Ning Rongrong's initial shock at her father's sudden appearance was quickly replaced by a flush of embarrassment, which she just as quickly mastered. She smoothed her robes and adopted a more formal posture, though the spark of genuine enjoyment from moments before still lingered in her eyes.
"Father, Sword Grandpa," she began, her voice regaining its cultured tone. "Allow me to introduce my new friends." She gestured first to Tang San. "This is Tang San. He is the one who aided us in the mountain village."
She then turned to the others. "You already met Xiao Wu, and this is Senior Mei. They are all students at the Nuoding Spirit Master Academy."
Tang San, Mei, and Xiao Wu all offered respectful bows. "Greetings, Sect Master Ning, Sword Grandpa," they said in near unison.
Ning Fengzhi's smile was warm and genuine, his eyes crinkling at the corners. While Sword Douluo remains stoic, inside, he finds being called Sword Grandpa by someone other than his beloved Rongrong wasn't that bad.
"There is no need for such formality. Please, be at ease. It brings me great joy to see my daughter has made such... spirited friends." His gaze swept over the three of them, lingering for a fraction of a second on Tang San, taking in the boy's calm demeanor and clear-eyed gaze.
"We interrupted your conversation. It sounded quite lively. What were you discussing?"
Mei, feeling a little shy under the direct attention of such a powerful figure, clasped her hands together. "It was my fault, Sect Master. I was being forward. I... I asked Miss Rongrong about the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect." She dipped her head slightly.
"We are all from quite remote villages, you see. Our knowledge of the great sects and the wider world is very limited."
Tang San nodded in agreement. "It's true. We've only recently come to the city. Everything is still very new to us." Xiao Wu simply bobbed her head vigorously, her brown hair swishing.
Internally, Ning Fengzhi felt a wave of surprise, though his pleasant expression never wavered. Remote villages? If this boy were truly Hao Tian's son, he should have been raised with at least a fundamental knowledge of the world's power structures.
This genuine ignorance was the most compelling evidence against his and Chen Xin's theory. He glanced subtly at the Sword Douluo and saw a similar minute shift in the old man's stance—a slight relaxation of the shoulders that indicated a reassessment.
"Limited knowledge is nothing to be ashamed of; it is simply an opportunity to learn," Ning Fengzhi said kindly, deciding to test the waters further. "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is one of the three great Upper Sects on the Douluo Continent. We are known for our auxiliary-type spirit, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, arguably the greatest support spirit in the world."
He went on to explain the basic structure of the continent's major powers, mentioning the Spirit Hall and the other two Upper Sects—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Clan—the latter name spoken with deliberate neutrality.
He watched the three young faces carefully as he spoke. Tang San and Mei listened with rapt, genuine attention, their eyes wide with the wonder of new information. Xiao Wu looked more interested in her pastry, but still nodded along.
There was not a flicker of recognition at the name "Clear Sky Clan," no hidden knowledge in their expressions. The theory of Tang San's lineage seemed to evaporate like mist.
As the conversation flowed, Ning Fengzhi smoothly shifted the topic. "To have been admitted to Nuoding Academy, you must all possess remarkable talent. Might I ask about your spirits and your current cultivation?"
They answered in turn. Tang San spoke of his Blue Silver Grass, and Ning Fengzhi offered an encouraging nod, hiding his renewed confusion. Xiao Wu mentioned her Rabbit Spirit, and he was more confused, and when Mei said her spirit was a stage, he and Sword Douluo had completely lost it.
Was there any recoded incident where a stage spirit emerged? Or is it the first time it happened? Ning Fengzhi thought deeply
. But it was when they revealed their spirit power levels that the air in the café seemed to grow still.
"Thirteenth rank," Tang San said calmly.
"Thirteenth rank," Xiao Wu echoed with a proud grin.
All eyes turned to Mei. She smiled modestly. "I've just recently reached the eighteenth rank."
A silence fell, so profound that the gentle clatter from the café's kitchen sounded like a thunderclap. Ning Fengzhi's teacup, which had been halfway to his lips, froze. Chen Xin, who had been a statue by the door, turned his head fully to look at the three of them, his eyes sharp enough to cut glass.
Thirteen? Eighteen? And none of them has reached ten years of age?
These were not just geniuses; this was monstrous talent. The children must have had an innate full spirit power; this was a rarity, but now it felt like common cabbage. To have three in one place, with one already approaching the second rank at such a tender age, was unheard of.
Mei's level, in particular, was staggering. She was only a year or so older than the others, yet she was a full five levels ahead, putting her on a trajectory that defied all conventional understanding.
Ning Fengzhi's mind, ever the political calculator, began to race. This changed everything. The potential of these three... especially if they could be tied to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect in some way...
He was snapped out of his strategic reverie by Xiao Wu, who tugged on Mei's sleeve. "Senior Mei! Look at the moon! It's time! You can't keep your audience waiting!"
The spell was broken. Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin exchanged a brief, bewildered glance. "Time for what?" Ning Fengzhi asked, his voice betraying a hint of his confusion.
Ning Rongrong, seeing their perplexed faces, couldn't help but giggle. "Father, Grandpa Sword, you still don't understand? The 'star attraction' of Nuoding City, we came to see... It's her." She pointed at Mei, her earlier competitiveness replaced by a budding excitement.
"It's Senior Mei's performance! The whole plaza is waiting for her to sing!"
The revelation was the final, unexpected twist of the evening. The Sect Master of one of the most powerful organizations on the continent and a mighty Titled Douluo had been ushered across the city not to witness a rare spirit beast or a martial display, but to listen to a little girl sing.
A slow, genuine smile spread across Ning Fengzhi's face, this one filled with pure amusement. He looked at Mei, this pink-haired enigma who was both a spirit master prodigy and the star of a city square. "Is that so?" he said, his eyes twinkling. "Then by all means, we must not be late. I find I am quite eager to hear this performance for myself."
The group rose and made their way out of the café, the two powerful men following behind the group of young people, their earlier theories and plans temporarily set aside, replaced by a simple, shared high curiosity about the girl who held a city's evening in her voice.