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In an instant, Gu Rong's sharp, eagle-like eyes flared with a sudden intensity!
There was no verbal warning, no explosive surge of energy.
Yet, Dai Chengfeng immediately felt the air around him grow slightly heavier, as if a subtle ripple—barely perceptible yet unmistakably present—had spread outward like the gentle disturbance of a stone dropped into a still lake.
An indescribable weight, thick and oppressive, quietly unfurled, enveloping the space around him without a sound.
It wasn't painful, but it felt as though an invisible mountain had been placed upon his shoulders.
Bone Elder Gu Rong had made his move!
But this pressure wasn't meant as a challenge—it was more akin to a gentle probe, a careful weighing of the young man who had been praised so highly by Chen Xin and Ning Rongrong.
Gu Rong simply wanted to see for himself: was this youth truly extraordinary, or merely superficial brilliance?
Though the force was relatively mild compared to outright aggression, its weight was no less formidable!
The light in the elegant room seemed to dim slightly for a fleeting moment.
Ning Rongrong, standing closest to Dai Chengfeng, didn't feel the direct impact of the mental pressure, but she instinctively held her breath.
The air around her seemed to thicken ever so slightly, filling her with an inexplicable sense of unease.
Worried, she glanced at Dai Chengfeng, her small hand instinctively gripping the edge of his sleeve.
"Dai Chengfeng, are you okay?"
At her question, Dai Chengfeng smiled and shook his head.
He showed no sign of panic in the face of Gu Rong's sudden test.
Nor did he choose to resist or unleash his soul power to dispel the pressure—such actions wouldn't align with his current persona of being "spiritually depleted."
In the next moment, the vast spiritual power within him stirred in an incredibly subtle and harmonious manner.
Like water meeting water, it flowed naturally, embracing and neutralizing the encroaching force.
His figure remained upright, not a single strand of hair out of place.
Gu Rong's probing spirit force sank into what felt like an immeasurably deep, boundless "sea," failing to stir even the slightest ripple.
This effortless resolution was as if Gu Rong's attack were nothing more than a negligible breeze brushing against a mountain ridge.
'Let him be strong; I remain steadfast like the wind caressing the peaks.'
Such was the Taoist way—all paths lead to the Dao.
"Sss!!"
Upon witnessing this, Ning Fengzhi's warm gaze shifted from appraisal to sheer astonishment!
As an auxiliary-type soul master capable of multitasking, despite only possessing a soul power level of 79, his spiritual strength rivaled that of a Soul Douluo.
Thus, he clearly "saw" the seamless and inclusive flow of Dai Chengfeng's spiritual power…
If one had to describe Ning Fengzhi's feelings at this moment, he would say… this was nothing short of artistry!
A feat like this—one that demonstrated such mastery over spiritual power—was beyond the reach of ordinary people.
"The things Uncle Sword said… they're all true! Dai Chengfeng really is a genius!"
Across from them, Sword Elder Chen Xin subtly relaxed, but the slight narrowing of his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil:
This boy's spiritual power… has it become even more refined since their encounter in the Great Star Dou Forest?
Such terrifying progress!
As for Bone Elder Gu Rong, the one who had initiated the test, his sharp, hawk-like eyes widened significantly!
His spiritual power had vanished into thin air, encountering no resistance or backlash, as if absorbed into the depths of an endless void.
He could even clearly sense that Dai Chengfeng's response wasn't one of confrontation but rather a higher-level act of "inclusion and resolution."
This quiet, unassuming exchange spoke volumes—far more than any overt clash of power.
"Hmm?"
For a moment, Gu Rong emitted a barely audible murmur of disbelief, tinged with astonishment.
After all, he was a titled Douluo, while Dai Chengfeng was merely a Soul Ancestor—a gap far too vast to bridge.
Though he hadn't exerted his full strength, Gu Rong estimated that the spiritual pressure he'd unleashed could easily overpower a Soul King, let alone a Soul Ancestor.
It should have been impossible to withstand his spiritual force, much less dissolve it so effortlessly into nothingness.
"It seems… that old fool Chen Xin was telling the truth…"
With this realization, Gu Rong's heart filled with awe.
"That Dai Chengfeng… aside from the enigmatic Young Master of the Spirit Hall, whose innate soul power reached a horrifying level of twenty ranks at birth, he must surely be the foremost genius of this generation!"
"Frightening as he is, I wonder whether it's a blessing or a curse for Rongrong to share the same era as him…"
In contrast to the amazement displayed by Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong—
Only Ning Rongrong, observing Dai Chengfeng's calm demeanor and the rare stunned expression on Grandpa Gu's face, failed to grasp what had transpired.
But instinctively, she sensed that her "bone grandpa" hadn't fared well.
Pouting slightly, she gently tugged at Dai Chengfeng's arm:
"Hey, Grandpa Bone, what weird thing were you doing just now?"
"Dai Chengfeng is my friend—you're not allowed to bully him!"
Her playful words caused the tense atmosphere to ease significantly.
Uncharacteristically, Gu Rong ignored Ning Rongrong entirely, his gaze remaining fixed unwaveringly on Dai Chengfeng.
All traces of sharpness in his eyes had been replaced by undisguised shock.
His broad chest rose and fell slightly, and his voice carried a newfound tone of respect and admiration:
"Remarkable young man!"
"Silent, imperceptible… and yet, you dissolved my spiritual probe so thoroughly!"
"Chen Xin, you didn't exaggerate a single word!"
Hearing this, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at Chen Xin's lips as he looked at Gu Rong, his tone laced with subtle mischief:
"Old Bones, are you convinced now?"
Gu Rong nodded. "Convinced!"
"This time, I'm truly convinced!"
"To achieve such effortless mastery—even among Soul Douluos, few can match it!"
"And at your age? If I were in your shoes at this age, I'd have been flattened long ago."
Seeing Gu Rong's rare admission of defeat, Chen Xin finally felt satisfied. He then turned to Dai Chengfeng.
"Dai Chengfeng, earlier, Gu Rong wasn't intentionally targeting you—it was all because I goaded him on purpose to embarrass him."
"I'll apologize on his behalf here. I hope you won't hold it against him."
Before Dai Chengfeng could respond—
"Nonsense!"
Gu Rong's eyebrows shot up as he sharply cut off Chen Xin's words.
"Chen Xin! Stop playing peacemaker and trying to act noble! When have I ever needed you to apologize for me?"
"Even if you hadn't provoked me just now, my own curiosity about his strength would've led me to test him anyway."
"Therefore, if there's any apology to be made, it's mine alone!"
With that, Gu Rong's rugged, stern face turned toward Dai Chengfeng.
Gone was the arrogance typical of a titled Douluo; instead, his eyes conveyed solemnity and sincerity.
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