"He didn't even use a powerful soul skill, so how did he break through my defense?"
Bi Ji couldn't figure it out.
It was understandable that Myriad Swords Return to Origin shattered her barrier—after all, it was an immensely powerful soul skill.
But he had merely thrust forward with a single sword strike, one that didn't even seem to carry much soul power. So how had it pierced through her defensive barrier?
With 570,000 years of cultivation, her combat strength wasn't particularly high, nor was her innate defense. But when it came to defensive soul skills and survivability, even Di Tian couldn't compare to her.
"How did you do it?" Bi Ji raised her head and looked toward Sword Douluo in the distance.
Sword Douluo smiled. "This is the result of specialized training. A sword doesn't always have to be sharp—it also requires technique."
In truth, he had used the rain of swords from Myriad Swords Return to Origin to induce resonance in her protective barrier.
Then, by concentrating force on a single point to maximize pressure, he had pierced through the barrier to wound her.
Of course, Sword Douluo had no intention of explaining this to the Emerald Swan, Bi Ji.
Hearing his words, Bi Ji fell silent.
At this moment, Ning Fengzhi spoke up:
"Lady Bi Ji, you've lost. Please leave. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has no intention of making an enemy of the Star Dou Great Forest, and we hope you won't act so arrogantly during this time."
Bi Ji was momentarily stunned, then looked at Ning Fengzhi with surprise. "Sect Master Ning, I thought you would demand my spirit bone and spirit ring!"
"Right now, you seem to possess two 100,000-year spirit bones—one of which should be from a 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor."
"If you obtained my spirit bone, you'd have a ninety-nine percent chance of advancing your Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Not to mention, you'd also gain a 570,000-year spirit ring. Aren't you tempted?"
As expected, Bi Ji's words caused Ning Fengzhi's expression to shift slightly.
Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo, who had ceased their attack, frowned as if weighing whether to act on her suggestion. However, they saw Ning Fengzhi subtly shake his head at them.
Though tempted, the two had no choice but to suppress their impulses.
"Lady Bi Ji, there's no need to continue sowing discord."
Ning Fengzhi sighed lightly.
"I dare not accept your spirit ring or spirit bone. As I've said before, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has no intention of opposing the Star Dou Great Forest."
Ning Fengzhi was somewhat irritated at this point.
Given everything that had happened, there were undoubtedly Title Douluo observing the situation nearby.
Among them, Tang Hao might very well be present.
The 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor spirit bone, combined with Dugu Yan's external spirit bone, might lead him to suspect something.
But Bi Ji remained relentless and pressed further: "Two 100,000-year spirit bones, and Bone Douluo even has a 100,000-year spirit ring. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly is wealthy and powerful."
"Lady Bi Ji, even if you reveal this information, it won't matter."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't afraid of others coveting what we possess. However, if you don't leave now, you might not get another chance."
"Just because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to let you go doesn't mean others will."
Bi Ji smiled. "Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect doesn't have the ability to keep me here."
A surge of green light enveloped her, and her arm regenerated.
Ning Fengzhi wasn't surprised and instead praised: "I must say, among all healing-type spirit beasts and soul masters, the Emerald Swan Bi Ji's restorative abilities are the strongest I've ever seen!"
"I appreciate the compliment, Sect Master Ning." Bi Ji replied. "However, could you tell me the source of that strange energy? As a life-attribute spirit beast, I'm quite curious about it."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Unfortunately, that concerns the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's secrets. I must ask for your understanding that I cannot disclose it."
"Is that so?" Bi Ji's tone turned cold. "Then I'll have to force my way in."
The atmosphere grew tense once more.
Despite her words, Bi Ji didn't attack immediately. Instead, she continued conversing with Ning Fengzhi, seemingly trying to extract information.
Meanwhile, their discussion was overheard by Tang Hao and the others, who had arrived after sensing the disturbance.
Though Tang Hao was no longer a Title Douluo due to his spirit ring issues, he still retained the ability to hover in the air. Alongside Tang Xiao and Yu Yuanzhen, he observed the standoff between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Bi Ji.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is frighteningly strong." Yu Yuanzhen muttered in awe.
"Two 100,000-year spirit bones, plus a 100,000-year spirit ring… How strange. I remember Gu Rong's ninth spirit ring was originally a 10,000-year one. How did it become 100,000 years?"
Though Yu Xiaogang had mentioned this to him before, Yu Yuanzhen had refused to believe it—until he witnessed Bone Douluo's ninth spirit ring with his own eyes.
Could it be that Ning Fengzhi possesses the ability to alter spirit ring age?
The thought unsettled Yu Yuanzhen.
Given the current situation, the Clear Sky Sect had Xiao overseeing things, while the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was shrouded in mystery.
That left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect as the simplest-minded of the three.
Yu Yuanzhen's eyelids twitched.
Was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect truly the weakest of the Upper Three Sects?
Aside from a desperate, last-resort power they could unleash if their clan faced extermination, his sect seemed to lack any real hidden strength.
"Sigh…" Yu Yuanzhen couldn't help but sigh, his gaze shifting toward Tang Hao and Tang Xiao.
Tang Xiao remained deep in thought as he stared into the distance, while Tang Hao's aura fluctuated erratically.
"Big Brother." Tang Hao finally spoke after a long silence. "Do you know how Ning Fengzhi obtained that 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor spirit bone?"
"Hm?" Tang Xiao turned to him. "A 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor… Are you thinking it's A Yin's spirit bone? That shouldn't be the case. The aura doesn't match."
The two brothers had once competed for the affections of A Yin, a 100,000-year transformed spirit beast.
In the end, Tang Xiao had stepped aside, leaving the opportunity to Tang Hao. However, both were intimately familiar with A Yin's aura.
"I'm not sure. But it shouldn't be hers. If it were A Yin's spirit bone, I would have sensed it. That 100,000-year spirit bone's aura feels completely unfamiliar."
Tang Hao and Tang Xiao's conversation wasn't hidden from Yu Yuanzhen, who pricked up his ears.
Ohhh, juicy gossip!
"I just find it strange." Tang Hao's voice reached Yu Yuanzhen again.
"Logically speaking, if A Yin hadn't truly died, there shouldn't be another 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor."
There could only be one Emperor—that was an absolute rule.
"Little Hao, no one can say for certain." Tang Xiao sighed. "Just like how you didn't know spirit beasts face tribulations after reaching 100,000 years."
"Perhaps the Blue Silver Emperor lineage has its own secret arts. If the previous Emperor can no longer maintain their existence, the next Blue Silver King may inherit their will and become the new Emperor."
Tang Xiao meant that, even if A Yin had left behind traces after her death, it wouldn't prevent a new King from emerging among the Blue Silver Grass.
"Ah, you're right." Tang Hao nodded. "But if that's the case, Xiao San's second spirit awakening might become troublesome."
Tang San's body and spiritual power hadn't yet reached the minimum threshold for evolving his Blue Silver Grass into Blue Silver Emperor. Originally, Tang Hao had planned to take him to the Blue Silver Forest for his awakening once he reached rank 50.
"We'll see when the time comes." Tang Hao thought to himself.
"Little Hao, if you're curious, you can ask Sect Master Ning about it later. This isn't exactly classified information—he'd probably tell you."
Seeing Tang Hao's dejected expression, Tang Xiao offered a reminder.
"True. After this matter is settled, I'll ask Ning Fengzhi where he obtained that 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor spirit bone."
As he spoke, Tang Hao glanced at Bone Douluo's ninth spirit ring. The gloomy aura it emitted didn't resemble that of a Blue Silver Emperor's spirit ring.
If there was a spirit bone, there should also be a corresponding spirit ring.
The realization made Tang Hao suck in a sharp breath.
As they spoke, everyone's attention returned to the battlefield.
Bi Ji's body glowed with green light as she prepared to breach Ning Fengzhi's defenses once more.