Poetry Shakes Spirit City! A Genius of the Age!

After the banquet ended, Zhao Tian's "Bring in the Wine" spread through Spirit City like a plague.

In less than a single night, nearly all of Spirit City had learned of it.

In inns, taverns, streets, and alleys, people everywhere were discussing that poem.

"Do you not see the Yellow River's waters descend from heaven, rushing to the sea and never returning... That line is incredible! I've never heard poetry so vast and majestic!"

"Though heaven gave me talent, it must be of use; though a thousand gold is spent, it will return again! Now that is true grandeur! How could a six-year-old child write words like that?"

"I heard that Zhao Tian is not only exceptionally strong, defeating Yu Tianheng and Feng Xiaotian in the arena, but also possesses literary talent rarely seen in this age. He is truly skilled in both letters and martial arts!"

"I've lived more than half my life and never admired a six-year-old child, but today, I am convinced."

"This poem will surely be passed down for generations!"

In the teahouses, storytellers had already begun turning Zhao Tian's tale into a performance, recounting it vividly to packed audiences.

"Let me tell you of Zhao Tian, young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He is only six years old, yet his martial soul is the Radiant Phoenix, and he possesses Innate Full Soul Power! In the arena, he defeated Huo Wushuang of the Fire Leopard Sect, Tuoba Xin of the Holy Dragon Sect, Feng Xiaotian of the Four Elements Academy, and Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, claiming the championship!"

"At the victory banquet, everyone composed poems for amusement. Zhao Tian spoke in perfect verse, and with one 'Bring in the Wine,' the entire hall was stunned!"

"Though heaven gave me talent, it must be of use; though a thousand gold is spent, it will return again! Everyone, tell me, do those sound like words a six-year-old could say?"

The listeners below were utterly captivated, applauding and cheering one after another.

Overnight, Zhao Tian's name spread throughout Spirit City. There was no one who did not know it.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect residence.

Inside the study, Ning Fengzhi sat behind his desk, holding a sheet of paper containing a copied version of the "Bring in the Wine" Zhao Tian had recited at the banquet.

He had read it over a dozen times, and the more he looked, the more shaken he became.

"Though heaven gave me talent, it must be of use; though a thousand gold is spent, it will return again..."

Ning Fengzhi murmured the line, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.

"This child... where did he truly come from?"

"How could a child raised in Seven Treasures Orphanage possess such talent?"

Chen Xin stood at the side and, for once, did not interrupt.

He had also read the poem, and he was equally astonished.

"Fengzhi, do you think it's possible... that these are memories he brought from a previous life?"

Chen Xin suddenly spoke, his tone carrying a trace of tentative probing.

"A previous life?"

Ning Fengzhi froze for a moment before shaking his head.

"Impossible. Though this world has soul masters and martial souls, I have never heard of anyone reincarnating with memories from a previous life."

"Then how do you explain this poem?"

Chen Xin pressed.

Ning Fengzhi fell silent for a long while before finally sighing.

"Perhaps... this is what a true genius is."

"Some people are simply born different from everyone else. Zhao Tian is one of them."

"He possesses not only talent, but literary brilliance as well."

"I, Ning Fengzhi, have found a treasure."

Chen Xin did not ask further, but a trace of doubt remained in his heart.

The grandeur and scope of that poem were absolutely not something a six-year-old child could have written.

But regardless of the truth, Zhao Tian was now the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong's future husband, and the disciple of both himself and Gu Rong.

That was enough.

Spirit Hall, Pope Palace.

Bibi Dong sat upon her golden throne, likewise holding a sheet of paper bearing a copy of "Bring in the Wine."

Her violet eyes stared unblinking at the poem on the page. Her expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Below the great hall, Shadow Thirteen knelt on one knee and respectfully reported the reactions outside.

"Your Holiness, that poem has already spread throughout all of Spirit City."

"Everyone is now talking about Zhao Tian, saying that he is not only a combat genius, but also an unparalleled literary prodigy."

"Many have even copied the poem and passed it around for others to read."

"The hottest topic in Spirit City is no longer the outcome of the competition, but Zhao Tian's poem."

After hearing this, Bibi Dong remained silent for a long time.

Then, she began to laugh softly.

There was no mockery or disdain in that laughter. Instead, it carried a hint of... appreciation?

"Though heaven gave me talent, it must be of use; though a thousand gold is spent, it will return again..."

Bibi Dong softly repeated those two lines, and the light in her eyes grew ever brighter.

"What fine words: though heaven gave me talent, it must be of use; though a thousand gold is spent, it will return again."

"This Zhao Tian is becoming more and more interesting."

She gently placed the paper on the armrest and turned her gaze toward the night sky beyond the hall.

"I originally thought he merely had exceptional talent. I never expected his literary ability to be so outstanding as well."

"Skilled in both letters and martial arts... those four words are not exaggerated in the slightest when applied to him."

"What a pity..."

She paused, and a hint of regret entered her voice.

"He is unwilling to join Spirit Hall."

"Otherwise, I would devote every effort to cultivating him."

Shadow Thirteen lowered his head, not daring to respond.

"Forget it."

Bibi Dong waved her hand.

"If he is unwilling to come, then I will not force him."

"But what happened today is enough to make all of Spirit City remember his name."

"From now on, no matter where he goes, people will know who Zhao Tian is."

"For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, that is both a good thing and a bad thing."

"The good thing is that with such a genius, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's reputation will rise steadily."

"The bad thing is..."

The corners of Bibi Dong's lips lifted slightly.

"The more dazzling a genius is, the more easily he attracts trouble."

"I would like to see whether Ning Fengzhi can truly protect him."

The following morning, Ning Rongrong dragged Zhao Tian out of bed.

"Zhao Tian! Zhao Tian! Come out and look!"

Ning Rongrong's voice was brimming with excitement.

Zhao Tian rubbed his eyes, yawned, and pushed open the door. He saw Ning Rongrong holding a thick stack of papers, her little face flushed with excitement.

"What is it?"

"Look, look! These were all delivered this morning!"

Ning Rongrong stuffed the stack of papers into Zhao Tian's hands.

Zhao Tian lowered his head to look and froze.

Every sheet contained a copy of his "Bring in the Wine." The handwriting differed on every page, clearly written by different people.

Some copies were neat and orderly, some wild and flowing, and some even contained personal annotations and reflections.

"These are..."

"They were all copied by people in Spirit City!"

Ning Rongrong was so excited that her little face had turned red.

"They said your poem was so good that they wanted to copy it down and take it home to read slowly!"

"Everyone in Spirit City is talking about you now! You're famous!"

Zhao Tian looked at the papers in his hands, and complicated emotions surged within him.

He had never expected that an ancient poem he had casually borrowed would cause such a tremendous sensation.

"Zhao Tian, you're the most famous person in Spirit City now!"

Ning Rongrong said with a giggle.

"Everyone says you're some kind of... genius of the age, skilled in both letters and martial arts!"

Zhao Tian smiled helplessly.

A genius of the age?

What right did he have? He had merely borrowed the brilliance of the sages from his previous life.

But there was no way he could explain that to anyone.

"Come on. Father said he's taking you out for a walk today, so everyone in Spirit City can get a good look at you!"

Without giving him any chance to refuse, Ning Rongrong grabbed Zhao Tian's hand and pulled him outside.

Dragged along by her, Zhao Tian's mouth twitched slightly.

He had a feeling that going out today would not be easy.