Refusal

In the room, Qian Renxue shed her Xue Qinghe disguise and changed into a magnificent gown of holy white and gold, returning to her breathtakingly beautiful appearance.

Her silky golden hair spilled down her back, falling to her round, pert hips. Her features were bright and noble, as if she were a peerless fairy who had stepped out of a painting. Her golden eyes radiated an icy aloofness and authority that kept everyone at a distance.

Even her loose, elegant gown could not hide her tall, graceful figure. Her chest was full and prominent, and her waist was slender as a willow branch.

Most captivating were her long, shapely legs. As she walked, they appeared and vanished beneath her dress, pale and smooth.

She truly was a beauty like a celestial maiden.

Creak!

Qian Renxue pushed open the door, her breathtaking beauty restored, and addressed Porcupinefish Douluo, who had been waiting for a long time.

"Let's go."

On the other side, Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, and Sword Douluo had already arrived at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena and were heading to Ling Tian's competition venue.

Unfortunately, Ling Tian's match had just ended, and they had missed the chance to see him in action.

All they saw was a tall, slender young man on the arena, wearing a Golden Dragon Mask and holding a silver-white longsword. Blood kept dripping from its tip.

He looked down at the young man kneeling before him, his eyes vacant and unfocused, his face pale, and said, "Your swordsmanship is good. It's just a pity that you still fall a little short."

After speaking, the young man glanced around. Amid the thunderous cheers, his gaze settled on the referee not far away.

"Announce the result." He lifted his chin.

The referee came to his senses, still stunned, and nodded repeatedly before shouting, "Ling Tian, at Soul Power level thirty-eight, fought Mo Jian, at Soul Power level forty-nine. Ling Tian wins! Ten points!"

The young man twirled his sword, flicked the blood from its blade, and slid it into the sheath on his back. He glanced at Mo Jian, who was still dazed and unfocused, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Ning Fengzhi watched him go, nodding in satisfaction with a smile. "What an outstanding young talent! Rongrong, what do you think of him?"

He pointed toward the young man heading for the corridor, then looked at his precious daughter, hoping she would take her heart back from that good-for-nothing. This Ling Tian was countless times better than that Qin Yuan.

"He's very impressive," Ning Rongrong said seriously.

"Heh, then you..." Ning Fengzhi smiled.

"But I still like Yuan Gege best." Ning Rongrong's words lodged in her father's throat.

"..." Ning Fengzhi's smile froze on his face. His expression darkened like an iron pot, and he cursed furiously in his heart.

"What kind of bewitching potion did that brat give my daughter? He's got Rongrong wrapped around his finger! No, that boy is nowhere near good enough for her. Ling Tian is my perfect son-in-law!"

"It looks like I'll have to get Rongrong to spend more time with Ling Tian."

Qin Yuan had come to the Soul Fighting Arena specifically to fight Mo Jian, a master of the Sword Path. Now that the match was over, he was leaving.

He had just stepped out of the dim corridor when a crisp round of applause rang out from the bright exit ahead, followed by a refined, warm voice.

"As expected of the peerless genius who has shaken the entire Heavenly Dou Empire. You fought a level forty-nine Soul Ancestor with only level thirty-eight Soul Power and emerged completely unscathed. Such a staggering feat will go down in the annals of the Soul Master World!"

Qin Yuan stopped in his tracks, surprise flashing in his eyes. That voice... was it Ning Fengzhi?!

Wasn't he supposed to arrive tomorrow?

Though surprised, he showed nothing. He walked toward the exit, and only then saw that Ning Fengzhi was there with Ning Rongrong and Sword Douluo.

"May I ask who you are?" Qin Yuan asked, pretending not to recognize him.

"Heh, I'm Ning Fengzhi, the current Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly. Looking at Qin Yuan, he introduced Ning Rongrong and Sword Douluo beside him.

"Ling Tian, this is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's elder, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, the Number One Sword Dao Expert on the Douluo Continent.

"And this is my daughter, Ning Rongrong. She's only a few years younger than you, so you can get to know each other. We elders would be very happy to see you young people spend time together."

Ning Fengzhi made no secret of his matchmaking intentions.

"Father!" Ning Rongrong could easily tell what her father meant and called out in protest.

Qin Yuan looked at Ning Fengzhi oddly, thinking, As if I need you to play matchmaker.

"Sector Master Ning, may I ask what you wanted with me? Please get straight to the point," Qin Yuan said frankly.

Ning Fengzhi's expression turned serious. He spoke solemnly.

"I've come to invite you to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I'll offer you the most generous rewards. When the time comes, the entire sect will spare no effort to find you the best Soul Rings and Soul Bones!

"I pledge in my capacity as Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect that your ninth Soul Ring will be a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, and any Soul Bone obtained from the hunt will be yours!

"Ling Tian, are you willing to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

After he finished, Ning Fengzhi found himself watching Qin Yuan nervously, afraid that the peerless genius would turn him down.

After all, if he could win this peerless genius over, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's standing would be much more secure in the future. Even Spirit Hall would have to think twice before crossing them.

Hearing Ning Fengzhi's offer, Sword Douluo's eyes widened slightly. He was shaken.

"Fengzhi actually offered such incredible terms! This boy will hardly be able to refuse."

Ning Rongrong, too, stared at her father, stunned.

Qin Yuan's heart jolted. This old geezer's something else. He's actually offering such generous terms. Even Spirit Hall would hesitate to match them.

Still, he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Sect Master Ning. I have no intention of joining any sect."

"He actually turned him down!" Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, and Sword Douluo all stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

In their eyes, no Soul Master could refuse such incredible terms. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was offering to devote all its resources to his cultivation!

And there was a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Soul Bone, too! Was there something wrong with Ling Tian's head?!

Ning Fengzhi then tried to persuade him with all his might, laying out reason and appealing to his feelings in hopes that Ling Tian would join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

But Qin Yuan still refused.

Ning Fengzhi could only watch him leave, his face full of disappointment.

"Alas, what a pity. A peerless genius like him has no connection with my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Ning Fengzhi shook his head and sighed.

After a long while, he composed himself and turned to Sword Douluo and Ning Rongrong.

"Let's return to the sect."

"Father, Sword Grandpa, Yuan Gege should be home by now. We can go and give him some guidance on the Sword Path," Ning Rongrong said.

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo furrowed their brows. Sword Douluo in particular found it beneath him, as the Number One Sword Dao Expert, to instruct a novice who had only been learning the Sword Path for a mere six months.

The crown prince might have said Qin Yuan had already touched the seventh stage of the Sword Path, but how could Sword Douluo possibly believe that?

A novice who had studied the Sword Path for only half a year could have entered at most the first stage. He was not worthy of instruction from Sword Douluo.

But Ning Rongrong kept pleading, calling him "Sword Grandpa" over and over.

In the end, Sword Douluo couldn't take it anymore and reluctantly agreed.

"Let's be clear: I'm only going one more time. If that boy still isn't home, this old man won't wait for him!"

"Mm-hmm! Sword Grandpa is the best!"