Nightfall draped Sunset Forest in darkness.
Suddenly, several figures shot out of the miasma, shattering the silence. They soared through the air until a faint pink glow faded—then landed in a forest clearing.
It was the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect group.
Using the power of the Qi Luo Heart, they'd flown straight out of the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Eyes, escaping the poison array and miasma within moments.
"Sect Master—just like that, we're leaving?"
Tai Yu, the most straightforward of the elders, couldn't contain his frustration. He couldn't fathom why they hadn't finished off the weakened Fierce Beast Immortal herbs.
"Yes. Just like that," Ning Bowen replied, offering no further explanation. His tone turned cryptic: "Sometimes, you spare the monk for the Buddha's sake. Push too far, and even Heaven might punish us."
Push too far? Heaven?
The group exchanged baffled glances.
Only Chen Junting's head snapped up, eyes locking onto Ning Bowen.
Did the Sect Master discover something? Why else would he say that?
Ning Bowen, oblivious to Chen Junting's scrutiny, noticed the group's disappointment and chuckled. A sly glint flashed in his eyes.
"We've already scored a massive haul—what's there to regret? And those herbs never said the trial could only be attempted once. We'll just return in ten or twenty years!"
Brilliant!
The elders silently marveled. No wonder he became Sect Master over all the other heirs.
This wasn't just a harvest—it was farming immortal herbs like crops.
Unaware of their thoughts, Ning Bowen continued: "Our priority now is for everyone to consume their assigned herbs upon returning. Once your breakthroughs are complete, the sect's strength will soar."
"We intend to do just that," six Grand Elders affirmed in unison.
Excitement surged through them.
Tai Yu, Qing Lan, and Zhang Ming remained composed—but Ye Xuanji, Zhi Yong, and Bai Sheng? They'd been stuck at their current bottlenecks for decades. Now, breakthroughs were within reach!
"Heh. Then I'll guard your cultivation," Wu Yan said, stroking his beard with a grin.
"Oh? Third Brother—you're not taking an herb?" Zhi Yong asked, surprised. He knew Wu Yan's fiery temperament and obsession with advancement.
Has he changed?
"My herb's different," Wu Yan said softly, eyes warm. "I'll wait until Xiao Feng can absorb a 100,000-year soul ring. I've been at Level 95 for decades—what's another twenty years?"
"You spoil that granddaughter," Zhi Yong and Bai Sheng said, envy in their eyes. Among their generation, only Ye Xuanji had a nephew—and only Wu Yan had married, fathered a child, and now doted on a granddaughter.
"Hahahaha!" Wu Yan roared with laughter, reading his friends' minds perfectly.
---
Meanwhile, Chen Junting pulled Ning Tian and Huo Yuhao aside, approaching Ning Bowen alone. He'd just remembered a critical issue.
"Uncle Ning."
"Hmm? What is it?" Ning Bowen, who'd been chuckling at his elders' banter, snapped to attention.
"I just realized—if Xiao Tian consumes the Beautiful Silk Tulip essence and her martial soul becomes the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda… won't that expose the immortal herb?" Chen Junting added, nodding pointedly at the sky.
Ning Bowen laughed. "You're worried about Shrek, aren't you?"
Chen Junting didn't deny it.
If the sect revealed the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, Shrek Academy might come demanding answers about Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire.
Though ten thousand years had passed, certain ancient sects tied to the Shrek Seven Monsters still knew exactly how the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda evolved into the Nine.
"That's not your concern," Ning Bowen said, clapping Chen Junting's shoulder. "Your duty is to cultivate and refine your arrays. As for these 'worries'…" He smirked. "Do you think the sect exists just to fund your training and wait for your future gratitude?"
Chen Junting's eyes widened in realization.
*Of course—they've already planned for this.*
He waved his hands hastily. "I didn't mean—"
"You rascal," Ning Bowen chuckled, then gathered the group to assign post-mission tasks.
First: Announce to the continent that the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect acquired Beautiful Silk Tulip from an "anonymous benefactor," evolving their heir's martial soul into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Better to control the narrative than hide.
Second: Wu Yan would ration the Blazing Resin to Wu Feng—administering it in doses every ten levels. A full dose might awaken Ultimate Fire, directly implicating the sect.
This plan worked only because Chen Junting's martial soul, incompletely evolved, could still revert to its original form. Without that, Ning Bowen would've been forced into a risky cover-up.
Third: Ning Bowen himself would consume the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid's essence first, upgrading to the Eight Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. He'd claim it resulted from the sect's "rare treasures"—a plausible story, given their wealth and his decades-long public abstention from using his martial soul.
And finally…
They'd wait for Shrek Academy to come knocking.
After all, the sect now possessed a "millennia-old heirloom": Phoenix Blood.
When the time came, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—masters of negotiation—would extract a heavy price.
This would also deter Shrek from coveting their Ultimate Ice.
With plans set, the group rested briefly at Sunset Forest's edge. At dawn, they raced back to the sect.
---
That Afternoon
They finally returned to the sect.
Ning Bowen handed Huo Yuhao the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew; Wu Yan gave Wu Feng the Blazing Resin (Rubber). After stern warnings, everyone rushed to their quarters to cultivate—even Chen Junting, who needed to fully grasp his half-evolved martial soul.
Meanwhile, a message spread from the sect—
sending shockwaves through every major power on the continent!
------------------------------------------------------
Join my Patreon to read an exclusive novel – 'Douluo: Rebuilding Hao Tian Sect'
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)