Chapter 52: Yang Wudi Joins the Sect

Looking at Li Xun’s smiling expression, Yang Wudi fell into deep thought.

The Spirit Hall possessed formidable strength, and a direct confrontation would undoubtedly end in certain defeat. However, joining the Spirit Hall was something his conscience could never accept.

Yet...
Li Xun and Ning Fengzhi’s strategy to dismantle the Spirit Hall from within did indeed hold a measure of feasibility.

And then there were the Immortal Herbs...
"Boy, are you trying to lure me with an Immortal Herb?" Yang Wudi’s face darkened as he let out a cold snort. As the dignified patriarch of the Single Skill Clan, how could he ever bow his head for a single Immortal Herb?

Li Xun smiled and shook his head: "Senior Yang, this junior has no such intention."
"Even if you hadn't come today, I would have used the Immortal Herbs to enhance the strength of my teacher and the others. Your arrival is merely a coincidence."

Yang Wudi’s expression eased slightly: "You know how to read the room, boy. If you had just tried to use an Immortal Herb to coerce me, I would have turned around and left immediately."

Li Xun picked the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and the Tulip of Yearning and Pure Affection from the table, handing them over to Yang Wudi: "Senior Yang, please choose one."
"However, this junior will venture to say one more thing."
"Though your Breaking Soul Gun is formidable, it is not yet at the ultimate level. The Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower is overwhelmingly rigid and yang, possessing the power to purge impurities from martial souls. After consuming it, your martial soul might even undergo an evolution."

Gazing at the two Immortal Herbs within arm's reach, Yang Wudi fell into internal conflict. If it were possible, he would have wanted both.
But that was clearly unrealistic.
Let alone two, even if he were to simply take just one of them like this, he would feel as though it were burning his hands.

"Boy, aren't you afraid that the Immortal Herb you give me will go to waste?" Yang Wudi forced his gaze away from the herbs with great difficulty.
"What is a mere Immortal Herb? Even if you do not join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, at the very least, we are not enemies, are we?" Li Xun wore a smile.

Hearing this, Yang Wudi laughed heartily: "If you say a few more words, boy, I might just end up joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"This junior certainly hopes that you will join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
Li Xun gradually put away his smile, his expression turning sincere: "This is not only for our sake, but also for the Single Skill Clan."
"Forgive me for being blunt, Senior. But surely you wouldn't want to wake up one day in the future to find the Single Skill Clan surrounded by a dozen Titled Douluo from the Spirit Hall, would you?"

Yang Wudi frowned.
Though he possessed pride, he was not a man devoid of sense.
What Li Xun described was indeed a possibility, and it wouldn't even require a dozen Titled Douluo; just two or three would be enough to ensure the Single Skill Clan could not escape disaster.

"Boy, although I am the patriarch, joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is not a decision I can make alone, let alone joining the Spirit Hall as well."
Yang Wudi reached out and took the Tulip of Yearning and Pure Affection from Li Xun's hand. "But for myself, I can hold an honorary title within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."

Although the Single Skill Clan had been abandoned by the Clear Sky Clan, some of the clan elders still cherished old sentiments, and those people were stubborn and obstinate.
While it was unlikely they would rush back to the Clear Sky Clan just because it beckoned, asking them to join other sects or the Spirit Hall would undoubtedly spark fierce disputes.

"Having Senior Yang alone is enough." Li Xun’s eyes lit up as he turned to look at Ning Fengzhi.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had no intention of going to war with the Spirit Hall; what use would they have for so many people?
The only person he wanted was Yang Wudi. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan backing him up, Yang Wudi could be utilized entirely as a Titled Douluo. Was that not far better than a bunch of low-tier soul masters?

"Haha, with Brother Yang joining us, our plan will undoubtedly have an even greater chance of success." Seeing Li Xun's expression as if claiming credit, Ning Fengzhi was overjoyed in his heart and cupped his fists toward Yang Wudi.
Happy events truly came one after another today. If the current situation were not inappropriate, he would have genuinely loved to send out wide invitations to show the outside world the current strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

"Brother Fengzhi, should I notify the patriarchs of the other three clans?" Yang Wudi returned the smile and returned the salute.
The four single-attribute clans possessed extreme martial souls and were not particularly prominent when taken individually. But when they united, even the Lower Four Clans would not fear them in the slightest.

"No."
Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance with Li Xun and shook his head: "Brother Yang, our plan cannot be accomplished overnight. The more people who know, the greater the risk of exposure."

Yang Wudi frowned: "But what if the Spirit Hall decides to make a move against the other three clans?"
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi paused.
This was a problem he also found thorny. Gaining a voice by joining the Spirit Hall was not something that could be achieved immediately.
Both sides still needed to maneuver and negotiate terms.
If one of the Upper Three Clans were to directly throw themselves at the Spirit Hall uninvited, any fool would find it suspicious.
Yet during this period of maneuvering, unexpected incidents were bound to happen. If they stepped forward too early, they might even end up standing in direct opposition to the Spirit Hall.

Seeing Ning Fengzhi's dilemma, Li Xun quickly spoke up: "Senior Yang need not worry. I believe there is still a very long time before the Spirit Hall makes its move."
"A tiger may die, but its awe remains."
"Although the Clear Sky Clan has sealed its mountain, it can still deter the Spirit Hall for some time. As long as they have not verified whether Tang Chen is alive or dead, they will not dare to act rashly."

Li Xun paused for a moment: "If the time truly comes when the Spirit Hall makes a move, us stepping forward to falsely absorb the three clans will be far better than exposing our true objectives directly to the Spirit Hall."

The concerns of the two men were far too distant; there were still many years before the Spirit Hall would establish its empire and launch the war. It was just that he could not state this directly and could only answer from the side.

"I suppose that is the only way..." Yang Wudi sighed.
When he thought about it, he actually found it quite laughable.
Their four major clans had suffered severe oppression due to the sudden sealing of the mountain by the Clear Sky Clan. Yet the very reason the Spirit Hall had not wiped them out was precisely because of the deterrent power of the Clear Sky Clan.
Now, even he was somewhat uncertain whether the Clear Sky Clan was strong or weak...

After pondering for a moment, Ning Fengzhi also nodded.
Given the aggressive methods of the current Supreme Pontiff of the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong, if she were not deterred by the majesty of the Clear Sky Clan, he could not think of what else she might care about.
For now, they could only pray that Tang Chen was still alive. That way, their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would not have to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

Thus, Ning Fengzhi and Yang Wudi fell into a silent contemplation, each burdened with their own thoughts.
Li Xun was unaware of what the two men were guessing.
Although he knew a great deal, much of it could not be spoken of, leaving him to simply watch in silence.
As for Dugu Bo, it went without saying; he was fundamentally a wild Douluo who never participated in such matters.

Just as the few of them remained in silence, a powerful wave of soul power suddenly erupted from around Sword Douluo.
Under the agitation of this soul power, the surrounding tables and chairs even creaked and scattered outward.

The three of them quickly cast their gazes toward Sword Douluo.
"Grandpa Jian is about to break through the barrier of rank ninety-six!" A smile emerged on Li Xun's face.

Titled Douluo were divided into three tiers: ordinary, super, and limit. Below rank ninety-five were ordinary Titled Douluo, while ranks ninety-five through ninety-eight were Super Douluo.
Rank ninety-five was a watershed among Titled Douluo; from then on, every level gained would cause the soul power to integrate a portion of oneself, raising one's strength to a new tier.
Until the soul power completely merged with oneself, reaching the rank ninety-nine Limit Douluo.

Now that Sword Douluo had broken through to rank ninety-seven, his soul power had condensed into his very being, leaving only a handful of individuals in the entire continent who could surpass him.
Moreover, there was still plenty of time; perhaps by the time the Spirit Hall established its empire, Sword Douluo might even break through to rank ninety-eight.

And right at this moment,
an anomaly also erupted around Bone Douluo.