"Then what are you going back for?" Ning Fengzhi tapped his knuckles lightly on the table, his tone carrying a hint of danger. "A triumphant return? Relying on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to slap Yu Xiaogang and Tang San in the face? You wouldn't be using me again, would you? You've got some nerve!"
Lin Kong didn't rush to explain, but instead asked, " Uncle Ning, do you know who Shrek has now?"
"Of course I know," Ning Fengzhi said casually. "The Fire Phoenix, the Sausage with Innate Full Soul Power, the Evil Eye White Tiger and the Hell Spirit Cat, Tang Hao's son, and the Soft Bone Rabbit with Innate Full Soul Power."
These were the most basic pieces of information he obtained from Ning Rongrong's letters.
Lin Kong shook his head. "I'm not asking about their Martial Soul, but rather—who are they? Their personalities, character, and conduct?"
Ning Fengzhi momentarily speechless. "..."
Lin Kong stopped beating around the bush and proceeded to name them one by one:
" Dai Mubai, out of fear of death, chose to flee the Star Luo Empire; he was a coward. After arriving at the Shrek Academy, he indulged his desires and became addicted to wine and women. Oh, right, when he fled, he didn't even take Zhu Zhuqing with him."
Ning Fengzhi pondered his words, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper. "If he didn't want to contend for the throne, he could have found a place to live a peaceful life; if he wanted to contend for the throne, he had to take Zhu Zhuqing with him, and the Martial Soul Fusion Skill was his greatest trump card. In the end, he ran away without taking Zhu Zhuqing —yes, he was indeed a coward, and an irresponsible coward at that."
" Ma Hongjun, Martial Soul: Evil Fire Phoenix, Mutated Martial Soul," Lin Kong continued. "I think Rongrong probably didn't explain to Uncle Ning what trouble Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul was causing him—if he didn't release the Evil Fire by finding women, he would explode and die."
Ning Fengzhi's face immediately darkened, becoming extremely ugly.
How could his precious daughter be associating with such a scoundrel? What father wouldn't feel disgusted?
Even Sword Douluo couldn't stand it anymore, coldly saying, "This kind of person is truly... an insult to the ears."
" Oscar has been quite influenced by these two," Lin Kong said, pausing for a moment, "And finally, Tang San... um..."
"Why did you stop talking?" Ning Fengzhi narrowed his eyes.
Lin Kong raised his eyes, his tone calm yet extremely cold. "So insidious and vicious, I don't even know what words to use to describe it."
"I'll send someone to Shrek right away to bring Rongrong back!" Ning Fengzhi suddenly stood up, his tone full of undisguised anxiety. The thought of his daughter hanging out with that group of people of questionable character made his heart tighten.
"Bringing her back like this means we'll only Rongrong by ourselves," Lin Kong said slowly, pinpointing the crux of the matter.
Ning Fengzhi personally sent someone to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but in the end, he only managed to bring his own daughter back. He couldn't even recruit a single genius to join the school. If word got out, it would make the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect look too incompetent and a complete failure.
"Hmph!" Ning Fengzhi's face darkened, and he snorted coldly, "My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wouldn't deign to accept such trash!"
"Really?" Lin Kong raised an eyebrow, a meaningful smile curving his lips.
Ning Fengzhi silent for a moment, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of the cup. His expression gradually became solemn. After pondering for a long time, he slowly spoke, "If there is truly a promising talent who can be used by my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then it's not entirely unacceptable."
At this moment, his identity was no longer that of a father who desperately protected his daughter, but the powerful sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. In the eyes of a sect master, the character and morals of his subordinates are actually irrelevant. As long as they have enough talent and are valuable enough to serve the sect, minor flaws can be tolerated.
Moreover, the Shrek Academy kids are indeed top-tier in talent, especially Oscar — Food System Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power, which is unprecedented!
"What exactly are you going back to do?" Ning Fengzhi looked up at Lin Kong, his eyes sharp as an eagle's.
Lin Kong met his gaze and said, each word distinct and resolute, "Of course, it's about keeping those Shrek students under my own control—not letting them fall into Tang Hao's hands."
He deliberately emphasized the name " Tang Hao " instead of " Tang San ".
Ning Fengzhi jolted, as if struck by lightning. The confusion in his eyes vanished, replaced by a sharp, enlightened look. He couldn't help but stand up, nodding repeatedly to Lin Kong, his tone full of praise, "Excellent! Excellent! It was a good decision to seize it instead of letting it fall into Tang Hao's hands!"
Winning over Shrek's geniuses is a way to strengthen the sect; isolating them from Tang Hao's influence cuts off the Clear Sky Sect's future support! It's a win-win situation, truly ingenious!
But after the initial excitement, Ning Fengzhi calmed down, looked at Lin Kong, and threw out the most crucial question, "Tell me, why should I help you?"
Lin Kong smiled slightly and unhurriedly tossed out an even more enticing suggestion, " Uncle Ning, why doesn't our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect have a single high-level Soul Master Academy that we can be proud of?"
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, possessing the Thunder Academy, was renowned throughout the Soul Master World; the Elephant Armor Sect had the Elephant Armor Academy, which continuously supplied the sect with elite forces; even the Clear Sky Sect, which had been in seclusion for many years, once had a Clear Sky Academy that was famous in one region—unfortunately, the sect went into seclusion, and that academy disappeared with it.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, however, is completely lacking in this area.
Ning Fengzhi picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and smiled nonchalantly, "We, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, are ultimately just a bunch of merchants. What do we need a high-level Soul Master Academy for? It's too much trouble and effort, and we might not even be able to please them."
Lin Kong looked at him, her eyes smiling, her tone slightly mischievous. "Really don't want to?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's smile faded slightly. He put down his wine glass and shook his head helplessly. "Alright, to be honest—it's mainly because of our Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
Upon hearing this, Sword Douluo beside him nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with the statement.
In a Soul Master team, the captain can be a Power Attack System warrior or a strategist of Control System, but there is absolutely no reason to let Support System Soul Master lead the team. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Master is born to be the core of the team's buffs, but precisely because of this, it is too easy for him to become a mere supporting character.
If you join a high-level Soul Master Academy team from another sect and are just a supporting character, that's fine; but if you're in your own sect's academy team and can only be a background figure to highlight others—that's really embarrassing!
Of course, Ning Fengzhi used the same excuse. "A bunch of businessmen suddenly running around setting up a Soul Master Academy is just too conspicuous."
This unprecedented move, implemented so suddenly, will undoubtedly attract countless prying eyes, which is not the situation the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect desires.
Lin Kong, however, seemed to have been prepared, and abruptly changed the subject. "As far as I know, the Clear Sky Academy left behind by the Haotian Clear Sky Sect is now in a state of utter desolation. In the past few years, only senior students have graduated and left, and no new students have come to join. The number of people in the academy is decreasing day by day, and it looks like it is about to fall apart completely."
He looked up at Ning Fengzhi, his eyes shining brightly. " Uncle Ning, do you have any plans to help it get started?"
Ning Fengzhi tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his brows furrowed slightly as he fell into deep thought, "Hmm..."
Seeing this, Lin Kong pressed his advantage, throwing out another weighty reason. " The Upper Three Sects are of one mind and should help each other! Our common enemy is the Spirit Hall! Not long ago, the Spirit Hall Team roster was announced, and three of them were given special mention. With their talent, they will definitely break through to the Soul King realm within a few years!"