The Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone was already decided for the old butler, but the ownership of the Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring had yet to be settled.
Since a Spirit Ring could only exist for an hour after it condensed, it was necessary to first decide who would absorb the Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring before the old butler could absorb the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.
"In the original work, the two major spirit abilities of that Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring were Void and Eight-Section Fall Blast. However, that was the result of Xiao Wu's soul actively intervening."
"Without Xiao Wu's soul actively intervening, the two major spirit abilities born from that Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring should revert to normal, being randomly generated spirit abilities after the Spirit Ring combines with the Martial Soul."
"But even so, this Spirit Ring is still not suitable for Ma Hongjun to absorb."
"Every Spirit Ring for the Fire Phoenix Martial Soul must be taken from a flying Spirit Beast with a Phoenix bloodline. Only then can Ma Hongjun's potential be maximized."
"But besides Ma Hongjun, I really can't find anyone suitable to absorb this Spirit Ring under my command at the moment."
Under normal circumstances, without the sacrifice of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, only Spirit Masters at level ninety were qualified to absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring.
This stringent condition immediately eliminated ninety-nine percent of potential candidates.
"I still have too few people at hand. I'll just take it one step at a time!"
...
Soon, several hours passed.
The sun set, and dusk painted the land.
Lin Rong didn't rush to act, waiting until the middle of the night.
South District of Heaven Dou City.
Concealed by the night, a figure as elusive as a ghost moved through the streets and alleys.
At this moment, the Tang Sect was deep in slumber.
Almost all the clansmen of the Strength Clan had entered dreamland.
Logically, a sect would require a patrol team to guard its premises at night.
More than a year ago, when the Strength, Control, and Agility Clans were all present, patrol duties were handled by the Agility Clan.
But now, the Agility Clan had been wiped out, and the Control Clan had also parted ways with the Tang Sect.
Times had changed, and the Tang Sect was left with only the Strength Clan, the sole survivor.
Furthermore, the clansmen of the Strength Clan not only had their daily cultivation and various other matters to attend to, but they also had immense forging tasks to complete.
After a long day, they were already exhausted and would fall asleep the moment they hit the bed, without any hesitation.
They were too lazy to bother with sect patrols.
In an alley in the southern district of Heaven Dou City, Lin Rong, dressed in a black robe, appeared.
"This distance is sufficient. I've already sensed the Green Leaf Mark on Lou Gao's hair strands."
Currently, Lin Rong had five Spirit Rings, and the maximum teleportation distance of his second Spirit Ring had broken through to six kilometers. He could directly teleport from outside the Tang Sect to Lou Gao's private forging room.
Unlike the last time he went to steal treasures from the national treasury, where he needed to swap the spatial displacement back, this time, he only needed to knock Lou Gao unconscious and take him away.
Therefore, Lin Rong did not release the Nine Bend Vine Dragon to assist him in his actions. Instead, he directly triggered the Green Leaf Mark on Lou Gao's hair strands and disappeared from his original spot.
Tang Sect, Lou Gao's Private Forging Room.
The soul guiding lamps on the ceiling illuminated the room as if it were daytime.
The entire interior was built without windows, only ventilation openings hidden in dark corners, making it impossible for those inside to distinguish between day and night.
It was already deep into the night.
Yet, the sound of a hammer forging metal still echoed in this forging room.
Lou Gao, engrossed in forging, did not notice a flash of silver light above his messy short hair, nor the person who suddenly appeared behind him.
Lin Rong looked at Lou Gao, who had not detected any abnormality, and thought to himself:
"As expected of someone who values forging more than their own life. Even Zero Zero Seven from my previous life couldn't compete with you."
Without another word, Lin Rong channeled his Soul Power into his hand and struck Lou Gao with a chop, knocking him unconscious before he could react.
After temporarily storing Lou Gao in the Ruyi Bag of Treasures he obtained from Dugu Bo, Lin Rong surveyed the entire forging room.
"There are so many rare metals. The Tang Sect's inventory of rare metals is probably more than half here!"
After pocketing these rare metals, Lin Rong walked to the forging bench, picked up the finished hidden weapon parts on the table, and examined them closely.
"These unique hidden patterns? Could it be..."
As his thoughts moved, these hidden weapon parts assembled into an incomplete cylinder in the air, and the hidden patterns on them vaguely formed a peacock.
"As expected, the third mechanical hidden weapon of the Tang Sect – the Peacock Plume!"
"Nine-tenths of the Peacock Plume's parts are already completed, with only a few more pieces needed to finish it entirely."
Thinking this, Lin Rong's gaze fell upon the metal Lou Gao had been forging on the bench.
The distinctive black veins on the metal allowed even an outsider like Lin Rong to immediately recognize its type.
"No mistake, this is Black Veined Iron."
"It seems Lou Gao was just forging the last few hidden weapon parts for the Peacock Plume."
"I can't believe I managed to get both pieces of Crystal Clear Quartz. I wonder how Tang San will gather the large amount of Dragon Whisker Needles needed for the Peacock Plume."
"It's most likely Lou Gao's personal collection. After all, while Crystal Clear Quartz is incredibly rare, a single piece is only considered rare. It wouldn't be difficult for Lou Gao to obtain it given his position in the Blacksmith Association."
"I just don't know if Lou Gao is forging this out of personal interest upon seeing it, or if Tang San commissioned it for some reason. It's also possible it's a combination of both."
"But since I've stumbled upon it, I won't be polite and will take it."
"Once I bring Lou Gao back, I need to hurry and have him forge the remaining parts."
Lin Rong was in a great mood. He had come to abduct Lou Gao, but unexpectedly found a bonus.
The power of the Peacock Plume, if it directly hits a Spirit Master.
Spirit Saints and those below would undoubtedly die, Spirit Douluos would be crippled or dead, and even Titled Douluos would be severely injured if they couldn't defend in time.
Such a powerful ultimate weapon, with both the hidden weapon blueprints and forging materials originating from Tang San.
If Tang Hao doesn't personally experience the might of the Peacock Plume, wouldn't that be a waste of Tang San's goodwill?
The only pity is that Tang San didn't forge this Peacock Plume himself, so Tang Hao won't be able to feel the warmth of Tang San's personal craftsmanship.
After putting away the Peacock Plume parts and looking at the now empty forging room, confirming nothing else of value was left, Lin Rong activated the Green Leaf Mark he had left in the alley and departed.
Tang Sect, Sect Master's Quarters.
On the bed, Tang San, who was cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Skill, inexplicably had another ominous premonition.
"Again? It happened once during the Royal Banquet, and nothing came of it. Will this ominous feeling be the same as last time, with nothing happening?" Tang San paused for a moment before quickly pushing the ominous premonition out of his mind.
Currently, Titan had not yet returned, and the forging of the top-tier hidden weapons was solely supported by Lou Gao. He had to check tomorrow morning if Lou Gao was still there, only then could he feel at ease.
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