Spirit City, Pope's Palace.
Ning Yuanshan stood inside the council hall, with his son, Ning Fengzhi, beside him.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would inevitably be entrusted to Ning Fengzhi in the future. He would be the one dealing with the new Pope and the next Pope.
"It's been a long journey, Sect Master Ning. Please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."
Qian Xunji's voice came from behind them. Wearing the solemn, splendid robes of the Pope, he slowly walked up to the papal throne.
After taking his seat, Qian Xunji swept his gaze over Ning Yuanshan and Ning Fengzhi, raising an eyebrow slightly.
In front of Qian Daoliu and Huo Yuhao, he didn't seem very dependable, but before outsiders, he was the dignified Pope.
"Your Holiness is too kind." Ning Yuanshan bowed slightly, smiling. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has come to congratulate Your Holiness on your succession. These trifling gifts are a token of our regard."
At Ning Yuanshan's words, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples who had been waiting by the door carried several chests of gifts into the council hall.
After setting them down, they opened the lids, revealing jewels and a large quantity of medicinal herbs.
Qian Xunji glanced over them and nodded slightly. "Sect Master Ning was thoughtful."
To Ning Yuanshan, these things weren't even a drop in the ocean, and Spirit Hall had no shortage of them either.
He had only come to express his goodwill.
As the saying went, I may not want it, but you can't fail to give it.
"This chest contains precious materials I've brought for His Highness the Holy Son. They should aid him in meditation and cultivation."
Ning Yuanshan pointed to the large chest at the very front, sighing with regret.
"I'd heard that the previous Pope had taken on a disciple of peerless talent. I hoped to take this opportunity to congratulate Your Holiness and behold the Holy Son's bearing."
Qian Xunji rolled his eyes at Ning Yuanshan.
What an old fox. He couldn't wait any longer.
"Your sources are certainly well-informed, Sect Master Ning."
Whether it was Qian Daoliu taking on a disciple or Spirit Hall conferring the title of Holy Son, neither had been widely publicized.
These sects acted as though they had a persecution complex, constantly fearing Spirit Hall and keeping people watching them all the time.
He had no idea what they were so worried about.
Ning Yuanshan didn't mind Qian Xunji's pointed remark; his smile remained unchanged.
"With this move, Your Holiness, the Holy Son's name is sure to become famous across the continent."
As the saying went, it was best to become famous early.
Since Huo Yuhao planned to promote a new cultivation system in the future, it would naturally be better for him to make a name for himself sooner rather than later.
If an unknown person introduced reforms, people would be puzzled, suspicious, and distrustful.
But when someone famous did it, people naturally felt a little more faith in him.
"With Yuhao's talent, becoming famous across the continent is only a matter of time, even without the title of Holy Son."
Qian Xunji spoke with great pride.
His junior brother, a level-27 spirit-type support Spirit Master, could now fight a Soul Emperor and leave him questioning everything, even without using his Second Martial Soul.
The task of training Huo Yuhao had now been taken over by Golden Crocodile Douluo, whose seniority even surpassed Qian Daoliu's.
This worshipper, who usually did nothing but cultivate and was so rarely seen that even the Pope seldom encountered him, had learned of Huo Yuhao's talent and reacted like a teenage boy who'd just seen a peerless beauty. He was positively ecstatic.
And after experiencing how Huo Yuhao's Second Martial Soul completely suppressed his own Martial Soul, Golden Crocodile Douluo became even more excited.
Once Huo Yuhao's training was over, he would have Huo Yuhao use his Second Martial Soul to possess him and spar.
In Golden Crocodile Douluo's words, he hadn't felt this soul-deep shiver in a long time.
Facing the pressure of a powerful bloodline was also a form of cultivation for Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had just broken through to level 98.
Huo Yuhao was his big brother Qian Daoliu's disciple?
The Grand Elder had said all the worshippers in the Worship Hall were brothers.
His big brother's disciple was his disciple too!
Besides, he was helping his big brother shoulder the burden!
"Yuhao is cultivating right now. If you're truly interested in him, Sect Master Ning, you can wait for him in Spirit Hall's library. He usually goes there after three in the afternoon to read some documents."
Ning Fengzhi looked at Qian Xunji in surprise.
"Your Holiness, we can really enter Spirit Hall's library?"
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect also had a library for its books. Outsiders were forbidden from entering; only sect members were allowed in.
In fact, many sections were open only to disciples who had awakened the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Spirit Hall was actually so generous?
"Considering Sect Master Ning is an honorary elder of Spirit Hall, he's certainly qualified to enter the library."
Spirit Hall's library held a far greater collection of books, including many more rare volumes and records.
Those books were kept on the top floor, which was restricted.
With Huo Yuhao's status as the Holy Son, he could enter the top floor freely.
The first thing Huo Yuhao saw in the library was the father and son from the Ning family, dressed in finery and radiating nobility.
The Spirit Masters of Spirit Hall mostly came from ordinary families. Even if they had money, they wouldn't dress so extravagantly.
Ning Yuanshan and Ning Fengzhi stood out like cranes among chickens in the library. It was impossible not to notice them.
Ning Yuanshan had been keeping an eye on the entrance. When a delicate-looking young boy with long black hair walked in, he knew the person he'd been waiting for had arrived.
Ordinary six- or seven-year-old children rarely wanted to spend time in a place like a library.
Ning Yuanshan walked over to Huo Yuhao and stopped a few steps away.
"Your Highness the Holy Son."
Huo Yuhao understood that they had come for him.
"Who are you?"
He already had a few guesses. From their clothes and bearing, he could think of one family in particular that fit the bill.
"I am Ning Yuanshan, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This is my son, Fengzhi."
Ning Yuanshan had a refined, approachable air about him, without the slightest hint of aggression.
His manners were also impeccable; he hadn't slighted Huo Yuhao just because of his young age.
After his father spoke, Ning Fengzhi smiled warmly and cupped his hands toward Huo Yuhao. "Your Highness the Holy Son."
As he greeted him, he also examined Huo Yuhao closely.
What was so special about him that Qian Xunji would break with Spirit Hall's tradition and make an outsider the Holy Son?
Huo Yuhao politely returned the greeting. "Sect Master Ning. Young Master Ning."
They really were from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
So this was Ning Rongrong's father, Ning Fengzhi, the father of that Little Demoness.
Ning Fengzhi was only around twenty years old. He looked more like a graceful young nobleman than a Spirit Master.
The thing Huo Yuhao remembered most about him was this: he was an investor with a terrible eye for investments.
After spending a fortune on Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, he was ordered to destroy them once Tang San had enough money and power.
The two Titled Douluo protecting the sect died saving Tang San.
When he saw the evolved Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, he thought the sect would flourish as a result. Who would have guessed his daughter wouldn't pass the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda down at all and would even neglect the sect?
The decline of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ten thousand years later could ultimately be traced back to Ning Fengzhi's bad investments.
How could a sect as wealthy as a nation protect itself without powerful guardians, relying only on their non-offensive Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?
Ning Fengzhi was mulling things over when he suddenly noticed the strange look in the Holy Son's eyes.
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