Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Key to Unification! Ning Fengzhi Wants to Backstab?
"BOOM))))=>"
"BOOM))))=>"
"BOOM))))=>"
Another thunderous blast cut off Chen Xin's evaluation.
—The M107A1 Barrett was semi-automatic!
Ning Rongrong repeatedly pulled the trigger, but Chen Xin effortlessly deflected every shot with his sword.
It was easy and relaxed.
But—
When Ning Rongrong pulled out the Fire God Gatling Gun—
Everything changed!
The moment she pulled the trigger, a half-meter-long muzzle flame burst forth—
Chen Xin could no longer remain at ease.
6,000 rounds per minute—100 rounds per second!
Even with afterimages trailing his sword movements, Chen Xin couldn't block all the bullets.
A storm of 12.7mm machine gun rounds shredded his soul power barrier within half a second,
ripping through to pound viciously into his left waist!
"Second Soul Skill: Spirit Sword Guard!"
A surge of sword energy condensed, forming a two-meter-wide protective shield around him.
"RATATATATATATA—"
"CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG—"
The Fire God Gatling Gun roared,
expelled shell casings piling up into a small mountain.
A full three minutes—18,000 rounds!
Finally—
The storage magazine ran empty.
Yet Ning Rongrong still held up the Gatling gun, her eyes filled with shock!
This level of firepower…
Was insane!
Even a Titled Douluo, caught off guard, had his soul power barrier shattered and was forced to use a soul skill.
And for a moment—was completely suppressed!
Sure, Chen Xin had promised not to counterattack—
But he was still a Titled Douluo!
If this was a Rank 70 Soul Sage, they'd have to raise their shield and pray.
A Rank 60 Soul Emperor?
They'd barely survive.
A Rank 50 Soul King?
They'd be dead on the spot.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Chen Xin genuinely praised—
"This soul tool… its individual shots only have the power of a third soul skill… but its sheer volume and endurance…"
"A regular Rank 50 Soul King would be either dead or crippled."
"A Rank 60 Soul Emperor without a defensive soul skill would have to retreat."
"If every disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is equipped with this…"
"Their safety would be completely guaranteed!"
Such high praise…
Tang Lan silently raised the selling price—
How could he not rip off this walking money bag?
But—
The real show was just about to begin!
The Test Becomes a Trap
"Your Eminence Sword Douluo." Tang Lan spoke, drawing Chen Xin's attention. "There's one more thing I need your help with—"
At the same time—
He sent a signal through the Blue Silver Grass beneath their feet.
In the next instant—
Chen Xin's eyes suddenly sharpened!
Before he could react—
A burst of fire exploded against his shoulder, forcing him back half a step.
He was just about to retaliate when—
Another sniper round appeared at the exact same spot,
piercing through his soul power barrier and ripping his robes apart!
Exposing snow-white skin—the same color as his hair.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Chen Xin finally summoned his Seven Kill Sword, slicing apart the third incoming attack.
The sword hovered beside him, its tip aimed toward the distance.
The fourth gem on the blade lit up, transforming into a soul ring.
"Fourth Soul Skill: Kill—"
"Hold your sword!" Tang Lan hurriedly interrupted. "This is just a test! A test!"
Chen Xin's killing intent faltered!
He looked at Tang Lan, eyes full of confusion.
What do you mean, 'test'?!
"Your Eminence Sword Douluo, you may not know…"
Tang Lan took out a Barrett sniper rifle and explained—
"This Barrett has a maximum sniper range of 6,800 meters. It can kill enemies beyond their field of vision, completely undetectable."
"With Little San's precision, he could have aimed directly at your eye."
"So please don't misunderstand."
"Before the test, I also warned you—there would be unexpected situations."
Chen Xin recalled the sequence of attacks.
The first two had both hit his left shoulder, even breaking through his soul power barrier.
If they had landed on his eye instead…
A chilling realization struck him—
Even in the best-case scenario, he would have lost an eye!
And if he reacted just a fraction slower—
Chen Xin stared at the Barrett in Tang Lan's hands.
Could this thing… really do that?!
Tang Lan seized the moment and picked up the Fire God Gatling Gun.
"If the Fire God Gatling Gun appeared on a battlefield, a single firing line would turn the enemy into a river of blood."
"Even if high-level Soul Masters show up, if a dozen Gatling Guns focus fire, that's over a thousand third-soul-skill-level attacks per second."
"Under Titled Douluo, who could withstand that?"
"And all of this… can be purchased for just a tiny bit of gold soul coins."
"The operator? Could be a mere civilian."
"Do you now understand its value?"
Hearing Tang Lan's words and picturing the scene—
Chen Xin's expression grew increasingly serious.
He had underestimated this soul tool.
And—
He had underestimated Tang Lan.
"As expected of his son." Chen Xin sighed once more. "With such talent, you will surely surpass him one day."
[Host has gained Chen Xin's recognition! Stolen a small portion of Tang San's fate!]
[Reward: Thunderflame Clear Sky Hammer +500 pounds!]
Tang Lan smirked—unexpected bonuses were always nice.
Chen Xin dismissed his Seven Kill Sword and reported honestly to Ning Fengzhi.
"If those shots had been aimed elsewhere, today I would have been either seriously injured or dead."
"Hiss—"
"Hiss—"
"Hiss—"
Everyone present, without exception, was stunned speechless.
They had thought Tang Lan's 'Sniping a Douluo' remark a few days ago was just a joke.
But now—
It was real?!
Especially seeing Tang San holding a Barrett and apologizing to Chen Xin—
Everyone immediately resolved to get on Tang San's good side!
Previously, under Tang Lan's overwhelming brilliance, Tang San had started to feel like a background character.
But now!
A 6,800-meter ultra-long-range sniper shot that even Sword Douluo couldn't defend against—could any of them survive that?
Still—
This soul tool was created by Tang Lan.
So the strongest person here was still the elder brother.
Tang San had simply benefited from the association.
Ning Rongrong's Reaction
After a brief silence—
Ning Rongrong was the first to move.
She ran up to Chen Xin and hugged him tightly.
"Grandpa Sword, you scared me to death just now!"
"Sect Master actually used me as bait, and the final killing move was Little San?"
"That was way too much!"
Chen Xin, pleased by the affection, chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"As the saying goes, 'All's fair in war.'"
"If Tang Sect Master hadn't arranged things this way, I wouldn't have truly realized the value of these firearm soul tools."
He then turned to look at Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi understood immediately and turned to Tang Lan.
"Based on the equipment Rongrong is using, I'll take 500 sets at 100,000 gold soul coins each."
The Price Tag Shocks Everyone
Damn!
100,000 gold soul coins per set?!
500 sets… 50 million gold soul coins?!
Flender's eyes immediately turned into gold soul coins!
For Shrek Academy, the annual tuition fee was only 100 gold soul coins!
For Tang San, working as a blacksmith apprentice, it took him three years to earn just 1 gold soul coin!
This was pure insanity!!!
Tang Lan's Unexpected Response
However—
Despite such a lucrative offer, Tang Lan shook his head and refused.
"What's wrong? The price not to your liking?" Ning Fengzhi was surprised. "Then tell me your price. As long as it's reasonable, I won't negotiate."
"Sect Master Ning, you misunderstand."
Tang Lan pulled out a stack of blueprints and said—
"These are the designs for the Python Revolver and the Uzi. Their structures aren't complicated, and they can be mass-produced quickly."
As he spoke—
He directly handed the blueprints to Ning Fengzhi.
"Brother!" Tang San tried to stop him. "What are you doing?! These are your life's work!"
Ning Fengzhi also didn't accept them immediately.
He simply looked at Tang Lan, waiting for an explanation.
Tang Lan, in a righteous and determined voice, said—
"Little San, what are you afraid of?"
"In our hands, firearm soul tools are just a business tool for the Tang Sect. Their production will always be limited."
"But if we give them to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they will become the weapon of the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"If Heaven Dou's army is equipped with firearm soul tools on a large scale, won't the unification of the continent be just around the corner?"
"For the glory of Heaven Dou, I am willing to make sacrifices!"
This impassioned declaration left Tang San completely dumbfounded.
His own brother…
Was he really this selfless?!
Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled—
Sect Master is so handsome!
As for everyone else…
Including Xiao Wu…
None of them bought this bullshit.
—If Tang Lan were truly that selfless, he wouldn't have created the Tang Sect in the first place.
Ning Fengzhi's Calculated Response
After a moment of contemplation, Ning Fengzhi finally spoke—
"I admire Tang Sect Master's righteousness and will make sure to report this to His Majesty Xue Ye."
"But we can't have you giving everything away for free, can we?"
"Why don't you state your conditions as well?"
Refreshing!
Ning Fengzhi wasn't a fighter, but when it came to negotiations, he was a master.
No need for pretending, just straight to the point.
Since he was being so direct—
Tang Lan saw no need to hold back either.
He took out a small box and handed it to Chen Xin.
"Before we continue, I'll need Your Eminence Sword Douluo to help test this soul tool."
"Please take it and fly to Soto City."
"Once it lights up, press the green button on the side."
Chen Xin accepted the box without hesitation.
"Soto City is only four kilometers away. I'll be there in ten breaths."
He flew off on his sword, disappearing into the horizon.
Tang Lan pulled out a second identical box and silently counted to ten.
Then—
He flipped open the cover, revealing rows of buttons.
It was a keypad phone!
But for now, it should be called—
The Communication Soul Tool!
Tang Lan pressed 000002, then hit the dial button, activating the speaker function.
"Beep—"
"Beep—"
"Click!"
The Communication Soul Tool remained silent.
It didn't sound like it was in a bustling city at all.
But considering Chen Xin's entrance style, he had likely landed in the most dramatic way possible.
Even if there were people nearby, they probably wouldn't dare make a sound.
"Hello?" Tang Lan called out. "Your Eminence Sword Douluo, can you hear me?"
The other end remained silent for several seconds—
As if processing the reality of what just happened.
Finally, a hesitant voice responded—
"This soul tool… allows people to talk over long distances?"
"As expected of Sword Douluo, you figured it out immediately." Tang Lan flattered casually.
Chen Xin fell silent again.
And so did everyone else in the room.
The Real Shock: A Communication Soul Tool!
Speaking to someone across 4 kilometers?
Unheard of!
The shock from this exceeded even the firearms!
After all, offensive soul tools weren't new.
But this…
This was something never before seen in the history of Douluo!
Ning Fengzhi's Test
After half a minute, Ning Fengzhi finally snapped out of his shock.
He tested cautiously—
"Sword Uncle, since you're in the city, could you buy some Blueflower Cakes for Rongrong?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes twitched—
But she said nothing.
Chen Xin's flat voice immediately responded—
"Fengzhi, stop testing. Rongrong doesn't even like pastries—she especially hates Blueflower Cakes."
Ning Fengzhi's Mind Starts Racing
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flashed with excitement!
"What's the range?" He asked eagerly. "Can it exceed 10 kilometers?"
Tang Lan shook his head.
Ning Fengzhi looked disappointed—
But quickly recovered.
Even if it was only 4 kilometers, if enough were made, the strategic value would still be immense!
"Then what about production?"
Tang Lan shook his head again.
Then—
He pointed at the Blue Silver Grass growing beneath their feet.
"Anywhere on the continent…
As long as Blue Silver Grass exists…
You can communicate."
Ning Fengzhi: !!!
Ning Fengzhi froze.
Then—
His eyes exploded with brilliance!
From Tang Lan's previous demonstrations, he had no habit of exaggerating.
If anything, he had been slightly humble.
So—
This statement was almost certainly true!
"Excellent!"
"Excellent!"
"Truly excellent!"
"The heavens bless Heaven Dou!"
"Hahahaha—!"
Such loss of composure—
Even Ning Rongrong had never seen her father like this before.
But she couldn't blame him.
Firearm soul tools would greatly enhance the military power of the Heaven Dou Empire.
But this communication soul tool…
It could change the entire power structure of the continent!
The Core Problem of Unification
Why had Heaven Dou and Star Luo never been able to conquer each other and unify the continent?
Aside from Spirit Hall's interference—
The biggest issue was control.
The Douluo Continent was 16,000 kilometers in diameter, three times the size of China.
The two great empires had vast territories, but their true control only extended about 1,000 kilometers from their capitals.
Beyond that—governance became nearly impossible.
Even with flying soul beasts, travel could take weeks.
If a famine or rebellion broke out—what were they supposed to do?
Send a messenger for approval first?
By the time the order arrived a month later, the crisis would have already spiraled out of control.
As a result—
They had no choice but to decentralize power, granting regional governors full autonomy.
These "local warlords" eventually built their own power bases, forming a nobility class that ruled over the common people.
Over time—
Many of them amassed private armies and started disobeying imperial decrees.
They pretended to be loyal, but in reality, they acted independently.
The root cause?
The lack of real-time communication.
The Game-Changer: Communication Soul Tools
But now—
With the Communication Soul Tool, the Emperor's authority would extend across the entire empire.
The "local warlords" who had ruled unchecked for centuries?
Their days were numbered.
With time, corrupt officials would be eliminated, and a unified empire would finally be possible.
And once Heaven Dou was fully centralized and its army armed with firearms—
Would Star Luo still be a problem?
Would unification still be out of reach?
And for Ning Fengzhi, as the Empire's Grand Advisor, what kind of glorious position would he hold in the future?
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would reach new heights under his leadership!
As these thoughts raced through his mind—
Ning Fengzhi's gaze toward Tang Lan flickered with undisguised ambition.
—This Communication Soul Tool was too important!
If he could fully control it—
But then again, Tang Lan's backer was none other than Haotian Douluo.
This wasn't something he could easily take by force…
Tang Lan: "Nice Try, Old Fox."
Tang Lan, seeing through Ning Fengzhi's scheming, laughed inwardly.
—This guy wasn't exactly a saint either.
So he spoke directly—
"I can also give you the blueprint for the Communication Soul Tool."
But instead of excitement—
Ning Fengzhi's brows furrowed tightly.
At this stage—
If he still treated Tang Lan like a naive child, then he had lived these decades in vain.
So for Tang Lan to offer this so easily—
There was definitely a catch!
Ning Fengzhi's Move: Clearing the Room
Ning Fengzhi turned to Flender and said—
"Dean, shouldn't today's lessons be starting soon? We wouldn't want to delay the students' education."
Flender immediately understood—
He wanted to clear the area.
"Sect Master Ning, Sect Master Tang, please continue this discussion in the dean's office."
"The training grounds need to be used for the little monsters' lessons."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and gestured to Tang Lan.
"Tang Sect Master, after you."
"Sect Master Ning, together."
Ning Fengzhi didn't refuse, and the two walked away side by side.
Ning Rongrong tried to follow, but a single glance from Ning Fengzhi kept her in place.
"What?! I can't even know about this?" Ning Rongrong pouted. "Is that talking soul tool really that important?"
Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, and the others shook their heads.
They simply couldn't grasp the strategic importance at their current level.
Only Flender had a vague understanding—
After all, he had traveled the continent and knew a bit more.
His face couldn't stop grinning.
One person prospers, and their whole circle rises with them.
Whether it was Tang Sect or Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect that became powerful—
Wouldn't Shrek Academy also benefit?
He was in the middle of a wonderful daydream when—
Oscar and Ma Hongjun came running in a panic.
Flender's face darkened instantly.
Compared to Tang Lan, these two were utter disappointments!
"Oscar!"
"Ma Hongjun!"
"Get into plank position! And don't stop until noon—in the gravity training area!"
Meanwhile, inside the dean's office—
A negotiation that would reshape the continent was about to begin!
(End of Chapter)