Only the top experts on the continent knew the truth—
Aside from the three peerless Titled Douluo who had vanished decades ago,
across the entire continent,
there were only a handful of people who possessed a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring.
Each one of them stood at the absolute pinnacle of the world.
But—
To have one's sixth Spirit Ring be a hundred-thousand-year ring—
that was utterly unprecedented, shaking history itself!
Not to mention, even that white-gold ring…
seemed no weaker than the hundred-thousand-year one!
Such a configuration of Spirit Rings—
"Zhexian… you…"
Ning Fengzhi slowly exhaled, his voice filled with awe.
"Your talent—its future limits are beyond comprehension.
From ancient times until now, it stands alone."
Yu Yuanzhen's heroic features were filled with awe.
"That old poison warned us before—said that the next time we saw you,
we'd be struck speechless in shock."
"I thought he was exaggerating." He shook his head with a wry smile.
"After all, it's been only a few months…"
Feng Bailong shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Yet seeing it with my own eyes—it really is like a storm in my heart."
"A hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring…"
"Zhexian, my young friend, you've already left us old men behind."
"Heh, look at you all."
Dugu Bo blew away the foam in his teacup, sipping calmly—
but beneath the table, his left hand had already crushed a corner off his chair in shock.
Though he had sensed something unusual when Li Zhexian leapt five levels in Spirit Power,
seeing it for himself was an entirely different, breathtaking experience.
"Brother Zhexian…"
Standing amidst the brilliant rings, his white robes fluttering lightly,
the youth radiated such unrestrained vitality that Ning Rongrong's slender hands clenched tight,
her beautiful eyes filled with admiration.
The other disciples were equally stunned, dizzy from awe.
"Zhexian, since you have such strength, we won't stop you." Ning Fengzhi's voice was both helpless and proud.
Li Zhexian smiled.
"Then, Seniors—
might you tell me your plans now?"
...
Ning Rongrong and the other disciples were dismissed, leaving only Li Zhexian,
Ning Fengzhi, and the four Titled Douluo—Chen Xin, Gu Rong, Feng Bailong, and Yu Yuanzhen.
Their discussion continued until the sun slanted westward.
Only then did Li Zhexian take his leave.
"Zhexian," Ning Fengzhi called out, "why not stay for dinner? You can lodge here tonight."
As they escorted him to the gate, Li Zhexian chuckled,
"Didn't you say Tianheng and Buyu went to stay at an inn in the city because they didn't like the strict rules here?
They must be waiting for me."
He cupped his hands respectfully and turned to go.
"Brother Zhexian, I'll take you there!"
Ning Rongrong hurriedly squeezed past Ning Fengzhi and the elders,
chasing after him with quick steps.
Watching the youth's white figure fade into the distance,
Feng Bailong stroked his beard and smiled.
"Let the young spend time among the young."
Yu Yuanzhen clasped his hands behind his back.
"Such youthful spirit—and yet such strength to rival the old generation…
even I can't help but envy him."
...
Following Ning Rongrong's lead, Li Zhexian soon reunited with Yu Tianheng, Yu Tianxin, and Feng Buyu at the inn.
Because this Seven Sects Re-Selection carried extraordinary significance,
Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the others had stayed behind—
knowing they could offer no help and did not belong to any sect.
"Hahaha! I knew Master would come find us!"
Yu Tianxin looked at Li Zhexian with open admiration, practically bouncing with excitement.
"Master, I heard you're going to take part in the Seven Sects Re-Selection—against the old generation of powerhouses?!"
"Damn, that's incredible! I can't even beat Tianheng…"
Yu Tianheng shot his brother a side glance, smiling.
"Zhexian, we've already booked your room."
"So—shall we head out?"
"Of course!"
Feng Buyu slung an arm around Li Zhexian's shoulder and led him toward the door.
The finest restaurant in Spirit City was called The Sacred Banquet Pavilion.
Compared to Heaven Doul City's Fragrant Pavilion,
it had less of that worldly bustle—
but far more grandeur and divine elegance.
Only Spirit Masters of some renown could even enter this place.
But the moment Li Zhexian and his companions stepped into the grand restaurant,
the cheerful chatter across the hall gradually faded.
Those who hadn't seen him yet, sensing the sudden quiet, looked up in confusion—
and then they, too, fell silent.
In an instant, the entire first floor became so still that one could hear a pin drop.
A person's reputation casts a long shadow.
Five years ago, that white-robed youth had stormed the Pope's Hall itself,
then spent five years hunted as a wanted man by Spirit Hall.
Most had assumed he was long gone, his legend already buried in time.
Who would have thought—
he would return during the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's war with Spirit Hall,
lead the battle where a Titled Douluo fell,
and even go on to behead the Pope.
The name Li Zhexian now echoed across the entire continent.
However—
Unlike the fame told by storytellers across the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires,
within this Spirit City—
the Holy City ruled by Spirit Hall—
his name was anything but glorious.
Five years under the hand of the ruling power had turned the tales of that youth's courage
into something twisted and vilified by official ink.
As the white-robed youth slung an arm around his friends and headed upstairs to a private room,
only when the door closed behind them
did the first floor regain its noise and laughter.
"Bah! And here I was wondering who it was—turns out that jinx dares show his face in our Holy City again!"
"Watch your tongue! Li Zhexian is the number one genius of his generation—how can you speak so scornfully?"
"The number one genius? Hah! Five years ago he used disgraceful tricks to defeat the Golden Generation,
then, when the Pope alone faced several Titled Douluo,
he had the gall to draw his sword—and couldn't even withstand her aura!"
"Not false words! I can vouch for it! I was there at the Continental Spirit Master Tournament five years ago—
that Li Zhexian was nowhere near as powerful as the tales from the small cities claim! Just a vile pretender!"
"I've even heard he consorts with Spirit Beasts! Tch, those furred and scaled creatures—
we Spirit Masters raise them for Spirit Rings!
And he? He's nothing but a disgrace to our kind!"
"Hahahaha! Well said!"
"You bastards…"
Feng Buyu and Yu Tianxin immediately grabbed chairs, ready to charge out.
But Li Zhexian only chuckled.
"No rush. Let's drink first."
Yu Tianheng, trying to suppress his anger, frowned and said:
"Zhexian, do you see that table by the window?"
"The one at the head is Hu Liena of Spirit Hall.
The others are the young elites of the lower four sects—
the Elephant Armored Clan, White Tiger Clan, and Fire Leopard Sect."
"Brother Huyan… is among them."
"Shall we call him over?"
Li Zhexian's smile faded slightly.
"Whether he comes or not… that's his choice."
After the group sat down, wine was poured around.
Li Zhexian suddenly said softly:
"Make that one more cup."
Downstairs—
By the window—
A lean youth with fiery red hair laughed louder with every insult thrown at Li Zhexian.
"Hahaha! Now this is a fine meal!"
"Tsk, so that Li Zhexian is really such a disgrace, eh?"
"Almost makes me want to go upstairs and test him myself!"
Bang!
A heavy cup slammed onto the table.
Everyone turned toward the towering, broad-shouldered man nearly two and a half meters tall.
"Huyan Li, what's your problem?"
Huyan Li's expression was cold and unreadable.
"Go."
"Li Zhexian's upstairs."
"Go face him now."
Then, casting a sidelong glance at the pale-faced Hu Liena,
his voice carried a biting edge of mockery.
"As for what happened back then—
these self-righteous fools might've been blinded,
but you, at least, should know what really took place."
"Heh. Keep listening to their lies,
and you'll end up fooling even yourself."