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Feng Xiao's carriage slowly stopped in front of the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
As the gilded carriage axle gently vibrated, the pearl curtain was respectfully lifted by a attendant. Feng Xiao looked up and saw that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda still shimmered in the sunlight, with the gems inlaid on its body reflecting dazzling brilliance, illuminating the entire plaza with extreme luxury.
He straightened his collar and calmly stepped out of the carriage. "Marquis, please come this way."
A steward in a moon-white robe bowed to greet him, the Seven Treasure lines pattern on his cuffs faintly visible as he walked. Feng Xiao nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the pair of glazed phoenix sculptures in front of the hall, their wings poised for flight, a subtle curve appearing at the corner of his lips.
Before long, Feng Xiao followed the guiding disciple through the winding corridor and arrived in front of the familiar deliberation hall. The gilded hall doors slowly opened, revealing thirty-six glazed palace lanterns suspended from the dome, illuminating the hall as if it were daytime.
"Marquis, please." The disciple bowed and stepped aside.
The moment Feng Xiao stepped over the threshold, the hall doors behind him silently closed. His gaze narrowed—unlike the expected scene of the Bone Douluo and the Sword Douluo guarding, only Ning Fengzhi sat alone on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Throne in the empty hall. A scepter inlaid with various gems leaned against the side of the throne, shimmering with a mesmerizing glow under the lamplight.
Ning Fengzhi's fingertips lightly tapped the glazed armrest, the crisp sound particularly clear in the silent hall. He looked up at Feng Xiao, his eyes seemingly filled with a myriad of thoughts, yet instantly returning to tranquility.
"So you've come."
The flat tone revealed no emotional fluctuations, yet it caused the air in the hall to solidify. Feng Xiao's lips held his usual gentle smile, and he placed his right hand over his chest, performing a standard noble salute: "School Master Ning."
The moment their gazes met, a complex, elusive flicker passed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He slowly rose, holding the scepter.
"Should I call you Marquis?" Ning Fengzhi's fingertips traced the gems on the scepter, his voice suddenly turning cold, "Or should I respectfully address you as Elder of the Spirit Hall?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiao's lips curved into a meaningful smile: "Does it matter?" His fingertips gently caressed the jade pendant at his waist, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness, "Wasn't the selection of the Seven Great Sects originally presided over by the Spirit Hall? The Supreme Pontiff's decree still bears the Spirit insignias of your Upper Three Sects."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes suddenly narrowed, and the scepter in his hand trembled slightly, seven-colored light flowing among the gems. He slowly walked down the steps, each step making the air in the hall heavier: "So... all these years, you've been secretly monitoring the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?" His voice suddenly turned cold, "Tang Hao's death, I'm afraid, is also related to you, isn't it?"
Feng Xiao's eyes flickered, and the fingers in his sleeve unconsciously tightened for a moment, then quickly relaxed. He looked up to meet Ning Fengzhi's sharp gaze, his face still holding a calm smile: "School Master Ning is joking, I truly don't understand your meaning." Before he finished speaking, a faint spirit power had already subtly circulated around him.
Ning Fengzhi's fingertips gently caressed the seven-colored gem at the top of the scepter, his gaze like a torch as he stared at Feng Xiao: "Even I can no longer sense your spirit power fluctuations..." His voice deepened, carrying a hint of deeper meaning, "It seems this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest was quite fruitful."
Before he finished speaking, the space within the hall suddenly rippled strangely. Gu Rong's figure emerged from the void like a ghost, his withered hand gently resting on Ning Fengzhi's shoulder. His hunched figure stood side by side with Ning Fengzhi, but his cloudy eyes flickered with a chilling gleam.
Feng Xiao's expression remained unperturbed, his slender fingers gently caressing the Fuxi Zither that had suddenly appeared in his arms, its strings vibrating slightly under his fingertips, emitting a clear, resonant hum.
"So... School Master Ning, what is the true purpose of inviting me here today?" He looked up and smiled faintly, his voice as gentle as a clear spring, yet subtly sharp.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze sharpened. He slowly stepped forward, each step causing the spirit power fluctuations in the hall to momentarily halt: "I just want to know—" The scepter heavily struck the ground, "Who exactly are you?!"
Before Ning Fengzhi finished speaking, Gu Rong's withered figure had already transformed into an afterimage and vanished into the void. In an instant, a bone claw radiating a chilling white light tore through the air, heading straight for Feng Xiao's throat!
Feng Xiao's pupils suddenly contracted, and the Spirit Bone in his left arm burst forth with dazzling silver light. Just as the bone claw was about to touch his skin, his figure twisted and disappeared like ripples in water.
"Teleportation?!" Gu Rong's cloudy pupils trembled violently, and his withered face showed surprise for the first time. He did not look back, but his fourth spirit ring suddenly erupted with blinding black light: "Not good!"
In an instant, the space around Feng Xiao shattered inch by inch, and countless bone spurs radiating a cold glow shot out from the void, like blooming flowers of death.
"Fourth Spirit Ability: Bone Domain!"
Just as the myriad bone spurs were about to pierce his body, Feng Xiao's slender fingertips lightly plucked a string. "Zheng—" A visible sound wave ripple suddenly spread out; wherever it passed, the chilling white bone spurs all turned into dust, fluttering down onto the clean floor of the hall.
Feng Xiao's fingertips gently caressed the zither strings, a subtle smile playing on his lips: "Elder Bone Douluo's bones are indeed solid, whether for defense or attack, they are flawless, and his spatial control is superb." He changed his tone, and the zither strings suddenly emitted a clear, trembling sound, "Unfortunately... the Fuxi Zither's music specializes in countering solid things."
As the zither music echoed, brilliant spirit ring light suddenly bloomed around Feng Xiao. By the time Gu Rong turned around, eight spirit rings already encircled Feng Xiao like a galaxy—yellow, yellow, purple, black, black, black, black, red! The moment that enchanting blood-red hundred-thousand-year spirit ring appeared, the air in the entire hall solidified.
"The more indestructible the defense—" Feng Xiao's slender fingers hovered over the zither strings, his last spirit ring glowing brightly red, "—the more thoroughly it tends to collapse from within."
Gu Rong's withered body trembled violently, his cloudy pupils contracting sharply: "A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring!" His hoarse voice carried unconcealed shock.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Scepter in Ning Fengzhi's hand trembled slightly. Looking at that enchanting, blood-red light, his last trace of doubt finally settled. He had thought he had seen through the young man's background, but he never expected Bibi Dong could do so much for Feng Xiao—bestowing a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, this was clearly treating him as her own child!
In an instant, an invisible Domain power swept through the entire hall like a tide. Feng Xiao's voice, amplified by the Domain, became ethereal and vast, as if coming from the heavens: "Shall we continue? All three of you."
He elegantly took a step forward, and the moment his foot landed, dazzling sword light suddenly erupted from the back of the hall. Chen Xin, in white clothes as pure as snow, arrived through the air holding the Seven Kill Sword, his sharp sword qi extinguishing all the glazed lanterns along the way.
"It's actually a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring..." Chen Xin's sword-like brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of solemnity flashed in his usually calm eyes. The Seven Kill Sword in his hand emitted a clear sword hum, subtly clashing with the Fuxi Zither's music in the void.
Chen Xin's gaze, sharp as a sword, turned to Ning Fengzhi. He saw the School Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School gently raise his right hand, the glazed scepter drawing an elegant arc in the void: "Enough, Uncle Gu."
A trace of unwillingness flashed across Gu Rong's withered face, and his cloudy eyes gave Feng Xiao a deep look. With a cold snort, his hunched figure blurred into the void like an ink painting, and in an instant, he was back beside Ning Fengzhi, his branch-like fingers still imbued with lingering spirit power fluctuations.
Seeing this, Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword emitted a clear clang. The overwhelming, sharp sword qi receded like a tide, but the cold light shimmering on the blade was still captivating. He stood in white robes, elegant and ethereal, on Ning Fengzhi's other side, the three forming a triangular formation, facing Feng Xiao from a distance.
The hall fell into an eerie silence for a moment, with only the flames of the thirty-six glazed lanterns flickering slightly from the previous spirit power surge, making everyone's shadows stretch and shrink erratically.
Feng Xiao's slender fingers gently brushed his sleeve, slowly dusting off the crystalline bone powder. He looked up at Ning Fengzhi, a half-smile playing on his lips: "School Master Ning, this hardly seems like the way to treat a guest."
Ning Fengzhi lightly tapped the ground with his scepter, seven-colored light flowing among the gems. His expression was calm, but his voice carried undeniable authority: "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's way of treating guests also depends on... whether the other party is worthy of being a guest."
Feng Xiao, far from being angered, smiled upon hearing this. As he nodded slightly, a hint of playfulness flashed in his eyes. He elegantly straightened his collar, and the Fuxi Zither in his arms dissolved into a stream of light: "Since there's nothing else, I... will take my leave."
With that, he turned and walked towards the hall exit. His steps were unhurried, yet each one caused subtle spirit power ripples to emanate from the ground. The gilded hall doors opened on their own, swayed by the spirit power emanating from Feng Xiao.
Ning Fengzhi gazed at Feng Xiao's receding back, a rare solemnity appearing on his usually gentle face. His slender fingers unconsciously caressed the gem at the top of the scepter, his knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure.
"Alas."
An almost inaudible sigh echoed in his heart. A trace of struggle flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes; he knew he stood at a crossroads of destiny—either, with the Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo present, he could use thunderous means to keep Feng Xiao here forever, engaging in an endless war with the Spirit Hall; or, he could cast aside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's pride as the number one Sect in the world, and through this young man, embrace the Spirit Hall.
Feng Xiao's steps were unhurried, his shoe soles making crisp sounds as they touched the white jade floor tiles. His lowered eyelashes concealed the calculations in his eyes, and the countdown he silently recited perfectly matched his steps:
"Five."
The gilded hall doors were within reach, sunlight casting long shadows on the ground.
"Four."
His fingers in his sleeve gently caressed the Fuxi's lines pattern, spirit power subtly flowing through his meridians.
"Three."
Behind him came the faint sound of the scepter tapping the ground, and the flames of the thirty-six glazed lanterns flickered simultaneously.
"Two."
"Wait."
Ning Fengzhi's voice finally sounded, carrying a hint of imperceptible weariness.
Feng Xiao paused, then elegantly turned. A subtle smile played on his lips, but his eyes were clear: "Does School Master Ning have any other instructions?" His slender fingers gently brushed his sleeve, "What needed to be seen, what needed to be probed, isn't it all clear now?"
Ning Fengzhi gently caressed his scepter, his gaze as deep as a pool: "I think there might still be room for negotiation between us."
Feng Xiao chuckled softly upon hearing this, his fingertips casually plucking a string, sending out a circle of sound ripples: "School Master Ning is joking, I, on the other hand, feel... there's nothing left to discuss."
"Arrogant brat!" Gu Rong's withered body suddenly lunged forward, chilling white spirit power surging around him, "Do you really think this old man wouldn't dare take your life?!"
In an instant, the smile vanished from Feng Xiao's face. His eyes like lightning, he enunciated each word: "A withered bone in a tomb dares to speak so arrogantly." The Fuxi Zither in his arms suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, "Let's see, will this brat leave first, or will your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School... flow with rivers of blood!"
"You—" Gu Rong's hair stood on end, about to erupt, but Ning Fengzhi blocked him with his scepter.
Ning Fengzhi gently caressed his scepter, and as the seven-colored precious light flowed, he bowed slightly: "I apologize for the offense just now. However, in business, one must always ascertain the background of their partners." As he looked up, his eyes had changed to the shrewdness characteristic of a merchant, "If this deal can be made, Fengzhi is willing to offer a generous gift as an apology for today's discourtesy."
Feng Xiao's fingertips gently caressed the zither strings, emitting a meaningful hum. He slowly scanned the three of them, a mocking curve appearing at the corner of his lips: "Playing hard to get? School Master Ning, you might be overestimating your chips. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is only slightly better than the annihilated Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
He suddenly took a step forward, and the blood-red hundred-thousand-year spirit ring glowed brightly: "School Master Ning, you should be grateful for everything I've done for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, which allowed you to successfully learn the method of buying your life with money." His voice suddenly turned cold, "Otherwise, the bitter wind and rain of the day the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was destroyed might have to be replayed... at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
Gu Rong's withered fingers suddenly clenched, but Chen Xin stopped him with a single look. A crack finally appeared in Ning Fengzhi's gentle smile, and the gems on his scepter flickered on and off, reflecting his fluctuating expression.
After speaking, Feng Xiao turned and strode towards the mountain gate of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School without looking back. His robes billowed, each step taken with arrogant abandon, as if this heavily guarded Sect stronghold was merely his own backyard. That blood-red hundred-thousand-year spirit ring circulated around him, casting a crimson glow on the glazed lanterns along the way.
Looking at the gradually receding figure, the scepter in Feng Zhi's hand trembled slightly. He let out a long sigh, his usually composed face showing a hint of weariness—the carefully laid plan he had devised had been seen through completely by this young man.
"Fengzhi!" Gu Rong's withered hand crackled as he clenched it, "Why don't I and that wretched woman go after him now? We'll make that brat..."
"You can't kill him, I need to protect Fengzhi." Chen Xin, in white clothes as pure as snow, spoke calmly, holding the Seven Kill Sword.
"Wretched woman! You—" Gu Rong was furious, but he stopped abruptly when his gaze met Chen Xin's calm, water-like eyes. Chen Xin simply shook his head, and the tip of his sword pointed at the now blurred figure outside the mountain gate, and everything around that figure had come to a standstill.
Feng Xiao's robes fluttered, revealing his composure. Only when his figure had faded into the distance did Ning Fengzhi finally sigh: "Uncle Gu, I miscalculated. I had hoped to use this young man to maneuver with the Spirit Hall, to secure a glimmer of hope for the Sect..."
His fingertips gently caressed the crack on the scepter, his voice lowering: "If we make peace with Feng Xiao, he can take credit; but if we directly face Bibi Dong..." His words trailed off, and the glaze on the scepter had already dimmed.
If Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong were to negotiate, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's bargaining chips would be far less, and it could easily put the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School on the brink of life and death.
Gu Rong's cloudy eyes trembled violently upon hearing this: "Is there... truly no room for maneuver?"
Ning Fengzhi's fingertips gently caressed the crack on the scepter, his voice low: "Now... perhaps only Rongrong can try."
"Is it truly impossible without him?" Chen Xin held the Seven Kill Sword, his sword-like brows tightly furrowed.
Ning Fengzhi nodded heavily: "If we directly meet Bibi Dong..." He paused, the glaze on the scepter flickering on and off, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School might completely become a subordinate, just like the Lower Four Sects. Moreover..." He looked in the direction Feng Xiao had left, "Even a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and Spirit Bone can be bestowed; this child's position in the Spirit Hall is probably more important than we imagined."
"Then why not ally with the Clear Sky Sect and the two Empires!" Gu Rong's withered hand suddenly shattered a stone pillar beside him, "Better to die than to endure such humiliation!"
"No." Ning Fengzhi shook his head and sighed, his figure appearing particularly desolate in the moonlight, "Judging by the Spirit Hall's control over Heaven Dou, choosing the Clear Sky Sect is tantamount to self-destruction. Furthermore..."
His voice lowered, "For Rongrong, for the Sect's hundred-year foundation, we... have no choice."