From the start, Xiao Tian never actually planned to subdue the Power Clan. His goal had always been the other three single-attribute sects.
After soothing the concerns of Da Ming and Er Ming, Xiao Tian elaborated, "The Power Clan's forging is decent, but the Blacksmith Association is filled with more talented craftsmen, and their president is no less capable than Titan himself. There's no real need to recruit them."
Realizing this, Da Ming and Er Ming fell silent. Their earlier worries had been for nothing. Xiao Tian had never placed the Power Clan in his sights.
The Blacksmith Association was more than enough to replace them.
Xiao Tian's grand plan involved pulling three single-attribute sects under his banner. That way, he could rapidly establish the prototype of a real sect. Each of those sects brought something vital to the table:
The Blacksmith Association specialized in forging. Every blade in the Shushan Sword Sect, from the most ordinary iron sword to high-grade soul-guided longswords, depended on their craftsmanship.
The Yu Clan excelled at construction. From Shushan's grand gates to its towering halls and the rugged mountain roads carved into its slopes, their handiwork was indispensable.
The Min Clan specialized in reconnaissance and flight. Much of the Shushan Sword Sect's perilous terrain, treacherous cliffs, and tactical approaches had been designed with their help. The steeper and deadlier the routes, the better against enemies. Not to mention, Bai He of the Min Clan possessed a rare Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, an invaluable treasure.
Finally, the Poyei Clan, unmatched in offensive techniques and medicine refinement. Shushan's defenses and its supply of elixirs were directly tied to them.
Xiao Tian weighed the roles calmly. With such allies, what need was there for the Power Clan? Titan, after all, had always been seen as a groveler—and someone like that would hardly join sincerely. The others had long-standing grudges against the Clear Sky Sect, which only made them more willing to cooperate.
"See?" Xiao Tian thought. "The plan is seamless."
Meanwhile, Da Ming and Er Ming suddenly sensed movement—Dugu Yan was about to wake up. Without hesitation, they retreated back into Xiao Tian's spiritual domain, leaving the space around him quiet.
Xiao Tian turned to Dugu Bo and said, "Old monster, I'm heading out first. Let's regroup at the academy's gates early tomorrow morning."
That night, Xiao Tian summoned Xiao Wu to his chamber. His tone carried a rare seriousness.
"Xiao Wu, your fourth soul ring hasn't fully condensed yet, has it?" he asked.
She nodded slightly. "Mm. Aren't we heading into the Sunset Forest tomorrow? I was thinking of separating from Zhu Qing and the others then, and finding a spot to condense my fourth ring."
Xiao Tian shook his head. "No need to wait. Let's do it tonight. I've been thinking… when you condense this fourth ring, I want to watch closely. If I can understand why you're able to form rings independently, unlike other soul masters, I may uncover why you'll need to hunt soul beasts for rings starting from the seventh one. This could be vital."
"Why is that so important?" Xiao Wu asked curiously.
Xiao Tian's eyes grew sharp. "Because this discovery might spark inspiration for a future cultivation system I'm piecing together. Imagine it: if humans could condense their soul rings without slaughtering soul beasts, then the entire system could change forever."
It was a bold idea.
But Xiao Tian knew well the potential downsides. If soul masters no longer needed to kill soul beasts for rings, then soul beasts would only become valuable for yielding soul bones. In the short term it seemed harmless, but over centuries, the imbalance could devastate low-level soul beasts, even pushing some species toward extinction.
Still, Xiao Tian was decisive. Not all ideas could suit every time period. As long as what he did now benefited both soul masters and soul beasts of the current age, that was enough. The distant future could solve its own problems.
Dynasties in his previous life had experienced similar issues. Systems like feudal domains or county rule always began effectively, fitting their age. But with time, their flaws became clear, forcing rulers to adapt. No law or method was permanent.
As Xiao Tian finished musing, Da Ming, Er Ming, and even A Yin emerged from the spiritual domain. Da Ming looked at him sternly. "Xiao Tian, are you certain about this?"
Xiao Tian answered with a confident smile. "I'll do my best."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit with excitement. "Brother, then what should I do?"
"Same as last time," Xiao Tian instructed. "Condense your soul ring just as you normally do, but slow down the process. Give me more time to observe. Also…" His voice grew serious. "During the condensation, I'll need to maintain physical contact with you. Will that bother you?"
Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed pink, but her voice was steady. "It doesn't matter. For me, condensing soul rings is like moving my own hands or feet—it's all under my control."
Her calm words reassured Xiao Tian. With anyone else it would have been dangerous—forcing physical contact during spirit absorption could cause collapse or even death. But Xiao Wu was different. She wasn't a normal human soul master, but a 100,000-year-old soul beast wearing human skin.
Xiao Wu sat cross-legged on Xiao Tian's bed. She stilled her breathing, closed her eyes, and began to condense her fourth ring. Following his request, she deliberately slowed the process. Unlike before, she started with a ten-year base instead of jumping immediately to a thousand-year foundation.
Meanwhile, Xiao Tian activated the ability of his external soul bone—the Sword of Insight, opening the Sword Heart Eye.
This ability heightened his spiritual concentration to the peak. When he'd first obtained it, it could only predict trajectories based on a soul master's movements. But now, elevated to the ten-thousand-year level, it allowed him to see the invisible path of soul power flowing through another's body with startling clarity.
He began observing from the outside.
As Xiao Wu drew her soul power, rich natural energy from the atmosphere gathered around her, flowing into her body before pooling into the forming ring.
"So it really is the natural energy in the air," Xiao Tian thought. "It's no different than our usual cultivation. We absorb external essence and refine it into soul power. Only now, it coalesces into a ring."
Gradually, the colors deepened. The new ring crossed the century threshold.
At that moment, Xiao Tian leaned closer and pressed his forehead gently against Xiao Wu's.
Her body quivered slightly. Shyness flickered in her expression, but she suppressed it.
Eyes closing, Xiao Tian switched to the deeper version of Sword Insight—internal observation through physical contact.
Immediately, the rivers of power within Xiao Wu's meridians unfolded before him. The flow was impeccable, each current moving with flawless precision as though conducted by an unseen hand.
"So smooth… too smooth," he realized.
The control was beyond anything human. It wasn't just soul power at work—mental strength clearly played a decisive role.
Though Xiao Wu couldn't actively project her mental power yet, being a hundred-thousand-year-old beast meant her spiritual foundation eclipsed human peers.
He recalled her battle with Hu Liena. Although Hu Liena specialized in spiritual techniques, Xiao Wu's charm had countered hers evenly. Even though she'd taken injuries, the fact a Soul Sect had tied with Hu Liena, whose mental strength ought to exceed her level, testified to Xiao Wu's abnormal willpower.
Minutes ticked by. The partially formed fourth ring shimmered brighter and brighter.
And then—enlightenment struck Xiao Tian!
He realized the core truth: the process of condensing a soul ring followed a completely different route than the circulation paths of ordinary soul power cultivation. Two distinct flows, two distinct purposes.
Moreover, successful condensation demanded a foundation of immense strength within the soul master's body—not just cultivated power, but something deeper, etched into every fiber of their being.
In Xiao Wu's case, her true hundred-thousand-year strength remained hidden, slumbering within every inch of her transformed body, waiting only for the moment soul rings were needed.
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