The crisp morning air sweeping through the towering spirit-glass windows of Crimson Zenith City carried a biting chill, yet the interior of Zhang Tian's private study remained comfortably warm. A soft, ambient hum resonated from the intricate thermal arrays woven into the floorboards. Sitting behind a massive desk carved from dark ironwood, Zhang Tian exhaled a slow, measured breath. He had spent the last several weeks thoroughly indulging his deepest, most primal desires with the beautiful women of his household. It had been a period of decadent excess, a necessary release of the immense, surging vitality that his Life Spirit Core constantly generated.
But indulgence had its time and place. The board was set, the pieces were moving, and the looming shadow of the continental war demanded his undivided, sharpened focus. It was time to return to the arduous path of cultivation.
He glanced up as the heavy oak doors of his study opened. Ning Rongrong stepped inside, her elegant cyan dress trailing softly across the carpet. Her beautiful, refined features carried a gentle smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity at being summoned so early. He naturally had not shared the scandalous, explicit details of his recent, hedonistic exploits with her; to Ning Rongrong, he was simply her brilliant, devoted husband who carried the weight of their future on his shoulders.
"You called for me, Hubby?" Ning Rongrong asked casually, stepping around the desk to wrap her delicate arms over his broad shoulders, pressing her soft cheek against his dark red hair.
"I did, Rongrong," Zhang Tian replied, raising a hand to gently stroke her slender arm. "I plan to enter deep seclusion within the northern mountain peaks starting today. The next few months will require my complete, unbroken concentration on my cultivation."
Ning Rongrong pouted slightly, though she understood the necessity of a Spirit Master's journey. "A few months? I will miss you terribly. But I know you need to prepare for what is coming."
"I will miss you as well, my dear," Zhang Tian smiled softly, his icy blue eyes turning remarkably serious. "However, before I depart for the mountains, I have a crucial task for you. You must maintain regular, highly secure contact with your father. The situation across the borders requires vigilant observation."
Ning Rongrong straightened up, her demeanor shifting from an affectionate wife to the responsible heiress of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. "What exactly should we be looking for?"
"Your father's subordinates must monitor the borders between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire relentlessly," Zhang Tian instructed, his tone firm and authoritative. "If any high-ranking experts from the Star Luo Empire attempt to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire's borders, they must immediately send the warning signal. Such a movement means that the Clear Sky Sect, the Imperial Family, or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has officially decided to mobilize. And their first logical target will undoubtedly be the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect."
Ning Rongrong gasped softly, her hands tightening on his shoulders. "They would strike us first?"
"It is the most sound tactical choice for them," Zhang Tian explained smoothly. "To counter this, you must tell your father to rely heavily on the specialized Spirit Tools I provided him last month. The Vitality Echo Scanners. Tell his border patrols not to rely on sensing stray Spirit Power or tracking residual Mental Force. High-level experts like Spirit Douluos or Titled Douluos can easily conceal their spirit fluctuations from ordinary guards even those with my spirit tools."
He turned his chair slightly to look directly into her eyes. "But they cannot hide their fundamental life force. The scanning systems of those specific Spirit Tools are calibrated to detect the raw, biological vitality of living beings within a massive radius. Considering that the enemy forces have no conceptual idea about the existence of such advanced, life-scanning Spirit Tools, they will naturally fail to guard against them. They will walk right into our net."
Ning Rongrong took this command quite seriously. Although Zhang Tian didn't elaborate on the terrifying, specific details of the war's tendrils or the exact monsters lurking in the enemy ranks to spare her from unnecessary anxiety, she implicitly trusted his strategic genius.
"I understand, Hubby," Ning Rongrong nodded firmly. "I will contact my father immediately and ensure the border patrols adjust their surveillance protocols."
"Good," Zhang Tian praised, pressing a warm kiss to the back of her hand. "Keep the household safe while I am away."
After Ning Rongrong departed the study to utilize the secure communication Spirit Tool, Zhang Tian finalized his preparations. Across the sprawling mansion, the various women of his household were already taking their own cultivation with renewed, fierce dedication.
Ah Yin and Jin Xi were spending their days within the vast, enclosed botanical gardens, harmonizing the dense life energy of the Blood Silver God lineage with the golden threads of destiny. Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong, the mother-daughter duo harboring divine legacies, secluded themselves in the reinforced underground training chambers, pushing their formidable angelic and demonic attributes to new, terrifying heights. Xiao Wu and Liu Erlong frequently sparred in the open courtyards, their fiery and agile combat styles clashing in brilliant displays of raw martial prowess. Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun dedicated their hours to mastering the dark, elusive properties of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger, honing their lethal synergy.
Even Zhu Wanyue had embraced the grueling path of cultivation. Zhang Tian had generously provided his beautiful, submissive Mother-in-Law with a substantial amount of refined, liquid extracts harvested directly from his divine-tier Blood Silver God spirit. These miraculous essences had systematically washed her aged meridians, purging decades of accumulated impurities. To her profound shock, the extracts had exponentially enhanced her bodily aptitude and potential, elevating her foundational talent to a level entirely comparable to someone possessing Innate Full Spirit Power. For a woman who had long accepted her stagnant limits, it was a rebirth. She cultivated relentlessly in her private chambers, eager to prove her worth and ensure her body remained a pristine, powerful vessel for her Son-in-Law's eventual return.
Satisfied that his estate was secure and his women were focused, Zhang Tian departed Crimson Zenith City. He ventured deep into the desolate, snow-capped mountain ranges of the Frostfall Province, finding a secluded, cavernous plateau surrounded by jagged, ice-covered peaks.
For five long, quiet months, this desolate plateau became the epicenter of his profound martial evolution.
Standing in the center of the snow-covered expanse, Zhang Tian summoned his Blood Silver God spirit. His magnificent, blood-red sixth spirit ring flared with a blinding, crimson brilliance.
"Blood Silver Mirage Clones," Zhang Tian intoned, his vast spirit power surging outward.
The air around him shimmered and distorted. One by one, flawless, physical duplicates of himself stepped out of the crimson light. He did not stop at a mere handful. He poured his substantial reserves into the technique, continuously generating clone after clone until more than twenty-five identical figures stood arrayed across the frozen plateau. Each clone possessed a tangible, formidable fraction of his actual combat strength and mental acuity.
"Begin," the main body commanded simply.
The twenty-five clones dispersed across the sprawling plateau, each one assigned a highly specific, rigorous task. Zhang Tian's ambition was boundless; he intended to master the intricate insights of every single elemental attribute he harbored, and push his understanding of martial weaponry to the very apex of mortal capability.
In one corner of the plateau, a group of clones focused entirely on the elements. One clone conjured roaring torrents of azure water, battling against another who summoned jagged, impenetrable pillars of earth. Nearby, a clone wreathed in crackling, volatile lightning clashed violently against another manipulating slicing, invisible blades of compressed wind. Flame, Wood, Gold, Water, Earth, Lightning, and Ice—the diverse, chaotic elemental attributes he had absorbed from immortal herbs and powerful spirit beasts were systematically analyzed, deconstructed, and refined into flawless, devastating techniques.
In another section, the clones manifested various weapons forged from the dense, adaptable vines of the Blood Silver God spirit. One clone wielded a long, crimson broadsword, practicing profound slashing insights against the howling blizzards. Another spun a heavy, spiked mace, while others practiced with swift spears, heavy battle-axes, and twin daggers. They sparred against one another continuously, their movements blurring into a lethal dance of martial perfection.
As for the main body, Zhang Tian sat cross-legged upon a flat boulder, detached from the physical skirmishes. His focus was directed entirely inward, plumbing the deepest, most esoteric mysteries of the universe.
He sought to gain a vastly greater, fundamental insight into the Life Attribute provided by his Life Spirit Core. But more dangerously, he was actively attempting to create, control, and seamlessly weaponize the Death Attribute through his profound understanding of vitality.
'Life and Death are not separate, hostile forces,' Zhang Tian pondered, his mind drifting into a deep, meditative trance. 'They are a perfect, unbroken duality. They are two ends of the exact same cosmic string.'
He reached out a hand, allowing a single, vibrant green vine of his Blood Silver God spirit to sprout from his palm. He flooded it with pure, radiant Life Energy, watching it bloom with beautiful, emerald leaves. Then, he focused his intent. He didn't just stop supplying the energy; he actively, forcefully extracted every microscopic drop of vitality from the plant.
The transformation was immediate and chilling. The vibrant green leaves withered instantly, turning a sickly, ash-grey color. The sturdy vine became brittle, radiating a cold, heavy aura of profound decay.
'When things reach their absolute, undeniable extreme, they transform,' Zhang Tian realized, a theoretical breakthrough illuminating his thoughts. 'When pure life energy is extracted entirely and condensed into a void, it naturally creates Death Energy of an exact, equal proportion. To master life is to hold the keys to death.'
For months, he repeated this cycle. He pushed his Life Spirit Core to its limits, learning to rapidly, flawlessly oscillate between bestowing overwhelming vitality and generating localized fields of total, necrotic decay. His control grew terrifyingly precise, elevating his foundational strength to unprecedented heights.
As these five months passed by slowly in the frozen mountains, the political situation at the borders between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire had appeared strangely, deceptively calm. To the ordinary citizen, it seemed as though the two massive empires had suddenly let go of any past, bloody grievances they held, settling into an uneasy, silent truce. The merchants traded, the border towns slept quietly, and no large armies marched across the plains.
However, beneath this tranquil facade, the eyes of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect remained wide open.
Deep within the dense, ancient forests marking the southern boundary separating the two empires, a hidden network of scouts and elite subordinates operated tirelessly. They had heard the numerous, confusing reports over the past few months detailing how the massive, standing army of the Star Luo Empire seemed to have systematically retreated back into their strongholds after aggressively destroying the strange patches of Blood Silver Grass across their entire territory.
Yet, the deceptive calm was shattered on a damp, foggy evening.
Hidden high within the canopy of a massive oak tree, a scout belonging to the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect held a rectangular, metallic Spirit Tool. It was the Vitality Echo Scanner Zhang Tian had designed. The device hummed faintly, its crystal screen displaying a sweeping, circular radar.
Suddenly, a cluster of bright, pulsing green dots materialized on the edge of the screen.
The scout narrowed his eyes, peering through the dense foliage. Down below, moving with a synchronized, eerie silence through the damp undergrowth, was a group of individuals originating from the Star Luo Empire. The strange, alarming thing was that this was a rather small, highly specialized group.
The scout adjusted the dials on the Spirit Tool. The device could detect their robust, undeniable life force, but it failed to pick up even a single, stray ripple of Spirit Power or Mental Force. The intruders were clearly utilizing advanced, specialized methods or stealth artifacts to heavily restrain their auras, masking themselves from traditional detection arrays.
'Could they just be going deep into this specific forest to hunt for their required Spirit Rings by targeting the local beasts?' the scout thought, watching the shadowy figures navigate the terrain. 'No, their formation is too rigid. They move like an assassination squad rather than looking to hunt Spirit Beasts.'
Even if there was a slight possibility they were mere hunters, the scout recalled the strict, unyielding orders handed down directly from Sect Master Ning Fengzhi. They were mandated to report any and all unusual occurrences, regardless of how mundane they might appear.
The scout retrieved a small, encrypted communication Spirit Tool from his belt, swiftly transmitting the coordinates and the size of the anomaly back to the sect headquarters.
He was not the only one.
Within the grand, highly fortified central office of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi stood behind his desk. The elegant Sect Master wore robes of pristine white and gold, his brow furrowed in deep, troubled concentration.
Over the course of the last hour, the communication hub on his desk had chimed relentlessly. He had received more than ten separate, urgent reports from his trusted subordinates spread across the entire, sprawling border. Each report detailed the exact same phenomenon: small, highly disciplined groups of intruders, their auras masked but their vitality burning brightly on the scanners, slipping silently into the Heaven Dou Empire. The size of each detected group appeared to be consistently around seven or eight individuals.
Ning Fengzhi instantly realized the chilling truth. The Star Luo Empire, and especially the vengeful elites of the Clear Sky Sect, were finally making their move. The deceptive calm was merely the drawing back of the bowstring.
"They are trying to bypass our major garrisons," Ning Fengzhi murmured to himself, his eyes tracing the marked locations on a large, parchment map spread across his desk. "They are sending strike teams."
He knew the limitations of the technology Zhang Tian had provided. The Spirit Tools couldn't possibly detect the individuals personally brought by Tang Chen. A legendary, peak Level 99 Limit Douluo possessed a profound, reality-bending mastery over worldly laws; Tang Chen could easily break space itself, creating temporary, localized spatial tears to travel rapidly through the void, and he could undoubtedly bring his closest, most vital companions along for this Spatial Travel, shielding them from all mortal scanners.
But spatial manipulation was immensely taxing. It seemed to be somewhat strictly limited, at least in overall distance, the number of passengers, or in some other esoteric ways. If it were truly limitless, Tang Chen would have simply materialized directly inside the grand halls of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect and slaughtered them all before anyone could even raise the alarm.
Instead, the Limit Douluo had to rely on conventional infiltration for the bulk of the alliance's high-tier forces. The numerous individuals detected by the scanners were undoubtedly the vanguard of their formidable alliance.
Ning Fengzhi identified the likely culprits based on decades of gathered intelligence. 'The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is definitely among them,' he deduced, recalling a specific, bitter rivalry. 'They have harbored a deep, venomous grudge. I wonder who is leading the team. Would it be Yu Luomian who has broken through to Titled Douluo stage to take bloody revenge against our Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect for having soundly beaten and crippled him years ago.'
His finger moved across the map. 'And the others... the elite members of the Star Crown Family, the formidable Spirit Douluos dispatched mostly in different, specialized groups from the Strength Clan, the Defense Clan, the Speed Clan and all other clans in Star Luo Empire. They are all mobilizing. We must even assume the individuals sent directly by the Imperial Family—their seasoned Imperial Guards, who are mostly high-ranking Spirit Douluos—are participating in this coordinated infiltration.'
The enemy was creeping through the shadows, aiming to strike a fatal, decapitating blow against the heart of his sect.
While Ning Fengzhi processed this dire information, he immediately activated his personal communication link, contacting his daughter, Ning Rongrong, in Crimson Zenith City.
"Rongrong," Ning Fengzhi spoke, his voice carrying the heavy, formal resonance of a commander preparing for siege. "The quiet is over. I strongly suspect that the elite sects residing in the Star Luo Empire are currently crossing our borders. They are coming to fight and utterly destroy the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. Inform Zhang Tian immediately."
Ning Rongrong received the transmission, her face paling slightly. She did not waste a single second. She ran through the ornate halls of the mansion, dispatching a swift, winged spirit-messenger toward the northern mountains to alert Zhang Tian.
Zhang Tian received the urgent missive on the same day. Standing amidst the pulverized remains of a dozen snow-covered boulders, he dismissed his twenty-five Mirage Clones with a wave of his hand. His cultivation retreat was officially concluded.
He swiftly descended the mountain, returning to the city. Upon arriving, he found Ning Rongrong waiting anxiously. After hearing the detailed tactical report regarding the infiltrating squads, Zhang Tian's expression remained remarkably calm, his strategic mind shifting instantly into wartime logistics.
"It begins," Zhang Tian stated, walking briskly toward the residential wing. He immediately sought out Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong.
He found the mother and daughter reviewing documents in a private lounge.
"Supreme Pontiff, Xue'er," Zhang Tian addressed them firmly. "The southern alliance has crossed the border. The Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect is their primary target. I need you both to contact Qian Daoliu immediately. Request him to make his move personally, and to deploy the formidable elders of the Spirit Hall."
Qian Renxue nodded, her golden eyes flashing with a righteous, martial light, while Bibi Dong offered a sharp, approving smile. They utilized the highest-tier, heavily encrypted communication channels of the Spirit Hall to transmit the request directly to the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Miles away, within the radiant, awe-inspiring splendor of Spirit City, the message was received.
Qian Daoliu, the venerable High Priest of the Angel God, stood within the magnificent, sunlit expanse of the Elder Hall. He wore flowing, immaculate white robes adorned with golden embroidery, his presence radiating an overwhelming, holy majesty that demanded absolute reverence.
Upon receiving his dear granddaughter's urgent message requesting immediate military help for the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect, Qian Daoliu did not hesitate. He had given his word, and he understood the dire necessity of crushing Tang Chen's resurgence.
"Summon the elders," Qian Daoliu commanded, his resonant voice echoing through the vast, vaulted chamber.
Within moments, the air in the hall shimmered as the most terrifying, elite enforcers of the continent materialized before him, bowing deeply.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, his effeminate features framed by golden armor, stood beside the shadowy, ethereal form of Ghost Douluo Gui Mei. To their left stood Ghost Leopard Douluo, radiating a sleek, lethal agility, alongside the fiery presence of Spirit Kite Douluo. Devil Bear Douluo, a towering mountain of muscle, crossed his heavy arms, while Sea Turtle Douluo projected an aura of impenetrable, aquatic defense.
But Qian Daoliu had summoned even the deepest, hidden reserves of the hall. Standing slightly apart were two formidable figures wielding long, intricately carved staves. It was Falling Devil Douluo and Fifteen Ton Douluo. Both of these exceptional warriors possessed the fearsome 'Coiling Dragon Rod' as their Martial Spirits, and their cultivation stood proudly at the staggering level of 96 Super Douluo. They were the heavy artillery of the Elder Hall, rarely deployed for trivial matters.
"The Clear Sky Sect is marching," Qian Daoliu announced, his golden eyes sweeping over the gathered titans. "We must move to intercept them at the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. We shall remind the continent why the Spirit Hall rules the heavens."
He turned his gaze toward a stern, golden-armored elder standing near the dais. "Golden Crocodile Douluo. You shall remain here. You are tasked to manage the daily operations of the Spirit Hall and ensure that our central defenses remain completely, flawlessly up while I am not present in Spirit City. Guard the foundation."
"It shall be done, High Priest," Golden Crocodile Douluo bowed deeply, accepting the heavy responsibility.
With the Spirit Hall forces mobilizing like a gathering storm, the situation at the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect was rapidly shifting from peaceful administration to full-scale wartime readiness.
Ning Fengzhi stood atop the highest balcony of his sect's grand castle, overlooking the sprawling, beautiful Seven Treasure City that housed thousands of disciples, merchants, and affiliated families. He turned to face the gathered might of his own faction.
He was flanked by an impressive, highly diversified roster of nine Titled Douluos.
To his immediate right stood Sword Douluo Chen Xin, his sharp aura cutting the very air around him, and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, chuckling darkly as spatial rifts danced across his skeletal fingers.
To his left stood the newly ascended Breaking Douluo, Yang Wudi. Having completely mastered his Breaking Clan's relentless offensive techniques and fueled by Zhang Tian's resources, his Soul Breaking Spear radiated a piercing, unyielding resolve.
Behind them stood the other six Titled Douluos, their respective titles reflecting their diverse, highly specialized utilities. There was Gale Douluo, a master of control-type wind manipulation; Iron Wall Douluo, a hulking giant providing absolute, unshakeable physical defense; Phantom Douluo, an agility-type assassin cloaked in shadow; Inferno Douluo, an attack-type specialist wielding searing flames; Venom Douluo, whose mere presence wilted the nearby potted plants; and finally, Echo Douluo, a rare sonic-based control expert.
It was a balanced, devastatingly powerful assembly, intentionally lacking any other Support-type Titled Douluos, as Ning Fengzhi himself, wielding his Nine Treasure Glaze Tile Pagoda, was the only support they would ever need to conquer an army.
Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, his voice magically amplified to reach every corner of the courtyard below, where the sect's core disciples were rapidly assembling in orderly ranks.
"Disciples of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect," Ning Fengzhi spoke openly, his calm, authoritative voice betraying no fear. "The deceptive peace has ended. Very soon, the militant forces of the Clear Sky Sect, along with the violent elements of other allied sects from the Star Luo Empire, will arrive at the gates of our Seven Treasure City. There will be a huge, devastating war upon our doorstep."
A murmur of apprehension rippled through the lower ranks, but the imposing presence of the nine Titled Douluos kept panic at bay.
"During this critical time," Ning Fengzhi continued, issuing clear, logistical commands. "Our primary concern is the innocent. We must immediately, systematically evacuate all the non-combatant civilians, the merchants, and the children to the deep, subterranean safe bunkers located beneath the mountains. These bunkers have been meticulously laid with highly specialized, defensive spirit tools provided by our allies in the north. They will ensure that our families remain completely, safely unharmed during the upcoming bombardments."
He raised a hand, his Nine Treasure Glaze Tile Pagoda materializing in a brilliant flash of multi-colored light, casting a radiant, inspiring glow over the assembly.
"Moreover," Ning Fengzhi announced, delivering the final, morale-boosting revelation. "We do not stand alone. The Spirit Hall will formally, heavily support our sect against this rash, unprovoked aggression from these southern sects. The High Priest himself rides to our aid."
He looked at his uncles, at his elders, and at the dedicated disciples looking up at him. The era of playing the neutral merchant sect was over; they were stepping onto the bloody stage of history as conquerors.
"This war has been forced upon us," Ning Fengzhi declared, his voice ringing with absolute, unyielding determination. "But we are determined to win. Prepare your weapons. The storm is here."
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels [Villain: Manipulating The Heroines Into Hating The Protagonist] and [Harem Master: Seduction System].
Also, check out 20 Chapters Ahead for this fanfic on my P.atreon.
Patreon link: https://www.patreon.com/c/evildragon04