Zang Xin's First Test

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

Seeing Chen Xing return, 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.

"Oh, do as you please. If you've got the ability, go make trouble. I've known for ages you can't 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,

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

Then Chen Xing returned to his room.

But when he opened his 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 his gaze, Chen Xing saw that he was staring with a frown toward Na'er's room.

Is he here for Na'er?

Chen Xing studied him more closely and soon spotted a badge at his waist.

Several words 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 figure on par with Cao Dezhi.

He was known for the saying "Said to be heartless, yet full of feeling; the passionate swordsman wields a heartless sword."

He hated evil and showed his enemies no mercy.

From the look of him, he had clearly sensed something but had yet to confirm 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 was holding a cup of tea. His hand paused at the announcement.

The deputy hall master of the Tang Sect Douluo Hall?

Zang Xin?

What was he doing here?

Zhen Hua set down his cup and frowned slightly.

Of course he knew who Zang Xin was.

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

Someone of that stature wouldn't suddenly visit the Blacksmiths Association in Heaven Dou City just to drink tea and chat, would he?

"Show him in."

Zhen Hua waved a hand.

A moment later, a tall, slender middle-aged man entered behind a staff member.

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

But Zhen Hua knew just how shrewd he was.

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

Zang Xin smiled and cupped his hands in greeting as soon as he entered, his manner deferential.

"Passionate Douluo, it's an honor. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."

Zhen Hua stood and returned the greeting politely.

The two sat down.

A staff member brought them tea.

Zang Xin took a sip, then swept what appeared to be a casual glance around the hall.

Zhen Hua noticed but said nothing.

"President Zhen Hua, this Blacksmiths Association of yours is impressive indeed."

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

Zhen Hua was puzzled.

The aura of a powerful soul beast?

"You must be joking, Passionate Douluo."

Zhen Hua calmly lifted 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 pressed no further. The soul beast's aura had been unmistakable just now, yet 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.

Here it comes.

He knew Zang Xin hadn't come all this way for no reason.

"That's right."

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

Zang Xin quickly waved a hand and laughed. "You misunderstand, President Zhen Hua. I merely heard that the boy has no soul power yet can create mecha out of thin air. I found it fascinating and wanted to meet this promising young man."

Zhen Hua stared at him for two seconds.

He scoffed inwardly.

A misunderstanding?

As if I'd believe that.

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

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

That was their reputation.

Wherever they went, they recruited.

"You can meet him, Passionate Douluo."

Zhen Hua took another sip of tea. "But I'll be blunt: if you're planning to recruit my student into the Tang Sect, forget it."

The smile on Zang Xin's face stiffened slightly.

But he immediately recovered his gentle expression.

"Whatever do you mean, President Zhen Hua? The Tang Sect would never force anyone into anything."

Zhen Hua scoffed inwardly again.

You'd never force anyone?

If you caught sight of Tang Wulin, you'd do just that.

Of course, he didn't say it aloud.

"Fine. If you want to meet him, you can."

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

The staff member acknowledged him and hurried out.

Zang Xin lifted his cup and drank unhurriedly, his expression giving nothing away.

But Zhen Hua knew the man was plotting 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 grew wary.

So Zang Xin really did come in.

But he kept his expression calm 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 inclined his head slightly.

"Junior Chen Xing greets Senior Passionate Douluo."

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

So this was the boy who could create things out of thin air despite having zero soul power?

He didn't look particularly special.

Nor could Zang Xin sense any powerful fluctuations from him.

The powerful soul beast 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 it proved worthwhile...

"President Zhen Hua," Zang Xin said with a smile, turning to him, "might you let the boy show me what he can do? I'm truly curious."

Zhen Hua glanced at him, then at Chen Xing.

He lifted his cup and said slowly,

"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 meaningful glint in his eyes.

Chen Xing understood at once.

The old man was warning me:

Don't show too much.

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

Zang Xin's gaze immediately locked onto it.

"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 leaned in, giving it his full attention.