Yang Wushuang had not considered failure; he had even presupposed success and was already contemplating the subsequent tasks. He directly asked Ye Tian, "Your Highness, after I gain the trust of my elder brother and the others, what should I do next?"
"If you successfully recruit the Po Clan, lead them to Star Luo City in the Star Luo Empire and lie low for now. Wait a few months until the Longevity Pavilion in Star Luo City is completed, and you can directly move in... Here are Body Tempering Pills and Soul Ascension Pills, and even my Marrow Cleansing Pills and Bright Soul Nourishing Pills, to serve as bargaining chips for your negotiations."
As he spoke, Ye Tian took out a large cloth bundle and handed it to Yang Wushuang.
"Don't worry, you won't have to wait too long in Star Luo City. I already have plans for the construction of the Longevity Pavilion there."
As soon as Ye Tian finished speaking, Yang Wushuang eagerly knelt on one knee.
"This subordinate accepts the command!"
"Your Highness, rest assured. If I fail to complete the task, Yang Wushuang will present his head."
Yang Wushuang's words were resolute.
Raising both hands, he solemnly accepted the bundle from Ye Tian as if receiving an imperial decree.
He clearly understood just how attractive the pills inside this bundle were to Soul Masters.
Under their current dire circumstances, the elders of the Po Clan, for the sake of the clan's development, would surely be tempted upon seeing these pills. Coupled with their inherent obsession with alchemy, they would be unable to resist.
"Excellent! Very spirited..."
Ye Tian smiled calmly.
He, too, understood the weight of these pills and nodded in satisfaction, instructing, "Rest in Spirit Hall City for three days before setting out. I'll be waiting in Spirit Hall City for your good news... Contacting me shouldn't be difficult for someone like you, who loves refining poisons, right? Once you reach Star Luo City, you can seek out the Platinum Bishop at the Martial Soul Grand Hall there."
"This subordinate understands!"
Yang Wushuang lowered his head, his bloodshot eyes gleaming with excitement.
He could hardly wait to return to the Po Clan after such a long absence!
Filled with anticipation, he didn't even need the full three days of rest. After just one day and night, Yang Wushuang, wearing a mask and armed with a spear, mounted his horse and left Spirit Hall City alone.
Even with the support of Spirit Hall's intelligence, knowing the current whereabouts of the Po Clan, he did not head there immediately.
To temporarily distance himself from Spirit Hall and avoid arousing suspicion among the Po Clan, Yang Wushuang spent most of a day using the Po Clan's unique method of communication to contact the remaining clan members before rushing there alone on horseback.
Soon, in just two days, Yang Wushuang arrived at a mountain range on the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire.
Amidst lush but not particularly tall thickets, there were no paths. Even birds were extremely rare.
Yang Wushuang dismounted and looked at the desolate land before him.
A sense of melancholy arose in his eyes. He never imagined that the Po Clan, once attached to the Clear Sky School and enjoying boundless glory, would fall to such a state.
"How laughable, this title of the world's number one sect."
Thinking of the Clear Sky School, using their Four Great Clans to fill the front lines and cover the Tang family's retreat...
That was what led to his unfortunate capture by the Spirit Hall.
Yang Wushuang couldn't help but grit his teeth in frustration.
"Hah~ What a fine 'sealing the mountain and closing the sect.' When you finally think of emerging again, you'll be blinded by the glorious age before your eyes, all created by His Highness."
In Yang Wushuang's view, with the Holy Son's presence in the Spirit Hall,
the Clear Sky School's decision to seal the mountain and close the sect was nothing but a slow suicide!
Their so-called "conserving strength and building up energy" was just a joke...
Compared to the progress of the entire Soul Master world, they would only grow weaker and weaker.
"Whoosh!!"
In the not-so-dense forest, three dark figures shot forward.
"Who goes there?"
"How dare you trespass on the Po Clan's sacred grounds!"
The dull thuds of feet landing on tree trunks and the ground sounded one after another.
Three dark figures had already appeared before Yang Wushuang.
Each held a long spear, with their respective Soul Rings glowing beneath their feet.
Two Soul Kings and one Soul Emperor!
The oppressive aura from the three converged and surged toward Yang Wushuang.
"Hmph!"
Yang Wushuang snorted coldly.
With a grasp of his hand, a pitch-black long spear appeared in his grip.
That spear wasn't much different from the ones held by the three before him, but its shaft was entwined with a full seven Soul Rings. And one smaller black ring, more compact than a normal Soul Ring!
"A Soul Sage? With the Soul-Breaking Spear Martial Soul!"
"Who... who are you?!"
The leading Soul Emperor widened his eyes, unable to resist asking.
"What?"
"Has it only been a little over a month, and you no longer recognize me?"
Yang Wushuang gripped the Soul-Breaking Spear, raised his other hand, and slowly removed the mask from his face.
"!!!"
The three, upon clearly seeing Yang Wushuang's face, immediately widened their eyes and exclaimed, "Second Master! You... you've returned!"
Yang Wushuang had no desire to waste time and immediately commanded, "Hmph! Enough idle talk. Quickly take me to see the clan leader."
"Yes! Yes! I'll go right away..."
The Soul Emperor of the Po Clan nodded repeatedly.
He then turned to the two Soul Kings beside him and ordered, "You two, escort the Second Master. I'll go inform the clan leader immediately!"
"Yes!!"
The two immediately nodded in acknowledgment.
Yang Wushuang stood where he was, watching the Soul Emperor opposite him quickly walk away.
His eyes were as calm as an ancient well.
He had already prepared his story, enough to deal with Yang Wudi and the others.
He figured the excuse of being injured in the great battle with the Spirit Hall and being rescued and treated by the Longevity Pavilion's master until now should be quite reasonable, right?
As for the credibility of the Longevity Pavilion...
The pills lying within his Soul Guidance Device would provide the answer.
"Second Master, this way, please."
The two Soul Kings said respectfully.
"Mmm!"
Yang Wushuang gave a slight nod.
In less than half an hour, Yang Wushuang followed the two to the edge of a lush, verdant bamboo forest.
Through the straight bamboo stalks,
Yang Wushuang could already see scattered bamboo houses rising from the ground.
Beyond them,
a figure stood there, bearing a seventy percent resemblance to Yang Wushuang in stature. Behind him were other clan members dressed in black.
Without a doubt, the middle-aged man at the forefront with long, graying hair was his own blood brother... the current leader of the Po Clan, Yang Wudi!
Time flew by, and over the course of two months, the Soul Master world remained calm and uneventful.
The only thing worth mentioning...
It seems the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect has taken an interest in some of the forces left behind by the Clear Sky School. They have actively approached the Defense Clan and provided them with substantial economic assistance.
In their view, the structures built by the Defense Clan are merely a form of relief provided by the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.
Otherwise, why would the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect construct buildings right across from the Moon Pavilion? Moreover, why didn't they hire other construction teams? Why specifically choose the Defense Clan, which is openly hostile to the Spirit Hall?
It's all for profit!
However, even if some forces wanted to get involved, they would be powerless. The Defense Clan's operations are not something ordinary forces can handle. At the very least, only those at the level of the Lower Four Sects would have the qualifications to meddle, ensuring that a mutually destructive situation would not arise.
At this very moment, within the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, Ning Fengzhi had no leisure to pay attention to the various speculations circulating in the Soul Master world.
His mind was now completely free of matters concerning the Soul Master world, occupied solely by thoughts of his family.
"Ah, it hurts so much, my lord!!"
In the delivery room, a piercing scream broke through the window and echoed in Ning Fengzhi's ears.
Zhao Rong'er, who had gone out to visit her family, had long since returned.
Now, two months later, it was time for her to give birth.
In other words, Ning Fengzhi was about to become a father again!
"Ah!!"
Agonized, even mournful cries continued to ring out.
Standing outside the room with his cane, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but furrow his brow. He had been a father many times and was quite experienced in such matters, but he had never heard such heart-wrenching screams before.
"Ah... ah! It hurts so much—"
Ning Fengzhi's expression turned solemn, and he couldn't help but worry.
A hand rested on his shoulder as Sword Douluo smiled reassuringly. "Fengzhi, there's no need to worry. With so many healing-type Soul Masters present, there shouldn't be any problems."
"That's right, that's right. You've had so many children already—has anything ever gone wrong?"
Bone Douluo chimed in teasingly from the side.
"I hope so. Rong'er's cries are making me a bit uneasy as well."
Ning Fengzhi forced a bitter smile.
But it seemed that life was often like this—the more you worried about something, the more likely it was to happen.
With a sudden thud!
The door to the delivery room swung open!
Ning Fengzhi immediately snapped to attention, and Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo also wiped the smiles from their faces.
Such a situation, where someone opened the door midway, had never occurred before!
"Ah~! My lord..."
Inside the delivery room, Zhao Rong'er's cries grew faint and weak.
A gray-haired female Soul Master, her hands stained with blood, rushed out in a panic.
Ning Fengzhi didn't dare delay and immediately stepped forward. "What's going on? Liu Yi, how are things inside?"
Despite his urgency, Ning Fengzhi maintained his composure.
This was because the gray-haired woman before him, Liu Yi, was also his elder, and even he himself had been delivered into this world by her.
"Reporting to the Sect Master!"
"Madam Rong'er... Madam Rong'er's condition is quite critical."
The woman named Liu Yi understood the gravity of the situation and dared not delay. Gritting her teeth, she spoke truthfully.
"Madam Rong'er's vitality is draining away, and her organ functions are rapidly declining..."
"What?!"
Ning Fengzhi's eyes widened in shock as he urgently asked, "Could it be that even with so many healing-type Soul Masters inside, they can't sustain Rong'er through the delivery?"
"Sect Master, perhaps the delivery itself is possible."
Liu Yi looked at Ning Fengzhi and said gravely, "The child is simply too large, and Lady Rong'er's body is inherently petite and delicate. In such a situation, with those Soul Masters present, perhaps the child can be safely delivered. But Lady Rong'er... her chances are slim at best!"
"Slim at best?!"
Ning Fengzhi murmured, his body staggering slightly.
How could he not understand just how dire "slim at best" truly was? If there were any real hope to be found, why would Liu Yi have rushed out in such a panic?
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes.
"This is a matter of utmost urgency..."
"I implore the Sect Master to decide quickly!"
Liu Yi knelt on both knees, both to beg forgiveness and to urge haste.
"Ah!!"
From the delivery room, Zhao Rong'er's cries of agony grew increasingly faint.
Ning Fengzhi felt his heart twist all the more.
"Fengzhi, I will go immediately to the Nine-Hearted Begonia Ye Family and bring them here!"
Sword Douluo declared decisively.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he made to stride out, but Ning Fengzhi stopped him.
"Wait, Uncle Sword!"
"The Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul is indeed unparalleled in healing ability, but the loss of vitality Rong'er is experiencing now is not something the Nine Heart Begonia's healing power can resolve."
Bone Douluo frowned. "Fengzhi, even if it might not work, we still have to try, don't we?"
"Uncle Bone, that's not what I mean."
Ning Fengzhi gripped his cane tightly, as if remembering something.
A faint light glimmered in his eyes.
"Very well, let's treat it as a desperate measure!"
"What horse?"
Bone Douluo asked, puzzled.
But then he saw Ning Fengzhi take out several small bottles and jars from his Soul Guidance Device.
"What are these?!"
A flash of sword light gleamed in Sword Douluo's eyes.
He quickly understood Ning Fengzhi's intention, and a flicker of anticipation passed through his gaze.
This was indeed not a bad idea.
"Aunt Liu, please rise quickly."
Ning Fengzhi bent down to help Liu Yi up, then immediately pushed the bottles and jars in his hand toward her.
"The pills inside were gifted by a master. They might be able to help Rong'er. During the delivery, keep giving them to her. Perhaps they can grant Rong'er a sliver of hope! I, the Sect Master, promise that regardless of the outcome, you will bear no responsibility."
The look in Liu Yi's eyes shifted from confusion to resolve. She grasped the bottles and jars and nodded firmly. "Please rest assured, Sect Master. This old woman will spare no effort to protect both Lady Rong'er and the child."
"Then I entrust this to you, Aunt Liu!"
Ning Fengzhi nodded heavily, watching as Liu Yi turned and hurried back into the delivery room.
"Ah..."
Zhao Rong'er's cries had diminished to faint whimpers.
Bone Douluo frowned, looking at Ning Fengzhi with a strange expression. "Fengzhi, were those pills you gave her all from the Holy Son?"
"Yes, Uncle Bone."
Ning Fengzhi nodded somewhat heavily.
"Those bottles and jars contain Qi and Blood Pills to replenish vitality, Marrow Cleansing Pills, and Bright Soul Nourishing Pills. I even gave her the Body Tempering Pill I had prepared for the future child. I hope these pills can give Rong'er a boost of energy. For now, we can only pin our hopes on the Holy Son's pills."
Ning Fengzhi watched as the delivery room door closed once more, tightening his grip on his cane.
If those pills were gone, he could ask for more.
But if Rong'er were gone, she would be gone forever.
No matter what, even if he, Ning Fengzhi, had many wives and concubines, he would not simply stand by and do nothing...
Bone Douluo frowned, pondering for a moment.
"I think... it would be safer if I make a trip to the Nine-Hearted Begonia Ye Family."
"Ah—!"
As Bone Douluo's words fell,
the moans from the delivery room once again turned into screams.
But this time, the screams sounded full of vigor.
"Ah! It hurts~"
"Ahh! Hah— husband, this medicine bites... ah!"
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