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Lan Minghua frowned at the provocative words, looking puzzled.
What's your problem, Sword Douluo? Did I offend you or something?
But when his eyes fell on the smug-faced Ning Rongrong standing beside Sword Douluo, he suddenly understood.
He couldn't help but laugh in disbelief.
As expected of the little witch. Just because I didn't take you as my disciple, you're holding a grudge?
Do you really think you're that much of a genius?
Lan Minghua had never had a good impression of Ning Rongrong to begin with, and now he was even more convinced that rejecting her as a disciple had been the right decision.
Seeing the atmosphere getting tense, Ning Fengzhi stepped forward to mediate. "Teacher, Uncle Jian is just speaking out of anger. I hope you won't take it personally."
Ning Fengzhi had already instructed people to secretly investigate Lan Minghua.
The reports described him as an approachable Titled Douluo, someone easy to get along with and without arrogance. This move would not only showcase the strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect but also potentially win over a rare talent like Tang San.
To him, it was a win-win situation.
Otherwise, given his merchant mindset, why would he risk provoking a Titled Douluo like this?
But Ning Fengzhi miscalculated.
Lan Minghua was in a terrible mood—furious, even.
Until recently, he'd kept a low profile because his true strength wasn't that high. He had been relying on experience cards all along.
Back then, he had been careful to avoid unnecessary conflict.
But now, his overall power had already reached the level of a Rank 98 Titled Douluo. Did they really still think he was a pushover? That anyone could step on him without consequence?
Lan Minghua let out a cold laugh and glared icily at Ning Fengzhi. "What, does everyone think I have a good temper? Think I won't fight back, so you can just walk all over me?"
Ning Fengzhi's pupils contracted sharply. A heavy, invisible pressure settled over him.
"Spare me? Spare your damn mother."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
In that instant, an overwhelming aura surged from Lan Minghua's body.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes widened in shock, his face full of disbelief as he stared at Lan Minghua.
This wasn't at all like what the intelligence reports had described!
In the next moment, Lan Minghua retracted his aura entirely, returning to his usual harmless appearance.
Yet the air around them felt as though it had frozen.
With a single step, Lan Minghua instantly appeared in front of Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi may have had decent talent, but due to the restrictions of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, his soul power was capped at Rank 79. Faced with Lan Minghua's sudden move, he didn't even have time to react.
He thrived by the pagoda, and now he would die by it.
"W-What do you want?!" Ning Fengzhi could no longer maintain his composed demeanor. His eyes were filled with terror.
Lan Minghua's expression was cold. He suddenly reached out and clutched Ning Fengzhi by the throat.
With only Rank 79 soul power, Ning Fengzhi had no strength to resist.
Sword Douluo roared, "Lan Minghua! Are you declaring war on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?! Let Fengzhi go!"
He hadn't expected Lan Minghua to act so unpredictably—this wasn't how they'd envisioned the encounter at all.
Lan Minghua sneered. "In this day and age, nobody's a fool. Everyone understands sweet talk and threats. Stop thinking you can manipulate everyone. When I give you face, you're one of the Upper Three Sects. When I don't—what the hell is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to me?"
If they wanted to make a name for themselves by stepping on him, then he would just stomp them down and use them as a stepping stone to introduce the Tianlong Gang to the world.
Ning Fengzhi was shaken to the core, his eyes full of fear. "Your Eminence, we were wrong! Whatever you want, I can compensate you!"
At this moment, the once-proud sect master of one of the Upper Three Sects was reduced to groveling like a dog, pleading for his life.
But Lan Minghua remained unmoved. His gaze was ice cold.
He slowly lifted his arm, raising Ning Fengzhi completely off the ground. The man's legs dangled in the air as he struggled to breathe.
"Father! Lan Minghua, let go of my father!" Ning Rongrong screamed in rage and sorrow.
Only now did she recall how terrifying Lan Minghua's true power was.
But if you make a mistake, you must bear the consequences. Apologizing doesn't magically erase what's been done.
Sword Douluo could feel the palpable killing intent radiating from Lan Minghua. He knew things would not end peacefully today.
Lan Minghua's grip tightened slightly, and Ning Fengzhi's complexion quickly turned from pale to purple. His limbs flailed in vain, powerless against the strength holding him.
Seeing Ning Fengzhi's struggles weaken by the second, Sword Douluo knew he could no longer stand idly by. If he didn't act now, Ning Fengzhi would truly die.
"Unparalleled Sword Intent! Sword Edge Unleashed—Kill!"
Sword Douluo formed a sword seal with his fingers. A beam of sword light burst from behind him, shooting straight toward Lan Minghua.
"Master! Be careful!" Oscar and the others shouted in alarm.
Yet Lan Minghua didn't even flinch. He kept his grip on Ning Fengzhi, unmoved.
Just as the sword light was about to strike, Wu Song stepped forward.
He raised his hand and effortlessly caught the incoming attack.
Bang! The sword light shattered in his palm.
Wu Song growled, "You think you can interfere with the Sect Master? Get lost."
As his spirit power surged, nine soul rings appeared around him—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red.
"That's a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring! He's also a Titled Douluo!"
Even the sidelined Yu Xiaogang, who had been a silent background character until now, finally found his opening to speak.
Everyone turned to Wu Song and finally noticed the nine rings circling his body. Except for Oscar and the others, everyone else gasped in shock.
Lan Minghua ignored the commotion and turned to Oscar and the others.
"Let this be a lesson. We don't cause trouble—but we're never afraid of it either."
"If someone dares to step on you, strike back with overwhelming force. Power is the only truth that matters."
Lan Minghua understood this well: if you didn't stomp others beneath your feet, how would they ever look up to you and acknowledge your strength? His prolonged gentleness had led people to believe they could take advantage of him, use him in their petty schemes, and walk all over him.
Most present probably didn't understand why he was so angry.
First, Ning Fengzhi tried to use Sword Douluo to provoke Lan Minghua and win Tang San's favor—and by extension, the goodwill of the Clear Sky Sect behind him.
Second, he wanted to both avenge Ning Rongrong and secretly test Lan Minghua's strength, planning to smooth things over afterward.
Third, if Sword Douluo had won, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would have gained prestige and intimidated Spirit Hall.
If Ning Fengzhi's schemes had succeeded, the Tianlong Gang would have been seen as inferior before even establishing themselves.
Lan Minghua looked at the limp, nearly lifeless Ning Fengzhi and coldly said, "So eager to scheme? In your next life, come back as a calculator."
With a sharp crack, Ning Fengzhi's neck was snapped.
The Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects—was dead.
"Father!"
"Fengzhi!"
Neither Ning Rongrong nor Sword Douluo had expected Lan Minghua to actually kill him.
Ning Rongrong's eyes went blank. She fell to her knees with a thud, her mouth agape, unable to make a sound.
Sword Douluo's eyes turned bloodshot with rage. He hadn't expected Ning Fengzhi to be murdered right before his eyes.
"Lightning of the Seven Kills—One Sword to Shatter the Sky! I'll kill you!"
Lan Minghua sneered at the enraged Sword Douluo.
"Anger doesn't make you stronger. A sword's greatest enemy… is emotion. Your heart is in chaos. Allow me to teach you how a sword is truly used."
(End of Chapter)