"Hmm, child, there's no need to be so formal. From now on, we're family. If you'd like, you can call me Uncle Ning." Ning Fengzhi said with a kind smile.
"Alright, Uncle Ning." Tian Lin replied without hesitation. After all, addressing someone familiarly is one way to build closer relationships.
Ning Fengzhi was unquestionably the most qualified leader Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan ever had. To his people, he balanced authority with kindness. To outsiders, he always appeared as gentle and warm as a spring breeze.
It was precisely because of this demeanor that, since his succession as the clan leader, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan had earned an excellent reputation in the world of soul masters.
Perhaps Ning Fengzhi's smile was seventy percent genuine and thirty percent calculated, giving him a hint of being a hypocrite. However, if someone could only fake kindness temporarily, they would eventually be exposed and scorned by the masses. But if someone could maintain that pretense their entire life, then they were no different from a saint.
Under Ning Fengzhi's leadership, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan had risen to become the second most powerful sect in the world.
"From now on, I'll call you Xiao Tian. Come, Xiao Tian, step up to the hall and show us your martial soul!" Ning Fengzhi's primary concern was Tian Lin's talent.
After all, the information passed along by the outer disciples was something he would only fully trust when he saw it with his own eyes.
"Yes!" Tian Lin stepped forward, extended his right hand, and summoned the Demon Sword with his mind.
In an instant, the hall was filled with an intense sword aura. Countless sword shadows seemed to manifest in all directions, ready to pierce through any enemy in the blink of an eye.
"What a terrifying martial soul! It doesn't even have a single soul ring, yet its sword aura is this powerful!" Chen Xin exclaimed in astonishment. With his level of mastery, he could tell that the sword aura emanated not from Tian Lin himself, but from the sword itself.
"Grandpa Sword, I'm scared!" Ning Rongrong whimpered, her small lips trembling as she buried her face deep in Chen Xin's chest, too frightened to look.
Locked on by such immense sword intent, it felt as if the blade was already pressed against her neck. How could a little girl not be terrified?
"Rongrong, don't be afraid. Grandpa is here!" Chen Xin waved his hand, releasing a more powerful Seven Kill Sword aura that instantly dispersed the Demon Sword's oppressive sword intent.
As expected of Sword Douluo—his mastery over the sword was unparalleled across the entire continent.
Tian Lin steadied himself and said, "Uncle Ning, Your Excellencies, this is my martial soul: the Suppressing Demon Sword. The sword intent earlier is the innate soul skill of my martial soul—Phantom Sword. One sword becomes ten thousand, annihilating all enemies!"
"Innate soul skill, truly extraordinary. Old Sword, this skill is somewhat reminiscent of your sixth soul skill, Myriad Swords Return to the Origin, isn't it?" Bone Douluo Gu Rong remarked.
Chen Xin nodded. "Indeed, but it's even more powerful than my Myriad Swords Return to the Origin. This innate soul skill can grow stronger as Tian Lin's level increases. Perhaps, in the future, it might rival the ninth soul skill of some Titled Douluo."
"Sword Uncle, I think this child has a great affinity with you. Why don't you take him as your disciple? You've yet to find a successor, haven't you?" Ning Fengzhi suddenly suggested.
Tian Lin's heart was filled with gratitude upon hearing this. This was, after all, the main reason he had come to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan.
Chen Xin considered for a moment and said, "I can allow him to call me Teacher for now, and I will guide him in his cultivation."
He did not agree outright. The roles of a teacher and a master were entirely different. Teachers were everywhere in academies, but a master was singular and irreplaceable. Chen Xin was extremely strict when selecting a disciple; beyond talent, he also evaluated perseverance, character, and morality.
However, Tian Lin had gained an opportunity. Chen Xin had not outright rejected him but had instead given him a trial period. If Tian Lin met his expectations, he would officially accept him as a disciple.
"Thank you, Teacher! I will dedicate myself to cultivation and strive to earn your full recognition as soon as possible!" Tian Lin bowed respectfully before Chen Xin.
Seeing this, Chen Xin's satisfaction grew. Tian Lin had perfectly read between the lines of his words. With such talent and intelligence, it seemed likely that he would soon gain a personal disciple.
"You're called Tian Lin, right? My name's Rongrong, and I'm the young lady of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. Since you've joined the clan, you'll have to listen to me from now on and be my little brother," Ning Rongrong declared, still upset over being frightened earlier.
"I can protect you, but I won't be your little brother," Tian Lin immediately refused. He had no intention of indulging this little troublemaker.
"Grandpa Sword, look at him!" Ning Rongrong wasted no time complaining.
"Alright, Rongrong. It's enough that Tian Lin has agreed to protect you. You should focus on becoming good friends with him and not use your status to oppress others," Ning Fengzhi admonished.
As a support-type soul master, the most crucial thing was to find trustworthy comrades who could guard one's back. Given Tian Lin's talent, Ning Fengzhi hoped he could become that person for Ning Rongrong.
Just as Ning Fengzhi himself never put on airs as a clan leader in front of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. To him, the two Douluo were his comrades and family.
"Rongrong, listen to your father. Tian Lin's martial soul doesn't allow him to bow to anyone. A true swordsman with a sword heart must never bow to anything or anyone. Only by forging ahead can they reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship," Chen Xin added.
"Hmph! None of you are on my side. Rongrong hates all of you!" Ning Rongrong pouted and, in a fit of childish frustration, ran off without saying another word.
"This child…" Ning Fengzhi sighed. He turned to Tian Lin and said, "I apologize, Tian Lin. My daughter has been spoiled by me. You should rest for now. Tomorrow morning, Sword Uncle will take you to the Star Dou Forest to obtain your first soul ring."
"It's alright, Uncle Ning. I'll take my leave now." Tian Lin bowed and left the hall.
A disciple had been waiting outside for some time. Ning Fengzhi had arranged for this disciple to escort Tian Lin to the room where he would live from now on.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's wealth was truly astonishing. Even as a new disciple, Tian Lin was given a private room that was both luxurious and spacious. Living in such a place every day felt almost sinful.
Of course, this was a treatment reserved for someone like Tian Lin. With his talent, he was a potential future Titled Douluo of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan. Ordinary disciples would never receive such privileges.
Instead of resting, Tian Lin sat at the desk, took out paper and pen, and began planning the configuration of his soul rings. No one understood the Demon Sword better than he did, so the choice of soul rings had to be carefully considered by him.
The growth path of the Demon Sword was different from other swords. The soul rings it required wasn't focused on sharpness or durability but on various elemental attributes.
Water, fire, wind, lightning, and earth.
By combining these five elements in different ways, numerous soul skills could be created, with possibilities numbering in the dozens.
Tian Lin needed to select the nine strongest and most practical soul skills from these combinations!