...
After sending Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo out of the sect, Ning Fengzhi, Sword, and Bone Douluo sat in the council hall with extremely solemn expressions, creating a very serious atmosphere.
"Fengzhi, how could you agree to such an important matter? Doesn't that mean we, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, are bowing down to the Spirit Hall?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin said, his gaze sharp as he looked at Ning Fengzhi, sounding quite dissatisfied.
"The Spirit Hall wants to merge with our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect through this matter! If we agree, we will fall for their trick, which means we have admitted defeat," Bone Douluo Gu Rong said sternly.
"What you did was wrong."
Being criticized by the two seniors, Ning Fengzhi's expression turned bitter as he forced a smile, "Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, there was no other choice! Whether we agree or refuse, it does no good to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. But if we agree, we can buy some time. If we refuse, it's like declaring war on the Spirit Hall."
Ning Fengzhi knew that agreeing to this option was the best choice.
"So what if they do? We can just fight back. The two old men here are not afraid of the Spirit Hall," Chen Xin dismissed with disdain. As a swordsman, he never backed down from anyone or any power, even if they were stronger than him.
The edge of the sword can break, but the sword's spirit won't bend. This was Chen Xin's motto and the principle he lived by.
"You're right, this old bones of mine will not fear the Spirit Hall," Gu Rong said.
Looking at these two stubborn seniors, Ning Fengzhi shook his head with a bitter expression. He understood their personalities very well. There was nothing that could make them afraid, even death itself.
But Ning Fengzhi himself was different. He was not afraid of death, but as the sect master, he carried the fate of the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect on his shoulders. He needed to consider the whole sect in his actions and not let his own stubbornness bring destruction to the sect.
He couldn't let the long-standing heritage of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect be ruined because of him.
"Uncle Sword, don't worry too much for now. Although there are disadvantages, there are also some advantages," Ning Fengzhi said.
"Advantages? What advantages?" the two Douluo asked doubtfully.
Ning Fengzhi smiled and explained, "The advantage is that we will have more time. With more time, we can make more preparations. When we confront the Spirit Hall in the future, we will have a better guarantee."
Hearing this, Chen Xin and Gu Rong looked at each other and nodded. Indeed, that made sense.
"Moreover, that's just one benefit," Ning Fengzhi continued, a mysterious smile appearing on his face.
"One benefit? What else is there?" the two asked.
"The second benefit is related to a person named Zeng Yi."
"Zeng Yi?"
Hearing this name, Sword Douluo Chen Xin couldn't help but feel enraged.
"That guy. If he hadn't pretended to be my disciple, we wouldn't have this trouble," Chen Xin said angrily.
But Ning Fengzhi shook his head, not entirely agreeing with that view.
"We are well aware of the ambitions of the Spirit Hall. Even without this incident, they would have eventually targeted us. This incident just accelerated their actions," Ning Fengzhi replied.
Perhaps, this might be the best outcome.
With that thought, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but sigh in his heart, feeling a sense of desolation and sorrow.
"Moreover, the Spirit Hall has said that Zeng Yi is an extremely monstrous genius. At only fifteen years old, he has the strength of a Rank 35 Spirit Master, a Spirit Elder. He is even capable of killing a Spirit King. His talent is probably even better than the geniuses of the Spirit Hall."
"Furthermore, he is proficient in swordsmanship, which aligns well with your disciple identity, Uncle Sword," Ning Fengzhi looked towards Chen Xin with a faint smile.
Considering this information, Ning Fengzhi also thought about why the Spirit Hall came looking for them.
"My disciple?" Chen Xin was now confused.
"Exactly! Even if he pretended to be our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's disciple, now it has become a reality," Ning Fengzhi's gentle smile disappeared, replaced by a cold sneer, as the dignity of a sect master emanated from him.
"Mobilize the entire sect's power to find information on this person and his location. Before the Spirit Hall realizes that he is not our disciple, make him join our sect! Even if we have to force him, we must make him bear the identity of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Yes, Sect Master!"
If this person is really as amazing as the Spirit Hall said, we must make him feel a sense of belonging to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and willingly serve the sect. As long as this person grows, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will have the capital to resist the Spirit Hall.
After Chen Xin and Gu Rong left, Ning Fengzhi sat alone on the main seat, holding his forehead, his expression serious as his eyes flickered, contemplating strategies.
"How can we make Zeng Yi feel a sense of belonging to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Ning Fengzhi murmured to himself, and suddenly his mind lit up. His eyes brightened as if he had thought of something.
In a small city in the southern part of the Star Luo Empire, Shun Ding City.
At noon, the sun was shining brightly. Zeng Yi leisurely walked the streets of the city with Xiao Ju.
Zeng Yi had already spent three days in this city. He had finished exploring everything and found nothing worth looking forward to. Now, he planned to leave and find a larger city at the level of a main city. Main cities had soul fighting arenas where he could train using soul fighting, gain more battle experience, and learn more about exotic martial souls and soul skills, expanding his knowledge.
Of course, the most important reason was to make money.
While walking, Zeng Yi heard a commotion coming from an alley. He turned his head and saw a group of children fighting.
This situation made Zeng Yi furrow his brows, and he headed towards the alley.
"Do you know the consequences of provoking me now, you scum? Hahaha, a mere commoner, dare to provoke me?" a tall boy said fiercely, kicking a child who had fallen on the ground.
"Ah—"
The kick landed on the child's stomach, causing his face to contort in pain. He screamed in agony while his body was sent flying two meters away. A small bag fell out of his body and rolled a few times on the ground, stopping in front of the vicious boy.
"Oh? What's this?"
The tall boy was puzzled and bent down to pick up the small cloth bag.
"Don't touch my stuff!"
Seeing his bag being picked up, the injured child gathered his strength and shouted, rushing towards the tall boy.
"Get lost!"
The tall boy reacted swiftly, kicking the child away again. Then, he opened the bag and discovered a gold soul coin and a few silver soul coins inside.
"So, you, a lowly person, still have some money. Not bad, I will be kind enough to spend it for you, hahaha—" The tall boy laughed arrogantly.
"Give it back to me! That's the money I saved to go to the Spirit Master Hunting Squad," the child's voice was weak. His body was in excruciating pain and he couldn't summon the strength to stand up anymore. However, his gaze remained fierce as he stared at the bullies in front of him, full of hatred. Blood dripped from his swollen lips, but he clenched his fist, nails sinking into the flesh, blood oozing out from between the clenched fingers. If murderous intent could kill, he would have torn this person apart.
But reality was cruel.
The tall boy arrogantly swung the bag around with his right hand, looking at the battered child on the ground with provocation, enjoying the anger and helplessness on his face. This feeling made him extremely satisfied.
The lackeys around him also insulted the child verbally.
Suddenly, the tall boy didn't catch the bag that fell from his hand, which puzzled him. Then, a cold voice sounded in their ears.
"Do you know? Those who abuse their power and bully the weak, even if they become Soul Masters, will never have a good ending."