123: Chapter 123 The Enchanting Tulip

The clamor of the Saint's investiture ceremony had long since faded.

In a top-floor private room of a luxurious restaurant in the center of Spirit City.

Ji Xuan sat upright in the main seat, holding a cup of clear tea.

Sitting opposite him was Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi had intended to leave Spirit City as quickly as possible, but he was hurriedly stopped by a Cardinal who said that His Highness the Holy Son requested his presence.

He did not dare to refuse and could only bring Chen Xin and Ning Rongrong to arrive as appointed.

Ning Rongrong stood behind Ning Fengzhi, curiously sizing up Ji Xuan, her thoughts in turmoil.

In the Star Dou Great Forest, he had fought the seven members of Shrek alone, and that crushing strength still remained unforgettable to her to this day.

During the Soul Master Tournament finals not long ago, he had even shattered the Clear Sky Hammer, known as the number one Tool Spirit under heaven, with a single sword strike, stunning all of Spirit City.

Seeing him again now, he was already the Saint of Spirit Hall, possessing an incomparably noble status, which made her feelings all the more complicated.

Beside her, Chen Xin also looked at Ji Xuan with a complex expression.

During the investiture ceremony just moments ago, the appearance of the several great Elders from the Elder Hall still left him lingering in fear.

With his current cultivation, in front of those few, he actually felt as insignificant as a child, unable to even muster the thought of resistance.

"I wonder why His Highness the Holy Son has summoned me?" Ning Fengzhi spoke first, maintaining his usual smile.

Ji Xuan took a light sip of tea and slowly placed the cup on the table.

He raised his eyes to look at Ning Fengzhi and smiled faintly: "School Master Ning, an open person does not speak in riddles. I invited you here today for only one matter.

I want you to lead the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and submit to me."

As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the private room instantly stagnated.

The Soul Power around Chen Xin suddenly surged, the Sword Intent of the Seven Kill Sword faintly emerged, and a sharp aura bore down on Ji Xuan.

But just at this moment, an extremely terrifying pressure suddenly descended upon him, instantly making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, and the circulation of his Soul Power came to a standstill.

"Sword Douluo, it would be better to remain calm." Ji Xuan smiled faintly.

That terrifying pressure dissipated accordingly, as if it had never appeared.

Ning Fengzhi felt a shiver in his heart and quickly gave Chen Xin a look.

Chen Xin understood and forcibly suppressed his churning Soul Power.

"Your Highness, you really shouldn't joke with me like this." Ning Fengzhi's mind calmed slightly, and he forced a smile.

"Do you think I am joking with you?" Ji Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

The smile on Ning Fengzhi's face froze completely, then slowly faded.

He finally understood that this young Saint before him did not bother with power games at all; what he believed in had always been absolute strength.

The appearance of the seven great Elders at the investiture ceremony today was the most naked intimidation.

Submit, or be destroyed.

Now, there was no third path for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to choose from.

Ning Fengzhi's expression was extremely complex; he stared fixedly at Ji Xuan, his eyes filled with struggle and unwillingness.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had been passed down for hundreds of years, and the ancestors of past generations had never bowed their heads to any force.

But today, facing such crushing strength from Spirit Hall, even if he had ten thousand regrets, he was helpless.

He had always known that Spirit Hall was powerful, but he had never imagined that it would be powerful to this extent.

Even Chen Xin felt that there was not a shred of power to resist, which was completely beyond his expectations.

Only now did he understand that his previous thoughts of opposing Spirit Hall were, in the end, nothing more than ridiculous delusions.

Behind him, Chen Xin's Sword Qi surged faintly once more, his Soul Power already coiled and ready to strike.

He was waiting for Ning Fengzhi's final decision.

If Ning Fengzhi chose to refuse and Spirit Hall were to make a move against them, he would protect them and fight his way out, even if it meant risking his life.

Beside them, Ning Rongrong's face turned pale, her lips pressed tightly together, and her eyes were slightly red.

She naturally understood the threat in Ji Xuan's words, and her heart was filled with panic and unease, yet she did not know what to do.

Ji Xuan tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his expression remaining calm; he was waiting for Ning Fengzhi to consider.

A moment later.

"School Master Ning, you are a smart man." Ji Xuan looked straight into Ning Fengzhi's eyes. "Tell me, what is your choice?

Of course, if you refuse, you can leave now, but just make sure you don't regret the decision you make today."

The light in Ning Fengzhi's eyes dimmed completely, leaving only endless exhaustion and helplessness.

That back, which had stood straight for decades, actually slumped slightly at this moment.

"His Highness the Holy Son," Ning Fengzhi stood up and bowed slightly, "I am willing to lead the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to submit to you."

The moment his voice fell, the Soul Power Chen Xin had coiled and ready to strike receded completely.

For the first time, a look of defeat appeared on his stern face.

Ning Rongrong looked at her father in disbelief, her eyes instantly turning red, tears swirling in her eyes, but she held them back, refusing to let them fall.

She could never have imagined that her father, who had always possessed a backbone of steel, would choose to submit to Spirit Hall.

She did not know how she would face her friends at Shrek in the future.

"Not enough." Ji Xuan's voice sounded again. "A verbal agreement is too pale; I want you to swear an oath by your Spirit."

Ning Fengzhi's body stiffened, then he took a deep breath, a flash of determination in his eyes.

He raised his hand: "I, Ning Fengzhi, swear by my Spirit, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, that from this day forward, I will lead all the Disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to submit to the Spirit Hall Saint, Ji Xuan.

From now on, I will obey only the Saint's orders. If I violate this, may my Spirit shatter, my cultivation be completely ruined, and may I die a miserable death!"

"Very good." A satisfied smile finally appeared on Ji Xuan's face.

He raised his hand and brushed over the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse at his waist, and a jade box suddenly appeared in his palm.

He placed the jade box on the table and gently pushed it toward Ning Fengzhi: "School Master Ning, open it and take a look."

Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly, his heart filled with confusion.

He reached out to pick up the jade box and slowly opened it.

When he saw the item in the box, his breathing suddenly quickened, his pupils shrank violently, and he exclaimed involuntarily: "This... this is a silk tulip!"

Back then, the records of this silk tulip were among the Immortal Plant diagrams that Ning Rongrong had brought back from Shrek Academy.

He had once exhausted most of the Sect's manpower and resources to search for this Immortal Plant, but had always come up empty-handed.

He did not expect that this legendary Immortal Plant would appear so abruptly before him today.

He knew the value of this Immortal Plant very well; it could help the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda break through the seven-layer shackle and break through to the legendary Nine Treasure Realm!

Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!

That was the Realm that the ancestors of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had dreamed of for generations!

It was a long-cherished wish that many generations had exhausted their whole lives to achieve, yet failed to realize.

Now, it was within reach.

Ning Fengzhi stared blankly at the silk tulip.

A stick, then a carrot.

Ji Xuan's methods were simple and crude, yet they left him with no way to resist.

He slowly closed the jade box: "Thank you, Your Highness the Holy Son."

This time, the resistance and unwillingness in his heart, which had arisen earlier because of Ji Xuan's threat, had already dissipated by more than half.

Perhaps, submitting to Ji Xuan was not the end of the road for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, but rather an opportunity to move toward a more glorious future.