Chapter 110: Deceiving Tang San (Part Two)

Listening to their conversation, Yu Xiao Gang gradually got fooled too; he straightened his back and said proudly:

"Little San, your father is Tang Hao, one of the three great artisans mentioned by Sect Master Ning, and also the youngest Title Douluo on the continent—the Clear Sky Douluo."

Tang San heard this and his face was filled with disbelief. His father, not only a great artisan, but also the youngest Title Douluo? Could this really be the father who usually only knows how to drink, sleep, and is a complete slob? Ning Fengzhi's words gave him a hint of belief, yet he still did not fully trust them. However, he could not doubt Yu Xiao Gang's words; ever since Yu Xiao Gang saw at a glance that he possessed a Dual Birth Martial Soul, he has taken every word Yu Xiao Gang says as absolute truth. Yet, he cannot understand why his father, being a distinguished Title Douluo, has become like this now.

Ning Fengzhi glanced at Yu Xiao Gang, a flash of contempt quickly passing through his deep eyes, then turned his head toward Tang San. With Yu Xiao Gang's confirmation, Tang San was now convinced beyond doubt, allowing Ning Fengzhi to better manipulate him. His gentle voice continued: "Tang San, are you still unable to understand how the Tang Hao we speak of could be your father?"

Tang San's mind was a tangled mess at that moment; he urgently wanted the answer, his gaze fixed on Ning Fengzhi, and without any hesitation he asked:

"Sect Master Ning, what exactly is going on?"

Seeing his prey gradually fall into his trap, Ning Fengzhi continued to perform earnestly:

"Because your father slew the previous Pope of the Spirit Hall, Qian Xun Ji!"

This news was no secret to those who lived through that era—Fland, Zhao Wuji, and Yu Xiao Gang—but for Tang San it was like a bolt from the blue.

Ning Fengzhi continued to spin the tale: "The repercussions of this incident were enormous; your father consequently faced the Spirit Hall's furious retaliation. The Spirit Hall dispatched several Title Douluo to hunt your father, and even the renowned elder judge of the Spirit Hall from a hundred years ago, the 99th-level former Angel Douluo, personally intervened. However, fortunately, your father managed to escape."

"But the retaliation was not only against your father; it also targeted the sect he belonged to, the former number-one sect of the world—the Clear Sky Sect!"

"Even the Clear Sky Sect, once the world's top sect, was powerless against the Spirit Hall's vengeance. Direct disciples suffered heavy casualties, and affiliated sects were left scattered."

"In the end, the Clear Sky Sect had to abandon your father, expelling him from the sect, relocating to its ancestral lands, sealing its mountain gate, and never appearing again."

"Originally, the three top sects have always shared a common enemy. Had this incident occurred and the Clear Sky Sect contacted our Qi Bao Liu Li Sect and Lan Dian Ba Wang Sect earlier, we would have gladly joined forces against the Spirit Hall. But the Clear Sky Sect immediately expelled Tang Hao, sealed its mountain gate, and by the time we received the news it was already too late; there was no reason to intervene further."

"Alas, it's truly a pity for your father. He was the youngest Title Douluo, with limitless prospects; had this not happened, he would have become a legend. But the world is unpredictable, and the situation has deteriorated to this point, which none of us wished to see."

"Tang San, if you don't mind, call me Uncle Ning, and I will call you Little San. After all these years, seeing Tang Hao's son fills me with great joy."

Tang San's eyes went vacant, his mind a tangled mess. According to Ning Fengzhi, he should have been the junior sect leader of the Clear Sky Sect, holding supreme status and a background even stronger than Yu Tianyun's.

If none of this had occurred, he could have obtained as many cultivation resources as Yu Tianyun, perhaps even more, and his cultivation speed would certainly surpass Yu Tianyun's, making him stronger than Yu Tianyun.

But now, all of that has slipped from his grasp, and the mastermind behind it all is the Spirit Hall. At this moment, Tang San's heart is filled with boundless hatred toward the Spirit Hall.

Yet, when he thinks of the Spirit Hall's might, his eyes become even more lifeless, his back no longer straight, as if an invisible pressure bends him, his head drooping weakly. He is merely a small Soul Elder with only 31-level soul power; what can he use to contend with the Spirit Hall?

Tang San suddenly lifted his head; Ning Fengzhi's friendly face came into his view, making him feel like a drowning person clutching the last lifeline. Tang San quickly expressed his gratitude:

"Uncle Ning, thank you for telling me the truth; if it weren't for you, I still wouldn't know how powerful my enemy truly is."

Ning Fengzhi was thrilled at that moment; he was finally ready to cast his net.

He shook his head and chuckled:

"Look at me, I've been talking for so long I've forgotten why I'm here today."

"Little San, your hidden weapons can greatly boost low-level Soul Masters' combat power. Little San, you call me Uncle Ning, and now Uncle Ning asks you a favor: can you sell your hidden weapon inheritance to the Qi Bao Liu Li Sect?"

"You may not know, but the Spirit Hall is now ambitious, constantly suppressing all forces on the continent. Both the Qi Bao Liu Li Sect and the Lan Dian Ba Wang Sect are under immense pressure, and no one wants to follow in the Clear Sky Sect's footsteps. To protect our sects, I, as an elder, can only beg you."

"Little San, you can rest assured about the price; the Qi Bao Liu Li Sect will certainly not shortchange you."

Tang San's face showed reluctance, his mind tangled. Facing the Spirit Hall's pressure made him intensely desire the Qi Bao Liu Li Sect's friendship, yet he truly did not want to betray the Tang Sect's inheritance.

Finally, after careful consideration, he proposed a compromise: "I'm sorry, Uncle Ning, without my elders' consent I cannot sell these hidden weapon inheritances, but I can sell you the finished hidden weapons."

A hint of ruthlessness flashed deep in Ning Fengzhi's eyes; having said so much, Tang San still refused to sell. Yet he maintained his original demeanor and said:

"I see, I was presumptuous; buying finished hidden weapons is fine, but how many can you forge? The quantity I need is not just one or two sets."

Facing this question, Tang San fell into thought again; he could not waste a great deal of time crafting hidden weapons solely for Ning Fengzhi. After a moment, Tang San lifted his head and said: "Uncle Ning, how about this: I give you the schematics for the hidden weapon components, you handle purchasing materials and forging the components, and I take care of the final assembly."

After a pause, Tang San tentatively added:

"For each assembled hidden weapon set, I only need… I only need a fee of 200 Jin Hun Coins."

Saying this, Tang San seemed to exhaust all his strength; his heart felt like it was bleeding, he felt he was taking a huge loss, but to gain Ning Fengzhi's favor he had to.

Ning Fengzhi wore a thoughtful expression; having obtained the component schematics, he would later compare them with the finished products, confident that the sect's craftsmen could reproduce them. He smiled and said: "Alright, Little San, I will first order a thousand sets, give you a deposit of 20,000 Jin Hun Coins, and after full assembly, pay the remaining 180,000 Jin Hun Coins. So when can you give me the schematics?"

Seeing Ning Fengzhi agree, Tang San breathed a sigh of relief; he had truly feared Ning Fengzhi would haggle further. He immediately took the schematics from the "Twenty-four Bridges Moonlit Night" and handed them to Ning Fengzhi, then said:

"Uncle Ning, these are the component schematics."

Ning Fengzhi took the schematics, delighted; twenty hundred thousand Jin Hun Coins was merely pocket money to him, not even a drop in the bucket. It meant Tang San was inexperienced; if Tang San were to auction his hidden weapons at a major auction, he would finally know their true value.

Immediately, Ning Fengzhi cheerfully produced a VIP card with a limit of 20,000 and handed it to Tang San, then turned to Fland, Zhao Wuji, and Yu Xiao Gang and said:

"Everything today is confidential; I hope you all will not tell anyone."

The three naturally nodded in agreement. Then Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, Sword Title Douluo, and Bone Title Douluo, the four of them left the academy.

After leaving the academy, Bone Title Douluo's eyes flashed with sharpness, and he couldn't help saying:

"Fengzhi, you talked so much with Tang San yet only got the component schematics; in my view, it'd be better to seize Tang San outright, torture him severely, and see if he speaks."

Ning Fengzhi smiled calmly and said: "Uncle Gu, we must not make enemies lightly. We are in the light, Tang Hao is in the shadows; abruptly kidnapping Tang San would likely provoke Tang Hao's furious retaliation. You must know Tang Hao's power is unfathomable, and his temperament is fierce; once angered, the consequences are unimaginable. Wouldn't that just let the Spirit Hall reap the benefits like a fisherman? It's better to let Tang Hao charge at the front line against the Spirit Hall, letting them wear each other down."

"Having obtained the finished hidden weapons is already good enough to significantly boost our sect's strength."

"However, didn't Tang San say his father is living in seclusion in a village? After we return, we should covertly assign people to investigate, trace Tang San's lineage, locate Tang Hao, and preferably verify Tang Hao's strength."

"If Tang Hao's power is no longer what it once was, then he has no value; then we can capture the father and son, obtain all hidden weapon schematics, and even some other secrets."

"Now let's go hunt Soul Rings, to complete my eighth Soul Ring and Rongrong's third Soul Ring as soon as possible."

Gu Rong heard this, chuckled lightly, and exclaimed: "Ning Fengzhi really thinks of everything!"

Chen Xin, with a disdainful expression, glanced at him; Gu Rong immediately noticed and glared at Chen Xin, saying: "What are you looking at?"

Chen Xin, unyielding, stepped forward, puffed out his chest: "What of you?"

Ning Fengzhi shook his head helplessly and urged: "Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, stop arguing; the matter at hand is urgent. Let's go hunt Soul Rings first."

Rongrong, beside them, also wore a helpless expression and said: "Grandfather Jian, Grandfather Gu, listen to dad."

The father and daughter now were eager to hunt Soul Rings.

Then, the Sword and Bone Title Douluo ceased arguing, and leading the father and daughter, the four of them flew toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

(End of Chapter)