Inside the Spirit Hall of Heaven Dou City.
Salas looked at the information in his hand, his expression extremely grim. He clenched his teeth and thought bitterly,
"Xu Yang, Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi really took a good disciple!"
The information he held was precisely about Xu Yang. After learning that Xu Yang had reached the Ten-Thousand-Year Third Ring, someone immediately placed the files before him. But upon discovering Xu Yang belonged to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, Salas lost any desire to recruit him and instead chose to eliminate him.
"Mu Yuan, is there any chance to strike secretly and eliminate him?"
"Reporting, Hall Leader, Xu Yang is currently with Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin at the Seven Treasures Hotel. No chance to strike for now. We'll have to wait."
"Very well. Once Xu Yang is alone, send someone to kill him immediately. A person like him will only be a threat to the Spirit Hall."
"Yes, Leader!"
...
After today's group battle soul competition, the news that Ning Fengzhi had cultivated a soul master with a Ten-Thousand-Year Third Ring spread throughout Douluo Continent. Every major faction had a dossier on Xu Yang on their tables. For a time, Xu Yang became famous across the entire continent.
Could whale rubber really be this effective?
This was the first thought flashing through everyone's minds. After two years of verification, the effects of whale rubber had been confirmed, especially among the elites of the major powers who genuinely benefited from it. Many geniuses absorbed soul rings beyond their age limits.
But very few, like Xu Yang, broke these limits at such a young age. Even the Spirit Hall had no solution for this.
"Nana barely managed the Thousand-Year Second Ring by suppressing her spirit power cultivation, but how did Xu Yang achieve this?! Are there other researches by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan I don't know about?" Bibi Dong frowned deeply while looking at the information sent by Salas.
Bibi Dong's theoretical knowledge of soul masters was no weaker than Yu Xiaogang's from Nuoding City. She completed her Twin Martial Souls training on her own theoretical foundation, yet no matter how she thought, she couldn't understand how whale rubber alone could achieve this.
Head spirit bone and torso bone?!
In the end, combining the case of Qian Renxue's Ten-Thousand-Year Fourth Ring, she could only conclude this: the torso bone greatly enhances physical constitution, and the head spirit bone significantly boosts spiritual power. Only by absorbing both types of spirit bones, along with the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber, could one achieve such results.
This also explained why Xu Yang's spirit power level had risen six to seven levels in a short time.
Feeling she understood the reason behind Xu Yang's over-limit soul ring absorption, Bibi Dong's frown relaxed a little, but worry remained.
Although the Spirit Hall had no shortage of spirit bones, these were its own collections. As the Leader, she could not easily deploy them. Usage required unanimous approval from the Elders' Council. Otherwise, she could have already trained Hu Li Na to have the same soul ring configuration.
"It seems I have to plan carefully."
...
Next was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
After clan leader Yu Yuanzhen saw the information, he said nothing but dispatched top experts to Heaven Dou City, preparing to jointly hunt for the whale rubber.
...
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan acted quickly. Soon, they prepared gifts for Dugu Bo and went to visit his manor.
"I expected you would come, just didn't expect it would be so soon!"
Dugu Bo opened the door and was surprised to see Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin.
"Old monster, the immortal herbs you gave to Yang'er greatly helped both him and our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. We have no proper way to repay you. So I, the clan leader, personally came to thank you!" Ning Fengzhi smiled and made a little joke.
Though a small joke, it helped bridge relations.
"Come in with me!"
Dugu Bo glanced at Ning Fengzhi, then turned and walked inside with his hands behind his back.
"Truly an eccentric person," Ning Fengzhi smiled helplessly and followed with Chen Xin.
The manor was large but had no servants. Much of the land was barren or overgrown with weeds. Yet the area Ning Fengzhi and the others went to was well-kept, filled with birdsong and flowers.
Soon the three arrived at the reception hall.
Dugu Bo took out three cups and brewed tea with leaves from the Ice-Fire Two-Yang Eye. With a flick, the cups flew before Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin.
"Old monster, this is the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's gift for you!"
Ning Fengzhi sipped the tea, finding it pleasant, then took a Storage Soul Ring and placed it before Dugu Bo, gesturing to him.
Dugu Bo did not pick up the Storage Soul Ring but took a sip of tea, then said gravely,
"I do not need these. That immortal herb's price has already been paid by that brat."
"Two spirit bones and some medicinal poison knowledge are insufficient to repay those immortal herbs' value. I believe you will like these."
Xu Yang had not told Ning Fengzhi about Dugu Bo's weakness in spirit bones, so Ning Fengzhi was unaware.
"That brat is truly trustworthy. I was right about him." Dugu Bo was pleased inside but maintained a calm face, coldly saying,
"I really do not need it. That brat and I are like old friends. Ning clan leader, please take it back."
"Old monster, do you really not want it? There's a fifty-thousand-year poison attribute spirit bone, medicinal poison knowledge collected by our clan over a millennium, and cultivation experience after the Title Douluo rank. The only thing missing is immortal herb knowledge, which our clan has not obtained recently."
At the end, Ning Fengzhi sighed softly.
Opposite, Dugu Bo twitched his mouth. Whether spirit bones, medicinal poison knowledge, or cultivation experience, these were exactly what he urgently needed.
Yet he restrained himself and said gravely,
"Ning clan leader, are you trying to win me over with these?"
"No!" Ning Fengzhi smiled and shook her head, looking at Dugu Bo and saying,
"I just want to make friends with you, old monster. After all, the immortal herbs in the Ice-Fire Two-Yang Eye are very tempting, and our clan does not want to be enemies with you. This is the only way!"
Ning Fengzhi knew that for someone as eccentric as Dugu Bo, beating around the bush would only displease him. Straightforwardness was more likely to win his favor.
"The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan wants immortal herbs!" Dugu Bo said seriously.
"Yes! According to Yang'er, there are many immortal herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, but most are unknown to us. My idea is, in the future, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan will share all immortal herb information with you, and you open the door for us when needed. How about that?" Ning Fengzhi smiled.
"Not a bad deal. I don't lose out... I agree."