The days passed one after another.
Lu Xuan continued teaching at the academy.
He did not rush to collect any immortal herbs or the Blue Silver Emperor's Soul Bone. Instead, he spent several days fully adjusting to this unexpected windfall.
Level 99 Soul Power! Ultimate Life Attribute! Second Martial Soul: Yazi!
Each represented the pinnacle of a particular field. He had to bring out their full potential as much as possible; otherwise, he would merely be sitting on a treasure trove without knowing how to use it.
During this time, a deacon from Spirit Hall had visited, and various forces in the surrounding area, both large and small, had tried to forge ties with Lu Xuan.
For a time, Nuoding Academy became the most popular academy among the nearby cities. Many senior students who were only a year away from graduation were willing to delay their cultivation progress just to transfer there.
The dean of Nuoding Academy collected tuition fees until his hands practically went limp.
Fortunately, most of these people did not dare approach Lu Xuan directly, so his daily life remained largely undisturbed.
That day, Lu Xuan had just finished his morning classes and was about to head to the dining hall for lunch.
Yet the crowd that usually surrounded him had thinned considerably. In its place, a small throng of spectators had gathered outside the Dean's Office.
Hmm? When things stray from the ordinary, something sinister must be afoot.
Could Yu Xiaogang have brought back people from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Lu Xuan wondered.
Quite some time had passed since Yu Xiaogang's departure. Lu Xuan had already prepared himself to face Yu Yuanzhen; otherwise, he would not have been so eager to adjust to his strength.
No, that doesn't quite fit either. With Yu Xiaogang's personality, if he really had summoned Yu Yuanzhen, how could there be so little fanfare?
That guy would be setting Luo Sanpao off like fireworks, proclaiming "the king's return" to the whole world.
Soon, the dean of Nuoding Academy brought him the answer.
"Lu Xuan! Lu Xuan!"
"People from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are here. Their Excellencies are waiting in the office. Hurry over and have a look."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Lu Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, the image of a so-called "cunning merchant" automatically surfacing in his mind.
A short while later, inside the Dean's Office.
Four people sat in the already cramped room, making it look rather crowded.
Three of them were even sharing the same old sofa. Whenever they moved, the accessories on their lavish outfits bumped against one another, looking especially out of place.
At their head was Ning Fengzhi, a refined middle-aged man whose easygoing demeanor felt like a gentle spring breeze.
Beside him, Chen Xin and Gu Rong kept their auras restrained. One had sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, and a piercing gaze; the other kept his head lowered, rarely looking directly at Lu Xuan.
"Hahaha!"
"You must be our young friend Lu Xuan. What an impressive bearing you have."
"I am Ning Fengzhi, the current sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Ning Fengzhi smiled, his tone so thoroughly flattering that he seemed to be putting Lu Xuan on a pedestal.
He then introduced the two men beside him.
"This is Sword Douluo, Chen Xin."
"And Bone Douluo, Gu Rong."
"Both are guardian elders of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"I heard some time ago that a new Titled Douluo had appeared in Nuoding City. As soon as I finished attending to the sect's affairs, I traveled through the night, hoping to meet you in person. Now that I have, I see that you truly embrace simplicity and conceal your brilliance-a great recluse hidden amid the bustle of the city."
Lu Xuan really could not get used to this kind of flowery, word-chewing rhetoric.
Besides... hearing Ning Fengzhi, a level 79 Soul Saint, call him, a level 99 Peerless Douluo, "young friend" felt rather jarring.
"Heh."
"I can see that Sect Master Ning is quite the conversationalist."
Ning Fengzhi had delivered a lengthy speech, but Lu Xuan replied with only one short sentence.
And a faintly mocking one at that.
Silence fell. Although Ning Fengzhi's expression remained unchanged, his mind rapidly sorted through his thoughts.
Even Titled Douluos had to show the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect some deference. Not even Spirit Hall's elders spoke to Ning Fengzhi with such veiled sarcasm.
Yet this young man before him, who appeared to be only in his twenties, dared treat him this way.
Was he truly a newborn calf unafraid of the tiger, or was there something more to it?
Ning Fengzhi did not rush to make his next move. Then Gu Rong's voice rang out in his mind through a spiritual transmission.
"Fengzhi, I can't discern his cultivation."
"He either possesses a secret method for concealing his aura, or... his strength far exceeds mine."
Chen Xin followed immediately.
"The same goes for me!"
"Fengzhi, this man is unfathomable. Be careful!"
Whenever these three encountered a problem, they preferred communicating through spiritual transmissions. Their expressions remained composed while they exchanged information in secret at any moment. It was indeed a useful method.
Ning Fengzhi reacted quickly and soon gathered his thoughts.
"Haha, I normally have to handle the sect's affairs, which requires frequent communication with my subordinates."
"I imagine you're accustomed to living like an idle cloud or a wandering crane, young friend, so you must find me a little noisy."
He was still trying to ease the awkwardness through self-deprecation.
As for Lu Xuan:
"It's all right."
"Did you come here for something today, Sect Master Ning?"
Lu Xuan had no desire to engage with him.
His impression of Ning Fengzhi had been poor to begin with, and after their brief conversation, he disliked the man even more.
To others, that eternally warm smile appeared amiable. To him, it looked like a human-skin mask that revealed no emotion at all.
And those winding, empty pleasantries only made him more irritating.
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi simply went along with Lu Xuan's wishes.
"Since you dislike beating around the bush, young friend, I'll speak plainly."
"Would you be interested in becoming a Guest Elder of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect occupies an entire mountain range and possesses countless rare treasures and wondrous medicines. If you're interested, I am willing to meet all your requirements."
"Not interested!" Lu Xuan took a sip of the tea the dean had prepared on the table. "I dislike noise and bustle. Teaching and nurturing students is my only pleasure. If that's why you came, Sect Master Ning, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
Ning Fengzhi said, "Young friend, if you have any other concerns or requirements..."
"Enough!" Lu Xuan drained his tea. "Is there anything else? I have classes this afternoon."
As he spoke, he set down his cup and rose, making to leave.
Lu Xuan disliked Ning Fengzhi, so naturally, he had no obligation to keep wasting words with him.
It was only because Ning Fengzhi had remained reasonably polite so far that he had not already switched to his "Yazi persona."
However, after Lu Xuan rose, Ning Fengzhi and the others stood as well.
Seemingly acting on Ning Fengzhi's instructions, Chen Xin stepped forward and stood before Lu Xuan, lightly cupping his fist.
"Young friend, I am Chen Xin. My Martial Soul is the Seven Kill Sword."
"I heard that you possess a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. I would venture to ask for a glimpse of it, if it is convenient for you."
The air fell still.
Chen Xin's actions were no different from a declaration of war, except... his attitude was a little more courteous.
Lu Xuan's brows drew together slightly, and a trace of impatience appeared in his eyes.
But just as he was about to speak, Ning Fengzhi cut in again.
"This is something I happened to acquire at an auction house a while ago. It is called the Ruyi Ring!"
He took a bracelet from inside his robes. It was deep blue all over, and as he infused it with Soul Power, faintly glowing patterns flowed across its surface.
Ning Fengzhi explained:
"It contains thirty cubic meters of storage space, along with a few small gifts I prepared for you."
"If you don't mind, young friend, please accept it as a token of goodwill and form a friendly bond with our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Before you continue