At that moment, Yu Luomian was embedded deep in the solid stone wall, his body spread-eagled. Crushed stone trickled down around him.
"Cough, cough."
Yu Luomian spat up blood in great mouthfuls.
By Zhou Tong's side, a slender, upright figure in green had appeared.
Dugu Bo stood with his hands behind his back, his emerald eyes sweeping coldly over Yu Luomian. His hoarse voice rang clearly in everyone's ears.
"Yu Luomian, who gave you the nerve to bully my disciple?"
He strode forward and stopped before the unconscious Yu Luomian. "Go back and tell that old dragon of yours: he'd better not try to make me crawl or lie down."
Everyone was stunned by the sight.
"His Excellency, Poison Douluo!"
"Zhou Tong actually has a teacher like that?"
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has always thrown its weight around. They thought Zhou Tong was an easy target and wanted to use him to make an example. Who knew they'd run into a brick wall?"
"This is going to get interesting. They've provoked the greatest poison Titled Douluo in the world. Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan can't just let this go."
The crowd's discussion swelled like a tide. Everyone was dumbstruck by the sudden reversal.
Only after a long while did Yu Luomian gradually come to.
"His Excellency, Poison Douluo, I never thought I'd offend you."
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan meant you no disrespect."
Yu Luomian had tried to throw his weight around just moments ago, and he knew he was in the wrong. Faced with Dugu Bo, someone he couldn't afford to provoke, he had suddenly become reasonable.
"Yu Luomian, how do you intend to compensate my disciple?"
Dugu Bo didn't want to sour relations with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan too badly. Since they'd apologized, he was willing to leave it at that.
Yu Luomian answered without hesitation, "What does your disciple want?"
Zhou Tong spoke up. "I want your Heavenly Lightning Body Tempering method, as well as two thousand-year-old Thunder Dragons with true bloodlines, for my cultivation."
He knew that Thunder Dragon bloodlines naturally came with powerful resistance to lightning. He wanted his Martial Soul to absorb a Thunder Dragon bloodline and further improve its resistance.
"Fine. I agree."
Yu Luomian answered at once.
Just then, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe came over to Zhou Tong and said,
"Zhou Tong, you're exceptionally talented and astonishingly strong. Today's battle has truly opened my eyes."
"To have a genius like you in the empire is a blessing for the royal family."
"With your combat strength, you're fully qualified to enter the Imperial Fighting Team without taking the test."
"You're exempt from the selection."
"I hereby announce that Zhou Tong will enter this year's Imperial Fighting Team directly and serve as its captain!"
His words caused an immediate uproar. To become the Imperial Fighting Team's captain right after enrolling was simply terrifying.
Everyone thought that a rising star was about to ascend.
Not long afterward, Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan also passed the selection and joined the Imperial Fighting Team.
At the same time, Ning Rongrong passed the selection and joined the Imperial Fighting Team as well.
"Little Brother Zhou, this is my teacher, Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
"Teacher, this is Zhou Tong. I vouched for you, so you'd better keep your promise about the investment."
At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Zhou Tong had just finished the selection when he met Xue Qinghe and the others.
Xue Qinghe (Qian Renxue) took the initiative to introduce them.
Zhou Tong looked at Xue Qinghe and the others and gave a slight nod.
"Greetings, Sect Master Ning."
Looking at the gentle, refined Ning Fengzhi, Zhou Tong greeted him first.
"Brother Zhou Tong, you truly are a heaven-gifted genius."
"You even defeated Yu Tianheng."
"I'm Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. These are my friends, Chen Xin and Gu Rong, and my daughter, Ning Rongrong."
Ning Fengzhi said with a smile.
Seeing such a talented young man, he couldn't help but feel a measure of admiration.
As the sect master of the second-ranked sect in the world, he was treated with great respect even by Soul Saints and Soul Douluo.
Yet this ten-year-old boy was so composed in his presence. What remarkable poise.
"Yu Tianheng is quite strong. I was only lucky to beat him."
Zhou Tong replied humbly to Ning Fengzhi's praise.
He knew Ning Fengzhi well: he was a gambler.
And not a particularly rational one.
In the original story, Ning Fengzhi invested his entire fortune in Tang San. In return, his family was nearly wiped out, leaving only a few stragglers.
The entire foundation of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was all but gone.
It was fair to say his gamble had ended in disaster.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has always been fond of meeting talented people."
"My daughter Rongrong is on the same team as you, so I'll be counting on you to look after her, Captain."
"Rongrong, come over and meet Brother Zhou Tong."
Ning Fengzhi spoke warmly.
He beckoned to someone behind him, and a delicate little girl stepped out from behind.
"I've heard that Princess Ning possesses the rare Martial Soul of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I'm sure I'll have to count on you to look after me, Princess Ning."
As Zhou Tong spoke, his gaze fell on Ning Rongrong.
She wore a sapphire-blue dress with wide sleeves and had long, coffee-colored hair.
Her long bangs parted in the middle and were tucked behind her small, crystal-clear ears.
Her big blue eyes were bright and limpid, and her features were exquisitely delicate. She looked beautiful.
But this delicate little beauty soon showed her fiery side.
"Zhou Tong, you sure made a big impression today."
Ning Rongrong put her hands on her slender waist, her almond eyes wide with anger. Her delicate face was full of fury as she pointed at Zhou Tong.
"How did you do it? Your third Soul Ring is already a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring?"
"Can you tell me how you cultivated?"
"You're a freak!"
Looking at the somewhat unruly Ning Rongrong, Zhou Tong remained unruffled.
"Actually, it isn't that hard to do."
"You just have to train your body to its limits, until your body and spiritual power can withstand a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."
"Endure Heavenly Lightning Body Tempering for at least three hours every day. It can make your body incredibly strong."
"Keep at it, and you can be like me."
Zhou Tong answered Ning Rongrong's curious questions calmly.
But his casual words sounded horrifying to Ning Rongrong.
Her delicate little face stiffened at once, and her cherry-red lips stayed parted, unable to close for a long while.
She stared at Zhou Tong as if he were a demon.
Heavenly lightning body tempering for three hours every day? Could a person really do that?
Wouldn't the lightning strike you dead?
That was just absurd.
"Little Friend Zhou, you're Rongrong's friend, so you're a friend of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Take this token. If you ever need anything from our sect, just bring it to us and we'll help you."
"Thank you, Sect Master Ning."
"You're far too generous."
Zhou Tong said.
How could Zhou Tong refuse Sect Master Ning's kindness?
Wouldn't that hurt the sect master's feelings?
With this token, he could claim over a million Gold Soul Coins from the Seven Treasure Trading House. It showed just how generous Sect Master Ning was.
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