Emergence: Chen Xin Lays His Cards on the Table

!

"Shi Nian, you will be fully responsible for the Star-Plucking Tower's emergence. You may begin tonight."

"Yes! Master!"

At Qin Shiyuan's words, an uncontrollable smile spread across Shi Nian's face.

Over the years, Shi Nian had handled nearly all of the Star-Plucking Tower's development in the shadows.

To him, the Star-Plucking Tower was more like a child he had watched grow step by step. It was the product of his painstaking efforts.

At first, Qin Shiyuan had entrusted Shi Nian with the heavy responsibility of managing the Star-Plucking Tower.

One reason was that he had at least once been the head of an academy. Compared to the Dragon Duke and Snake Matriarch, he clearly had far more experience managing subordinates.

But that was not what Qin Shiyuan valued most about him. More importantly, Shi Nian... had ambition!

Ambition was not necessarily a derogatory thing.

In the Star-Plucking Tower's early days, what Qin Shiyuan needed most were capable people with ambition.

Only such people could keep pace with him, keep pace with his even greater ambitions, and develop the Star-Plucking Tower into what he needed it to become.

Worried that an ambitious dog might bite its master?

Heh. A stray dog already chained up would only bare its fangs outward.

Because it knew that turning them inward meant death!

"Go and prepare as quickly as possible. Before dawn, I want everyone in Heaven Dou City to know of the Star-Plucking Tower!"

"Yes, Master. I'll go at once!"

Upon hearing Qin Shiyuan's words, fervor flared in Shi Nian's eyes.

As though he could not wait another moment, he flashed away and vanished directly from the tavern.

"Meng Shu, Chao Tianxiang."

"Tower Lord."

The Dragon Duke and Snake Matriarch stepped forward together. They knew it was their turn.

"You two will gather back all the forces we previously scattered and establish the Star-Plucking Tower's War Hall."

"You will serve as the Hall Master and Deputy Hall Master respectively. For the time being, you will be responsible for stopping anyone who comes to cause trouble at the Star-Plucking Tower."

"Heh, Bibi Dong has suffered heavy losses. Spirit Hall likely will not make any major moves anytime soon."

"But those scattered little fish have no such reservations. They will probably come hopping around our doorstep again."

As he spoke, a cold glint flashed through Qin Shiyuan's eyes, and his tone turned as frigid as the winter solstice.

"When that happens, kill them if you can. Don't waste words. If you can't kill them, that's fine too."

"Even if they do not come, before long... I will visit them one by one."

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect

Atop the mountains, clouds and mist lingered.

At this moment, within this top sect known as one of the Upper Three Sects of the Douluo Continent,

a major event was about to occur—one capable of changing the sect's fate.

Inside a magnificent palace with the words "Sect Master Hall" hanging above its entrance,

the current Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—Ning Fengzhi—sat upon a raised platform.

His expression was far from pleasant. The refined gentleness that usually adorned his face had become an unresolvable sorrow at the corner of his lips.

"Ah, what am I supposed to do now?"

"Spirit Hall alone was already enough of a headache. Who would have thought that this suddenly emerged Star-Plucking Tower would be so powerful? That sword strike..."

"Now the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has offended two colossal forces at once. I fear..."

"Ah, never mind. At least Chen Xin and Gu Rong are still here."

"With their deterrence, those two forces should not come looking for trouble with me for the time being."

"..."

"Tap, tap, tap."

Just as Ning Fengzhi sat with a face full of worry, a series of remarkably steady footsteps echoed through the empty hall.

"Fengzhi."

"Uncle Jian? Why have you come?"

Ning Fengzhi looked up, his expression slightly surprised.

The arrival was none other than the Sword Douluo he had just mentioned—Chen Xin.

"Yes, Sect Master. I came today because there is something I wish to tell you."

Dressed in white, Chen Xin gave Ning Fengzhi a slight bow. Despite the familiar form of address, there was no unusual emotion on his face.

"Uncle Jian, why are you being so formal today? With our relationship, there is no need for these worldly courtesies."

Ning Fengzhi seemed to notice Chen Xin's odd behavior as well. For some reason, a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

"No. One matter is one matter. You are the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Since I am still a member of the sect, I must abide by its rules."

Chen Xin's emotionless words reached Ning Fengzhi's ears, and his heart lurched. He instantly realized that something must have happened to Chen Xin.

Chen Xin and Gu Rong were the towering pillars and mainstays of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

These two supreme guardians had long since become inseparably bound to the fate of the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

If anything happened to either of them, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might suffer a sudden catastrophe overnight.

At such a sensitive time, this was something Ning Fengzhi absolutely could not accept.

Damn it! Why now? Why did Chen Xin have to stir up trouble at such a critical moment?

No, I have to keep him steady!

If anything happens to Chen Xin, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will surely be unable to escape disaster at this crucial juncture!

I just hope... it is nothing serious.

However, the outcome still disappointed him.

Not only was it a serious matter, it was an earthquake capable of shocking the entire soul master world and dragging the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect into the abyss!

"Sect Master Ning, I came today because I wish to leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Fine, fine. No matter what Uncle Jian wants, this sect will grant—"

"Wait! What did you say!!!"

Chen Xin's tone was incomparably calm, yet the content of his words made Ning Fengzhi's pupils contract sharply.

At first, Ning Fengzhi had not considered that possibility at all. He had simply assumed Chen Xin wanted something.

But just as he was about to agree on instinct, Chen Xin's calm words drifted into his ears.

Those few simple words seemed to form a giant hand holding up the heavens.

It seized Ning Fengzhi's heart in an iron grip, making even his breathing turn rapid.

"What? You said you want to leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Uncle Jian! Uncle Jian! Say that again. You're joking with me, aren't you???"

"Sect Master, please calm down first. I will give you an explanation."

Seeing Ning Fengzhi's state, Chen Xin frowned slightly.

"Fine, fine. I'll calm down. I have made a fool of myself before Uncle Jian."

Ning Fengzhi also realized that he had lost his composure and hurriedly settled his emotions.

Several seconds later, though the anxiety in his eyes had yet to fade, he appeared much calmer on the surface.

"Alright, Uncle Jian. Tell me, why do you wish to leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Sect Master, you know that I am a sword fanatic. My sword is everything to me."

"And the reason I have trained my swordsmanship so desperately is so that one day, I can completely overthrow Spirit Hall and personally kill Qian Daoliu!"

"But now, I have grown old, yet my strength remains far from Qian Daoliu's."

"Originally, I thought that perhaps I would never be able to personally avenge my father in this lifetime."

"But yesterday... I saw hope. It was that sword strike—the sword strike Tower Master Qin of the Star-Plucking Tower casually unleashed..."

"So!!! Chen Xin! You intend to betray the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and join that Star-Plucking Tower... is that right!!!"