Mr. Ning and His Schemes

That evening, Shen Tianchen sat at his desk, pondering whom to recruit for the second team.

As he thought, a burst of playful noise came from outside the window.

He immediately looked up and saw the Imperial Dou First Team members returning to their dormitories after training.

Shen Tianchen noticed them, and naturally, they noticed him as well.

Seeing the lights on in Shen Tianchen's dormitory, Osler was somewhat surprised. "Huh? Has the second team already started forming? Their dormitory lights are already on."

Ever since the previous Continental Spirit Master Tournament ended, Heaven Dou Royal Academy had struggled to assemble another competitive team.

Meng Shenji and the others had gone to great lengths to form the Imperial Dou First Team.

He had constantly traveled between various academies before finally bringing Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the others into the academy.

The first team had been difficult enough; the second team was even less worth mentioning.

The previous tournament's second team had merely been gathered to make up the numbers.

Moreover, the Spirit Master Tournament lasted a long time. Once one chose to participate, there was basically no freedom for around two months in order to build team coordination. Of course, Shrek Academy was an exception.

From the Preliminary Match to the final finals in Spirit City, it would take at least three or four months. During that period, aside from advancing their Soul Power, they would basically be training and competing.

Thus, for those spoiled noble children, the Spirit Master Tournament was no different from prison.

As captain, Yu Tianheng had naturally received some news. "I heard from Teacher Qin that the second team has already begun forming, and the person putting it together is actually a student younger than us."

"The three education committee members were worried he might take our first team's spot, so they gave him the authority to form a team. But it won't affect us much."

Yu Feng curled his lip. "What kind of talk is that? What do you mean, worried he'll take our spots?"

"Which one of us on the first team isn't a genius? We got into the first team entirely through our own strength. Saying that makes us sound weak."

Among the team, he and Osler were more or less the weakest. If Shen Tianchen wanted to squeeze into the first team, one of the two of them would definitely be the one leaving.

Dugu Yan sneered. "What's there to be proud of? Which academy's first team members are much weaker than us?"

"If you're scared, just challenge him directly. If you win, everything can be discussed. If you lose, don't blame anyone else."

The senses of a snake-type martial soul were extremely terrifying. Moreover, she had met Shen Tianchen and felt his aura before. She could say with absolute certainty that the person in the second team's dormitory was Shen Tianchen.

Osler nodded after hearing that. "Now that you put it that way, it does make sense. I'll go find Teacher Qin in the next couple of days and see if he can arrange it for me. You all have to come watch when the time comes."

Shen Tianchen and Dugu Yan exchanged a few looks. Both gave each other a slight nod in greeting before going their separate ways.

Although Shen Tianchen admired the first team's potential, he did not think much of them.

In the original timeline, the Imperial Dou First Team had encountered the Spirit Hall Team led by the Golden Generation in the very first match of the finals.

At the time, as long as the Spirit Hall Team did not underestimate their opponent, their lineup was enough to sweep any team aside. Unfortunately, villains always died from talking too much.

Still, that did not stop them from crushing the Imperial Dou First Team, and in an exceedingly humiliating manner at that.

As direct descendants of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects, cousins Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin were among the most talented members of their sect. The sect had placed great hopes on them, yet at the tournament, they had been little better than weaklings.

The next morning.

Osler brought Yu Feng along to find Qin Ming and proposed a spar with Shen Tianchen.

Qin Ming happened to be extremely curious about Shen Tianchen's strength as well, so he went to explain the matter to the three education committee members.

Had it been anyone else, the three education committee members would certainly not have agreed. But Qin Ming was regarded as the academy's successor.

Besides, they were also curious how much Shen Tianchen's strength had improved during his time away.

Faced with Qin Ming's request, the three education committee members did not immediately agree. Instead, they said they would ask Shen Tianchen for his opinion.

However, that answer was no different from making the decision for him directly.

After all, the Spirit Master World had always respected the strong and had no need for the weak.

If Shen Tianchen refused a challenge from a Spirit Master his own age, quite a few people would likely criticize him behind his back.

But their plans would probably come to nothing that morning, because early that day, Shen Tianchen had been called out of the academy by people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

If they wanted his answer, they would likely have to wait a while.

At an inconspicuous teahouse in Heaven Dou City.

Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo had arrived early and were waiting there.

After arriving below the teahouse, a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciple said, "Mr. Shen, the Sect Master and the others are in the private room upstairs. You can head up directly."

Shen Tianchen nodded in acknowledgment.

He had long expected Ning Fengzhi to seek him out on his own initiative.

After all, he had spent so much time with Ning Rongrong and, by a twist of fate, helped improve her personality. Whether out of emotion or reason, Ning Fengzhi, as her father, would come to see him.

He understood Ning Fengzhi's character, so this time he had not brought Ghost Leopard Douluo along and instead had him continue staying by Xue Qinghe's side.

After entering the teahouse, a waiter came forward to greet him. Once Shen Tianchen told him the room number, the waiter led him upstairs.

When he entered the private room, Ning Fengzhi was leisurely drinking tea.

A steaming cup of tea sat on the seat across from him. Clearly, he had known Shen Tianchen would come and had poured it especially for him. Judging from its appearance, it had been poured not long ago.

Shen Tianchen did not sit down immediately. Instead, he bent at the waist and bowed. "This junior, Shen Tianchen, greets Sect Master Ning and Senior Bone Douluo."

Ning Fengzhi smiled. "You are too polite, young friend. I have long heard of your name, and now that I see you in person, your reputation truly precedes you."

"Sit. Let us talk over tea."

Shen Tianchen responded and took a seat. He showed no sign of nervousness as he softly asked, "May I ask why Sect Master Ning summoned me here?"

Unhurriedly, Ning Fengzhi took out a black card and pushed it across the table toward Shen Tianchen. "I already know everything Rongrong experienced outside."

"I had intended to let Rongrong suffer a little and temper her character, yet I did not expect you to smooth away her rough edges with just a few words. In the end, as her father, I should thank you."

"There are one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins here. Consider it a small token of my appreciation. I hope you will not refuse."

Upon hearing this, Shen Tianchen did not claim any credit. Instead, he pushed the black card back. "Sect Master Ning, you are too kind. Rongrong and I are friends to begin with. There is no need for this between friends. Besides, I did not do it for a reward, so please take it back."

Ning Fengzhi nodded in satisfaction and did not insist.

However, in Ning Fengzhi's view, Shen Tianchen's actions only proved that he did not dislike Ning Rongrong either and perhaps even held some affection for her.

He then said, "What do you think of Rongrong, young friend? A few days ago, I learned from Qinghe that you came from Nuoding City, and that your parents had been engaged in trade years ago but were killed in an assassination during a delivery."

"I do not mean to reopen your wounds. I merely feel that since neither you nor Rongrong dislike the other, and you have spent time together and developed a certain emotional foundation..."

"Why not become related by marriage to my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? In the future, I will certainly take great care of you. What do you think, young friend?"

Shen Tianchen's expression shifted slightly. He did not answer, but thought to himself, It seems Ning Fengzhi has guessed something. Otherwise, he would not use this to test me.

If Shen Tianchen's background were truly as stated in the records, joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not be impossible.

But the key was that he had already joined Spirit Hall, and the grandfathers of Worship Hall all treated him very well. They were not as domineering as they had been described in the original timeline.

Winning over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was not a spur-of-the-moment plan. He had long held that intention.

Since Ning Fengzhi was testing him, he could use this opportunity to test Ning Fengzhi's attitude as well.

"Sect Master Ning, you jest. I am merely an ordinary man. It was only thanks to His Highness the Crown Prince's favor that I was able to come to Heaven Dou City and make a living. His Highness has treated me well, so if I were to leave now, would that not chill His Highness's heart?"

"Therefore, please forgive me, but I cannot agree."