Ning Fengzhi looked at the little hammer that appeared in Tang San's hand. His pupils abruptly contracted, and something stirred in his heart.
"The Clear Sky Hammer? Level fifty-two?"
"Good, very good!"
"May I ask how old you are now?"
Tang San put away the Clear Sky Hammer and smiled faintly.
"Eighteen."
Three years had already passed since the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, and Tang San was still only eighteen.
Eighteen and level fifty-two-his Soul Power was not far from that of the original God King Tang at this point in time.
But at this point, the God King Tang had only just been preparing to enter Slaughter City, whereas Tang San had entered two years earlier. Soul Power did not grow in Slaughter City.
Throughout this time, Tang San had been regulating the killing aura within his body, considerably slowing his Soul Power growth. He had only finished regulating it over the past two days, and his Soul Power would grow much faster from now on.
"Eighteen?"
Hearing that answer, Ning Fengzhi drew in a sharp breath. He looked Tang San up and down, immediately feeling an appreciation for his talent.
"Impressive. With Soul Power like yours at your age, I imagine even the Clear Sky Sect has few geniuses like you?"
"If I may pry, why didn't you stay in the Clear Sky Sect?"
Although he appreciated talent, Ning Fengzhi was also a shrewd man and naturally would not trust others lightly. It was true that the Upper Three Sects were branches of the same tree, but he had heard nothing about any recent moves by the Clear Sky Sect.
After offending Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Sect had shown signs of splitting into two factions and chosen to shut itself away from the world. Few of its disciples were active on the continent.
Now someone had suddenly appeared, and such a genius at that. Ning Fengzhi could not help feeling something was amiss.
Tang San had long since worked out how to answer that.
"Sect Master, I'm sure you know about the Clear Sky Sect's situation. Undercurrents have been stirring across the continent lately. Keeping our doors shut forever is no solution. If anything happens, we'll be left reacting at every turn."
"So..."
Tang San stopped there without continuing. Ning Fengzhi was a clever man, and when speaking to clever people, saying too much could do more harm than good.
Sure enough, after hearing Tang San's words, Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.
"I see."
In his view, the Clear Sky Sect had also sensed something amiss and sent Tang San out to investigate. They probably also intended to give Tang San some experience; otherwise, they would not have sent him alone.
Oh, Clear Sky Sect, you've delivered quite a treasure to me.
With that thought, Ning Fengzhi smiled and made up his mind.
Good, very good!
Since you're already here, there's no need to go back.
The Upper Three Sects were indeed branches of the same tree, but what sect did not want to grow stronger?
Ning Fengzhi had just been worrying about what would happen after Ning Rongrong inherited the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Hadn't the solution just arrived?
If a talented young man like Tang San could join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, every problem would unravel like bamboo beneath a blade.
At the same time, Ning Fengzhi could not help feeling a headache coming on. Money or other such things alone could not make a gifted disciple of the Clear Sky Sect stay devotedly in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
After turning it over in his mind, only a marriage alliance, binding Ning Rongrong tightly to him, seemed to offer any possibility.
But...
Thinking of the way Ning Rongrong behaved, Ning Fengzhi sighed and decided to take things slowly.
"I'm older than you, so I'll call you Xiao San."
"Xiao San, the Upper Three Sects have close ties. Being here is no different from being in the Clear Sky Sect. Make yourself at home."
"From now on, you'll be a guest elder of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, much like Uncle Gu and Uncle Jian. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask them."
"Whatever you need, just say the word!"
Ning Fengzhi was not boasting. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might lack other things, but money was not one of them!
At least within the Heaven Dou Empire, so long as Tang San did not want to commit treason, he would be little different from a local emperor.
Hearing this, Tang San lowered his head slightly.
"Thank you, Sect Master Ning."
He knew he had already gained Ning Fengzhi's trust.
With the hardest first step accomplished, what followed would be much simpler.
Sword Douluo, who had been watching from the side all along, also cheerfully patted Tang San on the shoulder.
"Xiao San, this is all fate. Oh, right, our sect master's daughter is about your age. You two should spend more time together."
"Rongrong is a good girl. I imagine you haven't had much contact with girls your age, staying in the Clear Sky Sect all this time?"
As he spoke, Sword Douluo waggled his eyebrows and nudged Tang San, looking every bit a mischievous old child.
Somewhat helpless, Ning Fengzhi said, "Uncle Jian, Xiao San is still young. Why bring that up?"
"You know perfectly well what Rongrong's temper is like. Let's not talk about that."
"Xiao San, there happens to be an empty room here. It's yours. There aren't many restrictions in the sect, so you can walk around freely. If you run into my daughter, don't indulge her."
"I don't know what childish tantrum she's throwing lately, but she's been terribly unruly. Perhaps seeing an outstanding young man like you will spur her on."
If anyone wanted to bind Ning Rongrong and Tang San together most, it was undoubtedly Ning Fengzhi. But he also knew that going too far was as bad as not going far enough.
As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi pulled Sword Douluo away. Before leaving, Sword Douluo, still a child at heart, turned back toward Tang San and gave him a thumbs-up, conveying: I've got faith in you!
Seeing a peerless expert like Sword Douluo act this way left Tang San unsure whether to laugh or cry. Without being told, who could imagine this was Sword Douluo, renowned for his prowess in combat?
Still, this also showed that Sword Douluo truly regarded Tang San as one of their own. He, too, understood the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's current predicament and had always treated Ning Rongrong as his own child.
Thus, when Sword Douluo discovered Tang San, an outstanding young man who also came from the Upper Three Sects, he took an immediate liking to him.
What Sword Douluo did not know, however, was that Tang San came not from the Clear Sky Sect, but from Spirit Hall!
"Ning Rongrong..."
Mulling over the name, Tang San gave a cold laugh and abruptly pushed open the door and walked in.
Inside, Ning Rongrong was still sobbing. Having seen Ning Fengzhi lose his temper so badly for the first time, she was still nursing her grievances.
"When did Father ever get so angry in my previous life?"
"It's all Tang San's fault... If I'd gotten the immortal herb, I wouldn't have been scolded. It's all his fault!"
Hearing the door open, she did not even raise her head. Covering her face, she sobbed, "Who is it? Leave me alone!"
Tang San said nothing. He sat down opposite her and watched Ning Rongrong with amusement.
Sensing someone approach, Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then raised her head. She was just about to lash out when she discovered Tang San sitting opposite her. Her pupils contracted, and she studied him for a long while.
"You're... Tang San?!"
"How did you..."
Before she could finish, Ning Rongrong's tears began flowing uncontrollably again. She tried to stand, but her legs gave way, sending her to her knees.
Ning Rongrong clutched Tang San's thigh, weeping bitterly, tears and snot streaming down her face.
"Brother San, I was wrong!"
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