Tang San contemplated the potential of his twin spirits, realizing that if he used a secret technique to temporarily sacrifice a bit of his innate strength, he could enhance his power substantially. With his Mysterious Heaven Technique, he was confident he could quickly reach the level of Spirit Sage (Spirit Power level 70). Once there, he could add rings to his Clear Sky Hammer, ideally each over 50,000 years, which would allow him to reach Spirit Douluo level (80+). Even Su Ming likely couldn't achieve that.
With his resolve firm, Tang San glanced at Dai Mubai, who had been silently waiting, his face reflecting both hope and hesitation.
After a moment, Tang San took a deep breath and spoke seriously, "Boss Dai, I do have a method to quickly boost our power, but there are risks. It could damage our foundation and lifespan—in other words, it's like trading years of life for strength."
Dai Mubai's expression changed slightly. "Tang San, this method sounds suspiciously like something an Evil Spirit Master would use. Will using it make us bloodthirsty or unstable, like those Evil Masters? And more importantly, will it corrupt our spirits, causing them to darken?"
What surprised Tang San was Dai Mubai's priorities—he was more concerned about becoming violent or having his spirit turn dark than he was about risking his health or lifespan. For him, gaining power in exchange for years of life seemed worthwhile. After all, in the upcoming tournament, he would face his brother, Davis, in a battle that could shape his destiny. Losing could mean exile or even death.
Only by defeating Davis and Zhu Zhuyun in the tournament—who, with their fusion spirit, Nether White Tiger, were formidable foes—could he stand a chance of securing his future and pressuring the Zhu family into a favorable marriage with Zhu Zhuqing.
Tang San reassured him, "Boss Dai, I know of Evil Spirit Masters and can assure you this technique won't have those effects. It only reduces lifespan and affects your foundation. But, Boss Dai, you realize that a damaged foundation can lead to issues down the road…"
Before he could finish, Dai Mubai cut him off, determined. "Tang San, I understand. As a member of the Star Luo royal family, I must compete with my brother Davis in the tournament. If I lose, I'll either be exiled to a remote post or worse, killed. I have no choice but to push myself beyond my limits. Lifespan doesn't concern me; I'm still young and can always extend it as I grow stronger."
Seeing Dai Mubai's unwavering resolve, Tang San relented, though he omitted one detail: the technique could cause one's cultivation level to become unstable, requiring prolonged focus to solidify it later. But in this world, he thought, it might not matter as much—after all, there were Evil Spirit Masters who used similar rapid-boosting techniques, even if they often had shorter lives.
"All right, Boss Dai. I'll teach you the technique. For optimal results, you'll need to take specific medicinal herbs as well. I'll prepare these within three days," Tang San promised.
Dai Mubai nodded before asking casually, "Do you think we should let Fatty and Oscar in on this? Both are still Spirit Elders, so they'll likely only have chances to compete early on, with Oscar maybe joining us for team battles. But Fatty…"
Tang San considered this. While both were close friends, neither faced personal vendettas in the tournament, unlike himself and Dai Mubai. Fatty was often lazy, and while he'd become more focused recently, he might lack the drive. As for Oscar, his feelings for Ning Rongrong were known, but even if he enhanced his power with this technique, it likely wouldn't matter in the eyes of her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Still, it couldn't hurt to ask. "Let's talk to them tomorrow and see if they're interested," Tang San said. "They don't have personal stakes like we do, but maybe they'll decide to join us."
Dai Mubai smirked, thinking to himself. Oscar and Fatty both had confrontations with Su Ming before. Oscar's chances with Ning Rongrong might improve with more power, and as for Fatty, well… Su Ming gave him quite a shock in Star Dou Forest.
The next day, Tang San set off to gather the medicinal ingredients specified in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record for the concoction. Fortunately, his stock was already quite extensive, so he didn't need much effort to find what he needed.
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai headed to Oscar's dormitory to explain the plan.
Oscar looked doubtful after hearing everything and voiced his concerns. "Boss Dai, Tang San's technique sounds dangerously close to those used by Evil Spirit Masters. If Spirit Hall discovers us using it, won't they label us as Evil Spirit Masters?"
Ma Hongjun chimed in, "Yeah, Boss Dai, we understand the pressures you're facing, but we could just train hard together. Don't forget we already have seven Spirit Elders. Even Star Luo Academy doesn't match that, right?"
Dai Mubai chuckled. "You're too naive, Fatty. Even if our power surpasses Star Luo Academy's, Davis and Zhu Zhuyun can use their fusion spirit, Nether White Tiger, which no one under the Spirit King level can counter. My competition with Davis goes beyond the tournament—if I lose to him, it's game over for me, regardless of the tournament's outcome."