As the feast concluded, the guests gradually dispersed, their laughter and conversation fading into the grand halls of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. The girls returned to their respective places, while Serenity silently took her position at Ryan's side, ever the watchful guardian.
However, Ning Fengzhi was not done with the night just yet.
"Ryan, there's something I'd like to show you," the clan master said, his voice measured yet filled with intent. "Come with me."
Intrigued, Ryan followed him as they moved deeper into the clan's vast territory. They passed through luxurious courtyards, towering pavilions, and golden-lit corridors before finally arriving at a concealed underground passage, its entrance guarded by formidable clan members.
With a nod from Ning Fengzhi, the massive iron doors creaked open, revealing a dimly lit descent into the unknown.
"This is our clan's prison," Ning Fengzhi explained as they stepped inside. "While the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has flourished for generations, not all of our bloodline have remained virtuous. Some have succumbed to greed, ambition, or outright malice."
The further they walked, the heavier the air became.
Inside the cells of cold stone and enchanted steel, disgraced clan members sat in silence, their once-proud Seven-Treasure Pagodas long since dimmed. Some had been caught embezzling wealth, others had sold clan secrets to enemies like Spirit Hall, but the worst were those who had murdered their own kin—a crime that no amount of redemption could erase.
Finally, Ning Fengzhi stopped before a particular cell.
Inside knelt a man in tattered robes, his once-dignified aura now reduced to a dark husk of resentment. His eyes burned with defiance, even in the face of imprisonment.
"This one," Ning Fengzhi said, his voice turning cold. "Ning Mu. He was once a promising talent, but his heart was twisted beyond saving. He killed his own uncle over an inheritance dispute and then tried to frame another clan member for the crime. He was sentenced to life imprisonment… but today, he'll serve a different purpose."
Ryan's gaze sharpened.
"You're trading him for the evolution pill?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "His martial spirit remains the Seven-Treasure Pagoda, despite his sins. You need someone with this spirit, and I want my own evolution pill. This way, we both benefit."
Ryan considered the deal for a moment, then shrugged nonchalantly. "Fine by me."
With a wave of his hand, his Gate of Babylon opened, and from within, he retrieved a small white-and-pink pill—the very same Martial Spirit Evolution Pill he had previously refined.
Placing it in Ning Fengzhi's hand, he said, "Your end of the deal is fulfilled."
Then, without hesitation, Ryan dragged Ning Mu into his inner world, his body vanishing along with it.
~~~~
Within the vast inner world, Ning Mu stood frozen, unable to move, his expression shifting from confusion to sheer terror.
Ryan activated his Dark Devil God Tiger's ability—Assimilate.
A terrifying gray-black aura erupted from his body, swirling like a living beast, its very presence exuding an air of absolute domination. The moment the aura touched Ning Mu, the man screamed, his entire being breaking down into pure spiritual essence.
His power, his memories, and—most importantly—his Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial spirit were forcefully absorbed into Ryan.
A rush of new energy surged through Ryan's body. Knowledge of spirit control techniques, augmentation methods, and the unique support-based abilities of the Seven-Treasure Pagoda flooded into his mind.
He clenched his fists, feeling the subtle but powerful enhancements that came with the new martial spirit.
Satisfied, he exited the inner world.
Ryan opened his eyes, once again standing in the underground prison. The cell was empty—as if Ning Mu had never existed.
Ning Fengzhi narrowed his eyes. "It's done?"
Ryan smirked. "Done."
The clan master studied him for a moment before nodding. "Come. There's more I'd like to show you."
With that, they left the prison behind, returning to the heart of the clan, where Ryan's gaze soon landed upon several treasures and rare spirit beasts—each piquing his interest.
~~~~
As they walked through the clan's exclusive spirit beast enclosures, Ryan's eyes lingered on several particularly fascinating creatures:
1. Jade Emperor Bees – A rare species of bee-type spirit beasts capable of producing Jade Honey, a delicacy rich in spirit energy that nourishes both body and cultivation. Additionally, the bees were invaluable for pollinating spiritual herbs.
2. Fire Spirit Chickens – Highly sought-after spirit poultry known for their exquisite meat and eggs infused with spiritual energy. Though generally docile, their flames made them remarkably resilient.
3. Alchemy Fowl – Perhaps the rarest of them all.
A unique bird-type spirit beast with an innate talent for tending to spiritual plants and herbs.
It had a symbiotic relationship with plant-type spirit beasts, keeping them disease-free and healthy.
Its droppings were high-quality elixirs for spiritual flora.
It cultivated by absorbing excess medicinal energy or consuming pests and diseased leaves from plants.
Completely immune to poison, highly durable, and capable of generating protective shields around its garden.
However, it had zero combat capabilities and could not cultivate in the traditional sense.
Ryan turned to Ning Fengzhi. "I want these."
In exchange, he recieved:
1 Jade Emperor Queen Bee (100 years old)
10 Jade Emperor Worker Bees (10 Years Old) and a specialized bee habitat
12 Fire Spirit Chicken Eggs
2 Fire Spirit Chickens (10 Years Old) and a chicken coop
1 Young Alchemy Fowl (10 Years Old) with a proper habitat
Additionally, as part of the trade, Ryan handed over several rare technique manuals from his Gate of Babylon, including:
Leaf Sticking Technique
Tree Walking Technique
Water Walking Technique
Rasengan Creation Manual
Ning Fengzhi was thrilled. These techniques aligned perfectly with the clan's specialty in spirit control, especially the Rasengan, which could be developed into a self-created spirit technique for offense.
"Incredible," he muttered, already envisioning the future applications.
Ryan smirked, knowing he had just secured another valuable set of resources to further enhance his cultivation and territory.
With their deal complete, Ryan turned back toward the glowing skyline of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, his mind already planning his next moves…
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