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The next morning, the mist over the lake at Heaven Dou Royal Academy had not yet dispersed.
Feng Xiao, dressed in white, sat before a wooden zither stand, his slender fingers plucking clear, flowing water-like sounds from the Seven Stringed Zither.
Morning dew dripped from the zither stand, splashing tiny water droplets on the bluestone slab.
"Little Feng, Chen Xin and Gu Rong, those two old fellows, are here. Be careful yourself."
She Long's voice echoed in Feng Xiao's ear, then vanished without a trace.
Feng Xiao's fingertips trembled slightly on the zither strings, but the zither's melody continued to flow like a smooth stream.
His eyes were slightly closed, long lashes casting faint shadows in the morning light, as if he was completely immersed in the music, oblivious to She Long's message.
"They came quite fast," he thought to himself, a barely perceptible curve forming at the corner of his mouth.
The zither music under Feng Xiao's fingers grew deeper, each string's vibration subtly aligning with the rhythm of heaven and earth.
He appeared lost in the music, but in reality, his spirit power was quietly circulating throughout his body, sensing everything around him as he played.
As the morning mist gradually dispersed, gilded embroidered shoes trod across the dew-laden grass, making a faint rustling sound.
Ning Rongrong stopped by the lake, her gaze like a knife, piercing the white-clad figure playing the zither.
Feng Xiao sat serenely in the morning light, his slender fingers dancing on the zither strings, his entire being seemingly merging with the lake and mountains.
This ethereal demeanor, however, only intensified the disgust in Ning Rongrong's eyes.
She could never forget the story this young man told her in Spirit City.
Admittedly, Feng Xiao's story held some truth, but it wasn't her truth; in her eyes, Xiao Wu was a living, breathing person, and she hated Feng Xiao for comparing Xiao Wu to those vulgar things, yet now she too was trapped within this inhumane logic.
"Putting on an act," Ning Rongrong scoffed, her fingertips unconsciously digging into her palm.
She hated Feng Xiao's all-knowing look, and even more, she hated how he always spoke the truths she least wanted to face.
Ripples spread across the lake, reflecting her slightly distorted face.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong suddenly couldn't tell if she was disgusted with Feng Xiao or with herself, who had to bow to reality.
At this moment, Ning Rongrong stared intently at Feng Xiao's calm demeanor, only feeling that Feng Xiao was incredibly hypocritical, speaking all sorts of reason, but still compromising for the sake of gaining benefits from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
A hint of resolve flashed in Ning Rongrong's eyes.
She had to let her father and her two grandpas see with their own eyes how hypocritical this so-called genius Spirit Master truly was!
As long as Feng Xiao showed even the slightest flaw in front of her…
"Then, Dad won't force me to see him anymore, right?" As this thought flashed through her mind, Ning Rongrong herself didn't notice the bitter curve that formed on her lips.
The morning breeze ruffled her carefully styled hair, a few strands clinging to her slightly reddened eyes.
She abruptly raised a hand to wipe them away.
She was determined to expose this arrogant fellow in front of Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Gu Rong!
"Hey! You, playing the zither!"
Ning Rongrong's pampered voice pierced through the morning mist, the jade pendant hanging from her waist jingling with her hurried footsteps, sounding particularly harsh by the tranquil lake.
Her gilded embroidered shoes stomped heavily on the bluestone slab, the wind from her skirt startling the egrets resting by the shore.
Feng Xiao didn't even lift an eyelid, his slender fingers lightly sweeping across the zither strings, producing a series of clear notes like pearls falling onto a plate.
His composed demeanor only fueled Ning Rongrong's anger.
"This young lady is talking to you!" Her willow-like eyebrows shot up, and her delicate jade hand, carrying spirit power fluctuations, fiercely swept towards the zither stand.
"Zheng—!"
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the rosewood zither stand, an invisible sound wave suddenly burst forth.
Ning Rongrong felt a tingling sensation in her fingertips, and her entire body was pushed back three staggering steps by a soft yet firm force, her carefully styled hair becoming even more disheveled.
"You!" She covered her numb right hand, her cheeks flushed crimson with anger.
Only then did Feng Xiao slowly lift his gaze, his fingertips pressing down on the still trembling zither strings: "Miss Ning, is this how you 'communicate'?" His voice was as clear and cold as the morning breeze sweeping across the lake.
"Communicate?" Ning Rongrong sneered, her glazed eyes full of mockery.
She didn't believe Feng Xiao couldn't see through her father's intentions—this feigned composure only made her look like an unreasonable child.
In the morning light, she saw her own reflection on the zither stand, looking so disheveled.
"If Miss Ning is feeling unwell and prone to irritability, perhaps it would be better to go back and rest," Feng Xiao said, lightly plucking a zither string, his tone as indifferent as if discussing the weather.
Ning Rongrong stared intently at his unperturbed handsome face, her chest heaving violently, the tassels on her gilded skirt trembling with her movements.
Since childhood, as the pampered darling of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, when had she ever been treated with such disdain?
Which of those nobles and dignitaries hadn't fawned over her and tried to please her in every way?
"He's just a commoner Spirit Master with a bit of talent," she bit her lower lip hard, only realizing it when she tasted blood.
Her fingertips dug deep into her palm.
Ning Rongrong turned away angrily, her gilded embroidered shoes stomping heavily on the bluestone slab, emitting a crisp sound.
Just as she was about to leave in a huff, she suddenly stopped.
"I must have been so angry I lost my mind," she thought to herself.
She had left, and her two grandpas must be guarding nearby.
Ning Rongrong suddenly changed her mind and gracefully turned back.
She deliberately softened her voice: "You're right, Rongrong was impolite."
She lowered her head slightly, revealing a section of her fair neck; beneath her seemingly humble posture, her eyes gleamed with calculation.
Since she wanted to tear off this hypocrite's mask, she might as well play along with him—she wanted to see how long this sanctimonious fellow could keep up the act under the watchful eyes of two Titled Douluo!
In the shadows of the different space, Gu Rong frowned deeply, his withered fingers unconsciously stroking his chin.
He watched Ning Rongrong feigning gentleness while suppressing her anger, his heart aching as he shook his head: "This young man is too ungrateful! Yesterday, Feng Zhi just made concessions to the Crown Prince, and today he won't even give Rongrong an ounce of face."
Chen Xin's snow-white sword-like eyebrows raised slightly: "Perhaps, it's quite the opposite."
His gaze was like a torch, looking towards the pavilion, "Rongrong and he are actually in the same boat—one is unwilling to be bound by Sect rules, and the other resents being controlled by power."
Gu Rong was startled by the words, then suddenly enlightened.
His bony fingers stroked his chin: "Brilliant! If that's the case…" A sharp glint appeared in his eyes, "Are we old fellows being meddlesome? No wonder Feng Zhi chose to contact this young man through the Crown Prince."
Chen Xin nodded slightly, his gaze deep as a pond beneath his snow-white, sword-like eyebrows.
He suddenly understood the key—if Ning Fengzhi had directly contacted Feng Xiao through the person in Nuoding City, it would inevitably earn him the reputation of "abusing kindness for personal gain."
But using the Crown Prince's hand was vastly different.
Xue Qinghe had shown kindness to Feng Xiao; having the Crown Prince exert pressure could both repay this favor and sow discord between Feng Xiao and the imperial family.
At that time, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School could appear as "rescuers," and coupled with the growing affection with Ning Rongrong, not only would Feng Xiao willingly serve the Sect, but it would also subtly weaken the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's strength.
Gu Rong suddenly understood, and in the distance on the lake, a fallen leaf whirled and fell into the water.
Chen Xin looked at the two figures by the lake, unable to help but feel emotional.
Ning Fengzhi's move not only calculated the relationship between Feng Xiao and the Crown Prince but also encompassed the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
"It's just…" Chen Xin suddenly frowned, "That young man has a free-spirited personality like the old poisoner, and his thoughts are deep.
Feng Zhi's calculations might not go as he wishes."
But Gu Rong grinned, revealing his stark white teeth: "No matter.
If he doesn't know what's good for him… humph…" Bone spurs faintly appeared in his sleeve.
The two exchanged glances, simultaneously concealing their aura.
Feng Xiao lightly stroked the zither strings, observing Ning Rongrong's sudden change without a ripple.
The young girl had just been filled with barely contained anger, but now she adopted a conciliatory posture; such a quick change of face was truly intriguing.
"Interesting…" he mused inwardly, his expression not faltering in the slightest.
The undeniable calculation in Ning Rongrong's eyes was perfectly clear to him.
However, these petty tricks were insignificant to him—as long as he kept this young lady stable, Qian Renxue could naturally gain more benefits from Ning Fengzhi.
The zither music gradually turned clearer and more melodious, a faint, elusive smile playing on Feng Xiao's lips.
The current situation was more favorable than he had anticipated.
If handled properly, perhaps before Bibi Dong launched the Spirit Hunting Operation, Qian Renxue could use the power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to firmly control the Heaven Dou imperial power.
Feng Xiao nodded slightly, his fingertips lightly stroking the zither strings: "Since Miss Ning is here to exchange methods for Heart Separation Control, why not begin practicing now?" His voice was calm as water, yet his gaze never left the zither surface.
Ning Rongrong was startled by the words, a hint of surprise flashing in her glazed eyes—what kind of exchange was this?
If it was just for her to practice alone, what was the point of her coming here specifically?
"But…" She lightly bit her lower lip, adopting a pitiful expression, her long eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, "Father said he wanted me to seek your guidance…" Her voice grew softer and softer, carrying a hint of deliberate shyness.
Her moist, large eyes looked directly at Feng Xiao, as if filled with countless grievances.
Only then did Feng Xiao slowly lift his gaze and calmly glance at her, his eyes as still as an ancient well: "My zither music will naturally assist your cultivation of Heart Separation Control."
With that, he said no more, his slender fingers sweeping across the strings, and clear zither music poured forth like a stream.
Ning Rongrong's chest heaved violently; even the good temper she had cultivated at Shrek Academy nearly broke.
But thinking of her two grandpas observing in secret, she still forcibly suppressed her anger.
Her jade hand lightly lifted, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda slowly appeared in her palm, its seven-colored flowing light intertwining with the zither music, reflecting a hazy halo in the morning light.
"I'd like to see," she thought with hidden resentment, "how long you can keep up the act!"
Feng Xiao's zither music flowed like a clear spring, every note seeming to carry a profound rhythm.
Ning Rongrong was initially filled with indignation, but as the zither music entered her ears, she suddenly felt a cool sensation flow directly from her crown downward, and her restless emotions instantly became as still as water.
At this moment, her senses became sharper than ever before—the gentle touch of the morning breeze rustling through her hair, the faint sound of crickets chirping in the distant grass, and even the ripples created by fish tails wagging beneath the lake surface, all became exquisitely clear in her mind.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda rotated on its own in her palm, her spirit ring flickering with the rhythm of her breathing, and the cultivation of Heart Separation Control was several times smoother than usual.
Ning Rongrong looked at the figure playing the zither in shock.
She finally understood that Feng Xiao's auxiliary ability was no less than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and in some aspects, even more profound.
This zither music could not only calm the mind but also enhance a Spirit Master's perception, offering immeasurable benefits to any Spirit Master's cultivation and combat.
Unconsciously, she had become completely immersed in her cultivation state.
Her three spirit rings rotated as naturally as breathing, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's light resonated perfectly with the zither music, reflecting a brilliant seven-colored halo on the lake surface.
This was the first time in her life she had experienced such exhilarating cultivation.
Feng Xiao glimpsed Ning Rongrong gradually entering a better state, a slight smile on his lips, and slowly focused on his own cultivation.
In the shadows of the different space, Gu Rong and Chen Xin stared at this scene, dumbfounded.
"They just started cultivating like that?" Gu Rong's withered fingers unconsciously pulled off a strand of his beard, his face full of disbelief, "When did this girl Rongrong become so agreeable?"
Chen Xin's snow-white, sword-like eyebrows raised high: "What else did you expect?"
Gu Rong stroked his chin, a suspicious glint in his eyes: "This kid doesn't have some special Hobbies, does he?"
"You don't know a damn thing!" Chen Xin uncharacteristically swore, "This kid is a natural prodigy for cultivating tool Spirits.
Only with a heart like still water can one truly comprehend the essence of a tool Spirit."
His gaze was burning as he looked towards the pavilion, "To be able to develop zither music to this extent…"
Before he finished speaking, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda suddenly burst into brilliant light, and her three spirit rings easily completed three perfect rotations.
Gu Rong was so startled he almost fell out of the spatial rift: "This, this…"
Chen Xin's face showed emotion: "Aside from his insufficient cultivation, with the abilities he has developed, this kid could already establish his own Sect.
These nobles at Heaven Dou Royal Academy are also useless; this kid plays the zither here every day and no one comes to learn a few tricks!"
Time flowed like water, quietly passing in cultivation.
When Feng Xiao's slender fingers gently pressed on the zither strings, and the last wisp of lingering sound slowly dissipated, Ning Rongrong's amplified perception also gradually receded.
The noon bell happened to ring at this moment, its melodious sound echoing across the academy.
Both of them opened their eyes almost simultaneously.
Ning Rongrong's eyes still held a hint of daze; she had never experienced such a state of self-forgetful cultivation, even during her most focused moments at Shrek Academy.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda gently rotated in her palm, and she could clearly feel the progress she had made that morning.
Feng Xiao had already risen, holding "Fuxi" in his arms.
He glanced at the still lost-in-thought Ning Rongrong and said indifferently: "Let's go, it's mealtime."
Before he finished speaking, he had already turned and walked towards the dining hall, his moon-white robes gently fluttering in the afternoon breeze, showing no intention of waiting.
Ning Rongrong then awoke as if from a dream, hastily putting away her Spirit.
Looking at Feng Xiao's receding back, she bit her lip, but ultimately hurried to follow him.
The calculations and indignation from the morning had long been cast aside.
Now, her mind held only one thought—could she continue to experience this miraculous zither music assistance tomorrow?