Zang Xin's First Probe

When Chen Xing returned to the Blacksmiths Association in Heaven Dou City with the other two, he found Zhen Hua sitting in the courtyard, drinking tea.

Seeing Chen Xing, Zhen Hua set down his cup and smiled at him.

"You made quite a stir last night, kid."

Chen Xing smiled.

"Teacher, I might make an even bigger one from now on."

Zhen Hua sighed and waved a hand.

"Fine, fine. If you've got the ability, go stir things up. I knew you could never sit still."

"I've settled your parents in the rear courtyard. Go see them."

Chen Xing nodded and took Tang Wulin to the rear courtyard.

After reuniting with Tang Ziran and the others there,

the family sat together in the reception room and talked for a while.

Then Chen Xing returned to his room.

But when he opened the window, he spotted a middle-aged man standing beneath the shade of a tree by the road.

The man had a lean face and sharp eyes.

Following the man's gaze, Chen Xing saw that he was frowning at Na'er's room.

Is he here for Na'er?

Chen Xing studied him carefully and soon noticed a badge at his waist.

Several characters were engraved on it:

Tang Sect, Zang.

Chen Xing's eyes narrowed.

Zang Xin?

Zang Xin, the Passionate Douluo and deputy hall master of the Tang Sect Douluo Hall, was a formidable expert on par with Cao Dezhi.

He bore the epithet, "They call him heartless, yet his heart runs deep: the Passionate Swordsman, Heartless Sword."

He hated evil with a passion and showed no mercy.

From the look of him, he had clearly sensed something, though he had not confirmed it.

As the Silver Dragon King, Na'er could easily conceal her aura, but she had to do so deliberately.

I need to warn Na'er right away.

"President, the deputy hall master of the Tang Sect Douluo Hall requests an audience."

Zhen Hua had a cup of tea in hand. At those words, he paused.

The deputy hall master of the Tang Sect Douluo Hall?

Zang Xin?

What does he want?

Zhen Hua set down his cup, his brows drawing together slightly.

Of course he knew who Zang Xin was.

The deputy hall master of the Tang Sect Douluo Hall, titled Passionate, was a rank ninety-nine Limit Douluo.

Someone of that caliber would hardly come to the Blacksmiths Association in Heaven Dou City just to drink tea and chat.

"Show him in."

Zhen Hua waved a hand.

A moment later, a slender middle-aged man walked in behind a staff member.

He wore a plain-colored robe and had a lean face and gentle eyes. He hardly looked like a fearsome figure.

But Zhen Hua knew just how shrewd the man was.

"President Zhen Hua, I've long admired your reputation."

Zang Xin entered with a smile and cupped his hands, keeping his manner humble.

"Passionate Douluo, I'm honored by your visit. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."

Zhen Hua rose and courteously returned the greeting.

The two sat down.

A staff member brought them tea.

Zang Xin lifted his cup and took a sip, his gaze sweeping the hall as if by chance.

Zhen Hua noticed but said nothing.

"Your Blacksmiths Association is impressive indeed, President Zhen Hua."

Zang Xin set down his cup and smiled. "When I came in just now, I sensed a rather unusual aura. It was almost like... a powerful soul beast?"

Zhen Hua was puzzled.

A powerful soul beast's aura?

"You must be joking, Passionate Douluo."

Without changing expression, Zhen Hua picked up his tea. "If there were a soul beast in my association, how could I fail to notice it?"

Zang Xin glanced at him again but did not press the matter. The soul beast's aura had been unmistakable a moment ago, yet now he could no longer sense it. Had he imagined it?

So he changed the subject.

"President Zhen Hua, I heard you took on a student in Aolai City a few years ago?"

Zhen Hua raised an eyebrow slightly.

There it is.

He had known Zang Xin had not come all this way for no reason.

"That's true."

Zhen Hua set down his cup, his tone cooling. "Why? Are you interested in my student, Passionate Douluo?"

Zang Xin hurriedly waved a hand and smiled. "You misunderstand, President Zhen Hua. I only heard that the boy has no soul power, yet can create Mecha out of thin air. It sounded fascinating, so I wanted to meet this young talent."

Zhen Hua stared at him for two seconds.

He scoffed inwardly.

A misunderstanding?

Like hell I believe that.

He knew the Tang Sect's ways all too well.

At Shrek Academy alone, eight out of ten talented students were lured away by the Tang Sect.

That was the Tang Sect's reputation.

Wherever they went, they poached talent.

"Passionate Douluo, you may meet him."

Zhen Hua took another sip of tea. "But I'll say this upfront: if you want to recruit my student into the Tang Sect, forget it."

The smile on Zang Xin's face stiffened slightly.

But he quickly regained his gentle expression.

"Now, President Zhen Hua, where is this coming from? The Tang Sect would never force anyone into anything."

Zhen Hua scoffed to himself.

Never force anyone?

If you lot got a look at that Tang Wulin kid, you'd do exactly that.

Of course, he did not say it aloud.

"Very well. If you want to meet him, you can."

Zhen Hua turned to a staff member nearby. "Go fetch Chen Xing."

The staff member acknowledged him and hurried out.

Zang Xin lifted his cup and sipped his tea unhurriedly, his face giving nothing away.

But Zhen Hua knew the man had to be calculating something.

Before long, Chen Xing came in with the staff member.

"Teacher, you wanted me?"

The moment Chen Xing entered, he saw Zang Xin sitting opposite Zhen Hua, and his guard went up.

So Zang Xin really did come barging in.

He kept his expression calm, though, and walked over to Zhen Hua.

"Chen Xing, this is Senior Zang Xin of the Tang Sect, the Passionate Douluo."

"He wanted to meet you."

Chen Xing bowed slightly.

"I'm Chen Xing. Greetings, Senior Passionate Douluo."

Zang Xin set down his cup and looked Chen Xing up and down.

This is the boy with Zero Soul Power who can create things out of thin air?

He did not look particularly special.

Nor could Zang Xin sense any powerful fluctuations of energy from him.

That powerful soul beast's aura from earlier seemed to have nothing to do with the boy.

Zang Xin felt a little disappointed.

But since he was here, he might as well see what the boy could do. If he proved capable...

"President Zhen Hua," Zang Xin said with a smile, turning to him, "could you have the boy show me a little of what he can do? I'm terribly curious."

Zhen Hua glanced at him, then at Chen Xing.

Then he lifted his cup and said unhurriedly,

"He can show you, but don't forget what you just promised me, Passionate Douluo."

Zang Xin smiled and nodded.

"Of course, of course."

Zhen Hua set down his cup and looked at Chen Xing.

There was a knowing look in his eyes.

Chen Xing understood at once.

The old man's warning me: don't show too much.

Chen Xing walked to the open space in the center of the hall and summoned the World-Painting Brush.

Zang Xin's gaze immediately locked onto the brush.

"Is that your Martial Soul?"

"Yes, Senior."

Chen Xing nodded, then took a blueprint from his Storage Ring and spread it across the table.

Zang Xin immediately leaned in for a closer look.