A Visit from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect

Three days later, Spirit City.

A luxuriously decorated carriage slowly rolled through the gates of Spirit City. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's unique pagoda emblem was engraved on the carriage body, shimmering brilliantly under the sunlight. Four guards with steady auras—each at least at the Spirit King level—flanked the carriage on either side. While the procession was not massive, it was certainly eye-catching enough.

Inside the carriage, Ning Fengzhi lifted the curtain to gaze at the towering complex of buildings outside, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

"I haven't been to Spirit City in many years; it's even more magnificent than I remember," he remarked softly.

Sitting opposite him, Sword Douluo Chen Xin held a primitive longsword in his arms. With his eyes half-closed, he said indifferently, "Spirit Hall has expanded rapidly over these years, and their financial resources are immense; it is no surprise they have such an atmosphere. What is truly surprising is that a young man named Yi Chen could establish himself here and even move the two of us to come in person."

"Indeed." Ning Fengzhi lowered the curtain and tapped his fingers lightly against his knees. "A young Title Douluo of unknown origin suddenly appears in the Star Dou Forest, produces a peculiar game never seen before, and then runs to Spirit Hall to seek cooperation... All of this is far too coincidental."

"Do you think there is something wrong with him?" Chen Xin opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.

"Quite the opposite," Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "I believe he hides a great secret. And this secret may very well be of vital importance to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

The carriage stopped in front of a grand mansion. This was the guesthouse Spirit Hall reserved specifically for distinguished guests, featuring flying eaves, arched beams, vermilion doors with copper studs, and two imposing stone lions standing guard at the entrance.

As soon as Ning Fengzhi stepped off the carriage, a middle-aged man dressed in the attire of a Spirit Hall deacon hurried forward, bowing in salute. "Your presence is an honor, Sect Master Ning! Please forgive our lack of a proper welcome. I am Zhao Ming, an external affairs deacon of Spirit Hall, sent here by His Holiness the Pope to await your arrival."

"His Holiness is too kind," Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly and asked calmly, "I wonder if Mr. Yi Chen is currently in the city?"

A look of hesitation crossed Deacon Zhao's face. He lowered his voice and said, "Elder Yi Chen is indeed in the city, but he gave instructions that if any guests were to visit, he must be informed first. Please wait a moment, Sect Master Ning; I shall send someone to request an audience immediately."

"Elder?" Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Yi Chen is already an Elder of Spirit Hall?"

"That is correct," Deacon Zhao replied respectfully. "Elder Yi Chen was appointed as an honorary elder of Spirit Hall three days ago, with a status equivalent to that of a titled official."

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo exchanged a glance, both seeing astonishment in the other's eyes.

In just three days, he went from a stranger to an honorary elder of Spirit Hall?

This Yi Chen truly had extraordinary means!

Not long after, the attendant who had gone to report returned in a hurry and whispered a few words into Deacon Zhao's ear. After listening, Deacon Zhao quickly turned and bowed to Ning Fengzhi. "Sect Master Ning, Elder Yi Chen invites you to join him. He is waiting for you at the Golden Spatula Pavilion in the east of the city and says he has a surprise to show you."

"Golden Spatula Pavilion?" Ning Fengzhi chewed on the unfamiliar name, his curiosity growing even stronger.

The group passed through the main thoroughfare of Spirit City and arrived at an open area in the east of the city. From afar, Ning Fengzhi saw a magnificent building constructed entirely of a strange, silvery-white stone. Its design was square and imposing, and on the plaque above the main entrance, four shimmering, iridescent characters were engraved:

Golden Spatula Pavilion.

Even in a city filled with luxurious architecture like Spirit City, this pavilion stood out remarkably. Its outer walls seemed to pulse with a faint golden halo, as if it were breathing like a living thing.

Standing before the entrance, Ning Fengzhi could clearly feel a rich, heaven-and-earth spirit power being continuously drawn into the building, only to be converted into a much purer form of energy.

"What... material is this?" A flicker of amazement crossed Sword Douluo Chen Xin's eyes. "I have lived for more than half a lifetime and have never seen such stone."

"I do not know either," Ning Fengzhi shook his head, his anticipation intensifying.

The two stepped through the pavilion's main gate, and a vast, open space greeted them.

The interior of the pavilion was incredibly spacious, with a ceiling over ten zhang high embedded with countless fist-sized night-luminescent pearls, illuminating the entire hall as if it were broad daylight.

The floor was paved with smooth, mirror-like jade-white stone slabs, reflecting the light from the ceiling as if one were walking upon the clouds.

In the center of the hall, dozens of exquisite white jade tables were arranged, each with a golden, holographic chessboard hovering above it.

Several staff members in Spirit Hall uniforms were debugging the devices. Seeing Ning Fengzhi and his companion enter, they bowed in succession.

At the far end of this space, a slender white figure stood with his back to them, hands clasped behind his back.

Hearing their footsteps, the man turned around slowly.

It was Yi Chen.

He had changed into a moon-white robe today, with a silver jade-inlaid belt tied around his waist. His long, raven-black hair was loosely tied with a white jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling across his forehead.

The light fell upon his sharp, well-defined profile, making his deep eyes appear even more brilliant and dazzling.

The moment Ning Fengzhi saw Yi Chen, his heart skipped a beat.

He was too young.

And that demeanor—seemingly casual and indifferent, yet it carried a sense of composure and ease that was completely at odds with his age.

Those eyes were as calm as water, yet as deep as an abyss, making it impossible to fathom his true depth.

"Sect Master Ning, you have come a long way. Please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner," Yi Chen said with a faint smile, bowing in a gesture that was both composed and respectful.

Ning Fengzhi quickly returned the salute. "Mr. Yi Chen is too kind. Please forgive our presumptuous visit."

"Sect Master Ning, you joke," Yi Chen gestured toward the seating area. "Please, both of you, have a seat. Let us talk."

The three sat down in the guest area on the side of the pavilion. An attendant immediately brought over fragrant tea; the aroma was curling and refreshing.

Ning Fengzhi picked up his teacup and took a sip, feeling a gentle, warm current slide down his throat into his stomach. His limbs and bones felt as if they were stretching out, and the fatigue from days of travel was swept away.

He couldn't help but silently praise the tea, while also holding Yi Chen's capabilities in even higher regard.

"Sect Master Ning, you have come this time for the Battle of the Golden Spatula, have you not?" Yi Chen asked, getting straight to the point.

Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup and said solemnly, "To be honest, Mr. Yi Chen, that is exactly why. After my daughter Rongrong returned from the Star Dou Forest, she spoke of you with the highest praise and has been unable to stop thinking about the Battle of the Golden Spatula. Although my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect cannot be considered a top-tier power, we still wish to secure a place in the tides of this new era. If you are willing, my sect would like to cooperate with you in depth."

His words expressed sincerity while remaining neither humble nor arrogant, demonstrating the poise and tact expected of a sect master.

Yi Chen did not answer immediately. He took a slow, leisurely sip of his tea before lifting his eyelids to look at Ning Fengzhi with a half-smile.

"I appreciate your good intentions, Sect Master Ning. However, before we proceed, I have a question I would like to ask."

"Please, speak your mind, sir."

"Aside from discussing our partnership, Sect Master Ning, you must have had another purpose in coming here today: to see for yourself whether I am truly qualified to stand on equal footing with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, am I right?"

Ning Fengzhi's pupils constricted slightly.

He had not expected Yi Chen to be so blunt.

Since the other party had laid it all out, he saw no reason to hide it any longer and replied candidly, "Your insight is as sharp as a torch, sir. Indeed, while my daughter speaks highly of your strength, hearing is one thing, but seeing is believing. As the head of a sect, I must be responsible for everyone under my banner."

"Understood." Yi Chen nodded, set down his teacup, and stood up. "In that case, I shall give you your answer, Sect Master Ning."

No sooner had the words left his lips than the aura around him underwent a sudden, drastic change!

BOOM—!!!

An indescribably terrifying pressure, like a celestial river cascading from the heavens, instantly flooded the entire Golden Spatula Pavilion!

Ning Fengzhi felt a buzz in his head, as if an invisible mountain had slammed down onto his shoulders!

The soul power within him seemed to freeze in that instant; he could not mobilize even the slightest trace of it!

He tried to stand, only to find his legs as heavy as lead, unable to move even a single step!

As for Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who stood beside him, his situation was no better.

The moment the pressure descended, this level 96 Super Douluo had instinctively summoned his martial soul, the Seven Kill Sword!

But to his utter horror, the Seven Kill Sword that had accompanied him for most of his life was currently trembling!

Yes, it was shivering!

As if it had encountered a natural predator, his Seven Kill Sword was cowering before the vast, oceanic pressure radiating from Yi Chen!

"This... this is..." Chen Xin's voice trembled, and fine beads of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "A Limit Douluo... a Limit Douluo?!"

It was not as if he had never seen a Limit Douluo before.

Back in the day, he had once felt the aura of Tang Chen from the Clear Sky Sect from afar. That sense of oppression, which stood high above all living beings, remained vivid in his memory to this day.

But the pressure Yi Chen was exerting right now was, if anything, even stronger than what he had felt from Tang Chen back then!

Moreover, he could sense that Yi Chen hadn't even used his full strength!

This was merely a sliver of aura released at a whim!

Just as Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin were on the verge of collapse, the pressure receded like a retreating tide, vanishing completely as if it had never existed at all.

Yi Chen sat back down in his chair, picked up his teacup, and took a leisurely sip, acting as if nothing had happened at all.

"Sect Master Ning, are you satisfied with this answer?"

Ning Fengzhi gasped for air, his back soaked through with cold sweat. He struggled to lift his head and look at the smiling young man across from him, his heart churning like a stormy sea.

A Limit Douluo!

It really was a Limit Douluo!

And such a young one at that!

He took a deep breath, forcing down the shock in his heart, and slowly stood up to offer Yi Chen a solemn bow.

"Please forgive my previous offense, sir. From this day forward, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to cooperate with you in all sincerity, with no ulterior motives!"

Yi Chen set down his teacup and smiled faintly.

"You are too kind, Sect Master Ning. Since we are both sincere, we can take our time discussing the details of our cooperation."