Welcome our new Patron: Jackson W! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to 'Chapter 350: The Past of the Wind God' on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
------------------------------------------------------
There are no shortcuts in cultivation. Ning Tianchen sighed inwardly.
To fully master the third stage of the sword technique, based on the current situation, it would take at least a year.
Of course, he had to enter the Slaughter City before Tang San and achieve a hundred victories while successfully escaping.
Tang Hao, as a Killing God, could freely enter and exit the Slaughter City without being restricted by its rules or unable to use his soul skills.
During the Soul Master Tournament, Tang Hao had already attacked him. If he were to encounter him inside the Slaughter City, would he even have a chance to survive?
And it wasn't just Tang Hao—perhaps even the King of the Slaughter City wouldn't allow him to reach a hundred victories.
Every time a Killing God Domain domain was born, it cost the Slaughter City a significant amount of its essence. Hu Liena and Tang San both had the backing of a Killing God, so the King of the Slaughter City didn't dare harm them.
But Ning Tianchen didn't have such protection. He had to secure the Killing God Domain before they did.
In the original timeline, Tang San spent two whole years training the ChaoticWind Splitting Hammer technique under Tang Hao for his Hao Tian Hammer. It was only after absorbing the Blue Silver Emperor's origin soul ring that he entered the Slaughter City. Hu Liena was only slightly ahead of him by a month or two.
He didn't have much time left.
With this in mind, Ning Tianchen proposed, "Grandfather, I want to go out into the continent to train for a while. Staying in the sect all the time isn't helping my swordsmanship improve. On the other hand, during those few months of the Soul Master Tournament, my swordsmanship broke through several levels."
Chen Xin didn't immediately respond but instead reminded him, "The Soul Master Tournament posed no real danger to your life. To me, it was more like child's play. However, the world of soul masters is different. You'll face not only opponents of the same level or lower, but also many higher-level soul masters."
"If you want to thrive in the world of soul masters, you must remain low-key. You can't act the way you do within the sect."
Chen Xin's words made sense, and Ning Tianchen nodded in agreement.
After a pause, Chen Xin suddenly smiled. "To be honest, when I was your age, I was far behind you in terms of cultivation and swordsmanship. I don't oppose you traveling the continent. For you, experiencing more and seeing more will be better than staying in the sect and meditating all day. But before that, you must spend some time with Xue Qinghe."
"The assassins in the city may have been dealt with, but who knows about those outside the city? Follow the sect's arrangements, and we'll ensure your safety."
Ning Tianchen fell into deep thought.
This time, dealing with Xue Qinghe couldn't be like before—he had to discuss serious matters.
But where to start? Ning Tianchen hadn't figured that out yet.
Not giving him time to think, Chen Xin patted his shoulder. "Watch closely—I'll only demonstrate this once. After you've traveled the continent, carefully reflect on this sword strike of mine."
With that, the Seven Kill Sword martial soul appeared in his hand.
The tip of the sword lightly moved through the air, leaving behind faint traces of sword marks.
"'Kill' Word Sword Technique!"
Ning Tianchen was slightly startled, his gaze fixed on the overwhelming sword momentum emanating from the Seven Kill Sword and Chen Xin's profound sword movements.
---
Inside the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect
A massive "kill" character appeared on the back mountain, striking fear into the hearts of those who saw it.
Unaware disciples exclaimed, "Isn't that Sword Chen Xin's ultimate technique? Why is it being used now? Could someone be invading the sect?"
Panic quickly spread, and the disciples grabbed their hidden weapons, ready to defend against an external attack.
The news soon reached Ning Fengzhi's ears. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, Bone Douluo announced to all disciples, "The sect is safe. Everyone, disperse."
His voice, imbued with soul power, reached every disciple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
The entire sect then stood down from alert status.
Suddenly, the massive "kill" character shot toward a distant mountain.
In an instant, there was a massive explosion, and a hundred-meter-tall mountain peak crumbled into dust right before everyone's eyes.
After a few breaths, a thunderous roar echoed above the sect.
While covering their ears, the disciples stared blankly at the scene.
The stronger Sword Chen Xin was, the safer these disciples felt.
Moments later, many disciples began to praise him:
"Sword Elder's strength is incredible! If it were me, I'd only be able to shatter a boulder."
"I think from now on, no one will dare touch the disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
Seeing this, Gu Rong rolled his eyes and muttered toward the back mountain, "You old swordsman, teaching with such a commotion—couldn't you tone it down a bit?"
---
At the back mountain, Ning Tianchen stared blankly at the scene, lost in thought.
It wasn't until Chen Xin patted his shoulder that he snapped out of it.
Chen Xin asked, "Any insights?"
After pondering for a moment, Ning Tianchen said, "I could feel the boundless momentum of the sword. Even after the 'kill' character dissipated, its residual power remained overwhelming."
Chen Xin nodded. "For now, understanding this much is enough for you. Go and say goodbye to Rongrong properly. It'll be a long time before you two see each other again."
Since returning to the sect, Ning Rongrong had been assigned more demanding study tasks.
Aside from cultivation, she also needed training in handling administrative affairs.
Originally, Ning Tianchen was supposed to undergo similar training, but Chen Xin had excused him, citing the need for focused cultivation.
In his view, practicing the sword required complete focus, free from distractions. The reason he agreed to let Ning Tianchen leave for training was because his heart had already been drawn to the outside world. Staying in the sect would only hinder his progress.
It was better to let him go and carve out his own path.
Ning Tianchen waited until Ning Rongrong's lessons ended before approaching her.
Seeing him arrive, Ning Rongrong unconsciously smiled. "Big Brother Tianchen, are you here to study with Rongrong? These heavy lessons are so boring—I want to go out and play."
Since the assassination incident, Ning Fengzhi had placed Ning Rongrong under house arrest. She wouldn't be allowed to leave for at least a year.
Ning Tianchen affectionately patted her forehead. "Rongrong, I'm here to say goodbye. Don't get upset—let me finish what I have to say."
"My swordsmanship has hit a bottleneck, and I won't make further progress anytime soon. Grandfather has agreed to let me train on the continent for a while, so I'll be leaving the sect."
Currently, aside from Oscar and themselves, most of the Seven Treasures team had already left the sect to train.
Once Ning Tianchen left, only two auxiliary-type soul masters from the team would remain in the sect. Moreover, Oscar was only temporarily training here and would eventually leave as well.
"Big Brother Tianchen, take me with you. Let's travel the continent together," Ning Rongrong suggested, her eyes dimming as if she already guessed the answer.
Ning Tianchen forced a smile. "Rongrong, you know that's not realistic. My current strength can't guarantee your safety. But rest assured, I'll definitely return to the sect before the five-year agreement. Maybe even sooner—I'll come back to visit."
Ning Rongrong clutched his hand, her eyes tearful and pleading. "But Big Brother Tianchen, I don't want you to leave. Once you're gone, I won't have any friends left in the sect."
The Killing God Domain was crucial to mastering the Seven Kill Sword, and Ning Tianchen wouldn't miss it for anything.
Time was running out for him. To secure the Killing God Domain before Tang San and the others, he had to reach the Slaughter City as soon as possible.
He bent down and opened an empty palm.
The next moment, he closed his fist, and when he opened it again, a piece of candy appeared in his hand.
Years ago, it was this simple sleight of hand that caught Ning Rongrong's attention, leading to everything that followed.
But this time, Ning Rongrong didn't take the candy. Instead, she collapsed into Ning Tianchen's arms, her eyes red and brimming with tears. "Big Brother Tianchen, I want to see you every day. Please don't leave me, okay?"
Parting is always difficult. Ning Tianchen gently patted her back. "Rongrong, I need to become stronger to protect you better. When I return next time, I'll have enough strength. Then, we'll go see the lantern festival in Yelin City together. We'll travel the continent together."
"Rongrong, remember—parting is for a better reunion. I'll come back."
"Then let's pinky swear," Ning Rongrong extended her hand.
Ning Tianchen raised his right hand and hooked his pinky with hers.
Moments later, the two officially parted ways.
Under the cover of night, he headed to the Crown Prince's residence, avoiding detection by outsiders.
Ning Rongrong accompanied him to the sect's gates, watching his figure disappear into the darkness.
Unbeknownst to her, Ning Fengzhi had quietly approached from behind. "Tianchen is a battle-type soul master. This is a stage of life he must go through. Only by venturing into the outside world can he grow. Rongrong, go back and review your studies—he'll return."
...
When leaving the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Tianchen had disguised himself well, and no outsiders recognized his identity.
His first stop wasn't the Crown Prince's residence but his fief.
After several days, the construction of the team's base was complete, and the recruitment of personnel was proceeding with great enthusiasm.
With Yu Xiaogang and the others settling down and the assassins in the city cleared out, Zhang Erhe gradually found himself with more free time.
However, there hadn't been much progress in recruiting members.
Among those best suited for intelligence work, street thugs were naturally the top choice. But these individuals were unruly and untrustworthy—most would side with whoever provided for them. Expecting such people to be loyal to Ning Tianchen or the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was nothing short of wishful thinking.
These individuals wouldn't sell them out, which was already a sign of professional integrity—how could they ask for anything more?
As a result, the team hadn't recruited anyone yet.
Just as Zhao Wuji and Zhang Erhe were fretting over this, the door to the room suddenly burst open.
"Who!" The two sprang to their feet, their faces filled with vigilance.
Upon seeing the visitor, Zhang Erhe exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master Ning, how did you approach without me sensing anything?"
Ning Tianchen gave a faint smile and pointed to the cloak draped over his shoulders.
This cloak was an ancient soul tool capable of masking one's presence.
Taking a seat at the head of the room, Ning Tianchen inquired about the current progress of the team.
After hearing the details, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Isn't this simple?"
"Simple?" Zhang Erhe scratched his head in confusion. "Forgive my stupidity, Young Master. We've been racking our brains for so long and haven't come up with anything. What solution do you have?"
Ning Tianchen sighed inwardly.
These two were good at many things, but they weren't cut out for decision-making roles. A problem that could be solved with a little flexibility—why were they fixated on the issue itself?
After some thought, he didn't immediately reveal the solution but instead asked about their strategies and concerns.
After listening, Ning Tianchen confirmed his suspicions.
"You're overcomplicating things. Let me ask you this: Tiandou City is under the emperor's rule, so why are there still thugs and hooligans here?"
This was something Zhang Erhe and Zhao Wuji had never considered.
With Ning Tianchen's prompting, they felt as if they'd discovered a new angle to approach the problem.
After a long silence, Zhang Erhe, who was more familiar with the city's situation, spoke first. "I once saw some thugs mingling with a wealthy merchant. It seems that the merchant valued those thugs, treating them to food and drink."
Zhao Wuji chuckled. "Old Zhang, you might not be familiar with business matters, but I have some insights into this. If it's alright, I'll share them."
In his youth, Zhao Wuji had dealt extensively with merchants, and later, when he co-founded Shrek Academy with Flender, he also interacted with thugs.
With Ning Tianchen's encouragement, he continued, "Merchants often have shady dealings that require others to handle. Thugs and hooligans, already notorious, are perfect for such tasks."
"Merchants don't hold high status on the continent. When they want to connect with nobles, they'll eventually need the methods of thugs. Thus, any thug bold enough to act in Tiandou City must have a wealthy merchant backing them."
"But I still don't understand—what does this have to do with our intelligence-gathering work?"
Ning Tianchen emphasized, "Old Zhao, you've just hit the nail on the head."
While Zhao Wuji remained puzzled, Zhang Erhe suddenly exclaimed, "Status!"
"Merchants lack status. If we can offer protection for their businesses, they'll gladly work for us. Moreover, these merchants are wealthy—they won't demand payment from us. In fact, they might even provide financial support to the team. Additionally, we won't need to directly manage those thugs. Through the merchants, these hooligans will be under our control."
"Young Master Ning, this plan is brilliant."
Ning Tianchen didn't rush to respond.
Dealing with merchants wasn't easy.
This was his private team, hidden in the shadows. How could he provide protection for these merchants?
Everything related to the private team was managed by him. If the team frequently needed the sect's assistance from the start, how would Ning Fengzhi view him? How would he establish himself within the sect in the future?
His fingers tapped lightly on the table. After a few minutes, he said, "Old Zhang, tomorrow you two will make contact with a merchant. I can promise that one of their family's younger members will be unconditionally admitted to Seven Treasures Academy. Outwardly, it should be claimed that they paid for admission."
"Finally, tell them that as long as this young member completes their studies at the academy, they can unconditionally join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
The sect had many disciples, and one more outer sect disciple wouldn't matter. Even without Ning Fengzhi's approval, Ning Tianchen could make this decision.
Besides, graduating from Seven Treasures Academy would take at least five years.
Five years was more than enough time for Ning Tianchen to accomplish many things.
With the backing of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, this merchant's business would flourish. To maintain this relationship, wouldn't the merchant have to send money to the sect?
Most importantly, with the merchant's direct descendant as a hostage, there was no need to worry about betrayal.
Zhao Wuji laughed. "I happen to know someone. Back when I was at Shrek Academy, a merchant's son, at twenty-five years old, had just barely broken through to level 21."
"According to the standards of advanced soul master academies, such a fool would never be admitted. I remember that this merchant sent a lot of money to Shrek Academy, but Liu Erlong refused and kicked them out. I heard that this merchant's son hasn't been accepted by any advanced soul master academy to this day."
Many influential factions recruited talent from advanced soul master academies. This merchant likely wanted to use his son to climb the social ladder and expand his business empire.
This person was the perfect example.
Ning Tianchen deliberated. "Tomorrow, the two of you will personally meet with him. I'll write a letter to Dean Ke afterward, and you can coordinate with him for the follow-up. But remember, don't blindly trust him—necessary tests are essential."
Seven Treasures Academy wouldn't care about admitting one or two useless students. Besides, as long as they altered the merchant's son's age, who could tell if he got in through backdoor channels?
Zhang Erhe and Zhao Wuji nodded solemnly, admiration rising in their hearts.
Even if this merchant didn't have thugs under his command, as long as he had money, how hard would it be to gather thugs in the future? Most importantly, through indirect communication, these thugs wouldn't be able to trace the existence of this team.
Zhang Erhe suddenly asked, "Young Master Ning, shouldn't our team have a name? We can't just call it 'the team,' can we?"
Ning Tianchen smiled. "Indeed, we can't. Originally, I hadn't thought of a name, but now I have. It'll be called 'Shadow Guards.' You are my hidden blade—capable of gathering intelligence when advancing and protecting my safety when retreating."
Zhao Wuji laughed heartily. "What a great name!"
---
Ning Tianchen would not leave Tiandou City for the time being. He kept a close eye on the development of the Shadow Guards.
After resting in his fief for the night, early the next morning, Ning Tianchen headed to the Crown Prince's residence.
Xue Qinghe had clearly received advance notice, as a young man surnamed Qing was waiting at the entrance.
"Brother Qing!" Ning Tianchen greeted with a bow.
The young man turned his head and gave a faint smile. "Tianchen, allow me to congratulate you on winning the Soul Master Tournament. I presume you were satisfied with the gifts His Highness sent?"
The day after the Seven Treasures team returned to the sect, the Tiandou Empire fulfilled their promises, sending extremely generous rewards.
As for the noble titles, aside from Ning Tianchen, the others would need to report to the Tiandou Empire to claim theirs. However, as disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, they were destined not to pursue such rewards.
Ning Tianchen bowed and smiled. "The Celestial Crystal Core His Highness sent was truly thoughtful."
The Celestial Crystal Core was the finest type of crystal, with the ability to clear negative emotions when worn—it was a rare treasure.
The Seven Treasures Pagoda martial soul inherently possessed the ability to appraise treasures, and the Nine Treasures Pagoda martial soul, as its upgraded version, greatly enhanced this ability. Among the pile of treasures, Ning Tianchen had picked it out at a glance.
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow