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The Thunder Spirit inside the spirit tool was already withered beyond recognition, a mere bag of bones. If one didn't carefully sense it, they wouldn't even detect a trace of Life Qi, clearly having suffered inhuman torment for a long time.
As an expert in the Qi and blood Dao, the Grand Elder could tell at a glance that this Thunder Spirit had likely been bled every few days for decades, its Origin long since withered. Its cultivation seemed to have reached over two thousand years, but it was clearly achieved through an accumulation of medicines, making it unstable and superficial.
He looked coldly at the Rich Family Clan Chief, his voice devoid of any warmth.
"You're quite bold, daring to use such a method for self-cultivation. Aren't you afraid of being discovered by Spirit Hall and having your bones ground to dust?"
As a creature naturally nurtured by heaven and earth, the Thunder Spirit's blood contained pure heaven and earth Origin Qi, which could delay aging and enhance Qi and blood. The Grand Elder had known this for a long time, and it was not uncommon in the dark era ten thousand years ago.
However, such actions were ultimately against human Dao. Therefore, after the God of Angels eradicated the degenerates of the world, this behavior was listed as a degenerate act and was a key target for Spirit Hall, especially the Angel lineage.
The Rich Clan Chief said with a fawning smile, "I merely captured a small Thunder Spirit. With your experience, you must know that such matters are not rare. Spirit Hall's attention is on those unrestrained degenerates; even if they knew, they wouldn't target my Family for a single Thunder Spirit."
In recent centuries, the friction between Spirit Hall and the two great Empires had grown increasingly intense, and the two sides were already like fire and water. If it weren't for Qian Daoliu, who served as Spirit Hall's Elder of Judgment back then, having forged a fearsome reputation across the Continent, striking fear into the two great Empires, a war would have been unavoidable.
Since the new Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong took office, the prevalence of authoritarian rule had intensified, and the disputes between the Empires and Spirit Hall were almost brought to the forefront, with only a thin veil remaining to be torn.
Even if Spirit Hall knew about this matter, it would be powerless to act, and the aristocratic forces would certainly not accept it. After all, which of those noble families didn't have some dirty secrets?
Moreover, as the other party said, Spirit Hall might not necessarily go to great lengths for a single Thunder Spirit. After all, the other party neither killed people to Cultivate nor wantonly slaughtered Spirit Beasts. If this were to count, then all Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent would be considered degenerates. Not to mention, to obtain whale glue, the Body Sect had committed no small amount of slaughter in the ocean.
"Take care of yourselves."
After a faint warning, the Grand Elder's figure disappeared from the hall.
"Whew—"
Watching the 'ancestor' finally leave, the hearts of everyone present finally returned to their chests. As top nobles of the Aoswei Kingdom, even in Heaven Dou Imperial City, they were powerful magnates. When had they ever felt like a knife was held to their throats?
Looking at the empty seat, the eldest son of the Rich Family Clan Chief said unwillingly, "Father, you just let him take the Thunder Spirit? That Thunder Spirit could still be used for at least two more years!"
"Slap!"
The Rich Clan Chief, whose face had been calm, immediately turned around upon hearing this and slapped his eldest son across the face. The sharp sound of the slap echoed throughout the hall.
"Father, you..."
The eldest son covered his face, looking at the Rich Clan Chief in disbelief. He didn't understand why his father hit him; he was thinking about the Family's prestige and his own health.
"What 'you'?" Seeing the disbelief in his eldest son's eyes, the increasingly angry Rich Clan Chief kicked him more than ten meters away, roaring, "That's a Titled Douluo! What could we do if we didn't let him take it? Are you going to snatch it back?"
"Cough, cough."
The eldest son got up, coughing painfully a few times, a trail of blood at the corner of his mouth. He said angrily, "So what if he's a Titled Douluo? Even the Thunder Douluo Yu Yuanzhen couldn't snatch the Thunder Spirit from our hands back then. Can he really be stronger than Yu Yuanzhen?"
Hearing his eldest son's childish remarks, a trace of helplessness flashed in the Rich Clan Chief's eyes, and he closed them in pain. The second son, standing nearby, then spoke to his Elder brother:
"Big Brother, Thunder Douluo had the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan behind him, so he naturally didn't dare to act rashly against the entire Aoswei Kingdom. But do you know the background of that Titled Douluo just now? Was he alone or from a major power?"
"Just now, a single glance from him knocked out Attendant Dai. Anyone who can do that is definitely a mental-type Titled Douluo."
Hearing his younger brother, whom he had suppressed for years, dare to rebuke him, the Rich eldest son flew into a rage: "So what?"
The Rich Clan Chief said coldly, "So what? Among the powerhouses who have appeared before people on the Douluo Continent in recent centuries, there hasn't been a single mental-type Titled Douluo. The other party is either a reclusive powerhouse or a high-ranking member of a reclusive Sect. How do you deal with such an existence when you can't even find his whereabouts?"
"Moreover, mental-type Titled Douluo are far more mysterious and threatening than ordinary Titled Douluo. Do you think the Kingdom would offend such a person for a single Thunder Spirit?"
The Rich eldest son still felt unwilling. For many years, he had been high and mighty, capable of turning the tide with a flick of his hand. Today, he was actually invaded in such a manner and had to be submissive and deferential. How could he swallow this insult?
"What if he's just an ordinary Titled Douluo, but with exceptionally powerful mental force..."
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by the Rich third son on the other side.
"Does that make any difference? mental force comparable to a Titled Douluo specializing in that Dao—what kind of cultivation would that be? Do you think we can afford to provoke him?"
A powerhouse whose mental force is comparable to a mental-type Titled Douluo would at least be a Peak Douluo. Hoping that the other party is a Peak Douluo is even worse than hoping they are a mental-type Titled Douluo. With the latter, there's still a chance to contend; with the former, there's no chance of resistance at all. The royal Family would also not offend a Peak Douluo for the Rich Family.
The Rich eldest son also understood this point, his eyes filled with unwillingness. At this moment, his father's voice came again.
"Eldest, the branch Family encountered some problems a while ago. Go and handle it."
His eldest son had been his key cultivated heir for many years and had always been diligent and conscientious, a qualified heir. But his performance today was too disappointing; he didn't know when to advance or retreat, and he showed no respect for a powerhouse—this was a path to death!
Upon hearing this, the Rich eldest son's face turned ashen. His father's words sounded good, but in reality, he had given up on him.
A surge of wild joy also appeared in the eyes of the second and third sons. They looked at their Elder brother with a half-smile, as if to say, 'Don't blame us, the struggle for Clan Chief has always been like this.'
Soon, only the eldest son remained in the hall. He trembled all over, despair and unwillingness gnawing at his heart like venomous snakes, almost causing him to roar out.
"For decades, no Peak Douluo has appeared, and now, at this time, one pops up! One outside Clear Sky City, Sword Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School rumored to be breaking through, and now this suspected Peak Douluo..."
He stared intently at the empty seat, muttering through gritted teeth, full of resentment:
"When that murderous Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen were around, why didn't you come out and jump around? Now, it's good, one by one, you all come out to assert your presence!"