Ning Fengzhi sat in the middle of the first row of the VIP seats. Sword Douluo sat on his left, and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe on his right.
All three wore white.
Ning Fengzhi wore a faint smile at all times, but it never seemed false. Instead, it looked perfectly natural. His refined, amiable features and every graceful movement gave him an air of elegance.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was practically Ning Fengzhi's double. Both carried themselves with calm ease and gentle elegance.
The difference was that Ning Fengzhi's gaze was deeper, full of wisdom. He was a middle-aged man of great depth.
Xue Qinghe was young and gave people the feeling of a gentle breeze in spring.
Sword Douluo had a gaze sharp as a sword and the classic look of sword-shaped brows and bright, starry eyes. Though old, his skin was ruddy, and he radiated the air of a formidable expert. From a distance, he looked like a sword immortal descended to the mortal realm.
The three swept their gazes over the Soul Fighting Zone, pausing briefly whenever they saw Ling Yun.
Ling Yun met their gazes without flinching. Xue Qinghe's stare carried a mix of emotions.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze was probing. With just one look, he sensed that Ling Yun was no ordinary person.
Sword Douluo's gaze was intensely predatory and curious.
Of the three, Ning Fengzhi's gaze put the most pressure on Ling Yun, as though his secrets had all been seen through in an instant.
Xue Qinghe's gaze came next. Sword Douluo's, by contrast, felt the least oppressive.
Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin sat in the row behind them.
Meng Shenji stood and announced, "Students, let's welcome His Highness the Crown Prince and Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who have come to inspect the academy!"
Thunderous applause erupted.
Meng Shenji murmured a few words, and Ning Fengzhi and the Crown Prince nodded.
Xue Qinghe rose to his feet and pressed both hands downward. The venue fell so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping.
"This is hardly the first time I've come to inspect the academy. This time, however, you've given me quite a pleasant surprise."
"You're all so spirited, and you're not afraid of getting hurt. You are the pillars of the empire. I hope you'll keep up the good work."
"Next, let's welcome the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who is also my teacher, Mr. Ning Fengzhi, to say a few words."
Another wave of thunderous applause filled the venue.
Ning Fengzhi stood, nodded slightly, then raised a hand and pressed it down. The venue quieted.
"I'm very pleased to meet you all. As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I've witnessed the growth of countless Soul Masters. As the noblest profession on the Douluo Continent, a Soul Master's growth depends on all kinds of trials. Fear neither bloodshed nor hardship, and face pain bravely—these are qualities every outstanding Soul Master should possess."
"Soul Fighting is a process of getting injured, enduring pain, and improving yourself, again and again."
"Seeing so many students sweat it out in the Soul Fighting Arena makes me very glad. You have the qualities it takes to become outstanding Soul Masters."
"Thank you!"
Applause rang out once more. After Ning Fengzhi sat down, Meng Shenji continued, "Carry on! Keep things as they are!"
On the arena, the student who had just stepped up had planned to use a Soul Skill or two before admitting defeat. But with so many important figures watching, he changed his mind. No matter what, he was going to put on a good showing.
The burly teacher continued announcing the match rules.
"Chen Baoguang of Heavenly Grade Class Three, Golden Gourd Martial Soul, level twenty-five. Please instruct me." As he finished speaking, a shining golden gourd appeared in Chen Baoguang's hand, and two Yellow Soul Rings revolved around his waist.
"Ling Yun of Heavenly Grade Class One, Yin-Yang Mirror Martial Soul, level twenty-eight. Please instruct me."
Ling Yun released his Martial Soul as well. Red and white light flowed across the mirror's surface, and the fleeting aura of creation did not escape Sword Douluo's notice.
A yellow First Soul Ring and a purple Second Soul Ring revolved around Ling Yun's waist.
A flash of light passed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes. Sword Douluo sent him a telepathic message: "Sect Master, the boy's foundation is solid, his Martial Soul is extraordinary, and his vitality is vigorous. He must have consumed a heavenly treasure. His Soul Power wasn't raised through some unorthodox method."
Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly. His main reason for coming this time was to determine whether Ling Yun really was a genius.
He knew that unorthodox methods existed in the Soul Master World, allowing people to raise their Soul Power in a short time by consuming their own life force.
If Ling Yun had used such a method, then Ning Fengzhi would have considered the trip a waste.
Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, felt it even more strongly. When Ling Yun's Martial Soul appeared, she felt an urge to release her Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul. She quickly suppressed it.
On the arena,
Ling Yun looked completely relaxed, as though he hadn't expended any energy at all. His entire bearing was calm and natural.
Chen Baoguang was under immense pressure. His expression was grave, and his eyes never stopped tracking Ling Yun's every move.
"The match begins!" the burly teacher called.
Chen Baoguang's Golden Gourd instantly grew larger and shielded him from the front. That way, even if Ling Yun's Martial Soul Light shone on him, he could make sure it didn't hit him.
Then Chen Baoguang's First Soul Ring flared brightly. The Golden Gourd spun rapidly, its mouth opening as a gleaming golden flying sword shot out.
Under Chen Baoguang's control, it hurtled toward Ling Yun.
Ling Yun's expression turned strange. Why did the attack method of this Martial Soul look so much like that of a certain magical treasure?
The flying sword shot toward Ling Yun's chest at incredible speed, trailing a sharp whistle. At the critical moment, Ling Yun's body turned indistinct, and he appeared a meter away as if he had teleported. The sword struck the arena, carving a long mark before turning around and stabbing toward him again.
The six people in the VIP seats saw clearly that Ling Yun hadn't used any teleportation Soul Skill. He had simply moved incredibly fast.
That explosive burst of speed involved an advanced technique for controlling Soul Power.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up even more. He hadn't expected to actually come across a genius.
Sooner or later, he would hand the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect over to his daughter. But to protect that legacy, he would have to find her an outstanding partner.
Because of their Martial Soul, one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's rules was that the partners of direct descendants had to be Battle Soul Masters.
Ling Yun's performance greatly pleased him.
On the arena, Chen Baoguang saw that one flying sword wasn't enough to catch Ling Yun. His Second Soul Ring lit up as well, and another flying sword shot out of the gourd.
The two swords attacked from front and back, hurtling toward Ling Yun.
In the blink of an eye, Ling Yun's Martial Soul flew above the center of the arena. Red and white light shone down, enveloping the space below.
Seeing this, Chen Baoguang controlled one flying sword to keep chasing Ling Yun, while the other aimed at the Yin-Yang Mirror and launched an attack.
The flying sword, which had tried to pierce the Yin-Yang Mirror Martial Soul, stopped three inches from its surface, unable to advance even a fraction further.
The next moment, the three-foot golden sword was like a snowflake falling into a tropical desert under the blazing sun.
Under the Yin-Yang Mirror's white light, it melted away completely.
"What an overbearing thousand-year Soul Skill!" Sword Douluo said quietly.
"Oh? Uncle Jian, what did you notice?"
"This Soul Skill carries an aura of absolute destruction. Its purity is almost equal to that of a tribulation thunderbolt."
"I once encountered the Thunder-Roaring Hell Vine. This plant Soul Beast could absorb lightning to increase its age. A hundred strikes of lightning added one year. Once it passed the hundred-year mark, it could draw lightning on its own. When it broke through the ten-thousand-year mark, it could summon the elements and create a lightning pool."
"I remember that lightning, imbued with the might of heaven and earth, very clearly."
"That flying sword was destroyed by the white light. Though the white light wasn't lightning or a tribulation thunderbolt, its essence was the same: destruction."
"It wouldn't be wrong to call it the Light of Destruction."
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