Grandfather?

With Ning Fengzhi, the protagonist, present, everyone else took their seats.

Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong were arranged to sit at the same table as Ning Fengzhi.

Seeing that he was somewhat restrained, Ning Fengzhi chuckled. "Tianchen, there are no outsiders here today. No need to be so formal."

If he married Ning Rongrong, then there truly would be no outsiders here. But he had not married her yet—was he really meeting the parents this soon?

Ning Fengzhi was the first to pick up his chopsticks, officially beginning the family banquet.

Under Ning Fengzhi's intimidating presence, Ning Rongrong did not speak with Ning Tianchen at the table.

About half an hour later, Ning Fengzhi's eldest son, Ning Tian, was the first to raise a wine cup and walk over to Ning Tianchen.

Ning Tian was in his early twenties this year, and his Soul Power Level had reached the Soul Ancestor rank.

However, given his Innate Soul Power, his future breakthroughs would inevitably be much slower.

"Ning Tianchen, I've heard of you. You're the sect's foremost genius. Keep up the good work—the sect will not treat you unfairly."

After speaking, he drained the wine in his cup in one gulp.

Ning Tianchen swirled the teacup in his hand. "Young Master, you are too kind. I am still young, so I shall use tea in place of wine."

Besides Ning Tian, Ning Fengzhi's other sons also came over to greet Ning Tianchen.

After several rounds of wine and a full meal.

Ning Fengzhi waved his hand. "Today's family banquet ends here. Rongrong and Tianchen, stay behind. Everyone else, return and rest."

Ning Tianchen sat upright, genuinely afraid that Ning Fengzhi would bring up marriage.

After everyone had left, Chen Xin rose to his feet and smiled faintly. "Tianchen, I have had neither sons nor daughters in my life. You are the sect's foremost genius, and you possess the same Seven Kill Sword Spirit as I do. I wish to take you as my god-grandson. Are you willing?"

Ning Tianchen was caught completely off guard.

Before today, he had not heard even the slightest hint of this.

Still, it was fortunate that Chen Xin was not taking him as a son. Otherwise, he would truly think Chen Xin had cuckolded his nominal father.

"Tianchen Gege, what are you still standing there for? Hurry up and agree to Sword Grandfather." Ning Rongrong poked his arm and reminded him in a low voice.

Chen Xin did not seem eager for an answer.

Seeing that he was still thinking, Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Tianchen, Ning Mou has actually investigated your Seven Kill Sword Spirit in secret. In your father's family, a woman from the Seven Kill Sword lineage once married into the family."

"For several generations, your father's family did not produce a Seven Kill Sword Spirit. But that does not mean the Seven Kill Sword bloodline disappeared. In your generation, your spirit underwent an ancestral reversion, which is why you awakened the Seven Kill Sword Spirit."

Cases of spirit ancestral reversion were not uncommon across the continent.

But had a woman of the Seven Kill Sword lineage truly married into Ning Tianchen's father's family?

After marrying into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Tianchen's father had long since cut off contact with his family. Even if Ning Tianchen wanted to investigate, he had no way to do so now.

However, Ning Fengzhi's explanation immediately solidified his decision.

"Grandfather, please accept your grandson's bow." As he spoke, he knelt on the ground and gave Chen Xin a solemn salute.

"Good grandson, get up quickly. There's no need for all this." Chen Xin bent down and helped him up.

"Hehe, Tianchen, from now on, just like Rongrong, call me Bone Grandfather." Gu Rong laughed heartily, apparently delighted for his old friend.

"Bone Grandfather." Ning Tianchen bowed again.

Ning Fengzhi added, "Tianchen, your father is older than I am. From now on, call me Uncle Ning."

This recognition of kinship seemed casual, but Ning Tianchen knew that he had effectively been adopted by Chen Xin.

For him, this was not a bad thing. With the proper status, he would be able to rightfully obtain more resources within the sect in the future.

Before he left, Ning Fengzhi added:

"Oh, Tianchen, once Rongrong breaks through to Soul Elder, the two of you will go study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Ning Tianchen did not know whether Ning Fengzhi was trying to force Ning Rongrong into going to Shrek Academy, or whether he simply wanted them to attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

He had no desire to get involved in the conflict between Ning Fengzhi and his daughter, so he simply used a Cultivation Retreat as an excuse again to delay the matter.

After the two left, Chen Xin could not help but say, "Fengzhi, can Heaven Dou Royal Academy's teachers compare to you and me? In my opinion, they should stay in the sect and study here."

For some reason, Gu Rong sided with Ning Fengzhi this time. "Old Sword Man, the sect has not established an academy. With Tianchen and Rongrong's talent, they would even be qualified to participate in the Spirit Master Competition three years from now."

"If they stay in the sect, do you want them to miss such a rare opportunity for experience as the Spirit Master Competition?"

The Spirit Master Competition gathered genius spirit masters from nearly the entire continent.

Fighting genius spirit masters would better improve Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong's strength.

There was one more thing Gu Rong did not mention: during the Spirit Master Competition, the two of them could also recruit a group of talented spirit masters for the sect.

"This..." Chen Xin was momentarily speechless.

After giving it some thought, he ultimately acquiesced to Ning Fengzhi's decision.

Of course, Ning Fengzhi's true intention lay elsewhere. He wanted to use this opportunity to make Ning Rongrong completely change her temperament.

He had not discussed this matter with Gu Rong, instead planning it alone in secret.

Over the next few days.

At Ning Fengzhi's instruction, word spread throughout the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect that Chen Xin had taken Ning Tianchen as his god-grandson.

Most disciples were not surprised by this. After all, Ning Tianchen's martial soul was also the Seven Kill Sword, and Chen Xin had no children of his own. It was perfectly normal for him to take Ning Tianchen as his god-grandson.

Of course, a small number of people gossiped endlessly about it.

Nearly all of them had some connection to Ning Tianchen's father. They believed that Chen Xin had cuckolded Ning Tianchen's father. Some even went so far as to condemn Ning Tianchen's actions.

However, Ning Tianchen did not come forward to explain himself.

Since awakening his martial soul, those people had never taken the initiative to approach him, and he did not know them either.

Half a month later, he was practicing swordsmanship in the sect as usual when an Inner Sect Disciple suddenly delivered a letter Ning Rongrong had left for him.

"Wait, you said Rongrong left this behind? Where did she go?" Ning Tianchen could not help asking.

The disciple shook his head. "Young Master Tianchen, the young miss did not inform this subordinate. She said that once you read the contents of the letter, you would understand."

Ning Tianchen did not make things difficult for him and waved him away.

He opened the letter.

There was not much written inside. Ning Rongrong roughly explained that she would be heading to the Balak Kingdom.

Moreover, she would remain in Barack City until the first day of next month, asking Ning Tianchen to meet her there.

Today was the third day of the month. There were still more than twenty days until the first of next month, more than enough time for him to reach Barack City.

But should he go?

He was now one of the sect's key trainees. Leaving the sect without authorization would be an extremely irresponsible act.

Just as Ning Tianchen hesitated, Chen Xin flew overhead on his sword.

His destination was the sect's Council Hall.

"Looks like Ning Fengzhi really did secretly arrange for Rongrong to leave the sect." Ning Tianchen smiled helplessly.

Chen Xin rushing to the Council Hall was surely, just like in the original timeline, to hold Ning Fengzhi accountable.

After thinking it over, Ning Tianchen headed toward the hall.