Douluo Dalu: Path of Power

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Yu Lin had temporarily left Bei Xuan for one reason—to return here and make certain things clear to Ning Fengzhi.

Inside the grand hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi looked at Yu Lin, who was calmly sipping tea, and gave a wry smile.

"Your Excellency Doomslayer, did you just say that you made a special trip to my sect… just to ask for three hundred gold soul coins to pay your nephew's tuition?"

Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, standing nearby, were equally speechless. Three hundred gold soul coins? Are you looking down on us?

"Yes," Yu Lin nodded casually. "You already know that I, Yu Lin, am renowned as the poorest titled Douluo in history. I live by the philosophy of spending all I eat, drink, and play with—never saving a single coin. Now that I've found my nephew, Bei Xuan, and since his parents are no longer in this world, of course, I must take responsibility for raising him."

"Oh, Bei Xuan? Haha, isn't his name Ma Hongjun?" Ning Fengzhi asked knowingly. As expected, the intelligence network of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was formidable. Yu Lin had barely enrolled two children in Blazing Academy, yet Ning Fengzhi was already well-informed. Not only that, but he was also aware of how much Yu Lin seemed to favor Ma Hongjun.

Yu Lin waved his hand. "Ah, Sect Master Ning, we're friends, so I won't hide it from you. Hongjun is just a decoy to draw attention from other factions. The one who truly matters to me is Xiao Xuan. I don't want unnecessary disturbances interfering with his cultivation."

"So that's how it is," Ning Fengzhi remarked, feigning surprise. He then smiled knowingly. "Bei Xuan, huh? His surname is also 'Bei,' just like the legendary Bei Luo. That can't be a coincidence, can it? If Bei Luo was a real person, then he must have been Bei Xuan's father—your old friend."

Yu Lin couldn't help but admire Ning Fengzhi's deductive skills. This man is sharp. He figured out so much from just a few clues.

"You're right, Sect Master Ning," Yu Lin admitted. "He is the son of an old friend who has suffered hardships over the years. As his uncle, I have a duty to care for him. I ask that you keep this a secret from Spirit Hall and the other sects. Otherwise, they might use him to get to me."

"I was able to find Xiao Xuan thanks to the information you provided," Yu Lin continued. "And now I'm also asking you for money. That makes two favors I owe the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I will repay them in due time."

"Rest assured, I won't say a word," Ning Fengzhi replied with a slight smile. He reached into his robes and pulled out a card. "Your Excellency, here is the gold soul coin card you requested. Please accept it."

"Much appreciated!" Yu Lin accepted the card and stood up. "Well then, I'll take my leave. Chen Xin, I'll come back to spar with you another time."

Chen Xin, also known as Sword Douluo, nodded. "Anytime. I'll be waiting."

With that, Yu Lin soared into the sky, riding his sword away.

Once Yu Lin had left, Gu Rong frowned. "What is that guy up to? He came all this way just to ask for three hundred gold soul coins and then left?"

"Exactly! I was hoping he'd tell me more about Lord Bei Luo!" Ning Rongrong pouted in frustration. She had grown up listening to stories about Bei Luo and had been holding back her curiosity throughout the serious discussion. But just when she thought it was finally her turn to ask questions, Yu Lin flew away.

"Bei Xuan? So Lord Bei Luo was real? And he even had a son? I wonder what he looks like!" Ning Rongrong mused eagerly.

"You'll definitely get the chance to meet him someday," Ning Fengzhi said as he gently patted his daughter's head. Then, his gaze turned thoughtful. "Yu Lin came here with a message—perhaps even a warning. And I received it loud and clear. He's smart enough to know that I have intelligence that other factions lack. That's why he didn't even try to deceive me with his ploy involving Ma Hongjun. Instead, he laid everything out openly, which actually ties my hands. If I were to make any moves now, Yu Lin's first suspect would be my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"As for those three hundred gold soul coins… that was just an excuse to owe us a favor. Uncle Gu, do you really think three hundred gold soul coins are enough to make a Titled Douluo feel indebted?"

"Of course not," Gu Rong scoffed. "If he wanted money, he could just hunt a hundred-year soul beast for some noble's child and get paid more than that."

"Exactly," Ning Fengzhi nodded. "The real favor he owes us is the secret about Bei Xuan. But since that secret must remain hidden, he needed another excuse to justify repaying us in the future—hence, the three hundred gold soul coins. Did you notice? He didn't borrow the money. If he had, he could just pay it back later. Instead, he asked for it—turning it into a favor."

"So he's using a trivial debt to disguise a much bigger obligation? That doesn't sound like Yu Lin at all," Chen Xin remarked, puzzled. "He's always been straightforward. When did he start playing mind games?"

"Perhaps it wasn't Yu Lin's idea," Ning Fengzhi speculated. "Maybe that child came up with it. After all, he was smart enough to use an old story to find Yu Lin. And the amount he asked for—three hundred gold soul coins—was just right. Not enough to form a significant debt for a Titled Douluo, but just enough to cover their temporary tuition. It provided the perfect excuse for a future favor. In truth, the only real debt here is the one regarding Bei Xuan's identity."

Ning Fengzhi then smirked. "But Yu Lin underestimated me. In reality, he and that child now owe my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect two favors. If I use them wisely, they might be invaluable in the future."

Meanwhile, high above, Yu Lin continued flying through the sky, completely unaware that he had already been outmaneuvered by the cunning Ning Fengzhi.

Perhaps Ning Fengzhi's schemes wouldn't work on just anyone, but they were perfect against someone like Yu Lin—an honorable man who always repaid his debts.

The same applied to Bei Xuan. After all, Bei Xuan was the son of the King of Bixie.

Long ago, the Bixie royal clan had formed a close bond with Emperor Xuanyuan, the ruler of mankind. They had once owed him a great debt and, in return, guarded the passage between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm for thousands of years—sacrificing countless lives without regret.

The Bixie clan never made enemies lightly, nor did they take on debts easily. But once they did, they would repay them—even at the cost of their lives.

Ning Fengzhi had known Yu Lin for many years and understood his character well.

Watching his father's scheming expression, Gu Rong remained indifferent. But Chen Xin, on the other hand, was visibly uncomfortable. He had always disliked cunning plots and manipulations.

These schemers… they're all so devious!

Without another word, he took Ning Rongrong's hand and swiftly flew out of the grand hall. This little troublemaker was already too mischievous—he couldn't let her learn any of her father's tricks. Otherwise, she might truly turn into a little devil.