Ning Fengzhi took a slow breath, his composed facade barely concealing the storm of thoughts racing through his mind. A Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?
The very idea was unbelievable—a dream that had always been out of reach.
"Are you saying… you truly have a way to evolve our martial spirit?" His voice was calm, but the weight behind his words was heavy.
Ryan simply smiled. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't."
Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo exchanged glances. They were both old enough to understand the near impossibility of martial spirit evolution. The only known cases had involved divine intervention, encounters with rare spirit beasts, or artifacts of unimaginable power.
Even Spirit Hall, with all its vast resources, had never developed a method to evolve a martial spirit.
Yet Ryan looked utterly unconcerned, as if this were a minor matter.
"And what do you want in exchange?" Ning Fengzhi's voice carried a rare solemnity.
"I already told you," Ryan said easily. "Your clan's Heart Separation Technique."
A deep silence followed. Ning Fengzhi tapped his fingers lightly against the table as he weighed the offer. The Heart Separation Technique was a closely guarded secret, a method that allowed their clan members to split their minds and control multiple enhancement effects simultaneously. It was the foundation of their strength.
But the ability to surpass Rank 79? The opportunity for future generations to reach Titled Douluo?
That was something far greater than a single technique.
Still, he needed proof. "If you can truly do this, then I will honor our agreement. But I need to see results before I make such a trade."
Ryan chuckled, leaning forward, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Naturally. I'm not asking for blind trust. If you want proof, I can evolve your martial spirit right now."
The air in the room grew heavy.
Even Chen Xin, who had remained detached, finally spoke, his tone edged with caution. "You speak as though it's a simple matter. If such a thing were truly possible, Spirit Hall would have long since pursued it."
Ryan smirked. "Perhaps. But unlike them, I actually have the means to do it."
Ning Fengzhi's mind raced. If Ryan was telling the truth, this was beyond priceless. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had always been influential, but their inability to reach Titled Douluo had been their greatest weakness. Even with powerful protectors, they could never stand on equal footing with true peak-level experts.
If this was real…
Ning Fengzhi exhaled softly before nodding. "Then show me."
Ryan leaned back lazily. "Sure. However, this is all part of the deal. I will evolve Rongrong's martial spirit first. In exchange, you'll provide me with the technique I asked for. And before you ask—no, there aren't any side effects. It's a simple pill, crafted from an immortal herb known as the Silk Tulip."
With a flick of his wrist, Ryan retrieved a small bottle from his Gate of Babylon, revealing a delicate white-and-pink pill inside. "I have a handful of Silk Tulips growing in my domain. These herbs are exceptionally rare."
Ryan set the bottle on the table. "All she needs to do is consume the pill and absorb its medicinal effects."
Ning Fengzhi's gaze flickered between the pill and Ryan, his mind turning rapidly. A part of him wanted to take the pill himself, but his daughter's future was more important.
"Rongrong," he called.
Ning Rongrong, though slightly hesitant, nodded and reached for the bottle. She opened it, took out the pill, and without hesitation, tossed it into her mouth before sitting down to absorb its effects.
Her martial spirit appeared—a seven-floor pagoda glowing brilliantly. Then, without warning, the pagoda flashed—a powerful golden radiance enveloped it as an eighth, then a ninth floor emerged, solidifying into existence.
The room fell into absolute silence.
Ning Fengzhi stared at the newly evolved Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, his breath catching.
"It… it really worked…"
Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo were equally stunned. Martial spirit evolution wasn't just rare—it was unheard of. Yet here it was, unfolding before their very eyes.
Ryan exhaled leisurely. "I believe my part of the deal is complete?"
Ning Fengzhi snapped out of his daze. "You… you are correct." True to his word, he retrieved a book from his spatial ring and placed it on the table.
Ryan picked it up, quickly scanning the contents. His enhanced comprehension allowed him to memorize and comprehend the technique instantly.
A shadow in his dream space immediately began practicing and refining it. Within moments, the technique had been perfected, now capable of controlling up to nine separate thought processes instead of seven.
Ning Fengzhi, still in shock, finally asked the question burning in his mind. "Do you… still have more of those pills?"
Ryan smirked. "I do. However, they are exceptionally rare. Immortal herbs take thousands of years to grow, and even in my world, their numbers are limited."
For the first time in his life, Ning Fengzhi felt something he hadn't experienced in years—a deep, insatiable greed for power.
"I wonder what you would be willing to trade for?" Ning Fengzhi would give pretty much anything for another one of those pills and Ryan knew this.
"Do you have any criminals in your clan with the 7 Tiled Pagoda? If so I want one of them." The pagoda itself was a useful tool for treasure hunting and I enhancement and I wanted one of my own.
Ning Fengzhi had no idea what Ryan was thinking. "May I ask why?"
"That's a secret but I hope you can give me a prisoner that doesn't need to live or has committed heinous crimes." I didn't want him trying to win me over with a woman or someone innocent as I intended to assimilate them for their martial spirit.
Ning Fengzhi was quite for a moment, had it been money, items, or anything else this request would have been simpler. Did the clan have criminals with the 7 Tiled Pagoda? Yes, which clan didn't have criminals? He had no idea what Ryan intended to do however. Still he couldn't pass up this opportunity.
"Alright, would you be willing to follow us back to the clan?"
[Working hard again today, send Powerstones, soda money or any donations to keep me motivated and thirst free, and your favorite pictures of Big titty anime girls. Cashapp $Ryantheholy Thanks for all the support so far!]