Now that everyone started with a thousand-year soul ring, Ning Fengzhi had to question Tu Ya's teaching ability.
If Jian Chen and Gu Rong were to try, could they possibly teach a student whose first soul ring was already a thousand years old?
Obviously not.
Such a student required natural talent, perseverance, and a teacher—none of which could be lacking.
Wanting all of those conditions to be met was nothing short of a delusional fantasy.
Yet somehow, Tu Ya had actually pulled it off.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze immediately fell upon Chu Fei, who had not yet revealed his soul rings.
Judging by his age, Chu Fei should be around level ten by now.
So how would his soul rings compare to those of the four young girls?
Would they also be thousand-year soul rings, or would they be more normal?
Ning Fengzhi secretly hoped he would be more normal; a hundred-year soul ring would allow him to finally breathe a sigh of relief. But if it turned out to be another thousand-year ring, he would have to reevaluate Tu Ya's teaching prowess entirely.
"Well, what about you?" Ning Fengzhi couldn't help asking Chu Fei. "Looking about eight years old, you should be around level ten. Could it be that you haven't absorbed a soul ring yet?"
"Me?" Chu Fei was taken aback. Not only had Ning Fengzhi turned his gaze toward him, but Gu Rong and Jian Chen beside him were also struggling to contain their curiosity.
He hadn't originally planned to release his soul rings, especially since the four girls had already been shocking enough.
However, seeing the immense anticipation in the eyes of the three men, Chu Fei couldn't bear to dampen their enthusiasm. Since that was the case, he might as well let the shock hit them even harder!
With that thought, Chu Fei offered a shy smile. Under the watchful eyes of the group, he gave a brief self-introduction, and then his Soul Power gradually welled up.
A Soul Scholar.
No!
Feeling the fluctuating Soul Power emanating from Chu Fei, Ning Fengzhi furrowed his brow.
The Soul Power fluctuations were still rising, having already reached the level of a Grand Soul Master—and they still hadn't stopped?
As the Soul Power surged, Chu Fei's soul rings slowly materialized. A dazzling crimson light momentarily blinded Ning Fengzhi, while Jian Chen and Gu Rong, just like him, failed to notice their jaws dropping in utter astonishment.
A Three-Ring Soul Elder, and his soul rings were the terrifying configuration of one red and two black!
Putting aside the fact that he was a Soul Elder at the age of eight—which was already completely unprecedented for someone to possess such Soul Power at this age—what was even more horrifying was this:
This child actually possessed a first soul ring that was one hundred thousand years old, and second and third soul rings that were both well over ten thousand years old! Furthermore, judging by the oppressive hue of those black ten-thousand-year rings, their grades were likely all above fifty thousand years.
Such a thing was unheard of in the entire soul master world. Even using the word "terrifying" felt inadequate to Ning Fengzhi.
Earlier, he had thought that these four girls were already a rare gathering of prodigies, and that having a purple first soul ring was monstrous enough.
But now, compared to Chu Fei, their talent still fell short by a hundred thousand miles.
If the four girls were monsters, then Chu Fei was a monster among monsters.
Until the radiance of the hundred-thousand-year soul ring finally faded and the hall returned to silence, the three of them still couldn't look away from Chu Fei, drifting in a daze and not knowing what to do.
Chu Fei walked over to the three men in small steps, held a finger to his lips to make a shushing gesture, and said mysteriously, "The three uncles must keep this a secret for Chu Fei! Otherwise, Chu Fei will be taken away for dissection and study!"
Ning Fengzhi had no idea what "dissection and study" meant, but keeping it a secret was an absolute must.
Jolted back to their senses by Chu Fei's words, the three of them smiled sheepishly. No further words were needed; everything was understood in their hearts.
Inside the hall, Chu Fei slowly walked back behind Tu Ya. There was no need for him to say anything more now. At this point, securing the cooperation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was already more than half accomplished.
As long as Ning Fengzhi wasn't a fool, he naturally knew what the optimal choice was.
Ning Fengzhi's hand trembled slightly as he held his teacup. He could only take a sip of tea to feign composure, looking at Tu Ya before him in a completely new light.
With this level of teaching capability, he had actually thought about refusing her earlier.
If he had truly gritted his teeth and turned her down, he probably would have spent the rest of his life regretting it.
However, since he had just refused her moments ago, Ning Fengzhi felt too embarrassed to turn around and ask Tu Ya to take Ning Rongrong as a disciple. Changing his mind on the spot would be equivalent to slapping his own face.
Feeling the gentle pressure of Chu Fei's hand against her back, Tu Ya instantly understood.
At a time like this, someone had to be given a way out; people were adaptable, after all, and one had to know how to be flexible.
She nodded slightly, looked at Ning Fengzhi seated at the head of the hall, and said, "Now that Sect Master Ning has witnessed my teaching ability, would you be willing to let Ning Rongrong become my disciple? I can guarantee that her first soul ring will at least reach the thousand-year level."
Ning Fengzhi gladly accepted the graceful exit. To maintain his proud demeanor any longer would simply be ungrateful.
He had not the slightest doubt regarding Tu Ya's guarantee.
He had seen everything with his own eyes just now; the soul rings of these children were real, tangible entities, by no means any sort of illusion.
To have such an expert teacher guide a disciple meant that her future achievements would be simply unimaginable.
She would definitely surpass him, her father, by a wide margin.
"That would be wonderful." Ning Fengzhi no longer refused, nodding in gratified agreement as he beckoned Ning Rongrong over to pay her respects to her new master.
Before long, a porcelain doll carved from pink jade appeared in the hall, exquisitely dressed in a pink-and-white layered skirt woven from pearls and precious gems.
Clad in this gorgeous and noble attire on her petite frame, she truly lived up to her status as the most pampered person in the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, creating a striking contrast with the others.
Walking over with a dazed and innocent expression, Ning Rongrong knelt and paid her respects under Ning Fengzhi's guidance, brimming with curiosity.
With a free and easy smile, Ning Fengzhi stroked the top of Ning Rongrong's head and asked Tu Ya, "Are you planning to build an academy in Tiantou City during this time?"
"I have heard a little about this matter."
For a Titled Douluo to build an academy was a massive sensation throughout Tiantou City; practically everyone knew about it.
Given the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's intelligence channels, it was only natural for him to know the details more clearly.
He continued immediately, "Naturally, our school is also very willing to see capable and extraordinary individuals like yourself build an academy to spread the methods of Soul Power cultivation. Therefore—"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is also willing to assist you with some funds and teachers to help the academy grow rapidly. I wonder what you think of this?"
Naturally, Chu Fei wouldn't turn down something delivered right to their doorstep, but in truth, this was simply Ning Fengzhi's way of trying to get on their good side.
Tu Ya nodded in acceptance. After offering her thanks, she quietly departed from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School with Ning Rongrong and the rest of her disciples.
Standing atop the tower with his hands clasped behind his back, Ning Fengzhi gazed into the distance in the direction where they had left and let out a soft sigh. Facing the chilly wind in the air, he remarked to Jian Chen and Gu Rong beside him with lingering emotion, "The future belongs entirely to these children."
"And to Rongrong, of course," Jian Chen added quietly after a brief silence.
The three of them exchanged a glance.
After a long while, hearty laughter echoed across the top of the tower.