The Mountain Douluo Chapter 30 (Patreon)

Ning Fengzhi was a man who liked to have eye's on all the situations that were occurring within his reach. And that desire for control especially aligned with his prized daughter Ning Rongrong.

His only daughter in a pile of 'useless' sons who, even if they didn't inherit the Sect's Seven Treasure Glazed Tower. They were likely going to reach no better level then the Soul Douluo level.

"She has already left the sect after hearing that Tian Long has resurfaced at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy." Ning Fengzhi mused as he looked at the letter penned to him and his disciple Xue Qinghe.

But despite his care for his daughter, Ning Fengzhi's mind was in the headspace of the Head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Because Tian Long's offer for these 'Foundation Elixers' were truly something that pained him. He wanted them of course. Having his own children and some of the sect's own children having their innate spirit level increased by a level would be something fantastic!

So many of his sect member's children awoke to only mediocre levels of innate spirit energy at only level five or six. But what if a child who was supposed to have seven had eight? What if they were to have eight and then had nine!?

The difference between rank seven and nine innate spirit levels was the difference between someone reaching Soul Douluo and a future potential Guardian ordinary Title Douluo who could protect the Sect for a couple of centuries at least.

But the price...

"Uncle Bone... This Tian Long wants three thousand years' spirit bones or ten hundred-year spirit bones for each of these pills. Is this actually worth it?" Ning Fengzhi asked the void of his office room.

But even as Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo of the sect stepped out of the void and into reality. Ning Fengzhi had his own answer already.

"Hmm, that brat has already split ties with Yu Xiaogang and has gotten close to that old Poison Dugu Bo. He isn't any longer a pig someone can slaughter a will... Especially with how Dugu Bo has somehow become very noticeably stronger." 

Ning Fengzhi took the unspoken words to heart and, with a hum, he said thoughtfully. "Besides this 'Foundation Elixir' What truly matters is two things, what does he want with so many low-quality spirit bones. And even more importantly... What other elixirs does this genius have hidden between his toes."

There was a moment of silence that was broken by the sounds of Ning Fengzhi's finger's tapping on his ornate, gem-covered tile desk that was themed after his own martial soul.

And after that long moment of thought, he said slowly. "Gu Rong, you take a hundred and fifty-centuries-old spirit bones to Tian Long. Those things aren't good enough for our disciples, and the gold coins aren't worth the effort of setting up auctions for each one of them for commoner spirit masters."

Gu Rong grunted in agreement. But didn't move as he knew that there was more brewing in the sect lords head.

And that instinct, after spending more than half a century watching and working besides Ning Fengzhi proved correct as the sect master said slowly.

"Tian Long has proven he was able to absorb far higher levels of spirit rings and even enhance someone's body extremely greatly... If his elixirs are able to make Rongrong's Martial Soul evolve, tell him that he is welcome to any of the herbs and natural treasures the Sect has. We will reward him greatly; be sure to convey that specifically."

Gu Rong grunted but there was a tightness in his voice as he said slowly. "Rongrong and her new protector Zhu Zhuqing are also interested in that brat as well." 

A chuckle escaped Ning Fenzhi before he said with an all-knowing smile. "I am well aware. And frankly, I approve. While Tian Long's straightforward combat abilities so far haven't met the mark. His alchemy abilities will allow Rongrong to easily raise and recruit talent for the sect." 

Gu Rong's face pinched as Ning Fengzhi added. "Because both Tian Long, Tang Wutong, and their friend Xiao Wu all have Innate Full Spirit Power. So they are certainly going to reach the Title Douluo level. To say nothing of the increase to their already incredible talent with their over-level spirit rings." 

-

I was actually rather surprised that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile sect was the first to agree to my rather outlandish terms for the Foundation Elixers I offered up. I thought the weak royal family would want them far more honestly.

Or maybe it was the fact that the royal family was also caged up in a lot more red-tape in how they spent their resources? I had no idea, honestly.

But when I got the priority letter sent in response that Rongrong's clan agreed to my price. I expected maybe Ning Fengzhi or Ning Rongrong to come meet me, especially Rongrong, as she tried to pull me into her clan several times.

I didn't expect to open the door to see another Title Douluo standing on my front porch with his arms folded across his chest as he stared down at me with heavy eyes.

The air was thick with the Title Douluo's slightly repressed spiritual energy and for a moment he just stared at me before he gave a thin smile and spoke.

"Ning Fengzhi sends his regards, and I came to both deliver and retrieve the goods." He spoke quietly but firmly.

I held in a swallow as this guy... I knew he was Gu Rong the Bone Douluo. And he was far stronger than Dugu Bo. But there truly was a heavy weight of power between the two Title Douluo, even if Dugu Bo had reached level 94.

"Please come in. I have the first batch of elixers ready as the Royal Family still hasn't replied to my own offer."

Gu Rong only gave a light hum in response as he followed me into the spare bedroom that Tang Wutong and I had converted into a sort of office.

And once the Title Douluo sat down, the pressure around him greatly eased and he spoke bluntly. "The Seven Treasure Sect has agreed to sell off several hundred of the sect's old, century-aged spirit bones. I do hope that will not be an issue." 

I shook my head as while it WOULD make it a bit more annoying for me to sort through them to find out which ones I actually wanted to work on. And then integrate into my body. In the end, it was just more work filtering and enhancing.

"That works just fine. And here is one of the foundation elixirs. It must be consumed by a child very specifically below the age of six. As it will take a couple of months at the very least to spread safely through their body and enhance their base level of innate spirit energy.

A hum left Gu Rong as he gently picked up the tiny light silver elixir that glowed like misty clouds contained within a glass ball. "So very small... And yet, I can feel the very spirit energy within the pill."

He then looked up to me, and I paused as he said all to bluntly. "Tian Long, can you make an elixir that can even enhance me? How far do your elixirs go?" 

I gave Gu Rong a long look before I said slowly with a thin smile. "A woman cannot make dinner without rice. I have no resources I can give you that can make you level up so easily."

Yeah that was patently a 'lie' I had plenty of immortal herbs that could, in fact, force a level up especially if I extracted some of the essence of Heartbroken Red, which would make his bone dragon Martial Soul evolve.

But I still didn't actually have an elixir on hand that could do that.

Then, after a moment of Gu Rong looking to see if I was lying. He smiled before he said with a soft chuckle. "Relax Tian Long, a man of my power always has to look for other paths as you can probably understand... Now, Ning Fengzhi did ask me to pass on another request and offer as it were."

He leaned forward slightly in his seat to rest his chin on his fist as he said. "He said, If you can evolve Rongrong's martial soul so that it can match his ancestor who had the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. He would offer the sect's treasury for you to take anything you wish from it." 

There was a heavy silence as I couldn't lie my way through this as I had every intention of evolving Rongrong's martial soul anyway. Her ability to boost people's strength mid-battle was quite literally impossible to beat even with my alchemy.

"I do already have such an elixir... I fully expected Ning Rongrong to come find me and Wutong here at the capital after all." I said in a measured tone.

And I held in a grimace as his actual surprise leaked out his extremely powerful spiritual energy. 

'Damn, even with my body strengthened as it is. Title Douluo literally CAN kill people with just the pressure of their spirit energy.' I thought helplessly as I plucked out another elixir.

One made from the essence of the Qiluo Tulip and several other lesser herbs which would help enhance the strength of her body which was the major issue that Support Spirit Master's all faced.

This elixir wasn't actually a pill but a vial filled with starlight that shined in a void of pure black spirit energy like gems showing their brilliance in darkness.

Now it was Gu Rong's turn to be truly stumped as his hand faltered over the elixir and I could see a heavy thought in his eyes as he looked between me and the elixir.

Then he carefully took the elixir vial into his hand and he said slowly. "I see... That is good, very good!" 

His eye's snapped back up to me and he carefully put the elixir between us and said with a wide smile as he continued.

"Then I suggest you hand that elixir over to my little Rongrong when she arrives in the next few hours. She and that little wild cat Zhu Zhuqing were quite excited to hear you and Wutong settled down here at the Tian Dou Royal Academy."

Gu Rong then scratched his jaw with an almost childish smile growing on his face as he said. "In fact... Would you mind if I remained in the shadows to see my little Rongrong's Martial Soul evolve with that elixir? I rather her not know I was here at all."

I blinked at that slightly odd request before I shrugged and said easily. "Sure, that's fine. I have no problem with that. Actually, it's been a good month since I have seen Rongrong, has she raised her spirit level any?" 

Gu Rong then put on a proud look as he happily bragged that Rongrong over the last month HAD in fact broken through two levels so she was at spirit level 29 right now!

And I was just sitting there with a helpless smile as I coudn't exactly brag about I was already a half Spirit Anscestor at Lvl 40 and needing his fourth spirit ring.

Still, I nodded along happily as Gu Rong bragged about his sect's princess. Even though the real reason I was so happy was the fact that out of the hundreds of shitty century aged spirit bones.

There were still a few dozen skull and torso bones which were arguably the most important peices of spirit bones for someone to absorb.