As soon as he finished speaking.
Tang Yu casually raised his right hand and gave a light wave in midair.
The suffocating killing intent that had shrouded the entire mountainside instantly receded like the tide.
The oppressive crimson glow in the sky faded as well, and sunlight spilled down once more.
That terrifying force, which had seemed capable of swallowing all life, was as if it had never existed.
Once the formation was lifted.
Chen Xin and Gu Rong, lying on the ground, immediately felt a warm current return to their bodies.
The life force that had been forcibly drained from them miraculously began to return.
Their once withered, aged appearances gradually returned to normal.
Their deathly pale complexions slowly grew rosy again, and their breathing became steady and strong.
Chen Xin and Gu Rong were once again deeply shaken.
They were mighty Super Douluo, both above level ninety-five, figures who stood at the pinnacle of the continent.
Yet now, their life force had been entirely at someone else's mercy, manipulated at will.
Feeling that all their life force had returned to their bodies and that they were no longer in danger.
The two hurriedly scrambled to their feet and dropped to one knee.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for sparing our lives!"
Chen Xin and Gu Rong cried out in unison, their voices filled with the relief of having survived a catastrophe and profound gratitude.
Seeing a disaster that could have wiped out the entire clan vanish into thin air.
Ning Fengzhi immediately stood up and turned toward the sect disciples behind him, who were still terrified out of their wits.
He raised his staff and loudly issued the Sect Master's command.
He summoned the several thousand disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, from top to bottom, and had them gather in orderly formation at the plaza before the mountain gate.
Led by Ning Fengzhi, everyone dropped to their knees in unison, bowing toward Tang Yu in midair.
"From this day forth, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will follow the Blue Silver King's lead!"
The grand declaration echoed through the valley for a long time, deafening to the ears.
Tang Yu remained standing high in the sky, his hands behind his back.
The breeze swept across his black robe, lightly lifting his hair.
He calmly accepted the reverent worship of tens of thousands of people from the greatest auxiliary sect under heaven.
Ning Rongrong, kneeling at the very front, slowly raised her head and gazed up at the figure standing in the void.
Sunlight outlined the young man's tall, straight frame, making him appear especially imposing.
For a moment, this darling daughter of heaven was completely entranced.
Now that was a real man—a peerless hero who could turn clouds with one hand and rain with the other.
By comparison, what did Oscar, who was always trying to curry favor with her, amount to?
He wasn't even worthy of putting on Prince Wuyang's shoes.
Once everyone had finished their prostrations.
Ning Fengzhi drew a deep breath and suddenly strode forward from the crowd.
He bowed slightly, a fawning smile on his face.
"Your Highness."
"I have an unreasonable request. I hope Your Highness will grant it."
With that, Ning Fengzhi turned to look at his daughter Ning Rongrong, still kneeling on the ground in a daze.
Then he turned his gaze back to Tang Yu in midair.
"Your Highness possesses strength that reaches the heavens. You are a once-in-a-million-year genius, unmatched throughout the ages of Douluo Continent."
"My youngest daughter, Rongrong, has decent talent."
"Would Your Highness be willing to do me the honor of letting Rongrong stay by your side, serving you tea and water, and becoming your disciple?"
A breeze swept across the plaza before the mountain gate of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The air of bloodshed and slaughter had completely dissipated.
Sunlight once again spread across the battered flagstones.
Ning Rongrong stood there in a daze.
The scene of utter devastation from moments ago kept replaying in her mind.
That black-robed young man had merely raised a hand.
Two Super Douluo above level ninety-five had fallen like ants, utterly powerless to fight back.
The little girl's heart pounded wildly.
For the first time in her life, she had felt such intense admiration for someone.
Back at Shrek Academy, she had thought those so-called geniuses were nothing special.
Even Oscar, who was always trying to curry favor with her, seemed so dim beside Tang Yu that he was less than a speck of dust.
Even Dai Mubai, Tang San, and all the others combined couldn't match a single finger of Tang Yu's.
Longing sprang up in Ning Rongrong's heart like wild grass, growing unchecked.
If she could learn from someone like him, she would be able to throw her weight around on the continent in the future.
Ning Rongrong didn't hesitate at all.
She took several steps forward, coming to a stop beneath Tang Yu.
Her knees buckled, and she dropped heavily onto the hard stone slabs.
Her knees struck the stone with a dull thud, but she seemed not to feel the pain.
"Please accept me as your disciple, Prince Wuyang!"
Ning Rongrong raised her head and gazed at Tang Yu in midair, her eyes blazing.
Her voice was clear and sweet, carrying a hint of her usual haughtiness and confidence.
As far as she was concerned, she was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's precious darling.
She had taken the initiative to kneel and ask to become someone's disciple—this was a first in all history.
No matter what, he would give her—and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—face.
Tang Yu lowered his head slightly.
His gaze swept indifferently over Ning Rongrong, kneeling on the ground.
There wasn't the slightest ripple in his eyes.
He wasn't moved in the least by the fact that she was a peerless genius girl renowned throughout the land.
"No."
The two crisp, decisive words fell from Tang Yu's lips.
There was no further explanation, nor the slightest room for discussion.
The anticipation on Ning Rongrong's face froze instantly.
She even wondered if she had heard him wrong.
"You won't?"
Ning Rongrong bit her lower lip in defiance, her voice rising several notches.
Ever since she was little, her father and two grandfathers had granted her every wish.
Wherever she went, she was the center of attention.
When had anyone ever rejected her so bluntly?
The little girl's stubborn streak flared up at once.
She straightened her upper body from the ground and clenched both hands into fists.
"Why not?"
"My Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"
"It's recognized throughout Douluo Continent as the number one auxiliary Martial Soul!"
"And I have innate level-nine Soul Power!"
"Across the entire world, how many auxiliary Soul Masters have talent like mine?"
"You must know how much our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's support abilities can accomplish on the battlefield."
"With talent as powerful as mine, why can't I be your disciple?"
Ning Rongrong rattled off all her advantages in one breath.
Her chest heaved violently with excitement.
She just couldn't understand what she was lacking.
Ning Fengzhi, standing behind her, was so alarmed by his daughter's challenge that his scalp went numb.
His heart, which had just settled down, leapt into his throat once more.
That girl had no idea of the danger she was in.
Hadn't she just seen how close Uncle Sword and Uncle Bone had come to losing their lives?
And now she dared to speak to this god of slaughter in such a tone?
Ning Fengzhi abandoned all concern for his dignity as Sect Master and rushed forward in three quick strides.
He pulled Ning Rongrong behind him.
His face plastered with an extremely fawning smile, he repeatedly bowed and cupped his hands.
"Please calm your anger, Your Highness. I beg you, please calm down."
"Rongrong was spoiled by me from a young age. She speaks without thinking and doesn't know her manners."
"But what she said just now is indeed true."
"Rongrong's talent is exceptional. Even in the hundred-year history of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it is exceedingly rare."