While Tang Hao was still stunned, Ning Fengzhi retrieved a prepared medicinal herb and pills from his wrist-mounted storage soul tool.
These were high-grade pills refined by Dugu Bo, not available on the market, and the refining method had been provided by Ning Rongrong.
"This Seven-Colored Ganoderma and this bottle of Injury Recovery Pills can help Title Douluo Tang Hao barely return to a normal state," Ning Fengzhi said calmly.
"Let's speak plainly. I have only two demands: the principles and process behind the Clear Sky Sect's Ring Explosion, and the principles and process behind the Golden Iron Triangle's Spirit Fusion Skill."
"As long as these two conditions are met, all of Title Douluo Tang Hao's old injuries can be healed."
"You..." Tang Hao's face darkened. "Sect Master Ning, what a clever scheme! Have you been plotting against me, Tang Hao, for years?"
"Nothing of the sort." Ning Fengzhi placed the jade box containing the Seven-Colored Ganoderma and a bottle with three pills on the table, unconcerned about Tang Hao snatching them.
"Title Douluo Tang Hao, wasn't our transaction years ago quite pleasant?"
"Did I violate any terms of our agreement back then?"
"Did I?"
"You didn't violate them," Tang Hao said, looking as if he had swallowed something foul. "But the recent gathering of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Spirit Hall at Shrek Academy in the Balak Kingdom was all caused by your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"What happened?" Ning Fengzhi feigned surprise. "Title Douluo Tang Hao, you can't just make baseless accusations! What occurred at Shrek Academy has nothing to do with me."
"True, I later heard there was a battle involving Title Douluos, but our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has only ever focused on business."
"Uncle Ning, you sold the breakthrough pills to both the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Sect Master Yu and Pope Bibi Dong, which led them to gather at Shrek Academy over a certain matter," Tang San interjected, though he deliberately avoided mentioning Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang by name.
"Ah, because of the Breakthrough to Elder Pills?" Ning Fengzhi's expression froze momentarily.
He then turned to Xue Qinghe, who had remained silent, and asked with feigned confusion, "Qinghe, do you know anything about this?"
"Well..." The question left Xue Qinghe momentarily at a loss for words.
Could she say that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had inadvertently dragged nearly every major faction on the continent into a fight?
No, she couldn't.
Sometimes, coincidences were just that bizarre.
Because that man, Yu Xiaogang, had set off a chain reaction that dragged that madwoman Bibi Dong into it, along with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's sect master. She had gone to observe the battle and nearly been crushed to death by Tang Hao's hammer.
Although the Golden Crocodile Douluo had later sought revenge, Tang Hao's combat prowess was simply unreasonable.
Now, the Golden Crocodile Douluo was still recuperating in the Spirit Hall. According to her grandfather, he even seemed to have developed psychological trauma.
Damn it a 98th-ranked Attack-Type Title Douluo had been psychologically scarred by a 95th-ranked Title Douluo with internal injuries. How absurd.
Xue Qinghe collected her thoughts and replied to Ning Fengzhi, "Since this happened within the empire, I later investigated, but I don't know the full details. It seems Sect Master Yu and the Spirit Hall's Pope had some conflict."
Using a deliberately vague and puzzled tone, Xue Qinghe gave an ambiguous answer.
"Title Douluo Tang Hao, if you want to blame me for the conflict, there's nothing I can do," Ning Fengzhi sighed, feigning regret.
"This has nothing to do with Sect Master Ning. It was just a coincidence," Tang Hao said, regaining his composure from his suppressed anger.
Indeed, no matter how he thought about it, Ning Fengzhi had no reason to orchestrate such a thing.
Even if they coveted Xiao Wu's spirit ring and spirit bone, there were other ways to obtain them. Why involve the Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, only to end up empty-handed? That would be an even greater loss.
"I want to know how much detail do you need about the principles of Ring Explosion?"
Tang Hao wasn't stupid, and neither was Ning Fengzhi. From Ning Fengzhi's words, Tang Hao had already deduced what the other party wanted.
They wanted to understand Ring Explosion, to study it but not the Clear Sky Sect's version.
In theory, this shouldn't be disclosed. But in practice, revealing it wouldn't matter much.
It was said that his grandfather and Qian Daoliu were close friends who had fought each other many times. If Ring Explosion could be so easily replicated, Qian Daoliu would have succeeded long ago.
"A written account of your personal insights, along with the general steps. Of course, there's no need to disclose any secrets related to your spirit. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan understands boundaries."
Ning Fengzhi then glanced at the Golden Iron Triangle, who had remained silent the entire time.
"We are also researching Spirit Fusion Skills. I believe you understand my meaning."
"If you share this knowledge, then... the pills and herbs on this table, capable of healing Title Douluo Tang Hao's injuries, will be the full payment for this transaction."
"Sect Master Ning, I have a question I'd like to ask. I hope you can give me an honest answer," Yu Xiaogang said, meeting Ning Fengzhi's gaze.
"Go ahead. I hold great respect for the Golden Iron Triangle, who developed the Trinity Spirit Fusion Skill. This isn't about strength, but an acknowledgment of your research spirit."
Ning Fengzhi casually flattered him.
Instantly, Yu Xiaogang's face lit up with a pleased smile, though it vanished quickly. Still, some noticed.
No one pointed it out, however, as they were curious to hear what Yu Xiaogang the man constantly at the center of storms had to say.
"Sect Master Ning, perhaps it's just my impression, but you seem rather close to the Spirit Hall. For the three upper sects, who share a common bond, this isn't a good thing. We hope Sect Master Ning can pull back before it's too late."
"Moreover, Tang Hao is the current Title Douluo of the Clear Sky Sect and recently overpowered the 98th-ranked Golden Crocodile Douluo in battle. Had Bibi Dong not rescued him, the Golden Crocodile Douluo might have died."
"We hope you will consider this carefully, Sect Master Ning."
Silence. The entire hall fell quiet.
Even Tang Hao hadn't dared to phrase his threats so blatantly earlier.
"Pfft hahahaha!"
Before Ning Fengzhi could respond, Ning Rongrong burst into laughter.
"Young Master Ning, what are you laughing at?" Yu Xiaogang frowned.
Was what he said not true?
"Grandmaster Yu!" Ning Rongrong stopped laughing, her tone dripping with disdain. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were from the Clear Sky Sect!"
"By your logic, shouldn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan be suppressing the Clear Sky Sect instead?"
"The three upper sects share a common bond only because of the Spirit Hall's existence," Ning Rongrong said. "Historically, the upper sects have stabbed each other in the back countless times."
"It's only in recent centuries, as the Spirit Hall grew stronger, that our relations improved slightly."
"Surely someone hailed as the 'Grandmaster' wouldn't be unaware of this, right?"
"Well..." Yu Xiaogang stiffened awkwardly before retorting, "You said it yourself that was in the past. Aren't we all gathered here now?"
"Fine, let's say it was in the past." Ning Rongrong spread her hands. "Tell me how does the Clear Sky Sect's strength benefit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
"Similarly, how does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's strength benefit the Clear Sky Sect? Since there's no mutual benefit, of course we should maximize our own interests."
"Yes, we admit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan can't compare to the Clear Sky Sect, nor to Tang Chen, a 99th-ranked Title Douluo."
"But so what?"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is an auxiliary-type sect. We have no ambition to dominate the continent, nor do we wish to align with any faction. But if we had to choose sides, we could."
"Whether we side with the Clear Sky Sect, as you suggest, or with the Spirit Hall, our current assets make us valuable allies to either."
"So spare us the threats. The Clear Sky Sect has a 99th-ranked Title Douluo? The Spirit Hall has one too. If needed, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could even join Sea God Island. As the continent's premier auxiliary-type Soul Masters, do you think any faction would refuse us?"