The VIP lounge was filled with the gentle aroma of tea.
"Qinghe, I need to meet a friend,"
Ning Fengzhi said calmly.
"You carry heavy responsibilities as regent for His Majesty. You may return to govern or rest—there's no need to stay here with me."
Ning Fengzhi sat in a mahogany chair, smiling at the outstanding student beside him.
"Teacher, please don't worry. I've already handled today's administrative matters in advance; there won't be any delay,"
Qian Renxue replied gently.
"It's rare for you to have free time today. I still have many things I'd like to consult you about later."
She added politely,
"Rest assured, Teacher. I know my limits. I won't disturb you and your guest."
"That's good…"
Ning Fengzhi smiled as if satisfied, but inwardly he was extremely irritated.
This is infuriating.
His first impulse was to shake off Xue Qinghe entirely—but the man clung like stubborn plaster, impossible to get rid of.
Did he notice something?
Qian Renxue smiled faintly to herself.
I want to see who could make the usually calm School Master Ning show such obvious emotional fluctuations.
She had a strong intuition that the person Ning Fengzhi was about to meet was anything but ordinary.
Just then, ripples appeared in the surrounding space.
An elderly man with a gaunt face emerged out of thin air. His frame was broad, yet his muscles and features were shriveled, making him look like a giant skeleton.
However, the aura surrounding him was profound and unfathomable.
Gu Rong.
Qian Renxue immediately rose to greet him.
"Greetings, Your Highness,"
Gu Rong replied with an awkward smile before finding a seat.
"Fengzhi, why did you suddenly call me over?" he asked.
"I met an interesting young man today. He appears to be a close friend of Rongrong's,"
Ning Fengzhi said lightly, pushing a cup of tea toward him.
"I wanted you, Uncle Gu, to take a look and see whether he can be recruited into the sect."
"Rongrong's friend?"
Gu Rong's expression turned serious, losing his usual casual demeanor.
"Then we'll need to examine him carefully."
"Click."
Soon, Bai Mu was led into the room by attendants.
Seeing the three present, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes, but he didn't hesitate and stepped forward.
"Young man, we meet again,"
Ning Fengzhi said with a smile, introducing him.
"This is the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe. And this is our sect's Elder, Bone Douluo Gu Rong."
"My name is Bai Mu. Greetings, School Master Ning, Crown Prince, and Senior,"
Bai Mu said, clasping his hands in salute—neither servile nor arrogant.
"Nice to meet you,"
Qian Renxue replied with a faint smile, quietly observing him.
Bai Mu… that name feels familiar. Why can't I remember where I heard it?
Gu Rong frowned slightly.
"Kid, why are you acting so mysterious? And what's with that strange mask?"
"We're all on the same side here. Bai Mu, take off your mask so we can talk properly,"
Ning Fengzhi said, gesturing for him to sit.
"I forgot to remove it earlier—my apologies."
At their request, Bai Mu reluctantly took off the mask, revealing an exceptionally handsome face.
"I received a letter from Rongrong. She praised you highly,"
Ning Fengzhi said directly.
"What do you think of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
"The support is strong, the sect is wealthy, and Bone Senior and Sword Senior are among the strongest in the world—truly worthy of admiration and learning,"
Bai Mu replied smoothly.
"And what do you think of Rongrong?"
Ning Fengzhi steered the topic toward his daughter.
"She's beautiful, adorable, lively, and very loyal,"
Bai Mu answered sincerely.
At least for now, Ning Rongrong's impression of him was not wrong.
"To be honest, Rongrong spoke very highly of you in her letter. Seeing you today, I can say you live up to that praise,"
Ning Fengzhi said with genuine admiration before changing the subject.
"Would you be interested in joining my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School? The sect would spare no effort to support you. I could even ask Uncle Jian and Uncle Gu to personally guide you. And if you and Rongrong share special feelings, I would give my full support."
As a father, he understood his daughter well.
Ning Rongrong could be willful in minor matters, but she knew right from wrong. She would never give away her token and send an urgent letter without reason.
Even if the contents sounded outrageous, he was willing to trust her judgment.
A support-type sect might lack combat power—but it never lacked judgment.
"Are you selling your daughter?!"
Gu Rong nearly jumped up.
But under Ning Fengzhi's suddenly deep gaze, he forcefully suppressed himself and sat back down.
Emotionally, he felt this was reckless. Rationally, he knew there must be details he hadn't yet learned.
For Fengzhi to offer such conditions… could this kid really be that talented?
Gu Rong scrutinized Bai Mu, trying to see through him.
No matter how he looked, he couldn't quite tell.
His aura isn't strong… but not weak either… strange… wait—something's off!
Just as he was about to give up, he suddenly sensed something. A strange light flashed in his eyes, and he straightened slightly, focusing intently on Bai Mu.
"Thank you for your kindness, School Master Ning,"
Bai Mu said after a brief pause, shaking his head meaningfully.
"I'm used to freedom. I'm afraid I wouldn't adapt well to the sect's rules."
"Some things are hard to change," he continued calmly.
"And Rongrong and I are truly just ordinary friends."
Ning Fengzhi summed it up in two words—
Potential.
"Geniuses always have harmless little quirks. I understand,"
Ning Fengzhi smiled.
"I'm not rigid either. Rules bind ordinary people—geniuses and the strong naturally enjoy certain privileges."
He said everything—yet nothing definitive.
There would be plenty of time ahead, and countless chances to test Bai Mu's talent and strength.
The priority now was to secure him.
"Really?"
Bai Mu's eyes lit up as he smiled with restrained excitement.
"Then I'll think it over carefully."
"This is my sect's VIP token. It's more useful than Rongrong's when accessing Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School–affiliated properties. Take it for now."
Ning Fengzhi handed him a token.
"Thank you, Uncle Ning—ah—Sect Master!"
Bai Mu quickly corrected himself, carefully putting it away.
"No need to call me Sect Master. Just call me Uncle Ning,"
Ning Fengzhi laughed, seizing the chance to grow closer.
"Alright, Uncle Ning."
"Xiao Mu, do you have lodging in Heaven Dou City?"
Ning Fengzhi asked with concern.
"I'm staying temporarily at the Heaven Dou Grand Hotel."
"We rarely come to Heaven Dou. How could you stay at a hotel?"
Ning Fengzhi suggested.
"Why not stay at my residence for now, then come with me to visit Qibao City?"
"Let's forget that… I'm currently looking for a suitable Spirit Beast to absorb my first—"
"Cough, cough."
Ning Fengzhi cut him off at once.
"I understand. You want to hunt a Spirit Beast. Leave this small matter to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Just relax and stay here."
The interruption was perfectly timed. Ning Fengzhi glanced at Xue Qinghe from the corner of his eye and quietly let out a breath.
We can't go into this any further.
He was just about to have Gu Rong escort Bai Mu away when a voice suddenly rang out—
"Bai Mu?"
"But… aren't you that special genius with an External Spirit who dropped out of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
Qian Renxue looked thoughtful.
"That's right,"
Bai Mu replied calmly.
"What a pity…"
Qian Renxue sighed softly, then asked directly,
"After three years, Brother Bai—what level is your spirit power now?"
Ning Fengzhi's heart skipped a beat.
Oh no.
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