Bone Douluo didn't respond immediately. His fingers tapped rhythmically on his knee as he fell deep into thought. After a while, he finally spoke with some hesitation:
"The Po Clan and the Yu Clan were once subordinate single-attribute sects under the Clear Sky Clan. If we ally with them, won't we risk being misunderstood by the Clear Sky Clan?"
Chen Feng let out a cold snort.
"Misunderstood? What kind of misunderstanding? The Clear Sky Clan retreated like cowards, abandoning those who once followed them—some dead, others crippled—and now they expect those same people not to seek protection elsewhere?"
Bone Douluo laughed heartily.
"Well said! The Clear Sky Clan did turtle up and abandon everyone. Hmph. So, did they offer any conditions for this alliance?"
"None," Chen Feng shook his head. "Their only request is to settle near the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, to have a plot of land of their own."
Bone Douluo nodded thoughtfully.
"That's not a difficult matter. On behalf of Fengzhi, I approve. With our proximity, we can support each other in emergencies. This alliance is more advantageous than risky.
Chen Feng, you've done an excellent job on this."
"Hehe, thank you for the praise, Grandpa Bone."
Bone Douluo looked at Chen Feng and suddenly sighed.
"Ah, what a shame… I don't have a grandson like you. That old coward Sword Douluo lucked out!"
If anyone else had heard Bone Douluo say that, they'd likely be so overjoyed they'd bow on the spot. This was nothing short of a public acknowledgment of favor. If Chen Feng had played along even a little, Bone Douluo would surely have agreed with a big grin.
Unfortunately, Chen Feng just stood there scratching his head, giggling dumbly like he hadn't understood the implication at all.
Bone Douluo sighed again.
Not long after, the team members who were cultivating began to wake up one by one.
Niu Zhen was the first to finish. After all, the herb he took wasn't a true immortal-grade treasure. His refinement was completed in less than an hour.
Even so, the benefits were visible. His bronze-colored skin now shimmered faintly with a golden glow. Even without probing his aura, the sheer presence of his enormous frame radiated a powerful, mountainous pressure.
Crack, crack, crack…
As he stretched, his old skin began flaking off like eggshells.
Beneath the peeling layer, a fresh new layer of skin emerged, slightly paler than before. Oddly enough, his eyebrows and hair had also completely shed, making him look a bit like a massive bald monk.
"Chen Feng! My soul power jumped three whole levels!"
Niu Zhen beamed, grinning from ear to ear. His joy was overflowing, even if his current look was a little comical without hair.
But for someone like Niu Zhen—rugged and straightforward—looks didn't matter.
What mattered was the leap from Level 34 to Level 37 in less than an hour. That kind of growth felt like a dream.
"Congratulations!" Chen Feng stood up and smiled warmly.
Every teammate's improvement meant one more step toward claiming the championship. How could he not be pleased?
To hoard such heavenly herbs for himself wasn't his way—only by maximizing their value could their full potential be realized.
Before they could even finish celebrating, a sharp, echoing phoenix cry rang through the air.
A searing heatwave suddenly swept across the entire courtyard, distorting the very air around them. Yu Tianlong's tall figure radiated molten energy as a phoenix-shaped silhouette emerged behind him, morphing and merging before finally settling into the image of a flame-breathing dragon.
"Rooooar!"
A deep dragon roar reverberated. Tianlong's nostrils exhaled twin jets of heat as he slowly opened his eyes, his body exuding explosive power. The sheer force of it caused both Yang Dianfeng and Ning Rongrong, who were still cultivating nearby, to tremble slightly.
"Restrain your aura quickly! You'll disturb the others!" Chen Feng warned.
Yu Tianlong jolted in surprise, having only just returned from his meditative state. His outburst had been purely instinctual. Realizing this, he hurried to suppress his aura to avoid disrupting the others.
"How many levels did you gain?" Niu Zhen rushed over, curious.
Yu Tianlong was stunned. He took a moment to check his internal condition, and his eyes went wide in disbelief.
"I… I've reached Level 40! And I can still feel a latent power inside—after I break through, my soul power may increase further!"
"Congratulations, Tianlong!" Chen Feng grinned.
"No," Tianlong shook his head, emotion flooding his voice.
"It's I who should thank you. You helped me break free from being labeled 'crippled' and gave me a new life, stronger than ever before!
You helped me rediscover who I am."
Yu Tianlong's excitement surged. His mentality had reached a new peak. He had finally awakened his supreme beast martial soul—one that had now completely surpassed even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon lineage. Only now could he truly call himself worthy of being number one among beast martial souls!
Rooooar…
Another faint dragon's roar rang out, less intense, more ethereal—almost like an illusion.
Yang Dianfeng emerged from his meditative trance with an uncanny sense of timing. He immediately summoned his martial soul: the Po Soul Spear.
"Something's changed," he said softly. "My spear… doesn't feel the same."
Everyone turned to look.
The once sleek black spear now bore a prominent golden dragon pattern. The dragon's head pointed toward the spear blade, its tail curling toward the base.
It wasn't just decoration—when Yang Dianfeng gripped the spear, a phantom golden dragon appeared faintly around him, radiating an unstoppable, piercing aura.
Bone Douluo approached, hands clasped behind his back. After carefully examining the weapon, he spoke with conviction:
"This is the result of your martial soul evolving from the immortal herb. It's a complete transformation in quality.
It's no longer just the Po Soul Spear. You should give it a new name."
The dragon-patterned spear was strikingly different from its prior, understated look. Now it brimmed with danger and power.
After brandishing it a few times with admiration, Yang Dianfeng said:
"Our martial soul is a clan legacy—how could I cast aside its name?
Let's just call it… the Dragon-Woven Po Soul Spear."
"Awesome name! Sounds fierce!" Niu Zhen gave a thumbs-up.
Chen Feng asked, "How much did your soul power rise?"
"Four full levels. I'm now at Level 46," Yang Dianfeng replied. Then, his eyes locked onto Chen Feng with a sharp glint.
"Now that we're both Level 46… I'd love to challenge your Seven Kill Sword again."
Ever since childhood, it had been his dream to surpass the Seven Kill Sword in pure attack power. Now that dream seemed within reach.
"This time, though," he added with a grin, "you're not allowed to use your spiritual power! Or I won't stand a chance!"
Chen Feng laughed and nodded in agreement. He, too, was itching for a good spar.
Just as the air filled with battle spirit, a dazzling golden light suddenly bloomed from nearby.
They turned to see Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda radiating a divine glow. Dozens of tulip-like golden petals unfurled around the brilliant tower, making it look as if a celestial goddess had descended.