Meanwhile, Shrek Academy had essentially become a noble alliance academy, deeply entangled with various factions' interests.
So, any change or incident within Shrek would be instantly reported to the political and noble forces behind each student.
As soon as the unexpected Spark Team appeared in the Spirit Master Tournament, those backing forces immediately took notice.
Among them:
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind Ning Rongrong
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan behind Yu Tianheng
Star Luo Empire behind Dai Mubai
…were the first to receive the news.
The fastest response came from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Upon learning that the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had appeared, Ning Fengzhi immediately checked the clan genealogy and activated every intelligence network the sect had to investigate Luo Xingqi's identity.
In the end, he came to a shocking conclusion:
Luo Xingqi was not part of the Ning family.
She wasn't even a secret illegitimate child. She had no connection to the Ning bloodline.
Ning Fengzhi looked at the report, his brows furrowed tightly.
"She's really not from my Ning family?"
Among the great noble clans, spirit inheritance was paramount.
That's why martial spirits were so tightly bound to surnames.
Take the Tang clan of the Clear Sky Hammer, for example:
They would never allow outsiders to possess the Clear Sky Hammer spirit.
Tang clan daughters were not allowed to marry out.
They only accepted sons-in-law into the family, and all children would carry the Tang surname.
So what would happen if someone not named Tang suddenly possessed the Clear Sky Hammer?
The Tang clan would never allow the spirit to be passed on outside the family.
Otherwise, you'd start seeing the Clear Sky Wang clan, Clear Sky Li clan, Clear Sky Zhang clan…
Therefore, the Tang family would resort to:
Honor Killing.
To ensure the martial soul inheritance remained exclusive to their surname, the Clear Sky Sect enforced a strict rule: any female disciple who married outside the sect or eloped was deemed a traitor.
To maintain the purity of their bloodline, the Clear Sky Sect would hunt down the woman, her eloped partner, and their descendants, eradicating them completely.
Through repeated "honor killings," the Tang family succeeded in binding the Clear Sky Hammer to their lineage.
The Tang family was a typical example, and the Seven Treasure Ning family and the Blue Lightning Jade family followed similar practices.
Now, imagine telling Ning Fengzhi that the Nine Treasure Glazed Tower, which he had tirelessly pursued, had appeared in the hands of an outsider. What would he do?
At this moment, Ning Fengzhi's emotions were complex—a mix of excitement and resentment.
Excitement, because the Nine Treasure Glazed Tower had emerged, giving the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect hope of upgrading to the Nine Treasure Glazed Sect. Resentment, because this treasure was in the hands of an outsider.
And not just any outsider—someone who had a grudge against the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect.
Luo Xingqi came from an up-and-coming family. Their rise had threatened the interests of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, and when Ning Fengzhi's attempt to annex them was rejected, he resorted to underhanded tactics. As a result, their family fell apart, Luo Xingqi's parents committed suicide under the weight of massive debts, and even their daughter was sold into slavery.
That should've been the end of it. But now, to tell Ning Fengzhi that this girl possessed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tower? Oh, how this put Ning Fengzhi in a bind!
"Sect Master, what's your plan?" an elder of the Ning family asked.
"Isn't it obvious? Since she's a woman, it's simple," Ning Fengzhi said. "Capture her, breed her, and let her bloodline continue within our Ning family."
As the head of the family, how could Ning Fengzhi allow another Nine Treasure Luo family to emerge outside his Seven Treasure Ning family? Especially since this woman harbored hatred toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect. If left unchecked, she would undoubtedly become a major threat.
"Sect Master, leave this to me," Gu Rong volunteered. "I'll also grab that kid while I'm at it."
The kid Gu Rong referred to was Zhao Hengning, who possessed the same martial soul as Bone Douluo Gu Rong. This fact was impossible for the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect to ignore, so while investigating Luo Xingqi's identity, they also looked into Zhao Hengning.
The investigation was shocking.
Gu Rong's martial soul had the ability to manipulate space freely, making him the go-to for the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's dirty work. Assassinating promising talents from rival factions was something Gu Rong had done plenty of times.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's intelligence network spanned the continent.
To curb the growth of the Martial Soul Hall, Ning Fengzhi had initiated a plan even before becoming sect master. This plan involved monitoring the Martial Soul Hall's soul awakening intelligence.
Whenever a genius was discovered in some remote village, they would secretly recruit them. Those who insisted on joining the Martial Soul Hall? Well, they'd be sent to meet their maker.
Zhao Hengning's older brother had been one such victim, sent to "meet God" by Gu Rong. When this information landed in Ning Fengzhi's hands, it gave him a massive headache.
What kind of academy was this Spark Academy? To have two enemies of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect gathered in one place—was this some kind of rebellion?
These two had to either be controlled or eliminated, or Ning Fengzhi wouldn't be able to sleep at night.
"Go, and handle it cleanly. Don't let the rest of the Spark Team slip away either," Ning Fengzhi ordered.
"Rest assured, Sect Master. Have I ever let you down?" With that, Gu Rong left the hall.
The origins of the seven members of the Spark Team had never been concealed.
As a result, the major powers on the continent could easily uncover their backgrounds.
Some had grudges with the royal families of the two great empires, others with the former Upper Three Sects.
This information, in the hands of those in power, was nothing short of a death sentence.
When Dai Tianfeng learned that a descendant from one of the villages he'd exploited to build his Fallen Soul Master Legion possessed both the White Tiger and Spirit Cat martial souls, his killing intent was unmistakable.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect also uncovered Lin Chen's identity. As a former disciple of Yu Xiaogang, his grudge stemmed from Yu Xiaogang, which they didn't care much about. What they *did* care about was that Lin Chen possessed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul. Thus, they too sent assassins to carry out an honor killing.
Then there were those who remained clueless, like the Tiandou Xue family. With no connections to Shrek, they knew nothing. Besides, the Emerald Swan and their inherited Swan martial soul were unrelated, so they didn't make the connection.
As for the Rat Hole, having gone into seclusion, their only wandering member, Tang Hao, was nowhere to be found. They didn't know right away that another soul master with what seemed to be the Clear Sky Hammer had appeared in the world.
Thus, along their journey, the Spark Team faced relentless assassination attempts from the Star Luo Empire and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
These assassination attempts were all thwarted by the Snow Empress.
One night, the Spark Team left the city, walking along a country path.
"They're here," the Snow Empress said, stopping and addressing the seven members of the Spark Team behind her. They halted in unison.
Suddenly, the space ahead of them turned pitch black, like a white sheet splashed with ink.
A pair of skeletal claws emerged from the inky tunnel, tearing the space apart. Then, a bone dragon, dozens of meters long, flew out from within, letting out a deafening roar as it bared its claws and teeth at the Spark Team.
Atop the dragon's head stood a man with a sturdy frame, his skin clinging tightly to his bones, giving him an eerie appearance. He looked down at the eight members of the Spark Team with disdain.
"Ladies and gentlemen, your journey ends here. The Sect Master has specially requested that I invite you to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect."
Nine soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—circled the massive bone dragon, exuding overwhelming pressure.
Yet, to Gu Rong's surprise, he sensed no fear from the Spark Team.
Did they have something to rely on? the bone dragon wondered.
"If you want to take my students, let's see if you're capable. Take my palm first."
*Emperor's Palm: Great Cold Without Snow!*
The Snow Empress appeared above Gu Rong, striking with a palm that transformed into a massive ice-blue palm print. The print descended from the sky toward the bone dragon, which seemed as insignificant as a fly before the crystalline giant palm.
In that moment, Gu Rong realized what kind of enemy he was facing.
An enemy with unfathomable soul power.
Sensing the danger, he instinctively urged his soul power to tear open space and escape, only to despairingly discover that even the space itself was frozen by the bone-chilling cold.
The palm descended!
Ning Fengzhi was waiting at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for news from Gu Rong.
However, what he received instead was a letter—from Spark Academy:
"Bone Douluo is in my hands. If you want him alive, bring enough chips and crawl over here yourself. Otherwise—by tonight, his bones will shatter!"
Ning Fengzhi felt a bone-chilling cold emanating from the letter. He put the envelope away, his expression dark.
"Sect Master, what's the matter?" Chenxin asked.
Ning Fengzhi replied, "Uncle Gu has failed and is now in their hands. I'm trying to think… who else on this continent has the strength to capture him?"
Chenxin thought for a moment and said, "Among those I know, the only ones who could capture Old Bone aside from the missing former member of the Clear Sky Sect—Tang Hao, other would be would be people from the Spirit Hall."
Ning Fengzhi stroked his chin. "Could it be… that Spark Academy has ties to the Spirit Hall?"
Chenxin replied, "We'll only know when we see them."
Abandoning Gu Rong was not an option. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect currently had only two Title Douluo defending it. Losing either would be a huge blow to their foundation.
"Sword Uncle, I'll have to trouble you to accompany me this time," Ning Fengzhi said.
"Sect Master, I will protect you with this sword."
The party from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect arrived at the site. From afar, they saw a kilometer-wide ice field at the center of a lush forest. The closer they approached, the more biting the cold became.
When they stepped onto the ice field, they saw at its center a lifelike frozen bone dragon.
Standing atop the dragon's head was Gu Rong, frozen in a terrified pose.
Chenxin said grimly, "That old bonehead was sealed in ice without even a chance to resist. To do that… their strength must be at least Rank 98 or above."
Ning Fengzhi's headache intensified at Chenxin's analysis.
"You've come," a cold and ethereal voice echoed in the ears of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect party.
They turned toward the voice.
There, the misty frost cleared, revealing the figures of the Snow Empress and the Spark Seven.
Chenxin stared intently at the Snow Empress. He could gauge the strength of the other seven at a glance, but she—he couldn't see through at all.
Ning Fengzhi, suppressing his fear, stepped forward and said,
"Gu Rong offended you all. I have come on behalf of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to atone. I hope you can let him go."
"To atone, you must show sincerity," the Snow Empress said calmly.
"What price have you brought in exchange for Gu Rong's life?"
At his signal, people behind Ning Fengzhi brought forth crates.
When opened, they revealed gold, silver, jewels, land deeds, mining rights, shop titles, and even several ten-thousand-year spirit bones acquired by the sect.
"This represents one-fourth of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's total assets. Is this enough?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
Such a price clearly showed how much he valued Gu Rong.
"It's enough," the Snow Empress said.
Just as Ning Fengzhi was about to sigh in relief, she added,
"Enough to buy back his life."
"What do you mean by that?" Chenxin asked.
"It's very simple," the Snow Empress raised a finger toward the bone dragon. A shard of condensed ice shot from her fingertip, piercing through one of the dragon's arms—shattering it.
"Uncle Gu!" Ning Fengzhi cried out in anguish.
With a wave of her hand, the Snow Empress collected all of the presented assets into her soul tool.
The Ultimate frost sealing the bone dragon dissipated instantly. The massive dragon form crumbled the moment the ice was lifted.
Gu Rong fell from midair. Chenxin quickly flew up to catch him.
Gu Rong was shivering, clutching the stump where his arm had once been. His eyes were unfocused.
Having lost an arm, he had also lost too much blood essence to ever progress in cultivation again.
But at least—he was alive.
"Do you know why I spared his life?" the Snow Empress asked.
Ning Fengzhi bowed his head, enduring the humiliation, and said respectfully,
"Please enlighten me, senior."
"You should know, two of my students have past grudges with your sect.
Vengeance must be claimed by their own hands.
Today, I took Gu Rong's arm as interest, and as a warning to any who harbor ill intentions toward Spark Academy."
Gu Rong clutched his empty shoulder, filled with shame.
Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but ask,
"Senior, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has no enmity with Spark Academy. Why train enemies who will one day target us?"
"Luo Xingqi is my student. Is that reason enough for you?"
Ning Fengzhi's expression turned awkward. "…It is."
The Snow Empress turned to Luo Xingqi and Zhao Hengning.
"Do you two have anything you wish to say to them?"
Zhao Hengning stepped forward, glancing at Gu Rong, then at Ning Fengzhi.
"My older brother was a genius when he awakened his martial spirit—a beacon of hope for our family.
But that hope was crushed by your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
You refused to allow my brother to join the Spirit Hall, so you ended him."
"That blood debt—I've never forgotten.
In the past, I didn't have the power for revenge.
But now, I do.
Gu Rong. Ning Fengzhi. Just wait. One day, I'll walk right into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and make you pay for my brother and for everyone your sect has assassinated."
Ning Fengzhi's face darkened.
Luo Xingqi then mocked,
"Sect Master Ning, you remember me, don't you?"
"…Yes, the remnant of the Luo clan. I recall you were sold into slavery. Your luck's not bad, it seems."
"Do you remember buying me from the slave auction and then releasing me?" Luo Xingqi asked.
Ning Fengzhi froze.
He had no memory of that.
After all, he often bought and released slaves from auctions every year. That was how he gained his reputation as a benevolent man.
But with so many freed, how could he remember each one?
Luo Xingqi sneered,
"Looks like you really are the type to forget those you trample."
Ning Fengzhi shot back,
"If that's true, then didn't I save you? Are you planning to repay kindness with hatred?"
"Ha!" Luo Xingqi snorted.
"You forget—it was you who caused me to become a slave in the first place.
And even after your 'kindness,' I was hunted by slavers again.
They said: 'He bought you and gained a good name, and we get to sell the same slave twice—win-win!'
With your vast information network, don't tell me you didn't know?"
"In the end, you never cared whether the slaves you saved lived or died.
What mattered to you—was spreading your good name."