"Haha, Gu Ao, even fists fear the young. I advise you to scram quickly," Hong Tianxiang laughed aloud as he rushed to Ning Tianchen's side.
With their combined strength, they had already slain a forty-thousand-year Earth Spike Dragon—there was no reason to fear Gu Ao, a mere Soul Sage.
"How dare you two think you can defeat me? You're just asking for death." Enraged, Gu Ao activated his sixth soul skill.
Lifting his Mad Blade, empowered by the True Body of the Weapon Spirit, above his head, he unleashed a fierce blade attack, aiming to kill both of them in one strike.
Ning Tianchen sneered coldly.
Gu Ao's blade momentum was far inferior to his sword momentum. Aside from having higher cultivation levels, Gu Ao's understanding of martial souls was utterly lacking.
Hong Tianxiang prepared himself to withstand the attack.
But Ning Tianchen calmly remarked, "Among weapon-type martial souls, the Seven Kill Sword is unrivaled. How dare the dim light of fireflies compete with the bright moon? Allow me to show you what it means to face the Great Wall of Sword Energy."
With just a gentle swing of the Seven Kill Sword in his hand, Ning Tianchen unleashed an overwhelmingly powerful sword momentum.
The sword energy didn't dissipate after passing through its path; instead, it left behind endless layers of sword momentum along its trajectory, forming what looked like a great wall of sword energy.
Regardless of raw strength, the pure sword momentum overwhelmed Gu Ao's blade energy. The sword energy struck Gu Ao's chest, leaving a vicious gash.
Clutching his chest, Gu Ao writhed in intense pain, his True Body of the Weapon Spirit shattering instantly.
Leaning on his blade for support, his chest heaved violently, and beads of cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
As Hong Tianxiang prepared to step forward, Ning Tianchen stopped him with a slight shake of his head.
After all, Gu Ao was still a Soul Sage. They couldn't afford to withstand his desperate counterattack at the moment. For now, staying vigilant was enough.
"A half-dead old man and a brat whose hair hasn't even fully grown—how could I possibly lose!"
In a fit of rage, Gu Ao suddenly raised his Mad Blade and plunged it toward his own chest.
"Is he committing suicide?" Hong Tianxiang sneered.
At first, Ning Tianchen thought the same. After all, a proud warrior would never allow others to kill him.
But after waiting for a breath's time, Ning Tianchen changed his mind. He immediately grabbed Hong Tianxiang and retreated, shouting, "Quick, retreat! This is some kind of life-burning secret technique."
There were countless strange secret techniques on the continent. The blood-based secret technique Hong Tianxiang had used earlier was one such example—burning one's life force to ignore pain and forcibly unleash immense power.
As the two retreated, Gu Ao's eyes turned bloodshot and then crimson. His breathing ceased, and he became a cold-blooded killing machine devoid of emotion.
His strength surged dramatically, and he quickly caught up to Ning Tianchen and Hong Tianxiang.
The blood-soaked Mad Blade glowed red, unleashing crimson blade energy.
Reacting swiftly, Hong Tianxiang pushed Ning Tianchen away while using the counterforce to propel his body in the opposite direction, narrowly avoiding the blade's slash.
"Incredible," Ning Tianchen muttered in surprise.
Gu Ao, who previously had no understanding of martial souls, had suddenly grasped such blade momentum and was only a step away from achieving unity with his blade.
For a moment, Ning Tianchen felt as if his years of arduous cultivation were a joke.
If he could obtain that secret technique and use it to rapidly cultivate his sword heart at the cost of exhausting his body, it might be worth trying.
Turning around, he observed Gu Ao's condition.
"He's already dead! What kind of secret technique is this?" Hong Tianxiang cursed.
Ning Tianchen was deeply shaken and immediately abandoned the absurd idea.
Secret techniques that came at the cost of death were only for madmen.
All that remained of Gu Ao was his combat instinct and hatred for his enemies.
The Mad Blade came crashing down toward Hong Tianxiang.
Hong Tianxiang blocked it with his Long Cloud Staff, exerting all his strength to resist.
After a single strike, Hong Tianxiang's legs trembled, and his entire body collapsed to the ground. His arms went completely numb, and he was on the verge of being unable to hold on.
"Heavy Sword Style!"
Facing thousands of troops, one must rely on sheer force.
Ning Tianchen unleashed his full strength, his arm and calf muscles slightly bulging as he swung the Seven Kill Sword upward with tremendous force.
With their combined efforts, they barely managed to withstand Gu Ao's attack.
"This guy has gone completely insane! We must kill him here. Once he enters the city, countless lives will be lost!" Ning Tianchen shouted.
The strongest individuals in the cities near Feng Wu City were only at the level of Soul Sages. How could they stop a frenzied Gu Ao?
Hong Tianxiang asked gravely, "Does this secret technique have no time limit?"
Ning Tianchen shook his head.
He had once read in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's library that any secret technique that consumed life force would only dissipate when the body completely rotted away.
Gu Ao had just died, and it would take at least five more days before his body turned into a skeleton.
During this time, they couldn't afford to wander aimlessly through the forest. Even if they wanted to, their stamina wouldn't allow it.
"Third Soul Skill, Soaring Sword Wings!"
Ning Tianchen leapt into the air, a pair of skeletal sword wings sprouting from his back as he soared into the sky.
The feather blades on the sword wings had long disappeared, leaving only the skeletal frame.
With his right hand forming a sword gesture, he remotely controlled the Seven Kill Sword to launch attacks.
"Hold on, Elder Hong! I have a way to slay him."
Understanding Ning Tianchen's plan, Hong Tianxiang shook his numb hands. As soon as he regained some strength, he chose to launch an active assault.
The Long Cloud Staff spun rapidly in his hands, and the fifth soul ring lit up.
But it seemed he had forgotten that Gu Ao possessed overwhelming strength.
A single slash nearly forced the Long Cloud Staff out of his grip. If not for Ning Tianchen's timely support with the Seven Kill Sword, he would have been in grave danger.
"Sword Bone Skill, Feather Blades Storm!"
The feather blades that had fallen to the ground earlier responded to his call, soaring into the air and raining down upon Gu Ao's body.
"Ugh~"
Gu Ao could no longer speak, reduced to instinctive growls.
The crimson Mad Blade blocked part of the feather blades, but it couldn't shield his entire body. Exposed areas were mercilessly cut by the blades.
After a volley of attacks, Gu Ao's body was riddled with holes. But since he was already dead, he felt no pain. With his shattered right hand, he lifted the Mad Blade and continued slashing toward Hong Tianxiang.
"Elder Hong, hold him off! I'll find a way to ambush him from behind!" Ning Tianchen shouted.
Ning Tianchen's gaze sharpened.
Though the "Feather Blades Storm" was a variant of the third soul skill, it consumed a tremendous amount of soul power. If he used it again and failed to kill the enemy, he would be put in a disadvantageous position.
Raising the Seven Kill Sword with his right hand, he began tracing something in front of him.
The first stroke created a faint sword mark in the air.
After four consecutive strokes, Ning Tianchen attempted a fifth—but unfortunately, his understanding of sword techniques wasn't deep enough. The fifth stroke only formed a small dot.
"It's enough!" With a loud shout, he unleashed the incomplete "Kill" character sword technique, directing it toward Gu Ao's position.
"Elder Hong, dodge quickly!"
Understanding the urgency, Hong Tianxiang quickly moved out of the way.
Instinctively, Gu Ao raised his Mad Blade to block. However, the power of the "Kill" character sword technique far exceeded his expectations.
The moment it collided with the "Kill" character, the Mad Blade was instantly annihilated, and Gu Ao's body disintegrated into dust.
The battle ended. Ning Tianchen landed back on the ground, panting heavily.
"Young man, I feel utterly humbled. If I'm not mistaken, that move you just used was the 'Kill' character sword technique, correct? Amazing, even Sword Dao Chen Xin at your age probably couldn't have executed the 'Kill' character sword technique to this extent."
Hong Tianxiang patted Ning Tianchen's shoulder, lavishing praise without reservation.
It was clear to him that even without the Hong family's assistance, Ning Tianchen alone was capable of slaying a forty-thousand-year spirit beast.
There were differences between geniuses, and a top-tier genius like Ning Tianchen was incomparable to ordinary people.
Ning Tianchen swallowed a piece of Dragon Spirit Leaf, partially restoring his depleted soul power, and quickly said:
"Elder Hong, we need to leave quickly. The commotion from this battle will likely attract many scavengers."
Scavengers were everywhere. In the cities, they were often called beggars. But in the spirit beast forests, things were different.
Those who dared scavenge in the Great Star Dou Forest were almost always powerful soul masters. Even Hong Tianxiang himself had once scavenged.
The purpose of scavengers was simple: if there was a battle in the forest, they would rush to the battlefield afterward to collect the spoils.
"What a pity. Earlier, you destroyed Gu Ao's soul tool along with him. Otherwise, we could have examined what kind of secret technique he used." With a sigh, Hong Tianxiang wasted no time and quickly fled the Great Star Dou Forest with Ning Tianchen.
...
Several hours later, at the Hong family estate
Under the protection of the family's elite members, Hong Xinyue returned to the family first.
Seeing her, Hong Kui hurriedly asked, "Xinyue, what happened? Where are Grandfather and Young Friend Tianchen?"
Panting heavily, Hong Xinyue replied, "The Mad Blade Sect ambushed us. Grandfather and Ning Tianchen are fighting them."
"The Mad Blade Sect!" Hong Kui was startled at first but quickly recalled the mention of a special name in her explanation. "Xinyue, what exactly is going on with this Ning Tianchen?"
After a detailed explanation, he finally understood the situation.
But because of this, he became even more anxious.
If Ning Tianchen were to fall, both their family and the Mad Blade Sect would face the wrath of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
With no time to waste, as the family patriarch, Hong Kui immediately gathered his men and prepared to go offer support.
When they stormed out of the estate gates, Ning Tianchen had already returned with Hong Tianxiang, using his sword to fly.
Hong Kui led them into a private room.
After a brief conversation, everyone understood the situation.
Hong Kui clasped his hands and said, "Young friend, my Hong family owes you a great debt. If you ever need anything in the future, the Hong family will serve you with all our might."
Ning Tianchen's assistance in killing Gu Ao meant that they were now in the same boat.
This was the perfect opportunity for the Hong family to align themselves with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and Hong Kui had no reason to miss it.
Ning Tianchen waved his hand dismissively, "It's not as serious as that. Fighting Gu Ao was part of my training mission. If Master Hong is truly interested, prepare a carriage for me. I plan to head to the Extreme North soon."
"It's only right, only right," Hong Kui quickly poured tea for him.
Beside them, Hong Xinyue's gaze toward Ning Tianchen grew fiery and filled with admiration.
At the same age of sixteen, she had just advanced to Soul Ancestor, while Ning Tianchen had already slain a Soul Sage, stepping directly into the ranks of the continent's strongest.
Hong Tianxiang chuckled, "Kui'er, quickly organize people to retrieve all of the Mad Blade Sect's treasures."
"We were the first to learn of Gu Ao's death. By the time other forces react, the treasures we can claim will be greatly reduced."
"Remember, half of the treasures must be given to Young Friend Tianchen. Without him, I alone could not have defeated Gu Ao."
Hong Kui nodded repeatedly, "It's only right, only right."
Ning Tianchen waved his hand, "There's no need. I'll only take one or two items I need. You can keep the rest."
The total value of everything in his soul tool likely exceeded the combined treasures of an entire small sect. Since he wasn't short on money, there was no need to appear greedy.
After Hong Kui left, Hong Tianxiang continued, "Young friend, what do you think? Why don't you and Xinyue go to the Extreme North together? I'll have Xinyue escort you."
"Don't rush to refuse. Xinyue needs to go to the Extreme North to hunt for souls. Traveling together will provide mutual support, won't it?"
Ning Tianchen naturally wouldn't refuse.
Traveling alone could indeed be dull.
After exchanging pleasantries, Ning Tianchen returned to his room.
He didn't rush into cultivation but instead began pondering how to "settle" the Hong family.
The Hao Tian Sect absorbed the four single-attribute families as subordinate sects, relying on them to defend the Hao Tian Sect's headquarters. But fundamentally, it was also about increasing the sect's risk resistance.
After all, you shouldn't put all your eggs in one basket.
However, the Hao Tian Sect didn't handle this well. Under the dominance of landlord mentality, the four single-attribute families remained perpetually exploited as "tenants."
On the other hand, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had always faced external threats.
In the original timeline, after being attacked by the Spirit Hall, the sect managed to protect most of its inner disciples but never recovered from the blow.
Currently, the business of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect relied heavily on its reputation and prestige.
While this approach wasn't inherently bad, its risk resistance was extremely weak. If something went wrong, the sect would completely decline.
By absorbing families like the Hong family and establishing branches of the Seven Treasures Chamber of Commerce, they could largely avoid being wiped out in one fell swoop.
With operations spread across the continent, even if the Spirit Hall wanted to strike, it wouldn't be able to destroy all the chambers at once. Even if the sect suffered from the Spirit Hall's soul-hunting operation, as long as the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect survived, they could rely on these branches to rise again.
The Hong family would undoubtedly be willing to latch onto the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, but whether Ning Fengzhi would agree with his idea remained uncertain.
After some thought, he retrieved a map of the continent from his soul tool.
Planning the route to the Extreme North was one thing, but more importantly, he needed to return to the sect and personally present his ideas to Ning Fengzhi.
A moment later, he found a relatively short route that conveniently passed through Tiandou City.
…
Later that evening, Hong Kui drove cartloads of treasures into the Hong estate.
As previously agreed, Ning Tianchen got first pick.
The Mad Blade Sect was only a small sect, with almost no foundation. Naturally, their collection lacked any eye-catching treasures.
After casually selecting two items, Ning Tianchen didn't inquire further about the rest.
They rested at the Hong estate for two days.
Hong Kui prepared the carriage, ready to depart at any time.
Before leaving,
Hong Kui and Hong Tianxiang approached Ning Tianchen together.
"Young friend, I won't beat around the bush. Look, could you write a letter for our family? Although our Hong family..."
Before Hong Tianxiang could finish, Ning Tianchen interrupted, "Regarding the Hong family, I have another arrangement. The details are numerous, so I'll make it brief. I need you to continue staying here and running your current business. After I return to the sect, I will discuss with the sect leader to provide you with additional goods and help you expand into multiple markets."
"Don't get too excited yet. I need to discuss the specifics with the sect leader, and afterward, I'll need to stay in contact with you. Therefore, whoever among you can decide the family's future development should come with me this time."
Hong Kui and Hong Tianxiang exchanged glances, both wearing expressions of joy.
They didn't doubt that Ning Tianchen could persuade Ning Fengzhi. After all, with Ning Tianchen's talent, he was destined to become one of the continent's top powerhouses.
Ning Fengzhi would eventually grow old, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would ultimately belong to the younger generation.
If he were Ning Fengzhi, there'd be no reason to suppress Ning Tianchen at this time. Instead, he should fully support him, allowing the sect to reach new heights through Ning Tianchen's youthful drive.
"Kui'er, you're the family head. You should go with the young friend. I believe you can steer the family's future development well." Hong Tianxiang firmly patted Hong Kui's shoulder.
Hong Kui nodded solemnly, "Rest assured, Father. I will lead the family to greater heights."
Without further delay, the three boarded the carriage and headed toward the Tiandou Empire.
Inside the carriage, Hong Kui asked, "Young friend, according to your vision, what tasks does our Hong family need to accomplish, and how can we realize our value?"
Ning Tianchen thought for a moment and replied, "You will become a member of the Seven Treasures Chamber of Commerce. However, the Star Luo Empire has imposed strict restrictions on the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, not wanting us to grow stronger within their territory."
"Therefore, externally, you will still operate under the name of the Hong family. Of course, the Seven Treasures Chamber of Commerce is an essential part of the sect, and you will be considered core members. The sect won't take your profits, but your supply sources must be provided by the sect."
"What I've said is my initial draft of the decision. The specifics will be finalized after discussing with the sect leader."
Hong Kui acknowledged his understanding.
According to Ning Tianchen's vision, the Hong family would receive the protection of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect while enjoying significant autonomy.
In Ning Tianchen's words, this arrangement was akin to affiliation.
That is, the Seven Treasures Chamber of Commerce wouldn't interfere in the Hong family's actions but would still earn corresponding profits, which could be considered a form of diversifying income.
After finishing the serious discussion, Hong Kui hesitantly asked, "Young friend, considering Xinyue's talent, would it be possible for her to study at the Seven Treasures Academy?"
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had given them such significant benefits, so it was only appropriate for them to send Hong Xinyue as a "hostage."
Of course, as a father, Hong Kui hoped that Hong Xinyue would receive better education.
The advanced soul master academies in the Star Luo Empire differed from those in the Tiandou Empire.
The Star Luo Empire's advanced soul master academies had regional restrictions. Students could only attend schools within their home province unless a family member held a high-ranking position in the empire, allowing them to transfer their children's residency to the work location.
The Hong family had some connections in the military, but they couldn't influence residency matters.
Sending Hong Xinyue to study at the Seven Treasures Academy would bypass the Star Luo Empire's residency system.
Moreover, the teaching resources of the Seven Treasures Academy were recognized across the continent. Studying there would greatly benefit Hong Xinyue's future.
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