"Moreover..."
The moment these three words left his lips, Ning Bowen's demeanor underwent a complete transformation. His previous scholarly elegance was instantly replaced by a sharp, ferocious aura.
"The Body Sect's Du Busi has had his sights on our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect members for quite some time. This is the perfect opportunity to flex our muscles. We'll detain some of his people and make him pay a ransom. And given their nature, we needn't worry about our sect's secrets leaking to other powers."
Chen Junting didn't argue, but he had reservations about Ning Bowen's earlier statement.
"Sect Master, the matter of the hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo potentially granting a second martial soul concerns his sect's legacy. Given Du Busi's temperament..."
Chen Junting left his words hanging. Ning Bowen set down his teacup and murmured in unison with him: "So Du Busi was restrained at first. But now... he should be reaching his limit."
Sure enough...
"Ye Xuanji! Hand over the hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo immediately! Otherwise, this old man will unleash slaughter upon your Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!"
A furious roar shook the heavens!
Intense dark green light erupted skyward, staining half the heavens. His body swelled instantly, expanding more than tenfold. His dark green skin bulged into massive, granite-like muscles.
This signaled Du Busi's intent to fight to the death.
"Old Poison, you're pulling this trick again." Ye Xuanji flicked his Star God Sword, sending a sword light slicing downward. "But don't forget—you're on Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect territory. The number one support sect under heaven."
Below, countless Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect disciples gathered. Every Seven Treasures Glazed Tower martial soul user summoned their martial souls. Countless towers glowed brilliantly beneath the obscured sky, their soul rings blanketing the entire sect grounds.
"Old Poison, will you still fight?!"
As Ye Xuanji sheathed his Star God Sword, his seventh soul ring flared crimson. The starlight unicorn soul spirit merged into his body. "Seventh soul skill—Martial Soul True Body!"
A colossal Star God Sword pointed toward the heavens!
"Fight?! Of course I'll fight!" Du Busi's eyes blazed as his fist slammed toward the sword's edge!
A thunderous explosion erupted, terrifying shockwaves rampaging outward.
To protect the sect, a massive eighth-grade soul guide barrier surged upward from all sides. Yet under the collision of two Level 98 Super Douluos, it groaned under the strain, on the verge of shattering.
At that moment, alarm bells rang in Du Busi's mind. Beams of light shot up from below, instantly merging into Ye Xuanji's body. Du Busi felt his opponent's power surge rapidly, posing a tremendous threat.
But before Ye Xuanji could strike...
"Sect Master Du, will you continue?"
A phantom golden eagle carried Ning Bowen. With only a newly promoted Soul Douluo escorting him and a single ninth-grade defensive soul guide device, he had boldly entered their battlefield.
"Sect Master Ning, is this overconfidence?"
Du Busi stood on air, his gaze sharpening.
In truth, he could have risked capturing Ning Bowen to force the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to surrender the embryo.
But this mere Soul Douluo—this support-type Soul Douluo—made Du Busi dare not make a move.
If Ye Xuanji made him feel immense crisis, Ning Bowen made him sense a threat to his very life. One strike, and he might be permanently detained!
Ning Bowen didn't respond immediately. Instead, he produced a ninth-grade fixed-mount soul guide cannonball right before Du Busi's eyes.
The moment Du Busi faced this device, his hair stood on end! Though not as terrifying as Mu En's aura, this soul guide device radiated a Limit Douluo-level threat!
"Sect Master Du, the advantage now lies with my Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect." Ning Bowen seemed unconcerned by Du Busi's tension, smiling as he continued. "Though your Body Sect is formidable, you lack our numbers. Your captured disciples are beyond saving."
'I know that already!'
Du Busi glared at Ning Bowen. His earlier desperation stemmed precisely from this reality.
Many Body Sect disciples had already been captured, and their four elders were barely holding on.
Plus this ninth-grade fixed-mount cannonball...
His fists clenched and unclenched repeatedly...
He knew—the Body Sect had lost again.
"Fine. We'll withdraw."
Du Busi reined in his aura. Just as he prepared to shout "Retreat!", a soul-power sword blocked his path.
"What does this mean?!"
"Sect Master Du." Ning Bowen's eyes flashed with cold resolve. "My Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect isn't a place you can enter and leave at will. Since you lost this battle, how do you plan to redeem your captured disciples?"
"Redeem them?! GOOD! GOOD!!!"
For the first time, he was being asked to buy back his own people!
Fury surged in his chest like a suppressed volcano, ready to erupt at the slightest provocation!
Every Body Sect member was family. Du Busi would never abandon his captured disciples. Through gritted teeth, he growled: "State your terms."
...
"Sect Master."
After leaving the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, flying high in the air, a Body Sect elder turned to Du Busi. "How will we gather the ransom items they demanded?"
They had set out to rob the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect with grand ambitions. Instead, not only had they failed to steal anything, they now had to pay them.
They'd lost both what's theirs and any potential gains!
"How to gather?! How else?!"
Du Busi roared. "This old man will never pay from his own pockets! And we don't have those damn soul guide devices either! Return to the sect immediately. Summon Old Jin and mobilize every last Body Sect member! Damn it—all our next target is the Mingde Hall anyway. We'll loot it all!"
"Perfect chance to vent my anger!"
Hearing Du Busi's cold laugh, the two elders silently mourned Mingde Hall's fate for half a second. Then identical smiles spread across their faces.
"Yes!" ×2
This incident served as a stark warning to Du Busi. Soul guide devices—especially fixed-mount cannonballs—were not to be underestimated!
'This old man must strip Mingde Hall of every last ninth-grade fixed-mount cannonball,' he silently resolved. 'Then anyone who dares threaten the Body Sect will taste my explosions!'
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