Ning Fengzhi Plays Matchmaker for Sethos

Sethos watched Ning Fengzhi and his group walk in, raising a hand to greet them.

"Greetings to you all. Please, take a seat if you don't mind."

Sethos acted very easygoing toward everyone; this was simply the nature of people from the desert.

However, in the eyes of Yu Xiaogang, this lacked the bearing of a powerhouse. In his view, a Titled Douluo should be like Tang Hao—brimming with an imposing aura, possessing an overwhelming presence even if dressed like a beggar.

No one actually cared what Yu Xiaogang was thinking, and once Ning Fengzhi sat down, he began to steer the conversation.

Naturally, the Sky Screen was the best topic at the moment.

But before Ning Fengzhi could speak, Yu Xiaogang interjected first.

"Your Excellency Sethos, the Sky Screen just rewarded you with an increase of one thousand years to each of your spirit rings. Is that true?"

"That's right. And you are?"

"My name is Yu Xiaogang. I have conducted extensive research into spirit souls, and people call me the Grandmaster."

Yu Xiaogang shamelessly gilded his own lily, and Sethos, being honest, did not suspect a thing.

"Are you a scholar as well? The Akademiya is a gathering place for scholars; researchers from all sorts of different fields congregate there. Research into spirit souls is also underway at the Akademiya—it is a new subject, and there are quite a few people interested in it. If you are interested in an exchange, I can help introduce you."

Sethos held scholars in high regard, though it was a pity that Yu Xiaogang was merely a dabbler.

Sethos's sincerity left Yu Xiaogang somewhat bewildered, but being thick-skinned, he held his ground while becoming increasingly convinced that there was something fishy about this Akademiya.

After all, if the Akademiya were truly a place where scholars gathered as Sethos described, how could it have remained so obscure?

Under normal circumstances, Yu Xiaogang's reasoning would not have been wrong, but the Akademiya was entirely outside the norm.

To deduce the nature of the Akademiya using normal logic would only lead one further down the wrong path.

"Grandmaster Yu, you are being quite rude!"

Ning Fengzhi emphasized the words "Grandmaster Yu" heavily; if not for the fact that he was Yu Yuanzhen's son, Ning Fengzhi would have thrown him out long ago.

"It is no matter. Many scholars often overlook other things when they encounter a problem they are passionate about. I have encountered such situations before."

"Brother Sethos is truly a kind-hearted person!"

"Walking in the desert, one always encounters all sorts of troubles. If one doesn't learn to help others, it simply won't do. Therefore, most people who come out of the desert have a warm heart."

Ning Fengzhi maintained a polite smile, though he didn't quite understand what that meant. Was there some hidden meaning?

People who overthink are prone to reading too much into things; what Sethos said was merely meant at face value.

Unable to grasp any deeper meaning, Ning Fengzhi gave up and turned to introduce Ning Rongrong to Sethos.

"This is my daughter, Ning Rongrong. She is my most cherished daughter, Rongrong..."

"Hello, I am Ning Rongrong. Your Excellency Sethos, you are so handsome!"

"Hello. Just call me Sethos. You are very beautiful as well."

Hearing Sethos's compliment, Ning Rongrong revealed a sweet smile, which made Oscar, standing to the side, green with envy.

Just as Ning Fengzhi was about to ask about Sethos's personal background, the Sky Screen stirred once more.

[Tighnari is the best Forest Watcher and a conscientious teacher. Collei, as his student, has the most right to speak on this.]

[He is a kind person who will offer help to those stranded in the rainforest. Of course, he will also teach you a lesson, ensuring you deeply understand the dangers of the rainforest.]

[If you are here to cause trouble, Tighnari's duty as a Forest Watcher will ensure you get a taste of his methods.]

[If you encounter him in the rainforest, he is absolutely a person you can trust.]

[He has one small weakness: because of his ears and tail, he is somewhat sensitive to heat, so he dislikes going on business trips to the desert.]

The Sky Screen's evaluation of Tighnari was clearly very high. The final part was obviously a joke; if anyone took it entirely seriously, they might find themselves in trouble.

Collei felt that the Sky Screen's evaluation of her teacher was quite comprehensive; that was exactly how Tighnari felt to her.

Tighnari felt a bit embarrassed, as he only felt he had done what a Forest Watcher ought to do.

"Teacher, what kind of reward will you receive?"

"It should be about the same as Sethos's reward. That is not important, though."

Ouyang Kong spoke up at this moment: "Tighnari, you and Collei should head to Heaven Dou City with them to rendezvous with Sethos and finalize the matters regarding the Akademiya's branch in Heaven Dou City. Once finalized, I will go there personally to complete the site selection and construction."

"Understood, Grand Sage. We shall depart at once."

"Mm!"

As they spoke, the Sky Screen also issued Tighnari's reward.

[Congratulations to Tighnari. All spirit rings increased by 2,000 years.]

Tighnari's spirit rings were revealed: Purple, Purple, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red.

Only then did Dugu Bo realize that Tighnari actually possessed a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.

In Martial Soul City, at the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong looked at the rewards Tighnari had received, lost in thought, while her anticipation for her own top-ranking reward grew ever stronger; she had already come to view the top spot as something firmly within her grasp.

In Heaven Dou City, at the Seven Treasure Hotel, Sethos remarked, "As expected, the higher the ranking, the more generous the rewards. I wonder what the first-place prize will be; it is certainly worth looking forward to."

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Yu Xiaogang spoke up once more.

"Your Excellency Sethos, would you mind letting us see your Martial Soul and Spirit Rings?"

"Ah? You want to see my Martial Soul and Spirit Rings? Of course, I don't mind!"

Sethos summoned the Scion of the Blazing Sun, and simultaneously, nine Spirit Rings—purple, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and red—unfurled around him.

When that final red Spirit Ring appeared, both Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo wore expressions of astonishment.

In this era, even among Title Douluo, those possessing a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring were few and far between.

"A... a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring! How is this possible?"

"Is there really any need to be so surprised?"

Sethos had truly underestimated the scarcity of hundred-thousand-year Spirit Rings.

Now, in the eyes of Qian Renxue and Ning Fengzhi, Sethos had become even more of a prize.

"Sethos, if I may be so bold as to ask, are you married?"

"Ah? Married? No, I am not, and I don't think I have any plans to marry for the time being."

"Why is that?"

"Heh, I suppose I am waiting for the right person. Marriage is not something to be taken lightly."

Ning Fengzhi nodded, then looked at Ning Rongrong before turning his gaze back to Sethos.

"What do you think of my daughter, Rongrong?"

"Ah?"

Sethos was completely bewildered by Ning Fengzhi's maneuver, and once he regained his senses, he hurriedly declined.

"That won't do; the age gap between us is quite significant."

"Haha, age is not an issue. Sethos, you shouldn't be leaving Heaven Dou City anytime soon, should you? Let Rongrong act as your guide and cultivate some feelings in the process."

Sethos wanted to refuse again, but Ning Fengzhi had already made the final decision.

"Say no more; it is settled."