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After a long pause, Ning Fengzhi snapped back to reality and quickly waved his hand. "Lord Zhongli, you flatter her too much. Rongrong is still just a child at heart."
"Lord Zhongli, your magnanimity in not holding my daughter's actions against her is something I deeply appreciate!"
Ning Fengzhi stood up and bowed deeply to Zhongli.
Gratitude was one thing, but what truly drove him to act this way wasn't just appreciation.
This kind of "humbling oneself to welcome the worthy" gesture would have moved most people to tears.
Zhongli lifted his teacup with his right hand, took a sip, and set it down.
With a faint motion of his hand, he gently raised Ning Fengzhi back to his feet.
This simple act made Chen Xin's face pale slightly.
Amateurs might see only the surface, but experts recognized the skill behind it.
Chen Xin could perform a similar feat, but the soul power fluctuations would never be so minimal—nor would it look so effortless.
This Zhongli's soul power level might very well be above his own!
Whether it was 97th or 98th rank, he couldn't be sure.
Wait—
As if struck by a sudden realization, Chen Xin glanced at Paimon, then back at Zhongli, his pupils contracting sharply as he froze in place.
He understood now!
No wonder Zhongli had yet to add a single soul ring to his second martial soul. His goal wasn't just to become an invincible Titled Douluo—it was far grander than that!
Normally, a twin-souled soul master would immediately start adding soul rings to their second martial soul upon reaching the 90th rank.
Powerful soul rings could help a soul master break through quickly, reaching realms many Titled Douluo could never attain.
Starting from 91st rank, absorbing nine soul rings of 50,000 years or higher would almost certainly push one past 95th rank—possibly even to 97th or 98th rank.
No one had succeeded yet (or so he thought), but the theory was sound.
But Zhongli was different. His soul power was likely already around 97th rank!
With such strength, why hadn't he added soul rings to his second martial soul? What was he planning?
99th rank?
No—his goal was likely to shatter the 10,000-year curse that had prevented anyone on the Douluo Continent from ascending to godhood!
Once he reached 99th rank, once further self-improvement became impossible, his second martial soul would become his final hope!
If nine 50,000-year soul rings weren't enough, what about nine 100,000-year soul rings?
Could that break the limits and propel him from 99th rank to 100th rank—to godhood?!
At this thought, Chen Xin's pupils shrank further, his expression turning grave.
A god…
His ambition was to become a god!
Ning Fengzhi, not having reached Chen Xin's level of insight, hadn't even considered this possibility.
"Clan Leader Ning, titles like 'Lord' create distance. Just call me Zhongli."
Zhongli's expression remained unchanged as he spoke, his amber eyes briefly flicking toward Chen Xin.
That single glance sent a chill down Chen Xin's spine, cold sweat breaking out on his back.
It felt as though some terrifying entity had just locked onto him.
Zhongli had naturally sensed Chen Xin's probing—this glance was a warning.
Now that he had "revealed" his Titled Douluo-level strength, it was necessary to wield it appropriately.
If he didn't, others might mistake his restraint for weakness, inviting unnecessary trouble.
A warning to Chen Xin now could prevent many headaches later.
"Haha, Lord—ahem—Zhongli is right. And please, no more 'Clan Leader Ning.'"
"I don't know your age, so I dare not presume seniority. If you're willing, you may call me 'Little Brother Ning' or just 'Fengzhi.'"
Networking was Ning Fengzhi's specialty, after all!
"Little brother?!"
Before Zhongli could respond, Paimon blurted out in shock, glancing between Ning Fengzhi and the ancient Zhongli.
Zhongli was over 6,000 years old—older than eighteen generations of Ning Fengzhi's ancestors combined.
Thankfully, Ning Fengzhi hadn't overstepped by suggesting Zhongli call him "big brother."
That would've been… inappropriate.
Paimon's outburst left Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin bewildered. Was there something wrong with "little brother"?
As the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, wasn't he the "big brother" wherever he went?
He had humbled himself to foster goodwill—what was the issue?
Ning Fengzhi was sharp. Paimon's hesitation made him wonder:
Did she think he wasn't worthy to be Zhongli's "little brother"?
Her glance at Zhongli suggested as much.
Titled Douluo possessed the ability to reverse aging.
Though Zhongli appeared young, his true age might far exceed Ning Fengzhi's. Calling him "little brother" might already be presumptuous.
This rejuvenation ability was typically used by female powerers—maintaining their beauty with soul power was a priority.
Male experts rarely bothered. Why waste soul power on vanity?
"Um, Clan Leader Ning, how old are you?"
"Fifty-five."
Ning Fengzhi answered without hesitation. His age wasn't a secret.
"Only fifty-five?!"
Paimon's slip of the tongue stunned Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin.
They weren't fools—they immediately grasped the implication.
In Paimon's mind, the Traveler was at least 500 or 600 years old (having been sealed for 500 years alone).
Zhongli, as the oldest of Teyvat's Seven Archons, was over 6,000 years old—having founded Liyue 3,700 years ago.
As for Paimon herself… Wait, how old was she again?
"Cough, cough, cough…"
Zhongli's sudden coughing fit snapped Paimon out of her thoughts.
"Zhongli, are you okay?!"
"Clan Leader Ning, do you know any doctors in Heaven Dou City?"
"Zhongli's been coughing a lot lately—he must be sick. He needs a doctor!"
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin fell silent.
The reason for Zhongli's coughing was obvious to everyone—except Paimon.
"Been coughing a lot lately"?
Clearly, this little one had a habit of misspeaking.
"There are doctors, of course. I could even summon the imperial physician from the palace for Zhongli…"
"No need. My constitution will recover in a few days."
"Thank you for your concern, Little Brother Ning."
The group exchanged glances and nodded.
"What are you all communicating with your eyes?!"
"Nothing. Just committing our esteemed guest's presence to memory."
"Esteemed guest?"
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 50 on my patreon, go check it out.