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The spider web was mere feet from Ning Tian when he swung his sword upward, followed by swift slashes to the left and right. With ease, he sliced through Tang San's Spider Web Restraint. The web broke apart into uneven fragments, drifting to the ground.
"Shattered," Tang San muttered, his face paling as the backlash struck. His eyes narrowed sharply. He'd reinforced his Blue Silver Grass with his third soul ring, doubling its toughness, yet Ning Tian had cut it down with a casual swing.
His second soul skill, Parasite, was useless too. He couldn't even get close to Ning Tian.
"Enough, Tang San," Zhao Wuji called out, stepping forward. "Your Blue Silver Grass can't touch him. You've lost." He worried Tang San might outwit himself, resulting in Tang Hao's wrath.
"No, Teacher Zhao, I haven't lost," Tang San shot back, unwilling to admit defeat. At that moment, a line from the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record surfaced in his mind: "Never pretend to be weak to overcome the strong, or you'll end up weak yourself." Since arriving at Shrek Academy, he'd concealed his hidden weapons, only revealing them once against the Titan Giant Ape. It had left everyone thinking he was feeble. Now, regret gnawed at him, if he'd shown his full strength from the start, his teacher wouldn't be facing such public humiliation.
All that talk of martial soul evolution being an energy process was nonsense. Without his teacher's guidance, how could Blue Silver Grass ever gain offensive power?
Tang San's gaze hardened. Ignoring Zhao Wuji's words, he lifted his head, purple light flaring in his eyes as his hands glowed white. Activating his Purple Demon Eye and Mysterious Jade Hands, he reached for the Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night belt.
Ning Tian's eyes narrowed in response. He'd long prepared for Tang San's hidden weapons, even training specifically to counter them. Now was the moment to test that preparation.
Just as Tang San moved to strike, a voice cut through the tension. "Stop, Tang San. You're no match for Ning Tian."
Before anyone could react, a massive flying sword appeared in the clearing. At its tip stood a white-robed elder, guiding it down. Behind him was a refined middle-aged man who resembled Ning Rongrong, and at the rear stood Flender, Shrek's dean, the one who had spoken.
As the trio landed, Ning Rongrong dashed to the elder, throwing herself into his arms. "Sword Grandpa, I missed you so much!" Tears streamed down her face. Despite her usual poise, the struggles at Shrek and the brush with death in the Star Dou Forest overwhelmed her upon seeing family.
Sword Douluo patted her head gently. "There, there, my little princess. Did someone upset you? Tell me, and I'll handle it." She'd only been gone half a month, her tears hinted at more than just longing.
His words sent a ripple of unease through the crowd. Flender and Oscar, in particular, shifted nervously. Facing a Titled Douluo's anger was no trivial thing. Even Tang San, who hadn't directly clashed with her, had joined in sidelining her early on.
Ning Fengzhi watched their reactions with a faint smile. In truth, the three had arrived earlier, during Ning Tian's rebuttal of Yu Xiaogang. Flender had wanted to step in to spare Yu Xiaogang's pride, but Ning Fengzhi had held him back. He wanted to assess this young man's talents and hear his take on absorbing soul rings beyond the norm.
Now, having seen Ning Tian's insights and his effortless dismantling of Tang San's skills, Ning Fengzhi stepped forward to halt the fight.
Noticing the guilty looks from Flender, Tang San, and Oscar, he knew they'd wronged Ning Rongrong. Still, his focus was on recruiting Ning Tian. The other Shrek students, each nearing Spirit Elder at such young ages also piqued his interest.
"Ahem," Ning Fengzhi cleared his throat. "Enough, Uncle Sword. Kids will have their disagreements, it's nothing unusual. Don't trouble them over it." He turned to Yu Xiaogang, the man Ning Tian had thoroughly debunked, and greeted him warmly. "Well, isn't this a surprise, Master?"
Relieved that Ning Fengzhi wasn't pressing the issue, Flender and the others relaxed. Yu Xiaogang returned the greeting with a stiff nod, his fists clenched beneath his sleeves. His earlier humiliation had been exposed, and he wished he could vanish.
Sword Douluo snorted, ignoring Yu Xiaogang. He clearly agreed with Ning Tian's view that the so-called master was leading students astray.
After exchanging pleasantries with Zhao Wuji, Shao Xin, and the other teachers, Ning Fengzhi took Ning Rongrong's hand and approached Ning Tian and the group. "Hello, young friends of Shrek Academy."
Tang San, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Zhu Zhuqing bowed respectfully, as did Ning Tian.
Ning Fengzhi smiled. "No need for formalities. I'm just Rongrong's father here, treat me as an elder, not a sect leader."
His approachable tone won over Tang San and the others. Ning Tian, though, saw the shrewdness beneath the charm. Still, it was a game of mutual benefit, so he went along.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze settled on Ning Tian. "I watched your fight with that other boy. Your martial soul is impressive, and your soul ring setup and understanding are remarkable. May I call you Little Tian?"
"You're an elder and Rongrong's father, of course you can," Ning Tian replied, though the nickname irked him slightly.
Ning Fengzhi chuckled. "Call me Uncle Ning from now on or something closer, if you'd like."
"Uncle Ning," Ning Tian said, then fell silent, waiting.
Ning Fengzhi's smile grew. "Rongrong mentioned you in her letter. Uncle Sword and I are grateful for your help in the Star Dou Forest without you, she'd have been in real danger. So, about her request for Uncle Sword to mentor you in swordsmanship, he's agreed. He's eager to guide a talent like you. And after your performance and insights today, I'd say even the continent's youngest Titled Douluo couldn't match you at your age."
Ning Rongrong cut in. "Dad, how old was that youngest Titled Douluo when he reached that rank?"
"Forty-four," Ning Fengzhi replied, puzzled.
Ning Rongrong glanced at Flender with a smirk. "Someone claimed Shrek produced a Titled Douluo who's now a Martial Soul Hall elder, second only to the Pope. Shrek's been around twenty years, with students under thirteen. A thirty-two-year-old Titled Douluo? Quite the bold claim."
Flender and the teachers bowed their heads in embarrassment, while Zhao Wuji and the others silently cursed Flender's ridiculous boast. A Martial Soul Hall elder at thirty-two? Absurd.
Ning Fengzhi noted Ning Rongrong's grudge but let it pass, he'd asked Flender to discipline her, after all.
Back to business, he said, "Little Tian, to be frank, I came not just to heal Shrek's injured student and bring Uncle Sword to guide you, but to invite you to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. I'm offering everything—soul bones, help with soul rings, wealth. If you and Rongrong grow fond of each other, I'd even consider betrothing her to you."
Ning Rongrong's face flushed, her heart pounding as she stole a glance at Ning Tian, awaiting his reply.
Zhu Zhuqing instinctively gripped Ning Tian's arm tighter. The others gaped at Ning Fengzhi's generosity, especially the betrothal offer.
But Ning Rongrong's smitten look made it clear she had feelings for him.
Oscar's heart screamed, 'Why? Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, but even Rongrong?'
Ning Tian paused, caught off guard. Feeling Zhu Zhuqing's tension, he gave her a reassuring glance. "Rongrong is clever, gifted, and beautiful–any man would be tempted. But we are too young, let's talk about it on a later date."
"As for joining your sect," he continued, "after graduation, I plan to travel the continent for a few years. Once we're done, if you'll still have us, we'll think about it."
He was playing it smart, taking benefits without committing.
His words sent Ning Rongrong's spirits soaring. 'Clever? Beautiful? Any man would be tempted?' She clutched her flushed cheeks, beaming.
"Excellent," Ning Fengzhi said, handing him a pagoda-engraved token. "This is the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's token. If you're ever in trouble, show it, few on the continent would dare cross us."
He wasn't disappointed; the result exceeded expectations. Geniuses rarely committed outright, and Ning Tian's response hinted at future interest and some affection for Rongrong.
If Ning Tian reached Titled Douluo and Rongrong bonded with Zhuqing, a shared arrangement might even work. The sect's interests came first.
Snapping back, Ning Rongrong pointed to Zhu Zhuqing. "Dad, this is Ning Tian's girlfriend and my good friend, Zhu Zhuqing. Martial soul: Hell spirit cat, level twenty-seven agility attack system Battle Spirit Master. She's the youngest at Shrek"
'Surname Zhu? Hell spirit cat?' Ning Fengzhi's mind raced. 'Such talent should be tied to the Star Luo royal family. Why's she here? Wait…the injured student, Dai Mubai. Surname Dai.'
In a flash, he connected the dots but kept it to himself.
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