Chapter 85: The Impact of Yu Xiaogang's Theory
Upon hearing Qin Xuan curse, Gui Mei, Yue Guan, and Ling Yuan were all stunned, looking at Qin Xuan with some confusion.
"My Lord, what is it?" Gui Mei asked, his voice a low rasp. "Is there a problem with the Supreme Pontiff's plan?"
Qin Xuan's face was dark. "Problem? He's not sending them on a mission; he's sending them to their graves."
Jingni, the only one who knew Qin Xuan's thoughts, explained from the side, "In this world, there are three Limit Douluo whose Spirit Power has reached Level 99. They are invincible in their respective domains."
The three Titled Douluo tensed. Such information was not widely known, even among Elders.
"The first is our Spirit Hall's High Priest, Qian Daoliu," Jingni stated, her voice calm and even. "He not only possesses the strength of a Level 99 Limit Douluo but is also the great priest of the Angel God worshipped by our Spirit Hall. He wields the Seraphim Spirit and is capable of mobilizing a small portion of the Angelic divine force. In aerial combat, he is an invincible existence."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei nodded grimly. This they knew. The High Priest was the pillar of Spirit Hall.
"The second is the previous Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Chen, known as the invincible on land."
Ling Yuan's eyes widened slightly at the mention of that name.
"He once fought the High Priest for three days and three nights on land," Jingni continued. "Relying on his Ring Detonation unique skill from the Great Sumeru Hammer, he was half a step ahead of the High Priest. The Clear Sky Sect also established its position as the World's Number One Sect under his leadership. However, he has been missing for years, presumed lost, and poses no current threat."
"As for the third..." Jingni's voice grew heavy. "Her name is Bo Saixi. She is known as the invincible of the ocean."
[Inorin's Note: The original text incorrectly identifies Bo Saixi as "Poseidon." Poseidon is the Sea God, while Bo Saixi is his High Priestess.]
"She is the High Priestess of Sea God Island, also a Level 99 Limit Douluo. Like the High Priest Qian Daoliu, she is a great priestess of a Divinity. She can mobilize a portion of the Sea God's power."
Jingni's cold gaze swept over them. "If they are in the ocean, even if the High Priest Qian Daoliu and Sect Master Tang Chen were to join forces, they would not be able to defeat her."
Upon hearing this, Gui Mei, Yue Guan, and Ling Yuan instantly gasped. As Elders of Spirit Hall, they had heard of Tang Chen, but never of Bo Saixi or the true power of Sea God Island.
They never expected that there was another existence in this world on par with, or even stronger in her domain than, their own High Priest.
"Does that mean that little girl Bibi Dong's trip is doomed?" Ling Yuan said with a hint of pleasant surprise in her voice.
Previously, she used to call her 'Holy Maiden,' but ever since she learned that her young man was going to compete for the next Supreme Pontiff position, she had no good feelings for that girl. After all, the other party was the biggest obstacle.
Yue Guan, ever the opportunist, even bowed his hands in flattery to congratulate, "Congratulations, Lord Qin Xuan, for effortlessly removing the biggest obstacle to inheriting the Supreme Pontiff's position!"
But Qin Xuan did not answer, and there was no joy on his face.
The scene suddenly fell silent. Yue Guan's obsequious smile instantly froze. He looked at his longtime friend, at a loss. Gui Mei shook his head in confusion, not understanding.
Qin Xuan finally looked up, his face a mask of disappointment. "Obstacle? I have never seen her as an obstacle. What I see is a fool's errand that will cost us thousands of elite Spirit Masters."
He winked at Jingni, who understood and added, her voice laced with cold respect for her husband.
"My husband has never truly regarded the Holy Maiden as an opponent. But Qianxun Ji's actions will undoubtedly push those four Titled Douluo and 2,000 Spirit Hall colleagues into an abyss. That is a massive loss of strength for our Spirit Hall. This is not what my husband wishes to see."
This was a masterful stroke.
Upon hearing this, Gui Mei admired Qin Xuan even more. This was not the petty ambition of a man seeking power; this was the broad-minded concern of a true leader who cared for the institution of Spirit Hall itself. It was the exact reason Gui Mei had pledged his loyalty.
Then he heard Qin Xuan say, "Gui Mei, how long have they been gone now?"
Gui Mei estimated and replied, "About ten days, my Lord. At their current pace, they should be about to set sail from Vast Sea City now."
"From Vast Sea City to Sea God Island, it takes at least a month by boat. There should still be time," Qin Xuan mused, then said seriously, "Without further ado, Gui Mei, Yue Guan, you two should return to Spirit City as quickly as possible."
He looked at them intently. "I want you to secretly spread the news that Qianxun Ji sent people to attack Sea God Island. Do it as a 'rumor,' a 'leak' to certain members of the Elder Hall. Make sure the High Priest hears of it. To avoid suspicion, we will return a bit later."
"Yes, Lord Qin Xuan," the Yue Guan and Gui Mei duo respectfully left, transforming into two streams of light and vanishing.
Looking at where the duo disappeared, Ling Yuan reminded from the side, "The High Priest has been in seclusion for many years and does not concern himself with politics. I'm afraid Qianxun Ji will blockade the news before it reaches him."
Qin Xuan smiled, a cold, playful look in his eyes. "Then when I see the High Priest, I will personally inform him of this matter."
Ling Yuan frowned and said, "If Qianxun Ji finds out about this, it might cause him to be prejudiced against you."
"Does he have any less prejudice against me?" Qin Xuan sneered, saying meaningfully, "He already sees me as a thorn in his side. This will merely be the action that forces his hand, or better yet, the hand of the High Priest."
Three days later, Yue Guan and Gui Mei returned to Spirit City and were crowned in the Elder Hall.
Yue Guan's title was Chrysanthemum, and Gui Mei's title was Ghost.
After showcasing their respective 100,000-year Spirit Rings, a feat that shocked the entire Elder Hall, both were highly regarded by the High Priest Qian Daoliu and the Supreme Pontiff Qianxun Ji.
To display the prestige of Spirit Hall to the Spirit Master World, Qianxun Ji not only engraved their Spirits on the newly cast Supreme Pontiff Decree but also heavily promoted their names.
Within half a month, the names Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo resonated throughout the entire Spirit Master World and even the entire continent.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei, with their unparalleled prominence and the Spirit Fusion Skill, saw their status in Spirit Hall soar. They surpassed all Titled Douluo Elders except for the Supreme Pontiff and the Seven Great Offerings.
Even the two high-ranking personal guardian Douluo beside Qianxun Ji could not compare to them.
At the same time, two other events caused quite a stir in the Spirit Master World.
One was the leakage of information about Spirit Hall dispatching over 2,000 Spirit Masters to conquer Sea God Island. However, it was quickly clarified by Qianxun Ji as a "large-scale training exercise" and he suppressed the matter before it reached the Elder Hall.
The second, and more chaotic, event was that Yu Xiaogang, son of Yu Yuanzhen, the Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, publicly published a Spirit Master theory.
It was titled, "The Ten Core Competencies of Spirits."
Despite being heavily criticized among various Spirit Master forces due to its imprecise theories, it contained a revolutionary idea.
Because it involved many theoretical common senses that ordinary people found difficult to access, it gained the admiration of many commoner Spirit Masters. Some commoner Spirit Masters even regarded it as a cultivation blueprint and began to attempt it.
The result, as expected, was trouble.
Not all Spirit Masters can absorb a 423-year first Spirit Ring and a 764-year second Spirit Ring. Nor can all plant-type Spirit Masters, like Tang San, absorb non-plant-type Spirit Beasts and endure the attribute repulsion between the Spirit and the Spirit Ring.
This only applies to a very small number of Spirit Master geniuses.
However, the Spirit Master World is precisely not lacking in low-level Spirit Masters.
A portion of ordinary, talented Spirit Masters, following Yu Xiaogang's theory to the letter, exploded and died. A young man with a standard Hoe Spirit, inspired by the "Grandmaster's" words, attempted to absorb a 400-year Spirit Ring. His body, unable to handle the strain, ruptured, and he died in agony.
This often happens in the Spirit Master World.
In the past, Spirit Rings were chosen by oneself, and one could only blame oneself for bad luck.
But with Yu Xiaogang as an outlet, it was different.
Yu Xiaogang's reputation, which was originally highly praised by the vast majority of commoner Spirit Masters, plummeted in a short period. Coupled with the push from nobles who did not want Spirit Master knowledge to fall into the hands of commoners...
...the families of the Spirit Masters who had problems cultivating according to "The Ten Core Competencies of Spirits" reported the matter to Spirit Hall one by one.
"There are no useless Spirits, only useless Spirit Masters."
"These mere two-ringed ants at least have some self-awareness, knowing they are useless."
"..."
"There is a limit to Spirit Ring absorption. The first Spirit Ring limit is 423 years, the second Spirit Ring limit is 764 years, the third Spirit Ring limit is 1,760 years, the fourth Spirit Ring limit is 5,120 years... the ninth Spirit Ring limit is 100,000 years."
"It seems this ant is not only useless but also a fool. How could a 100,000-year Spirit Ring be so easy to absorb?"
"Even when this venerable one was promoted to Titled Douluo, he was not confident in absorbing a 100,000-year Spirit Ring. I don't know where this fool got his confidence to dare to call himself 'Grandmaster' and make such rash assertions."
In the Supreme Pontiff Palace in Spirit City, Qianxun Ji flipped through Yu Xiaogang's "The Ten Core Competencies of Spirits" with a look of utter disdain.
"A clown from a declining clan," Qianxun Ji sneered, tossing the thin booklet onto his desk. "Let him stir up the mud. It keeps the commoners busy and reminds them of their place."
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