Chen Xin's sharp eyes shifted, narrowing slightly as they landed on Flender. His lips curved faintly upward, but the smile carried a hint of thorns.
"Flender… our Rongrong hasn't suffered any injustice here, has she?" His voice was calm, but when he leaned in on the last two words, "any injustice," his tone turned heavy as steel. "If there's something, perhaps we should have… a private chat later."
When it came to intimidation, Sword Douluo didn't need a raised sword. Every syllable carried killing intent.
Flender's scalp numbed instantly.
Spicy! This is too spicy!
Chen Xin's words were sharp and unforgiving—like a sword grazing past his throat.
The owl-eyed principal dared not show displeasure. He bit down his panic and forced a crooked smile onto his face.
"Senior Sword Douluo, Rongrong is the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Who among us would dare let her suffer even the slightest grievance?"
As he spoke, he didn't forget to throw pleading glances toward Ning Rongrong.
But Ning Rongrong pretended not to notice. Her arms looped cheerfully around her Grandpa Jian's, her face sweet and unbothered.
Inside, however, her mischievous heart was chuckling darkly. Heh, where's all that aura now, Flender? Didn't you say a spirit master who doesn't make trouble isn't a good spirit master? Fine then—let me show you the consequences of letting me taste "trouble."
Behind the devilish grin though, a small warmth blossomed in her chest. She hadn't intended to complain to her sect, but Grandpa Jian had still appeared—and, without hesitation, stood in front of her.
Grandpa Jian really does dote on me.
…
Seeing Ning Rongrong ignore him completely, Flender felt his last bit of hope collapse. His heart sank into despair.
It's over. Truly over. Didn't Fengzhi's letter say we had full authority to "temper" her? Train her hard?
Chen Xin clearly cut him no slack. Hone the child, yes—but did we ever say you were allowed to let her suffer? Honing is one thing. Bullying is another.
My heart isn't just hanging—it's dangling by a thread!
Before Flender's nerves broke completely, Chen Xin retracted his gaze.
The old Sword Douluo turned toward Xiao Tian, a gentler smile appearing as the pressure around them instantly lessened.
Of course—he hadn't forgotten his true reason for coming here.
…
Inside Xiao Tian's spiritual space, Daming's voice sounded strained.
"Xiao Tian, are you certain Sister Xiao Wu's aura won't be exposed to this Titled Douluo? And ours as well?"
Xiao Wu's hands trembled slightly at Chen Xin's arrival. A Titled Douluo's pressure was unbearable for normal spirit beasts like her, even in human form. But when she noticed Chen Xin didn't even glance twice at her, relief washed through her chest.
The ring Xiao Tian had given her was doing its job perfectly. Her secret was safe.
…
Chen Xin's smile carried humor as he addressed the boy.
"So you are Xiao Tian? The one Rongrong described—innate level five soul power, yet already at Soul Venerable? She also told me you have terrifying talent with the sword. Would you let me see for myself?"
He kept his tone warm, as much like a friendly elder as he could manage. He did not doubt Rogue Rongrong's words—but her descriptions were so astonishing they had to be witnessed.
Xiao Tian appraised Chen Xin briefly. Unlike Yu Xiaogang's constant pressure, Chen Xin's tone was dignified yet courteous. That alone earned his respect. Still, mischievously, he flicked a glance toward Yu Xiaogang—wordlessly telling him: See? There's a difference between you and proper seniors.
Yu Xiaogang: "???"
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong puffed up proudly and declared, "Grandpa Jian, you're behind! Xiao Tian isn't just Soul Venerable anymore—he's already a four-ring Soul Ancestor!"
"What!"
Chen Xin's voice cracked slightly, his composure shattering. "A four-ring Soul Master at twelve? But wait—when you first sent word, didn't you say he was only at rank thirty-nine?!"
Unbelievable.
Talent in swordsmanship was shocking enough. But Soul Ancestor at twelve, starting from innate level five? God-defying!
Ning Rongrong then quickly explained everything that had happened during their trip to the Star Dou Great Forest—though, wisely, she skipped over mentioning the negligence of the hidden guards her sect had deployed.
The hidden guards in question sighed relief quietly. They hadn't been scolded, and in fact, felt greater goodwill toward Young Miss Rongrong for sparing them punishment.
And in that moment, Ning Rongrong truly displayed a bit of her father Ning Fengzhi's cunning. She understood instinctively—since all was well in the end, why waste energy pointing fingers? Better to win people's hearts. She was, after all, the heir of her sect; her reputation needed careful cultivation.
…
Chen Xin, however, was thunderstruck once more.
He froze as she described Xiao Tian luring two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts alone, baiting them so the others could escape.
"That kind of courage… is that something a twelve-year-old boy should even possess…?"
A deep sigh escaped him.
His regard for Xiao Tian leaped higher.
"Xiao Tian, my thanks. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect owes you a debt we cannot measure. Anything within our power—speak it, and it shall be done."
His voice was solemn, carried the weight of an oath.
Sword Douluo rarely gave his word lightly.
Inwardly, he had already decided—if this boy lived long enough, his future achievements would shake the entire continent.
Chen Xin's serious attitude naturally caused him to glare back at Flender and the teachers of Shrek.
"You call yourselves his teachers?" His voice sharpened like a blade unsheathed. "You dared let a twelve-year-old child, one so young in cultivation, stay behind alone?! Aren't you ashamed to call yourselves adults?!"
His words struck like thunder.
Everyone in Shrek—including Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Zhao Wuji—lowered their heads in silence.
Sword Douluo's words radiated both justice and fury. In his eyes, strength meant nothing if it wasn't used to protect the weak. He lived by that creed—when Spirit Hall ambushed his sect in another timeline, he had chosen to stay behind alone, covering the retreat of his kin.
How could he stomach seeing "teachers" use their young student as a shield?
For men as proud as Flender and Zhao Wuji, no matter how thick their skin… even they could not speak back under his rebuke.
Chen Xin exhaled, frustration in every breath. His tone softened only when he looked back at his beloved granddaughter.
"Rongrong… why don't you come back with me? This trip nearly killed you. We three elders would rather die ourselves than see you lost. Enough tempering—you've already suffered more than enough."
His face twisted slightly in fury toward Ning Fengzhi. "That stubborn Fengzhi… I'll have words with him! He knew you'd suffer and still sent you out. If I'd been in the sect that day, I would never have agreed!"
Chen Xin's anger was almost tangible, his aura already rising as if prepared to march back to the sect to duel Ning Fengzhi himself.
But Ning Rongrong only laughed gently and shook her head.
"Grandpa Jian, say no more. I've actually gained a lot from this trip."
She didn't say whether she'd stay or leave. In her heart, she had already found a place in Shrek—with Xiao Tian, with Xiao Wu, with Zhu Qing. She had no wish to abandon them. If she ever left—it would only be if they left with her.
Chen Xin was no fool. He caught the glint in her eyes, and he understood. Their princess had forged bonds here, bonds even he couldn't break.
So be it.
His gaze swept toward Xiao Wu for a moment, observing silently. That girl had not flinched, not even beside Xiao Tian, when facing two overlords of the forest. Her willingness to risk everything with him… it made Chen Xin's brow crease. Their relationship clearly wasn't simple.
Strangely enough, though, he wasn't displeased. Instead, a thought lingered: If Rongrong herself liked this boy, then Chen Xin wouldn't object—in fact, he would approve. Xiao Tian was no ordinary child.
Still, the puzzle of Xiao Wu made his instincts itch. He eyebrows knotted slightly, but he chose not to press the matter. For now.
Xiao Wu, who had been watching him cautiously, stiffened instantly. Did he discover something? But she forced herself calm—No. Xiao Tian promised. As long as I wear the ring, no one will see through it.
Her heart finally settled the moment Chen Xin's gaze returned to Xiao Tian.
Chen Xin's lips curved into a faint smile. He extended one hand, palm outward.
"Please," he said simply.
A duel—or rather, a test.
The sword of the Douluo moved, and the path for Xiao Tian was about to be measured.
--
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