Chapter 109: The Belt Obtained by "Accident"

Zhang Ning felt foolish for not having opened the live broadcast interface to confirm it earlier… Master, it truly is you!

Silently, Zhang Ning resolved: Since my master and senior brothers treat me so well, from now on, wherever they are, that is where I belong; their home is my home… From this day forward, I, Zhang Ning, am a part of the Azure Realm!

With this thought, a genuine smile spread across Zhang Ning’s face. “You ask what this live stream is for? It’s to take everyone on a tour of the Great Freedom Demon Sect!”

And indeed, he delivered.

For several days afterward, Zhang Ning was practically bouncing all over the Great Freedom Demon Sect, strolling here and there, teasing birds and dogs, living as freely as one could imagine—except he refrained from harassing the male and female disciples within the sect. He traversed every corner of the sect, officially claiming it was to let the viewers behind the live stream get to know and explore the sect, satisfying their curiosity.

Of course, Zhang Ning had consulted Third Senior Brother Zhuge Yi in advance, so he avoided places of special significance or exceptional importance, acting instead like a prince who had been away from the sect for a long time and, out of boredom, suddenly returned home on a whim. Naturally, many clever onlookers assumed: this prince must be trying to add glory to the Great Freedom Demon Sect’s reputation.

Their suspicions weren’t unfounded, but that wasn’t Zhang Ning’s primary goal.

Zhang Ning had other matters to attend to.

One day, while wandering within the Great Freedom Demon Sect and joking with the viewers on the live screen, as the barrage of comments scrolled wildly, a man seemed to pass by and suddenly stopped before Zhang Ning, bowing respectfully: “Greetings, Your Highness!”

The man had thick eyebrows and sharp eyes, his gaze bright and penetrating. Most notably, he had been very active lately and was quite famous, ranking tenth on the Earth List—Yuzhong, the Eight-Strike Fist master.

The barrage immediately surged to a new level as many began discussing Yuzhong’s recent battles and his rise in rankings. Yuzhong appeared weary, as if just returned from outside the sect, which Zhang Ning’s words confirmed. Zhang Ning beamed with happiness: “You’ve finally returned! Did everything go smoothly?”

“Your Highness, all went smoothly,” Yuzhong replied solemnly.

Once again, the barrage exploded with anonymous insiders revealing Yuzhong’s movements. Some teased Zhang Ning, suggesting he had finally realized that some matters couldn’t be fully broadcast. This wasn’t because they thought Zhang Ning foolish, but out of concern he might inadvertently leak secrets and get punished—they were Zhang Ning’s earliest protective fans.

Yuzhong didn’t reveal much before the live stream. He took a belt from his storage pouch and handed it over: “Your Highness, this is something I unexpectedly acquired outside. I present it to you.” He then explained its use, and Zhang Ning accepted it without hesitation. The barrage erupted with comments.

“Something that works even on a Martial Sovereign? That has to be an exaggeration!”

“Your Highness is so adorable!”

“A top Earth List expert wouldn’t bluff. Maybe it was crafted by some leisure-minded master artificer.”

“Ning, I want to pinch your cheeks.”

“This isn’t just a trifle; it must have taken considerable effort. Otherwise, it could only block Martial Saint level senses.”

“Your Highness, among your senior brothers and subordinates, who do you like best?”

“Why would Yuzhong give this? Could there be hidden motives?”

“This is so interesting, want to try it out?”

“Wait, is this for real? These side arts can be this effective? How could it block a Martial Sovereign’s perception, and be made into a belt… Your Highness, try it?”

“Yeah, let’s try it now.”

Seeing the barrage flood with “let’s try it,” Zhang Ning scratched his head in front of the live screen, seemingly indulging the audience: “Alright, then let’s give it a try.” Yet, a spark of curiosity and eagerness flickered in his eyes, giving him a boyish charm that was both awkward and endearing.

What they didn’t know was that Zhang Ning was grinning slyly inside. This belt was no accidental acquisition by Yuzhong; it was part of a staged act coordinated with him. Zhang Ning had specifically exchanged for it through the system—a genuine semi-artifact! It had cost him countless admiration points.

This belt could temporarily block others’ probing, preventing them from discerning one’s cultivation level and specific details. If that were all, it would be merely an item to conceal one’s cultivation. But its exceptional feature lay in the extraordinary level of concealment it provided!

Moreover, it could be used in reverse, enabling the wearer to remain oblivious to the precise conditions around them. Once worn, one could only vaguely sense if someone was nearby. Zhang Ning suspected it was obtained after reaching Invincible rank to block his own overly effective spiritual perception. It was a fascinating and unique item, and Zhang Ning had scoured the system’s shop for anything with such a function until his eyes nearly burned out.

He also had to take great care to conceal the item’s origin—an arduous task for him.

Subsequently, Zhang Ning began a series of tests with the belt within the Great Freedom Demon Sect. Given his previous antics of teasing birds and dogs, this behavior seemed natural rather than abrupt. His senior brothers evidently thought the same.

He avoided disturbing Second Senior Brother Mingchen, who surely was buried under a mountain of affairs, and instead sought out Third Senior Brother Zhuge Yi, Fourth Senior Brother Han Zhifei, and even Han Zun, who had recently been mysteriously hidden within the sect. Zhang Ning didn’t care much what Han Zun was up to, as he had begun to trust him somewhat.

After testing the belt with them, viewers were amazed at its many wonders, praising Yuzhong for being a true Earth List master whose “accidental” find was so powerful. Some marveled at how harmonious the relationships seemed among these heirs of the demon sect, or how well-tempered these princes appeared to be.

Among the admirers were also mockers, and some spontaneously praised the princes, clearly their fans. Zhang Ning’s occasional interactions with his senior brothers and Han Zun during these days had unexpectedly earned him a wave of new followers. Although Zhang Ning had anticipated this, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy toward these “supporting male characters” who, despite rarely appearing on his live streams, enjoyed great popularity.

Inspired by the viewers, Zhang Ning learned that the Great Freedom Demon Sect’s criteria for selecting heirs—both past and present—seemed to include a requirement for “graceful demeanor.” Though this condition ranked lowest and was optional, it did indeed exist. This insight moved Zhang Ning to engage in lengthy, casual conversations with the audience.

Yet, beneath it all, Zhang Ning remained calm and detached, waiting until he felt the groundwork was thoroughly laid.