"Boy, who is your sword teacher?"
Although he was slightly curious about Lu Jingming, whom Xue Qinghe had brought, Xue Qinghe always had a habit of collecting and cultivating talents. Therefore, Ning Fengzhi merely glanced at Lu Jingming a couple of times. Apart from marveling at his appearance, he didn't pay much attention.
However, the Sword Douluo frowned deeply, his gaze fixed on Lu Jingming.
This was because he detected a familiar sword intent from Lu Jingming. He could confirm that Lu Jingming not only practiced swordsmanship but also possessed considerable skill.
The person capable of teaching such a young master of the sword must be an unparalleled sword master. At this moment, he already had a suspect in mind.
Hearing the Sword Douluo's question, Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi both showed surprised expressions, simultaneously turning their curious gazes to Lu Jingming.
To attract such attention from the Sword Douluo, Lu Jingming was clearly extraordinary.
"As expected of Sword Douluo Your Excellency, to see it at a glance. Indeed, I practice swordsmanship. As for my teacher, her title is Snow Moon."
Lu Jingming had no intention of concealing anything. In this world, he had nothing to fear and no need to hide.
These words caused the Sword Douluo's body to tremble fiercely. He instantly appeared before Lu Jingming and excitedly asked: "Boy, quickly tell me, where is your teacher now?"
Upon hearing the words "Snow Moon," Xue Qinghe's eyes were filled with confusion, while Ning Fengzhi and the Bone Douluo looked at Lu Jingming in disbelief.
The Sword Douluo's previous premonition had actually come true—there truly was a Snow Moon Douluo in the world? But why had they never heard of her?
Although the intelligence network of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect couldn't cover the entire continent, they had many informants in the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire.
However, they had never received any information about this Snow Moon Douluo, whose strength far surpassed the Sword Douluo.
Titled Douluo were as rare as phoenix feathers, so how could such a powerful figure leave no trace?
"You will meet my teacher eventually, but not now," Lu Jingmingming gently shook his head.
Jingliu indeed wouldn't set foot in this world in the short term, but as long as the Sword Douluo didn't meet an untimely demise, they would surely meet in the future.
"That's true!" The Sword Douluo nodded with a somewhat forlorn expression.
Such a powerful sword master, unheard of before. If he hadn't unexpectedly encountered her in the Simulated Universe, he would have always boasted himself as the continent's number one sword master. How would he have known that there were always people stronger than oneself, and a higher realm beyond?
A reclusive master like the Snow Moon Douluo was naturally not someone one could simply meet at will.
The Sword Douluo did not doubt Lu Jingming's words.
Leaving aside the fact that Lu Jingming could state the Snow Moon Douluo's title, his sword intent alone could not be faked.
Although it differed slightly from the Snow Moon Douluo's sword intent, it was indeed from the same lineage.
As the possessor of the Seven Kill Sword Intent, the Sword Douluo, relying on the special connection between swordsmen, could clearly distinguish this.
After confirming Lu Jingming's identity, Ning Fengzhi and the others' gazes towards him instantly changed.
Compared to his previous status as Xue Qinghe's friend, their attitude towards Lu Jingming was clearly much more enthusiastic now.
Xue Qinghe learned the ins and outs of the situation from Ning Fengzhi and looked at Lu Jingming with surprise and doubt.
After all, even the Spirit Hall didn't have information on the Snow Moon Douluo, and even her grandfather had never mentioned her.
Lu Jingming secretly found it amusing. Although he wasn't lying, he hadn't fully explained things, allowing the Sword Douluo and the others to fill in the blanks themselves. He found this situation quite interesting.
With this identity, his treatment was naturally vastly different.
Upon learning that Lu Jingming was traveling alone, Ning Fengzhi even warmly invited him to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Everyone rode in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's carriage, heading towards the outskirts of Heaven Dou City.
Along the way, many people were also seen heading towards the Corrupted Zone outside Heaven Dou City.
Clearly, the various academies gathered in Heaven Dou City for the Soul Master Competition were all drawn to this Corrupted Zone, eager to join the excitement.
They weren't afraid of danger. After all, with the three instructors of Heaven Dou Royal Academy present, reinforced by powerful experts from numerous other academies, and even rumors of the Poison Douluo (Du Busi) having arrived, coupled with the strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, how could such a powerful lineup possibly fail?
With a month still remaining until the Soul Master Competition, everyone was idle anyway. Going to the Corrupted Zone for some excitement, and if they were lucky, killing a negative energy monster, they might even gain some treasures.
Sitting in the carriage, Lu Jingming recognized many "acquaintances" along the way.
Of course, these were only people he knew; they were unaware of his existence.
"Brother Lu seems very interested in soul master academies. If you're willing, I can arrange for you to enter Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and even make you a main team member of this year's Heaven Dou team, to participate in the Soul Master Competition a month from now."
Xue Qinghe, seeing that Lu Jingming, apart from dealing with the curious Xue Ke, mostly focused his attention on the soul master academies they encountered along the way, proposed with a smile.
"Forget it, Brother Xue. Having me participate in this year's Soul Master Competition would really be bullying people."
Lu Jingming smiled and shook his head.
Participating in this Soul Master Competition with his Soul Emperor cultivation level would be a dimension-crushing blow, like playing a game of bullying novices, with no fun at all.
This was different from his original world, where competing on behalf of St. Freya Academy, even if it was just boring bullying, could bring benefits and prestige to Haiyuan City.
But in this world, even if he won the championship, a few soul bones wouldn't catch his eye.
Therefore, he had little interest in participating in this world's Soul Master Competition.
As for the change in his address to Xue Qinghe, that was Xue Qinghe's own request. After learning that Lu Jingming had a powerful Titled Douluo backing him, Xue Qinghe became even more eager to win him over.
At this moment, there were only Lu Jingming, Xue Qinghe, and Xue Ke in the carriage.
Ning Fengzhi and the others were in another carriage. After all, six people crammed together would be too crowded, even though this carriage was large enough to accommodate them.
However, Ning Fengzhi felt that young people had more topics to discuss, and he also supported Xue Qinghe's friendship with Lu Jingming.
Xue Qinghe was his disciple and an investment for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so he naturally hoped Xue Qinghe could gain more assistance.
"The Simulated Universe, Corrupted Zones, the Snow Moon Douluo... Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, this world is becoming increasingly unfamiliar. How should our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect proceed in the future?"
In front of his elders, the Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, Ning Fengzhi set aside his Sect Master's dignity, revealing his inner vulnerability.
The pressure he bore was immense.
Since the Clear Sky Sect's retreat from battle, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's influence had significantly shrunk under the immense pressure from the Spirit Hall.
Though Ning Fengzhi was highly capable, he was also utterly exhausted.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was in a similar predicament to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
One possessed the continent's strongest beast martial soul, the other the continent's strongest support-type martial soul. As members of the Upper Three Sects, they appeared glorious to outsiders.
However, only they themselves knew how difficult their actual situation was.
"Don't worry, Fengzhi, we're still here!" The Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo exchanged glances, only able to offer comfort helplessly.
Sending them to fight was no problem, but when it came to matters requiring strategy and planning, they could only rely on Ning Fengzhi himself.
"Sigh! Spirit Hall... Thankfully, Rongrong's martial soul evolved, bringing new hope to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Ning Fengzhi got a headache just thinking about Spirit Hall.
As a top power on the continent, although he wasn't entirely clear about Spirit Hall's full strength, just the tip of the iceberg he had seen was enough to understand its terrifying nature.
The only thing that comforted him was that Ning Rongrong's martial soul had evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda, breaking the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda's limit of only reaching the Soul Saint realm.
A Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda at the Soul Saint level could already elevate the strength of the Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo by a level. It was hard to imagine how powerful the Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo would become with the assistance of a Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda at the Titled Douluo level.
One must know that martial souls can be inherited through bloodline.
If Ning Rongrong could leave descendants, many years later, the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda would fully replace the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda, elevating the status of the continent's number one support-type martial soul by several grades.
Thinking of such a beautiful future, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but feel his blood boil, and the pressure from all sides on him seemed to lessen somewhat.
"Speaking of which, Young Friend Lu doesn't seem very old, similar to Rongrong. I wonder what his actual strength is?"
Ning Fengzhi suddenly spoke. His own cultivation was only at the Soul Saint level, so he couldn't discern Lu Jingming's true strength.
Hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, the Bone Douluo also frowned: "That kid is a bit strange; even with my cultivation, I can't see through him."
The Sword Douluo said solemnly: "His specific cultivation is hard to judge, but undoubtedly, he's a monstrous talent. As a disciple of the Snow Moon Douluo, and having already comprehended sword intent, among his peers, I doubt anyone can contend with him."
The Sword Douluo was already praising Jingliu to the heavens, becoming a "Jingliu fan." Although he also couldn't discern Lu Jingming's hidden cultivation, simply by thinking that Lu Jingming was Jingliu's disciple, he firmly believed that Lu Jingming was by no means weak, especially since Lu Jingming had also comprehended sword intent.
This was the only definitive advantage he could currently perceive from Lu Jingming.
"Oh, Uncle Jian, how about compared to those little monsters from Shrek Academy?" Ning Fengzhi became interested.
It should be known that the Shrek Seven Devils, having consumed immortal herbs, were undoubtedly geniuses among geniuses in this era, fully deserving the title of "monsters."
"Their current cultivation is still low, and it's hard to say what their future holds. But for now, they simply can't withstand sword intent," the Sword Douluo shook his head.
Sword intent, once it appears in the early stages, is a dimension-crushing blow for soul masters of the same level.
Even at his cultivation level, using sword intent versus not using it resulted in a completely different combat power, let alone at stages below Soul Saint.
"It seems Rongrong and the others have rivals now. It's a pity Young Friend Lu isn't participating in the Soul Master Competition!"
Ning Fengzhi smiled and shook his head.
"Speaking of Rongrong, Shrek Academy seems to have arrived too."
The Bone Douluo suddenly spoke, his gaze turning to the carriage window. There, a group of people were also heading towards the city outskirts.