The Difference Between Geniuses

"Was this the Douluo Continent version of new-hire training...?"

"Pretty interesting~"

For the moment, Ning Huan set aside the rigid impression in his memories of a faction-ridden organization, rife with infighting and strife.

Then he reconsidered the relationship between the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect and himself.

Seeing this, Ning Zhen felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. He had no idea what he should do next.

Young master, at least give me an instruction before you start thinking!

Now look at you—you've lowered your head and gone silent, leaving me hanging!

With no other choice, Ning Zhen could only steel himself and continue explaining the reasons in a low voice.

But unlike his earlier confidence and smugness, most of his tone was now cautious and tentative.

"Young Master Ning, you know we're not like the other top powers on the continent, where strong experts emerge one after another."

"The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda is indeed the continent's strongest support-type Martial Soul, but it also cuts off the main family's chance of producing a Titled Douluo."

"So if the sect wants to ensure its legacy endures, it has only two options: recruit from outside or raise people from childhood."

"But the strong are proud, and geniuses are hard to find. Even after devoting their entire lives to the search, past sect masters could find only two or three pillars to hold the sect steady."

Hearing this, Ning Huan froze in place.

In an instant, he understood what had been unrealistic about his earlier assumptions.

The Nine Treasures Glazed Sect rose to prominence through its support-type Martial Soul. The fact that it's survived to this day without being swallowed up is already a miracle.

And given the sect's awkward circumstances right now, as long as I don't make any fundamental mistakes, I can basically do as I please here!

So all my earlier worries were pointless?!

At the thought, Ning Huan's mouth twitched unconsciously. He inwardly sighed at how much he had relied on his memories of his previous life.

The matter was simple enough, yet he had insisted on making it complicated!

But...

"Wait a moment. You just said the sect is strict about how it manages its stewards..."

"Then why didn't the steward who awakened my Martial Soul test my Soul Power?"

"Was it just because I had an 'artifact Martial Soul' that couldn't manifest?"

"Uh..."

Ning Zhen felt aggrieved, silently cursing those unreliable people in the sect.

They were all the way off in distant corners of the world, and still they could drag him into trouble!

"Well... there are all kinds of birds in a big forest."

"The higher-ups can't be watching the middle ranks every single day..."

"Besides, cases of an 'artifact Martial Soul' being unable to manifest have occurred over the past few thousand years. Every one of them involved a damaged origin or a shattered Martial Soul, so..."

Before he could figure out how to explain, Ning Huan picked up right where he left off.

"So even if I was treated unfairly, the sect wouldn't stand up for a 'waste'?"

"I suppose that makes sense. Fairness is always relative."

"Forget it. There'll be plenty of chances to deal with this once we're back at the sect."

As he spoke, he lightly tapped a finger on the tabletop, making a crisp, rhythmic sound.

"Tell me more. How will the sect's upper echelons treat a genius like me, who was 'overlooked by accident' and sent to guard the border?"

Before he had even finished speaking, Ning Zhen suddenly jolted, several beads of cold sweat running down his forehead.

He truly couldn't tell what had prompted the person before him to ask such a soul-searching question.

Was this settling accounts after the fact?

Or had he changed his mind?

Heaven knew, he was only a weak Soul Ancestor with no hope of becoming a Soul King. How could he possibly know what the upper echelons were thinking?

His teacher had never taught him this!

What's more, if he remembered correctly, the last time someone failed to recognize a talent had been six or seven hundred years ago.

The experience recorded in those old books was completely useless as a reference today!

But time waited for no one. Ning Huan's faintly impatient expression was like a death warrant, constantly radiating a sense of danger.

The increasingly chilly atmosphere around them suddenly made Ning Zhen pause. His mind cleared, and he thought to himself:

Rather than making things up and lying, I might as well say it plainly!

My strength and position speak for themselves. It's only natural that I don't know!

"Young Master Ning, I can't know what the upper echelons are thinking."

"But I do know a little about the general categories of geniuses. You can judge for yourself once you've heard them."

"Go on."

That immediately piqued Ning Huan's interest, and a look of anticipation flashed in his eyes.

In truth, he hadn't expected Ning Zhen to give him a reasonable answer to that pointed question.

No matter how strict the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's management was, it couldn't possibly let its stewards casually reveal the upper echelons' thoughts.

Who would have thought that a casual question would lead to an unexpected gain?

Seeing the boy's expression—I'm interested—Ning Zhen finally let his suspended heart settle.

He cleared his throat, then hurriedly shared the bit of information he knew.

"Actually, dividing talented Soul Masters into tiers is an unwritten rule among the various powers. There's no official standard."

"It's just that, because of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's unique circumstances, the distinctions are much clearer."

"I happened to hear about it from a senior in the sect."

With the frightening pressure around him gone, Ning Zhen's tone returned to its usual evenness.

Only he knew just how deeply he still felt in awe.

It was no exaggeration to say that, when it came to making him feel threatened, even the Soul Kings in the sect couldn't make him lose the slightest desire to resist.

Yet Ning Huan could do so with a casual gesture.

That said plenty.

Forcibly suppressing his anticipation and unease, Ning Zhen held up three fingers, doing his best to keep his voice steady.

"In the eyes of top powers, geniuses generally fall into three tiers."

"The first tier consists of Soul Masters the sect 'hopes to befriend'!"

"Innate Full Soul Power is the foundation; a Super Martial Soul is the standard."

"Figures such as the Light and Dark Twin Holy Dragons, who stood unrivaled a century ago, and the Soul Master with the Ultimate Attribute who turned the tide four thousand years ago, both belonged to this tier."

"They're simply too talented. If they don't die young, they'll eventually dominate an entire generation on the continent."

"So unless they're dealing with a particular power or have some special relationship, practically no one would try to bind them. The main approach is to befriend them, show goodwill, and invest in them as much as possible."

"That way, if the sect ever faces disaster, they might remember the old ties and step in to protect it."

After hearing this, Ning Huan understood. As he marveled at how different the style of the Douluo Continent was, he quietly placed himself in the first tier.

Meanwhile, Ning Zhen continued to shake his head and show off what he knew.

"The second tier consists of geniuses the sect is 'willing to cultivate.' Of course, the prerequisite is that the sect raises them from childhood."

"There are two subcategories. First, those with Innate Soul Power above eight and at least a high-grade Martial Soul. With proper cultivation, they'll undoubtedly become sect elders or Titled Douluo worshippers."

"The other kind have ordinary Innate Soul Power, but their Martial Souls possess effects unique to the continent. Once they can no longer advance in Soul Power, they eventually become part of the sect's foundation."

"The sect's worshippers, Sword Douluo, Wind Douluo, and Shield Defense Douluo, are all examples of this."

After mentioning the three titles one after another, Ning Zhen's eyes filled with admiration. Ning Huan watched him with an odd expression.

"The third tier consists of Soul Masters the sect 'must cultivate.'"

"The various powers raise them as their backbone. They're the most numerous and receive the most resources, but they usually don't get much attention."

"I'm sure you understand why, Young Master Ning."

Ning Huan smiled and nodded. Beneath the table, his left hand slowly released the intricate hand seal it had been forming. The last trace of concern in his heart vanished in an instant.

A sect forced to rely on talented members of its collateral branches was undoubtedly the perfect place for him.

And with Chen Xin's reputation, many things he'd thought difficult to accomplish seemed to resolve themselves.

Somehow, everything suddenly feels so much easier.