Chapter 576: Ding Hong's Conditions

Zhang Xuan truly felt some regret.

Special Envoy Liu Xuan, who had visited earlier, exuded a powerful aura, and she came from the headquarters. For Zhang Xuan, every mid-grade spirit stone was incredibly precious. Yet, for someone like her, they might be as common as trash, capable of producing thousands, even tens of thousands, with ease.

Unfortunately, at that time, Zhao Ya had just left, and he was feeling a mix of self-blame and pride. He didn't want anyone to think he was trading his students for spirit stones, so he hadn't given it much thought. Now, he truly regretted it.

He didn't have to exchange students... he could have offered guidance instead!

Under the Heaven's Path, no flaw could remain hidden. He could have easily offered guidance and, in return, received a certain remuneration. With such rewards, his future cultivation path would be smooth and worry-free. Even Zheng Yang and the others could have benefited from the best cultivation resources.

But the opportunity had slipped away.

"Forget it, there's no point dwelling on it..."

Knowing that it would be difficult to meet a powerhouse like Special Envoy Liu Xuan again, Zhang Xuan turned to Hall Master Kang. "Hall Master, in our Myriad Kingdoms City, who possesses a significant amount of mid-grade spirit stones?"

"Mid-grade spirit stones?"

Hall Master Kang was momentarily stunned. "Every prominent family keeps one or two of these essential cultivation items, but the quantity isn't substantial. If you're looking for large quantities, it would only be found among the major sects and powers attending the Master Teacher Tournament!"

"Sects and powers?" Zhang Xuan was surprised.

"Yes. The Myriad Kingdoms Alliance is relatively weaker compared to other similar powers, which means the number of mid-grade spirit stones we can exchange from the Illusion Feather Empire each year is very limited. However, sects like the Flowing Cloud Sect, White Sun Sect, and Luoqian Sect are immensely powerful, with half-step 5-star master teachers overseeing them. They possess an abundance of mid-grade spirit stones. For me to produce three is already considerable; their hall masters or sect leaders can easily provide ten to several dozen!" Hall Master Kang pondered for a moment before explaining.

"That many?" Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

If he could acquire ten or twenty pieces, he could easily reach the pinnacle of the Mortal-Transcending Triple Realm. With that level of strength, combined with his soul power, he might even be able to contend with a Mortal-Transcending Fifth Realm expert.

"It seems I'll need to find an opportunity to 'acquire' some from them..."

Cupping his chin, Zhang Xuan fell into thought.

Seeing his expression, Hall Master Kang's mouth twitched once more. Those were major sects! He didn't even know who he planned to 'acquire' from; was he seriously thinking of targeting *them*?

"Ahem, Master Zhang," Hall Master Kang interjected, "half-step 5-star master teachers have all reached the Harmonized Spirit Realm. Their cultivation is profound, and their strength formidable. Moreover... they aren't exactly friendly with our Myriad Kingdoms City."

Fearing that Zhang Xuan might cause trouble beyond even his own ability to handle, Hall Master Kang couldn't resist trying to dissuade him. In the Harmonized Spirit Realm, soul power dramatically increases, and spirit and flesh become one, making their combat power several times greater than those in the Turbid Cleansing Realm. It would be a blessing if such individuals didn't cause trouble for Myriad Kingdoms City; eyeing their spirit stones is simply asking for trouble.

"Don't worry, I know my limits!"

Zhang Xuan nodded, saying no more, but began to calculate in his mind. Directly stealing them was certainly not an option. Although his strength had recently surged, he knew he was still a considerable distance from the Harmonized Spirit Realm. Even employing all his techniques, he might manage a fight against an early-stage Harmonized Spirit Realm cultivator, but for a mid-stage one, his only option would be to flee. From Hall Master Kang's tone, it was clear that many individuals in these major sects were at the mid- or late-stage Harmonized Spirit Realm. Fighting them was impossible, but... being weaker didn't mean he couldn't bluff or earn money.

Back in Tianxuan Kingdom, when he was penniless and not particularly powerful, hadn't he still managed to make countless formidable experts willingly submit and address him as Master Yang?

"It seems I'll have to return and devise a plan to offer guidance and medical consultations to earn some mid-grade spirit stones..."

Zhao Ya's departure had once again made him feel a sense of urgency. If his strength had been greater and his cultivation resources more abundant, why would his student have needed to follow others? Ultimately, it all came down to insufficient cultivation. Without sufficient strength to back them up, even the most eloquent words were nothing more than an illusion. Therefore, he had to quickly gather mid-grade spirit stones and rapidly improve his strength.

While he was planning how to 'acquire' spirit stones from the major sects, Sect Master Luo Huang and others had already arrived at Wanghai Tower.

"Sect Master Luo, what brings you here?"

Just as he approached the inn, he heard a surprised shout. Turning his head, he saw another middle-aged man standing nearby. It was Bai Kaizhi, the Sect Master of the White Sun Sect, a late-stage Harmonized Spirit Realm expert and a half-step 5-star master teacher.

"Oh, Sect Master Bai, you've arrived too!" Sect Master Luo Huang had anticipated that the person would notify others, so he wasn't surprised to see him. Instead, he offered a faint smile.

"Did you notify me?" Sect Master Bai asked, looking at him with suspicion, noting his confident demeanor.

"Me? I'm not that idle. If there truly were relics of Master Kong, I'd quietly conceal them; why would I bother talking to you all?" Sect Master Luo Huang shook his head. "I don't know who arranged this, but let's go inside. I suspect he didn't just notify the two of us!"

"Indeed!" Sect Master Bai paused, then understood. He nodded, and the two walked into the inn side-by-side.

Upon entering, they indeed recognized many familiar faces. Of the twenty-seven powers that had arrived in Myriad Kingdoms City, a full fourteen were present! Furthermore, it appeared the sender had done their research, as all fourteen present powers were among the top-ranked. In short, among the 27 powers surrounding the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance, the fourteen strongest had all received invitations.

Upon inquiry, they all discovered they had received a letter mentioning "Master Kong's relics." Beyond that, there were no further details. No one knew who sent the letter or what the specific relics were.

"Could someone be deliberately playing a trick on us?" one person asked, expressing doubt.

"Impossible. Although our foundations aren't in Myriad Kingdoms City, if we truly discover we've been tricked, finding the culprit would be quite simple!" One sect master scoffed, "Unless... they truly have a death wish!"

Although no one had seen the messenger, if even the Lin family of Tianwu Kingdom could produce tracking rats, it would be simple for such powerful organizations to conduct an investigation if they truly wished to. The reason they hadn't yet done so was to avoid scaring the messenger away and consequently losing all leads on Master Kong's relics.

"You're right, let's just wait." Understanding the situation, everyone fell silent. They were all master teachers, each having reached at least the pinnacle of the 4-star realm, and thus possessed ample patience and composure.

"I was the one who asked you all to come!"

Indeed, a short while later, a low voice resonated, and a one-armed elder approached. Ding Hong made no attempt to conceal his appearance. He looked over sixty years old, his cultivation was only at the Sovereign Realm, and his complexion was severely diminished, clearly indicating he had recently sustained serious injuries and had not yet fully recovered.

Everyone turned to look at him. They had assumed that anyone bold enough to summon so many of them would have at least reached the pinnacle of the Mortal-Transcending Fourth Realm, or even higher. To their surprise, it was just a minor figure at the Sovereign Realm, and a collective frown appeared on their faces.

"I apologize for the abrupt summons, but as stated in the letter you received... it's for Master Kong's relics!" Ding Hong surveyed the room. He knew that even the best disguise wouldn't fool these half-step 5-star master teachers. So, he decided to appear in his true form; with the secret he possessed, he wasn't afraid of being silenced.

"Master Kong's relics? Do you realize who you're speaking to? If there's any deception, do you understand the price you will pay?" With a flick of his sleeve, Sect Master Luo Huang scoffed.

"I am well aware, and would not dare utter a single falsehood," Ding Hong said, clasping his fists. "The Master Kong's relics I speak of are his personal handwritten notes!"

"Master Kong's notes?" Everyone was stunned.

While other relics might possess great power, for master teachers, their value couldn't compare to personal notes. Every stroke of such handwritten notes contained the writer's essence, energy, and spirit. Frequent study could significantly advance one's state of mind and vastly increase cultivation, making them incomparable to other treasures.

"Indeed. An ancestor of a small family once saved the life of Saint Min. Master Kong, in gratitude, wrote a letter that has since been passed down as a family heirloom," Ding Hong explained.

"Saint Min?"

"Are you referring to Master Min, one of the seventy-two sages under Master Kong?"

"He is one of the founders of the Master Teacher Pavilion, renowned worldwide with descendants across the land. If what you say is true, the value of these notes is immeasurable!"

"Leaving aside everything else, simply presenting this item to Saint Min's descendants would ensure they treat you exceedingly well..."

"Indeed..."

Upon hearing the explanation, everyone's breathing quickened. Master Kong famously had three thousand disciples, with the most formidable seventy-two known as the Sages. Saint Min was among them, having participated in and been a founder of the Master Teacher Pavilion. To have once saved such a revered figure, and even received a personal letter from Master Kong himself... Regardless of the notes' intrinsic value, this historical account alone was enough to drive countless individuals into a frenzy.

"State your conditions!" Sect Master Luo Huang, also barely suppressing his excitement, looked up.

Hearing his words, everyone else also calmed down. They realized he was right. The other party had gone to such lengths to gather them, so there had to be a purpose and conditions. If not, they certainly wouldn't feel at ease.

"Sect Master Luo is truly straightforward!" Ding Hong smiled faintly. "My objectives are simple. First, I wish to become the Alliance Leader of the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance, with my strength elevated to the pinnacle of the Mortal-Transcending Fourth Realm. Second, I need help eliminating someone. Rest assured, this individual's strength is not great, merely at the early-stage Mortal-Transcending Second Realm, so it's a minor task. Whoever can fulfill both of these conditions, I will reveal the whereabouts of Master Kong's relic."

"The Alliance Leader of the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance is supported by the Master Teacher Pavilion of Myriad Kingdoms City," Sect Master Luo Huang began. "While we cannot directly interfere, with my influence, Hall Master Kang would certainly show some deference. Arranging for a change of alliance leader without undermining the foundation of the alliance should not be a major issue!" He continued, "As for elevating your cultivation to the pinnacle of the Mortal-Transcending Fourth Realm, there's an eighty percent chance of success if you strictly adhere to my guidance. And the killing, that can also be arranged."

"Sect Master Luo, don't be so hasty! What you can do, I can also do. I'm sure no one present is willing to give up on Master Kong's relics!"

"Indeed, my friend! My Luoqian Sect promises you not only that you'll become the Alliance Leader of the Myriad Kingdoms Alliance and experience a surge in power, but we will also make you a distinguished guest of our sect, enjoying the treatment of an elder!"

"Our Cold Qi Sect also agrees to these terms, and furthermore, we'll add five more mid-grade spirit stones and fifteen female disciples from the Mortal-Transcending Second Realm to serve as your concubines..."

Upon hearing the conditions, all the assembled powers erupted in a clamor.