Chapter 222: Confronting Ning Fengzhi

Inside the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Yang Xiong and Ning Fengzhi sat opposite each other, and there was no one around—not even the Sword Bone Douluo who had always protected him.

Both Yang Xiong and Ning Fengzhi wore unusually serious expressions, even a bit restrained.

This time Yang Xiong deliberately wanted to meet Ning Fengzhi alone, mainly to discuss future matters.

Ning Fengzhi said lightly, "Xiao Xiong, just say whatever you have; I've already seen my share of storms."

Yang Xiong remained silent for a moment before speaking, "Sect Leader, I have something I wish to leave the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect for."

Ning Fengzhi retorted, "Are you planning to leave for a while now, or to depart the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect forever?"

Yang Xiong's face showed a hint of conflict, "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will always be my home; I am willing to give everything for it, but I also have my own aspirations, and I hope you, Sect Leader, will approve."

Ning Fengzhi's face showed a trace of a smile, "Your aspiration is to found a new sect together with Yang Wudi and the others?"

Yang Xiong was startled, "Sect Leader, how did you know?"

"All those people from Cloud Mist Mountain look up to you as a leader; it would be impossible if there were no hidden motives. Moreover, your strength has grown over the years, and the little group you had before has become increasingly evident—Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, Bai He, Long Gong Meng Shu, even Lin Gong—all follow you. Whether battling the Spirit Hall or forming an alliance with my Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, I wouldn't believe there's no other connection."

"Besides, I am also a Sect Leader, and I've seen more of the world than you; I can still guess a bit of your petty thoughts."

Yang Xiong's expression turned solemn, "Sect Leader, I'm sorry."

Ning Fengzhi smiled, "Don't say sorry; I actually anticipated this long ago. What do you plan to do next?"

Yang Xiong said, "Sect Leader, I have actually already founded a new sect called the Body Sect."

"In the future, the Body Sect will continue to cooperate fully with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; the two will forever be allies, and whatever the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect faces, the Body Sect will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Ning Fengzhi laughed, "Is it like the current top three sects, sharing the same roots to jointly confront the Spirit Hall?"

Yang Xiong shook his head, "The so‑called top three sects sharing the same roots are actually unreliable; there is no real connection between them, nor any entangled interests—it's more like a slogan."

"The Body Sect and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will support each other, take what they need, and be as close as family."

Ning Fengzhi smiled, "You do think ahead. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is the richest sect in the world; it cares little about money. Given the current state of your Body Sect, it will likely never lack masters and can compensate for the auxiliary sect's shortcomings of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."

Yang Xiong nodded, "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect cannot be without Title Douluo, and the Body Sect cannot lack economic support; this way both sides can complement each other's deficiencies and even influence the entire Soul Master World."

Ning Fengzhi's face suddenly grew serious, "How many members does your Body Sect have now, and what are the upcoming plans?"

Yang Xiong was startled again inside; since Ning Fengzhi said that, he had essentially acknowledged the Body Sect's status, but a layer of separation would arise between them, and he would no longer be at the core of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Yang Xiong thought carefully before speaking, "The Body Sect has five Great Elders: Lin Gong, Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, Bai He, and Long Gong. Additionally, Zhao Wuji is a Guest Elder of the Body Sect, Oscar will become the Deputy Sect Master of the Body Sect, and of course it includes all members of their families as well as everyone in the Body Academy."

"Also, one more thing: the Body Academy will undergo massive expansion, and the original Four Elements Academy will all be merged into the Body Academy."

Ning Fengzhi's expression shifted slightly upon hearing this, and finally he couldn't help but sigh, "It seems the founding of your Body Sect has been underway for a long time; you have already planned the sect—its masters, potential members, finances—and you have probably even decided on a new sect headquarters."

"But have you considered how to arrange your family? I doubt you can persuade Yang Lin and Sun Yu to leave the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."

Yang Xiong quickly replied, "Sect Leader, my parents can follow their own thoughts; they will likely continue to stay in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and I hope you can help look after them."

Ning Fengzhi nodded, "It seems you really have been scheming for a long time; where will the Body Sect be established next?"

Yang Xiong said solemnly, "I plan to locate the sect in Thunderclap Gorge; it is ideal for cultivation, with treacherous terrain that is easy to defend and hard to attack."

Ning Fengzhi's expression changed slightly, "No wonder; you intend to set the sect in Thunderclap Gorge. It truly is a good place, even better positioned than the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. After the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's extinction war, the Min Clan began focusing on that area, and even the Yu Yi Zu have started sending masters to Thunderclap Gorge."

"Of course, you probably don't need to rely on my Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; after all, you must have guessed that Xue Qinghe would trigger a palace coup, and you not only prepared in advance but also took the opportunity to make a huge profit."

"It seems that whether in judging people or planning a sect, you already have the bearing of a Sect Leader, even thinking farther than I do."

Ning Fengzhi was truly taken aback this time; the disciple he had painstakingly cultivated, Xue Qinghe, turned out to be an impostor, especially since Ning Fengzhi had been so tightly bound to Xue Qinghe before, which even made the Emperor of Xue Ye wary.

If Ning Fengzhi truly supports this fake Xue Qinghe, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family would be doomed beyond recovery; thus even after the Heaven Dou Palace Coup ends, Ning Fengzhi would only symbolically grant a title, no longer cooperating closely with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family as before. This is certainly the Emperor of Xue Ye's wariness toward Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi sighed, "In this Heaven Dou Palace Coup, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family suffered heavy losses—its Soul Master Corps were decimated, and even its sole heir is gone. Meanwhile, my Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect actually gained, but the real beneficiary is you."

"Your Body Sect not only rendered a rescue service, but also officially obtained Thunderclap Gorge, and you secretly gained enormous benefits."

Yang Xiong said nothing upon hearing this; he had long anticipated and prepared for this Heaven Dou Palace Coup, aiming to maximize profit.

When the Heaven Dou Palace Coup first broke out, Yang Xiong originally intended to send Ning Rongrong away and act alone.

But Ning Rongrong was very worried about Yang Xiong, stayed with him the whole time, and naturally knew what he was doing.

Since the internal turmoil began in Heaven Dou City, especially when the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace fell into chaos, Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong donned black clothes and slipped covertly into the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

During this period, Yang Xiong did not monitor Xue Qinghe's situation; instead, he outright massacred the Heaven Dou Imperial Family Treasury, seizing its years of stored wealth for himself.

The Treasury stored an enormous amount of items, and its guards were extremely strict; ordinary people could not break in.

Yet Yang Xiong, alone with his sword, violently broke into the Treasury and claimed everything inside as his own.

The Treasury not only contained a massive amount of Gold Soul Coins, but also a myriad of treasures; the Gold Soul Coins alone were worth tens of billions, and rare Spirit Herbs, Divine Medicines, and other scarce treasures kept appearing, with many soul bones as well, though most were of relatively low age, and Yi Wan Nian soul bones were only a few.

As for how to take the Treasury, it was a trivial matter; Yang Xiong had prepared many large Storage Soul Guidance Devices and a massive Hanhai Cosmic Dome, which he used to sweep the entire Treasury clean.

This is also one reason why Yang Xiong arrived late in the Heaven Dou Palace; rather than spending effort fighting Qian Renxue at the start, he prepared in advance. With the Treasury's contents, the Body Sect will not lack any resources for decades, even centuries.

One must know that establishing a sect requires enormous resources, especially a sect of top three sect level, whose consumption is astronomically huge; beyond ordinary buildings there are numerous Simulated Environments, and even the sect's own consumption is massive. Yang Xiong dared not place all his hopes on the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

After a long silence, Ning Fengzhi finally spoke, "Xiao Xiong, you have calculated the futures of both the Body Sect and even the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; in your plan both can develop better. But have you thought about Rong Rong—how you will get along with her in the future?"

Yang Xiong fell silent upon hearing this; Ning Rongrong had always been someone he dared not face. Given the current situation, Ning Rongrong is definitely the next Sect Leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, while he will become the Sect Leader of the Body Sect. Will there be more time for interaction between them? How can he balance sect affairs and personal feelings?

"Sect Leader, Rong Rong is the woman I love most in my life; I can give everything for her, even my life, without hesitation."

Ning Fengzhi sighed, "Fine, how you tell Rong Rong is your own matter; I hope you won't make her sad."

Yang Xiong quickly replied, "Thank you, Sect Leader, for your approval. I will not disappoint Rong Rong nor the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."

At this moment Yang Xiong finally breathed a sigh of relief; Ning Fengzhi had always been very kind to him, and the sect's internal resources were essentially at his disposal. Such gratitude is truly impossible to repay.

Yang Xiong knows that founding the Body Sect would certainly sadden Ning Fengzhi, perhaps even cause a fallout, but now having earned Ning Fengzhi's recognition, he finally feels a great weight lifted.

Ning Fengzhi seemed to recall something, "By the way, another matter: did you tell Tang Yuehua that you know Tang Chen's whereabouts? What is your purpose in doing so? You should know Tang Chen's influence on the Soul Master World."

Yang Xiong shook his head, "Sect Leader, although I know Tang Chen's whereabouts, unfortunately he has become half‑human, half‑ghost now. Even the Clear Sky Sect cannot restore him, so Tang Chen will have no impact on our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."

"As for the Clear Sky Sect, I don't know whether they will rise for a Tang Chen."

(End of chapter)