The Bear's Strength

"Just in terms of cunning, do the three seniors really think Ning can't outwit a child?"

As soon as he said that, the tense atmosphere vanished without a trace.

Their eyes instinctively turned toward those shrewd, calculating eyes.

In a daze, the three of them suddenly recalled the times young Ning Hao had played tricks on them.

They also remembered the miserable fate of the hostile factions, left utterly desolate after he became Sect Master.

Even Sword Douluo, the strongest among them, couldn't help but tremble.

Clearly, the three of them didn't believe a child who had lived for six years on the empire's frontier could fool the smiling King of Hell standing before them.

Shield Defense Douluo, who had just voiced his doubts, silently retreated behind Sword Douluo as well, hoping to hide his towering frame.

He was afraid Ning Hao, kind-faced but black-hearted, would notice him.

Only Wind Douluo, whose temperament was easygoing, hesitated for a moment before Shield Defender shoved him forward, making him step up.

"Sect Master, please... take it easy."

"We've finally come across a genius. Please don't break him."

"Uncle Feng, how could you say that? Does Ning seem like someone who doesn't know when to stop?"

Hearing that, Ning Hao shook his head with a wry smile, his tone thoroughly helpless.

"Bringing the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect back to greatness has been the lifelong ambition of every Sect Master."

"It's rare to have such an opportunity. Ning certainly won't let it slip by."

Yet Sword Douluo and the others didn't believe a single word Ning Hao said.

Based on their decades of experience with him, that sneaky brat was definitely plotting against Ning Huan right now!

And maybe...

As if he'd suddenly thought of something, Sword Douluo hurriedly glanced at Wind Douluo beside him.

As it happened, Wind Douluo was looking at him too, his expression unreadable.

Don't say anything. Let's see how this plays out.

With us watching over him, he won't come to any harm.

Sword Douluo gave an almost imperceptible nod, then temporarily set aside his worries and clasped his hands.

"Everything is up to you, Sect Master."

"Very well. Tomorrow, the three seniors will come with me to see..."

As he spoke, Ning Hao slowly rose from the Sect Master's throne and gazed into the distance through the hall's entrance.

"Just how our genius will make his grand emergence, like a hidden dragon rising from the depths!"

The next morning, the first rays of dawn broke through the clouds.

At the training grounds on the main peak of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, young geniuses from cities across the continent had gathered.

There were at least four or five hundred of them.

The grounds were buzzing with excitement, a far cry from the deserted scene of only a handful of disciples here and there.

"Even though I expected it, the number of people in the sect still leaves me stunned."

As the first person to decide to follow Ning Huan, Ning Zhen prided himself on being attentive to everything and never let a matter slip through his fingers.

He checked the competition schedule in his hands as he answered with a laugh.

"There's nothing we can do about it. The sect has serious shortcomings, so we can only make up for them by panning for gold in a sea of sand."

Ning Huan gave a slight nod, then turned to business.

"Have you noted down the competition areas and rounds?"

"Of course! You can count on me."

Ning Zhen deftly took a palm-sized booklet from his waist and lowered his voice as he explained.

"There are three hundred and forty-two contestants in this competition, the most in nearly a hundred years."

"Because of the large number of contestants, and for some unknown reason, the preliminary-round rules have been changed."

Unknown reason?

At the unexpected phrase, Ning Huan's thoughts stirred, but he didn't interrupt.

As he saw it, finding out about the changes to the schedule in advance was probably the limit of Ning Zhen's influence.

As for pressing him for details...

That would simply be asking too much.

Ning Zhen, unaware of any of this, kept enthusiastically explaining, drawing the attention of a crowd of bewildered young men from out of town.

"The biggest change is that the age limit has gone from twelve to fifteen, and the competition is now open to the entire sect instead of just the disciples stationed outside."

"The elimination rounds have also expanded from the top sixteen to the top thirty-two."

"It's no big deal for you, Young Master Ning. It just means you'll have to fight a few extra rounds."

Eavesdroppers: ...

You've got to be kidding!

Is this guy too full of himself?

We're all around the same age. Does he really think his master can beat everyone here?

Fortunately, few of those permitted by the local stewards to enter the competition were fools.

Though they were extremely displeased, none of them deliberately picked a fight.

Seeing this, Ning Huan, who had been keeping a close eye on his surroundings, couldn't help but laugh helplessly.

At that moment, he finally experienced firsthand the despair of certain villains in the novels of his previous life.

He'd never said anything like that in public, yet his subordinate had said it for him, earning him resentment for no reason.

What kind of nonsense was this?

But their protagonist was still writhing in ecstasy at the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

For now, none of this could affect him!

Hm? Seven Kill Sword Qi?

As expected, there was no reason for them not to come.

The fleeting aura he sensed made Ning Huan's brows lift. For once, he felt a rare stirring of anticipation.

"Where's the first match?"

"Right here, in the A section. First match!"

"Good."

Ning Huan smiled confidently, said no more, and rose to stride toward the arena.

Ning Zhen remained seated, staring blankly after him as he gradually disappeared into the distance.

"I think I just made the greatest decision of my life."

"First match in the A section: Ning Huan of Tianluo City versus Ning Ben of Tianling City."

Without a doubt, in any competitive event, the first and last matches tended to draw the most attention.

That was even more true when one of the participants was rumored to be the only Soul Ancestor in the competition.

So even though matches had already begun at the other three arenas, the A section was still packed.

"So you're the Soul Ancestor? You're awfully small. Don't tell me you're all show and no substance."

A rumbling voice, heavy as a mountain, rang out. Ning Huan's mouth twitched furiously.

Ning Ben lived up to his name, built like an ox.

Though he was not yet fifteen, he stood a full two meters tall, nearly twenty centimeters taller than Ning Huan.

His muscles were solid, and the sunlight glinting off his bronze skin gave him a ferocious, unsettling air.

Before Ning Huan could think of a reply, however, the referee's impatient voice cut in.

"Quit yapping! You'll have plenty of time for that later! Both sides, get ready!"

"Soul Fighting begins!"

The moment the words fell, Ning Ben drove off with both feet. He shot forward, leaving two half-inch-deep footprints in the arena.

"Second Soul Skill, Savage Bull Skin!"

"Third Soul Skill, Savage Bull Strength!"

"First Soul Skill, Savage Bull Charge!"

With three shouts, the phantom image of a nearly two-meter-tall savage bull quickly took shape, while three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—flashed in succession.

Two bronze-hued horns pointed straight at Ning Huan.

The deafening rumble drew closer and closer.

It was as if he wouldn't stop until he'd gored his opponent to death.

"What a mad bull."

"Never mind. You're unlucky to have run into me."

With that, Ning Huan raised his left hand and thrust it forward. Four Soul Rings appeared behind him.

"Dark Gold Profound Split, Bear Might Shakes the Mountain!"

"Terrorclaw, answer my call!"

"Roar!"

In an instant, an aura of razor-sharp, peak metal-element power burst forth.

A phantom Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear, over four meters tall, appeared out of thin air behind Ning Huan. Its roar reverberated across the entire arena.

The hearts of countless spectators shuddered.

Ning Ben, charging at full speed, was also seized by fear and nearly stopped in his tracks.

But with his speed at its peak, he could no longer halt his momentum. He could only grit his teeth, summon every bit of Soul Power in his body, and prepare to fight to the death.

Unfortunately, the gap in cultivation and innate quality was one ordinary person simply couldn't overcome.

Against a charge that even an ordinary Soul Elder would struggle to withstand, the thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear phantom casually sent Ning Ben flying with a single swipe, knocking him out of the arena.

With four bloody gashes across his chest and his eyes rolled back, he was clearly gravely injured and unconscious.

In an instant, the entire arena fell silent.