"Has there been any news from the Star Dou Great Forest?" Over the past few months, Ning Rongrong had been recuperating from her injuries, while Dugu Yan, feeling her own weakness, had been focusing on cultivation. Thus, she hadn't been privy to much of the information the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had gathered.
"Half a month ago, a pigeon-type spirit beast delivered a letter from Bi Ji to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
Ning Rongrong paused to recall the contents of the letter. "Bi Ji said that the transition of power in the Star Dou Great Forest might take half a year. She mentioned that even Di Tian doesn't have absolute authority there."
"Xiong Jun discovered that Di Tian was injured and is now plotting a coup."
The fact that Bi Ji dared to reveal such information made one wonder—wasn't she afraid that someone might take advantage of the situation to eliminate both of them? Though the likelihood of that happening was lower than winning the lottery.
"Xiong Jun?" Dugu Yan frowned. "Another one of the great beasts? Aren't Di Tian and Bi Ji the top two figures in the Star Dou Great Forest, second only to the Silver Dragon King?"
"In terms of status, yes. But when it comes to strength, spirit beasts follow the rule of the strong."
"Bi Ji is a healing-type spirit beast and isn't ranked first, so she's usually excluded from such comparisons. But Di Tian is different—he is the Beast God of the entire Star Dou Great Forest."
"And Xiong Jun has long coveted that top position."
"A Limit Douluo-level spirit beast? Like Di Tian, a Quasi-God?"
"No." Ning Rongrong shook her head. "Xiong Jun's cultivation is over 400,000 years, equivalent to a human Title Douluo at Rank 98."
"His bloodline is exceptionally powerful, allowing him to fight at a level comparable to Rank 99 in actual combat. Though he's no match for Di Tian, he can still cause him some trouble."
After hearing Ning Rongrong's explanation, Dugu Yan gazed at the blue sky and sighed. "Comparable to a Limit Douluo… The Star Dou Great Forest is terrifyingly powerful!"
After several days of sightseeing, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan, unhurried and unbothered, passed through the poison barrier that posed no threat to them and finally arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
"The energy here feels weaker than before," Dugu Yan murmured.
"Indeed. The core of this natural formation was the remains and souls of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King."
"Now that those are missing, only their residual power remains. If not for that, this place would have long ceased to exist."
"What are you planning to do?" Dugu Yan looked at Ning Rongrong.
"Just watch. It'll be done soon." Ning Rongrong summoned her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, revealing six black and one brilliant gold soul rings.
"Every time I see your soul rings, I find it hard to believe," Dugu Yan couldn't help but comment.
"Well, our cultivation methods are different—there's no real comparison." Ning Rongrong casually explained. "Actually, your fifth soul ring can also increase in age as your cultivation improves. It should be possible to reach 100,000 years, though I'm not sure about beyond that."
"Right, I remember that." Dugu Yan nodded.
As they spoke, the remains of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King were released.
Bathed in the light of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the two skeletons slowly sank into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
In an instant, the previously lifeless well seemed to come alive—the icy spring emitted a faint white mist, while the fiery spring bubbled slightly.
Once the remains stabilized within the well, Ning Rongrong manipulated the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to release a dazzling radiance.
She whispered softly:
"Absorb—"
The entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, along with the surrounding ground, trembled violently.
Ning Rongrong soared into the sky effortlessly—with her Grandmaster-level strength, flying was a trivial matter.
Dugu Yan sighed, took out her Wind Wings, and channeled soul power into them. The wings, resembling flight-type soul bones, flapped gently, lifting her and Ning Rongrong into the air.
From above, they watched as the ground quaked.
The massive well of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well shrank under the radiant light before being absorbed into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Once everything was settled, the two landed again.
Looking at the now-lifeless surroundings, Ning Rongrong sighed softly. "Just as I thought—reviving something like this isn't as simple as placing two skeletons inside."
"Something went wrong?" Dugu Yan asked.
"Mm. We'll need a better method. Bi Ji will definitely need this, but we'll require two more things to stabilize the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Otherwise, within a century, it'll lose its original properties completely."
Ning Rongrong sighed. She had expected complications and had already prepared contingency plans.
"What do we need?" Dugu Yan asked.
"Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow and Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Spirit Stone—to stabilize the formation core created by the remains of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, ensuring their energy remains condensed and doesn't dissipate. It'll serve a similar function to the residual souls of the two Dragon Kings."
Ning Rongrong pinched her chin in thought. "The Extreme North should have Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow. The problem is finding it…"
The two flew out of the Sunset Forest.
Ning Rongrong remained deep in thought.
Once they reached a populated town outside the forest, they descended.
"Sister Yan, are we going?"
"Going? Where?"
Having listened to Ning Rongrong's mutterings, Dugu Yan struggled to follow her train of thought.
"I'm heading to the Extreme North to find Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow. I plan to inform Father and the others."
"W-Why?"
"They won't likely let me go to the Extreme North alone. That region is even more dangerous than the Star Dou Great Forest in terms of environment."
Dugu Yan: "…"
So, you're trying to drag me into this?
"I'd suggest waiting for a Title Douluo to accompany us. I'm not confident in myself." Dugu Yan hesitated. "Rongrong, have you forgotten? I've only just reached Rank 58."
"You're just a support—uh, never mind." Remembering Ning Rongrong's combat feats, Dugu Yan trailed off. "Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Marrow is already rare enough. There's a good chance we'll run into a 100,000-year spirit beast."
She used to think 100,000-year spirit beasts were exceedingly rare.
But ever since meeting Ning Rongrong, the number she knew of exceeded the fingers on her hands.
A terrible premonition told Dugu Yan that, given their current circumstances, there was at least a 90% chance they'd encounter one or two of the Extreme North's Three Great Heavenly Kings—maybe even all three.
She couldn't handle that! Even with her grandfather, a Rank 94 Title Douluo, it'd be useless!
"Honestly, I don't think bringing them along would help much." Ning Rongrong shrugged. "We're not hunting a 100,000-year spirit beast. What's the point of dragging a Title Douluo with us?"
"Sister Yan, have you forgotten?"
"Both of us are immune to the Extreme North's climate."
"Bringing a Title Douluo from home would just mean wasting time babysitting them. It'd be a pain."
"Besides, if something really goes wrong, we can just release Kurumi. If we can't win, we can still run."
Dugu Yan: "…"
You weren't saying this when you wanted Title Douluo escorts before!
"Ah, whatever. I'll just write a letter and act first, explain later." Seeing Dugu Yan's expression—which clearly said, If you don't inform the sect, I'm not going with you—Ning Rongrong surrendered and wrote the letter.
After finding a sect contact point, a letter worth its weight in gold was sent to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan set off for the Extreme North, passing through the Kingdom of Häagen-Dazs, one of the four vassal kingdoms in the northwest of the Heaven Dou Empire.
They planned to restock on supplies there before continuing their journey.