Hall, Peerless Dragon and Snake intervened. They could be considered people of feeling, repaying hatred with kindness, since from their perspective, both spirit beasts had been stolen by Shrek. Despite this, they still stepped in to save him during a crisis.
This was why the Sword Sect drew them in.
But the most important reason was their strength. When they first appeared, Meng Shu was level 88 and Chao Tianxiang was level 68.
Now, after several years, Meng Shu had reached level 89 and Chao Tianxiang level 72. This was already near their limit, since they were both over eighty years old and it was difficult to improve further.
The Sword Sect succeeded in recruiting them by promising Meng Shu the position of Title Douluo.
For any spirit master, the words "Title Douluo" were an irresistible temptation. Peerless Dragon and Snake were at the limits of their cultivation, and to break through, they would need great opportunities.
The Sword Sect was that opportunity. Level 89 was Meng Shu's limit, but not the sect's. With a Ninth Grade Hunyuan Pill, he could break through, provided he reached peak level 89.
That would take some time, since he was not yet at peak.
Along with Peerless Dragon and Snake, their own force Dragon Snake Manor joined the sect, bringing about one hundred spirit masters and their granddaughter Meng Yiran.
Meng Yiran's talent was actually very good. At nineteen years old, she had already reached level 42, worthy of the title of genius on the continent.
After joining the Sword Sect, Meng Yiran transferred to Shrek Academy, where she was chosen as an elite member of the next generation Shrek battle team alongside Tai Long, Jing Ling, Huang Yuan, and Jiang Zhu.
For its members, the Sword Sect spared no effort in training, since every spirit master was a precious resource.
Meanwhile, that year the Sword Sect also reached an agreement with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
As one of the three upper sects, their inherited martial soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, was regarded as the number one beast martial soul on the continent, and their strength needed no explanation.
However, according to the original timeline, five years after the Spirit Master Tournament, they would be annihilated by Spirit Hall.
Oscar was unsure whether his butterfly effect would change this outcome, but for now, he did not want the clan to be destroyed.
He himself had not fully grown yet, and the Sword Sect could not face Spirit Hall alone.
If events proceeded like in the original, then he had at most five years to develop.
But in five years, how far could Oscar and the Sword Sect grow?
Even though Jian Yue and Dugu Bo were both level 95, and Oscar's clone sausages could divide into at least ten Title Douluo, the gap with Spirit Hall remained immense.
Even if Niu Gao, Yang Wudi, Bai He, and the newly joined Meng Shu all broke through to level 90, they were still far behind Spirit Hall.
Spirit Hall had nearly ten Title Douluo in the Elder Hall alone.
And then there was the Worship Hall, with seven Super Douluo at least level 96, and the yet-un-sacrificed level 99 Peerless Douluo Qian Daoliu. For the Sword Sect, facing Spirit Hall alone was impossible.
Oscar's current plan was to promote the development of other forces, letting them withstand Spirit Hall's pressure, thereby buying time for the Sword Sect to grow.
The Sword Sect's cooperation with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was based on Oscar's fifth spirit ability: the Evil God Dark Tiger Sausage.
The effect was different for himself and others. When Oscar ate it, he transformed into a humanoid Evil God Dark Tiger. When others ate it, the effect was completely different.
The sausage contained the powers of six elements: wind, lightning, evil, darkness, time, and space.
For those who lacked these abilities, consuming the sausage would grant them at least one, possibly all six, lasting for two hours.
For those who already possessed one of these elements, it would elevate that element to its extreme form for two hours.
This spirit skill was undoubtedly godlike, since whether it granted new elemental power or pushed one to the extreme, it was an overpowered amplification.
Almost all disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had lightning attributes, one of the six elements. This meant that with enough Evil God Dark Tiger Sausages, every disciple could have at least two hours of extreme lightning.
The power of an extreme attribute was terrifying. A Spirit Saint with an extreme martial soul could already fight a Title Douluo.
If Yu Yuanzhen's lightning reached the extreme, what would the power of an extreme attribute Title Douluo be?
Oscar did not dare imagine, but he was certain that if Spirit Hall launched a hunt against them, they would suffer heavy losses.
Moreover, the Sword Sect traded as many as three hundred sausages with the clan. This meant the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could field three hundred spirit masters with extreme lightning for two hours.
With such a terrifying trump card, even if Spirit Hall launched another extermination, the clan would not be wiped out and might even strike back.
As long as Spirit Hall could not eliminate the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the Sword Sect would gain more time.
Oscar thought this way partly because of his clone Ao Yue's relationship with Hu Liena. They were now planning how to seize control of the Sword Sect, and many of Spirit Hall's plans were leaked to Ao Yue.
For Oscar, this was the best source of intelligence. At least for now, Spirit Hall still sought to recruit the Sword Sect, since it had only just emerged and was still observing the continental situation.
Because of Ao Yue and Hu Liena's relationship, Spirit Hall's attitude remained mild. The Sword Sect also projected goodwill, though only they knew their true stance.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would never join Spirit Hall, as they had long stood as powerful sects of the continent. Becoming Spirit Hall's vassals was impossible.
However, in recent years, several lower sects and smaller spirit master factions had engaged in secret dealings with Spirit Hall. Although not public, there were signs.
Taking this opportunity, the Sword Sect also secretly approached some neutral factions, attempting to recruit them. If successful, this would strengthen the sect further.
Oscar's goal was far too great. To achieve it, he needed vast support. Relying only on himself would be like facing a nightmare-level difficulty.
There was better news, however. Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun had returned to the Star Luo Empire. Because of the terrifying talent displayed by Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, along with Oscar's careful instruction in certain methods, Dai Mubai had balanced his power with Davis within a year.
With Ma Hongjun's assistance, Davis's power was collapsing rapidly. In less than three years, Dai Mubai could crush Davis and secure the crown prince's position.
Once he became crown prince, he could handle state affairs and gradually gain control of the empire.
If nothing went wrong, the Star Luo Empire would become Oscar's ally.
Because of Ning Rongrong and Ma Hongjun's relationship, and Oscar's good ties with Ning Fengzhi and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, it was very likely they would also support the Sword Sect as long as it stood.
Overall, Oscar still had a strong chance of reaching the power to confront Spirit Hall before its full mobilization.
For now, what he needed was to completely master the Killing God Domain and rapidly increase his strength.
…
Gengxing City.
Tang San finished a day of learning forging skills under Lou Gao, successfully completing his task, and left the Blacksmiths Association building with Xiao Wu, feeling a little tired.
That day, Tang San planned to relax with Xiao Wu. Having gone a month without proper rest, he wanted to take her to stroll through the most bustling area of the city and ease the pressure he had been under.
By now, both were already level 49, only one step away from breaking through level 50.
Sometimes cultivation required work and rest in balance. Perhaps if they enjoyed themselves today, they might even break through tonight.
However, as they left the association building, Tang San noticed several pairs of eyes watching them. Even after their afternoon stroll, those eyes remained.
From his observations, the weakest among them were at least Soul Sect level, and there were likely stronger ones hidden. Suspecting they were from Spirit Hall, Tang San chose not to confront them directly.
Still, being targeted again ignited his killing intent. He had thought Spirit Hall had left him alone, yet now they came again. He could not understand why Spirit Hall targeted him. Was it because he had twin spirits, or was it because of Yu Xiaogang?
At this thought, Tang San's heart filled with hatred toward Yu Xiaogang. He had thought ending their ridiculous six-year master-disciple bond was enough, yet the man still drove him toward death.
Glancing at the carefree Xiao Wu beside him, Tang San decided to act as if he had not noticed. They would not make a move yet.
He was sure of this because he remembered the last time he sensed secret observers. Though he had not found them, putting the pieces together made their plan clear.
They were setting up to capture him and Xiao Wu in one move.
If they had not acted directly, then they must have some concerns. Tang San just did not know what those concerns were.
The only thing he hated was that Spirit Hall, supposed to be the holy land of spirit masters, would stoop so low for the sake of that vile Yu Xiaogang.
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