"A proposal?"
Ning Fengzhi looked at Chen Xin with a puzzled expression. "Uncle Sword, what is your suggestion?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xin didn't immediately respond but let out a deep sigh, his tone heavy with concern:
"Fengzhi, the future of the sect resting solely on me and Old Bones' shoulders is ultimately unstable."
"Though we are strong, but…"
He glanced at Gu Rong, who stood silently nearby. Though he didn't finish his sentence, the implication was clear: he and Bone Elder Gu Rong were both advanced in age, and their ability to continue protecting the sect was waning.
"At present, though the sect is under our protection, the lack of successors weighs heavily on my mind."
"Looking over the younger generation, there are a few promising disciples, but none who can truly shoulder great responsibility. Among them, Rongrong is the most talented, but her spirit… well, it condemns her."
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—a pinnacle of support spirits—also shackled its users' combat potential and growth path.
No matter how gifted Rongrong might be, reaching the rank of Soul Sage was the theoretical limit, and she would have almost no self-defense capabilities.
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong nodded solemnly, their eyes reflecting a shared burden.
After all, the next generation of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was indeed their greatest pain point.
Seeing this, Chen Xin's gaze hardened as he spoke firmly: "Precisely because of this, Fengzhi, I believe it's time for Rongrong to leave the sect and undergo training. She can no longer be coddled like a flower in a greenhouse."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up. "Uncle Sword, do you mean sending Rongrong to an academy?"
This thought had crossed Ning Fengzhi's mind before, but both Chen Xin and Gu Rong—the two titled Douluos protecting the sect—had strongly opposed it. They believed Rongrong was too young and the outside world too dangerous, unwilling to let her leave the sect's protection.
Now that Chen Xin had finally relented, Ning Fengzhi naturally wouldn't object.
"No! Absolutely not!"
But at this moment, Bone Elder Gu Rong, who had been silent until now, stepped forward, his face filled with disapproval.
"Chen Xin, what are you thinking?"
"How old is Rongrong? Do you know how dangerous it is out there?"
"She's still young. We can wait a few more years!"
Instantly, Chen Xin turned sharply toward Gu Rong, his gaze sharp as an unsheathed sword: "Old Bones! I know you dote on Rongrong—I do too—but…"
"What happened in the Great Star Dou Forest hasn't hit you hard enough yet?"
At this, Chen Xin's voice rose slightly. "Rongrong recklessly provoked that Pope herself!"
"You and I both know that with the current power and influence of the Spirit Hall Pope, and the 'intentions' she displayed back then—if not for Dai Chengfeng stepping in as her personal disciple and using his unique position to intervene—"
"Even if I threw away my dignity, that Bibi Dong might not have listened to me!"
Chen Xin's words struck like a hammer, hitting Gu Rong squarely in the chest.
Gu Rong opened his mouth to retort, but recalling the overwhelming authority of Pope Bibi Dong…
He knew just how perilous the situation had been for Ning Rongrong back then.
Seeing this, Chen Xin softened his tone but remained grave:
"Old Bones, loving Rongrong isn't wrong. But excessive protection is poison!"
"Her personality and perspective, pampered within the sect like the moon surrounded by stars, have already fostered arrogance and ignorance of the dangers of the world."
"This time, she narrowly escaped. What about the next?"
"If Rongrong continues to act so impulsively in the future, she will undoubtedly suffer greatly for it."
"Therefore, before things spiral out of control, let's allow Rongrong to 'grow up!'"
"This…"
Gu Rong was left speechless by Chen Xin's relentless reasoning, unable to refute him.
Finally, he sighed deeply. "Sigh… Very well, very well."
"You're… you're right. Rongrong does need… to go out and temper herself."
With great difficulty, Gu Rong nodded, reluctantly agreeing with Chen Xin's proposal.
---
Seeing that Gu Rong had finally been persuaded, Ning Fengzhi felt a weight lift from his heart. He quickly asked, "Uncle Sword, where do you think Rongrong should go for her training?"
"The Tian Dou Imperial Academy? Or our own Seven Treasures Academy?"
Chen Xin shook his head, his gaze turning toward the direction of Spirit City outside the window. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he clearly enunciated each word:
"Spirit City!"
"The highest institution of the Spirit Hall—the Spirit Hall Academy!"
"What? The Spirit Hall Academy?!"
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong exclaimed in unison.
This answer was completely unexpected!
It was important to note that while the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was one of the top three sects and nominally subordinate to the Spirit Hall, their relationship was fraught with subtle tensions. Beneath the surface, there were countless invisible power struggles and mutual wariness between them.
There had been virtually no deep cooperation between the two factions, let alone intimacy.
Ning Fengzhi had originally planned to send Rongrong to the Tian Dou Imperial Academy, which was at the heart of the Tian Dou Empire, close to the sect for easier monitoring, and a place where she could form connections with the children of the empire's elite.
Alternatively, he considered sending her to the Seven Treasures Academy, established and controlled by their own sect—a safer option on familiar ground.
But Chen Xin had directly suggested sending the future heir of their sect into the heart of their rival faction—the stronghold of the Spirit Hall and its premier institution for nurturing elite talents?!
This was nothing short of madness!
It was akin to willingly placing a golden child into the den of tigers and wolves!
Gu Rong nearly jumped up in agitation. "Old Sword Brain! Have you gone mad?"
"What kind of place is that?!"
"It's the Spirit Hall's lair! What if they harm Rongrong…?"
"Old Bones, calm down!"
Chen Xin raised his hand to stop Gu Rong's outburst, his piercing gaze fixed on Ning Fengzhi's face, as if waiting for him to grasp the deeper meaning behind his suggestion.
Indeed.
Ning Fengzhi, being the leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, possessed sharp acumen.
After only a few seconds of shock, he came to a realization…
"Uncle Sword! Could it be… because of… Dai Chengfeng?!"
"Precisely!"
Chen Xin nodded decisively, his face revealing an extremely rare expression of profound admiration for a younger generation. "It's precisely because Dai Chengfeng is there!"
He paused, his tone deep and resolute. "Fengzhi, I have high hopes for him—higher than you might imagine!"
"I can confidently predict that within fifty years, he will undoubtedly ascend to the rank of a titled Douluo!"
"And he won't stop at just any ordinary title!"
"The heights he will reach in the future may… rival even the legendary 'Hao Tian Douluo' Tang Chen, who once vanished after dominating the continent for an era!"
"Perhaps… he'll surpass even that!"
"In this era, everyone of his generation will be unfortunate—they will merely serve as his backdrop. This era is destined to bear his name—Dai Chengfeng!"
"In the coming millennium, he will undoubtedly reign supreme over the continent, commanding awe from all!"
"Hiss!"
Ning Fengzhi gasped sharply, his mind reeling in shock!
He had guessed that Chen Xin held Dai Chengfeng in high regard, but never imagined he would esteem him to such an extent!
After all, who was Chen Xin?
A peak-level 96th-rank Douluo, whose judgment was incredibly discerning?
For him to utter words like "dominate the continent for a millennium," a phrase worthy of the highest reverence offered to the Grand Worship of the Worship Hall, his evaluation of Dai Chengfeng was nothing short of astonishing!
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