"Mm, good. A clean background, and a promising young talent." Ning Fengzhi finished hearing the report and nodded in satisfaction.
As the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he wouldn't easily trust a boy he'd never met, even if the boy was an unprecedented genius.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect needed to cultivate people whose loyalty was absolute!
The next morning, Chu Qing got up early, intending to seek out an opportunity of his own!
At this point in time, many genuine treasures remained unknown to the world.
After leaving the gates of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a mass of black flame appeared at Chu Qing's shoulder and transformed into two pairs of intricately patterned wings. He shot into the sky in an instant. His wings beat, and he vanished in a flash, leaving behind only a lingering image of flame and a sonic boom as the fire tore through the air.
Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi could only look helplessly at Ning Rongrong, who was throwing a tantrum before him.
A young girl clung to Ning Fengzhi's side, her petulant voice ringing out. "Daddy, I want to go! Just let me go! I heard they only accept monsters there! I want to go too!"
Ning Fengzhi looked helplessly at his daughter. All his life, he'd been a master of tact, able to get along with anyone, tell people what they wanted to hear, and keep the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect thriving. But when it came to his daughter, he was completely at a loss.
He'd already sent people to investigate this so-called Shrek Academy. They claimed to specialize in recruiting monsters, calling themselves a Monster Academy, yet their school was in a village! They didn't even qualify to compete in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament, and still had the nerve to recruit students?
The highest-level Soul Master there was only a Level 78 agility-type Battle Soul Master. They didn't have a single Titled Douluo—or even a Soul Douluo. What was so appealing about this shabby academy that preyed on people's gullibility?
"Rongrong, be good. There's nothing special about that place. Just listen to Daddy and go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy instead. The students there are all nobles, which will be very good for your growth. And the teaching resources there..." Ning Fengzhi patiently explained the path he'd laid out for his precious daughter.
"I won't listen, I won't listen, I won't listen! I want to go to Shrek Academy! You promised me that if I got my First Soul Ring by myself, you'd let me go! You're breaking your promise, Daddy!" Ning Rongrong shouted angrily.
Ning Fengzhi helplessly rubbed his forehead. He'd only meant to fob Ning Rongrong off, never imagining she'd have the nerve to sneak all the way to the distant Star Dou Great Forest by herself!
"Daughters really do grow up and fly the nest..." Ning Fengzhi sighed wistfully, though his daughter was still so young!
Sword Douluo, who had listened for a long while, finally couldn't hold back and chimed in. "Sect Master, perhaps going to that Shrek Academy wouldn't be a bad thing. I think Rongrong really does need to toughen up."
"Exactly! Daddy, just say yes." With someone backing her up, Ning Rongrong triumphantly raised her eyebrows.
Ning Fengzhi thought, ? I never expected you, Sword Douluo, with those thick eyebrows and big eyes, to betray me too!
"What do you mean?" Ning Fengzhi didn't understand. Sword Douluo had watched Rongrong grow up, after all.
"During this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, we saw many of Rongrong's shortcomings. We've held her in the palms of our hands for too long, like a flower in a greenhouse. Without going through some hardship, she'll never withstand the bitter winds and frost of the outside world. You and I are still here now, but if anything should happen in the future..." Sword Douluo said solemnly.
Ning Fengzhi fell into thought. He wasn't someone who refused to listen to reason; he'd simply been too close to the situation. His love for his daughter had kept him from considering this.
He'd planned to evaluate Chu Qing and send them together to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Surely Xue Qinghe would be pleased to see a genius like him, and it would further strengthen the relationship between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the imperial family.
"Besides..." Sword Douluo continued. "Even if the academy isn't good, letting Rongrong go out and experience the world for a few years will temper her disposition and show her what it's like out there. We can bring her back afterward. If you're worried, we can send Chu Qing along too. From what I've observed, he doesn't seem used to being under someone else's thumb, so he may not be willing to stay with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Also, we can quietly observe his character over these next few years. There's nothing wrong with letting Rongrong spend time with a genius Battle Soul Master."
"Good! Then that's what we'll do!" Ning Fengzhi wasn't an indecisive man. Since Sword Douluo's reasoning made sense, he was willing to listen, and readily agreed.
"Yay! Thank you, Daddy!" Hearing that her father had not only agreed to let her go, but would also let Brother Qing go with her, Rongrong was overjoyed. She promptly jumped up and kissed Ning Fengzhi on the cheek.
Ning Fengzhi rubbed Rongrong's head, half helpless and half indulgent. What could he do? She was his one and only precious daughter!
"Achoo! Strange, why did I sneeze?" As his strength increased, his body had improved visibly. He couldn't possibly be coming down with some ordinary illness.
"Never mind. I'll go in and take a look first."
Without realizing it, Chu Qing had already flown to the gates of Heaven Dou City. He slowly descended. The Heaven Dou Empire still commanded respect at this point, so he should follow the local rules.
Chu Qing had a clear goal for this trip: Whale Rubber!
At this point in time, people still had no idea what it could do. Naturally, he wasn't about to let such an opportunity slip by!
He decided to try his luck at the auction house first. He didn't have many Gold Soul Coins, but perhaps he could find a bargain.
As he spoke, he strode toward the auction house in the city. On the way, he saw a man riding a fine steed, charging recklessly through the street and shouting, "Get out of my way!"
Chu Qing hadn't planned to pay him any mind, but the horse came hurtling toward him before he could dodge. He had no choice but to summon his Soul Power. A wall of black flame appeared in an instant, blocking the horse's path.
The horse couldn't dodge in time and charged straight into the wall of fire. A pained neigh rang out at once!
Chu Qing hadn't wanted to cause trouble; he'd only meant to stop the horse. So he'd only singed it slightly, and it wasn't seriously hurt.
Seeing that the horse had stopped, Chu Qing immediately turned to leave. But the rider wouldn't let it go. "You hurt my horse and think you can just walk away? You're staying right here!"
He immediately summoned his Soul Power, and a beast-shaped Martial Soul rose into the air, lightning coiling around its entire body.
"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon? Are you Yu Tianheng?"
"Now that you know who I am, you still dare to block my way! If you know what's good for you, apologize and make it right, and I might let you off this time. Otherwise, heh!" Yu Tianheng looked at him arrogantly, not taking the little kid—who looked eight or nine at most—seriously.
"Oh? And what if I say no?" He was just worrying about running out of money, and now a pillow had come to hand right when he was ready to sleep. Chu Qing sometimes couldn't help marveling at his own luck. How could it be this good?
"Hmph! I'm Yu Tianheng, and my Martial Soul is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon! I'm a Level 28 Soul Grandmaster! Don't say I'm picking on a kid—I'll let you attack first!"