"Uncle Sword, is that boy truly unbeatable?"
Ning Fengzhi had been momentarily overwhelmed by Chen Xin's breakthrough. But now that he thought back, none of Chen Xin's attacks seemed to have had any effect on the boy—on the contrary, his own martial soul had been shattered.
"Mm. Once you reach my level, you'll understand just how vast the gap between you and him truly is," said Chen Xin, nodding in silent admission.
"…"
Ning Fengzhi looked a little embarrassed at Chen Xin's blunt words.
Fine, he couldn't win—but did he really have to bring up levels?
Everyone who awakened the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was inherently limited by its flaws. No matter their talent, their rank could never exceed 79. That wasn't something effort could change; it was an intrinsic defect of the martial soul itself.
Still, it wasn't quite as bad as that one guy stuck at Rank 29…
"Uncle Sword, then what do we do now…?"
They'd shown up here as supposed enforcers of justice. But now it seemed justice had been claimed by the edge of that boy's Dull Blade.
If they simply withdrew now, not only would the auction house's entire business network be affected, but the reputation of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan would take a serious hit as well.
In fact, it was questionable whether they'd even be allowed to leave unharmed.
After all, they were the ones who had provoked him first. Now that they were no match for him, their fate lay in the hands of this terrifyingly powerful youth.
Everything had gone so far off script that Ning Fengzhi found himself at a loss. He turned to Chen Xin, hoping for a solution that could get them out of this with minimal damage.
But Chen Xin only sighed and shook his head, looking at Ning Fengzhi with a complicated expression. He realized that the sect master he had loyally followed for years was strangely out of sorts today.
Seeing that Chen Xin's fighting spirit had vanished entirely left Ning Fengzhi with a vague sense of unease.
No. We can't just concede like this. If we let that boy walk all over us and word gets out, how will we maintain our footing on the continent?
Then it struck him—the boy didn't have a personal grudge against him. He wasn't attacking the auction house out of spite.
This was about the slave system.
The conflict today had erupted solely because the auction house had put up that fox girl, who had clearly been captured against her will.
With that realization, the flustered Ning Fengzhi straightened his back and spoke:
"Your strength is indeed overwhelming. I admit defeat. But as they say, 'a fight brings understanding.' If possible, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan would be honored to call you a friend."
Aether hadn't struck since Chen Xin withdrew. Killing them would've been no harder than cutting down a hilichurl.
He hadn't spared them out of mercy. Rather, he had a feeling they might still be useful in what was to come.
"No need. I came here for one thing—no, make that two now."
Lose the fight, then offer me friendship?
No wonder he became a sect master—his political instincts are sharper than most.
Still, Aether rejected the friend request with calm indifference.
He liked making friends—but people who were selfish and opportunistic belonged at the same table as dogs.
"…"
Ning Fengzhi had expected the refusal. He'd just wanted to try.
If I could recruit a youth stronger than even Sword Douluo himself, then the title of 'Number One Clan' would be ours for the taking.
That lingering hope wouldn't let go. After a moment's thought, he tried again.
"I understand your perspective. But this is how the world is. One man alone can't change it."
He shook his head and continued:
"This scene here today is just a single drop in a vast ocean. Even if you save them—what about the rest of the world? The Heaven Dou Empire can't do it. Even Spirit Hall can't. And neither can you."
A centuries-old institution couldn't be abolished just because someone said so.
It had taken root in society's core—it was carved into the bones of the common folk. And those who controlled it were the powerful nobles with wealth and influence.
One man, no matter how strong, was insignificant against such a monstrous machine.
"As you say, one man alone cannot change everything. But what if that power came from the will of the people?"
Aether furrowed his brow and raised his Dull Blade before him. Glimmering starlight flowed from the bodies of those bound by slave contracts, gathering at the blade's edge.
Whether they were numb or broken, in that moment, all the slaves stopped their labor and looked toward the distant auction house.
In their eyes, reflected clearly, was the image of a boy wielding a sword.
"This world belongs to the common people. What they lack… is simply someone with the courage to help them rise."
Crack—
A sound like shattering porcelain echoed in every heart scorched by dark flame.
Aether turned his gaze toward Yu Keke, her face streaked with tears. One of the countless who had suffered in silence.
With a soft voice, he said:
"Then let me be that courage."
His words didn't just ring through the auction house—they echoed in the ears of every slave, and every noble who had enslaved them.
Hummm—
The Dull Blade, now infused with the people's starlight, shimmered with dazzling brilliance between its edges, the sword trembling in his hands.
Sensing the surge of strength from the hearts of the people, Aether raised the blade high.
With a roar, he slashed skyward. The momentum split the heavens, shattering the clouds above.
And with it came a vow, ethereal and resounding:
"I, on behalf of the people, bind this contract with the Heavenly Dao. Its name—All Living Beings."
"In this world, no one shall ever again be forced to sign a slave contract. Should this pact be broken, then…"
BOOM—
Before the words were finished, the clear blue sky turned black. Thunder crackled across a sky now choked with storm clouds.
A strange, oppressive force blanketed the heavens, trying to snuff out the pillar of light rising from the auction house.
"Eh? Keke, what's wrong?!"
Floating nearby, Paimon panicked as Yu Keke suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed, her face twisted in pain.
At the same time, across the building—and all across the continent—those who had once been forced to sign slave contracts turned pale, clutching their hearts and trembling.
"It's still not enough…"
Aether muttered, eyes solemn.
As the vessel for this divine contract, he was bearing the weight of heaven's rejection. Even his grip on the blade had started to shake.
ROAR—
Just as the light was about to be devoured by the clouds, a deafening dragon's roar burst forth from beyond the heavens.
Amber light tore through the void, crashing through the clouds with unstoppable force and merging with the beam of light.
In an instant, it scattered the dark storm clouds and silenced the thunder.
"The contract is sealed!
Those who break it shall suffer the Wrath of the Rock!"
A voice deep and ancient rumbled across the sky.
The light vanished. The sky turned blue once more.
Across the world, those who had once been bound in chains straightened their backs, tears flowing freely down their faces.
And in the depths of their tear-filled eyes…
A flicker of courage was born.
_
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