'System, give me the solution for Ma Hongjun's martial spirit defect.'
[Nine Yang Divine Skill: 5 million emotion points!]
[Immortal Herb: Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower: 2 million emotion points!]
[External Spirit Bone: Phoenix Wings: 1 million emotion points!]
Wow! There are more than thirty solutions.
Zhuge Lan glanced at the options but didn't plan to exchange for any of them. Instead, he turned to Flender, who was eagerly waiting, and said, "Since you know the head of the Blazing Flame Sect, you should be familiar with the three great earth sects, right?"
Flender nodded affirmatively.
"The three earth sects are the Blazing Flame Sect, the Battle Soul Sect, and the Undying Sect," Zhuge Lan continued. "From what I know, the Battle Soul Sect's inherited martial spirit is the Seven Killing Sword, which is currently in possession of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sword Douluo."
"As for the Undying Sect, I've only heard bits about it and don't know much."
"Are you from the Undying Sect?" Flender inquired.
Zhuge Lan clarified, "The Undying Sect's martial spirit is the Nine-Hearted Begonia, which is a purely healing-based support spirit."
"As for me, I have nothing to do with the three great sects."
[Emotion Points +1111]
[Emotion Points +999]
[Emotion Points +666]
[Emotion Points +233]
Everyone was speechless. If you have nothing to do with them, why bring it up?
"Where I come from isn't important," Zhuge Lan grinned. "Ma Hongjun's martial spirit defect? I have more than thirty ways to fix it."
[Emotion Points +7777]
[Emotion Points +1999]
Ma Hongjun, holding the "highest record ever," slid on his knees and hugged Zhuge Lan's leg. The motion was so exaggerated that his cloak flew off.
Zhuge Lan was so startled that he used his "Nine Shadows Technique" at full speed, leaving three afterimages as he jumped back ten meters. He was afraid of actual physical contact!
[Emotion Points +6666]
Flender, watching the three afterimages fade, was shocked. With his keen eyesight, he could tell this wasn't a spirit skill or a spirit bone technique but a self-created one, much like the Grandmaster's Hammer or Dragon Transformation.
A powerful self-created movement technique like this couldn't belong to just any family. Zhuge Lan must be from a hidden clan — one that doesn't seek fame or fortune but produces prodigies.
No limits, no fixed path. The only certainty was that Zhuge Lan was no ordinary person.
"Ma Hongjun!" Flender reprimanded, "Even though it was the evil fire acting up earlier, you still raised your hand. Apologize now!"
Ma Hongjun nodded repeatedly. "Brother Zhuge, it was my fault earlier! From now on, you're my big brother! Whatever you say, I'll follow! Please, help me. It's been so hard for me these past years!"
His attitude was genuinely sincere, but what Zhuge Lan was most pleased with were the thousands of emotion points flowing out of Ma Hongjun.
Zhuge Lan pretended to ponder for a while to squeeze more out of him. After the emotion points started to taper off, he finally spoke slowly.
"The Nine-Heaven Phoenix is one of the top beast martial spirits, even stronger than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. It's not far from a god-level martial spirit."
"Ma Hongjun's problem is that his body couldn't fully develop at birth, so when his martial spirit awakened, he couldn't handle such a powerful spirit, causing a benign but incomplete mutation."
"It's similar to what happened to Yu Xiaogang of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family. He has a martial spirit fusion ability — the Golden Holy Dragon — which was his original martial spirit."
[Emotion Points +4999]
Flender's eyes lit up with excitement, but he didn't interrupt.
Zhuge Lan continued, "That's why Ma Hongjun ended up with the Evil Fire Phoenix — a powerful but flawed spirit."
"I've noticed that he relies on satisfying his desires, like sexual indulgence or overeating, to release the evil fire. That's the lowest method."
He stopped speaking, leaving both Flender and Ma Hongjun hanging. He just wouldn't say more.
[Emotion Points +7777]
Ma Hongjun was about to jump with impatience. "Come on, just say it!"
Flender, who understood the situation better, spoke up. "Zhuge, if you have any conditions, just tell us. I'll do my best to meet them."
Now, that's how you ask for a favor!
Zhuge Lan said directly, "I snuck out this time, and I didn't bring much money."
He gave Flender a knowing look.
[Emotion Points +4444]
As a miser, Flender felt the pain, but looking at the disciple he had raised, he sighed helplessly.
"I'll waive the 100 gold soul coins for your tuition," Flender offered.
[Emotion Points +1111]
"Only 100 gold soul coins?" Zhuge Lan scoffed. "Alright, I'll give you some valuable information in return."
"A purely yang fire cultivation technique could help Ma Hongjun control the evil fire, not only preventing it from affecting his emotions but also accelerating his cultivation."
"The Blazing Flame Sect used to have such techniques, but they seem to have been lost."
"You could try looking for families that specialize in fire-attribute martial spirits and see if they have anything."
[Emotion Points +2999]
[Emotion Points +1999]
Flender and Ma Hongjun both gave him a resentful look. What you said isn't helpful at all! Without a suitable technique, it's all useless!
Wait a minute!
"Cultivation technique?" Ma Hongjun asked, confused. "What's that? Is it something you eat?"
Flender seemed to grasp something but remained silent.
"Ignorant!" Zhuge Lan sighed. "When circulating soul power, different routes and attributes can accelerate cultivation, restore oneself, correct defects, or even produce unique effects like aura."
"That Tang San practices a cultivation technique with a balanced aura, which helps calm the mind."
"But compared to the technique I'm practicing…"
Zhuge Lan stopped short, as if he had said too much, and fell silent.
This piqued everyone's curiosity even more.
[Emotion Points +3999]
[Emotion Points +1999]
[Emotion Points +1999]
Seeing the surge of emotion points from Zhu Zhuqing, Zhuge Lan smiled inwardly. Another leverage point!
"I'll look into that, but it may take time," Flender said reluctantly. "Isn't there something more immediate?"
"There is," Zhuge Lan said, rubbing his fingers together — the universal sign for money.
[Emotion Points +1111]
Flender gritted his teeth and pulled out a money pouch, tossing it reluctantly to Zhuge Lan.
"There's 500 gold soul coins in there — the tuition fees I just collected. Take it all!"
[Emotion Points +1111]
[Emotion Points +2222]
[Emotion Points +3333]
Zhuge Lan weighed the pouch, enjoying the surge of emotion points from Flender.
It turns out exploiting people's weaknesses is the best way to get the big rewards.
What's wrong with being stingy? If used correctly, it's a good habit.
He spent 10,000 emotion points to exchange his belt for a real storage belt and tucked the money pouch inside.
Zhuge Lan then smirked, "Fine, it seems you're short on cash. I'll do a good deed and give you this information for free."
"Immortal Herb: Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower."
"External Spirit Bone: Phoenix Wings."
"Desolate Beast Inner Core."
Zhuge Lan rattled off more than thirty methods in one go, leaving Flender and Ma Hongjun speechless.