Chapter 9: Ning Fengzhi's Profound Sacrifice

"The teacher is right. Yu Yuanzhen is unlikely to take any major action; I was overthinking it."

Xue Qinghe wore an expression of sudden realization and bowed to Ning Fengzhi. As the strongest support sect on the continent, she was eager to win over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Her words were merely a pretext, using the academy matter to sow discord between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, all to facilitate her future plans.

Having lurked within the imperial family for many years, her efforts were finally bearing fruit. Within the Heaven Dou Empire, no one remained who could obstruct her path. People like Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing were of no concern to her at all. Once she tightened her grip on power over the next few years, that would be the time for the Spirit Hall to begin unifying the continent. It was good news for her to see that the Upper Three Sects were not as solid as iron.

Li Xun listened to their conversation from the side, lost in thought. Compared to the uncertainty of awakening civilian children, academies were the key places for major sects to recruit talent, especially the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, an elite institution capable of steadily producing middle and high-level Spirit Masters. Even a proud sect like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was forced by its own circumstances to invite outsiders into its ranks, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, being a support-oriented sect, was even more so.

"This is the drawback of maintaining a pure bloodline. Without frantically producing offspring to achieve a quantitative change that leads to a qualitative one, decline is inevitable. Aside from Yu Yuanzhen, that Titled Douluo, who else does the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect have to show for itself?"

Li Xun glanced at Qian Renxue. Compared to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, the Six-Winged Angel spirit was more powerful, but its lineage was even harder to sustain. By now, Qian Daoliu only had this one granddaughter left. The reason he did not expose Qian Renxue's disguise was his fear that something might happen to her in Heaven Dou. He and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did not yet possess the strength to confront Qian Daoliu and the elders of the Consecration Hall.

...

"Little Xun, when do you plan to go to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?" Ning Fengzhi asked, turning to Li Xun after watching Xue Qinghe depart.

"Teacher, I still have some things to do. I expect it will take a few more days," Li Xun replied after a moment of reflection.

"Oh? Can you tell your teacher about it?" Ning Fengzhi asked, his interest piqued.

Li Xun's eyes lit up; this was exactly what he had been waiting for.

"Teacher, over the past year, I have been studying pharmacology and discovered a medicinal ingredient on the continent that is severely underestimated. Aside from a specific group of people, no one buys it. This ingredient can improve a Spirit Master's physique and promote the absorption of spirit rings of higher age limits."

"Are you saying there is a significant supply of this ingredient? Can it be used by our sect disciples?" Ning Fengzhi felt a stir of excitement.

"Yes, Teacher, and for its efficacy, the price is pitifully low."

"Little Xun, seeing you hesitate, does this ingredient have side effects?" Ning Fengzhi realized the situation and smiled. On the continent, any medicinal material capable of increasing the absorption limit of spirit rings would be incredibly precious; how could it be so neglected? It must have some insurmountable side effect; otherwise, he would have known of it. However, since his young disciple had brought it up, he couldn't dampen the boy's confidence regardless of its utility.

"Teacher, this ingredient does indeed have side effects." Li Xun sighed dramatically, appearing very reluctant: "It might affect your reputation."

"Affect my reputation?" Ning Fengzhi frowned, a bit confused.

Seeing his teacher frown, Li Xun quickly whispered: "Yes, Teacher. This ingredient is called Whale Glue."

"An aphrodisiac?" Ning Fengzhi was stunned, his expression slowly turning serious.

"Teacher, you know of it!" Li Xun was surprised; besides a specific group of people, no one usually paid attention to this stuff.

"Little Xun, you are still young. Read fewer miscellaneous books; it's not good for your growth," Ning Fengzhi looked at Li Xun sternly.

"Teacher, I only read pharmacological travelogues! A doctor's heart is a benevolent one!" Li Xun felt wronged.

...

"It really has been hard on the teacher!" Li Xun looked at the thousand-year whale glue in his hand and sighed softly. When it came to a Spirit Master's advancement, although Ning Fengzhi was outwardly resistant, he was actually very attentive. After Li Xun's explanation, he had begun collecting whale glue that very day to prepare for experiments. Later, after several disciples absorbed it and confirmed its effectiveness, Ning Fengzhi began purchasing it in large quantities.

However, such matters often have their downsides. Before long, rumors of Ning Fengzhi suffering from a hidden ailment spread rapidly. Within just ten days, the news reached the ears of Emperor Xue Ye. The Emperor felt deep sympathy for Ning Fengzhi's plight. He himself had five children; although two had passed away, at least three remained. Ning Fengzhi was different; as a sect leader, he only had Ning Rongrong as his daughter. The disparity in physical constitution was immediately apparent.

He immediately sent men to the royal treasury to retrieve two pieces of precious thousand-year whale glue to send over. Li Xun held one of them in his hand, while the other was with Ning Rongrong.

"My second spirit ring's absorption limit should be between eight hundred and nine hundred years. By consuming this whale glue, my second spirit ring's limit should reach about twelve hundred years."

Thousand-year whale glue, when consumed, could increase the spirit ring absorption limit by four to five hundred years. Such things were better taken as early as possible. If Tang San had consumed it before reaching level twenty, his second spirit ring could also have reached the thousand-year level.

Li Xun placed the whale glue into a specially crafted high-temperature furnace. Once it softened, he quickly clamped it out with tongs and placed it into a small bowl he had prepared, then set it above the furnace to continue heating until it melted completely.

"It looks like donkey-hide gelatin; I wonder what it tastes like." Li Xun picked up the bowl and swallowed it in one gulp. A wave of nausea surged up immediately. Forcing himself to swallow it despite the nausea, Li Xun sat cross-legged, preparing to enter a meditative state. He didn't know what would happen next, but meditation was the right move.

Not long after, a strange fragrance emanated from his mouth, followed by a hot current rushing from his stomach to his limbs and bones. Then, this heat began to circulate faster and faster within his body, until Li Xun felt as if his skin were being steamed at high temperatures.

"Hot."

That was Li Xun's only feeling at the moment. It was a strange, dry heat from the inside out. This heat made his heart pound. Although he was only eight years old, an age where he was willing but unable, his mind was that of an adult.

He didn't know how long it took for the discomfort to pass. By the time it did, Li Xun felt as if he had been fished out of a water barrel. He walked into the bathroom to wash away the filth from his body.

"Phew! Finally over." Li Xun exhaled a long breath. "I wonder if I'll have to suffer like this next time I take it."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would continue to acquire whale glue; no one would ever complain about having too much of something that could make Spirit Masters stronger. Even if his own people couldn't use it all, hoarding it to sell later would be a good business. Some disciples had already headed to coastal cities to buy as much as they could before others caught on.

"The teacher's name will surely ring throughout the entire continent."

Just as Li Xun was teasing Ning Fengzhi, Auntie Xue's voice came from outside the door: "Young Master, a child has come to sell books. Would you like to see them?"