Douluo Continent: Long Live the Spirit Hall

Ning Fengzhi witnessed its power firsthand, which forced Sword Douluo Chen Xin, known for his offensive prowess, to use his Martial Soul, and afterwards gave it such a high evaluation, demonstrating its formidable power.

As Yan spoke, he took out six bullets from his soul tool, loaded the pistol, and tossed it to Ning Fengzhi. "Sect Master Ning, you can try its power yourself."

Ning Fengzhi took the gadget and played with it for a moment before pointing it at the ground. With a loud bang, a cloud of dust rose up and a blurry hole could be vaguely seen on the ground.

"I didn't expect this thing to be so powerful, but its power is indeed formidable."

Ning Fengzhi rubbed his wrist. He hadn't expected the recoil of the musket to be so strong; he almost hurt himself because he hadn't been able to hold it properly.

"Sect Master Ning, the function of force is... well, let's put it this way, the greater its recoil force, the greater its power."

Yan smiled and then explained, "Ordinary people can't use it at all. If they try to use it without cultivation, their hands will be broken. But for Soul Masters who lack offensive capabilities, especially support-type Soul Masters, it is a divine artifact. Is Ning Zong interested?"

Yan was quite satisfied with Ning Fengzhi's reaction; all the effort he had put into making special improvements to the gunpowder gun had not been in vain.

Since Yan had decided to join the Spirit Hall early on, he was naturally wary of Tang San's rise. And the best way to stifle Tang San's rise was to simply send someone to kill him.

But looking at the entire Spirit Hall of Douluo Continent, apart from the Grand Elder and the Second Elder, no one dares to say that they can definitely defeat Tang Hao.

The frustrating part is this: after bullying Tang Hao once, the First Elder was too lazy to bother with him again. The Second Elder? Golden Crocodile Douluo was only being polite; he couldn't command him at all, and besides, Tang Hao and Tang San weren't so easy to kill.

The best approach with such troublesome protagonists is to eliminate them decisively; if that's not feasible, it's best to refrain from action for now. Because Yan lacked confidence and couldn't find a suitable opportunity to reveal the location of Holy Soul Village, he had to settle for second best, trying to curb Tang San's potential development from all angles.

The reason Tang San was able to rise to power and eventually destroy the Spirit Hall was not only due to the support of the Sea God and the Asura God, but also, and most importantly, the immortal herbs he obtained and the large army of hidden weapons he expanded and developed.

Yan knew exactly where the opportunity to obtain the immortal-grade spiritual herb was, but he wasn't planning to make a move for the time being. He hadn't yet firmly established himself in the Spirit Hall, and his cultivation was progressing relatively quickly at the moment, so there was no need to rush into absorbing the immortal-grade spiritual herb.

There's no need to worry about Sunset Forest for now, but he can put his mind to something else: Tang Clan's hidden weapons.

The Tang Clan's hidden weapons sound impressive, and their power seems immense. However, this is only because the continent Tang San transmigrated to was in decline, and much of the knowledge about soul tools was lost. If this guy were to transmigrate to the Sun Moon Continent, he would probably suffer countless frustrations.

Getting back to the main point, Yan's creation of firearms was essentially a preemptive move to squeeze out the market for mechanical concealed weapons. They were all similar items, but firearms were more powerful, easier to use, and cheaper. Indeed, the firearms Yan manufactured were extremely inexpensive.

In his previous life, he was just an ordinary otaku. He had only read about real modern firearms and had never actually handled them. But toy guns, especially the kind of revolver guns he often played with as a child, were basically no different from real guns if you just replaced the bullet ring with a metal one.

What he created was not a sophisticated firearm, but a revolver modeled after a gunpowder gun, which could be said to be the simplest and easiest firearm to manufacture.

Having disassembled toy gunpowder guns before, and now possessing extremely high-temperature flames, forging realistic parts is not difficult for him. The real challenge lies in the bullets; the bullet casings are not difficult to manufacture, but the smokeless gunpowder is.

Fortunately, Yan's AI had a lot of miscellaneous knowledge, and with his high position in the Spirit Hall and the resources he used, he managed to produce a batch of information, which led to the scene where he used a gun to persuade Ning Fengzhi.

In the world of Soul Masters, which type of Soul Master needs this most? Naturally, it's the support-type Soul Masters who have low combat ability and are easily killed.

However, with muskets, the survivability of support-type Soul Masters would increase dramatically, provided they mastered marksmanship. This would be especially crucial for sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, which primarily employs support-type Soul Masters.

Ning Fengzhi isn't stupid; he must see its value. So, would he refuse it because of the Spirit Hall?

He might not be able to do it. Deep down, he understands that getting entangled and cooperating with the Spirit Hall wouldn't be good for your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School right now. But the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School isn't his personal fiefdom, and not everyone in the sect has 'foresight and vision'.

Most members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School only realized that the musket could save their lives, and that was enough, so Ning Fengzhi could not refuse the gift that Yan brought.

Chapter 82 Firearms and Soul Guidance

"If the Holy Son takes this out, isn't he afraid that the Spirit Hall will suffer losses in the future?"

Ning Fengzhi played with the little gadget in his hand. It was simple to use and incredibly powerful, capable of threatening even a high-level Soul Master if used unexpectedly. Moreover, he couldn't sense a trace of Soul Power emanating from it.

What does this mean? This thing is something that even ordinary people can use, and it can pose a threat to Soul Masters. Once it flows into the army and is mastered by a large number of people, some soldiers with good physical fitness can rival low-level Soul Masters. In addition, with the huge number of ordinary people, can Soul Masters still maintain their current high status?

"Sect Master Ning, didn't you feel it clearly just now? The recoil force of this little thing is so strong that even a one-ring Soul Master would have a hard time using it. If you're not careful, your hand will be broken. How can an ordinary person control it?"

Yan didn't take Ning Fengzhi's words seriously. The thing in his hand had many flaws compared to modern firearms. The bullets were powerful, but the recoil was more than ten times stronger than that of a Desert Eagle. Ordinary people should be prepared to break their hands if they wanted to use it.

This was done on purpose. His original intention in making this thing was to hinder Tang San's rise, limit his development, and eliminate his possibility of widely popularizing mechanical hidden weapons in the army.

Hidden weapons are specifically designed for assassination. Compared to firearms, they are quieter and can be coated with poison, making them actually quite lethal. In fact, hidden weapons are more dangerous to Soul Masters because they are quieter and harder to defend against.

However, muskets have two advantages that no concealed weapon can match: one is that they are much cheaper to manufacture than sophisticated concealed weapons, and the other is that although they make a bigger commotion when used, they are also more powerful.

Low-cost, high-powered firearms are easier to popularize, and their semi-automatic design makes loading easier. Smart people know which to choose.

But since Yan had created this thing, he naturally took precautions. This kind of firearm, which pursues power to the fullest, is extremely powerful when used by a Soul Master. As long as the wrist can withstand it, not only can the user move flexibly, but also perform some gun-fu techniques, just like he did with the last shot he used against Sword Douluo.

If an ordinary person were to play with this kind of thing, not to mention whether their hands could withstand it, the more important thing is that they are not flexible enough. They can only be used as a stationary turret. Once their position is exposed, they will not be able to escape the strong attack of a Soul Master.

Of course, no matter how tightly guarded they are, the secrets of the musket will most likely be cracked, but that will certainly be many years from now.

This type of gunpowder weapon involves two entirely new fields: mechanical physics and chemical gunpowder. The mechanical physics field is somewhat better, as the pistol can be disassembled, and the revolver's construction is not complex.

However, the pistols Yan manufactured deliberately pursued power while neglecting recoil. It would take at least a decade for the two great empires to optimize this aspect and make them usable by ordinary people.

Even if they optimized the musket's structure, they would be completely lost without the gunpowder formula. The formula for smokeless powder originated in modern times and was based on a mature black powder system and a relatively complete chemical system, which was like a foreign language to the original inhabitants of Douluo Continent.

Without dedicated instructors to popularize and teach modern chemistry, achieving results from scratch is practically a pipe dream.

However, there's still Tang San in the way. The Tang Sect's mechanical hidden weapons, as well as gunpowder-based hidden weapons like the Buddha's Wrath Lotus, overlap with the field of firearms. Perhaps when Tang San grows up, he can help those nobles unravel some of the secrets, but it's basically impossible for him to fully master the technology.

Yan's smokeless gunpowder is made by him personally extracting raw materials. He does almost every step himself. He has to pay close attention to the environment and time of various chemical reactions. If you don't understand the principles, the product you make will be a mess.

In short, as long as Yan's secret formula is not leaked and mastered, the firearm replicas manufactured by the two great empires will be nothing more than toys.

Moreover, even if firearms were to become widespread, it would be more advantageous to Soul Masters. The maximum range of modern firearms, such as anti-tank rifles, is such that an ordinary person could only withstand three shots at most before succumbing to their injuries. The maximum range of a firearm depends on the limits that the human body can endure.

It's not that we can't create more powerful and longer-range firearms, but putting aside the issue of aiming, the recoil alone could tear a person apart.

Soul Masters are different from ordinary people. Soul Power is an extraordinary energy system that is irrational. Soul Masters with Soul Power can withstand stronger forces and use firearms with greater range and power. As for issues such as aiming, they can be assisted by Soul Skills.

Therefore, even if firearms were truly popularized in the army, the Soul Master army would still slaughter ordinary troops if they maintained distance.

However, with the advent of firearms, these two systems will eventually be established and perfected, and ordinary people will also have considerable firepower. This will indeed have a certain impact on the status of Soul Masters.

But Yan already had the answer to this problem in his heart. For the musket system to develop to this level, it would take at least several hundred years of accumulation and development, and at most thirty years later, Qian Renxue would break through to become a god.

Below the realm of the gods, firearms and the like are nothing but jokes, like sticks for burning firewood. Therefore, Yan is not afraid at all of the two great empires developing such systems.

Moreover, Yan had foresight and knew that the future would not be dominated by mechanisms and gunpowder, but by soul tools.

Soul tools are to soul masters what magic weapons are to qi cultivators. They can improve the efficiency of soul power utilization and greatly enhance the combat power of soul masters. Therefore, in the original work, soul tools replaced Tang Sect hidden weapons.

Yan possesses the Dawn of Intelligence, giving him a greater advantage in research than ordinary people. It is precisely because he has already achieved some results in the Soul Guidance System that he dares to use this to win over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School for cooperation.

Because he didn't care at all about this being spread out, and even hoped that the nobles of the two great empires would invest a lot of resources to study and improve it.

Because by the time they achieve results in this area, Yan's soul guidance system will likely have made significant breakthroughs. At that time, he can then present a brand-new soul guidance device and tell those 'younger brothers' that times have changed again, and firearms will be completely destroyed before they even have a chance to shine.

The title of a man who ushered in the age of firearms and then ended it is quite impressive, and I believe that both empires will remember him forever.

Once the Soul Guidance System is initially established, Soul Masters' advantage over ordinary people will expand infinitely, and nobles will be completely swept into the dustbin of history. However, all of this requires time to develop, and what he's showing us now is just a way to buy time.

Chapter 83 Cooperation and Guilds

"Sect Leader Ning, what's your decision?"

Yan didn't give Ning Fengzhi much time to think it over. He had already shown considerable sincerity and didn't believe that Sect Master Ning would refuse.

"With the Holy Son showing such sincerity, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is naturally willing to cooperate."

Ning Fengzhi ultimately chose to cooperate, not because he didn't insist, but because Yan offered too much and too good a deal. Even with hidden weapons as a comparison, firearms were still more advantageous, not to mention that there were currently no other comparable self-defense weapons.

When Yan personally demonstrated this weapon, Ning Fengzhi already had his answer. This kind of strange weapon was extremely important for support-type Soul Masters. If he missed it, he, Ning Fengzhi, would be a sinner for all time.

Yan smiled and nodded, "Very good. Since Sect Master Ning is willing to talk, let's discuss the specifics of the cooperation."

The Spirit Hall has taken over the thousands of spirit masters and tens of thousands of other members of the Clear Sky Sect after its disbandment. These people all need to be properly taken care of, and Sect Master Ning will need to cooperate fully in this regard.

"Holy Son, what we said before, wasn't it?"

A hint of surprise flashed across Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He had thought that the cooperation Yan was going to discuss was related to the little gadget in his hand. Just thinking about the prospects behind this thing made him very excited. However, he did not expect that Yan would bring up the placement of Soul Masters. This seemed to be an unrelated topic.

"Sect Master Ning, didn't we just discuss this? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School wants to order muskets for the self-defense of its support-type Soul Masters. All we need to do is submit the information. However, bullets are consumables, so we'll have to calculate that separately."

Yan smiled and explained to Ning Fengzhi, "This thing is quite dangerous after all. If it gets out, it won't be good for Soul Masters. And anyone who does this is a traitor to the Soul Master world. I don't think Sect Master Ning and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School are traitors."

Therefore, I would like to trouble Sect Leader Ning to report the necessary information on Soul Masters. Once the Spirit Hall verifies it, they will naturally hand over the items. I believe Sect Leader Ning understands and supports this, right?

Yan's words left Ning Fengzhi speechless. Being labeled a traitor to the Soul Master world was a serious accusation, but he also knew that Yan was right. If this information were to spread from the Soul Master world in the future, the person who did it would indeed be considered to have betrayed the Soul Master world.

After a moment of silence, Ning Fengzhi spoke again, "Your considerations, Holy Son, are truly thorough. I was indeed rash. Holy Son, I wonder what kind of cooperation you intend to discuss?"

Ning Fengzhi's tone returned to calm. He knew in his heart that Yan was holding a musket to him, but there was nothing he could do. The Spirit Hall had the power and possessed what his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School needed, so he had no choice but to cooperate.

The thousands of newly registered Soul Masters will generate at least a million gold Soul Coins in subsidies each year. The Heavenly Dou Royal Family is probably not willing to accept this amount of money, so Sect Master Ning will need to help negotiate on this matter.

Yan first presented Ning Fengzhi with a difficult problem: after the Haotian Sect disbanded, the remaining thousands of Soul Masters were a problem. The Spirit Hall could absorb and accommodate them, but it would cost a lot of gold soul coins. It would be even better if some subsidies could be deducted from the two great empires.

When Yan finished speaking, the patriarchs of the four major clans couldn't help but listen attentively. This matter concerned the interests of them, the former outer disciples of Haotian Sect, so of course they had to care.

"Well, newly registered Soul Masters below the Soul Sect level do indeed enjoy imperial subsidies. But as for the royal family, I can only do my best."

Ning Fengzhi's expression was rather unpleasant. Yan wanted him to resolve this issue not because he wanted money, but to force him to confront the Tiandou royal family.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School Master, representing the Spirit Hall, came to the royal family to ask for subsidies. Even if he explicitly stated that he had his reasons, just doing this would definitely leave a grudge in the royal family's heart, and the relationship would never be the same again.

If this had happened a day earlier, Ning Fengzhi would definitely have refused, but now, what choice did he have but to nod silently?

"There's another issue: Soul Masters above the Soul Venerable level no longer receive monetary subsidies, which causes numerous problems. Especially for some Soul Masters who aren't good at economics, it's easy for them to go to extremes in certain situations. At best, they might end up being made a spectacle of themselves in the Great Soul Arena."

Yan shared his unique idea with Ning Fengzhi: "It's not sustainable to keep issuing Soul Master subsidies, so I want to engage in deeper cooperation with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and establish an organization or guild that helps Soul Masters gain economic benefits. Let's call it the Mercenary Guild..."

The mercenary guilds that Yan mentioned are quite common in many Western fantasy novels. They are platforms that provide cultivators with ways to make money and allow them to make the best use of their talents.

In Douluo Continent, there are no subsidies for those above the Soul Master level. Apart from a few who have a special skill or are willing to join a powerful force, many other Soul Masters find it difficult to earn more than one hundred gold Soul Coins per month.

For example, the Min clan among the four major clans is like this. They have given all their talent points to agility, which makes them weak in direct combat. If no one supports and subsidizes them, it will be difficult for them to develop.

In the original work, apart from ambushing and attacking the four single-attribute families when they broke away from the Clear Sky Sect, the Spirit Hall at most suppressed them, but it didn't go too far.

The Power Clan, the Defense Clan, and even the Destruction Clan all managed to establish themselves and develop quite well after a decade or two in the original story. But the Agility Clan is doing terribly. They can't even come up with two hundred gold soul coins, which is a shame considering that Bai He is a Soul Saint.

Are the Min clan members strong? Of course they are very strong. Although their combat ability is relatively weak, they can fly at extremely high speeds, making them the best scouts and very valuable to a Soul Master team.

However, the Min clan, despite their intelligence, fared extremely poorly. Why? Because they lacked channels to showcase their abilities. What Yan needed to do now was to create a suitable platform for hiring them, thereby strengthening the Spirit Hall's influence and control over mid-to-high-level Spirit Masters.

It will be very difficult for his project to succeed, but as long as some results are achieved, the Spirit Hall can increase its investment and continue to do so, thereby strengthening its influence on the Spirit Master world.

More importantly, only the Spirit Hall can take the lead in this matter. The nobles of the two great empires can only exert influence within their own countries, while the seven major sects currently lack a leader and are not strong enough.

Only the Spirit Hall, with its influence spanning cities across the continent, facilitates communication and exchange among spirit masters. Once the communication issues are resolved, the matter will essentially be settled. If it succeeds, Yan will be second only to three people and above thousands in the Spirit Hall, allowing him to further expand his influence.

Chapter 84 The Shocking Plan

"His Highness is indeed ambitious."