In the main hall of the Luo Family mansion in the Balak Kingdom, a sturdy and honest-looking man sat at the chief seat. He was one of the elders of Spirit Hall, known as Tortoise Douluo. Standing beside him was the Ao Family patriarch, Ao Ers.
Ao Ers is the son of Ao Erfu and father of Ao Erduo and Ao Erbai. The former patriarch Ao Erfu, after having both ears cut off by Sword Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo, suffered severe hearing loss and could no longer serve as clan leader.
Of course, the uninformed Ao Family always believed that both ears were cut off by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and thus they deeply hated them.
At this moment, two figures knelt before the steps. They were the Luo Family's head, Luo Hengji, the strongest in the Balak Kingdom, and his sole heir, Luo Fuji.
"Tortoise Douluo, I heard you've managed to subdue several small principalities near the Balak Kingdom. Well done! His Holiness the Pope is very satisfied," Tortoise Douluo said with a gentle smile.
This smile looked kind, but it sent chills down Luo Hengji's back. The man before him was a smiling tiger—gentle on the surface, but ruthless underneath.
Luo Hengji quickly bowed. "This is only our duty. But… about this month's antidote…"
"Oh, the antidote? Right, tonight is when the poison acts up, isn't it? Don't worry, you have done well. I wouldn't forget. I came today just to bring the antidote. I've already handed it to Aoers. Just get it from him. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave." Tortoise Douluo stood up, still smiling.
At his words, the Luo father and son looked desperate. The Ao and Luo families were bitter enemies—would Ao Ers just hand over the antidote?
Sure enough, as soon as Tortoise Douluo left, Ao Ers smiled apologetically. "Ah, sorry, Brother Luo. I left the antidote at home. How about this: bear with it tonight, and I'll send someone over tomorrow."
"How can you do this, Brother Ao? Then let me send someone to fetch it, or I can go myself!" Luo Hengji clung to his leg and begged.
"Get lost! I'm not going home tonight. I'm out to have fun with the courtesans. You two just enjoy yourselves!" Ao Ers kicked Luo Hengji away with soul power, making him cough up blood, then left laughing.
In truth, the Ao Family had long sided with Spirit Hall, all due to a small matter at the academy years ago.
Just as Tianlin had expected, after Ao Erfu lost both ears, Bibi Dong immediately sent people to the Ao Family, telling them that if they wanted revenge, neither they nor their suzerain, the Heaven Dou Empire, could help them—only Spirit Hall could.
Ao Erfu could not deny this. For revenge, he agreed to secretly work for Spirit Hall. Serving a master was all the same, whether it was Spirit Hall or Heaven Dou Empire.
The Luo Family was different; they were forcibly subdued by Spirit Hall using poison—a toxin that flared up monthly, causing unbearable pain and eventual organ failure. This poison was developed by Porcupine Douluo. Spirit Hall gave the antidote to the Ao Family, who then used it to control the Luo Family.
Though Ao Ers wouldn't kill Luo Hengji and his son yet, he took every chance to torment them, often delaying the antidote. The poison wouldn't kill immediately but would inflict immense suffering.
Leaving the Luo Family, Ao Ers was quite pleased with himself, glad he had chosen the right side early. He imagined the agony of the Luo father and son.
But actually, nothing happened. As soon as Ao Ers left, the Luo father and son calmly stood up. Luo Fujii helped his father, while Luo Hengji clutched his chest and cursed, "That Ao Ers, a petty villain. Sooner or later, we'll kill him. He really thinks we're poisoned? It's just the kick that hurts."
As he complained, crabapple blossoms floated down from above, merging into his chest and instantly healing his injury.
"Nine-Hearted Begonia! Haha, it's Brother Gu and Miss Ye!" Luo Fujii laughed.
"Senior Luo, Brother Luo, sorry you've suffered," Gu Ran entered with Ye Lingling.
"It's nothing. If not for Sect Master Ning's wisdom and Gu's timely plea for the Poison Douluo to cure us, we'd still be under Ao Family's thumb," Luo Hengji said gratefully.
When Tianlin resolved to unify the world, both he and Ning Fengzhi wrote letters—Ning Fengzhi's to Luo Hengji, Tianlin's to Luo Fujii.
Tianlin knew from the original novel that Spirit Hall's first conquest was Balak, while Ning Fengzhi deduced it by wisdom.
Years ago, Ning Fengzhi had already contacted Luo Hengji. Since they were at odds with the Ao Family, he sought to win over their enemy, the Luo Family.
Later, seeing Spirit Hall's ambition, Ning Fengzhi guessed they would use the Ao Family to take Balak. He warned the Luo Family and advised Luo Hengji to do two things: treat the people well to gain a good reputation, and discipline the army to win their loyalty.
Coincidentally, at that time, Tianlin had controlled Luo Fujii with Eternal Mind Control. Luo Fujii returned a new man—kind, charitable, serving the people.
He told his father he had been awakened by Tianlin. Luo Hengji assumed Tianlin and Luo Fujii were now friends and working together, explaining why Luo Fujii carried out Ning Fengzhi's suggestions.
Thus, as Ning Fengzhi said, Tianlin accidentally perfected his plan.
With these steps done, first, their lives were secured. Spirit Hall didn't really want to subdue the Luo Family—just wanted the Ao Family to rule Balak.
However, now the Luo Family had a stellar reputation and the army's loyalty. Forcible action could spark mutiny. Spirit Hall had no choice but to use poison to control the Luo Family.
This was within Ning Fengzhi's expectations. He and Tianlin sent Gu Ran and Ye Lingling to Balak. They used Nine-Hearted Crabapple to suppress the poison, took blood samples, and returned for Dugu Bo and Yang Wudi to make the antidote, curing them.
Ning Fengzhi told them to continue pretending to be poisoned and serve Spirit Hall, subduing as many kingdoms as possible. When the time came, he would send someone to fetch them.