Ning Fengzhi Appreciates

Ning Fengzhi sat in the middle of the first row of the VIP seats, with Sword Douluo to his left and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe to his right.

All three were dressed in white.

Ning Fengzhi wore a faint smile at all times, yet it did not appear fake; rather, it was entirely natural. His demeanor was scholarly and easygoing, and every gesture he made appeared exceptionally elegant.

Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was practically a carbon copy of Ning Fengzhi; both men carried themselves with a calm, natural, gentle, and refined air.

The difference was that Ning Fengzhi's eyes were deeper and filled with wisdom, marking him as a middle-aged man of great substance.

Xue Qinghe was young and gave off a feeling as refreshing as a spring breeze.

Sword Douluo's gaze was like a blade, and his features were those of a classic hero with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes. Although he was an elder, his skin was ruddy and he carried the aura of a powerhouse; viewed from afar, he looked like a sword immortal descended to the mortal realm.

The three men's gazes swept across the Soul Fighting Zone, and when they saw Ling Yun, they each paused for a moment.

Ling Yun's gaze did not shy away, while the emotions behind Xue Qinghe's stare were varied.

Ning Fengzhi's gaze carried a probing quality; with just one look, he sensed that Ling Yun was extraordinary.

Sword Douluo's gaze was filled with intense aggression and curiosity.

Among them, Ning Fengzhi's gaze placed the most pressure on Ling Yun, as if his secrets had been seen through at a single glance.

Xue Qinghe's was second, while Sword Douluo's gaze actually felt the most relaxed to Ling Yun.

Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin sat in the row behind them.

Meng Shenji stood up and said, "Students, let us welcome His Highness the Crown Prince and Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as they come to inspect us!"

Thunderous applause erupted.

Meng Shenji whispered a few words, and Ning Fengzhi and the Crown Prince nodded.

Xue Qinghe stood up and pressed his hands downward, and the venue became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

"This Palace has come to inspect the academy more than once, but this time, you have given This Palace quite a surprise."

"Your fighting spirit is so high, and you do not fear injury. You are all pillars of the Empire, and I hope you will all continue to strive for excellence."

"Next, I invite the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who is also my teacher, Mr. Ning Fengzhi, to say a few words."

The venue erupted in thunderous applause once again.

After Ning Fengzhi stood up, he nodded slightly, then raised his hand to press it down, and the venue fell silent.

"I am very happy to meet you all. As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, This Seat has seen the growth journeys of far too many soul masters. As the most noble profession on the Douluo Continent, a soul master's growth cannot be separated from all kinds of tempering. Not fearing bloodshed, not fearing hardship, and having the courage to face pain—these are the qualities that an excellent soul master must possess."

"The process of soul fighting is a process of constantly being injured, constantly enduring pain, and constantly improving oneself."

"Seeing so many students sweating on the Soul Fighting Arena, This Seat is very gratified. You possess the qualities to become excellent soul masters."

"Thank you!"

Applause rang out again. After Ning Fengzhi sat down, Meng Shenji continued, "Let us continue! Proceed as planned!"

On the arena, the student who had just stepped up had originally intended to release a wave of soul skills and then concede, but with so many heavyweight figures watching, he changed his mind; he was determined to show off his style no matter what.

The burly teacher continued to announce the rules of the match.

"Heavenly Grade Class Three, Chen Baoguang, Martial Soul Golden Gourd, level 25. Please offer your guidance." As he finished speaking, a golden gourd appeared in Chen Baoguang's hand, and two yellow soul rings swirled around his waist.

"Heavenly Grade Class One, Ling Yun, Martial Soul Yin-Yang Mirror, level 28. Please offer your guidance."

Ling Yun also released his Martial Soul. The red and white colors of the Yin-Yang Mirror flowed across its surface, and the fleeting aura of creation was caught by Sword Douluo's eyes.

A yellow first soul ring and a purple second soul ring swirled around Ling Yun's waist.

A flash of brilliance passed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes, and Sword Douluo transmitted his voice, "Sect Master, this kid has a solid foundation, an extraordinary Martial Soul, and vigorous vitality. He must have consumed some heavenly treasure; his soul power was not raised through evil arts."

Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly. The main reason he came this time was to confirm whether Ling Yun was truly a genius.

He knew that evil arts existed in the soul master world, capable of raising soul power in a short time by overdrawing one's vitality.

If Ling Yun were that type, he would have considered his trip a waste of time.

Qian Renxue, in the guise of Xue Qinghe, felt it even more clearly. When Ling Yun's Martial Soul appeared, she felt an urge to release her Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, an impulse she quickly suppressed.

On the arena.

Ling Yun appeared calm and relaxed, as if he had not expended any energy at all; his entire state was loose and natural.

Chen Baoguang was under immense pressure, his expression grave as his eyes constantly observed Ling Yun's every move.

"The match begins!" The burly teacher's voice rang out.

Chen Baoguang's Golden Gourd instantly grew larger, blocking his front so that even if Ling Yun's Martial Soul Light were to shine, he could ensure he would not be hit.

Subsequently, Chen Baoguang's first soul ring shone brightly. The Golden Gourd spun at high speed, the gourd mouth opened, and a golden flying sword shot out from within.

Under Chen Baoguang's control, it blasted toward Ling Yun.

Seeing this, Ling Yun's expression turned strange; the attack method of this Martial Soul was so similar to a certain magical treasure.

The flying sword was incredibly fast, whistling through the air as it shot straight for Ling Yun's chest. At the critical moment, Ling Yun's body became illusory, appearing a meter away as if by teleportation. The flying sword struck the arena, carving a long mark before turning around to continue stabbing at Ling Yun.

The six people in the VIP seats saw it clearly: Ling Yun had not used any teleportation soul skill; it was purely speed.

That kind of explosive power involved highly advanced soul power control techniques.

Ning Fengzhi's eyes brightened even further; he had not expected to truly encounter a genius.

He would eventually pass the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect into his daughter's hands, but to safeguard this legacy, he had to scout an exceptional partner for her.

Due to the nature of their Martial Soul, the sect rules dictated that the partners of direct descendants must be Battle Spirit Masters.

Ling Yun's performance had deeply earned his favor.

On the arena stage, seeing that a single flying sword could not pin down Ling Yun, Chen Baoguang's second spirit ring lit up, and a second flying sword soared out from the mouth of his gourd.

The two flying swords launched a pincer attack, shooting explosively toward Ling Yun's body.

In the blink of an eye, Ling Yun's Martial Soul flew to the space above the center of the arena, bathing the area below in red and white light.

Seeing this, Chen Baoguang controlled one flying sword to continue pursuing Ling Yun, while the other aimed at the Yin-Yang Mirror to launch an assault.

The flying sword, intending to pierce the Yin-Yang Mirror Martial Soul, stopped three inches from the mirror's surface, unable to advance even a fraction.

The next moment, the three-foot golden sword fell like a snowflake into a tropical desert under the scorching sun.

Under the illumination of the Yin-Yang Mirror's white light, it completely melted away.

"What an overbearing thousand-year spirit skill!" Sword Douluo said in a low voice.

"Oh! What has Uncle Sword discerned?"

"This spirit skill carries an aura of ultimate destruction; the purity of this aura is almost equivalent to a lightning tribulation."

"I once encountered a Thunder-Roaring Hell Vine. This type of plant spirit beast can absorb lightning to increase its age. Being struck by lightning a hundred times increases its age by one year. Once it surpasses a hundred years, it can autonomously draw in lightning. Upon breaking through to ten thousand years, it can manipulate celestial phenomena to create a pool of lightning."

"I have a deep memory of that kind of lightning, which carries the might of heaven and earth."

"That flying sword was destroyed by the white light. Although the white light is neither lightning nor a lightning tribulation, its essence is destruction."

"It would not be an exaggeration to call it the Light of Destruction."