Apprentice Ceremony

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye!

Today, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was exceptionally lively. The Mid-Mountain Plaza buzzed with voices. Aside from those already in place, even more people were continuously arriving.

Whether they were nobles of the empire or leaders of various factions, who would dare refuse the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect this courtesy? Today was the Apprentice Ceremony of Ning Fengzhi, Sect Leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

After taking their seats, they immediately began conversing with those around them, discussing what impact it would have once the Sect Leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the First Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire became master and disciple, as well as how they should respond.

Before they knew it, it was ten in the morning. It was time for today's protagonist to make his official appearance.

At the foot of the mountain, a royal carriage arrived. It eventually came to a stop, and a young man stepped out. He was not particularly handsome, but he was quite refined. A smile always rested on his lips, giving him a gentle air. His clothes were not luxurious, merely a blue cloth robe, though it was clean and neat. His long black hair was tidily tied behind his head, and he seemed to possess a distinctive temperament.

This young man was the First Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe.

After getting down from the carriage, Xue Qinghe's expression turned firm. He then began walking up the mountain on foot, truly taking one step after another until he reached the mountainside.

Upon arriving, Xue Qinghe let out a long breath and straightened his slightly disheveled robes. Then he cupped his hands and said:

"Disciple Xue Qinghe has come to seek an audience with the Sect Leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I have long heard that Sect Leader Ning's knowledge is profound, his wisdom as vast as the sea, and that he is well versed in both ancient and modern times. This disciple greatly admires Sect Leader Ning's learning and wishes to take the Sect Leader as my teacher and become his disciple. In the future, I will serve at the Sect Leader's side every day. I ask only that Teacher accept me as his disciple!"

After saying that, Xue Qinghe bowed deeply and remained that way for a long time, as though he would never rise unless Ning Fengzhi agreed.

At this point, it was naturally time for the other protagonist to appear. Ning Fengzhi finally emerged under the protection of Chen Xin and Gu Rong, walking over to stand before Xue Qinghe.

Ning Fengzhi was refined and easygoing, dressed in a spotless white robe. He appeared somewhat helpless as he reached out to help Xue Qinghe up, saying:

"Silly child, with your status, anyone would be willing to become your teacher. Why must you insist on me? I am merely an ordinary Spirit Master."

Not only did Xue Qinghe refuse to rise, he bowed even deeper and said earnestly:

"Teacher, please do not refuse. This disciple admires your learning and respects your character. I ask only to remain at your side and serve you. I seek nothing else!"

Seeing Xue Qinghe's sincerity, Ning Fengzhi finally sighed before saying:

"Very well, then I shall accept you. I hope that all I have learned in my life may offer you some enlightenment."

Xue Qinghe finally rose.

"Disciple Xue Qinghe greets Teacher!"

Thus, Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe's relationship as master and disciple was established. Given their respective statuses, one as the leader of a sect and the other as an imperial prince, this should have been considered an alliance, an exchange of interests.

However, becoming master and disciple could not only create a fine tale, but also bind the two of them together more deeply.

Therefore, the apprenticeship had long been arranged beforehand, but today's performance was meant for outsiders to see.

The imperial nobles and faction leaders around them saw this moving scene and naturally crowded forward, saying one after another:

"Congratulations, Your Highness, on gaining such a renowned teacher!"

"Congratulations, Sect Leader, on gaining such an outstanding disciple!"

Ning Fengzhi then led Xue Qinghe around to greet everyone present one by one, settling them all down before finally returning to the main seats.

After everyone took their seats in turn, Ning Fengzhi said to Xue Qinghe:

"Your Highness!"

Xue Qinghe cupped his hands in response.

"Teacher, from now on, I am your disciple. Simply call me Qinghe."

Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile, then said:

"Qinghe, now that you have become my disciple, let me introduce you. These two are the two great guardians of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect: Sword Douluo, Chen Xin, and Bone Douluo, Gu Rong."

Xue Qinghe did not dare be negligent. He rose and saluted them.

"Your Excellency Chen Xin, Your Excellency Gu Rong!"

Chen Xin and Gu Rong knew this was part of Ning Fengzhi's plan, a means for the sect to intervene in imperial affairs, so they gave him due courtesy and nodded in acknowledgment.

Ning Fengzhi then introduced another person.

"This is my daughter, Ning Rongrong. You may call her Rongrong from now on. Rongrong, why do you not greet your Brother Qinghe?"

Ning Rongrong knew what was important. She was especially well-behaved at this moment as she stepped forward and called sweetly:

"Brother Qinghe!"

Xue Qinghe nodded with a smile and said happily to Ning Fengzhi:

"Teacher, I also have a younger sister at home named Xue Ke. She is about Rongrong's age. Seeing Rongrong now makes me feel especially close to her."

Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly and said:

"That is naturally a good thing. That one is a genius of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Chen Yuan. His Martial Soul is the Seven Kill Sword, and he is Sword Uncle's disciple. He is only eight years old, yet he is already a Two-Ring Great Soul Master."

Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe immediately showered him with praise, calling him a young hero with limitless future achievements and the like. Then he secretly thought to himself that he was Ning Fengzhi's disciple while this person was Chen Xin's disciple. Strictly speaking, he was a generation lower. Thus, he smiled and said:

"Chen Yuan, I am a few years older than you. If you do not mind, you may call me Big Brother Xue."

Chen Yuan did not expose him. He stepped forward and said calmly:

"Big Brother Xue!"

Xue Qinghe nodded without thinking much of it. After all, an eight-year-old Two-Ring Great Soul Master was not someone he took seriously. He himself had innate Soul Power at rank twenty. After awakening his Martial Soul and absorbing Spirit Rings, he had become a Two-Ring Great Soul Master.

Although he was unable to devote himself wholeheartedly to cultivation because he was undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire, his cultivation had not been slow. Before even reaching twenty, he had already become a Soul King.

At the same time, Chen Yuan was also sizing up Xue Qinghe. His disguise is truly impressive. Ning Fengzhi and the two Titled Douluo present, Chen Xin and Gu Rong, cannot see through his true identity.

The Apprentice Ceremony soon concluded successfully. Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe's master-disciple relationship was established, and Xue Qinghe gained Ning Fengzhi's support.

Good news soon returned. With Ning Fengzhi's support, Xue Qinghe's reputation in court soared, and even Xue Ye had to take him seriously.

After weighing the pros and cons, Xue Ye finally appointed this prince, whom he had previously not valued, as Crown Prince, making him the heir apparent of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Xue Qinghe was not as wise as the Second Prince, nor as talented as the Third Prince. He was relatively mediocre in all aspects, with his only praiseworthy virtue being his gentle and benevolent nature. However, both the Second Prince and Third Prince had died young. Compared with the good-for-nothing Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, Xue Qinghe became Xue Ye's only choice. Not to mention that he had now become Ning Fengzhi's disciple and gained the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Following this matter, Ning Fengzhi became the Crown Prince Grand Tutor as Xue Qinghe's teacher, gaining the qualifications to stand in the Heaven Dou Empire's court.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's prestige soared as a result.

The Clear Sky Sect, the Number One Sect in the world, had sealed off its mountain gates. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the second greatest sect in the world, had completely surpassed it in reputation and influence, now directly challenging for the position of the Number One Sect.