The moment of joyous reunion was a whirlwind of hugs and happy tears, a warm, familial bubble in the cool night air of the shabby academy.
When the initial excitement settled, Zhang Tian stepped forward, his posture straight, his expression serene. He performed a formal, respectful bow.
"Sect Master Ning. Your Excellency, Sword Douluo. Your Excellency, Bone Douluo," he greeted them, his voice calm and clear, each title delivered with the perfect measure of deference due to their station. "It is an honor to meet you."
The three powerful men were momentarily taken aback. They had expected many things from the boy their little princess had written about—arrogance, perhaps, or a nervous apprehension. They had not expected this. This was the calm, unshakable confidence of an equal, delivered with the flawless etiquette of a junior. It was a contradiction that was deeply impressive.
Ning Fengzhi smiled, a genuine, appreciative light in his eyes. "The honor is ours, young friend Zhang Tian."
Before he could continue, a small pout formed on Ning Rongrong's lips. She trotted over to Zhang Tian's side and tugged on his sleeve.
"Zhang Tian! Why are you being so formal?" she complained. "This is my daddy, my Grandpa Sword, and my Grandpa Bone! You should just call them Uncle and Granduncle! It's weird when you're so stiff!"
A collective, unspoken thought flashed through the minds of the three men. Their little princess, who had only been away from home for a little over a week, was already siding so fiercely with an outsider. The feeling was a strange cocktail of happiness to see that she has a friend and a bittersweet pang of loss that she was so close to this friend already.
Zhang Tian offered Ning Rongrong a small, placating smile but tactfully ignored her suggestion. Addressing a Titled Douluo as 'Granduncle' without permission was a breach of etiquette he had no intention of committing.
He turned his focus back to Ning Fengzhi. "Sect Master Ning," he said, smoothly steering the conversation. "My friend Rongrong must have mentioned the weapons I have crafted in her letter. Would you be interested in witnessing their power for yourselves?"
Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up with keen interest. "Indeed," he nodded. "Your creations were the primary reason for our visit. My daughter's descriptions were… enthusiastic. I am very eager to see these tools and discuss the deal she proposed."
"Daddy!" Ning Rongrong chimed in immediately, her voice sharp with a protective warning. "Zhang Tian is a very close friend of mine! You can't take advantage of him in this deal! I'll be watching!"
A few black lines seemed to appear on Ning Fengzhi's forehead. He stared at his daughter, a look of utter disbelief on his handsome face. It was one thing for her to be friendly with the boy, but to so openly warn her own father to be fair, as if he were some unscrupulous merchant, was both mortifying and deeply embarrassing.
He let out a strained cough. "Rongrong," he said, his voice taking on a stern, paternal tone. "How could you possibly think I would take advantage of a junior? That is not the way of our Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect."
Ning Rongrong just hmphed, crossing her arms defiantly. "We'll see. I'll be the judge of that."
Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo exchanged helpless glances. Against their precious, spoiled princess, they were utterly, completely powerless.
They moved deeper into the woods, finding a secluded clearing far from the main academy grounds. Just as they were about to begin, Zhang Tian turned to the Sword Douluo.
"Your Excellency," he began respectfully. "If I may be so bold as to make a request? Could you please shield this area with your aura? To ensure our conversation remains private and no sound escapes."
The request was sudden and specific, and it landed with the weight of an unsaid truth. The three powerful men froze, their expressions turning sharp. They instantly thought of the same thing: the oppressive, sorrowful presence they had encountered at the gate. Tang Hao.
'He knows,' Sword Douluo Chen Xin thought, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied the boy. 'But how? We only sensed him because we are at the same level. For a Spirit Grandmaster to notice a concealed Titled Douluo…'
Without a word, Chen Xin complied. A subtle, almost invisible wave of energy radiated from him, forming a vast, soundproof dome over the clearing. It was his domain, a net of pure sword intent that would alert him to any interloper who dared to eavesdrop.
With the barrier in place, Ning Fengzhi's curiosity could no longer be contained. "Young friend Zhang Tian," he began, his voice low and serious, "why did you ask my Uncle Sword to create this barrier?"
Zhang Tian offered a polite, knowing smile, his answer masterfully evasive. "I believe you gentlemen already know the reason. You must have met a certain individual before entering the academy grounds."
His words were a quiet confirmation, and it sent another shockwave through the trio. Ning Rongrong, however, was utterly lost.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, looking from her father to Zhang Tian. "What person? Who did you meet?"
Ning Fengzhi ignored his daughter for the moment, his gaze fixed on Zhang Tian, his disbelief plain to see. "You knew he was here?"
Zhang Tian nodded calmly. "I discovered his presence by accident, due to a unique sensing ability my spirit possesses. I don't know who he is, but his power is immense. I suspect he is a Titled Douluo, at the very least. He seems to be watching over someone in the academy, protecting them in secret."
He delivered the information with the air of a simple observer, feigning ignorance of the man's true identity, a masterful piece of acting that preserved his secrets while demonstrating his value.
With the necessary precautions in place, he decided it was time to change the subject. He reached into his storage ring. In a shimmer of light, an arsenal appeared in his hands. He presented the weapons to Ning Fengzhi.
"These are the tools Rongrong wrote to you about," he said, his voice turning professional. "As you can see, they are purely mechanical. There is not a hint of spirit power in their construction. But their destructive capability is not to be underestimated."
He began his demonstration, his explanations clear and concise. "This is a pistol, a mid-range weapon. This version fires penetrating rounds." He handed one to Ning Fengzhi. "This one fires rounds that explode on impact."
He then presented the larger weapons. "This is a shotgun, for close-quarters combat. And this," he said, indicating the long, elegant rifle, "is a sniper rifle, for ultra-long-range precision strikes and assassinations."
Finally, he held up a familiar ceramic sphere. "And these are grenades. Against a Spirit King or even a Spirit Emperor, a well-placed shot from one of these firearms can be a decisive factor. As for a Spirit Saint…" He paused, letting his next words land with their full weight.
"During our entrance exam, I used thirty grenades against Teacher Zhao Wuji while he was in his Vigorous Vajra Bear Spirit Avatar form. The combined explosions were enough to injure him."
The trio's eyes widened. To injure a defensive Spirit Saint in his avatar state? This was no longer just a weapon; it was a strategic asset of immense value. They looked at the deceptively simple tools in their hands with a new, profound respect.
Zhang Tian patiently explained the operation of each weapon. They were, by design, simple to use. After the brief tutorial, the three powerful men took turns trying them out, firing at distant trees and rocks within their soundproof dome. The resulting cracks, booms, and whip-cracks were a symphony of destruction.
"Marvelous," Chen Xin murmured, examining the clean hole the sniper rifle had punched through a thick oak tree. "Truly marvelous."
"The sheer force of this shotgun," Gu Rong added, "at close range, it would be devastating to any agility-type master who managed to get close."
Ning Fengzhi held the weapons, his mind racing. He saw not just tools of war, but a solution to his sect's greatest weakness. With these, his precious support masters could defend themselves. He looked at Zhang Tian, a deep, assessing light in his eyes. This boy was a dragon hiding amongst fish.
But instead of immediately launching into a negotiation, Ning Fengzhi did something unexpected. He set the weapons down.
"Young friend Zhang Tian," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "Before we discuss any deals, I would like to know more about you. Tell me about yourself."
Zhang Tian was genuinely surprised. He had expected a swift, business-like negotiation. This personal question, this desire to understand the person behind the inventions, was a sign of true wisdom and character. He knew, at that moment, that an alliance with this man was the right choice.
He also knew that they must have already investigated him. Hiding the truth now would be pointless, even counterproductive.
He took a deep breath. "Very well, Sect Master Ning. I will tell you everything."
He began his story, his voice a calm, steady narrative. "I was born in a place called the Holy Spirit Village. An orphan. At the age of six, I awakened my Martial Spirit. It was the Blue Silver Grass."
He glanced at Ning Rongrong, who gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. She couldn't reconcile the powerful, brilliant boy before her with such low innate spirit power.
Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong, however, merely narrowed their eyes. Their expressions didn't change, but their internal gears were turning furiously. 'So, our information was correct,' Ning Fengzhi thought. 'He is the same boy. But this only deepens the mystery. Innate Spirit Power of 0.5... how did he reach Level 27 in just six years? His cultivation speed rivals Rongrong's, and she has Innate Spirit Power of nine!'
A dark, terrifying guess formed in their minds. An Evil Spirit Master. It was the only logical explanation for such unnatural growth.
As if reading their minds, Zhang Tian continued his story, leaving no room for their dark speculations to fester.
"My Innate Spirit Power was 0.5," he confirmed. "But I was… resourceful. I had sold some designs for improved farming tools in my village, so I had a small amount of money. Enough to pay the tuition for the Nuoding Elementary Academy without needing to work."
"I spent four years there. While others played, I read, and I cultivated. I found that my spirit absorbed spirit power faster from surroundings when I was in a place with a high concentration of Blue Silver Grass. By the age of ten, through sheer, painstaking effort, I reached Level 10."
"Then, I hunted my first spirit beast. I didn't want a normal ring. I knew my spirit was weak, so I sought a specific beast, one whose attribute could force a mutation of my spirit. I found a hundred-year-old Earth-Corrupting Blood Vine in the Star Dou Great Forest." He briefly described how he used two grenades to easily dispatch the weak beast.
"When I absorbed its spirit ring, my Blue Silver Grass mutated. It became what you see now, this red grass. I named it the Blood Silver Grass. And its first ability was 'Devour,' allowing me to absorb ambient spirit power to fuel my cultivation. To hide this mutation, I lied on my report to the Spirit Hall, claiming a ten-year ring. As I expected, they dismissed me without a second glance."
Ning Fengzhi frowned, his sharp mind immediately catching the flaw in the narrative. "That still does not explain your cultivation speed, young friend. Even with a devouring ability which is a pure Spirit Power absorbing ability, to go from Level 11 to Level 27 in just two years... that is almost unbelievable."
Zhang Tian nodded. "You are correct, Sect Master Ning. That is not the full story."
He paused, a look of remembered awe on his face. "After leaving Nuoding, I returned to my village. During my cultivation sessions in the nearby mountains, I stumbled upon a... fortuitous encounter. It was a strange plant, a type I had never seen before or since."
He described it perfectly, a stalk of bamboo as black as polished jade, exuding an aura of divine purity and immense vitality. He didn't know its name, he explained, but he knew it was a treasure.
"I used my 'Devour' ability on this plant. The energy was overwhelming. It purged my body of all impurities and sent my spirit power rocketing straight to Level 20. It was also at this time that my appearance changed. My hair and eyes turned blue. It was a complete rebirth for someone like me of low talent."
"This sudden leap in power made it impossible for me to remain in my village. So I came here, to Suotuo City. I hunted my second ring, a hundred-year Corpse-Puppet Flower, which gave me my spore ability. It was this ability that allowed me to sense the powerful individual lurking around the academy."
"After that," he concluded, "I opened my shop to earn a living, and have been quietly cultivating ever since, slowly digesting the residual medicinal energy from that mysterious plant."
His story was a perfect, seamless narrative. It explained his past, his mutation, his unnatural cultivation speed, and even his change in appearance, all while protecting his greatest secrets—Ah Yin and the spirit bone he had absorbed.
The three powerful men were left speechless, their minds struggling to process the sheer luck and audacity of the boy. To stumble upon such a heavenly treasure... his fortune was truly profound.
"To dispel any lingering doubts," Zhang Tian said, offering his arm forward. "Please, feel free to inspect my spirit power. You will find no trace of the impure energy associated with evil cultivation."
This time, it was the Sword Douluo who stepped forward. He placed a hand gently on Zhang Tian's arm. His piercing sword-intent flowed into Zhang Tian's body, a probing, analytical stream. A moment later, he withdrew his hand, a look of profound shock on his sharp face.
"It's true," Chen Xin confirmed, his voice filled with awe. "His spirit power is incredibly pure. Denser and more refined than any Spirit Grandmaster I have ever encountered. There is not a single trace of malevolence or impurity."
The final, unspoken doubt had been erased. This boy was not an Evil Spirit Master. He was a genuine, heaven-defying genius at this moment.
Ning Fengzhi looked at Zhang Tian, his decision made. "Young friend," he began, "let us discuss the terms of our deal for these weapons. First...Let me ask you, would you sell the blueprint of those weapons?"
"I will sell them to you," Zhang Tian said, his quick agreement once again surprising them.
Seeing their confusion, he explained. "My reasons are simple. First, I am entitled to a high price, and I trust that the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect is wealthy enough to meet it. Second," he continued, a knowing smile on his face, "From what I know your sect. You will use these weapons to arm your own people for defense, not sell them indiscriminately for profit. Besides...I plan to have a long and prosperous alliance with your sect. And, it is always best to enhance an ally's strength as much as possible. So... I believe it is a mutually beneficial arrangement."
Ning Fengzhi laughed, a sound of genuine delight and appreciation. "An excellent assessment. You are a wise young man. Very well, tell us your price."
Zhang Tian laid out his conditions, exactly as he had told Ning Rongrong. The massive storage spirit tool. A spirit tool that could store living creatures. The samples of rare metals and the three random spirit tools. And finally, the non-negotiable demand: the Breaking Clan's complete knowledge of herbs and alchemy.
As he finished, Ning Fengzhi sighed, the final condition as troublesome as he had anticipated. "The Breaking Clan… that is a difficult proposition, young friend. They are proud, and our influence in the Star Luo Empire is limited."
"Then do not approach them as a superior, but as a partner," Zhang Tian countered smoothly. "What if you could offer them something they desperately want? The protection of your sect, a place to call home, free from the attacks of the Spirit Hall. What if you were to absorb the Breaking Clan as your subsidiary clan?"
"The risk would be immense," Ning Fengzhi countered. "Why should my sect provoke the Spirit Hall for the Breaking Clan? Although the value of those weapons is immense and the Breaking Clan's submission to my sect would also strengthen my sect...But the Spirit Hall's threat is much greater to a sect like mine when they are already eyeing us so warily."
Zhang Tian smiled, the final, irresistible bait now ready to be deployed. "Because the reward, Sect Master Ning, would be a prize beyond measure. Tell me… what if the seven floors could become nine?"
The words struck the clearing with the force of a thunderbolt. Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong stared at him, their faces a mask of utter, profound shock. Ning Rongrong, who had never heard this from Zhang Tian before, felt her heart hammer in her chest.
"How…?" Ning Fengzhi breathed, his voice barely a whisper. "How is that possible?"
"I read of a method in an ancient, obscure text," Zhang Tian said, using his well-worn excuse. "It spoke of gem-type Martial Spirits being able to repair their innate defects by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, infused with a massive amount of heaven and earth spiritual energy."
He looked directly at Ning Fengzhi. "With the Breaking Clan's alchemy, you can create the pills. Pills made from rare herbs that absorb solar and lunar essence. If those herbs cannot be found, you can substitute them with the blood of powerful spirit beasts with solar and lunar attributes. Combine this with pills containing immense spiritual energy from other treasures. With this method, I am confident you can repair the defect in your pagoda. Within a few weeks, you should see the results, and you will break through your bottleneck to Level 80."
Ning Fengzhi was trembling, his hands clenched into tight fists. Hope, a dangerous, beautiful, intoxicating hope, was blooming in his heart. Was this boy lying? He didn't think so. The logic seemed sound, and the boy had no reason to deceive them on a matter of such importance, especially if he sought a long-term alliance. This secret was his true price, the key to binding their fates together.
"I will do it," Ning Fengzhi declared, his voice filled with a new, unshakeable resolve. "I will bring you the Breaking Clan's alchemy methods, pill formulas and all their book about herbs." He looked at Zhang Tian. "Give me three months. In three months, I will personally deliver everything you have asked for. The other items, the spirit tools and the rare metals, will be delivered to you within the week."
"I thank you for your trust, Sect Master Ning," Zhang Tian said with a sincere bow.
With the deal concluded, a sense of elation filled the air. Zhang Tian excused himself, letting Ning Rongrong have some private time with her family.
As he walked away, Ning Fengzhi turned to his daughter, his eyes shining. "Rongrong, my dear… what kind of person do you truly think this Zhang Tian is?"
Ning Rongrong watched his retreating back, her heart filled with a warmth she couldn't quite name. She turned to her father, her expression serious and absolute.
"He is a person," she said, her voice filled with unwavering conviction, "that our Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect must absolutely have."
Ning Fengzhi beamed, his heart swelling with pride. "That is my assessment as well." He looked at his daughter, a teasing smile on his face. "Do you think he would be willing to join our sect?"
"He will," Ning Rongrong said with a confidence that startled him.
A faint blush dusted her cheeks as she thought to herself, 'If I marry him, he'll be considered a part of the sect, right?'
Well, they didn't seem to notice her thoughts but felt that her confidence was quite reassuring.
~~
A/N: Check out my other novels like "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon