A Chance Encounter with the Ning Clan at the Foot of Glazed Mountain

After resting and recuperating in Heaven Dou City for two days, Ling Yun had roughly grasped the city's basic situation and the distribution of its various powers. As one of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect held an extraordinary status. Its Glazed Mountain, located west of Heaven Dou City, was a prominent landmark and not difficult to find.

That day, Ling Yun decided to take a look around Glazed Mountain. Perhaps he could find an opportunity to make contact with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Glazed Mountain was not a single mountain, but a continuous range. Its main peak was steep, and its summit refracted seven-colored light beneath the sun. It was said that special glazed minerals lay within the mountain, hence its name. The headquarters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stood atop the main peak, its pavilions and towers built along the slopes, wreathed in mist like an immortal realm.

At the foot of the mountain lay a bustling market town called Glazed Town. Most of its residents were families of Soul Masters affiliated with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as well as craftsmen and merchants. They sold all manner of Soul Master-related goods and exquisite glazed crafts, making the town exceptionally lively.

Ling Yun strolled through the streets of Glazed Town, taking in an atmosphere quite different from Heaven Dou City's main urban district. A faint scent of sandalwood and medicinal herbs hung in the air. Most passersby appeared calm, carrying the sense of superiority that came with being attached to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

He casually entered a shop selling Soul Tools and rare materials, intending to see whether it had anything he needed. The shop was fairly large, displaying all kinds of items that shimmered with Soul Power, but their prices were astonishingly high.

Ling Yun took notice of a Thick Earth Crystal containing pure earth-element energy. It could assist in comprehending the laws of strength, but its price tag was as high as five thousand Gold Soul Coins. He had enough money on him, but buying it would leave him with almost nothing.

Just as he was considering whether to purchase it, a slight commotion arose at the entrance. A beautiful middle-aged woman in a luxurious purple gown, elegant and dignified in bearing, entered the shop while holding the hand of an adorable little girl of six or seven, delicate as a porcelain doll. They were surrounded by a group of guards with formidable auras.

The shopkeeper's face immediately broke into a wide smile when he saw the woman, and he hurried forward respectfully. "Ah, Madam Ning, your presence brings honor to this humble shop! Whatever you need, please just say the word!"

Madam Ning? Ling Yun's heart stirred. Ning Fengzhi's wife, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Then the little girl she was holding... could she be Ning Rongrong?

He swept them lightly with his Spiritual Sense and confirmed his guess. The beautiful woman's Soul Power Level was not low, around that of a Soul Emperor. As for the little girl, though young, her Soul Power foundation was exceptionally solid. Her lively eyes carried a mischievous glint. She was undoubtedly Ning Rongrong, the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

What a stroke of luck. He had found exactly the person he was looking for without any effort.

Madam Ning smiled gently at the shopkeeper. "I only brought Rongrong to look around. Please attend to your business, Shopkeeper." Her voice was soft and pleasant, like a spring breeze.

Little Ning Rongrong looked around curiously, fascinated by the sparkling Soul Tools in the shop. She broke free of her mother's hand and ran to a counter displaying all sorts of delicate trinkets. Pointing at a Glazed Hairpin that shimmered with seven-colored light, she said in her childish voice, "Mother, I want this one!"

Madam Ning smiled indulgently and said to the shopkeeper, "Wrap this up for us."

"Right away!" the shopkeeper answered hurriedly.

At that moment, a sudden change occurred!

In a corner of the shop, a gray-clothed man who had been selecting items and seemed utterly unremarkable suddenly flashed a vicious light in his eyes! With a flick of his wrist, a poisoned dagger shot out like a venomous snake, aimed directly at Ning Rongrong, who was looking at the hairpin! It was as fast as lightning!

"Rongrong, watch out!" Madam Ning's expression changed drastically. It was already too late for her to save her! The guards were half a beat too slow to react as well!

No one had expected that someone would dare attack the Sect Master's daughter in the core territory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

The poisoned dagger was about to pierce Ning Rongrong's back, yet the little girl remained utterly unaware that danger was approaching!

At that critical moment!

A cyan figure appeared behind Ning Rongrong like a ghost. It was Ling Yun!

He did not even turn to look at the dagger. He merely reached back casually, and the lightning-fast blade stopped steadily in his palm as though frozen by a binding spell, only an inch away from Ning Rongrong's back!

The dim blue gleam on the poisoned blade reflected off Ling Yun's calm, expressionless face.

Everything had happened in the blink of an eye. Only after Ling Yun caught the dagger did everyone finally react!

"An assassin!"

"Protect Madam and the young miss!"

The guards were shocked and enraged. They immediately shielded Madam Ning and Ning Rongrong between them while lunging toward the gray-clothed assassin.

Seeing that his strike had failed, the assassin did not linger. He retreated rapidly, crashing through a window in an attempt to escape.

"Stay." Ling Yun spoke calmly, lightly flicking the fingers that held the dagger.

Whoosh!

The dagger shot back even faster than it had come, accurately piercing the assassin's calf and pinning him to the ground! The assassin screamed and collapsed.

The guards rushed forward together and subdued him.

The crisis was over.

Still shaken, Madam Ning hurriedly pulled the frightened Ning Rongrong tightly into her arms and comforted her. Then she looked at Ling Yun with gratitude in her eyes and gave him a deep bow. "Thank you, Your Excellency, for saving my daughter! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will surely repay this favor generously!"

Ling Yun casually tossed the dagger onto the ground and said calmly, "It was nothing. Madam, there is no need to be so courteous."

At this moment, little Ning Rongrong also recovered from her fright. Blinking her large eyes, she looked at Ling Yun curiously and said brightly, "Big brother, you're amazing! Thank you for saving me!"

Ling Yun looked at this future little witch of the Shrek Seven Devils, who was still so innocent and adorable at the moment, and gave a slight nod.

The more Madam Ning looked at Ling Yun, the more extraordinary she found him. So young, yet unflustered in the face of danger, with strength that was unfathomable—she could sense the terrifying aura that had flashed by when he made his move. Moreover, he was steady and composed, neither arrogant nor servile. He was certainly no ordinary youth.

"May I ask Your Excellency's name and where you come from?" Madam Ning asked politely.

"Ling Yun. A Rogue Cultivator," Ling Yun answered simply.

A Rogue Cultivator? Madam Ning was even more astonished. Could a Rogue Cultivator truly produce such a person?

Her thoughts raced. If such a genius could be recruited into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it would greatly benefit the sect's future! Moreover, he had saved Rongrong. Whether out of gratitude or reason, they should do everything possible to befriend him.

"Little Brother Ling Yun, your skill is remarkable and truly admirable. This is not a suitable place to talk. If you do not mind, would you accompany me up the mountain so that my husband and I may thank you in person?" Madam Ning extended an invitation.

This was exactly the opportunity Ling Yun had been waiting for. He nodded. "Then I shall trouble you."

Thus, under Madam Ning's warm invitation, Ling Yun followed the people of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and stepped onto the stairs leading to the summit of Glazed Mountain for the first time.

And his arrival was about to stir new waves within this sect that possessed wealth beyond measure. What sparks would fly when he met Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and the other peak figures of the continent?

Everything had only just begun.