He had taken ten immortal herbs from the hot pot, including the Qiluo Tulip, mainly because he didn't know what else to take.
Huo Yuhao glanced at Ning Tian but didn't make a fuss. Even though they were friends, such important things as immortal herbs naturally required sufficient benefits in exchange.
However, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School didn't seem to have anything that appealed to him. As for the soul bone reward after helping with the sect competition, that was another matter.
Wait…
looking at Ning Tian talking to Zhang Lexuan, Huo Yuhao suddenly remembered something.
Since the sect competition had evolved into a matchmaking event, and the relationships between the various factions weren't as extreme as imagined, why would Ning Tian offer a soul bone as a reward to invite him to participate in the competition? It was
completely unnecessary.
Thinking too much was pointless, and Huo Yuhao quickly dismissed these thoughts.
If the other party was willing to give, he was willing to accept.
"Let's not talk about these things anymore, Senior Sister, Yuhao. I'll take you to see my parents now. They should be discussing the competition procedures with the inner and outer hall elders right now."
Ning Tian was a bit annoyed by these marriage arrangements and decided to change the subject.
"We've come here this time, so naturally we still need to pay a visit to Sect Master Ning." Zhang Lexuan nodded in agreement. "You lead the way."
Ning Tian nodded, gesturing for Wu Feng to come along.
The resting place had been decided; it was time to meet with the higher-ups of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
At the same time
, more and more spectators continued to pour into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's mountain gate. The once relatively quiet sect quickly became lively, as if it were a "siege," with hundreds of sect disciples leading the way to their assigned dormitories.
It was estimated that by the time the competition started tomorrow, the number of spectators would likely reach over 30,000.
Although there were many people, it could still accommodate them. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School was no longer the sect with a thousand members it once was. With its lineage members and their families, the population was quite large. Therefore, the sect had built a large number of houses long ago. Even if there were another 30,000, it could easily fit them all.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School was strictly divided into inner and outer sections. The inner sect was the true sect headquarters, located deep in the mountains. The plaza Huo Yuhao had seen earlier was actually part of the outer sect.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School planned to develop the outer sect into a city-like place, but the Heavenly Soul Imperial Family hadn't agreed yet, so it hadn't expanded too much.
Besides ordinary spectators, those from various provinces of the Heavenly Soul Empire who had cooperation with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, or those with a strong reputation, all received invitations and gradually arrived at the sect.
Like Huo Yuhao, they also traveled by carriage to the "parking lot" located below the cliff, but without a young sect leader like Ning Tian to lead the way.
"Mom, Auntie will be so happy to see you!" Nan Qiuqiu said playfully, linking arms with Nan Shuishui on the path.
"Your auntie might be happy to see me, but seeing you will definitely give her a headache. Who told you to be such a little devil?" Nan Shuishui chuckled, tapping Nan Qiuqiu's forehead with her finger.
Approaching forty, Nan Shuishui's face remained beautiful and dignified, her figure voluptuous and mature, incredibly alluring to young men. However, the maturity in her gaze was something younger men couldn't match.
Hearing her mother's teasing, Nan Qiuqiu pouted. "That was before. I've changed now."
"Really?" Nan Shuishui smiled.
"Uh..." Nan Qiuqiu's tone softened. Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and she asked, "Mom, I heard that the Heavenly Dragon Sect intends to form a marriage alliance with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Is that true?"
Hearing this, Nan Shuishui's smile faded slightly. "It's true."
Nan Qiuqiu said irritably, "I can't stand that Yu Tianlong guy. It would be so unpleasant if they really became relatives."
"Alright," Nan Shuishui interrupted her daughter at the right moment, "Now that we're at the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, even though your aunt is the sect leader's wife, there are some things we shouldn't say, lest someone have designs on us."
Nan Qiuqiu glanced around, making sure no one was there, and breathed a sigh of relief. Indeed, the Heavenly Dragon Sect was also sending people this time; she didn't want them to overhear and make sarcastic remarks.
The mother and daughter had been to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect several times before and were very familiar with the area. With their tokens as passes, they could naturally pass through the inner sect area of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect without hindrance.
Any sect or force holding an invitation was led into the inner sect to rest, thus at least fifteen forces had gathered there.
The Earth Dragon Sect arrived at the same time as the Heavenly Dragon Sect.
Gazing at the vast, open plaza, the tall, stern-faced Yu Tianlong gripped the railing, his mind racing. Beside him were several people, elders and peers.
"The sect competition... I hope to find an opponent who satisfies me."
Turning his gaze away, Yu Tianlong followed his fellow sect members, led by a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect deacon, deeper into the sect.
However, as he stepped down the stairs, he seemed to sense something, instinctively becoming alert.
Following his senses, he found himself facing a young man with a resolute face and a physique no less imposing than his own.
Beside the young man were four people: two elders and two middle-aged men.
All were young. When their eyes met, Yu Tianlong's fighting spirit rose slightly, but at that moment, the young man he had been looking at smiled and averted his gaze.
The collision failed, and Yu Tianlong stopped in his tracks, a surge of excitement welling up within him. "Such a powerful aura! I didn't expect to actually encounter one in the sect competition."
"Brother Tianlong, what are you standing there for?"
A young female disciple from within the Tianlong Sect called out, turning around in confusion.
Yu Tianlong snapped out of his daze, strode forward, and chuckled, "Nothing, just lost in the scenery."
"Hehe, the scenery of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is indeed beautiful. It's a pity we can't see it often."
"That's easy, why don't you just marry into the sect?"
"No, I'd rather not. My parents wouldn't want me to marry so far away."
"Hahaha."
...
Following Ning Tian and Wu Feng, they encountered many disciples of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect along the way. Amidst calls of "Young Sect Master" and "Young Hall Master," they finally stopped at a scenic spot. There were nine buildings here, four on each side, and the remaining one at the very front, which was also the tallest.
Its shape is identical to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul. The material used for its construction is unknown, but under sunlight, it appears as crystal clear and dazzling.
This building, named the Nine Treasure Pagoda, is where the high-ranking members of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hold meetings, rest, and work.
The other eight buildings are where the sect's high-ranking members cultivate.
In the center of all the buildings stood a colossal tree, its canopy alone exceeding a hundred meters in diameter. Now in bloom, its pale pink blossoms carpeted the ground, filling the air with a soft, sweet fragrance. Huo Yuhao even felt a strange lightness in his body as he circulated his soul power.
Most peculiarly, a strange fluctuation emanated from the tree, seemingly capable of stirring the soul. As sunlight fell upon it, the reflected light cast a pink hue over the sky.
"The Nine Treasures Tree—even though I've seen it several times, I'm still amazed," Zhang Lexuan exclaimed, gazing at the tree with admiration.
Ning Tian smiled and, together with Wu Feng, reverently closed their eyes and bowed beneath the tree.
This tree was said to have been bestowed by their ancestor Ning Rongrong, who had long since entered the God Realm, and held a high position within the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile School. Naturally, the two women treated it with utmost respect.
"Yuhao."
Just as the two women were bowing reverently, the voice of Electrolux suddenly echoed in Huo Yuhao's mind.
"Teacher?" Huo Yuhao's heart stirred slightly. "What's wrong?" "
This tree most likely connects to a world that doesn't belong to Douluo Continent. You can think of it as something like a demi-plane of the undead," Ilex's calm voice rang out.
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao's expression immediately changed, and his gaze towards the tree seed became inexplicable.
"Did you sense the strange fluctuations around this tree? With your level of spiritual power, you should be able to sense them; it's even subtly influencing your soul," Ilex added.
Huo Yuhao said in a deep voice, "I can sense them, and these fluctuations are pulling at my heart. It's not a bad thing, but inexplicably, the image of my loved one has started to appear in my mind. Even if it only appeared at the beginning, the fact that it can affect my spiritual power means it's definitely not an ordinary thing."
His current level of spiritual power has already reached the top tier of the Douluo Continent.
Electrolux said, "This tree is imbued with the aura of some god, but the power it contains is inconsistent with that aura. To be precise, it appears to be from one god, but its inner essence belongs to another."
"This tree is most likely used to absorb the power of faith. When those two girls devoutly closed their eyes in prayer, they generated this power of faith. This power was then captured by that soul-drawing fluctuation and sent to the world connected to it. What does this mean? The deity controlling this tree cannot directly absorb the power of faith. It's quite a clever method." Just
as Electrolux finished speaking, Ning Tian and Wu Feng, who had been devoutly bowing with their eyes closed, opened them.
"Ask those two girls about the origin of this tree," Electrolux said softly.
"Ning Tian, may I ask about the origin of this tree?" Huo Yuhao nodded secretly, then feigned interest as he asked Ning Tian.
"This tree is called the Nine Treasures Tree." Ning Tian smiled and explained, surprised that Huo Yuhao would ask her about it. "It's said that after Ning Rongrong's ancestor became a god, she sent it to our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile School. Because this tree suddenly appeared deep in the Nine Treasures Mountains, it was considered a miracle, and then we transplanted it to its current location."
"It most likely appeared when the Sun Moon Empire invaded our Douluo Continent."
Ning Rongrong… Huo Yuhao's expression remained unchanged, but a sense of surprise arose in his heart. He looked at the Nine Treasures Tree and inexplicably had a guess.
According to his teacher, this tree was connected to a world that didn't belong to the Douluo Continent. The tree could evoke memories of his lover, and it just so happened to be related to Ning Rongrong.
Besides Qiankun Dog Training Valley, who else could it be?
The owner of that place was the God of Love, a fallen deity whose territory had long since been usurped by Ning Rongrong.
However, without accurate information, this could only be a guess.
"Why don't you pray too?" Wu Feng said, hands on his hips. "Think of the person you love, and the Nine Treasures Tree will grant you peace of mind.
It never fails." "I have too many lovers. If I pray, I might not be able to handle them all. Let's skip it," Huo Yuhao politely declined.
"Huh?" Wu Feng was stunned. What did "too many lovers" mean?
"Don't you only have Senior Sister Ma Xiaotao as your lover?"
Zhang Lexuan shook her head helplessly and took the initiative to change the subject. "Xiao Tian, take us to visit Sect Master Ning first. Xiao Tian?"
Zhang Lexuan called out, but Ning Tian froze on the spot. She
had to call out several times.
"Ah... okay." As if startled, Ning Tian glanced at Huo Yuhao subconsciously. Under the gazes of Zhang Lexuan and Wu Feng, she quickly replied. As she turned to lead the way, her pretty face became hesitant.
She knew from the academy that Ma Xiaotao would most likely be with Huo Yuhao, and that Zhu Lu too. Was it really okay for her to take the initiative now? "
No, rather than being forced into a family marriage in the future, I'd rather work hard to find someone I like.
In terms of strength and status, if Huo Yuhao isn't good enough, then no one in Douluo Continent is.
" "Follow me." Ning Tian continued leading the way, while Wu Feng chatted with Zhang Lexuan. Of course, she didn't forget to secretly ask Zhang Lexuan about how many lovers Huo Yuhao had.
"Yuhao, wanna pull off a big heist?" Huo Yuhao heard Electrolux speak again as they walked.
A big heist?
Huo Yuhao was slightly puzzled.
Electrolux smiled and said, "After your Sun God Pillar reaches the third star ring, it will require a massive amount of faith power to upgrade. This tree is an excellent source of faith power. If I'm not mistaken, it's ownerless, so we can take it."
"Teacher, how do you know it's ownerless?" Huo Yuhao didn't explain Ning Rongrong's situation, but suddenly he realized, "It appears to be one god, but its inner self is another?"
"Looks like you're not stupid after all." Electrolux was satisfied with Huo Yuhao's answer. He continued, "If the god who controls this tree is truly the inner god, then after the tree absorbs faith power, it shouldn't be transferred to the hidden world behind it, but should be directly absorbed by this god. For example, as the successor of this Sun God, can't you directly use the Sun God Pillar to absorb faith power and use it for your own purposes? Do you need to transfer the faith power and then absorb it through other means?"
Huo Yuhao immediately replied, "No."
Electrolux said, "That's right. The true owner of this tree is definitely not the god who currently controls it. Therefore, this outer god does not have the direct authority to absorb faith power."
"If we're going to do it, we'll find a suitable opportunity, using your Sun God Pillar as a foundation, and subtly cover this tree with your Sun Godhood. While the deity behind it is still processing the situation, we'll imprint the mark of the Sun God onto it."
"Given the height of the Sun Godhood, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this tree will surely accept you as its master. From then on, you can subtly absorb the power of faith."
"The deity behind it will never discover the problem, because controlling something that doesn't belong to you will eventually lead to loss of control. Most importantly, once the inner deity is gone, the thing it belongs to will gradually perish. If this tree is left unattended, it will die sooner or later."
Hearing this, Huo Yuhao's eyes brightened. "Then let's do it!"
Ilex didn't speak, but a faint smile returned.
Huo Yuhao glanced at the Nine Treasures Tree one last time. If the person controlling it really was Ning Rongrong, then things would get interesting.
The Valley of Love and Destiny, transformed from the fallen Goddess of Love, was controlled by the Nine-Colored Goddess; Tang San was probably behind it all.
With Ning Tian and Wu Feng present, they didn't need to be checked by guards to enter the Nine Treasures Pagoda. Ning Tian led everyone directly to the eighth floor, where the sect leader used for work and rest.
"Please sit wherever you like. My parents are still on the ninth floor having a meeting with the elders," Ning Tian said
, gesturing to everyone. Wu Feng didn't stand on ceremony at all and immediately lay down on the sofa.
"So beautiful."
As soon as they entered the sect leader's office, Zhang Lexuan's beautiful eyes showed a slight look of amazement.
With the help of the huge windows, they could get a closer look at the Nine Treasures Tree. The thousands of pink petals, like halos, were presented so close that they were mesmerizing.
Occasionally, a gentle breeze would blow, and countless petals could be seen fluttering, like the baton of an orchestra conductor drawing graceful arcs.
"Truly beautiful." Huo Yuhao sincerely praised, then murmured to himself: It'll be mine from now on.
"In terms of looks, only the academy's Golden Ancient Tree can compare to our sect's Nine Treasures Tree." Ning Tian was quite pleased that his treasure was being praised. The
Golden Ancient Tree... It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it, because Ning Tian's mention of it suddenly reminded Huo Yuhao of something.
Ah Yin's soul seed was still in the Golden Ancient Tree's space.
This was a time bomb, and he had to find a way to deal with it sometime.
"Click."
Suddenly, a crisp sound of a door opening came.
Everyone subconsciously turned their heads to look, and soon the door opened.
A man and a woman.
The man's face was extremely refined and handsome, with a scholarly air, and his eyes were gentle and soothing.
The woman's face was as white as jade, her features were delicate yet with a touch of heroism, her long, light yellow hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her delicate body was covered by a long, close-fitting dress, showing off her elegant curves.
The Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School is Ning Guanqing.
The Sect Master's wife is Nan Mengmeng.
.........................
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