Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
Barak Kingdom, Shrek Academy.
Oscar swallowed nervously as he stared at Lan Minghua's retreating back.
It was his first time seeing Lan Minghua this furious—he had directly killed Ning Rongrong's father.
Not only that, but even Sword Douluo had his arms severed by the very sword arts he prided himself on. Although he was still alive, his will to fight had been shattered, leaving him a complete cripple.
Watching Lan Minghua whistling casually as he walked ahead, Oscar asked in a trembling voice, "Master, why do you hold such deep hostility toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?"
Lan Minghua rolled his eyes and replied helplessly, "You're still young and don't understand the reasons. I don't blame you."
Oscar clutched his hair wildly, nearly pulling it all out in frustration, but he still couldn't figure it out. In his mind, the most that could have happened was Ning Rongrong complaining to Sword Douluo, prompting him to intervene for her.
And then... there was no "and then."
"Master, what exactly was the reason?!"
Lan Minghua didn't answer him directly, only muttering, "I'm too lazy to explain. Figure it out yourself."
Oscar was on the verge of tears, feeling that his master had cast him aside ever since his junior sisters arrived.
Just then, Zhu Zhuqing explained from behind him, "It's because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan tried to use Master to make a name for themselves. That's why he was so angry."
As a member of the Star Luo Empire's Nether Civet Clan, she could see such things clearly.
Oscar was dumbfounded. He never expected those few words to carry so much weight.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wanted to rise by stepping on Master?!
He could have racked his brain forever and never come up with that—clearly, he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed.
Lan Minghua was also surprised by Zhu Zhuqing's explanation; he hadn't expected a young girl to see through it all.
But this only confirmed his own suspicions.
It wasn't that others didn't know Ning Fengzhi was scheming; it was that they simply lacked the power to defy him. If even a twelve-year-old girl like Zhu Zhuqing could see it, how could the sly old foxes from other factions possibly be unaware?
After all, a certain immortal once said: Never underestimate the intelligence of others. Only a fool believes everyone else is stupid.
And Ning Fengzhi was precisely that kind of fool.
But he had already paid the price for his foolishness. It was too late for regrets now.
Once Oscar understood the real reason, he was seething with rage.
"Damn that Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. They're absolutely disgusting."
Lan Minghua had already shown great restraint by not annihilating Ning Rongrong and Sword Douluo.
However, Oscar didn't realize that sparing them served a deeper purpose.
If the Tianlong Gang wanted to make a name for itself quickly, it needed concrete examples. After all, actions speak louder than words.
If even Sword Douluo had his arms severed, how could Ning Fengzhi have possibly survived? The members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan possessed no real combat power themselves. They relied entirely on the powerful Battle Spirit Masters they recruited.
Thus, sparing Ning Rongrong and Sword Douluo wasn't an act of compassion; it was a calculated move.
If they returned to their clan and attempted to seek revenge, Lan Minghua would have a perfectly justifiable reason to completely eradicate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
And the Tianlong Gang, in turn, would become a new power known across the entire continent.
"I'm such an idiot for doubting Master's actions!"
Oscar slapped himself hard. How could he have questioned his own master?
He quickly pushed the thought aside and, with a shameless grin, asked, "Master, those two moves you used were incredible! Do you have any even stronger sword techniques?"
"Of course, my disciple. A system this powerful isn't limited to two moves. There are nine in total."
Instantly, Oscar's eyes sparkled as he looked at Lan Minghua with the fawning adoration of a bootlicker.
"Master, what do you think? Can I learn swordsmanship from you? I want to be a cool and handsome man, just like you!"
Lan Minghua glanced at him. "Becoming as handsome as me isn't easy. You'd have to be a natural-born genius in the Way of the Sword, and such people are one in ten thousand."
Oscar shouted and jumped to the side like a fool. He immediately condensed a golden sword from light and began swinging it around wildly.
After his clumsy display, he said confidently to Lan Minghua, "Well, clearly, I'm one of them!"
The words had barely left his mouth when a fist smashed into his face, knocking him out cold.
Lan Minghua chuckled lightly. "It seems you are not."
After knocking Oscar out, he told Zhu Zhuqing and the others to find a place to consolidate their spirit power.
Zhu Zhuqing casually grabbed Oscar by the leg and began dragging him toward their usual training ground.
Meng Yiran's eyes went wide, her jaw dropping at the scene.
"Is… is this how Master always interacts with Senior Brother?!"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded lightly. "More or less. Master seems to really enjoy interacting with Oscar this way."
That single sentence completely shattered Meng Yiran's preconceived notions of a Titled Douluo.
But she didn't think it was a bad thing. In fact, such a relaxed environment might even make it easier for her to cultivate.
Sometime later, Sword Douluo, using the last of his strength, managed to bring Ning Rongrong back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Bone Douluo, who was guarding the clan, sensed them immediately.
"Old Sword's aura... why is it so weak? And... why can't I sense Fengzhi's aura at all?"
Realizing something was terribly wrong, Bone Douluo tore open a spatial passage and rushed to their location.
The sight that greeted him nearly scared him to death.
When he saw Sword Douluo with both arms severed and a listless, heartbroken Ning Rongrong, a wave of dread washed over him.
He flew over at once, catching Ning Rongrong, and demanded, "Old Sword, what happened?! Why are you so grievously injured?! And Fengzhi? Where is he?!"
His will already broken and having lost too much blood, Sword Douluo collapsed into unconsciousness.
Bone Douluo's reflexes were quick, and he caught the falling Sword Douluo, his heart pounding with shock.
I hate to admit it, but I'm no match for Old Sword. Who in the world could injure him this badly? And Fengzhi… surely, he's alright... right?
As the master of one of the Three Upper Sects, Bone Douluo couldn't imagine anyone would dare to kill Ning Fengzhi. Doing so would mean making an enemy of the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Just then, Ning Rongrong could no longer contain her terror and grief. She threw herself into Bone Douluo's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Wuwuwu… Grandpa Bone, my father is dead!"
"What?! Fengzhi… is dead?!"
A deafening thunderclap seemed to roar in Bone Douluo's ears. His entire body trembled, and he froze on the spot, utterly petrified.
Meanwhile, in Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong had just received the full report from Yue Guan and Gui Mei.
"Damn it! To think he actually rejected Spirit Hall's invitation and severely wounded Yue Guan and Gui Mei!"
Her gaze was like ice. She would not allow anyone to interfere with Spirit Hall's plans.
"Once I pass the Rakshasa God's trials, the entire continent will be mine for the taking!"
She was still undergoing the divine trials and had not yet reached the peak of her power. But she would not let Lan Minghua's provocation go unpunished.
At that moment, a steward ran frantically into the hall.
"Y-Your Holiness, the Pope, something terrible has happened!"
"Such panic! Have you no decorum?!"
Already enraged, Bibi Dong snapped. Her immense spirit power slammed down on the steward, pinning him to the ground.
She looked down on him with cold indifference. "Speak. What is it?"
Prostrate on the floor, the steward stammered, "The… the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi… is dead!"
(End of Chapter)