Qian Gu Dongfeng's face was grim.
He couldn't deny these two points.
Within the Spirit Transmission Pagoda, it was debatable whether the backing of a Divine Blacksmith's disciple was stronger or weaker than that of the Pagoda Master's grandson. But considering the overall situation of the Federation, Su Ming's backing was undoubtedly harder. Especially since Su Ming had developed Spirit Infusion Technology, his forging skills were extraordinarily accomplished at a young age, and he was widely recognized as the next Divine Blacksmith.
In comparison, Qian Gu Zhangting fell far short. Not only had he cultivated in seclusion since childhood, growing up with the limitless resources of the Qian Gu family without ever appearing in the public eye, he was now emerging out of nowhere and trying to claim a Spirit Transmission Envoy position.
Anyone would find that unacceptable.
As for the fusion of Spirit Infusion Technology with artificial Spirit Soul technology mentioned by the Elders, it had indeed greatly advanced the progress of artificial Spirit Souls.
Zhang Tianyang was in charge of this project. He had even transferred from the Tianhai Alliance to Sky Dou City to better collaborate on research with the Blacksmith Association.
Now that Zhang Tianyang had attributed the full credit for this achievement to Su Ming, Qian Gu Dongfeng had to accept it too.
"Fine, Zhang Tianyang, you're all doing very well."
Qian Gu Dongfeng ground his teeth.
He had thought Zhang Tianyang was ambitious.
Turns out it was Su Ming who was ambitious, aiming for the Pagoda Master position.
Exactly. In his view, Su Ming vying for the Spirit Transmission Envoy position at this juncture was precisely to compete for the Pagoda Master role in the future.
Seeing Qian Gu Dongfeng's demeanor, Zhang Tianyang recalled Su Ming's specific reminder during their communication about Qian Gu Dongfeng's collusion with Evil Spirit Masters. He decided to provoke Qian Gu Dongfeng a bit more.
"Oh, right. Everyone might not know yet."
Zhang Tianyang looked towards Han Tianyi among the Elders. "Elder Han, I was just about to tell you as well. Body Sect Sect Master Mu Ye has already made a breakthrough."
Han Tianyi was taken aback.
He spent most of his years in seclusion, deducing and developing illusions, so he didn't know much about the outside world.
Taking Su Ming as a disciple was mostly nominal, to lend Su Ming influence. Since everything he knew was part of the Body Sect's legacy, and Mu Ye was in basically constant contact with Su Ming, he had left Su Ming's teaching to Mu Ye.
As an elder who, along with Mu Ye, had both taken Su Ming as a disciple (each using their own terms), shouldn't Mu Ye also bear some of the burden?
He truly didn't know about Mu Ye's breakthrough.
"When did this happen?"
"Two days ago. It probably hasn't concluded yet, but Xiao Ming says Mu Ye has already reached level 98."
The room fell silent.
Mu Ye's breakthrough was a major event.
How could the talent of someone who could become a Sect Master be lacking?
One could say that from the time he was a Spirit King, major powers had acknowledged his potential to reach the Limit. But he had been stuck at level 94.
Stuck for so many years, yet his combat strength could still reach the Limit level.
Now, with this sudden breakthrough, he would likely become another powerhouse capable of influencing the continent's situation—a Quasi-God!
He might not have reached the Quasi-God realm yet, but if he possessed Limit-level combat strength at level 94, then at level 98, he was at least a Demigod.
And what about after breaking through to level 99?
Breaking through a bottleneck that had trapped him for half his life would be no less significant than other Limit Douluo's breakthroughs from Demigod to Quasi-God.
A trace of gratification flashed in Han Tianyi's eyes.
Excellent.
Mu Ye's breakthrough, his path now clear, meant the Body Sect had grown stronger.
At this moment, everyone began reconsidering today's topic.
Su Ming, Spirit Transmission Envoy.
Mu Ye, breakthrough to level 98.
Wasn't this obvious?
As for Su Ming being a Body Sect disciple, no one had objections.
Wasn't Han Tianyi also part of the Body Sect, yet still within the Spirit Transmission Pagoda?
Strictly speaking, the Spirit Transmission Pagoda wasn't a single, unified faction. It was a combined alliance—the Qian Gu family, numerous Limit-level families, large and small sects collaborating—that ultimately built this colossal entity.
It was akin to a Federation in the Spirit Master domain.
Only Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and the War God Hall (closely linked to the military) clearly separated themselves from the Spirit Transmission Pagoda.
Leaving that aside, didn't Spirit Souls originate from the Body Sect in the first place?
Qian Gu Dongfeng's face was the ugliest of all.
Mu Ye's breakthrough upset him more than anyone.
If he was merely guessing Su Ming wanted the Pagoda Master position before, he was now certain, 100% confirmed, that Su Ming aimed to become Pagoda Master.
"Han Tianyi, Mu Ye, plus Zhen Hua's connections... If Su Ming himself breaks through to Limit Douluo, my Qian Gu family really won't be able to hold onto this Pagoda Master seat anymore."
Qian Gu Dongfeng felt stifled inwardly.
His gaze swept over the assembled high-ranking members, pausing for a moment on Leng Yaoju.
He needed to win over her faction.
Leng Yaoju might ignore him, but Gu Yuena's performance was different.
Mu Ye concluded his secluded cultivation, his Spirit Power stabilizing at level 98.
Su Ming also finished his contemplation on elemental control.
"Congratulations, Teacher."
Mu Ye smiled. "I still have to thank you for that ball of soul essence you gave me. Who would have thought that essence would be a perfect match for me, enhancing my soul's foundation out of thin air."
He didn't ask for details.
Su Ming only showed the effect without explanation, clearly because some things were difficult to account for.
"Don't worry about the Limit bottleneck next. Your teacher already has a plan."
"Teacher, you have a direction?" Su Ming asked, surprised.
"More or less. Heaven Refinement is about the laws baptizing metal. To elevate my mecha to the full Heaven Refinement level, I need to use the laws to baptize the mecha. But the 'Infusing the Soul into the Blade' cultivation path isn't suited for that. So, I will use my own Spirit Power, qi and blood, and spiritual power to baptize the mecha."
Su Ming understood.
Using one's own power to replace the power of Heaven and Earth.
That was very Body Sect.
Of course, there were many difficulties involved.
"I plan to use En Ci's secret method," Mu Ye said.
En Ci's secret method?
Using fortune to nourish Battle Armor?
No. Combining this with what Mu Ye just said, Su Ming understood his plan.
He intended to use his own essence, energy, and spirit (jing, qi, shen) to replace fortune.
So, the specific method was also available.
All that was lacking was the cultivation itself.
"So, your teacher is about to enter formal, deep seclusion."
"Teacher will definitely break through."
Su Ming and Mu Ye returned to Sky Dou City. Under Zhen Hua's arrangements, Mu Ye entered seclusion in the tower where Zhen Hua regularly performed Heaven Refinement.
"There have been quite a few changes at the Spirit Transmission Pagoda recently. Your teacher Zhang Tianyang also managed to secure the Spirit Transmission Envoy position for you. First, go and assume the authority there. Then I'll coordinate with you to establish the Ten-Thousand Spirit Platform."
The Ten-Thousand Spirit Platform was proposed by Zhang Tianyang, corresponding to the Ten-Thousand Beast Platform established by Gu Yuena. Once built, it would be a major, permanent project, serving as Su Ming's future power base.
The Ten-Thousand Beast Platform aimed to create a brand-new Spirit Ascension Platform. Its main mechanism was the same as the Spirit Ascension Platform, the difference being that Spirit Masters could directly absorb the spiritual energy within to upgrade their own Spirit Souls to the ten-thousand-year level, including artificial ones.
The Ten-Thousand Spirit Platform was different, unrelated to spirit ascension. Its core was Su Ming's Spirit Fusion Method. Because this method fused Spirit Souls with the spirituality of rare metals, it both lowered the difficulty of subsequent Soul Refinement for fused metals and used the fused metal to share the burden the Spirit Soul placed on the Spirit Master. Therefore, it was perfectly suited for commercialization.
Hence, the logic of the Ten-Thousand Spirit Platform was born.
First, the Ten-Thousand Spirit Platform would perpetually collaborate with blacksmiths from the Blacksmith Association. Spirit Masters with needs could place custom orders for Spirit Souls or fused metals at the platform.
Second, the Ten-Thousand Spirit Platform would also be responsible for trial-and-error for Spirit Masters.
After all, Spirit Fusion currently used the Spirit Master's actual Spirit Soul. If the resulting fused metal was unsatisfactory, or if the subsequent Soul Refinement failed and the fused metal was scrapped, it would be a huge loss for the Spirit Master.
Therefore, the Ten-Thousand Spirit Platform would also construct a virtual space similar to the Spirit Ascension Platform. However, it wouldn't be used for spirit ascension. Instead, it would simulate the Spirit Master's Spirit Soul and rare metals within to perform Spirit Fusion, allowing the Spirit Master to experience the result.
Most crucially, after the experience, the Spirit Master could choose to take the Spirit Fusion product out of the Ten-Thousand Spirit Platform, or regret and cancel the order.
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