"A sect? A clan?" Hai Ming shook his head, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his lips. His gaze fell on the man standing behind Ning Fengzhi, whose figure was as sharp as a sword. "I'm from Sea God Island."
"Oh!" Ning Fengzhi nodded in understanding. No wonder he had sensed such a powerful aquatic aura from Hai Ming. So he came from that Devil Island out at sea.
Were all soul masters from Sea God Island this powerful?
At only twelve years old, his Soul Power had already reached level forty-seven. There probably wasn't another talent like this in the entire Heaven Dou Empire!
Ning Fengzhi possessed a special Soul Skill that allowed him to see through a person's age and Soul Power. No matter how deeply Hai Ming concealed himself, he could not block Ning Fengzhi's perception.
"This child's talent is far greater than that little witch of mine. Compared to you, she really is rather immature."
Seeing the doting expression on Ning Fengzhi's face when he mentioned his daughter, Hai Ming's lips twitched.
He had seen that expression far too many times. Whenever his grandfather watched him doing anything, he often wore the same look.
No wonder Ning Rongrong had developed such a little-witch personality in the beginning.
As the little princess of the richest sect in the world, with the world's greatest support-type soul master as her father and two Titled Douluo grandfathers who adored her, the fact that she was only a little spoiled meant she had been raised exceptionally well.
If it had been people from his previous life, they would have considered it a favor not to park their carriage right inside the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial palace hall.
"Sect Master Ning, just call me Hai Ming. Being called 'little friend' still feels rather strange."
Hearing Ning Fengzhi call him "little friend" again and again made Hai Ming uncomfortable. Though his combined age from both lives was still less than Ning Fengzhi's, what man could stand having "little" added before the way he was addressed?
Ning Fengzhi gave Hai Ming a surprised look, then smiled unchanged. "All right, Hai Ming."
Because of Ning Fengzhi's arrival, Hai Ming abandoned his original plan to leave after watching this soul fight. He quietly stood beside Ning Fengzhi and watched one match after another.
"Ah..."
After a long while, Ning Fengzhi sighed and turned to leave.
"Uncle Ning, you seem somewhat dissatisfied?"
During the soul fights, Hai Ming and Ning Fengzhi had discussed quite a few things. After all, Hai Ming's teacher and grandfather were both Titled Douluo, so his perspective was far broader than that of ordinary people. Some of the things he said even made Ning Fengzhi take notice. Thus, Ning Fengzhi readily allowed Hai Ming to change how he addressed him, and Hai Ming naturally went along with it.
After all, Sea God Island and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect bore no grudges against one another. There was nothing wrong with forging a good relationship.
"Yes. Talented soul masters are becoming harder and harder to find. It's too difficult to uncover a few soul masters with potential."
Ning Fengzhi had a reason for coming to watch soul fights. The trivial affairs of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did not require his personal attention, so he often came to the Great Soul Arena to see whether he could recruit any particularly promising soul masters into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was vast and wealthy, but its core members were all support-type soul masters.
"There's nothing to be done about that. Without life-and-death battles, there's no drive. Naturally, no outstanding geniuses will emerge."
Hai Ming shrugged. Few people would give their all in a fight where there was room to hold back. Even if they lost, they would only lose a few points. Without life and death on the line, it was impossible to see much potential.
"A life-and-death battle? The Great Soul Arena would never agree to that." Ning Fengzhi smiled, then handed Hai Ming a golden invitation. "The Heaven Dou Grand Auction House is holding a grand auction today. I hear there will be some rare treasures. Would you like to take a look?"
"Of course, I'll pay for everything."
Ning Fengzhi added another sentence.
"I'm going!"
Sect Master Ning was footing the bill for the whole place!
Hai Ming's expression did not change. Without drawing attention to himself, he tucked the invitation into his robes, took out his folding fan, opened it, and gently fanned himself.
"Hm!"
The pupils of Sword Douluo Chen Xin, standing behind Ning Fengzhi, contracted. A sharp aura pressed toward Hai Ming, but Ning Fengzhi raised a hand and blocked Sword Douluo's pressure. His gaze locked firmly onto the jade pendant hanging from Hai Ming's folding fan!
"Hai Ming... where did you get this jade pendant?"
Ning Fengzhi's throat moved. He trusted that there was nothing wrong with his eyes!
This was a keepsake left behind by his late wife!
"Hm? This jade pendant? Oh, I bought it from a peddler who came to the island for a market gathering. Uncle Ning, you really do have a sharp eye. This is a treasure that can increase the recovery speed of Soul Power!" Hai Ming froze for a moment, then chuckled and handed the jade pendant to Ning Fengzhi for inspection.
Although he had known when he bought it that the pendant belonged to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he had used it for so many years that he had long regarded it as his own.
Besides, he had bought it, not obtained it through any other means.
As the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi could not possibly covet his jade pendant, could he?
At this moment, in the world of Pokémon, Kyogre seemed to sense something. Before he could issue a warning, a powerful beam of light struck him!
"Hahaha! That's it, Groudon! Solar Beam!"
Above the waves, a man whose entire body was covered in eerie crimson patterns laughed wildly. He held a scarlet-red orb in his hand!
Ning Fengzhi suppressed the trembling in his heart and accepted the jade pendant. He carefully stroked it twice, sighing inwardly.
Hai Ming had maintained the jade pendant very well. The ability of his second Soul Skill, Meditation, combined with the pendant's effects; moreover, Hai Ming had constantly used the pendant within Sea God's Light. Over time, the pendant had even absorbed a trace of divine aura.
Hiss!
Ning Fengzhi reluctantly returned the jade pendant to Hai Ming. Chen Xin behind him was deeply puzzled, and he used Soul Power to send his voice directly into Ning Fengzhi's ear.
"Fengzhi, why not..."
"Uncle Sword, Hai Ming's status on Sea God Island is definitely very high. Yet since the people of Sea God Island were willing to let him come out, they must have their reasons. There's no need to make enemies of Sea God Island over this. Besides, Hai Ming bought this jade pendant; he did not steal it. Even if we want to take it back, we should first tell him its value, then exchange for it fairly."
Ning Fengzhi gently shook his head, not drawing Hai Ming's attention.
"Besides, I have an idea. What do you think about sending Hai Ming to Shrek Academy?"
"You mean... But Rongrong..."
Chen Xin's expression darkened, as though he had understood Ning Fengzhi's plan. The way he looked at Hai Ming immediately turned hostile!
"She needs to grow up too. Uncle Sword, you've seen it these past few years. Losing the jade pendant has made her blame herself terribly. While training desperately, she has also grown less close to us. I don't want her to continue growing up like this. She should have a happy childhood."
Ning Fengzhi closed his eyes, his mind filled with scenes from years ago of his daughter playing pranks on him and the two grandfathers who loved her.
Back then, how bright the smile on her face had been!
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