Safe and Sound

The hall was exceptionally quiet at this moment.

Everyone's minds were buzzing.

Whether it was Jiang He's Martial Soul, which had never before been awakened by any Soul Master, his level-twenty Innate Soul Power, or the two ten-thousand-year soul rings beneath his feet, all of it was profoundly shocking.

Just then, Dugu Bo's voice rang out.

"Jiang He! I told you to display your Martial Soul. Why did you reveal your soul rings? Sword Old Man is already so old. What if you scared him?"

Though it sounded like a rebuke, everyone could hear the teasing in Dugu Bo's tone.

How was that a rebuke? It was blatant showing off!

"Sorry, Teacher. I just awakened my Martial Soul, so I still can't control it very well."

Jiang He naturally understood what Dugu Bo meant.

So he put on an apologetic expression and withdrew his Martial Soul and soul rings.

Even after he returned to normal, no one could take their eyes off him.

After a long while, Ning Fengzhi was the first to speak. He cupped his fists toward Dugu Bo and said, "Congratulations, Senior Dugu, on gaining such a beloved disciple. With talent like this, becoming a Title Douluo in the future is practically inevitable!"

"Ah, who can say what the future holds?"

Dugu Bo waved a hand and tried his best to look humble as he said, "We're all old. The future belongs to these young people. I'm not asking for him to become particularly powerful. As long as he grows up safe and sound, that will be enough."

Although Dugu Bo was trying hard to appear modest, the uncontrollable smile at the corners of his mouth completely exposed his true thoughts.

Chen Xin, standing nearby, felt the corner of his mouth twitch.

This old bastard was deliberately trying to disgust him!!!

"Hmph!" Chen Xin snorted coldly. "No matter how good one's talent is, one still needs a good teacher. My Rongrong recently awakened her Martial Soul as well. Her Innate Soul Power is as high as level nine. I believe that under my guidance, her future achievements certainly won't be poor!"

"Sword Old Man is right!"

Chen Xin had thought Dugu Bo would refute him, but not only did Dugu Bo not argue, he instead nodded in agreement and said, "I'm sure that under the guidance of a Title Douluo like you, this young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with level-nine Innate Soul Power will definitely become a Soul Saint in the future!"

"You!"

Chen Xin glared at Dugu Bo.

Who didn't know that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the inherited Martial Soul of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, could only cultivate up to Soul Saint?

Dugu Bo was purely trying to disgust him!

"Enough, Uncle Sword."

Fortunately, Ning Fengzhi spoke up and interrupted their bickering.

Smiling, he said, "The inherited Martial Soul of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has flaws. That has never been a secret. As for Rongrong, I only hope that she will be healthy and happy in the future."

Since Ning Fengzhi had spoken, Chen Xin could only flick his sleeve, turn his head away, and stop paying attention to Dugu Bo.

Seeing this, Dugu Bo nodded at Ning Fengzhi before turning to Meng Shenji. "Chairman Meng, this old man will be leaving first. Jiang He will be in your care."

"Your Excellency, rest assured. We will not fail your trust!"

Meng Shenji cupped his fists toward Dugu Bo.

After nodding, Dugu Bo said to Jiang He, "Then study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. If anything comes up, come find me in Sunset Forest."

"Yes, Teacher. Take care."

Dugu Bo shot Chen Xin a glance, a smug smile on his lips, then turned and left.

After all these years, he had finally managed to vent a little of his frustration.

Next, he was going to vent his frustration a second time.

That old fellow who had fought him for so many years... this time, he would definitely give him a surprise!

He was now a level-ninety-five Title Douluo as well!

After Dugu Bo left, everyone's gazes fell on Jiang He once more.

Meng Shenji spoke up. "Jiang He, right? May I ask where you are living now?"

"Chairman Meng, I currently live in the academy's family housing area."

"The family housing area?"

Meng Shenji froze, then his eyes lit up.

He was from their academy after all! This was good news!

But the next second, he heard Jiang He say, "My parents used to be teachers at the academy. Two years ago, they died while leading students to obtain soul rings."

Ah, this...

The corner of Meng Shenji's mouth twitched.

That didn't seem like good news after all...

"How about this? Go back first. Tomorrow, I'll have someone from the academy visit you in the family housing area and arrange your classes."

"Yes, Chairman Meng."

Jiang He cupped his fists toward Meng Shenji, then turned and left.

After he departed, Ning Fengzhi also said to Meng Shenji, "Chairman Meng, we will not disturb you any longer today. This sect master will return to the sect first."

Meng Shenji nodded to Ning Fengzhi.

"Take care, Sect Master Ning."

Xue Qinghe likewise bid farewell to Meng Shenji, then left together with Ning Fengzhi.

After leaving the academy, Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi went their separate ways.

On the road back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi asked Chen Xin, "Uncle Sword, what do you think?"

"Hmph! What else is there to think? That Old Poison was showing off!"

Chen Xin said somewhat indignantly, "That old bastard somehow dug up such a treasure. No wonder he's so pleased with himself."

Seeing Chen Xin's expression, Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Uncle Sword, I think this is a good thing."

"A good thing?"

Chen Xin frowned slightly as he looked at Ning Fengzhi in confusion.

Ning Fengzhi explained, "Although Jiang He has entered Dugu Bo's tutelage, it wasn't hard to tell from what was said earlier that he has neither a family faction nor a sect background. Do you think someone like him can be won over?"

Hearing this, Chen Xin fell into thought as well.

He frowned and said, "That may be true, but he is still that Old Poison's disciple now. If our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect tries to poach him, I'm afraid it won't be easy.

Judging by how smug Old Poison looked today, if he finds out we want to poach his disciple, he'll probably lose his temper.

Besides, with the talent he has displayed, if he truly has to choose, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may not necessarily be the best choice."

Facing Chen Xin's analysis, Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly. "Uncle Sword, who said we were going to poach him?"

"Hmm?"

The confusion between Chen Xin's brows deepened.

At that moment, Ning Fengzhi explained, "Uncle Sword, have you forgotten? He has only just turned six. Rongrong only turned six not long ago as well. They are the same age."

"Fengzhi, you..."

Chen Xin instinctively wanted to object.

But when he met Ning Fengzhi's gaze, Chen Xin fell silent.

Setting aside everything else, Ning Rongrong had been born into a sect like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and enjoyed the benefits of the sect. Naturally, she also had to contribute to it.

Normally, he could protect her a little, but when it came to certain crucial matters, he would not be foolish.

Especially since throughout the long-standing traditions of Douluo Continent, there had never been a woman who did not marry.

Since she was destined to marry someday, choosing a good husband was naturally of utmost importance.

And Jiang He...

Though Chen Xin was unwilling to accept it, he had to admit that this fellow's qualifications were simply too tempting.

Level-twenty Innate Soul Power, a super beast Martial Soul, a ten-thousand-year first ring, and a ten-thousand-year second ring!

At this rate, he would at the very least have an all-black soul ring configuration. If he had the opportunity, he might even gain one, or perhaps two, hundred-thousand-year soul rings!

His strength was simply beyond comparison with that of ordinary Soul Masters!

Chen Xin asked himself honestly: if he faced an opponent of the same level with such abilities, he feared that he would be unable to defeat him!

Moreover, Jiang He had no parents, which meant he had no family faction tying him down. Once he got together with Ning Rongrong, he would devote himself wholeheartedly to striving for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

All things considered, Jiang He truly seemed like the perfect choice.