Initial Acquaintance

"Is this what it feels like to fly on one's own power? To break free of the earth's shackles—this experience is truly intoxicating."

Lin Yao was only a level-ten Soul Master now.

Yet, with Chen Xin's help, he experienced high-altitude flight completely unlike riding an airplane in his previous life, and he could not help marveling inwardly.

Later, as they sped through the clouds, Lin Yao could not resist looking down, and a fear of heights rose within him.

Watching this flying sword controlled by someone else, he could not help thinking how nice it would be if it had some guardrails.

Otherwise, he kept imagining the terrifying sight of his small body accidentally falling from it.

If that really happened, there probably would not even be any remains left.

At the same time, Lin Yao felt an irrepressible surge of excitement at the thought that, if he could grow smoothly, he would surely master such powerful abilities as flying through the heavens and burrowing through the earth.

Still, it would probably be a long time before his strength improved enough for him to stand atop the Star Sword and fly on it.

After all, in the Douluo World, apart from the special case of flying-type Martial Souls, one had to either sacrifice a Soul Ring soul skill slot, use the power of a soul bone, get incredibly lucky and subdue a flying soul beast, or unearth an ancient Soul Tool through archaeology—only through these five possibilities could one achieve high-altitude flight ahead of time.

Otherwise, to fly through one's own strength, one had to reach the level of a Title Douluo, a level of power capable of dominating the continent.

Compared with other worlds, this was indeed far inferior.

Take the neighboring Dou Qi Continent, for example. A Dou King at the fifth tier could condense wings of Ki to fly. He did not know whether it was due to differing world laws or different standards for judging strength.

Thinking of those harsh conditions, Lin Yao knew that if he wanted to master aerial flight before becoming a Title Douluo, one of those five options was currently the relatively swift and affordable path.

That was to add a Soul Ring with a soul skill for sword flight, though he was not sure how cost-effective that method would be.

It would be fine if he obtained a powerful combat flight skill like Sword Flight, but if he got some useless, pathetic flying skill, then he would truly be finished.

As Lin Yao fantasized about the future along the way, Chen Xin soon led him above a city.

This city was Seven Treasure City, where the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was stationed. Its terrain was strategically advantageous, easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Of course, this so-called ease of defense and difficulty of attack only applied to low- and mid-level Soul Masters.

Against a superpower like Spirit Hall, which possessed numerous Title Douluo, even the most treacherous city would be virtually useless.

If they made even a slightly serious move, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the continent's peak powers, would be crushed in an instant. Even Chen Xin, their strongest combatant, had once lost an arm.

Had Chen Xin not later broken through to become a level-ninety-seven Title Douluo, with offensive power comparable to that of a level-ninety-eight Title Douluo, and had Ning Fengzhi, their pillar, not survived—

Otherwise, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's immense wealth, renowned throughout the continent, would long have been divided among various factions.

In this world, personal strength was what mattered most.

"Yao, I'll take you to meet Sect Master Ning now and settle the matter of your joining the sect. Don't worry. With your talent, the Sect Master will definitely be eager to have you join."

As Chen Xin spoke, Lin Yao listened quietly and followed him into a magnificent palace.

It seemed the two had been expected. Three people were already waiting in the main hall.

Seated in the center of the hall was a middle-aged man whose bearing was no less impressive than Sword Douluo Chen Xin's. He was handsome, and his entire body radiated the authority of someone in power.

This man must be Sect Master Ning, Ning Fengzhi.

Two people sat on either side below Ning Fengzhi.

On the left was an exceedingly adorable little girl with neat, ear-length short hair. Her simple white dress revealed her fair calves just perfectly.

Since she was sitting in a somewhat oversized chair, her calves dangled in the air and swayed gently from side to side, making her look adorable beyond measure.

She was undoubtedly Ning Rongrong.

The elderly man on the right was of an entirely different style from the striking appearances of the other two.

He was tall but skeletal, with sparse hair and a withered face. His appearance was enough to make children burst into tears.

This man must be Bone Douluo Gu Rong.

Together with the senior Sword Douluo who brought me in, these people represent the core will of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects.

Lin Yao recognized everyone present and could not help musing inwardly.

At that moment, Ning Rongrong saw Chen Xin enter. Paying no attention to Lin Yao, the unfamiliar boy her own age beside him, she immediately ran over to Chen Xin and coquettishly said, "Sword Grandfather, you're finally back. You said before that you'd take me around the Douluo Continent to see the customs of different places. You can't go back on your word."

As she spoke, Ning Rongrong curiously sized Lin Yao up. Her large, adorable eyes blinked rapidly, and she could not help wondering why this boy her age looked so ordinary.

He looked nothing like the peerless genius Father, Sword Grandfather, and Bone Grandfather had described—a genius with a top-tier Sword Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power. At most, he was a little handsome.

On the other side, noticing Ning Rongrong's little antics, Chen Xin raised a hand and gently stroked her head. "Haha, Rongrong, Grandfather will never break a promise to you. I'll take you around the continent later. But first, let me introduce you to a new friend.

"The boy standing behind me is about your age. His name is Lin Yao. From now on, call him Brother Lin. He's a good, trustworthy child."

"Lin Yao, Brother Lin?!"

Ning Rongrong looked at this brother who had suddenly appeared, a mischievous glint flashing through her beautiful eyes. "Sword Grandfather, that's not right. Why can't I be the older sister? When I grow up, this big sister will look after him. Little Brother Lin will be able to eat and drink well in the sect. As long as I have a bite of meat, Little Brother Lin will get a sip of soup..."

The more Ning Rongrong spoke, the more excited she became. In her mind, she was already imagining herself taking this little brother Lin, who possessed Innate Full Soul Power and a top-tier Sword Martial Soul, around the sect to play to their hearts' content without a care in the world.

"Rongrong, you child, why can't you ever speak properly? Little Brother Lin Yao really is a little older than you. There's nothing bad about being his little sister."

Seeing Ning Rongrong become increasingly outrageous, Ning Fengzhi hurried forward and gently pressed down on her little head, afraid that she would continue fantasizing about taking Lin Yao to "terrorize" the other children in the sect.

"Besides, Rongrong, Little Brother Lin Yao's talent is exceptional. When you grow up, he can protect you while you support him. If you support each other and stand together at the peak of the continent, your father will be at ease."

"Father..."

Ning Rongrong felt her father Ning Fengzhi's concern, but she also felt that he was underestimating her. She immediately began protesting without letting up.

"This junior, Lin Yao, greets Sect Master Ning. You flatter me, Sect Master. I am only a mere level-ten Soul Master now, and the future is full of uncertainties. I truly do not deserve such praise."

Lin Yao watched Ning Fengzhi approach and inspect him from head to toe. He respectfully bowed and spoke modestly.

He was confident that he would become the strongest being on the continent, even in the entire Douluo God Realm. After all, someone with cheats ought to have the confidence of someone with cheats.

Yet, while he was still weak, he also knew his place. He understood that he was no different from an ant at this moment.

Before powerful people and factions that treated him well, he had to know his limits. He absolutely could not become arrogant and look down on everyone else merely because he possessed a bit of talent.

"You truly are a fine child. I admire you more and more. At first, it was because of your talent. Now, it is because of your calm and steady temperament."

Ning Fengzhi heard the humility and respect in Lin Yao's words. This child had not become proud and conceited simply because people valued his talent. He did not act like a six-year-old at all.

His gaze softened, and his tone became increasingly kind.

"The world favors geniuses like you, granting you the talent to change your fate. But it is also cruel. The slightest carelessness, a trace of malice, can doom you beyond redemption. It is always good to be calm and cautious in how you conduct yourself."

"This junior has learned from your instruction."

"By the way, you do not need to address me so formally as Sect Master Ning. I call you Yao, so you may call me Uncle Ning. As for Sword Uncle and Bone Uncle, just call them Sword Grandfather and Bone Grandfather, as Rongrong does.

"Your parents were old friends of my Sword Uncle. Now, Sword Uncle has personally brought you back to the sect, which is enough to show how highly he values you. From now on, we are all family, so there is no need to be so distant."

"Understood. This junior, Lin Yao, greets Uncle Ning, Sword Grandfather, and Bone Grandfather."

Lin Yao heard the sincerity and respect in Ning Fengzhi's words. The leader of this peak sect of the continent possessed none of that arrogance that came from the bone, instead regarding him, a mere six-year-old child, as an equal. It made him feel very comfortable.

The other two sects were entirely different.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan pursued so-called pure-blooded dragon Martial Souls and severely oppressed those clan members with sub-dragon Martial Souls, let alone outsiders. Outsiders who entered were practically treated as inferiors.

The Clear Sky Sect was even more outrageous. Their choice to go into seclusion and avoid the sharp edge of the continent's strongest faction was understandable enough.

But they had abandoned the Four Great Affiliated Clans that had always supported them, including clans connected to them by marriage. Such cold-hearted behavior was truly contemptible.

It was no less absurd than a certain person in the original timeline who inherited two god positions yet acted recklessly.

In the original work, those people from the Clear Sky Sect had already been burdened with the buff of deserving death, and in the end, they were harshly punished by a certain Soul Fighting Douluo.

At the same time, during that person's transformation from Soul Emperor to Soul Fighting Douluo, there was a scene of dogs tearing each other apart that could be called the most classic of its kind.

It could be said that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did not have the complicated conflicts of interest found in the Clear Sky Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, or Spirit Hall. Its upper ranks were also easy to get along with, making it absolutely the best choice for joining a faction and seeking protection during one's early growth.

"Haha, good. Yao, now that everyone is here, especially with two Title Douluo to assess you, let us see your Martial Soul as well. We can then offer guidance for your future direction of growth."

Ning Fengzhi chuckled and exchanged looks with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo before voicing the question everyone present cared about most.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin in particular had sensed, back at the Lin Family, a faint and irrepressible sharpness emanating from Lin Yao. He knew it was a sign of a newly awakened top-tier Sword Martial Soul.

But out of respect for Lin Yao, this top-tier genius, and because he wanted to wait until they returned to the sect and Ning Fengzhi confirmed their relationship, so that everyone could assess Lin Yao together, he had not rashly asked Lin Yao to summon his Martial Soul then.

Now, he too was filled with curiosity.

"Alright, Uncle Ning."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yao did not hesitate in the slightest. He stepped forward under the gazes of the four people, slowly pressed his palms together, then gradually spread them apart to either side.

"Star Sword, appear!"

In an instant, a longsword wrapped in brilliant starlight appeared before everyone.

The moment the Star Sword appeared in the hall, not only did intense Star Power scatter in every direction, but a faint yet extraordinarily pure sword intent also spread forth.

With the experienced eyes of the three powerful figures present, it was not difficult to see that although this sword intent was still weak, once it grew, it would surely shake heaven and earth.

One sword strike, and the stars would perish.

Only Ning Rongrong, who cared solely about appearances, formed a little "O" with her mouth, her face full of surprise.

Filled with curiosity, she reached out to grab the scattered fragments of starlight. Unfortunately, she caught nothing, but she continued grabbing at them with great enthusiasm.

"What pure sword intent. What a Martial Soul brimming with potential. Even among the continent's top-tier Martial Souls, it would stand out from the rest. It is in no way inferior to my Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul, which can awaken a domain skill through training."

At this moment, Chen Xin could not help voicing his praise, his tone full of astonishment.

This was also his first time seeing Lin Yao's Star Sword Martial Soul. This young man's top-tier Sword Martial Soul was far more powerful than he had imagined.

One could easily imagine that a newly awakened Sword Martial Soul could already slowly nurture an artistic force like sword intent, something not even every Title Douluo possessed.

Once Soul Rings were truly added to it, strengthening its origin and evolving its power, there might even be room for further advancement.

There was no doubt about the talent of such a Heavenly Pride.

What a peerless little genius.

Once this boy grew up, he might very well reach that godlike realm which even his father, Chen Jianjun, had failed to touch despite exhausting all his strength.

Level ninety-nine, a Peerless Douluo!

By then, Yu Yang and Wan'er, those two juniors, would likely become the most honored people in the world.

He wondered whether the inherited Star Sword Martial Soul could contend with the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul that had been passed down for ten thousand years.

Of course, he meant someone comparable to the top expert who was Spirit Hall's First Worship, not a certain person who had been beaten to death by someone wielding a giant hammer despite having a higher level, utterly disgracing himself.

"What a beautiful sword of stars. It looks even better than my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. I wish I had one too."

After playing for a while, Ning Rongrong finally gave up after realizing she could not catch any of the starlight fragments.

She turned her head and stared intently at the Star Sword. Watching the brilliant starlight gleaming within it, her large eyes blinked again and again, filled with envy.

Then she glanced at Chen Xin, whose face was full of admiration. Her eyes rolled mischievously before she covered her mouth and giggled.

"Sword Grandfather, the starlight shining from Brother Lin's Star Sword is prettier than the stars in the sky. It feels much stronger than your Seven Kill Sword."

"Rongrong, you cannot judge only by appearances. Although this boy Lin's Martial Soul has enormous potential, it is still far behind mine in terms of level."

Chen Xin saw through the little girl's thoughts and shook his head, though he went along with her.

The Seven Kill Sword appeared in midair, and a powerful strand of Seven Kill Sword Intent surged forth, colliding and intertwining with the sword intent of Lin Yao's Star Sword.

A moment later, amid this mutually tempering clash, the Seven Kill Sword Intent easily defeated Lin Yao's Star Sword sword intent.

Chen Xin displayed his sword intent this time partly to preserve his dignity before his beloved granddaughter Ning Rongrong, and partly to take the opportunity to guide Lin Yao.

He wanted Lin Yao to gain insight from the clash between the two sword intents. Though Lin Yao could not fully comprehend it yet, once his strength reached a certain level, he would be able to draw upon this accumulated foundation and advance greatly.