Rejecting the Olive Branch, Shaking the Nine Treasures

"Lord Soul Master."

Feeling the blazing gaze of this Soul Ancestor, Junting inevitably felt uncomfortable and hurriedly spoke up in reminder.

Hearing the voice, the Soul Ancestor quickly came back to his senses. Pressing both hands against his shoulders, he said in an incomparably solemn tone, "Boy, with your Martial Soul and your Innate Full Soul Power talent, do you know what this means?"

Junting was just about to nod in response when a sudden voice interrupted him. "It means that as long as you receive careful nurturing, you will surely have a place among the Titled Douluo."

The screen behind them was pulled open, and a burly figure slowly walked out. The Soul Ancestor responsible for the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony showed no surprise at all. He hurriedly bowed. "Master."

The simple form of address made Junting understand the newcomer's identity.

This was the Soul Saint powerhouse of Song Manor.

Facing such a powerhouse, Junting was just about to imitate the Soul Ancestor's gesture and bow when Lord Song stopped him.

"No need. This old man doesn't have so many formalities."

Then his gaze turned to the Soul Ancestor beside him. "Go tell the people outside that today's Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony ends here. Tomorrow, continue with the remaining people for this year."

"Yes."

After the Soul Ancestor withdrew, he thoughtfully closed the door behind him.

Only then did Lord Song turn his gaze back to Junting. At this moment, Junting also understood that the main event was about to begin.

Sure enough...

"Are you willing to join our Song Manor and marry my daughter? Become our son-in-law?"

If the first half of his words had been within Junting's expectations, the second half left him utterly stunned.

His daughter?

Looking at Lord Song's already graying hair and beard, Junting could not help imagining the age of his daughter. While observing Lord Song's expression, he shook his head awkwardly.

"Lord Song, setting aside whether the age difference is too great, I don't wish to make a decision about joining Song Manor so casually."

Hearing the rejection in Junting's words, Lord Song showed no surprise at all.

During the Martial Soul Awakening, he had already seen that this child was very mature. It would be difficult to fool him into joining Song Manor. Thus, his recruitment just now had merely been a trial. After all, there was no harm in trying.

Besides, this child's Martial Soul...

He did not want the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect coming to his door.

"In that case, forget it."

Having said everything that needed to be said, Lord Song did not intend to delay any longer. He led Junting out of the Awakening Room.

As soon as they opened the door, they saw the Soul Ancestor from before waiting outside with a cloth bag in his hands. The moment he saw the two of them emerge, he hurriedly handed the bag to Junting.

"This is the fee for awakening your Martial Soul. Since you can become a Soul Master, our Song Manor won't take a single coin."

Seeing that the Soul Ancestor's expression was not the least bit surprised, Junting knew this clearly was not the first time it had happened. As for their actions, he had no intention of asking too many questions.

Thus, after thanking Lord Song, he accepted the cloth bag.

"My lord, then I'll be leaving first."

After saying that, he turned and left Song Manor. He had to hurry back to the village, tell the villagers the good news, and make plans for his First Soul Ring.

Only after Junting's figure had completely disappeared did the Soul Ancestor voice his confusion to Lord Song. "Master, in the past, whenever we encountered children with Soul Power, didn't we promise to help them obtain their First Soul Ring for free? Why was it different this time?"

"Are you also wondering why I acted so calmly when facing a child with Innate Full Soul Power?"

Lord Song did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked about what the Soul Ancestor had been about to say next.

"A'Hu, when I saw this child's Martial Soul, I knew his future was limitless. But after his Innate Full Soul Power was revealed, I understood even more clearly that we cannot interfere with his path in the slightest."

"This..." A'Hu's face was filled with confusion. Could investing in him not work either? Yet Lord Song's next words made everything dawn on him.

"That child's Martial Soul is called the Seven Kills Sword."

The Seven Kills Sword—the Martial Soul of Sword Douluo Chen Xin ten thousand years ago.

Yet despite the Martial Soul's illustrious reputation, the Seven Kills Sword had long since vanished during the passage of ten thousand years. Logically speaking, only a handful of people should even know of or have heard of this Martial Soul.

But the truth was not so simple.

It turned out that ever since ten thousand years ago, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had never stopped searching for the two great Martial Souls, the Seven Kills Sword and the Bone Dragon. However, no trace of the Seven Kills Sword had appeared, while all the Soul Masters who had manifested the Bone Dragon Martial Soul had become Evil Soul Masters and could not turn back.

This caused the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to intensify its search efforts. They had even offered the astronomical price of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone.

"Then, Master, what do we do now..."

A'Hu's voice trembled.

A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone!

Lord Song was no better off than A'Hu. A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone! If he obtained it himself, becoming a Soul Douluo would no longer be a dream!

"A'Hu, watch the house. I'm going to Six Treasures Pavilion."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure vanished.

Half a day later, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

The sect's main hall towered majestically, like a mysterious and solemn mountain peak standing atop a Nine-Layered Pagoda. Its main structure was built from massive bluestones. Every stone had been carefully selected and polished, making the entire building exceptionally sturdy and smooth.

The hall's roof was covered with thick glazed tiles. Sunlight filtered through them, casting mottled shadows across the floor. Strings of bronze bells hung beneath the eaves, swaying in the wind and producing pleasant chimes.

The hall was spacious and bright. At its center stood a large huanghuali wood chair carved with floral patterns and inlaid with Crimson Spirit Warm Jade.

On both sides of this large chair were eight carved acidwood chairs, each likewise inlaid with top-grade Crimson Spirit Warm Jade.

At that moment, a man stood by the window on the side of the main hall. His face was as smooth as jade, with a straight nose and square mouth. His appearance was refined and gentle, and his spotless white robe was utterly free of dust. He looked to be around forty years old. His gentle gaze made him look like an ordinary person no matter how one viewed him. His soft black hair hung loose down his back, and everything about him seemed casual, without the slightest hint of affectation. He gazed into the distance below, taking in the entirety of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

"The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, gazing toward the number-one sect in the world!?"

A long sigh carried the revelation of ambition.

"Bo Wen, you too have fallen into the pursuit of fame and wealth."

A vigorous voice suddenly rang beside the middle-aged man's ear. Faced with this unexpected voice, Ning Bo Wen did not panic in the slightest. After giving a self-mocking laugh, he looked at the prosperous sect. "Uncle Ye, I'm no saint. The masses of the world bustle about for fame and wealth. Naturally, I am no exception."

"Over ten thousand years, the Clear Sky Sect and the Tang Sect—sects that once stood as the world's number one—have either fallen silent or faded into ruin. Yet our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has stood firm. Even with our far-reaching reputation, we still cannot be called the world's number-one sect. After all, the Body Sect that emerged back then was simply too powerful."

"Heh heh, I'm no match for that Old Poison."

The old man, who had devoted his entire life to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, did not wish to say more about the subject Ning Bo Wen had raised.

After all, without sufficient strength, nothing one said would matter.

"By the way." The old man called Uncle Ye took a letter from his Storage Soul Tool. "Bo Wen, this is the news sent back by Six Treasures Pavilion in Guyun City. A child with the Seven Kills Sword Martial Soul has appeared, and he possesses the rare Innate Full Soul Power. The news has reportedly been confirmed. His name is Junting, a child from Shanyang Village. He has no parents and was raised by the villagers. I plan to go there personally and take him as my disciple."

Hearing this, delight appeared on the middle-aged man's face.

"After ten thousand years, the Seven Kills Sword Martial Soul has finally appeared again."

"Uncle Ye, who discovered him?"

"The Song Manor of Guyun City."

"Understood. Since he discovered him, give him the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone we promised in advance. Our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect naturally values integrity. Uncle Ye, I'll trouble you with this."

"Rest assured."

Hearing the words of the chief Grand Elder, Ning Bo Wen nodded slightly. Looking at a statue within the sect, he sighed with emotion. "Our ten-thousand-year wish can finally be fulfilled today. Uncle Ye, if anyone tries to stop us, show no mercy!" The final four words contained Killing Intent, demonstrating the solemn resolve of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect Master.