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**
Because Spirit Hall had implemented strict security measures this time, even the spies from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect found it difficult to obtain precise information.
Other factions with less intelligence, naturally, were even further in the dark.
Although Ning Fengzhi couldn't receive the exact details of the new thesis, it didn't mean he was entirely unaware.
He had already sent people to spread the word throughout the continent that Spirit Hall was hoarding Master Lin Dong's papers and refusing to make them public.
Within just a few days, in every major city across the continent, almost every Soul Master knew of Spirit Hall's underhanded tactics.
However, Bibi Dong was no fool.
She had already prepared a countermeasure. After redacting certain parts of the Martial Soul Data Panel and hiring experts to polish the prose, she released a version to the public.
This "new" thesis essentially boiled down to "Old Yao" advising Soul Masters to be better at discovering the advantages of their own Martial Souls—leaving out almost everything else of substance.
Ning Fengzhi saw through it clearly; Spirit Hall was hiding the good stuff.
But he no longer had a way to stir up public opinion to force Spirit Hall's hand. Perhaps only a few truly wise individuals understood Spirit Hall's methods, but in the end, Spirit Hall had won this round.
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi's Study
Ning Fengzhi exhaled a long sigh.
Beside him, the Sword Douluo, Chen Xin, didn't know what to say. The shadow struggle between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Spirit Hall had intensified lately. If this continued, a great upheaval was likely on the horizon.
"Fengzhi, the Xu Clan of the Star Luo Empire has expressed interest in a marriage alliance with our sect."
Suddenly, a spatial ripple appeared in the study, followed by the opening of a spatial tunnel. Bone Douluo Gu Rong stepped out, shook his head as he looked at the letter in his hand, and passed it to Ning Fengzhi.
"It seems there are smart people in the Xu Clan who have sensed something is wrong on the continent—or rather, something is wrong with Spirit Hall."
Ning Fengzhi sighed as he took the letter and opened it.
The content was straightforward: the Xu Clan wanted a marriage alliance and a formal coalition with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
As one of the rare families with a powerful support-type inheritance, the Xu Clan couldn't compare to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but their Martial Souls possessed a certain degree of offensive capability.
This point alone was enough for Ning Fengzhi to seriously consider the alliance.
However, using Rongrong for a political marriage was out of the question. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was a support Martial Soul so powerful it could assist two Titled Douluo with only seven soul rings.
Ning Rongrong was currently the apple of Ning Fengzhi's eye and the only hope for the clan to evolve into the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Even for others who awakened the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Ning Fengzhi was reluctant to let them marry out.
"Forget the marriage alliance, but a coalition is fine—unless they are willing to have one of their girls marry into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Ning Fengzhi placed the letter on his desk and began considering how to form a coalition with the Xu Clan.
Speaking of which, the Xu Clan is on very close terms with the Dai Clan. Why look for us? A Clan with support capabilities like the Xu Clan should find the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect or the Clear Sky Sect to be the most logical choice.
After a moment's thought, Ning Fengzhi realized the Xu Clan was likely "mass-emailing" to find a backup option.
He shook his head, wrote a response in a script that felt like a spring breeze to the reader, and handed it back to Gu Rong. Whether the Xu Clan would accept his conditions was another matter.
The Xu Clan's move reminded Ning Fengzhi of something else: he needed more allies. He thought of the four subsidiary clans abandoned by the Clear Sky Sect and narrowed his eyes.
Shrek Academy
Ever since Spirit Hall began releasing new papers, Yu Xiaogang had developed something akin to PTSD. Fortunately, this latest publication didn't mention him or use him as a negative example.
Looking at the content released by Spirit Hall, a trace of disdain flashed across Yu Xiaogang's face.
"Merely finding advantages for trash Martial Souls... useless to me."
Both Ma Hongjun and Oscar were geniuses—monsters.
They didn't need such things.
In a relatively good mood, Yu Xiaogang tossed the report into the trash can and began preparing for Ma Hongjun's running drills. Although Ma Hongjun was still young, one had to start as early as possible on the path of cultivation.
Bang!
Suddenly, Zhao Wuji burst through the door of Yu Xiaogang's room, his face filled with panic.
"Grandmaster, it's bad! Ma Hongjun fainted on the training field! Shao Xin has already given him a Recovery Jelly Bean."
"What? How is that possible?"
Yu Xiaogang stood up in disbelief and sprinted out of the room toward the training field. His speed left Zhao Wuji dazed for a moment.
Since when could the frail Grandmaster run so fast?
Zhao Wuji shook his head and then noticed the Martial Soul News in Yu Xiaogang's trash can.
"Isn't that the new issue? Grandmaster just threw it away like that?" Zhao Wuji felt a pang of resentment. He had read the report and felt he understood the advantages of his own Martial Soul better because of it.
To see such a valuable resource tossed aside...
Tch.
Zhao Wuji increasingly felt that Yu Xiaogang didn't deserve to be called "Grandmaster."
Only that Grandmaster Lin Dong was the real deal.
Recalling Yu Xiaogang's previous boast about publishing a new paper that would cause the news to sell out—only to have every single submission rejected—Zhao Wuji snorted.
Yu Xiaogang was really regressing; not a single editor would look at his work.
Closing the door, Zhao Wuji hurried to the training field.
"Dammit, what is going on? My training plan cannot be wrong! If Little Ma followed my plan, he absolutely wouldn't have fainted!" Yu Xiaogang was like an angry honey badger, roaring at the other teachers.
When Zhao Wuji arrived, he looked at the scene and said with some doubt, "Is it possible that the Evil Fire just can't be used for cultivation? Looking at the new report, it seems Ma Hongjun's advantages are just powerful destructive power and the Phoenix bloodline."
"We should increase his Phoenix bloodline so he becomes a true Phoenix."
Zhao Wuji's voice was booming.
Saying this in front of everyone was essentially calling Yu Xiaogang incompetent for his training arrangements.
"It seems so. Ma Hongjun's first soul skill strengthens his flames and flight, which is good, but without solving the Evil Fire, it's a bit like walking a tightrope," Shao Xin added in agreement.
"What do you people know!" Yu Xiaogang could not stand people mocking his intellect.
To him, Zhao Wuji and Shao Xin were just pretending to be knowledgeable while questioning his theories. Even if Zhao Wuji had a point, he would never admit it.
"How old is Little Ma? Can he even absorb a soul ring from a soul beast with Phoenix bloodline? Even if he could, how much bloodline would it have? What age would the soul ring be? Do none of you have brains?"
Yu Xiaogang cursed hysterically.
In the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, they could only barely absorb soul rings from True Dragon bloodline beasts after using special medicinal baths.
Although he gave Ma Hongjun and Oscar medicinal baths, they didn't have Dragon-attribute Martial Souls, making it difficult for him to formulate the perfect bath.
His words silenced Zhao Wuji and Shao Xin; they began to think he might be right after all.
Just then, Flender arrived, carrying Oscar as he flew down in a hurry.
"Hongjun!" Flender saw Ma Hongjun's pale face and nearly fainted himself. He checked the boy and realized he wasn't in critical danger, letting out a sigh of relief. He turned to Yu Xiaogang.
"Xiaogang, what happened?"
"I don't know. My training plan was gradual. You all approved it, and there were never any accidents before."
"Uh... I think I know a bit," Oscar said, weakly raising his hand.
"What!?" Everyone turned to look at Oscar.
Pressed by their intense gazes, Oscar hurried to explain.
"Last night, Ma Hongjun said he couldn't control the Evil Fire anymore, so he used his hand to..."
"I knew it!" Yu Xiaogang immediately interrupted, concluding it was Ma Hongjun's own fault.
"However, it seems Little Ma's Evil Fire has power even I don't fully understand."
"For now, we must provide an outlet rather than blocking it. Flender, why not use the Evil Fire as a reward mechanism? Every time Little Ma finishes his training, take him to that kind of place once."
Yu Xiaogang realized the fire wasn't that evil; an ordinary person that young trying to "vent" like that would have ruined their constitution long ago.
He was even considering whether he should just cut off Ma Hongjun's... thing... and have him obtain a regeneration soul ring to grow it back later.
Only Zhao Wuji was still wondering: Maybe we shouldn't have let Ma Hongjun suppress the Evil Fire like that?
**
Hello everyone,
Thank you for your support! If you enjoy my work, you can check out my Patreon—there are 60+ early access and exclusive content. I update 5 advanced chapter from Monday-Saturday
www.patreon.com/c/FanficTranslator
I truly appreciate it!