I've Changed My Mind. Pick One of Two.

Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were the first to sense something was wrong, and hurried out of the main hall.

Bone Douluo froze, pointing at the Fierce Ghosts flying through the sky. "What are those?!"

What a terrifying feeling... Each one's aura was weak, but together they exerted pressure no weaker than a Titled Douluo's.

Sword Douluo shook his head. "I don't know either, but from the looks of it, this seems to be someone's Soul Skill..."

Just then, the alarm bells announcing an enemy attack rang out.

"Boom—!"

In an instant, a blaze shot skyward at the mountain gate. Several disciples were blasted away, their lives unknown.

Before the smoke had even cleared, an even thicker fog surged toward them.

Cen Yu held a long spear and led four others toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's main hall, step by step.

When everyone saw who had arrived, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were both shocked.

Gui Mei, Yue Guan... and the Third Offering and Fifth Offering of Spirit Hall...

With such an extravagant lineup, was Spirit Hall planning to attack them?

At the same time, Ning Fengzhi hurried out of the sect's main hall.

Before he could say a word, a bloodied, battered figure was flung heavily at his feet.

Cen Yu gave a cold laugh, pointed his spear at Ning Fengzhi, and demanded, "Sect Master Ning, Xue Xing wantonly slaughtered one of my Martial Soul Branch Halls. I hear he did so at your secret instruction."

"What? Is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect openly challenging Spirit Hall? Or are you planning to start a war?!"

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo froze at his words, then stared wide-eyed at the figure on the ground.

Only after a closer look did they recognize Prince Xue Xing, beaten so badly he was hardly recognizable.

What? When had they ever told Xue Xing to attack Spirit Hall?!

Just then, Ning Rongrong and Oscar came out.

The moment they saw Cen Yu, fear welled up uncontrollably in their eyes.

But she still steeled herself and said, "Stop slandering us! Isn't it more likely that Spirit Hall is just looking for an excuse to attack the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Oh?" Cen Yu's smile widened at that.

He turned to Ning Fengzhi. "Sect Master Ning, is that what you think too?"

Ning Fengzhi hurriedly said to Ning Rongrong, "Rongrong, step back!"

Then he apologized to Cen Yu. "I'm sorry, sir. The child doesn't know any better. Please forgive her."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has absolutely no ties to Xue Xing, and we never secretly instructed him to attack Spirit Hall."

Then, to be cautious, Ning Fengzhi added, "As for protecting Tang San at Spirit Hall earlier, that was merely because we saw some potential in him."

Judging by how they stood... four Titled Douluo were protecting Cen Yu. It seemed this guy held a high position in Spirit Hall...

"So that's how it is~" Cen Yu looked thoughtfully at Ning Fengzhi, then suddenly had an idea.

"Then it seems Sect Master Ning is willing to lead the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect into joining Spirit Hall?"

"What?!"

The people opposite him were all shocked, even Guang Ling and the others.

Sword Douluo hurriedly asked, "What do you mean by that?!"

As expected, Spirit Hall hadn't come here for anything simple...

Seeing how flustered they were, Cen Yu smiled even more brightly.

That was more like it~ Now this was interesting~

He pointed at the Fierce Ghosts in the sky. "Look up~ Let me introduce you. This is my Ghost Domain~"

"Each one may not be very strong on their own, but even ordinary Titled Douluo couldn't handle them."

"As for Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo~ could you take on the four behind me?"

"So~ I promise you~ if you say no, not a single soul in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will survive today."

Oscar immediately cursed, "Isn't that a blatant threat? Spirit Hall really is shameless—"

Before he could finish, Cen Yu flashed over and slapped him away.

Seeing the mist of blood Oscar spat into the air, Ning Rongrong was startled and ran over. "Xiao'ao!!!"

Just then, Cen Yu planted his spear in the ground and snorted. "Did you think I was joking?"

"Sect Master Ning, you're a clever man. You should know what the right choice is."

"Likewise, you should understand the difference in our strength. You don't have the right to choose."

He could afford not to recruit trash soul masters like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Sect, but he couldn't leave these auxiliary soul masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for Tang San.

Either they died, or they served him.

Hearing Cen Yu's blunt words, Sword Douluo immediately wanted to fight. "You..."

They hadn't even started fighting yet. How could he know they'd lose?

But before he could finish, Ning Fengzhi stopped him.

"Uncle Jian..."

In the space of a few short moments, Ning Fengzhi, the dignified Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, seemed to have aged ten years.

But this was the only choice they had. If they fought, even if the few of them survived in the end, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's disciples certainly wouldn't.

As sect master, the lives of his disciples mattered far more than pride.

"Uncle Jian... I can't disregard the disciples' lives."

At that, Sword Douluo closed his eyes and said nothing.

Bone Douluo sighed and turned his head away.

Clearly, they both understood what Ning Fengzhi meant.

Seeing this, Cen Yu nodded. "Looks like Sect Master Ning is a reasonable man~"

"Don't worry. Joining Spirit Hall has countless benefits. Before long, you'll be the greatest sect on the entire Douluo Continent!"

Ning Fengzhi sighed and was about to speak when the young man moved again.

He raised his hand and gathered five strands of strange energy.

Why was it strange? Half of it was gold, and half was purplish red. How could it not be strange?

"If you agree, each of you five will get one strand. Press it into your brow."

"Don't worry. As long as you don't cause trouble behind my back, it won't hurt you. In fact, it'll improve your cultivation speed."

But if they caused trouble... then they could only "willingly" blow themselves up.

Ning Fengzhi glanced at Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, as well as Ning Rongrong and Oscar nearby. He accepted the energy as if facing his own death, and pressed one strand into his brow.

"Dad!"

"Fengzhi!"

The others cried out and hurried to stop him, but it was too late.

Ning Fengzhi shut his eyes, waiting for the pain to come.

But after a long while, he opened them in confusion. The pain he'd expected never came, and he felt nothing else either.

Seeing his expression, the corner of Cen Yu's mouth twitched. He immediately guessed what Ning Fengzhi was thinking.

He said helplessly, "Sect Master Ning, did you read too many storybooks when you were young?"

"I already said it wouldn't hurt as long as you had no hostile intentions. Did you think it would be agonizing from the very start?"

Was his control really so crude that he needed to make them writhe in pain? They were underestimating him far too much.

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo asked with concern, "Fengzhi, how are you?"