How to send off one wave, only for another to arrive

"Rongrong, how are you so impressive?"

Ning Fengzhi looked over to see that Sword Douluo was sparring with Ning Rongrong without using any soul power. By the looks of it, Ning Rongrong had caught him off guard and made him suffer a small loss.

No, wait—how could a Soul Grand Master take advantage of a Title Douluo using martial arts?

"Dean Chen, do you have any martial arts manuals for sale?"

At this moment, Ning Fengzhi realized what the most valuable asset of Phantom Star Academy was: these martial arts.

Watching the students still practicing around him, his eyes lit up. Just on the walk over, he had already seen more than five different types of martial arts.

"They are not for sale."

No one could buy cultivation techniques from him. From the moment he founded the academy, he had determined that these techniques belonged to the academy's assets.

He could not bring himself to misappropriate academy property for personal gain.

Ning Fengzhi did not feel much disappointment; he hadn't held much hope to begin with and had only brought it up in passing.

Besides, Chen An had agreed to accept students from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Even if the martial arts they learned weren't on par with Ning Rongrong's, it would still be a good deal.

Therefore, he made up his mind to send a batch of the sect's most talented students over next year.

"So, Rongrong has a certain level of self-defense capability now?"

Thinking of this, he became even more enthusiastic. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was notoriously lacking in individual combat ability.

They were also famously weak in one-on-one fights. Now that there was a chance to change this situation, how could he not be excited?

Just imagine: when an enemy gets close to a support-type soul master, they either find they can't break through the defense, or they find the opponent's attacks are even stronger than their own.

How wonderful that would be.

The two began to politely decline each other's offers, though it was mostly Ning Fengzhi wanting to sponsor more things.

"Goodbye, Father. Goodbye, Grandpa Sword."

Time was always short. A busy man like Ning Fengzhi had many matters to attend to, including the trial production of the first batch of medicinal herbs he had obtained from Chen An.

In short, he could not stay here for too long, so after calculating the time, he bid farewell to Chen An and Ning Rongrong.

Before leaving, he reminded her to study hard and practice diligently.

After they had completely left the grounds of Phantom Star, Ning Fengzhi asked Sword Douluo.

"Uncle Sword, if you were to face Dean Chen, what are your odds of winning?"

When they had met Chen An earlier, Sword Douluo hadn't said much, keeping his guard up the entire time.

The last time he had seen Sword Douluo with such an attitude was when facing the elders of Martial Soul Hall.

"It's hard to say. The pressure he gives me is even stronger than when I face Old Bone."

Sword Douluo pondered for a moment. He had originally wanted to say it would be a draw, but he didn't feel very confident in his heart.

According to their intelligence network, Chen An's first eight soul rings were all one hundred thousand years old. That alone was enough for him to fight above his rank.

"Fortunately, he falls into the category of those who uphold order."

It was rare to see someone like Chen An who possessed such strength yet was willing to abide by order. Perhaps it was a difference in pursuits and values.

Ning Fengzhi felt nothing but respect and a desire to maintain friendly relations with him.

Not long after they left, Chen An proceeded with his weekly lecture.

The so-called "grand lecture" was a class for all students in the school, with him presiding personally.

"Tsk, why are so many people here today?"

Chen An was displeased. He had just sent off the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and now another group had arrived.

Moreover, they did not come with good intentions. Their momentum was overbearing, and they made no attempt to hide their auras—it was a blatant act of provocation.

This level of intensity was likely that of a Title Douluo, and following them was another aura, even more formidable than the leader's.

He couldn't even estimate their rank.

"What a nuisance."

The students were all on the training grounds right now; with the other party's aggressive aura, it was hard to guarantee that a fight wouldn't break out.

"Children, that is all for today's class. Return to your dormitories and do not linger outside."

At Chen An's command, the students looked at him with confusion. Even the teachers were puzzled.

But seeing Chen An's stern expression, they dared not step forward to ask questions, so they dutifully began leading their respective classes back to the dorms.

"Junior Sister, let's head back to the dorms too."

"Alright."

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance, sensing that their master must have his reasons for doing this.

Once everyone had left, Chen An activated the academy's formation and pulled a chair out from his Storage Ring.

He sat down leisurely on the spot, waiting for the visitors to come knocking.

"You two Douluo are quite grand. I wonder whose orders you are following to come and test me?"

The two hovered in the air; Chen An did not look up, merely stating coldly.

At a time like this, he did not mind exposing their objective directly, with two Douluo above him manifesting their Martial Souls—one blooming with chrysanthemums, the other a ghostly figure.

Their identities were plain to see, and who had sent them was just as obvious.

"Hmph, I..."

The moment the word left his lips, Chen An's monstrous pressure combined with the suppression of his formation surged toward them.

It forced the two Title Douluo to land on the ground, though such pressure was clearly insufficient to subdue them.

"Hmph, you yellow-haired brat."

Chrysanthemum Guan and Ghost exchanged a tacit look after saying this, joining forces to release their own pressure to push back against the force Chen An had exerted.

Yet they remained shaken; it had taken both of them working together to repel that pressure.

"By order of the Empress, we are here to discuss matters of cooperation."

There was no need to think; this "cooperation" was not mutually beneficial. It was nothing more than a demand for submission, or perhaps an inquiry into the origin of his spirit rings.

For two Title Douluo to come in person, making such a grand display and acting with such condescension, it could only be these matters.

Especially since he appeared to have no background on the continent, yet possessed strength capable of interfering with their plans, all while beginning to grow close to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Not interested. Please leave."

Chen An was blunt, but the expressions of the two Douluo darkened further.

Judging from this that Chen An harbored malice toward Martial Soul Hall, they acted without hesitation, following the instructions Bibi Dong had arranged for them before their departure.

"Eighth Spirit Ability."

They unleashed their eighth spirit abilities in unison, attempting to suppress Chen An in a single strike and drag him back to Martial Soul Hall.

The surprise attack was expected; Chen An had long been prepared. Activating his Martial Soul Avatar, he summoned the true form of the Myriad Silk, with billions of threads drifting through the air to transform into a massive shield that blocked the assault.

He had never been one to take a beating without retaliating, so as the giant shield shifted into the style of the Miao Dao from his Xiuchun Blade, he flashed forward to strike.

"So fast."

The two Douluo were shocked by Chen An's speed, realizing that by the time they spotted him, his blade was already descending.

"Clang."

They had not anticipated that Chen An would choose to blast them away with a palm strike, forcefully twisting his body to swing his blade toward the rear.

"Is this the style of Martial Soul Hall? I've learned my lesson."

This person was a Title Douluo who had followed them; he had been wondering why one person was missing.

So, there must still be someone lurking in the shadows.

Chen An spat in disgust; Martial Soul Hall was certainly giving him a lot of face.

"I wonder if Dean Chen would be willing to give me some face and let them go?"

Looking at the staff in his hand, it was undoubtedly the Coiling Dragon Staff of Mu Yang, though it was unclear if it was Thousand Jun or Falling Devil.

It mattered little; their strength was similar, and both were equally troublesome.

"Your face? Who do you think you are? Qian Daoliu coming here himself might be worth something."

He had intended to teach Chrysanthemum and Ghost a lesson, but he hadn't expected this Thousand Jun Douluo to sneak-attack an old man like him; it was utterly shameless.

The condescending tone demanding he release them only fueled his rage further.

After throwing down those harsh words, the long blade in his hand transformed into a staff, and with a swing of the long weapon, he prepared to test his strength against his opponent.