"For a genius, confidence is a good thing. I believe you are the strongest and most talented Spirit Master of this generation."
"Perfect. My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda can make you even stronger!"
Ning Fengzhi, who knew the inside story, was the calmest of them all. He smiled as he encouraged Bai Mu.
"Thank you, Uncle Ning, for thinking so highly of me. My confidence naturally comes from my strength!"
Bai Mu spoke with pride and sincerity.
"If Uncle Ning or His Highness the Crown Prince knows any powerful genius Spirit Masters, feel free to send them to challenge me."
"I swear by my spirit: as long as the age difference is less than fifteen years, if someone defeats me, I will acknowledge them as my master without hesitation!"
A spirit oath.
This was the most solemn vow a Spirit Master could make.
Those four words made everyone present realize that beneath Bai Mu's seemingly arrogant words was absolute seriousness.
"That's a bit difficult, but my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect does have a few geniuses. Later, I can arrange for them to spar with you and exchange pointers."
Ning Fengzhi laughed softly, seeing this as a perfect opportunity to test Bai Mu's strength.
With an upper age limit of twenty-seven, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect still had several Spirit Ancestors, as well as geniuses who had just broken through to Spirit King.
"Coincidentally, the Heaven Dou Empire also has many geniuses. I have a few genius Spirit Master friends as well. I can invite them to spar with you later."
Qian Renxue smiled calmly.
One of the "friends" she mentioned was herself.
She refused to believe that no matter how strong Bai Mu was, he could stand up to her—a Spirit King.
As long as she found an opportunity in the future to defeat Bai Mu using her true identity, she could naturally subdue him.
"Of course! Among Spirit Masters of this generation, I am absolutely the strongest!"
Bai Mu's tone brimmed with confidence, but he quickly changed the subject.
"However, I'm currently preparing to obtain my fourth spirit ring, and my strength may improve a bit. If any true powerhouse wants to challenge me, it would be better to wait until I return from hunting a Spirit Beast."
These words caused Qian Renxue to temporarily abandon the idea of acting immediately.
If she defeated him after he obtained his fourth spirit ring and grew stronger, the effect of subduing him would be even better.
With that thought, she smiled and raised her cup.
"Alright then. We'll wait for Brother Bai to return from hunting his Spirit Beast and properly appreciate your strength."
"Whatever Spirit Beast you want, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can send people to help you hunt it. Naturally, the information will be shared."
Ning Fengzhi was already treating Bai Mu as one of his own.
"I really want to see what kind of strength you have, kid."
Bone Douluo snorted and drained his cup.
"For now, I can handle the Spirit Beast hunt myself. But I'll have to trouble Sect Master, Grandpa Gu, and His Highness the Crown Prince when it comes to gathering information on Spirit Beasts."
After the meal ended, Bai Mu politely declined further invitations and checked into the Heaven Dou Grand Hotel on the spot.
---
Upon returning to her palace, Qian Renxue removed her disguise, transforming back into a breathtakingly beautiful blonde woman.
"Uncle She, have you gathered all of Bai Mu's information?"
She spoke into the air, as if talking to herself.
"Yes, Young Lord!"
A gray shadow flickered as Snake Lance Douluo appeared beside her, handing over several scrolls of documents.
---
Inside the Seven Treasure Residence.
"Uncle Gu, what do you think?"
Ning Fengzhi gently sipped his tea, looking at Gu Rong across from him. Gu Rong's expression was grave as he read Ning Rongrong's letter.
"This child is unfathomable. If we can't recruit him, then we absolutely must not provoke him."
Gu Rong thought for a long time before finally saying this.
"Oh?"
Ning Fengzhi chuckled. "Shouldn't it be: 'If he can't be used by us, then he must not be allowed to live'?"
"It's different. Completely different."
Gu Rong shook his head and sighed.
"Among Spirit Masters, levels 30, 50, 70, and 90 are major dividing lines of strength. Only those who reach level 70 and master their Martial Soul True Body can truly be called powerhouses."
"Yet a quasi–Spirit Ancestor at level 40 was able to defeat a level 76 Spirit Saint—one who even used their Martial Soul True Body. I've never heard of such a thing."
"The gap here is even more terrifying than a Spirit Saint being able to fight a Titled Douluo."
"Even if Qian Daoliu, the Grand Elder of the Spirit Hall's Enshrinement Hall—once known as Invincible in the Sky—were reborn with all his memories intact, he might not be able to achieve something like this."
"It's that exaggerated?"
Ning Fengzhi's expression grew serious.
"More importantly," Gu Rong paused, "that boy is abnormal."
"Oh?"
Ning Fengzhi asked, "What did you notice, Uncle Gu?"
"My Bone Dragon has an innate sensitivity to bones. But today, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sense a single bone in his body."
Gu Rong said solemnly, "Either he possesses some special spirit ability that blocks my perception, or the Bai Mu we saw today wasn't his real body—a substitute."
"!!!"
Ning Fengzhi fell silent for a long moment before slowly lifting his head.
"It seems… we must spare no effort to win him over."
"Mhm."
Gu Rong understood the implication and simply nodded.
---
Heaven Dou City, inside a secluded hotel room in the southern part of the city.
Bai Mu's true body stood before a full-length mirror, carefully examining the Seven Treasure Ruyi Soft Armor he was wearing.
The armor clung tightly to his skin, thin and supple, completely unlike metal armor.
He moved his limbs slightly—there was no stiffness at all, and it didn't hinder his movements in the slightest.
"Not bad. It fits well, and the appearance is excellent."
Bai Mu nodded in satisfaction.
"My survival ability has increased another level."
With this soft armor—capable of withstanding one strike from a Spirit Emperor's sixth spirit ability—combined with a series of life-saving techniques such as Detect, Substitute, Invisibility, and Time Domain…
His ability to survive had practically reached its limit.
As long as he didn't actively seek death, he absolutely wouldn't die.
Even if he did seek death, as long as his main body wasn't exposed, he still wouldn't die.
Below the Spirit Saint level, killing him was nearly impossible.
As for Titled Douluo, he didn't dare say—but for a Spirit Douluo to kill him would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
If he had to name a current weakness…
"I'm a bit short on cash."
The smile on Bai Mu's face faded.
The generous funds he had painstakingly acquired by robbing the rich to help the poor just days ago were gone in a single night.
His total assets now amounted to less than two hundred gold coins.
How could this possibly be the image of the number one genius of the younger generation?
"I'm so angry I'm shaking—cold and furious! When will we working people finally rise up?!"
He walked to the window, suddenly recalling a saying by Lu Shuren: when you have no money, look more at rich people.
For some reason, his gaze subconsciously shifted toward the eastern part of the city.
That was where the Fourth Prince's residence was located.
"Xue Beng… ah, Xue Beng…"
Bai Mu muttered softly.
"You really are my 'timely rain.'"
---
On a dark and windy night, the Fourth Prince's residence was brightly lit.
After being kidnapped twice, the security measures inside had become downright insane.
Guard teams patrolled the mansion around the clock. Spirit Masters stood watch inside and outside Xue Beng's bedroom, and there was even a Spirit King serving as his personal bodyguard.
But in Bai Mu's eyes, all of this was meaningless.
Two in the morning—the hour when people were most exhausted.
Xue Beng slept soundly, a foolish smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.
Suddenly—
"Pfft!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Several muffled impacts rang out.
"Still sleeping? Time to get kidnapped~!"
Slap!
Bai Mu knocked Xue Beng unconscious with a single slap, deftly lifted the blanket, stuffed him into a sack, and carried him away.
Before sealing the hole in the ground, he casually tossed in a few notes.
The entire operation took less than twenty seconds.
The highly paid Spirit King was already lying on the ground, coughing up blood.
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