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Without the enhancement of immortal-grade herbs, the Shrek team's current strength appeared quite ordinary.
Although Tang San hadn't revealed the astonishing ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring from the original novel, his cultivation having already broken through to Spirit Ancestor still secretly surprised Feng Xiao.
Feng Xiao had originally estimated that only Yu Tianheng and Dai Mubai from Shrek had broken through to Spirit Ancestor.
"It seems the Ni Tai Training Field at Blue Tyrant Academy is also quite good," Feng Xiao murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully.
"Yu Xiaogang has focused all his short-term training on spirit power breakthroughs."
The match on the field was almost a one-sided affair.
Even without using their full strength, Tang San and the others effortlessly routed the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's vice-team.
This clean and decisive victory caused a stir in the VIP section; no one had expected this team in their strange uniforms to possess such power.
Feng Xiao keenly noticed that the three instructors, led by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, were subtly exchanging glances.
The humiliation of being publicly shamed by Dugu Bo now finally found an outlet—they naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to badmouth Prince Xue Xing.
Emperor Xue Ye, seated at the head of the table, frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Prince Xue Xing and Xue Qinghe.
The Emperor knew full well that this scene was merely a political game between the factions of his two sons.
Ultimately, he merely reprimanded Xue Xing a few times, neither harshly nor lightly, and let the matter pass.
But Feng Xiao clearly saw the trace of weariness and helplessness that flashed across the Emperor's face.
The first day's matches concluded.
Feng Xiao was contemplating going back to study the Tang Sect's unique techniques he had glimpsed today when a tall, slender figure timely blocked his path.
"Come with me; I'll take you to meet a few people."
Qian Renxue, in Xue Qinghe's guise, spoke with an undeniable tone, her every gesture exuding the majesty of a superior.
Feng Xiao sighed helplessly, "Is it Sect Master Ning?"
"Not just him."
Qian Renxue's lips curved into a meaningful smile.
"Your schoolmate's identity is far more interesting than you imagine."
"Tang San?" Feng Xiao feigned surprise, raising an eyebrow.
Qian Renxue nodded lightly, a hint of playfulness in her eyes.
"Compared to him," Feng Xiao suddenly leaned in half a step, lowering his voice and chuckling, "I'm more curious about Your Highness..."
"You'll know in due time."
Qian Renxue subtly changed the subject, turning to walk towards the carriage with a flick of her sleeve.
"Let's go."
The gilded carriage passed through bustling streets, finally stopping in front of an antique teahouse.
The two entered a private room, where the lingering scent of tea wafted through the carved screens.
Feng Xiao and Qian Renxue sat quietly, sipping tea, and soon heard footsteps from the corridor outside.
Both rose to greet them; as the beaded curtain was lifted, Ning Fengzhi arrived gracefully with Tang San.
Tang San's eyes flickered when he saw Feng Xiao, but he remained silently composed.
"Uncle Ning."
Qian Renxue performed a disciple's bow respectfully to Ning Fengzhi.
Her moon-white robe draped elegantly with the movement, spreading in a graceful arc on the bluestone floor.
Ning Fengzhi gently supported her, a benevolent smile on his gentle, jade-like face.
"Qinghe, I've told you before there's no need for such formality."
"Propriety cannot be abandoned."
Qian Renxue straightened up, her eyes filled with genuine respect.
"You are both an elder and a benefactor.
If my Imperial Father knew I was neglectful, I'm afraid he would punish me."
When her gaze turned to Tang San, Qian Renxue's eyes held a hint of scrutiny.
"This must be the young prodigy, Brother Tang San, whom Uncle Ning often speaks of?"
"Your Royal Highness flatters me."
Tang San cupped his hands, neither humble nor arrogant, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Feng Xiao.
Seeing the Huang Dou Battle Team captain standing beside the Crown Prince, he immediately understood their relationship.
Ning Fengzhi lightly flicked his sleeve, introducing the two.
"Little San, this is His Royal Highness Xue Qinghe, the current Crown Prince of Heaven Dou."
"I've long admired you."
Tang San bowed again, his posture composed and graceful, showing both respect and integrity.
Qian Renxue's eyes flashed with admiration.
"No need for formalities.
If Brother Tang San doesn't mind, just call me Brother Xue."
Then, turning to Ning Fengzhi, she said, "Uncle Ning, this is Feng Xiao, the current captain of the Huang Dou Battle Team."
Her lips curved into a meaningful arc.
"Speaking of which, he has quite a connection with your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
Feng Xiao elegantly bowed forward, his right hand gently stroking his left chest, performing a standard Spirit Master's salute to Ning Fengzhi.
His voice was clear and unhurried as he said, "When this junior was studying in Nuoding City years ago, I earned a living by playing the zither in Manager Ning's teahouse.
Thanks to Manager Ning's appreciation, he not only provided me with a place to stay but also personally wrote a letter of recommendation when I graduated, helping me further my studies at Moon Pavilion.
Speaking of which, Tang and I are also schoolmates."
Feng Xiao's words carried genuine gratitude, yet his gaze was neither humble nor arrogant.
"Speaking of which," Feng Xiao's lips curved slightly, "if not for Manager Ning's patronage back then, this junior might not have had the chance to see such a World today."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of realization crossed Ning Fengzhi's eyes.
He said warmly, "So that's it.
I recall my clan brother mentioning in a letter that there was a young Spirit Master in Nuoding City with extraordinary zither skills, and I didn't expect to meet him here today."
"Manager Ning's kindness in recognizing my talent is something this junior will never forget," Feng Xiao bowed again.
Just then, Qian Renxue interjected appropriately, "It seems this meeting today has resolved many connections."
He elegantly picked up the teapot and poured tea for everyone.
Ning Fengzhi gently flicked his sleeve and said warmly, "Please, everyone, take a seat first.
The Biluochun tea at this teahouse is truly exceptional, Little San, you should try it too."
The four sat down, host and guests in their respective places.
Qian Renxue picked up a celadon teapot, gracefully pouring tea for everyone.
The misty aroma of tea permeated the room, complementing the ancient and elegant environment, calming one's mind.
Tang San's gaze lingered briefly on Feng Xiao, seemingly hesitant.
Qian Renxue spoke up in due course, "Little San, no need to be reserved, Feng Xiao is not an outsider."
She turned to Ning Fengzhi, a hint of a smile in her eyes.
"Speaking of which, I've snatched a promising talent from Teacher, haven't I?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head and chuckled, "No matter, it's all for the Empire's service."
Tang San then nodded, his voice slightly low, "Brother Xue, I heard you know something about my father's retirement back then?"
Qian Renxue's expression sobered, "According to the palace's offerings, this matter is indeed related to Spirit Hall."
She noticed Tang San's body instantly tense and continued, "About fifteen years ago, Spirit Hall mobilized all its forces to search for a certain supreme treasure, even alarming the then Supreme Pontiff to personally attend.
And this item, it seems, was in your esteemed father's possession."
Tang San's knuckles were already white: "Then my mother..."
Qian Renxue sighed softly, but deep in her eyes, a hint of coldness flashed.
"The message didn't mention it.
But shortly after, the former Supreme Pontiff suddenly passed away, and your esteemed father also..."
She stopped short of finishing her sentence.
Ning Fengzhi added appropriately, "The key lies in that treasure and the truth; only those involved would know."
Silence fell upon the private room.
A cold glint flickered in Tang San's eyes, then quickly returned to calm.
"Thank you, Brother Xue, for clarifying."
Qian Renxue said gently, "It was nothing.
I've already sent people to investigate thoroughly, but after so many years..."
"You've already helped a great deal."
Tang San picked up his teacup, the misty steam blurring his deep gaze.
Qian Renxue's lips curved slightly, her gentle, jade-like voice flowing with the tea's aroma.
"Brother Tang is too polite; it was nothing but a small effort."
During their casual conversation, Feng Xiao keenly noticed that Ning Fengzhi never mentioned recruiting him, and this abnormal silence seemed to hold deeper meaning.
After three rounds of tea, as Tang San rose to take his leave, Qian Renxue suddenly took something from her sleeve.
"Brother Tang, wait."
Her fingertips twirled, and a gilded token shimmered in the morning light.
The token was ancient in form, with a dragon-encircled "Tian" character engraved on its front, and a faint spirit power circulated within it.
"I give this to you, my dear brother.
Should you ever need anything in the future, you may enter the palace with this token to find me."
Tang San's gaze narrowed slightly, and he tapped his fingertips on the Twenty Four Moonlit Bridges, showing a hint of hesitation.
Ning Fengzhi chuckled at the opportune moment, "This is Qinghe's personal seal; consider it a token of trust."
The gold token felt heavy in his hand.
He calmly put it into his spirit tool, cupped his hands in farewell.
The three personally saw him off until the blue-robed figure disappeared at the end of the long street.
Looking at Tang San's receding figure, Qian Renxue's eyes flashed with admiration.
"Teacher's discerning eye is truly sharp; this child is indeed not like a typical youth.
Meticulous in thought and steady in demeanor, he truly lives up to his Clear Sky bloodline."
Ning Fengzhi gently stroked his teacup, shaking his head and chuckling, "His excellence has nothing to do with the Sect; it's all thanks to himself.
The Blue Silver Grass Spirit, in his hands, can actually rival a top-tier Spirit.
This talent..."
His gaze was profound.
"If he can resolve the backlash of twin spirits, his achievements will undoubtedly surpass his father's."
Qian Renxue nodded thoughtfully, "I will intensify the investigation into what happened back then.
As for Tang San..."
She lightly tapped the tabletop.
"It's still too early to befriend him."
"Qinghe."
Ning Fengzhi suddenly became serious.
"If you want to gain his sincere help, remember this—"
He paused for a moment, each word weighing a thousand pounds.
"Do not use power to recruit him, but only sincerity to befriend him."
With that, Ning Fengzhi subtly glanced at Feng Xiao.
Qian Renxue and Ning Fengzhi looked at each other for a long time, finally nodding solemnly.
"Student... I've learned my lesson."
She turned to look out the window, the sunlight gilding her profile, but unable to penetrate her unfathomably deep eyes.
Feng Xiao stood quietly to the side, taking in every word of the conversation.
He caressed the strings of "Fuxi" in his arms, a hint of mockery flashing deep in his eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.
Before long, Ning Fengzhi's carriage slowly drove away, the sound of its wheels on the bluestone road gradually fading into the distance.
"What are your thoughts?"
Qian Renxue leaned against the window, sunlight casting dappled shadows on her face through the carved lattice.
Feng Xiao gently strummed the zither strings, letting out an almost inaudible sigh.
"In the eyes of Sect Master Ning, I'm probably just an opportunist clinging to power."
His lips curved slightly.
"That way... it saves a lot of trouble."
Qian Renxue lightly tapped the window frame, producing a clear sound.
"The Sect has complex factions.
As a direct disciple, to be assigned to manage a teahouse in a remote town like Nuoding City, Manager Ning's situation within the Sect..."
She stopped meaningfully.
Feng Xiao's gaze was distant, as if looking through time to see the appreciative glance given to him amidst the tea's aroma.
He had clearly known then that Manager Ning's care was purely out of appreciation for a zither player, and not the usual interest-based investment of the Sect.
"Some connections..."
His fingertips traced the body of the zither, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper, "were never about position."
Feng Xiao's gaze fell on the fading shadow of the carriage outside the window, his fingertips gently tapping the body of the zither.
"In the eyes of Sect Master Ning, I am also not suitable for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips.
"What he needs are people like Gu Rong and Chen Xin to help his daughter secure the position of Sect Master, or someone like Tang San—"
"With a profound background, yet who won't threaten the Sect Master's position," Qian Renxue finished, a hint of admiration in her eyes.
"Someone who can both solidify the Sect alliance and not shake the Sect's foundation."
Feng Xiao lowered his gaze: "As for Oscar..." He sighed softly in his heart, "He's merely a backup option for when the Sect declines."
Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction, "It seems you're very clear about everything."
Her gaze swept meaningfully across Feng Xiao's profile.
"This clarity is indeed rare."
Feng Xiao's fingers hovered over the zither strings.
He looked up and out the window.
"Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is the World's number one support system Spirit, it ultimately..." His fingertips gently traced the zither body, letting out an almost inaudible sigh, "needs to cling to the branches of strong individuals to shine.
This is the unbreakable shackle of a support system Spirit Master."
The reflection in the teacup gently swayed with the ripples, mirroring Feng Xiao's deep eyes.
"Without the protection of top-tier battle Spirit Masters, even the most glorious Sect is like a castle in the air."
He turned to look at Qian Renxue, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.
"Sect Master Ning understands this well."
The teacup in Qian Renxue's hand paused slightly, the porcelain cup touching the saucer with a crisp sound.
Her eyes swirled, gazing at Feng Xiao with a faint, knowing smile.
"Speaking of which, you don't seem surprised by Tang San's background at all?
I'm curious, how did you 'see' things so clearly?"
Feng Xiao's thumb gently stroked the zither strings, producing a clear, ethereal harmonic.
"Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, as a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, naturally has extremely high standards."
He looked up to meet Qian Renxue's gaze, his tone composed.
"How could a disciple he teaches everything to be an ordinary Spirit Master?"
"Reasonable."
Qian Renxue lightly tapped the tabletop, her gilded armor shimmering with cold light in the sunlight.
"Given the arrogance of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon lineage, they indeed wouldn't easily associate with commoners."
She suddenly leaned forward, a faint scent of dragon's saliva wafting from her robes.
"However..." Her voice dropped to a whisper, "knowing too much is sometimes not a good thing."
Feng Xiao gently placed the teacup down, the porcelain making a crisp sound against the sandalwood tabletop.
He looked up directly at Qian Renxue, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips.
"Your Highness's plans are far-reaching and well-intentioned.
However... allow me to say something presumptuous."
Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow slightly, awaiting his next words.
Feng Xiao's voice suddenly became incredibly clear: "In this World where Spirit Masters are revered, any power struggle or scheme is like thin ice before absolute power."
His slender fingers drew an arc in the air.
"The Empire's boundaries, after all, must be measured by the level of spirit power."
The sunlight in the teahouse streamed in, casting shadows on Feng Xiao's sharply defined profile.
This sentence was like an unsheathed sword, containing a warning edge.