Chapter 53

Although Sword God Academy enjoyed recognition as a powerful institution, its doors weren't open to just anyone. The academy didn't consider a student's strengths or weaknesses; it solely focused on accepting students with sword-type martial souls. As a result, the entire college had very few teachers and students, fewer than even some enlightenment schools.

However, the people here didn't care. Their purpose wasn't simply to practice swordsmanship to become stronger, but to protect their partners. These partners were auxiliary soul masters. Auxiliary soul masters held immense importance for any soul master team. However, because they lacked self-protection, they often died young. To mitigate this, auxiliary soul masters usually teamed up with powerful attacking or defensive soul masters for safety.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, known for the world's top auxiliary martial soul, established two academies long ago to address this issue. The family used its power to create these academies. The first was the Bone Academy, led by Bone Douluo Gu Rong, specializing in cultivating defensive soul masters. The second was the Sword God Academy, led by Sword Douluo Chen Xin, focusing on developing attacking soul masters.

Because of this focus, these two schools never participated in competition-oriented activities like the Martial Soul Saint Association. However, students were highly encouraged to participate in missions organized by the Soul Masters Association.

Ning Fengzhi, the current leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, rushed over upon hearing about the attacks on Sword God Academy teachers and students. He was accompanied by his son, Ning Longlong, who possessed astounding potential. Also with them was...

Gu Rong, his face set in a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Chen Xin's indifferent expression twitched, and veins bulged on his forehead.

"Hmph, what are you doing here? I don't have any tea for you."

The harmless smile on Gu Rong's face flickered with hostility. "Swordman, do you think I want to be here? Your mismanagement led to so many losses, alarming the sect leader. I came with him."

"Then you've come with the sect. You can go back now. I'll handle this."

"If you tell me to leave, I'll leave? Where would my face be?"

"You only have bones, no flesh. What face do you need?"

"More face than you. All you teach these kids is how to attack, not how to defend. Look what happened?"

"Are you questioning my teaching philosophy? What's the use of defense alone? Will the enemy just go away? Offense is the best defense!"

"Nonsense! If you don't know how to defend, how can you attack?"

As their voices rose, their soul power began to surge, causing Sword God Mountain to tremble.

Helpless, Ning Fengzhi took a few steps back. He had grown up watching them quarrel like this. Since they were in charge of separate colleges, they rarely saw each other, but when they did, they always argued.

These two were truly a pair. One had an introverted personality, but an aggressive swordsmanship style. The other was outgoing, but fought with a calm, collected attitude. They had known each other since childhood and should have been friends. Yet, they always argued when they met.

Even Ning Longlong had seen them go from arguing to fighting. Ning Fengzhi had knelt before them, begging them to stop.

That incident made Ning Longlong unafraid of anything. He had witnessed gods fight; everyone else's fights were like games.

However, seeing his father's embarrassed face, he still stepped forward. "Grandfathers, stop arguing. Father called you here to discuss something important."

They stopped arguing instantly.

"I'm doing this for Longlong's sake. I don't care about you, swordsman."

"Same here, stinky bones."

They followed Ning Fengzhi to Chen Xin's reception room.

"Sect Leader, what about the families of the deceased?"

Ning Fengzhi raised a hand. "Uncle Jian, don't worry. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will bear all the costs. I will personally visit each family to express my condolences, ensuring they have no worries."

Chen Xin nodded sadly. "Thank you, Sect Leader."

Gu Rong picked up his tea, saying nothing. They always did this: one claimed not to want tea, but made a cup for the other; the other liked to tease, but couldn't ridicule at a time like this.

"Uncle Jian, your letter didn't provide many details. Can you tell us what happened? And what about this Kamen Rider?"

"It's better for the people involved to explain. Come in, you two."

Liu Zhu and Jiang Yan entered.

"Disciple Liu Zhu (Jiang Yan) greets Dean, Master Ning, and Dean Gu Rong."

Ning Fengzhi helped them up. "Please, children. I'm sorry you suffered."

Chen Xin said, "Tell Sect Master Ning and Bone Douluo what happened, including the Kamen Rider who saved you."

They described their attack.

Gu Rong said angrily, "Evil soul masters have become rampant. Practicing such vicious techniques is an affront. From today on, I'll kill every one I see."

Ning Fengzhi stroked his chin. "I've heard about these evil soul masters, but I didn't think they'd venture into the soul beast ecological zone. It makes no sense to cultivate in a place teeming with soul beasts."

Chen Xin agreed. "The sect leader is right. That's what I noticed. But there's too little information. I believe there's a leader behind these evil soul masters."

Gu Rong raised his brows. "You think these evil soul masters belong to the same organization? If so, that makes sense."

They had too little information to proceed. Ning Fengzhi put the matter aside and asked Liu Zhu and Jiang Yan about the Kamen Rider. They described everything, from Mantis saving them to Yin Xiaoya appearing as Kamen Rider Skull.

Gu Rong was interested. "This Kamen Rider looks like a skeleton when he fights?"

Liu Zhu nodded. "Yes. He killed the leader of the evil soul masters with a huge energy skull. He looked like he was wearing armor, but it seemed biological. We thought it was his martial soul, but…"

They looked at Chen Xin, who continued. "He said he's temporarily staying at Shrek Academy, their guest. So I investigated and learned interesting things that the sect leader will find fascinating."

Chen Xin told them what he knew about Yin Xiaoya. Ning Fengzhi and Ning Longlong widened their eyes.

"He can give people power instantly, even if they aren't soul masters?"

"That's right. Flender even wants to cooperate with him to cultivate Kamen Riders. The skeleton form they saw wasn't shown at Shrek, meaning he likely has many powers. 'Kamen Rider' is the collective name for these powers. It's a profession, like soul master. His powers are like martial souls."

Ning Fengzhi showed interest. "If these powers ignore the user's identity, that offers hope for auxiliary soul masters."

Gu Rong understood. "Are you sure he can distribute this power?"

"I'm sure. And he can do more. He helped a girl evolve her martial soul to the top level and absorb a thousand-year soul ring. Now, he's training a few students in Kamen Rider techniques. One of them is someone who could barely cultivate. They're all about Longlong's age."

Ning Fengzhi paced. "Uncle Jian, we must contact him. He may help our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School overcome our current difficulty."

"Difficulty?" Chen Xin and Gu Rong frowned.

"What difficulty? Do you need us to fight?"

"No, it involves the new generation. For certain reasons, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School must participate in the Martial Soul Saint Meeting."

***

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