Resentment

The young man smiled faintly, his tone carrying a touch of ease. "I came on the Sect Master's orders to have a chat with Young Master Zhou."

As Shadow Guards of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they not only had to know how to protect and kill; when necessary, they also had to know how to negotiate.

"Chat about what?" Zhou Qiubai raised an eyebrow, faintly intrigued.

"About the sword." Shadow Seven lifted the teapot, poured himself a cup, and casually pushed it across the table. "We experienced Young Master Zhou's Sword Intent firsthand that day. After Sword Elder saw it, he gave only eight words in evaluation: aloof and boundless, nearly one with the Dao."

Zhou Qiubai sat down opposite him with a slight smile, but did not touch the teacup. "Senior Chen Xin flatters me."

"Sword Elder never praises lightly." Shadow Seven's expression turned serious. "If Sword Elder had not been occupied with important matters, I fear the person here now would not have been me."

Zhou Qiubai fell silent, turmoil surging through his heart.

Chen Xin, a Title Douluo, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's guardian elder, and the acknowledged foremost swordsman of Douluo Continent.

What a pity...

If not for the sect, perhaps he could have reached the same heights as his father.

"Why did he want to see me?" he finally asked.

"To discuss swords, speak of the Dao, or... take you as a disciple." Light flickered in Shadow Seven's eyes. "Sword Elder said that if you are willing to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he can personally guide you in the way of the sword, and the sect's resources will be tilted toward you. With your talent, you will certainly become a Soul Saint before thirty and may have hope of becoming a Title Douluo before fifty."

The offer was extraordinarily tempting.

But Zhou Qiubai merely smiled softly.

"Please thank Senior for his goodwill on my behalf." His tone, however, carried a trace of firm resolve. "But I am used to freedom and cannot stand the constraints of a sect. The road through the martial world is long. I am more comfortable walking it alone."

Shadow Seven seemed to have expected this answer long ago and nodded slightly.

"The Sect Master already guessed you would say that." He took an embroidered pouch from his robes and gently placed it on the table. "Inside is a Soul Crystal Card containing fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins, as thanks for the lesson you gave the young miss earlier. There is also a Sword Talisman, Sword Elder's token. With it, you will receive the highest level of assistance from all businesses under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and we will not interfere with your freedom."

Zhou Qiubai looked at the pouch, hesitated for a moment, and did not immediately reach for it.

"Was this also Senior Chen Xin's intention?" he asked.

"It was the joint decision of Sword Elder and the Sect Master." Shadow Seven rose to his feet, his form light and insubstantial, like a wisp of smoke slowly dissipating. "Young Master Zhou, the Sect Master asked me to pass on a message. Though the martial world is vast, a tall tree catches the wind. The edge you revealed today will sooner or later draw certain people's attention. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect does not seek your allegiance. We only hope that, should something happen in the future, we may forge a bond of goodwill."

Investment was what the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did best.

This so-called bond of goodwill was nothing more than a debt of favor.

From the letter, Ning Fengzhi had already grasped Zhou Qiubai's general temperament.

People like him hated owing favors most of all. In that case, why not make him owe one?

Once favors piled up, they became difficult to repay.

After saying that, he cupped his hands in a slight salute, turned, and became a wisp of shadow that gradually vanished into the candlelight.

The candle flame swayed gently. Zhou Qiubai was once again alone in the room. He slowly picked up the embroidered pouch and opened it.

Inside was a black, continent-wide Soul Crystal Card, along with a jade talisman shaped like a tiny sword.

"A bond of goodwill..." Zhou Qiubai rubbed the jade talisman, his thoughts in turmoil.

Elsewhere, at Shrek Academy.

Dai Mubai's fist smashed viciously into a wooden post, sending splinters flying.

"Damn it!" That miserable battle replayed endlessly in his mind.

Every detail flashed through his heart. The more he thought about it, the more humiliated he felt, his heart roaring without end: I lost so completely. I did not even force him to use a soul skill. What utter humiliation.

"Boss Dai, do not get so worked up. Calm down!" Ma Hongjun came over, concern on his face. "That guy is simply a monster. There is no shame in losing..."

However, seeing Dai Mubai's expression grow increasingly grim, Ma Hongjun could not help shrinking his neck. He quickly shut his mouth, not daring to say anything more.

Was Shrek not supposed to recruit monsters?

Now that the monster leader had been defeated, how could he possibly feel good about it?

In the distance, Oscar and Tang San quietly gathered together and spoke in low voices. "Boss Dai really took a blow this time."

Tang San nodded slightly, his brow tightly furrowed and his eyes thoughtful. "That Zhou Qiubai really is strong. And I have a feeling that the strength he displayed today may have been far from all he had."

"Far from all?" Oscar's eyes widened like bronze bells, gleaming with lightning-like shrewdness. "He did not even reveal his Soul Rings, yet he beat Boss Dai into that state. How terrifying would he be if he went all out?"

Tang San shook his head, his face full of contemplation. "I do not know either, but his swordsmanship and movement technique have clearly already formed their own system. Someone like that could not have appeared out of nowhere. Either an expert stands behind him, or... he is hiding secrets we do not know about."

Just as the two were discussing it heatedly, a steady set of footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the training ground. Flender and Zhao Wuji strode in.

"Good, everyone is here." Flender adjusted his thick glasses slightly, sweeping his gaze over everyone present, a smile curling at the corner of his lips. "Perfect. I have something important to announce. Someone here has reached level thirty, so we will be heading to the outskirts of Star Dou Forest to hunt a Soul Ring!"

"Of course, this will also be practical training. You usually hunt Soul Rings in the Soul Hunting Forest. This time, you will see what wild Spirit Beasts are like."

Before his words had even faded, he turned to Dai Mubai, his tone becoming serious. "Mubai, being defeated is nothing. What matters is learning a lesson from it and understanding your own shortcomings."

He also wanted to get even, but he was afraid that brat had a powerful background.

'Those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre.' I only say that to fool children.

Dai Mubai nodded at his words. "Yes, Headmaster!"

He silently swore that he would temper himself in Star Dou Forest and use overwhelming strength to wash away today's humiliation.

Soul Grandmaster, the next time they met, they would settle the score again.

Zhao Wuji folded his arms and warned the little brats, "Star Dou Forest is not the Soul Hunting Forest. It is full of danger. You had better stay alert, or you might die without even knowing what happened!"

At those words, a complex emotion flashed through Xiao Wu's eyes, but she quickly concealed it and tried to appear calm and composed.

"All right, everyone, go back and prepare." Flender waved his hand with a measure of authority. "We leave early in the morning three days from now!"

Everyone scattered.