Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo

A clear wind swept across Plant Academy's plaza, dispersing the lingering cold hostility of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

This whole matter was starting to irritate even Lin Mo.

He had already made up his mind to go out and lie low for a while.

Safety was not an issue.

With [Skill: Simulation], he could disguise himself as someone else and walk out openly without anyone noticing.

Secluded Villa

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? They're looking for me?" Lin Mo was starting to go numb.

Was this never going to end?

"Sect Master Ning came in person. You should go meet him," Shen Lin said with a bitter smile.

One thing after another—it really was aggravating.

Unfortunately, the people coming were all major figures, and the academy could not afford to offend them.

Lin Mo understood the academy's difficulties as well.

Before these forces, Plant Academy really could be manipulated at will.

It seemed he needed to leave as soon as possible and lie low somewhere else.

If he stayed here, who knew how many more troublesome people he would attract.

Plant Academy, reception hall.

Ning Fengzhi's brows and eyes were gentle, a faint smile resting on his lips as he looked at the white-robed youth before him. His eyes held genuine admiration.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin had sword-like brows and starry eyes, long white hair draped over his shoulders, and an innate air of grim lethality.

"This junior, Lin Mo, pays respects to Sect Master Ning! To Senior Sword Douluo!"

Lin Mo calmly cupped his hands in greeting, standing tall without either servility or arrogance.

Ning Fengzhi slightly raised a hand in a gesture of support. His voice was gentle and refined, as soothing as a spring breeze.

"No need for such formalities."

"We have come uninvited today on no official business, only for the young genius who has recently risen to fame," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile.

"I dare not call myself a genius. I was merely fortunate," Lin Mo replied.

Come to think of it, this was his second meeting with Ning Fengzhi.

This man was a genuine patron.

Back when he had been destitute, he had ruthlessly fleeced the other party at an auction, selling something at an absurd premium even though it had little practical use.

By both sentiment and reason, he had to show this man some respect.

Ning Fengzhi studied Lin Mo with a gentle gaze before slowly speaking and getting straight to the point.

"I recently heard that, for your second ring, you absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring. I initially had some doubts, so I came personally today in hopes of witnessing it with my own eyes. Would you be willing to oblige me?" Ning Fengzhi asked with an elegant, easygoing smile.

Lin Mo nodded lightly.

At this point, he had to call out a certain Elder Yu by name.

This was the proper attitude for recruitment.

Why put on such an arrogant face and act like some big bad wolf?

Buzz—

A faint violet glow of Soul Power rose around him. Dark Purple Vines burst from the ground and unfurled, while fine purple arcs of lightning crackled with a chilling presence.

The Thunder Hell Vine quietly emerged. It was neither frenzied nor flamboyant, yet the purple vine contained an overbearing thunderous pressure.

Immediately afterward, two Soul Rings, yellow and purple, slowly rose from beneath his feet and revolved around him.

The deep yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring was mild and peaceful, setting off the Thousand-Year Soul Ring above it, which glowed with pale violet light.

The aura of the Thousand-Year Soul Ring spread throughout the hall, real and beyond doubt.

Silence!

Ning Fengzhi's gaze tightened as he stared fixedly at the purple Soul Ring. The admiration in his eyes had completely turned into shock.

He had seen countless prodigies across the continent, geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power, and heaven's favored children born with ultimate Martial Souls. Yet in terms of Soul Ring configuration, Lin Mo was the first person he had ever seen who was so far ahead.

Absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as his second ring was not something that could be summed up by the word "talent." Otherwise, what would all those geniuses throughout history who had exploded and died count as?

There had to be some secret behind his success.

And such an answer was most likely impossible to replicate.

"This old man has lived for a century and fought for half his life, yet only today have my eyes truly been opened," Sword Douluo said with a sigh.

"The quality of your Martial Soul is not low. It should be a top-tier tool Martial Soul, correct?"

"A Thousand-Year Soul Ring for your second ring, yet your foundation is stable and your Soul Power condensed. Absorbing a Soul Ring beyond your level does not seem to have caused you any hidden danger?" Sword Douluo asked.

A strange glint flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

No hidden danger?

Some evil cultivator techniques could drain one's life force and squeeze out one's potential in exchange for a sudden short-term surge in cultivation.

He had assumed Lin Mo's Soul Ring had been obtained through a similar method, one that carried hidden dangers.

Yet there were none?

"I'm not too sure myself. Whether there are any hidden dangers may only become clear in the future," Lin Mo said, gently shaking his head.

"Little Friend Lin Mo, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has always valued talent above all else and treated gifted people from all under heaven well. We do not look at one's background or ask after one's origins."

"Today, on behalf of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I sincerely extend an invitation to you," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile.

"If you are willing to join our sect, I will directly make an exception and grant you the status of a direct disciple, with the highest level of treatment."

"For every Soul Ring you acquire in the future, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will take full responsibility. The sect will devote all its strength to finding suitable ones for you. Once your cultivation advances, I can mobilize all of the sect's connections and resources to clear every obstacle from your path of cultivation."

Every word was sincere.

Compared to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's stinginess, the terms offered by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were brimming with sincerity.

Not only were they offering the fullest possible resources, they were also promising to handle every core opportunity on his future cultivation path.

Everyone present was deeply moved upon hearing this, wishing they could join in Lin Mo's place.

The treatment of a direct disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

It was the kind of treatment countless Soul Masters did not even dare dream of, something countless geniuses would fight desperately to obtain.

Ning Fengzhi quietly watched Lin Mo without urging or pressuring him. Only sincere expectation remained in his eyes.

Lin Mo raised his gaze and met his eyes.

"Thank you for your favor, Sect Master Ning. This junior will remember your sect's sincerity."

"However, this junior is free-spirited by nature and has no intention of joining any sect for the time being. I only wish to focus on cultivation and steadily improve my own strength."

The gazes of every academy higher-up present completely changed as they looked at Lin Mo.

Spirit Hall.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

These were the top forces of Douluo Continent. Joining any one of them would lead to instant success and a boundless future.

Faced with such generous terms, they truly could not understand what he still had to hesitate over.

The academy higher-ups were somewhat suspicious.

If he truly came from Spirit Hall—

If the invitation from Bishop Salas of the Martial Soul Sanctuary had merely been a ruse meant to fool outsiders—

Then he had consecutively rejected the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Could it be that his goal was that sect?

But was that possible?

The Clear Sky Sect had long sealed itself away. How could it possibly have invited him?

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi was not angered in the slightest. Instead, the surprise in his eyes deepened before he broke into a hearty laugh.

"Good! What a clear-hearted mind, unmoved by worldly things!"

"Today, I finally understand why you were able to break the iron laws of cultivation. Such a state of mind surpasses those of your peers and even exceeds that of countless veteran Soul Masters."

He had never forced others against their will. That, too, was the bearing upon which the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stood.

"It is no matter."

Ning Fengzhi waved a hand, his gentle smile unchanged.

"The gates of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will always remain open to you, and the promise I gave you will remain valid forever."

As his words fell, Ning Fengzhi took out a pure white jade pendant from his storage Soul Tool and handed it to Lin Mo.

"This is a token of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"With this jade pendant, you may visit and look around the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect at any time."

There were no binding conditions at all. It was simply an appreciation for talent and a chance to forge goodwill, planting an opportunity for the future.

Lin Mo reached out and accepted the jade pendant. It felt warm and smooth in his hand, brimming with spiritual energy.

"Thank you, Sect Master Ning."

"No need to be so polite."

Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly, his gaze open and forthright.

"Today's meeting has not been in vain. Cultivate in peace, little friend. We will not disturb you any longer."

He exchanged a glance with Sword Douluo, and the two rose to leave.