Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
"What?! You took on a disciple? And it's the Pope's disciple at that!?"
The moment Bone Douluo Gu Rong learned that Sword Douluo Chen Xin had accepted a disciple, he was already quite surprised. But when he heard that the disciple was originally a student of the Pope, he was utterly dumbfounded—so much so that he couldn't help but cry out in disbelief.
Chen Xin calmly took two steps back, putting a bit of distance between himself and Gu Rong.
"I took on a disciple—why are you the one losing your mind?"
"I mean, come on! He's the Pope's disciple! And the Pope agreed to this?!"
Gu Rong's face was full of astonishment. He turned toward Ning Fengzhi, as if to ask, Are you two pulling some kind of prank on me?
Ning Fengzhi smiled gently and explained, "Uncle Bone, we're not joking."
After hearing Ning Fengzhi's explanation, Gu Rong finally accepted the shocking truth. Still, he remained baffled.
"Seriously though, what's so special about that kid that you of all people would take him on? And even the Pope agreed to it?"
A disciple worthy of being contested by both the Sword Douluo and the Pope? Unthinkable.
"Ahem, Uncle Bone, it wasn't exactly a tug-of-war. The Pope was present at the time. Brother Gu only formally acknowledged Uncle Sword as his master after the Pope gave his approval."
"Tch. A grown man acting like a child—getting worked up over everything."
Chen Xin couldn't help but grumble. When Gu Rong glared at him, he stared right back without the slightest hint of backing down.
"What are you glaring at?"
Veins bulged on Gu Rong's forehead.
"You sword-faced freak, you looking for a fight?"
"Hmph! Sounds to me like your old bones need some loosening up!"
Just like that, the two of them were about to brawl.
Ning Fengzhi let out a helpless laugh. Not wanting them to start another endless scuffle, he quickly stepped in.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, please calm down. I have something important to discuss."
Despite their squabbling, the two respected Ning Fengzhi. The moment they realized there was serious business to address, they both cooled down and returned to their seats, letting out a synchronized huff of annoyance.
Ning Fengzhi let out a sigh of relief and began.
"Uncle Bone, Brother Gu possesses extraordinary talent in swordsmanship and is incredibly strong in battle. As a Soul Ancestor with four rings, he fought Tang Hao, a five-ring Soul King, to a draw. His character and temperament are also outstanding."
"Uncle Sword finally found someone he could approve of. And Gu Han is still young—his future potential is limitless."
"Someone like that forming a close tie with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan can only be a good thing for us."
"Mm."
Gu Rong nodded slightly. While he was astonished by Gu Han's strength, he agreed with Ning Fengzhi's assessment.
With the Spirit Hall backing him, it was only a matter of time before Gu Han rose to prominence.
Now that he had taken Chen Xin as his master, he was practically half a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. With that kind of connection, even after he and Chen Xin were gone, the clan wouldn't have to worry about facing a future without a Titled Douluo to protect it.
"Also… there's something else. I plan to pursue a full-scale alliance with Spirit Hall."
Gu Rong's expression turned serious. "Fengzhi, have you really thought this through? Once we pick a side, there's no turning back."
"Uncle Bone, Uncle Sword and I already discussed this in Spirit City. We've considered all the consequences."
Ning Fengzhi walked over to the clan head's seat and sat down, speaking in a calm tone.
"Besides… we've all underestimated Spirit Hall."
"The whole continent thinks Spirit Hall only has four or five Titled Douluo."
"But during the Pope's wedding, when Tang Chen, the master of the Clear Sky Clan, sparred with Grand Worshipper Qian Daoliu, six other Titled Douluo—ones we'd never even heard of before—showed up. All of them were at least Rank 96 or higher, aside from the Pope himself."
"What!?"
Gu Rong shot up from his seat, turning to Chen Xin in disbelief. "Sword freak, is this true?"
Chen Xin nodded solemnly. "Fengzhi is right. I was there myself. Those six Titled Douluo… even I couldn't gauge their strength. They're definitely Rank 96 and above."
"To think Spirit Hall had hidden their strength this deeply…"
Gu Rong muttered to himself. Back when he was younger, he rarely encountered true prodigies, which only meant one thing—Spirit Hall had been quietly grooming these talents in secret.
"Spirit Hall provides martial soul awakenings for commoners across the continent. While it's rare for a civilian to awaken a powerful spirit, the sheer number of awakenings increases the odds of finding talent. And Spirit Hall also offers resources and protection, winning over countless followers."
"Gu Han is a perfect example. A single clan's talent pool can't compare to the entire continent."
Ning Fengzhi sighed.
Only Spirit Hall could pull this off. The two great empires, shackled by noble and clan interests, would never give up that much power or wealth.
Sure, they might offer financial aid to civilian soul masters—but without Spirit Hall applying pressure, it's likely they wouldn't offer anything at all.
Other factions also turned a blind eye to civilian interests, each for their own reasons.
Spirit Hall's influence ran deep, with operations reaching even the most remote villages, where soul masters would conduct annual martial soul awakenings.
In such circumstances, it was no surprise that the number of geniuses and high-level powerhouses Spirit Hall produced vastly outnumbered all other forces combined.
"And if this generation's Spirit Hall is already hiding this many Titled Douluo, how many more are still in the shadows, just waiting to ascend?"
Ning Fengzhi fell into deep thought.
Gu Rong and Chen Xin also sat in silence.
Eventually, Chen Xin spoke, his voice firm and resolute.
"Fengzhi, don't overthink it. Since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has decided to ally fully with Spirit Hall, then we follow through. As long as Old Bone and I are still around, no one will dare trample over us."
"He's right. With the two of us here, Fengzhi, do what you think is best."
Ning Fengzhi felt a surge of warmth in his chest. He smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone. Having the two of you is truly the greatest blessing of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"All right, Fengzhi, enough with the gratitude. Summon the elders—we need to gather at the main hall and discuss the alliance with Spirit Hall."
Chen Xin waved his hand. He already viewed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan as his home. Words weren't needed—they all knew Ning Fengzhi's sincerity and ambition, and they would do their utmost to support him.
"Understood."
Ning Fengzhi nodded.
Gu Rong stood up, then disappeared in a flash. Moments later, the sound of a grand bell echoed across the sect.
That day, all soul masters above Soul Sage gathered in the grand hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
With the firm support of Chen Xin and Gu Rong, Ning Fengzhi overcame all objections and laid out the long-term strategic direction of the clan—for decades, possibly even centuries to come.
Meanwhile, in Spirit City, Qian Xunji sent Ghost to formally begin talks on the alliance.
And during this time, Dugu Bo brought his son Dugu Xin and officially joined Spirit Hall. The induction of a Soul Douluo was a significant matter, and Spirit Hall held a grand welcoming ceremony in his honor.
~~~
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