Tang Hao: A mere Zhao Linchuan, I can beat him thrice!

A moment later, led by the Tang brothers, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo traversed the bamboo path and arrived before the pavilion.

"Heh, Sword Douluo, Sect Master Ning."

Tang Zhen and Yu Yuanzhen rose simultaneously to welcome them, their faces wreathed in polite smiles.

"Sect Master Tang, Sect Master Yu."

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo exchanged pleasantries and formal greetings. After a few moments of small talk, Ning Fengzhi continued.

"It has been quite some time since I last saw you both."

"I have prepared some modest gifts today to pay my respects."

With that, he produced two storage soul tool rings and placed them gently upon the stone table.

"I insist that you both accept them."

"Heh, it is rare to see such filial piety."

Tang Zhen chuckled in response, picked up one of the rings, weighed it in his palm, and tucked it into his sleeve.

Yu Yuanzhen merely nodded, saying nothing as he silently stowed the other ring away.

"It is only right, only right."

Ning Fengzhi smiled, his gaze shifting between Tang Zhen and Yu Yuanzhen, his tone carrying a note of sincerity.

"We of the Upper Three Sects ought to maintain such exchanges."

"Only by standing united as one can we hope to resist the behemoth that is Spirit Hall."

As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward the Tang brothers, his face showing a hint of admiration.

"I presume these two brothers are the renowned Clear Sky Twins currently making waves across the continent?"

The brothers merely nodded, offering no verbal response to Ning Fengzhi.

Tang Hao's gaze swept over Ning Fengzhi, his eyes indifferent, as if he held him in low regard.

Ning Fengzhi felt no awkwardness, his smile remaining gentle and natural.

He seized the opportunity to continue.

"You two are truly exceptional talents."

"In my view, you both possess the potential of Super Douluo!"

The brothers remained silent. Being praised by someone inferior to them, and in the tone of an elder no less, was hardly a cause for joy.

Tang Hao shifted his gaze toward the distant bamboo forest, not bothering to look at Ning Fengzhi again.

Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi still felt no embarrassment.

His smile remained unchanged as he shifted the topic, his tone now laced with worry.

"With your strength, I believe securing a top-three finish in this tournament is more than enough."

"As for first place..."

He trailed off, leaving the sentence unfinished.

His hesitant demeanor perfectly piqued Tang Hao's curiosity.

"Is Sect Master Ning questioning our strength?"

Tang Hao could not help but speak, his voice tinged with displeasure.

"Not at all." Ning Fengzhi waved his hand with a smile, his tone earnest and natural. "It is simply that the competitors Spirit Hall has fielded this time are different."

He sighed and shook his head, wearing the expression of someone who had their best interests at heart.

"To my knowledge, aside from their Holy Maiden, Spirit Hall has produced two more genius soul masters, both of whom have already reached the Soul Emperor realm."

"Among them is a soul master named Zhao Linchuan, who possesses the top-tier tool martial soul—Supreme Ease Golden Edge..."

"And so what?"

Before Ning Fengzhi could finish, Tang Hao interrupted, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Let alone a mere Soul Emperor, even if he were a Soul Saint, I would have absolute confidence in defeating him!"

"Oh? Brother Tang Hao is so confident?" Ning Fengzhi quickly pressed.

"Naturally!" Tang Hao declared proudly. "A mere Soul Emperor is beneath my notice."

"The match has yet to begin, and he has already lost to me."

"Is that so? I would ask Brother Tang Hao to elaborate..."

"Heh, listen well. I have three reasons why I will defeat him."

Tang Hao sneered and held up three fingers, counting them off one by one for Ning Fengzhi.

"First, the Clear Sky Hammer, the inherited martial soul of my Clear Sky Sect, suppresses all tool martial souls in the world."

"Zhao Linchuan has already lost to me before the match has even begun."

"Second, the soul masters of Spirit Hall are nothing but flowers in a greenhouse; they have never experienced any real, substantive slaughter."

"Facing me, he is like a three-year-old child facing a grown giant."

"Third, our Clear Sky Sect possesses the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes left behind by our ancestor, Tang Chen."

"With this technique, he is even more powerless to fight back."

He withdrew his finger, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked down at Ning Fengzhi with a haughty gaze, declaring proudly:

"What right does he have to fight me?"

"Even if I cannot secure the title of 'Number One Under Heaven' for the younger generation, it will undoubtedly belong to my elder brother!"

"It seems I, Fengzhi, was worrying over nothing."

Ning Fengzhi hurriedly apologized, cupping his hands in a salute, his smile tinged with a hint of shame.

"In that case, Fengzhi wishes both brothers success in advance in capturing the title of Number One Under Heaven."

Following this, Ning Fengzhi offered a few more flattering remarks, such as "The Clear Sky Twin Stars are truly worthy of their reputation" and "In time, you will surely become the pillars of the continent."

He spoke with such flowery eloquence that he had the Tang brothers completely lost in their own vanity.

The corners of Tang Hao's mouth curled higher and higher, and a rare smile appeared on Tang Xiao's face as well.

The two stood in the pavilion, backs straight and chins slightly raised, their entire beings exuding an air of arrogance that seemed to say, "If not us, then who among the heroes of the world?"

Seeing that the timing was right, Ning Fengzhi took his leave at the appropriate moment, turning to depart with Chen Xin.

On the way back.

Ning Fengzhi walked in front with Chen Xin by his side, the sound of their footsteps echoing softly against the stone path.

Chen Xin remained silent for a moment before he could not help but ask:

"Fengzhi, wasn't the plan to find them and join forces to pressure Spirit Hall?"

"Why didn't you bring up the main issue?"

Ning Fengzhi shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"The Clear Sky Sect is just a group of brutes—arrogant, conceited, and blind to everyone else."

"Joining forces with them is no different than asking a tiger for its hide."

He took a deep breath and let it out, his voice filled with a touch of melancholy.

"If it weren't for their ancestor, Tang Chen, they would be nothing at all..."

A long while later.

Night had quietly descended.

Zhao Linchuan arranged the food on a tray and carried it to Bibi Dong's room.

"Dinner is ready. Do you need me to bring some into your room?"

As he spoke, he placed the tray on the table in the outer room and began setting the bowls and chopsticks.

"No need," Bibi Dong's voice came from the bedroom. "I can walk now."

"Then take it slow..."

A moment later, Bibi Dong walked out from the inner room.

Her gait was still a bit awkward, but it was much better than when she had gotten up to use the restroom that morning.

She came to the table and sat down, lowering her head to pick up her chopsticks, but instead of reaching for the food, she merely tapped the rim of her bowl with the tips of the chopsticks.

As Zhao Linchuan ladled porridge for her, he said:

"That Yu Xiaogang has already handed over the Dragon Transformation Secret Technique. Your teacher wants you to go and make a copy later."

"I will go and copy it back tomorrow."

Bibi Dong took the bowl of porridge and lowered her head to take a sip; the rising steam blurred her features.

She set the bowl down, hesitated for a moment, and asked with a hint of anticipation:

"Are you... staying tonight?"