Seven Treasures Glazed Banquet

Several days later, Huo Chen went to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as promised.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was located in Glazed City in the southern part of the Heavenly Soul Empire. The entire city had been built against the mountains, with the sect's main hall situated atop the peak—a seven-story glazed-tile pagoda. Its body was constructed from specially made colored glazed bricks that refracted seven-colored radiance beneath the sunlight.

By the time Huo Chen arrived, the area before the mountain gate was already packed with carriages from various factions.

The moment he landed, an attendant came forward to greet him. "May I ask if you are Mr. Huo Chen of Shrek Academy?"

"That's me."

"The Sect Master is waiting for you in the Glazed Hall. Please follow me."

The attendant led him through the mountain gate and up the steps paved with green jade slabs.

The distant sound of a melodious zither drifted through the air, adding a touch of elegance to the banquet.

As Huo Chen walked, he surveyed the scenery around him. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly possessed deep foundations. Every servant and disciple he saw along the way conducted themselves with proper restraint, a clear sign of the sect's excellent governance.

After passing through three covered corridors, the attendant stopped before a grand hall. "Mr. Huo, this way."

Huo Chen stepped over the threshold and entered.

The hall was spacious and bright, its floor laid with marble polished smooth enough to reflect one's image. The four walls were adorned with exquisite glazed murals.

Quite a few guests had already gathered inside, chatting in groups of three or five. Huo Chen's gaze passed over the crowd and settled on a figure deeper within the hall.

It was a young woman in a goose-yellow gown.

Her jet-black hair was tied with a pearl-studded ribbon and draped over one shoulder. Compared with her appearance at the academy, she looked far more carefully dressed and refined.

She stood beside an elegant middle-aged beauty, conversing with several guests. Her posture was dignified and generous, and every movement spoke of excellent upbringing.

Her features had always been gentle and lovely. With a light touch of makeup today, her brows and eyes appeared more distinct, while a faint tint of lipstick colored her lips. She looked somewhat more mature than she had at the academy, with the grace of a well-bred young lady.

Ning Tian.

She was speaking with an elderly man when her peripheral vision seemed to catch the figure at the entrance. She turned her head slightly and looked over.

The instant she saw Huo Chen, her eyes visibly lit up, but she quickly regained her composed and proper demeanor.

She excused herself to the old man, lifted the hem of her dress, and hurried over.

"Teacher Huo, you're here." She stopped before Huo Chen and gave a slight bow, unable to conceal the delight in her voice.

"Mm, I just arrived." Huo Chen looked her over and smiled. "You look very beautiful today. I nearly didn't recognize you."

Ning Tian's cheeks flushed faintly. She lowered her head, though the corners of her lips could not help but curl upward. "Father said today was a formal occasion, so I couldn't dress too casually... I just made a few preparations."

"More than just a few, I'd say." Huo Chen smiled. "This dress suits you very well."

The tips of Ning Tian's ears reddened further, but she quickly composed herself. Raising her head, she resumed her poised demeanor. "Teacher Huo, my father is already waiting for you in the rear hall. Shall I take you there first?"

"Alright."

Ning Tian led him through the hall toward the rear hall. Quite a few guests cast glances their way. As the only daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sect Master, Ning Tian was highly noticed within the sect. Naturally, the young man she was personally receiving and guiding drew everyone's curiosity and speculation as well.

"Teacher Huo, I'm truly very happy that you could come today."

Walking ahead of him, Ning Tian spoke softly, her voice carrying sincere joy. "My father has also wanted to thank you in person for teaching me."

"Your father is too polite," Huo Chen said. "Teaching students is my responsibility. There's no need to thank me especially."

"That may be true, but Father says proper etiquette cannot be neglected."

Ning Tian tilted her head slightly to look at him, a playful smile on her lips. "Besides, I also wanted Father to see that I met a very good teacher at Shrek."

Seeing the bright light in her eyes, Huo Chen's heart stirred slightly, but he did not reply.

The two passed through a corridor and were about to enter the rear hall when a fiery red figure suddenly rushed out from a side door nearby.

"Teacher Huo!"

The voice was loud and full of vitality. Huo Chen turned and saw Wu Feng striding toward him.

She, too, had changed into formal attire: a fiery red gown embroidered with dark golden flame patterns along the hem, with a broad black belt around her waist. She appeared more heroic and strikingly beautiful than usual.

Her hair had also been styled more carefully than usual. Instead of hanging loose as it did at the academy, it had been tied into a high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead and bright eyes.

Her features possessed a wild beauty, and her brows carried an unyielding spirit. Paired with that red gown, she looked even more dazzling and captivating.

"Wu Feng, slow down," Ning Tian said helplessly.

"Well, I saw Teacher Huo had arrived!" Wu Feng stopped before Huo Chen, looked him over from head to toe, then broke into a broad grin.

"Teacher Huo, you look pretty sharp today too."

Huo Chen glanced down at the dark blue robe he wore and smiled. "I couldn't exactly make you two lose face."

"No, no, you look good in anything," Wu Feng said carelessly. Only after speaking did she realize what she had said. Her face reddened slightly, and she hurriedly changed the subject. "Um... my parents are here too. They said they wanted to thank you in person for taking care of me."

"Your parents came too?"

"Mm. Father said it was rare to have an opportunity to meet you, so he had to thank you personally."

Wu Feng rarely showed a hint of shyness. "They're over there. I'll introduce you to them later."

"Alright."

Ning Tian stood to one side, watching Wu Feng speak with Huo Chen, a faint smile resting on her lips.

"Let's go. Father must be getting impatient," she reminded him softly.

The three of them headed for the rear hall together.

The rear hall was somewhat smaller than the front hall and furnished more elegantly. A middle-aged man sat behind a desk. When he saw Huo Chen enter, he rose to his feet and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Mr. Huo, I have long admired your name."

The Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Zhiyuan.

He appeared to be in his early forties, with refined features and a gentle demeanor. Dressed in a long azure robe, he gave off an air of warmth.

His cultivation was at the Soul Sage level. The limits of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda were set in stone. As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, his strength might not rank among the continent's greatest, but his status and influence were anything but ordinary.

"You flatter me, Sect Master Ning." Huo Chen returned the greeting with cupped hands.

Once they were seated, Ning Tian personally poured tea for them before stepping back to stand quietly at the side. Wu Feng stood beside her as well, unusually free of her usual boisterousness.

Ning Zhiyuan first thanked Huo Chen for teaching Ning Tian, then asked about her performance at the academy.

Huo Chen answered each question earnestly, neither exaggerating nor understating anything. Ning Zhiyuan nodded repeatedly as he listened, and his gaze at Huo Chen gained a touch more appreciation.

"Mr. Huo, you have reached the realm of Limit Douluo at such a young age, yet you also devote yourself so diligently to teaching your students. That is truly rare."

Ning Zhiyuan raised his teacup in a toast to Huo Chen. "For Ning Tian to meet a teacher like you is her good fortune."

"You praise me too highly, Sect Master Ning." Huo Chen raised his cup in return. "Ning Tian herself works very hard. Her talent and diligence are the true reasons for her progress."

Standing to the side, Ning Tian heard Huo Chen praise her before her father. Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she lowered her head, though the corners of her lips could not help lifting slightly.

Wu Feng lightly nudged her with an elbow and lowered her voice. "Why are you blushing?"

Ning Tian shot her a light glare without saying anything, but the blush spread all the way to her ears.

After the banquet officially began, Huo Chen was seated at the head table alongside Ning Zhiyuan and several sect elders.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng sat at another table, but Ning Tian's gaze drifted toward the head table from time to time. Whenever she saw Huo Chen and her father conversing happily, a look of reassurance appeared in her eyes.

Halfway through the feast, Ning Zhiyuan rose to his feet and lifted his cup to address all the guests.

At the end of his speech, he made a point of mentioning Huo Chen. He introduced Shrek Academy's youngest Limit Douluo to the various powers present and stated that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would continue maintaining close cooperation with Shrek Academy.

Warm applause rang out across the hall.

Huo Chen stood and gave the guests a slight nod, his bearing calm and composed.

Sitting below, Ning Tian watched him remain unruffled beneath everyone's gaze, and an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart.

She lowered her head and lifted her teacup, taking a light sip in an attempt to use its warmth to conceal the unnatural flush on her cheeks.

Wu Feng, seated beside her, took in all of it but did not expose her. She merely placed a piece of braised pork into Ning Tian's bowl and murmured, "Eat more. You've gotten thin."

Ning Tian paused, then smiled. She picked up the piece of braised pork and slowly ate it.

The banquet continued amid laughter and cheerful conversation. The glow of glazed lamps spilled into every corner of the hall, casting every face in warm, bright light.