Chen Xin, Gu Rong, get out here!

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, main hall.

Ning Fengzhi sat in the seat of honor, with Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong seated on either side. The three were discussing some upcoming arrangements for the sect.

Chen Xin, his face as handsome as polished jade and his white hair draped over his shoulders, wore a calm expression.

Gu Rong leaned against his chair, his posture casual, carrying the composure of a veteran Titled Douluo.

"Sect Master! Sect Master!"

"Something terrible has happened to the Eldest Miss!"

A burst of hurried footsteps approached, followed by the doors being violently pushed open.

Two Soul Emperor guards rushed in, supporting Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong's hair was disheveled, tears still stained her face, and a clear handprint marked her right cheek.

"Rongrong!"

The two Soul Emperor guards helped Ning Rongrong to the center of the hall. They were just about to kneel and beg forgiveness when Gu Rong shot to his feet.

He spotted the clear handprint on Ning Rongrong's face at once, and his expression instantly turned livid.

Without waiting for the guards to speak, Gu Rong swept his right hand, sending a surge of powerful Soul Power that blasted both men away. They struck a nearby pillar and crashed to the floor.

"Ah..."

The two guards gave muffled groans, blood seeping from the corners of their mouths. They struggled up and knelt again, their heads bowed extremely low.

"We deserve death!"

"We failed to protect the Eldest Miss. Please punish us, Sect Master and elders!"

"Useless!"

Gu Rong's voice carried an anger he could not suppress.

"Five Soul Emperors and a Soul Saint, and not one of you could earn your keep?"

"Rongrong, who hit you? Tell Grandpa Bone. I'll go tear his bones apart right now!"

Seeing both Gu Rong and Chen Xin there, Ning Rongrong seemed to have found her greatest backing, and tears instantly welled from her eyes.

She did not answer Gu Rong. Instead, she stumbled into Chen Xin's arms, buried her face in his chest, and sobbed so hard she could barely breathe. "Grandpa Sword... they hit me..."

"I was so scared... I almost couldn't come back. I almost never saw you again..."

Chen Xin looked down at the little girl sobbing in his arms. He raised his right hand and gently patted the back of her head, his movements very light.

It formed a stark contrast with the keen sword intent surrounding him.

"Be good, Rongrong. Grandpa Sword is here."

Chen Xin soothed Ning Rongrong, but his eyes were frighteningly cold.

Chen Xin did not rush to question her. He quietly let her cry for a while, only speaking once her sobs had eased a little. "Rongrong, take your time. Grandpa Sword is here. Start from the beginning. Who hit you?"

Ning Fengzhi also came over, first reaching out to stop Gu Rong. "Uncle Gu, calm down. Let's find out what happened first."

Ning Fengzhi looked at the two guards kneeling on the floor, his voice steady. "Stand up and speak. Tell us exactly what happened, from beginning to end."

"Do not leave out a single word."

"Yes!"

The two guards struggled to their feet and, with their heads lowered, recounted everything in full detail.

Long Aotian appeared to be fifteen or sixteen, had five Soul Rings that surpassed the optimal configuration, and possessed strength greater than a Soul Emperor's. That alone already deeply shocked Ning Fengzhi and the other two.

When they heard about Long Aoyu's Soul Ring Configuration and strength, all three found it somewhat hard to believe.

"What kind of joke is this?!"

After hearing them out, Gu Rong clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked. "His third ring was already a ten-thousand-year ring? And he could kill a Soul Saint? Are you sure you're not lying?"

"We wouldn't dare!"

The two guards kowtowed repeatedly. "We saw all of it with our own eyes!"

"The captain and the others must all be dead. Otherwise, they would have caught up with us long ago."

Chen Xin kept one arm around the still-sniffling Ning Rongrong. After hearing the guards' report, he fell silent for a moment, then lowered his head and told her:

"Rongrong, go rest first. Have Elder Li treat you."

Elder Li was a Guest Elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and its only healing-type Soul Saint.

"Grandpa Sword will see that you get justice."

With that, Chen Xin looked at Ning Fengzhi, his gaze calm but questioning.

Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance with him.

"Rongrong, be good. Daddy, Grandpa Sword, and Grandpa Bone need to discuss how to handle this."

"Mm... okay."

Ning Rongrong withdrew from Chen Xin's arms. "Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, you must avenge me."

After saying that,

Ning Rongrong wiped her tears and walked out with a maid supporting her.

"You may leave as well."

Ning Fengzhi glanced at the two guards and waved a hand, dismissing them.

"Yes, Sect Master."

The two guards withdrew as though a great weight had been lifted from them.

Only Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong remained in the hall.

Ning Fengzhi spoke first, his expression grave. "Those two boys have such monstrous talent, and they remained fearless even after learning that Rongrong was our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Eldest Miss. Their background must be extraordinary."

"The forces on the continent capable of nurturing young geniuses like that can be counted on one hand."

"Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Sect-but the Clear Sky Sect has long withdrawn from the world, and it doesn't seem like Spirit Hall either. Could it be some hidden sect or clan?"

Ning Fengzhi had not let anger cloud his mind and analyzed the matter calmly.

Chen Xin still had one hand resting on his sword's scabbard. After hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, he nodded. "Their background is certainly extraordinary."

"But-no matter how powerful their background, Rongrong cannot suffer this bullying for nothing!"

"Four of the six guards died, and that slap on Rongrong's face was a slap in the face of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Whatever their origins, we must make them pay for this!"

Gu Rong paced back and forth through the hall, his fists cracking as he clenched them, his voice booming:

"Background, background-I don't give a damn where they come from!"

"When has Rongrong ever suffered such an indignity in her life? I don't care whose family they belong to. We must drag them back here and make them kneel before Rongrong to repent and admit their wrongs!"

Gu Rong had barely finished speaking when a rough voice suddenly thundered through the sky outside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

It echoed over the entire sect-

"Ha ha ha! What big talk!"

The voice was deep as a bell, carrying undisguised arrogance and disdain, and shook even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's main hall until it hummed.

"Who is it?!"

Gu Rong's expression abruptly changed, and Chen Xin immediately released his Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul.

Both turned at once to look high into the sky outside.

"You want our Body Sect's Young Sect Master and Sect Master's Direct Disciple to kneel and repent?"

"Has your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect drunk itself stupid?!"

The voice continued, rumbling like thunder. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's disciples covered their ears and looked up into the sky.

There,

Five figures stood in midair.

At their head was none other than Jin Peng, his build burly, his features resolute, his gaze like lightning.

Elder Zhou, Elder Wei, Elder Zhao, and Elder Qian stood on either side.

"Standing in empty air...!"

"They're all Titled Douluo!!"

Someone within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect cried out in alarm.

At those words, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's disciples were all thrown into panic.

Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong likewise wore grave expressions, as though facing a formidable enemy.

Jin Peng looked toward the main hall, his voice neither loud nor soft, yet carrying an unquestionable pressure. "Today, the five great elders of our Body Sect have come to demand an accounting."

"Chen Xin, Gu Rong."

"Get out here!!"