Ning Wuqian, the Patriarch

[Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Ninth?]

After a brief silence, the Chat Group erupted once more.

[Wind Sword Sect Master: The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has two Douluo in one sect. They certainly deserve the position!]

[An Elder of the Clear Sky Sect: Hmph, it is merely a support sect. Without the Sword and Bone Douluo holding it up, how could it stand alongside us?]

[Spirit Hall Red-Robed Bishop: His Holiness the Pope has long said that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is as wealthy as a nation. Wealth is strength as well. But... ninth?]

Ning Fengzhi did not take in a single word of those discussions.

He sat in the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the tea in his hand long since gone cold.

The three large characters on the Sky Curtain were like three icy nails driven into his understanding of the world.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been passed down for tens of thousands of years. The deeds of its first sect master, Ning Tianbao, had been told from generation to generation. The sect's records stated it clearly—this patriarch had been born with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tower, possessed astounding talent, and built this vast foundation amid chaotic times.

Yet what the Sky Curtain displayed now was an unfamiliar name.

Ning Wuqian?

This name had never appeared in any genealogy.

"Sect Master?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin sensed the stagnation in his aura.

Bone Douluo Gu Rong turned his head as well, an inquisitive look appearing on his withered face.

Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup and lightly tapped his fingertips against the table.

He did not answer the two guardian Douluo. He simply stared at the Sky Curtain.

If the Sky Curtain was wrong, what would that mean?

If the Sky Curtain was not wrong... then what were the sect's records of tens of thousands of years?

Just as his thoughts churned, golden light began to flow again.

The scene unfolded.

It showed a filthy, disorderly alley. Weeds grew between the cracks of the bluestone road, while low mud-brick houses stood on either side, with tattered straw raincoats hanging beneath the eaves.

A youth dressed in coarse cloth crouched at the mouth of the alley, peeking around furtively.

He looked about fifteen or sixteen. His face was smeared with dirt, his hair was a mess, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. Like a rat in the darkness, he vigilantly swept his gaze across the street outside the alley.

[Elephant Armor Sect Master: This is... an architectural style from twenty thousand years ago, isn't it? Look at the beast-head decorations on those roofs. They are from the early Heaven Dou Empire.]

[Heaven Dou Royal Academy Instructor: That's right, at least twenty thousand years ago. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly has a long history.]

Ning Fengzhi's heart sank little by little.

The city layout and architectural details in the scene indeed matched the "Heaven Dou Old Capital" recorded in the sect's ancient texts.

The timing matched.

Then...

Golden words appeared beside the Sky Curtain.

[Ning Wuqian. First Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.]

The air inside the great hall froze.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin's knuckles turned faintly white around the hilt of his sword.

Bone Douluo Gu Rong let out a low, hoarse sound from his throat.

Ning Fengzhi felt a chill race up his spine and rush straight to his head.

The first sect master?

What about Ning Tianbao?

For tens of thousands of years, the first lesson every disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect received upon entering the sect was the legend of its first sect master, Ning Tianbao—the great ancestor born with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tower, who had led the family from merchants to the pinnacle of Soul Masters.

And now the Sky Curtain was telling him that there had been someone else?

And he was... a sneaky little thug lurking in an alley?

The Chat Group exploded.

[Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Elder: The first sect master? Then... the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's genealogy is fake?]

[Star Luo Empire Historian: Impossible! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's records are recognized across the continent as one of the most complete sect histories!]

[Spirit Hall Saintess Hu Liena: Interesting. So the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect does not even know who its own ancestor is?]

That final sentence was like a blade viciously stabbing into Ning Fengzhi's heart.

He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

The Sky Curtain continued.

The youth in the alley, Ning Wuqian, seemed to confirm that it was safe outside. Only then did he pull his head back, lean against the earthen wall, and take out half a hard steamed bun from his clothes, devouring it greedily.

As he ate, he muttered under his breath.

"Damn it, I got chased through three streets just for stealing a bun... I can't live like this anymore."

His voice passed through the Sky Curtain, clearly reaching every corner of the continent.

Countless people wore strange expressions.

The first sect master... stole buns?

The scene shifted.

After finishing the bun, Ning Wuqian brushed the crumbs from his hands. He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then sneakily slipped out of the alley and entered a rundown general store.

Inside the shop, a skinny old man was dozing off.

Ning Wuqian leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"Old Man Li, that job you mentioned last time—are we doing it or not?"

The old man opened one eye and glanced at him.

"You? Have you tested your Soul Power? What level is it?"

Ning Wuqian scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.

"I did... Innate Soul Power level one."

The old man snorted.

"Level one? Then what's your Martial Soul? Don't tell me it's some useless Martial Soul."

Ning Wuqian became even more awkward.

He stretched out his hand, and his Soul Power stirred slightly.

A faint glimmer flashed.

A tiny glazed tower floated above his palm.

The tower was dim, with only three layers. Every layer looked gray and dull, utterly devoid of any treasure-like radiance.

[Three Treasure Glazed Pagoda.]

The entire continent fell instantly silent.

Inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi abruptly rose to his feet. The chair behind him was knocked over, scraping harshly across the floor.

He stared fixedly at the tiny, gray three-tiered tower on the Sky Curtain.

Three Treasures?

The Martial Soul of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had always been the Seven Treasures Glazed Tower!

Even the most mediocre disciples awakened a complete Seven Treasures Glazed Tower. Only their Soul Power differed.

A Three Treasure Glazed Pagoda?

Could this thing... even be called a Seven Treasures Glazed Tower?

"Impossible..." Ning Fengzhi murmured.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin tightened his grip on the Seven Kill Sword, while Soul Power faintly rippled around Bone Douluo Gu Rong.

The sect they had guarded for their entire lives, the inheritance they had been so proud of, now seemed so absurd and laughable under the Sky Curtain's exposure.

The Chat Group had already gone mad.

[Fire Leopard Sect Master: Three Treasure Glazed Pagoda? Hahahaha! Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? More like the Three Treasure Glazed Pagoda Sect!]

[A Disciple of the Clear Sky Sect: Innate Soul Power level one, a Three Treasure Glazed Pagoda... trash like that could become a sect master?]

[Spirit Hall Platinum Bishop: No wonder it ranks ninth. It was defective from the very root.]

Humiliation.

Naked humiliation.

Ning Fengzhi's face turned pale, his chest rising and falling violently.

But he did not lash out.

As sect master, he knew better than anyone—the Sky Curtain had never spoken falsely.

Then this little thug named Ning Wuqian, this worthless person with Innate Soul Power level one and a Three Treasure Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul... truly was the first sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

But why?

Why was there absolutely no record of him in the sect's history?

Why had everyone known only Ning Tianbao for tens of thousands of years?

Ning Fengzhi forced himself to sit down and picked up his teacup again.

The tea was cold, but as it poured down his throat, it cleared his mind somewhat.

The Sky Curtain would not reveal these things without reason.

There had to be an explanation behind it.

He had to keep watching.

In the scene, the old man in the general store saw Ning Wuqian's Three Treasure Glazed Pagoda and laughed so hard he nearly doubled over.

"Three Treasures? Hahahaha! Ning Wuqian, your Martial Soul isn't even fit to serve as an ornament for some noble lord!"

Ning Wuqian was not angry. He merely chuckled.

"Old Man Li, don't laugh. My Martial Soul may be useless, but it has one advantage."

"What advantage?"

"It... can sense treasures."

The old man's laughter stopped abruptly.

He narrowed his eyes and stared at Ning Wuqian.

"What did you say?"

Ning Wuqian lowered his voice and leaned even closer.

"My Three Treasure Glazed Pagoda is especially sensitive to Soul Tools, rare metals, gemstones, and things like that. From ten paces away, I can tell whether something is valuable."

The old man's expression changed.

He looked Ning Wuqian up and down as though examining a peerless treasure.

"Really?"

"If I'm lying, I'm a dog."

The old man was silent for a long while before suddenly breaking into a grin.

"Fine. Tomorrow night, there will be a batch of freshly unearthed 'old goods' at the black market in the western part of the city. Come with me. If you can really pick out the good stuff, I'll give you thirty percent."

Ning Wuqian's eyes lit up.

"Deal!"

The scene froze there.

The words on the Sky Curtain slowly changed.

[First Sect Master Ning Wuqian possessed Innate Soul Power level one and the Three Treasure Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul. However, his Martial Soul possessed the rare "Treasure Appraisal" trait, allowing him to sense precious objects.]

[Using this ability, Ning Wuqian frequented black markets, ruins, and auction houses, obtaining countless treasures at extremely low prices and accumulating his first fortune.]

[The word "Glazed" in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did not refer to its Martial Soul, but to the foundation of its rise—appraising treasures, gathering wealth, and using wealth to nurture the sect.]

The truth had come to light.

Yet it became even more confusing.

Sitting in the great hall, Ning Fengzhi felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity rise within him.

So the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect... had originally been a treasure-appraisal gang?