The Power of the Bear

"In terms of schemes alone, do the three seniors truly believe that I, Ning, cannot outplay a mere child?"

As these words fell, the previously tense atmosphere vanished into thin air.

Subconsciously, they looked into those wise eyes filled with calculation.

In a trance, the three suddenly recalled the experiences of being pranked by the young Ning Hao.

And the miserable, desolate ends of those hostile factions after he became the Sect Master.

Even the strongest among them, Sword Douluo, felt his body tremble involuntarily.

Clearly, the three of them did not believe that a child who had lived on the empire's frontier for six years could deceive the smiling Yama before them.

Conversely, Shield Defense Douluo, who had just raised his doubts, also silently retreated behind Sword Douluo, attempting to hide his towering frame.

He was terrified of being noticed by the kind-faced but black-hearted Ning Hao.

Only the free-spirited Wind Douluo hesitated for a moment before finally stepping forward under a nudge from Shield Defense.

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

"It's not easy for us to come across a genius; please, don't play him to the point of breaking."

"Look at what Uncle Wind is saying. Am I, Ning, the type of person who doesn't know the gravity of a situation?"

Ning Hao couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle at these words, his tone sounding quite helpless.

"To carry forward the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect is the lifelong wish of every generation of Sect Masters."

"Having such a rare opportunity, I, Ning, will certainly not let it slip away easily."

However, Sword Douluo and the others did not believe a single word Ning Hao said.

Based on their experience of living with him for decades, this devious brat was definitely plotting against Ning Huan in the shadows right now!

Even...

As if suddenly thinking of something, Sword Douluo hurriedly glanced at Wind Douluo beside him.

He happened to find the latter looking at him as well, with an inexplicable expression in his eyes.

Say no more, just watch how things develop.

With us protecting him from the sidelines, he won't suffer any losses.

Sword Douluo nodded imperceptibly, then temporarily suppressed the worry in his heart and cupped his hands, saying:

"Everything shall be decided by the Sect Master."

"In that case, tomorrow, the three seniors will accompany me to see..."

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

"Just how our genius will stage his 'hidden dragon emerging from the abyss'!"

The next morning, the dawn light was faint.

In the martial arts arena located on the main peak of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, the Nine Treasures prodigies from all cities across the continent gathered.

At a glance, there were at least four or five hundred people.

The atmosphere was so heated that the usual scene of disciples scattered in twos and threes was nowhere to be seen.

"Even if I had expected it, I am still shocked by the number of people in the sect."

As the first person to decide to follow Ning Huan, Ning Zhen, who considered herself diligent in all matters, would never let a conversation drop.

While checking the competition schedule in her hands, she responded with a laugh.

"There's no helping it; the sect has serious flaws, so we can only use 'the great waves washing away the sand' to compensate."

Ning Huan nodded slightly upon hearing this, then immediately shifted the topic to business.

"Have the competition areas and rounds been copied down?"

"Of course! You can rest assured when I handle things."

Ning Zhen skillfully took out a palm-sized manual from her waist and began to narrate in a low voice.

"There are a total of three hundred and forty-two participants in this competition, the highest number in the last hundred years."

"Given the large base, and for some unknown reason, the rules for the start of the competition have been changed."

Unknown reason?

Hearing the unexpected term, Ning Huan's thoughts stirred, but he did not interrupt.

In his view, being able to know about the schedule changes in advance was likely the greatest influence Ning Zhen could exert.

As for getting to the bottom of it...

That would simply be making things difficult for her.

Unaware of this, Ning Zhen continued to explain energetically, attracting a large number of clueless outsiders nearby.

"The biggest difference is that the age limit for participants has been adjusted from the original twelve to fifteen, and the participants have been changed from external disciples to the entire sect."

"The elimination round has been changed from the Round of 16 to the Round of 32."

"Hmm, for a young master like you, it's surely a minor issue; it's nothing more than fighting a few extra matches."

The eavesdropper: ...

Are you kidding me?

Is this guy too arrogant?

We're all about the same age, so your master is the only one who can crush the entire field?

Fortunately, those permitted by the local deacon to participate in the Grand Competition are rarely foolish.

Even though they were extremely dissatisfied inside, no one deliberately spoke out to provoke them.

Seeing this, Ning Huan, who was constantly observing the surroundings, felt a sense of helpless amusement.

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

Clearly, he had never expressed such intentions in public, yet his subordinate had said it out loud, pointlessly attracting jealousy and hatred.

What kind of situation is this?

However, our protagonist is still living it up at the White Tiger Duke Mansion.

It doesn't affect him for now!

'Hmm? Seven Kill Sword Qi?'

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

The aura that flashed by in his perception made Ning Huan raise his eyebrows, a rare sense of impatience rising in his heart.

"The first match, where is it?"

"Right here, Zone A, the first match!"

"Good."

Ning Huan smiled confidently, said no more, stood up, and strode toward the arena.

He left Ning Zhen sitting there in a daze, watching his receding back as he whispered distractedly.

"I seem to have made the most remarkable decision of my life."

"Zone A, first match, Tianluo City's Ning Huan, versus Tianling City's Ning Ben."

Undoubtedly, regardless of the type of competition, the first and last matches are often the most eye-catching.

Not to mention that the participant is rumored to be the only person to have reached the Soul Ancestor realm.

So much so that even though the matches on the other three arenas had already begun, Zone A was still packed.

"So you're that Soul Ancestor? Your frame is too small; I hope you're not just all show and no substance."

A roar as heavy as a mountain rang out, making the corners of Ning Huan's mouth twitch wildly.

Ning Ben, as his name suggests, is as sturdy as an ox.

At less than fifteen years of age, he already stands two meters tall, nearly twenty centimeters taller than him.

His muscles are solid, and his bronze-colored skin radiates a fierce aura under the sunlight, which is quite chilling.

However, before Ning Huan could decide how to respond, the referee's impatient voice came urgently.

"Stop chatting! You'll have plenty of free time later! Both sides, prepare!"

"Soul Fight, begin!"

As soon as the words fell, Ning Ben exerted force with his feet and lunged forward, leaving two half-inch deep footprints on the arena floor instantly.

"Second Soul Skill, Savage Bull Skin!"

"Third Soul Skill, Savage Bull Strength!"

"First Soul Skill, Savage Bull Charge!"

Accompanied by three shouts, a phantom of a nearly two-meter-tall savage bull quickly materialized, and three soul rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—flashed in succession.

Two bull horns radiating a bronze-colored aura pointed directly at Ning Huan.

The deafening roar grew closer and closer.

It gave the distinct impression that he wouldn't stop until he gored his opponent to death.

"You really are a mad bull."

"Forget it, it's your bad luck to have met me."

After saying that, Ning Huan raised his left hand and pushed it forward, and four soul rings appeared behind him at the right moment.

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

"Terrorclaw, manifest!"

"Roar!"

In an instant, an aura of extreme metallic sharpness erupted.

A phantom of a four-meter-tall Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear manifested out of thin air behind Ning Huan, its roar echoing across the entire arena.

The sound forced many spectators to tremble in their hearts.

Ning Ben, who was sprinting at full speed, felt his courage falter, nearly coming to a halt.

However, having reached his maximum velocity, he could no longer stop, leaving him no choice but to grit his teeth and channel all his soul power for a desperate final stand.

Unfortunately, the gap in cultivation and essence was not something an ordinary person could bridge.

Facing an impact that a typical Soul Elder could not withstand, the thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear phantom swiped a single claw, casually sending Ning Ben flying out of the arena.

Judging by the four bloody gashes on his chest and his rolled-back eyes, he was clearly severely injured and unconscious.

For a moment, the entire venue fell into silence.