The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The council hall.
Ning Fengzhi sat in the seat of honor, a cup of tea in his hand, but he hadn't taken a sip.
He was waiting.
Waiting to hear what Chen Xin and Gu Rong thought.
"宗主, I don't agree."
Gu Rong spoke first, his voice low and carrying an unquestionable authority:
"Shrek Academy? What kind of place is that? I've traveled across the continent for so many years and never heard of it."
"Some rundown academy in a village outside Suotuo City."
Chen Xin picked up where he left off, his tone even colder than Gu Rong's. "The dean is Flender, a Seven-Ring Soul Sage. The vice dean is Zhao Wuji, also a Seven-Ring Soul Sage. They have fewer than ten teachers in all, and only three students."
"Three students?" Gu Rong's brow furrowed even tighter. "Sect Master, you want to send Rongrong to a place like that?"
Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup and gave a wry smile. "I knew you'd object. But hear me out before you decide."
"Please go on, Sect Master." Though Chen Xin was firm in his stance, he had always shown Ning Fengzhi respect.
"Rongrong is six this year. She awakened her Martial Soul not long ago. She has Innate Full Soul Power, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and is a One-Ring Soul Master."
Ning Fengzhi spoke unhurriedly. "I'm not worried about any of that. What worries me is her temperament."
Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged a glance but said nothing.
Ning Fengzhi continued, "You both know Rongrong has been spoiled since she was little. In the sect, no one dares offend her, and everyone gives way to her. It isn't her fault; it's the environment. But if things go on like this, when she grows up, who will truly be willing to protect her?"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect doesn't need outsiders to protect it," Gu Rong said. "With Old Sword and me here, that's enough."
"Of course it's enough while you're here."
Ning Fengzhi looked at him. "But what about when you're not? Rongrong is a support-type Soul Master, with virtually no combat ability. What she needs isn't the protection of two Titled Douluo, but a group of companions willing to protect her with their lives. She can't gain companions like that through the sect's reputation or the might of Titled Douluo. She has to earn them herself."
Silence settled over the hall for a long time.
Chen Xin closed his eyes, then opened them again. "The Sect Master makes sense. But is Shrek Academy really suitable?"
"I've observed them for two months," Ning Fengzhi said. "You both know about the Flying Sausage. The boy who makes the sausages is called Oscar. He has Innate Full Soul Power, is a food-type Soul Master, and is eight years old. He's a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster. His second Soul Skill is the Flying Sausage. After eating it, you can fly at the speed of a Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow for an hour."
"At the speed of a Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow?" Gu Rong's pupils contracted. "Even a Seven-Ring Soul Sage can't catch up?"
"Can't catch up." Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "I tested it myself."
Gu Rong fell silent.
"Besides Oscar, there are two other children."
Ning Fengzhi continued, "One is called Fu Wen, Flender's adopted son. He's also six this year, the same age as Rongrong. His Martial Soul is a Mutated Sea Crocodile. When he was a One-Ring Soul Master, he absorbed a Soul Ring that was over four hundred years old, and his Soul Power shot straight up to level thirteen. For his second ring, he absorbed a nine-hundred-year-old Iron-Spine Giant Crocodile. His Soul Power is now level twenty-three. His second Soul Skill is called Flow-Severing. With a sweep of his tail, he can forcibly interrupt his opponent's Soul Power flow."
"Interrupt their Soul Power flow?" Chen Xin's eyes flew open. "He can do that with only two rings?"
"He can." Ning Fengzhi nodded. "I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but the information comes from a reliable source."
"And the other child?" Gu Rong asked.
"His name is Ma Hongjun. His Martial Soul is an Evil Fire Phoenix. He has nine and a half levels of Innate Soul Power. For his first ring, he absorbed a four-hundred-year-old Dawn Light Spirit Crane. His Soul Skill, Phoenix Holy Light Strike, can attack and purify."
Ning Fengzhi paused. "His Martial Soul has a flaw; the evil fire can turn on him. But that child named Fu Wen has a way to suppress it. Fu Wen's future is truly limitless."
Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged another glance.
Each of the three children had their own strengths.
Oscar's Flying Sausage, Fu Wen's Flow-Severing, and Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Holy Light Strike.
Taken individually, each was a genius among geniuses.
Together, and with Flender and Zhao Wuji to teach them, they made Shrek Academy seem far from ordinary.
"Sect Master, you mean... you want Rongrong to study with them?" Chen Xin asked.
"Not study with them. Become their companion."
Ning Fengzhi rose and walked to the window. "Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is the greatest support-type Martial Soul under heaven. Oscar's Flying Sausage lets people fly. Fu Wen can interrupt an opponent's attacks. Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Holy Light Strike can attack and purify. If those four children become true companions, their potential will be limitless."
"And besides..." Ning Fengzhi turned to face Chen Xin and Gu Rong. "Oscar and Fu Wen are both orphans adopted by Flender. They have no family ties or sect obligations. If Rongrong builds a good relationship with them, they may be willing to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect when they grow up. Perhaps we could even bring Flender and the others over with them. Our sect's overall strength would surely rise to another level!"
Gu Rong's eyes lit up. "So the Sect Master is playing a grand game of chess."
"It isn't a game of chess," Ning Fengzhi replied, shaking his head. "It's an investment. An investment in talent, an investment in the future. The foundation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't wealth or Titled Douluo. It's talent. Without talent, no amount of wealth can be protected. Without talent, even the strongest Titled Douluo will grow old one day."
Chen Xin was silent for a long time, then finally nodded. "The Sect Master can decide. But there's one condition: Rongrong's safety must be guaranteed."
"You needn't worry about that," Ning Fengzhi said. "Flender is a Seven-Ring Soul Sage, and so is Zhao Wuji. With two Soul Sages stationed there, no one in a place like Suotuo City can harm Rongrong. Besides, I'll secretly arrange for two Soul Emperors to protect her as well. There's no need to worry."
"When are you sending Rongrong over?" Gu Rong asked.
"Tomorrow," Ning Fengzhi said. "I'll take her myself."
The back garden of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Rongrong sat on a swing, kicking her legs as she ate a candied hawthorn skewer, her mouth smeared with sugar.
The six-year-old girl was as delicate as a porcelain doll, with a pair of bright, lively eyes.
"Rongrong." Ning Fengzhi came over and crouched in front of her. "Your father has something to tell you."
"What is it?" Ning Rongrong tilted her head and blinked.
"I'm sending you somewhere to study."
"Study?" Ning Rongrong pouted. "I don't want to study. Isn't it nice here in the sect? Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa can teach me."
"Of course they can teach you." Ning Fengzhi stroked her head. "But there's one thing they can't teach you."
"What?"
"How to make friends."
Ning Rongrong froze for a moment. "Make friends? I have friends in the sect too."
"The people in the sect are your friends because you're the Sect Master's daughter."
Ning Fengzhi looked into her eyes. "At the place I want to send you, no one will know you're the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The friends there will befriend you for who you are."
Ning Rongrong tilted her head and thought it over, only half understanding. "Then... is it fun there?"
"It's fun." Ning Fengzhi smiled. "There are three children there about your age. One can make sausages that let you fly, one has a crocodile for a Martial Soul, and one can shoot fire. You won't be bored."
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. "Really? Flying sausages? A crocodile? Shooting fire?"
"Really."
"Then I'm going!"
Ning Fengzhi smiled, though there was a hint of bitterness in it.
He didn't know if his decision was right. But he knew that if he didn't send Rongrong away now, he'd never have another chance.
The future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect couldn't rely on Titled Douluo alone.
It had to rely on the next generation.
And the next generation couldn't consist of Rongrong alone.
She needed companions.
True companions.
Before you continue