Hearing that familiar voice, Ning Rongrong trembled and hurriedly looked around. The moment she saw the familiar figure in white, tears immediately streamed from her eyes.
"Wuwuwu... Sword Grandfather, Sword Grandfather."
Ning Rongrong ran into the white-robed elder's arms, her tears flowing as though they cost nothing.
The sight made the white-robed elder's heart ache.
"Sword Grandfather... Don't tell me Ning Fengzhi, that bastard, sent old fellow Chen Xin here?" Shi Quan felt a headache coming on.
Given how much Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo doted on Ning Rongrong in the original story, seeing her looking so wronged would definitely make them investigate everything thoroughly.
Sure enough.
Chen Xin hurriedly wrapped his arms around her delicate little body, heartbroken. "Rongrong, what happened? Were you wronged? Tell Grandfather, and Grandfather will stand up for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Xin's gaze swept across everyone present.
His sharp eyes hung over every person's head like a sword.
Even Qin Ming, as their teacher, could not help but feel a bone-chilling cold spread through his body beneath Chen Xin's gaze.
Yet Ning Rongrong said nothing after hearing Chen Xin's words. She simply threw herself into his arms and burst into loud sobs, as though she wanted to pour out every grievance she had suffered over the past few days.
That appearance made Chen Xin, who had always spoiled her, feel even more heartbroken. What followed was towering fury, and the sharp aura made everyone present turn pale.
Qin Ming looked at Shi Quan, then at Ning Rongrong and the white-robed elder. Combining their exchange, he gritted his teeth, stepped forward, bowed, and carefully asked, "Senior, are you His Excellency Sword Douluo?"
"Hmph. Since you know, why haven't you honestly explained yourself?" Chen Xin's sharp gaze fell upon Qin Ming as the aura unique to a Titled Douluo spread out. Qin Ming's face instantly turned deathly pale.
Shi Quan stepped forward, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Shi Quan greets His Excellency Sword Douluo."
Hearing Shi Quan's voice, Sword Douluo's gaze could not help but settle on him.
In the blink of an eye, Shi Quan felt as though everything about him had been seen through by Sword Douluo.
"Sword Grandfather, he's the one who bullied me! He even whipped me with Blue Silver Grass!" Ning Rongrong said between sobs, looking pitiful enough to make anyone feel sorry for her.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xin gently patted Ning Rongrong's back and softly consoled her, "It's all right. Grandfather is here now. No one will dare bully you."
The gentle words had barely faded when his voice turned cold and sharp. "Fengzhi entrusted Rongrong to you so you could teach her, not so you could bully her as you pleased. You actually dared to strike Rongrong with your martial soul. Do you think being a genius gives you the right to be arrogant?"
Everyone's expressions tightened. How could they still not understand Ning Rongrong's identity? She called Sword Douluo Grandfather and bore the surname Ning. Clearly, this Ning Rongrong was Ning Fengzhi's only daughter, the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
With such an identity, Shi Quan still dared to bully Ning Rongrong? He had even dared to whip her with his martial soul. Wasn't that simply courting death?
Shi Quan smiled bitterly and hurriedly said, "Your Excellency, this is a misunderstanding. At the time, I was only teaching her. I can explain. I can assure you that everything I did was in accordance with Uncle Ning's instructions, and I was sincerely teaching her. I never overstepped my bounds, much less dared to bully Rongrong..."
"A misunderstanding?" Before Shi Quan could finish, Sword Douluo interrupted with a cold laugh. "I will naturally ask Fengzhi about this matter. Since you claim it was instruction, then today, as your elder, I shall properly instruct you as well!"
"..." Shi Quan's heart turned cold. He understood that he would not escape a beating. When it was time to back down, he had to back down, so he flattered him, "As a Titled Douluo, Your Excellency is such an extraordinary figure. Being able to receive Your Excellency's guidance is also my good fortune."
"..." Chen Xin.
Tsk...
He had to admit, this kid really knew how to talk.
"Hmph. Don't think a few flattering words will make me hold back." Chen Xin looked coldly at Shi Quan. "We'll speak with real skill. Your Soul Power is level 22, so I will suppress mine to level 22 as well. How much you can learn will depend on your own ability."
"Rank 22? Are you kidding me?" Shi Quan's eyes widened.
This old Sword Douluo bastard really has no shame. I praised him so much, and he still wants to use Soul Power!
The Seven Kill Sword that has absorbed nine Spirit Rings is not something a Spirit Master like me can withstand even without Soul Power. And now he says he'll use level 22 Soul Power too.
Isn't he clearly trying to beat me half to death?
"Thank you for Your Excellency's magnanimity. As expected of His Excellency Sword Douluo, a man of upright sword-borne integrity." Shi Quan said through gritted teeth.
Even with Sword Douluo's thick skin, being praised like that in front of everyone made him feel somewhat pleased with himself.
But when he recalled Ning Rongrong's aggrieved appearance, he still decided to teach Shi Quan a harsh lesson.
However, when Ning Rongrong heard that Sword Douluo would not only use his martial soul but also Soul Power, her expression immediately became conflicted. Recalling everything Shi Quan had said, she gritted her teeth and said, "Sword Grandfather, you won't beat him to death like this, will you? How about... forget it?"
Ning Rongrong's feelings toward Shi Quan were actually extremely complicated. On one hand, she had already decided to surpass him through her own ability and did not want to become what Shi Quan called her. On the other hand, she truly felt wronged over the past few days. Facing the person closest and dearest to her, all the grievances in her heart erupted uncontrollably.
Sword Douluo's eyes widened. He awkwardly looked at Ning Rongrong in his arms, then at everyone around them. He had already disregarded his own reputation and prepared to teach Shi Quan a good lesson, yet just as it was about to begin, Ning Rongrong said to forget it. Wouldn't that make this Titled Douluo a laughingstock?
Seeing Sword Douluo's uncertain expression, Shi Quan helplessly said, "Rongrong, there's no need. Being able to receive His Excellency's guidance is my honor."
"This kid is indeed not bad." Chen Xin looked at Shi Quan.
With a way out now available, Chen Xin's mood improved somewhat. Originally, everything about Shi Quan had displeased him, but now he found him slightly more agreeable. He thought that when he made his move later, he could be a little gentler.
Chen Xin proudly said, "Since that is the case, for Rongrong's sake, I will not use Soul Power. You only need to endure one incense stick's worth of time in my hands."
"Shi Quan really has guts!"
Yu Tianheng and the others silently gave Shi Quan a thumbs-up. Ning Rongrong had already spoken up for him, yet he still dared to ask Chen Xin for guidance.
Chen Xin gently set Ning Rongrong aside and softly said, "Rongrong, wait here. Grandfather will properly teach this kid a lesson for you. Don't worry, Grandfather will only let him suffer a little. I won't truly do anything to him."
After comforting Ning Rongrong, Chen Xin walked several steps forward and said calmly, "Use every move you can. I am quite curious how long you can truly last."
"Please grant me your guidance, Senior." Shi Quan's gaze focused on Chen Xin. After taking a deep breath, he summoned his Blue Silver Grass martial soul. His martial arts slowly gathered throughout his body, while a trace of excitement shone in his eyes. Being able to fight Chen Xin, one of the continent's strongest, Shi Quan also wanted to see just how strong he had become.
Chen Xin smiled faintly. With a turn of his wrist, an incense stick appeared in his hand. A light pinch of his fingers ignited it.
The instant the incense stick fell to the ground, Shi Quan's First Spirit Ring suddenly lit up. Vast amounts of Blue Silver Grass rapidly grew toward Chen Xin.
Shi Quan raised his right hand and clenched it, and a long, slender Blue Silver Vine Whip fell into his grasp. Then, his arm shot out like Snake Emerging from its Hole, and the Blue Silver Vine Whip in his hand lashed toward Chen Xin with a fierce gust of wind.
Feeling the movement of the air around him, Chen Xin was startled as well. Most of his attention had been focused on the vines spreading toward him, and he had not expected such a powerful Vine Whip to suddenly fly out from among them.
Facing the sudden Vine Whip, Chen Xin reacted just as quickly. He raised his hand, his index and middle fingers forming a sword. No spirit power fluctuation spread from his body, yet those fingers were like an incomparably sharp longsword. With a simple slash, the Blue Silver Vines snapped apart.
"Sword qi?" Shi Quan's expression did not change. He used Nine Shadows Shift beneath his feet and rapidly retreated, while the Blue Silver Vine Whip in his hand continued to execute the White Python Whip Technique. The fierce, heavy Vine Whip became afterimages as it continuously lashed toward Chen Xin.
Even when Chen Xin severed the Vine Whip, it would rapidly grow back and continue lashing toward him.
"This whip technique is rather interesting."
Chen Xin was slightly surprised. Looking at the Blue Silver Grass closing in beneath his feet, he dealt with the long whip using his sword fingers while sharp sword qi burst forth from his body. In an instant, every strand of Blue Silver Grass shattered inch by inch.
Since the White Python Whip Technique had been recorded in the Nine Yin and Nine Yang Divine Art, it naturally possessed its own merits. The White Python Whip Technique was already relatively easy to learn quickly, and with the support of the divine art, Shi Quan's speed in practicing various basic martial arts increased day by day as his strength rose. Though Shi Quan rarely used the White Python Whip Technique ordinarily, when he truly wielded it, its momentum was not weak in the slightest.
"This alone cannot stop my advance." After their brief exchange, Chen Xin had roughly grasped the power of Shi Quan's White Python Whip Technique. Sword qi surged around him as he strode toward Shi Quan.
The Blue Silver Grass Shi Quan grew could not impede Chen Xin in the slightest.
Seeing Chen Xin rush toward him, Shi Quan did not panic at all. He used White Snake Emerging from its Hole once more, and the Vine Whip in his hand shot straight toward Chen Xin's chest like a venomous snake.
Chen Xin thrust out his sword fingers directly at Shi Quan's Vine Whip. At that moment, Shi Quan's Second Spirit Ring lit up, and the incoming Vine Whip immediately emitted a dark gleam. Chen Xin almost instinctively changed his sword fingers into a palm.
His joined fingers were like a blade as his right palm flipped upward. The air seemed to be torn apart, and white currents of air surged from his palm. In that instant, it was as though a massive sword stood before him.
Decades of rich combat experience allowed him to sense the strength of an opponent's attack from the slightest clues. How could someone skilled in offense possibly overlook an opponent's attack?
Before you continue