Three days later, Spirit City.
A lavishly decorated carriage rolled slowly through Spirit City's gates. The unique pagoda crest of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was engraved on its side, gleaming in the sunlight. Four steady-breathing guards rode both ahead of and behind the carriage, the weakest among them at least a Soul King. It wasn't an especially grand procession, but it was still enough to draw attention.
Inside the carriage, Ning Fengzhi lifted the curtain and gazed out at the towering buildings, his eyes profound.
"It's been years since I last came to Spirit City. It's even grander than I remember," he said with a soft sigh.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin sat opposite him, holding an ancient-looking longsword with his eyes half closed. "Spirit Hall has expanded rapidly over the years and amassed great wealth. It's no surprise the city looks like this. What truly surprises me is that a young man named Yi Chen managed to establish himself here—and even moved you and me to come in person."
"Indeed." Ning Fengzhi let the curtain fall and tapped his knee lightly with his fingers. "A young Titled Douluo of unknown origins suddenly appears in the Star Dou Forest, unveils a strange game no one has ever seen before, and then goes to Spirit Hall seeking cooperation... It's all too much of a coincidence."
"You think there's something wrong with him?" Chen Xin opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.
"Quite the opposite." Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "I think he's hiding a great secret. And that secret could well be crucial to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
The carriage stopped in front of a stately manor. This was an inn specially prepared by Spirit Hall for distinguished guests, with sweeping eaves, carved brackets, vermilion gates, and copper studs. Two stone lions stood proudly before the entrance.
As soon as Ning Fengzhi stepped down from the carriage, a middle-aged man in the uniform of a Spirit Hall steward hurried over and bowed. "Sect Master Ning, forgive us for not welcoming you sooner! I am Zhao Ming, an external affairs steward of Spirit Hall. His Holiness the Pope ordered me to await your arrival."
"His Holiness is too kind." Ning Fengzhi gave a slight nod and asked casually, "May I ask whether that Mr. Yi Chen is in the city?"
A trace of difficulty crossed Steward Zhao's face. He lowered his voice. "Elder Yi Chen is in the city, but he instructed us to inform him whenever a guest arrives. Please wait a moment, Sect Master Ning. I'll send someone to ask."
"Elder?" Ning Fengzhi's brows lifted. "Mr. Yi Chen is already an elder of Spirit Hall?"
"Indeed." Steward Zhao replied respectfully, "Elder Yi Chen was appointed an honorary elder of Spirit Hall three days ago, with a position equal to that of a consecrated elder."
Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo exchanged a glance. Both saw the surprise in the other's eyes.
In just three days, he'd gone from a stranger to an honorary elder of Spirit Hall?
This Yi Chen truly had remarkable means!
Before long, the attendant who'd gone to deliver the message returned in a hurry and whispered a few words into Steward Zhao's ear. After listening, Steward Zhao quickly turned and cupped his hands toward Ning Fengzhi. "Sect Master Ning, Elder Yi Chen invites you. He's waiting for you at the Golden Spatula Pavilion in the eastern part of the city. He said he has a surprise he'd like to show you."
"The Golden Spatula Pavilion?" Ning Fengzhi repeated the unfamiliar name, his curiosity growing.
The group traveled along Spirit City's main thoroughfare and reached an open area in the east. From a distance, Ning Fengzhi spotted a magnificent building, constructed entirely from strange silvery-white stone. Its shape was square and imposing, and four radiant characters were engraved on the plaque above the main entrance:
Golden Spatula Pavilion.
Even in a city full of luxurious buildings like Spirit City, the pavilion stood out. A faint golden glow seemed to flow across its outer walls, breathing as if it were alive.
Standing before the entrance, Ning Fengzhi could clearly feel a dense stream of Heaven and Earth Soul Power being drawn into the building, then transformed into some kind of purer energy.
"What... is this material?" A flicker of surprise crossed Sword Douluo Chen Xin's eyes. "I've lived most of my life, yet I've never seen stone like this."
"I don't know either." Ning Fengzhi shook his head, his anticipation growing.
They stepped through the pavilion's doors and entered a vast, open space.
The interior was exceedingly spacious, with a ceiling more than ten zhang high. Countless fist-sized luminous pearls were set into it, lighting the entire hall as bright as day.
The floor was covered with smooth, mirrorlike slabs of white jade. They reflected the light above, making it seem as though they were walking among the clouds.
Dozens of exquisite white jade tables stood in the center of the hall. Above each table floated the golden image of a chessboard.
Several staff members dressed in Spirit Hall uniforms were adjusting the devices. When they saw Ning Fengzhi and his companion enter, they bowed in greeting.
At the far end of the space, a slender figure in white stood with his back to them, his hands clasped behind him.
Hearing their footsteps, the man slowly turned around.
It was Yi Chen.
That day, he wore a moon-white robe and a silver belt inlaid with jade. His black hair was casually fastened with a white jade hairpin, while a few loose strands fell across his forehead.
Light fell across his sharply defined profile, making his deep eyes all the more brilliant.
The moment Ning Fengzhi saw Yi Chen, his heart skipped a beat.
He was far too young.
And his bearing, though casual and unassuming, carried a composure and ease entirely at odds with his age.
His eyes were as calm as water, yet deep as an abyss. It was impossible to see even a fraction of what lay beneath the surface.
"Forgive me for not welcoming you properly after your long journey, Sect Master Ning. I hope you'll overlook it." Yi Chen smiled faintly and cupped his hands in greeting, his manner composed and courteous.
Ning Fengzhi hurriedly returned the gesture. "You're too kind, Mr. Yi Chen. I hope you won't take offense at my unannounced visit."
"Not at all, Sect Master Ning." Yi Chen gestured for them to sit. "Please, have a seat. We can talk there."
The three of them sat down in the pavilion's guest area. An attendant immediately brought them fragrant tea, its gentle aroma rising and filling the air.
Ning Fengzhi lifted his cup and took a sip. A warm, soothing current slid down his throat and into his stomach, spreading through his limbs and easing the weariness of the long journey in an instant.
He couldn't help praising the tea to himself. At the same time, he thought even more highly of Yi Chen's methods.
"You've come here for Teamfight Tactics, Sect Master Ning?" Yi Chen asked directly.
Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup and replied seriously, "To be frank, yes. Since my daughter Rongrong returned from the Star Dou Forest, she's spoken highly of you and can't stop thinking about Teamfight Tactics. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may not be one of the very top powers, but we still hope to claim a place for ourselves in this new era. If you're willing, our sect would like to work closely with you."
His words expressed sincerity without groveling, displaying the composure and tact befitting a sect master.
After listening, Yi Chen didn't answer at once. He merely lifted his teacup and took a leisurely sip. Then he raised his eyes and looked at Ning Fengzhi with a faint, knowing smile.
"I appreciate Sect Master Ning's kind offer. But before that, there's something I'd like to ask."
"Please, go ahead."
"Besides discussing cooperation, you've also come to see for yourself whether I'm truly qualified to stand as an equal to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, haven't you?"
Ning Fengzhi's pupils contracted slightly.
He hadn't expected Yi Chen to be so blunt.
But since the other man had put it plainly, he no longer tried to hide it. "You see right through me, sir. My daughter has spoken highly of your strength, but hearing is not the same as seeing. As the master of a sect, I have a responsibility to everyone under its banner."
"I understand." Yi Chen nodded, set down his teacup, and rose to his feet. "In that case, I'll give Sect Master Ning an answer."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the aura around him changed abruptly!
BOOM—!!!
An indescribably terrifying pressure crashed down like the Milky Way pouring from the heavens, filling the entire Golden Spatula Pavilion in an instant!
Ning Fengzhi's head rang. It felt as if an invisible mountain had slammed down on his shoulders!
The Soul Power inside his body seemed to freeze in that instant. He couldn't move even the slightest trace of it!
He tried to stand, only to find his legs as heavy as if they'd been filled with lead. He couldn't move a single step!
Sword Douluo Chen Xin, beside him, fared no better.
The instant the pressure descended, the Level 96 Super Douluo instinctively released his Martial Soul, the Seven Kill Sword!
But what horrified him beyond belief was that the Seven Kill Sword, his companion for most of his life, was trembling!
Yes, trembling!
As though it had encountered its natural enemy, Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword was seized with fear before the boundless, oceanic pressure Yi Chen unleashed!
"This... What is this..." Chen Xin's voice trembled, fine beads of cold sweat appearing on his forehead. "A Limit... Limit Douluo?!"
It wasn't as if he'd never seen a Limit Douluo before.
Years ago, he had sensed Tang Chen's aura from afar. He still vividly remembered the crushing pressure of that power, towering above all living beings.
But the pressure Yi Chen released now was no weaker than Tang Chen's back then!
And Chen Xin could tell that Yi Chen hadn't even used his full strength!
This was only a sliver of aura he'd released casually!
Just as Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin were about to reach their limit, the pressure suddenly receded like a retreating tide, vanishing without a trace as though it had never appeared.
Yi Chen returned to his chair, picked up his teacup, and took a leisurely sip, as if nothing had happened.
"Sect Master Ning, are you satisfied with this answer?"
Ning Fengzhi gasped for breath, his back soaked with cold sweat. He struggled to raise his head and look at the smiling young man opposite him, his thoughts churning like a storm-tossed sea.
A Limit Douluo!
He really was a Limit Douluo!
And such a young one at that!
He drew a deep breath, forced down his shock, and slowly rose to his feet. Then he bowed solemnly to Yi Chen.
"I was presumptuous earlier. Please forgive me, sir. From this day forward, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to cooperate with you in good faith, without the slightest reservation!"
Yi Chen set down his teacup and smiled faintly.
"You're too kind, Sect Master Ning. Since we're both sincere, we can take our time discussing the cooperation."