Early the next morning, several carriages were ready at the gates of Seven Treasure City.
Chen Xin looked at Tianlin and asked, "Is everything ready? Have you brought the talismans and set the coordinates?"
"They're all with Rongrong," Tianlin said.
He knew what Chen Xin was worried about: Tianlin and Ning Rongrong were the sect's future and couldn't be allowed to come to harm. Before leaving, Chen Xin had repeatedly told them to set the teleportation talisman's coordinates. If danger arose, they could summon him instantly.
It was like having an Ultimate Douluo bodyguard on call.
Now, the soul tool belt with the coordinates was tied to Ning Rongrong's waist. It also contained a magic flame slash talisman and, thanks to the Earth Spirit Pearl, Tianlin had made a Taishan Pressing Talisman for her.
With this kind of gear, the little witch was more likely to bully others than be bullied—there wasn't much to worry about.
"Master, you don't need to worry. With my current strength, even an average Titled Douluo aren't a threat. Plus, we're not traveling without our own Titled Douluo," Tianlin said, glancing at the two elders behind him.
As vice sect master, Tianlin and the future sect master Ning Rongrong wouldn't travel without a visible Titled Douluo bodyguard. This time, it wasn't any of the original five, but a new member: Dragon Duke Meng Shu.
After his epic battle with Snake Lance Douluo, Dragon Duke had a breakthrough, and, after receiving a soul bone, precious pills, and help from Tianlin's Holy Spirit Domain, he finally advanced.
A few days ago, guided by Dugu Bo, he hunted a soul beast in Sunset Forest and became the sect's sixth Titled Douluo. The sect was too busy to hold a grand ceremony, so he volunteered to protect Tianlin and Ning Rongrong on their trip to Star Luo.
He just wanted to show off. He knew Tianlin didn't need a protector, but after striving so long to become a Titled Douluo, he longed for everyone to respectfully call him "Your Grace, Dragon Snake."
His sect members were always respectful anyway, so he didn't get much satisfaction from that.
By the way, his title was "Dragon Snake Douluo," which included his wife Snake Lady. Since her talent wasn't enough to reach Titled Douluo, this let her share in the glory.
His soul ring configuration wasn't ideal—two yellow, three purple, four black—so he was weaker than the top elders. But his value was more than that. After reaching Titled Douluo, he and Snake Lady martial soul fusion, reaching a temporary peak strength of level 95, nearly level 96).
With Dragon Duke and Snake Lady as guards, plus Tianlin himself able to reach Super Douluo level when summoning Martial God, assassinating this party would take at least two or three Super Douluo.
Chen Xin nodded, reassured by this lineup.
"All right, Xiao Tian, let's go. Star Luo is far from here," Dragon Duke urged. "Since the Speed Clan will soon be our ally, the sooner we get there, the safer they'll be."
"Thank you for your righteousness, Your Grace Dragon Snake!" Bai Chenxiang misunderstood his motives, thinking he was truly concerned for her clan.
"Oh, my heart!" Dragon Duke clutched his chest with a dramatic expression, moved by her polite address. "You're such a good child. If only I had a grandson, I'd have him pursue you as my granddaughter-in-law."
"Your Grace, you flatter me!" Bai Chenxiang blushed.
"Oh, so satisfying!" Dragon Duke clutched his heart again, delighted.
Snake Lady covered her face, pretending not to know him. Breaking through Titled Douluo was great, but he'd never been so happy even when their son got married.
"Grandpa, you're so embarrassing!" Meng Yiran buried her face in Oscar's chest, glad she hadn't insisted on coming along.
"All right, Your Grace Dragon Snake, let's go. When we get outside, you can show off your soul rings all you want, and people will be lining up to curry favor," Tianlin said helplessly.
"Hehe, you're right!" Dragon Duke snapped out of his fantasy.
Everyone said their goodbyes to Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin and then set off toward the Star Luo Empire.
There were three luxurious carriages: up front, Dragon Duke and Snake Lady; in the middle, Huanyin, Yu Feng, Bai Chenxiang, and Ma Hongjun; in the last, Tianlin and Ning Rongrong.
On the way, Tianlin was teaching Ning Rongrong a new cultivation technique he'd created by combining Tang San's Purple Demon Eye with Shu Mountain Sect's mental training methods.
As for the Shu Mountain Treasure Record, Tianlin found that only he could practice them, since others lacked the bloodline or the Divine Pearl. What he'd previously taught Dugu Bo was only a small, adapted part, based on Yuheng Herbal Scripture.
Now he was passing something similar to Ning Rongrong. Yin Yang had long since passed the Purple Demon Eye on from Tang San to Tianlin. The technique's insight and illusion-breaking abilities were good, but its mental cultivation lagged far behind Shu Mountain's.
Fortunately, both were Daoist techniques, and Shu Mountain's were broad and profound, so Tianlin had no trouble integrating Purple Demon Eye.
"Rongrong, remember to practice this eye technique daily. Your spiritual power will grow quickly," Tianlin told her.
He wanted Ning Rongrong to become a top-tier deity and a well-rounded warrior, not just excel in one area.
"Mm, I know, Sword Brother. This is just like the technique Tang San used at the academy, except his eyes were purple, and this one's blue. It looks much nicer and more righteous," Ning Rongrong replied.
Tianlin shook his head. "Not the same at all. This is a proper Daoist technique. Tang San's Tang Sect took the wrong path, turning a righteous method into a magic eye. I've just restored it. Let's call it Blue Spirit Sacred Eye!"
Blue stands for the ocean. Tianlin hoped Ning Rongrong would earn the Sea God's heart, and strong spiritual power was essential. As for the body, their trip to the Speed Clan would help with that.