Lin Hai Changed Faces Like Turning Pages
As he said, the two people in the arena were not only sparring with swords, but also secretly battling with their Soul Power, and neither of them was having a good time.
Lin Hai stood on the ground, but his power was weaker than Chen Xin's attack from above, and his feet were already deeply embedded in the ground.
Chen Xin, suspended in mid-air, also had no way to borrow strength or deflect force. For him, retreating would be admitting defeat, so he could only endure it head-on, which would consume even more energy.
Lin Hai knew he had achieved his goal of establishing his authority and there was no need to continue the stalemate. He raised his right hand and made a loose fist:
"Break--!"
The crimson sword shadow exploded violently, simultaneously detonating the Sword of Chen Xin.
The match ended in a draw.
Once the surrounding Soul Power fluctuations subsided, Chen Xin gave Lin Hai a deep look before flashing back to Ning Fengzhi's side.
Ning Fengzhi immediately asked via telepathy, "Uncle Sword, how is it?"
Chen Xin replied telepathically, "It's not advisable to take action. Even with your assistance, we can't stop him if he wants to leave."
Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly, but at the same time felt a great sense of relief.
The regret is that he can't defeat his opponent now, and may even make enemies. The relief comes from the fact that after witnessing Lin Hai's strength firsthand, he really doesn't want to be his enemy, and now he can take advantage of the situation.
He laughed and said, "Young Friend Lin Hai, you are not even twenty years old yet and you already have such strength. It seems that what Rong Rong said was true. It is us old guys who can't keep up with you young people!"
The implication is that he was merely testing their strength and had no malicious intent.
He then turned to Gu Rong and said, "Uncle Bone, arrange Family Banquet. I want to treat my Young Friend Lin Hai to a good meal!"
At the same time, he secretly transmitted his voice. "Evacuate everyone from the hall."
The Gu Rong nodded slightly and vanished from its spot in a flash.
Lin Hai walked over with a leisurely gait, naturally took Ning Rongrong's small hand, and said with a smile:
"Sect Master Ning, you flatter me. It is a great honor for me to be able to spar with the two seniors. I have benefited greatly from this exchange."
Ning Fengzhi's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the two's clasped hands. Then, recalling Lin Hai's gentle tone, so different from before, he paused slightly, a subtle hint of deep thought flashing in his eyes.
Chen Xin stood with his arms crossed, his cold gaze sweeping over Lin Hai, and said indifferently, "If you had shown this attitude from the beginning, there probably wouldn't have been that contest just now."
"Wouldn't everyone be disappointed in that case?!" Lin Hai raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with amusement.
As soon as they finished speaking, the three of them exchanged glances and chuckled in unison, a subtle atmosphere of tacit understanding filling the air.
Ning Rongrong stood to the side, blinking her big eyes, looking at this and then at that, feeling completely confused, and couldn't help but raise her hand to scratch her hair.
The atmosphere between her father, her two grandfathers, and Lin Hai was already quite strange, and now it became even more unpredictable, filling her little head with questions.
The subsequent family Family Banquet allowed Lin Hai to truly understand what a top-tier sect with a long history is like, and how it is fundamentally different from his own nouveau riche status.
The banquet was more extravagant than anyone could have imagined.
The most exquisite parts of thousand-year-old or even Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast are carefully cooked, and this is nothing more than an ordinary dish at the banquet.
What's even more astonishing is that some rare and precious medicinal herbs that are extremely rare and hard to find on the market are used here as auxiliary ingredients, or even just as seasonings to enhance the flavor.
Lin Hai also saw something that was quite familiar to him but had been missing for a long time— Whale Rubber!
Placed alone in front of Ning Fengzhi, the method of preparation was unknown, but its appearance was quite ordinary. The pieces were dark and unremarkable, arranged in an exquisite dish. Compared to the surrounding delicacies that were full of color, aroma, and flavor, it looked particularly out of place. An uninformed person might mistake it for an ordinary dish of pickled vegetables.
Lin Hai thought to himself that this must be a daily supplement on Ning Fengzhi's table, and that his future father-in-law must be in excellent health.
Not long after the banquet began, Ning Fengzhi elegantly raised his wine glass, turned his gaze to Lin Hai, and spoke sincerely:
"Lin Hai, thank you for your help to Rong Rong. As her father, I will remember it. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask. As long as it doesn't touch the core interests of the sect, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will do its best to help you."
After saying that, he unusually downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, his demeanor revealing an extraordinary solemnity.
Lin Hai also raised his glass to join in, drinking it down readily, then put down his glass and said:
"Sect Master Ning, you are too kind. However, I have a question, which may be a bit presumptuous, but I am genuinely curious. What exactly are you referring to as the core interests of the sect, Sect Master Ning?"
Gu Rong snorted and took over the conversation, his voice low and direct. "Hmph, kid, why don't you tell me first, what brings you here? And what do you want?"
The core interests of a sect are too general to be defined in a few words. If Lin Hai is indeed from the Spirit Hall, then his intentions and conditions must be clearly understood first.
Lin Hai did not answer immediately. He pondered for a moment, as if considering his words. Then, he took out the Saint Son Token, which represented his identity, from his Storage Spirit Tool, placed it lightly on the table, and flicked it with his finger.
With a soft buzzing sound, the Saint Son Token, as if guided by its own navigation system, skillfully navigated through the dazzling array of dishes without touching any cups or plates, finally coming to a steady stop on Ning Fengzhi's right.
"Such powerful Soul Power control!" Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong were all shocked at the same time, and a look of surprise flashed in their eyes.
Their gazes were lowered, landing on the silver token inlaid with a purple gemstone. When they saw the words "Holy Son," they thought to themselves: Just as I thought.
A complex, bitter smile appeared on Ning Fengzhi's face. He sighed softly, his voice heavy with emotion:
"The Spirit Hall has existed for at least several thousand years since its establishment. Initially, it was dedicated to combating Fallen Soul Master and maintaining order and balance in the Soul Master World, making invaluable contributions to the entire continent."
"However, in recent years, the Spirit Hall has been expanding its power, recruiting a large number of commoner Soul Master, annexing the forces of various families and sects, and even beginning to infiltrate the various kingdoms and duchies under the two great empires."
"Now... have they finally set their sights on the Upper Three Sects and the two great empires?" His gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Lin Hai.
Lin Hai first glanced at Ning Rongrong, who looked curious and bewildered, giving her a reassuring look before turning back and smiling:
"As strength grows, ambition grows with it; this is simply human nature. In the near future, a war that sweeps across the continent is inevitable. But in this world, what logic is there in fighting one's own people?"
"To borrow Uncle Ning's words, if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has any needs or conditions, please feel free to speak up. As long as it does not violate the laws of the future Spirit Hall Empire, I will do my best to assist you!"