A middle-aged man stepped out, dressed in moon-white sect master's finery and holding an exquisite cane. He looked exceedingly refined.
Honestly, at first glance, Lin Xing had thought he was some family's pretty boy. Whether in bearing or looks, Ning Fengzhi was absolutely among the very best.
Perhaps, setting gender aside and judging bearing alone, he was not the slightest bit inferior to Fufu when she was serious.
This time, Chen Xin did not refuse. He handed the sleeping Ning Rongrong to Ning Fengzhi as he approached.
"Hey, you Old Sword Man, you're picking on me, aren't you!"
Gu Rong really could not stand this bastard anymore.
"Heh, I am picking on you. What are you going to do about it?"
"If you don't like it, let's settle it one-on-one!"
Chen Xin refused to yield an inch. The two bickered like children, their imposing presences surging, without the slightest dignity befitting Titled Douluos.
"All right, all right, Uncle Jian, Uncle Bone, stop arguing."
Ning Fengzhi felt helpless. His two uncles were already so old, so why did they still argue like children?
His gaze turned to Lin Xing, who had remained behind them and barely spoken the entire time.
"Uncle Jian, won't you introduce this young brother to us?"
Hearing this, Chen Xin finally reined in his surging presence.
"This is the disciple I took in on this trip. His talent is exceptionally outstanding-the greatest I've seen to date."
"Oh, is that so?"
Ning Fengzhi's interest was piqued.
"Heh, then you really did step in dog shit, Old Sword Man. To think someone so talented actually became your disciple."
Gu Rong looked deeply disgruntled. Why did every good thing fall into Old Sword Man's lap? He could not accept it.
"You old bag of bones, don't be so disgruntled. There's no one more suited than me to be this brat's master."
"Stop gilding your own face, Old Sword Man. No one but you can be his master? You're not qualified to say that."
Unexpectedly, Chen Xin did not get angry this time. At any other time, he would already have drawn his sword and started fighting him.
"How about this, you old bag of bones? Shall we make a wager?"
"If you win, I won't fight you over Rongrong for the next month."
Because there was no need to fight at all. Neither he nor Gu Rong could possibly compete with Furina. All Furina had to do was stand there to steal Rongrong's heart. He and that old bag of bones had no chance.
"Oh, do you mean that?!"
Gu Rong's interest was piqued as well.
"I do."
Chen Xin nodded calmly, without the slightest trace of awkwardness on his face from telling a lie.
"All right, then. What do you want to bet on?"
"Simple."
The corners of Chen Xin's mouth lifted.
"I taught this brat a few things along the way. Suppress your strength to rank seventy and, without using your Martial Soul Avatar, last ten minutes against this brat without getting hurt. If you do that, you win."
Gu Rong felt as though he had misheard. His face was full of disbelief.
"Old Sword Man, has a fever addled your brain? Judging by the fluctuations coming from this boy, he's rank forty-three at most."
"Are you sure you're telling me to suppress myself to rank seventy and last ten minutes against him without getting hurt, without using my Martial Soul Avatar?"
"That's right."
Chen Xin nodded calmly.
Gu Rong felt that Chen Xin had gone mad. He turned his gaze toward Lin Xing.
"Little fellow, what's your name?"
"My name is Lin Xing. Greetings, Senior Gu Douluo."
"Lin Xing, was it? What's your Martial Soul?"
Lin Xing repeated what he had told Chen Xin back then, only omitting the existence of Intent, because Intent did not, in essence, originate from his Martial Soul. Its true source was Chen Xin.
"There's actually a Martial Soul like that?"
Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi exchanged a glance, each seeing the astonishment in the other's eyes.
Chen Xin would never take a disciple for no reason, nor would he rashly make such an extravagant claim.
For him to say something like that could only mean that Lin Xing truly had something up his sleeve, and that Old Sword Man had definitely suffered at Lin Xing's hands. That was why he had carefully arranged all this, just waiting for Gu Rong to jump into the pit himself.
Gu Rong felt that he had seen through everything.
He curled his lips. Old Sword Man, you'll be disappointed this time.
Having discovered Chen Xin's little scheme, Gu Rong naturally accepted with pleasure.
This was absolute confidence in his own strength. He was different from Chen Xin: Chen Xin specialized in offense, while he specialized in defense. His title as the continent's strongest defense-type Soul Master was not mere talk.
"All right, Old Sword Man. This wager is mine to win."
The corners of Chen Xin's mouth rose even higher. He glanced at Lin Xing, his expression speaking for itself.
"Brat, you can fight however you like this time. Use every dirty trick you've got. This old bag of bones can take every last one. Even if he really does get hurt, don't you still have that healing ability? Just give him a little healing afterward."
The corners of Lin Xing's mouth twitched. Chen Xin had just transmitted those words to him through mental power.
The two truly were the best of friends.
"All right, there's plenty of open space in front of the sect master's hall. Boy, don't hold back. If you can hurt me, I'll acknowledge your skill."
"Then, Senior Bone Douluo, I won't stand on ceremony."
Seeing this, Chen Xin stepped back of his own accord, leaving the two ample room to fight.
Ning Fengzhi likewise retreated to Chen Xin's side.
"Uncle Jian, what are you..."
Ning Fengzhi's tone made his meaning clear: just what was Chen Xin up to?
Chen Xin merely curled his lips, offering no explanation.
"Fengzhi, just watch. You're in for a huge surprise."
On the grounds, the two stood facing each other. Lin Xing reached out and summoned the Splendor of Tranquil Waters, once again casting a tentative look at Chen Xin.
Chen Xin merely nodded lightly in response.
Seeing this, Lin Xing finally cast aside all restraint.
His hair turned completely white, and he raised the Splendor of Tranquil Waters to point at Gu Rong.
"Senior, watch out."
The blue gemstone on the longsword gave off a dazzling light, illuminating all their surroundings.
"Domain Expansion!"
"Clear Abyss of the Azure Stream!"
The Splendor of Tranquil Waters was tossed out, and blue Intent manifested once more.
At the same time, Lin Xing's other hand did not remain idle, once again forming the one-handed Indra Mudra.
"Domain Expansion!"
"Court of Surging Conviction!"
The two domains unfolded simultaneously, and their surroundings underwent a tremendous change in the blink of an eye.
Gu Rong appeared on the lowest platform where Chen Xin had initially stood, while Lin Xing stood on the highest judge's platform as before. Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi appeared in the spectator stands.
Ning Fengzhi stared at the scene, dumbstruck.
"Uncle Jian... this time, you really have... found a treasure."
Gu Rong was also rather astonished. This boy Lin had opened with his ultimate moves, and two domains at once, at that.
No wonder Old Sword Man had been so confident in proposing those conditions. Still... wasn't it a little fanciful to think he could hurt him with Soul Power of only around rank forty?