"Hello, my name is Ning Fengzhi, the young master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. May I ask who you are?"
'Hmm? So this is the old fox Ning Fengzhi. It seemed he was here to recruit Sword Douluo into his faction.'
However, the old man on the other side had only narrowly escaped death in the past two years. After all, he had only one son—Ning Fengzhi—due to his poor health. Fortunately, Ning Fengzhi was exceptionally capable.
Ning Fengzhi was currently around the same age as Fu Ye, only three years older, yet he was already a genuine high-level Soul King.
Fu Ye couldn't help but think that if not for the limitation preventing the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect from cultivating beyond the Soul Douluo level, Ning Fengzhi would undoubtedly be the most dazzling genius of this era.
"Hello, my name is Fu Ye. I'm the owner of this Juxiang Pavilion."
Fu Ye held Ning Fengzhi's talent in high regard, but he refrained from commenting on his character.
'Who doesn't have a scheming side when it comes to business?'
But Fu Ye merely ran a small restaurant—he had no intention of crossing paths with a cunning fox like Ning Fengzhi in matters of profit.
After exchanging a polite handshake, Fu Ye turned his attention to Chen Xin.
"Brother Chen Xin, how about we make a deal?"
After all, he was planning to poach the future pillar of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Of course, Fu Ye had no intention of restricting the man's personal freedom.
"Your Majesty Fu Ye, please feel free to speak."
"If you dare call me 'Your Majesty' again, don't blame me for beating you. Say it properly this time."
"Ahem… Brother Fu Ye, go ahead."
"Was that so hard? I'm still young—why address me so formally?"
With that, Fu Ye had successfully resolved the issue of Chen Xin's overly respectful tone—through friendly persuasion.
"I'll find you the most suitable ninth spirit ring, but in exchange, you'll help me run this store for the next fifty years. How does that sound?"
'Help run the store for fifty years, and in return, he'd secure him a perfect ninth soul ring?'
If anyone else had made such an offer, Chen Xin would have dismissed it outright. But coming from Fu Ye, he found himself believing it wholeheartedly.
Ning Fengzhi, who had been listening quietly, suddenly grew intrigued.
'Finding the most suitable ninth soul ring for a Titled Douluo?'
Such a feat was near impossible, yet this man spoke of it so casually.
Before arriving, Ning Fengzhi had already gathered intelligence—there was a 90,000-year-old Earth Dragon in a northwestern mountain range, one of his bargaining chips to win over Chen Xin.
"There's no need for a ninth soul ring. As long as Brother Fu Ye asks, I, Chen Xin, will protect this place."
'Hah, clever man—he narrowly avoided a beating.'
"Come on, with your physique, it's nearly impossible to find a truly compatible spirit ring, whether in the forest or the ocean."
"You might be thinking of absorbing a high-level, offensive-type soul beast, but blindly pursuing power will only waste your potential."
Fu Ye couldn't help but feel that Sword Douluo's fate was regrettable—a supreme powerhouse who perished on the eve of victory.
"But this is how soul masters have always obtained their spirit rings. Finding a truly fitting one is already difficult, let alone a high-level ninth soul ring!"
Ning Fengzhi could no longer remain silent. If Fu Ye could secure a perfect ninth soul ring for Sword Douluo, then his strength must surpass even Chen Xin's!
Moreover, Chen Xin had initially addressed Fu Ye as "Your Majesty"—meaning he was undoubtedly at the Titled Douluo level. Yet Fu Ye claimed to be only eighteen.
'Could an eighteen-year-old Titled Douluo truly exist?'
Fu Ye didn't elaborate. He had plenty of God-given spirit rings to spare—sacrificing one or two to secure a reliable shopkeeper was hardly a loss.
After all, while he possessed an Ultimate Douluo puppet, it was only good for combat. Using it to manage the store would be awkward—it couldn't hold a proper conversation and some can't even speak.
Fu Ye glanced at Ning Fengzhi, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Call out that Bone Dragon of yours. It must be tiring keeping him hidden all this time."
Ning Fengzhi's pupils constricted in shock—but before he could react, Fu Ye sliced open space itself and yanked out a young man clad in gray and black robes.
The man looked visibly shaken by Fu Ye's actions.
"Xiao Li, is there a private room available? It's too crowded here."
At Fu Ye's request, Xiao Li led them to the third floor—the second-floor rooms were already occupied, but the third floor still had an empty one.
On the way, Fu Ye spotted Liu Erlong, newly hired as a waitress, now dressed in Juxiang Pavilion's uniform.
When their eyes met, Liu Erlong's widened in disbelief—she never expected to encounter Fu Ye like this.
"We meet again, little girl."
Fu Ye smirked. He hadn't anticipated Liu Erlong actually applying to work at his restaurant.
Before she could say more, Fu Ye, Ning Fengzhi, and Chen Xin entered the private room.
Gu Rong was unceremoniously tossed onto a seat. Ning Fengzhi's earlier composure had vanished, replaced by unease.
Chen Xin, recognizing Gu Rong, was first startled, then curious—the two were acquainted.
Gu Rong slumped in his chair, trembling uncontrollably. Fu Ye's Dragon God bloodline exerted overwhelming pressure on dragon-type martial souls.
"Brother Fu Ye, may I ask what kind of soul beast you have in mind for Chen Xin's ninth soul ring?"
Ning Fengzhi finally steadied himself. If even Gu Rong—an 89th-level Soul Douluo—was effortlessly subdued, resistance was futile. Better to ask directly.
Fu Ye's golden eyes locked onto him.
"For me, hunting spirit beasts is unnecessary. There are two ways to obtain spirit rings in this world—hunting is merely one of them."
Those unfamiliar with god's inheritance would never comprehend the concept of God-given spirit rings.
"Hmm? I've always known soul masters to advance by absorbing spirit rings from soul beasts. Are there other methods?"
Ning Fengzhi was baffled. Despite his extensive studies, he had never heard of an alternative.
Fu Ye decided to enlighten him.
"There exists something called a God-given spirit ring. Only those who have encountered god's inheritance can access it. These spirit rings are inherently the most compatible for humans."
"They adapt to the soul master's needs, crafting skills to compensate for their deficiencies. Moreover, the spirit ring's age adjusts to the user's physical limits—if one's body and willpower are strong enough, even a 100,000-year ring isn't impossible."
…
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