Chapter 227: The Bewildered Ning Fengzhi
He thought for a moment, and suddenly, a person came to mind.
Ning Fengping.
The disciple who had chosen to leave the sect—all for the sake of a woman.
His expression shifted ever so slightly.
"Elder Jiang’s father... is he Ning Fengping?"
Jiang Bai nodded. "Indeed."
A tempest of shock and turmoil raged within Ning Fengzhi’s heart.
Ning Fengping’s son?!
The son of the disciple who had defected from the sect?!
And now, he had returned.
He had returned—bringing with him the Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda, and the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect itself.
His throat tightened almost imperceptibly.
"Elder Jiang..."
He parted his lips, intending to speak.
Jiang Bai waved his hand, cutting him off. "Sect Master Ning, there is no need to overthink this."
His voice was as calm as still water. "My father was Ning Fengping, but I have absolutely no ties to the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect."
"Nor did I establish the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect out of any sense of historical obligation or lineage."
"It was merely..."
He smiled. "A whim, nothing more. There is no need to take it to heart!"
A whim? Yet another whim?
Ning Fengzhi fell silent.
He gazed at Jiang Bai, meeting those deep, profound eyes.
Within those eyes, there was no hatred, no resentment—only a profound tranquility.
It was as if, in his eyes, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect truly was nothing more than an utterly insignificant entity.
An indescribable, nebulous emotion welled up within Ning Fengzhi’s heart.
He took a deep breath and forced a smile. "I see."
He paused for a moment. "In that case, Elder Jiang... I wish you the best of luck."
Having said his piece, he gave a slight bow, then turned and walked away.
That retreating figure, bathed in the sunlight, appeared somewhat solitary and forlorn.
Jiang Bai watched his back, offering no words.
Jiang Li’er sidled up to him and whispered, "He looks rather sad."
Jiang Bai smiled. "Of course he is sad."
He lifted his teacup and took a gentle sip. "Because he knows that, from this day forward, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect is no longer the only Glazed Sect."
Jiang Li’er nodded, appearing to grasp the concept only vaguely.
In the distance, Ning Fengzhi walked back toward his own seat. Chen Xin looked at him and asked in a low voice, "Well?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head, remaining silent.
Ning Fengzhi gazed up at the sky, his eyes growing vacant as a myriad of thoughts swirled within him.
Sunlight poured down, illuminating his refined and scholarly face, yet it could not penetrate the gloom that shrouded his heart.
Jiang Bai’s Spirit—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—had evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!
Not only had he broken through the seven-ring limit inherent to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, but... his Spirit also appeared to possess offensive capabilities!
An offensive Glazed Tile Pagoda... a Titled Douluo wielding nine 100,000-year Spirit Rings... such a figure could easily safeguard and bring prosperity to a sect for centuries!
The descendants he left behind might even awaken offensive Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirits of their own!
All of this... could have belonged to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
Ning Fengzhi let out a long sigh, overcome by a profound sense of powerlessness.
Could it be... that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is destined to be destroyed under my leadership?
He recalled the days when he first ascended to the position of Sect Master—a time when he was full of high spirits and ambition.
He had sought to unite the Three Upper Sects, standing shoulder to shoulder as allies to jointly resist the Spirit Hall.
Although the Clear Sky Sect had sealed its gates, the lingering prestige of Tang Chen remained, bolstered by the presence of the "Clear Sky Twins."
And while the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan maintained a low profile, the thunderous power of Yu Yuanzhen was not to be underestimated.
He had believed that as long as the Three Upper Sects stood united, the Spirit Hall would not dare to make any rash moves.
But now...
The Clear Sky Sect was gone. And the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan appeared to have no desire to get entangled in this mess.
Now, an Elder from the Spirit Hall—one who possessed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—was coming to destroy the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
What am I to do?
Where, then... lies the path to survival for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
At this moment, Ning Fengzhi’s heart was filled with bewilderment.
He lowered his head, gazing at the staff he held in his hands.
The staff was a vibrant jade-green from tip to base, topped by a single, seven-colored glazed bead—the sacred heirloom passed down through every generation of Sect Masters.
No one answered him.
Only the wind... blowing gently past.
...
Down in the arena, the Rookie Tournament was proceeding in full swing.
On the competition stage, young disciples from various sects took turns taking the stage, their swords flashing and their soul skills dazzling. Cheers, gasps of amazement, and sighs of regret rose and fell.
Jiang Li’er sat beside Jiang Bai, her legs crossed and gently swinging, her crimson eyes gleaming with eager anticipation.
Watching the young people fighting so fiercely on the stage, she felt a burning desire to join in.
"Jiang Bai, Jiang Bai, let me go first!"
She leaned closer, lowering her voice, her eyes sparkling. "I guarantee I’ll beat that Wind Sword Sect brat in one move!"
Jiang Bai glanced at her, a slight smile playing on his lips. "You, a Title Douluo, going to fight in the Rookie Battle?"
He shook his head. "If word got out, people would say my Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School is bullying people."
Jiang Li’er pouted, her ahoge drooping. "But I want to go..."
Jiang Bai reached out and ruffled her hair, the gesture perfectly natural.
"What’s the rush? You’re an elder, and there’s still the Strongest Battle later. You won’t be able to avoid it then."
Jiang Li’er thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up. "That’s true!"
She sat up straight, no longer making a fuss.
But her crimson eyes still shone with anticipation.
Jiang Bai turned to look at Shui Bing’er.
"Bing’er."
Shui Bing’er stood up, walked to him, and bowed slightly. "Sect Master."
Jiang Bai looked at her, his gaze gentle. "The first match, you go."
"..."
Among the disciples, only Ye Lingling and I are involved. I’m the only one with a strong offensive style. If I don’t go, who will?
Does Ye Lingling have to use the Nine-Heart Begonia to knock out the healer?
She thought to herself.
But she still nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
She turned and walked towards the arena.
Her steps were firm, her back straight.
Jiang Li’er called from behind, "Little Bing’er! Go for it! If you can’t beat him, call me! I’ll help you beat him up!"
Shui Bing’er’s steps faltered slightly.
She turned around, gazing at Jiang Li’er’s radiant, smiling face, and felt a surge of warmth welling up in her heart.
"Rest assured, Sister Li’er—I won’t give you that chance!"
Having said this, she turned away and strode purposefully toward the competition stage.
Jiang Li’er blinked in surprise, then immediately caught on: "That little brat—she’s actually learned how to talk back now?!"
She stamped her foot in mock indignation.
...
On the competition stage, the disciple from the Wind Sword Sect had already taken his position.
He was a young man in his early twenties, clad in white robes, with a stern and aloof countenance.
An intense sword intent radiated from his being—like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, its cutting edge laid bare for all to see.
The Wind Sword Sect disciple: Feng Wuhen—a Level 54 Power Attack-type Battle Soul King.
He stood upon the stage with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below with a distinct air of arrogance.
The Wind Sword Sect—one of the Lower Four Sects. Although they could not rival the Upper Three Sects, when it came to the younger generation, they refused to yield to anyone.
His gaze settled upon Shui Bing’er as she made her way onto the stage.
What a beautiful girl!
He thought to himself.
Shui Bing’er stepped onto the competition stage and took her stand directly opposite Feng Wuhen.
They stood ten meters apart.
The referee stood at the edge of the arena, raising the flag held in his hand: "The Rookie Tournament—Match Three! The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect versus the Wind Sword Sect!"
The entire arena fell silent in an instant.
Countless eyes converged upon the competition stage.
Shui Bing’er took a deep breath, calming the nerves fluttering within her heart.
She raised her head and looked across at Feng Wuhen.
Her eyes, in that moment, appeared remarkably serene.
"Shui Bing’er, of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
Her voice was soft, yet it carried clearly to the ears of every person present: "A Level 69 Power Attack-type Battle Soul Emperor. I await your instruction."
Feng Wuhen’s pupils contracted ever so slightly.
Level 69?
She was actually at Level 69?!
Alarm bells began to ring loudly in his mind.
This woman—she appeared younger than him, yet her cultivation level was higher?
However, he quickly suppressed this flicker of wariness.
A high cultivation level did not necessarily equate to superior combat prowess. The swordsmanship of the Wind Sword Sect is certainly not to be underestimated.
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