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With Ning Fengzhi, the main character, now present, everyone else took their seats.
Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong were seated at the same table as Ning Fengzhi.
Seeing that Ning Tianchen seemed a bit stiff, Ning Fengzhi chuckled softly. "Tianchen, there are no outsiders here today—no need to be so formal."
If he were to marry Ning Rongrong, then yes, there would truly be no outsiders. But they weren't married yet, and already he was meeting the family?
Ning Fengzhi began eating first, officially starting the banquet.
Under Ning Fengzhi's imposing presence, Ning Rongrong didn't dare exchange words with Ning Tianchen during the meal.
After about half an hour passed, Ning Tian, Ning Fengzhi's eldest son, stood up with a wine glass in hand and approached Ning Tianchen.
Ning Tian was just over twenty years old, with a soul power level that had reached the Soul Elder stage.
However, given his low innate soul power, his future breakthroughs would inevitably slow down significantly.
"Ning Tianchen, I've heard of you—you're the sect's top genius. Keep it up, and the sect won't let you down."
With that, he downed the wine in one gulp.
Ning Tianchen swirled the tea in his cup. "Eldest Young Master is too kind. I'm still young, so I'll substitute tea for wine."
Aside from Ning Tian, Ning Fengzhi's other sons also came over to greet Ning Tianchen.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Ning Fengzhi waved his hand. "That concludes tonight's banquet. Rongrong and Tianchen, stay behind. Everyone else may retire."
Ning Tianchen sat upright, feeling slightly nervous. He really feared that Ning Fengzhi might bring up the topic of marriage.
Once the others had left, Chen Xin stood up and smiled faintly. "Tianchen, I've lived my entire life without children. You're the sect's number one genius, and you possess the same Seven Kill Sword martial soul as me. I'd like to adopt you as my honorary grandson—would you be willing?"
Ning Tianchen was caught off guard.
Before today, he hadn't heard even the slightest hint of this.
But thankfully, it wasn't an offer to adopt him as a son; otherwise, he might have thought that his "cheap dad" had been metaphorically cuckolded by Chen Xin.
"Tianchen big brother, why are you still hesitating? Hurry up and agree to Grandpa Sword!" Ning Rongrong nudged his arm and whispered a reminder.
Chen Xin didn't seem in a rush for an answer.
Seeing that Ning Tianchen was still pondering, Ning Fengzhi smiled and said, "Tianchen, regarding your Seven Kill Sword martial soul, I've conducted some investigations on my own. A woman from the Seven Kill Sword lineage once married into your father's family."
"Though no one in your father's family has manifested the Seven Kill Sword martial soul for several generations, that doesn't mean the bloodline disappeared. In your generation, the martial soul experienced a reversion phenomenon, which is why you awakened with the Seven Kill Sword."
The phenomenon of martial soul reversion was not uncommon on the continent.
But had a woman from the Seven Kill Sword lineage really married into Ning Tianchen's father's family?
Ning Tianchen's father had long cut ties with his family after marrying into the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Even if Ning Tianchen wanted to investigate, there was no way to do so now.
However, Ning Fengzhi's explanation solidified his resolve.
"Grandpa, please allow me to pay my respects." With that, he knelt down and performed a deep bow to Chen Xin.
"Good grandson, rise quickly—there's no need for such formalities," Chen Xin said, pulling him up gently.
"Hoho, Tianchen lad, from now on, you can call me Bone Grandpa, just like Rongrong does," Gu Rong said with a hearty laugh, clearly pleased for his old friend.
"Bone Grandpa." Ning Tianchen bowed again.
Ning Fengzhi added, "Tianchen, your father is older than me, so from now on, you can call me Uncle Ning."
This adoption seemed casual, but Ning Tianchen knew that he was now effectively being handed over to Chen Xin.
To him, this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. With this new identity, he would be able to legitimately receive more resources from the sect in the future.
As they were leaving, Ning Fengzhi added:
"By the way, Tianchen, once Rongrong breaks through to Soul Elder, you two will head to the Tian Dou Imperial Academy for schooling."
Ning Tianchen wasn't sure whether Ning Fengzhi was trying to push Ning Rongrong toward Shrek Academy or simply wanted them to attend the Tian Dou Imperial Academy.
He didn't want to get involved in the conflict between Ning Fengzhi and his daughter, so he decided to stall for time again, using seclusion as an excuse.
After they left, Chen Xin couldn't help but say, "Fengzhi, can the teaching quality of the Tian Dou Imperial Academy compare to yours or mine? In my opinion, they should stay within the sect to study."
For some reason, this time Gu Rong sided with Ning Fengzhi. "Old Sword, the sect doesn't have its own academy. With Tianchen and Rongrong's talent, even the Soul Master Tournament three years from now will be within their reach."
"If they stay in the sect, do you really want them to miss out on the invaluable training opportunity of the Soul Master Tournament?"
The Soul Master Tournament brought together almost all the talented soul masters on the continent.
Fighting against these geniuses would greatly enhance Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong's strength.
There was one more thing Gu Rong didn't mention—during the tournament, the two could also recruit talented soul masters for the sect.
"This…" Chen Xin was momentarily speechless.
After some thought, he reluctantly accepted Ning Fengzhi's decision.
Of course, Ning Fengzhi's true intentions weren't focused on the academy itself. Instead, he wanted to use this opportunity to completely reform Ning Rongrong's personality.
He hadn't discussed this with Gu Rong—it was all part of his secret plan.
…
In the days that followed, under Ning Fengzhi's instructions, news spread throughout the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect that Ning Tianchen had been adopted by Chen Xin as an honorary grandson.
Most disciples found this unsurprising—after all, Ning Tianchen's martial soul was also the Seven Kill Sword, and since Chen Xin had no children, adopting him as an honorary grandson seemed natural.
However, a small group of people began gossiping.
Almost all of these individuals were connected to Ning Tianchen's father. They felt that Ning Tianchen's father had been metaphorically cuckolded by Chen Xin. Some even condemned Ning Tianchen's actions.
However, Ning Tianchen didn't appear to explain himself to them.
Ever since awakening his martial soul, these people had never sought him out, and he didn't know any of them personally.
Half a month later, while Ning Tianchen was practicing his swordsmanship as usual within the sect, an inner disciple suddenly delivered a letter left by Ning Rongrong.
"Wait, you said this was left by Rongrong—where did she go?" Ning Tianchen couldn't help but ask.
The disciple shook his head. "Young Master Tianchen, Miss didn't inform this subordinate. She said that once you read the contents of the letter, you'd understand."
Ning Tianchen didn't press the matter further and waved for the disciple to leave.
Opening the letter, he found that it contained only a brief message. Ning Rongrong explained that she would be heading to the Balak Kingdom.
She would remain in Balak City until the first day of next month, asking Ning Tianchen to meet her there.
Today was the third day of the month, leaving more than twenty days until the first day of next month—plenty of time for him to reach Balak City.
But should he go?
He was currently a key disciple under the sect's focused cultivation. Leaving the sect abruptly would be a serious dereliction of responsibility.
Just as Ning Tianchen was hesitating, Chen Xin flew past overhead, riding his sword.
His destination was undoubtedly the sect's meeting hall.
"It seems Rongrong's departure from the sect was indeed orchestrated by Ning Fengzhi behind the scenes," Ning Tianchen thought with a wry smile.
Chen Xin rushing to the meeting hall must have been to confront Ning Fengzhi, just as in the original timeline.
After some thought, Ning Tianchen headed toward the hall.
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