"Sorry, but you've learned too many things you shouldn't have."
As Ning Rongrong's voice fell, Shui Bing'er and the others felt as if they had been struck by a sudden blizzard in June.
The dean of Tian Shui Academy, the blue-haired elderly woman, quickly stepped forward, shielding Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er behind her, her tone earnest:
"Miss Ning, we swear we won't reveal anything about today to anyone."
"I, Shui Cangyue, swear upon my martial soul, the Dolphin, that I will not disclose even a single detail of what happened today."
A 12-year-old seven-ringed Soul Sage hidden by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—what kind of concept was that? Shui Cangyue couldn't even begin to fathom it.
But she did understand what the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda meant.
Not to mention the six black soul rings and one ring of an unknown, possibly even more terrifying age… Hiss, this was simply monstrous!
"Not enough. A mere martial soul oath isn't sufficient for us."
Ning Rongrong's voice was calm and unhurried, yet Shui Cangyue, an eight-ringed Soul Douluo, was already drenched in sweat.
Whether it was Ning Rongrong or the presence beside her capable of blocking the Ice Empress' attack, both seemed to be closely guarded secrets of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
"What are your conditions, Miss Ning?" Shui Bing'er stepped forward, standing beside her grandmother. "If you wanted to kill us, you wouldn't have bothered speaking so much."
"Smart." Ning Rongrong held the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in one hand, her tone leisurely. "I want you two sisters—and the entire Shui Family."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wants to annex us?" Shui Cangyue was slow to react, her face showing surprise.
"Not the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—just me. Well, actually, it's pretty much the same… In any case, within a few years at most, my incompetent father will step down and retire."
"Uh…" Ning Rongrong's words left the three momentarily speechless.
Beside her, Dugu Yan could only sigh helplessly.
Good grief, Ning Rongrong is openly saying she's going to force Uncle Ning to step down now.
"I am currently the young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and I will inevitably become its future patriarch."
"This has nothing to do with the current patriarch, Ning Fengzhi. Whether he hands it over or not, it's mine by right. Even my two older brothers have no right to take it from me."
"In short, I want your family to join us now—similar to the subordinate clans under the Clear Sky School. You'll still retain your independence."
Ning Rongrong laid bare her intentions.
She was still somewhat interested in Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er's martial soul fusion skill.
As for Ning Fengzhi and the others, the path to mastering a martial soul fusion skill was still long.
Bringing home two girls who could already perform one wasn't a bad idea. Perhaps they could even serve as references to speed up the comprehension of that three-person martial soul fusion skill.
Tian Shui Academy—one of the Four Elemental Academies.
Wasn't that perfect?
The Spirit Master Tournament was in two years. Compared to establishing a new academy from scratch, this was a much better option!
Ning Rongrong discussed with Tokisaki Kurumi to confirm something, and the 85th-ranked Soul Douluo before her happened to be a suitable test subject.
"Do we really have to join?" Shui Cangyue asked unwillingly.
"You don't have a choice." Ning Rongrong replied. "I can offer you benefits first. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan needs talents like you."
"Why does this sound so familiar?" Dugu Yan's lips twitched. Wasn't that the same line Ning Rongrong used to trick me back then?
"Benefits? What kind of benefits?"
Shui Yue'er asked excitedly, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of the situation.
"Sister!" Shui Bing'er facepalmed.
"Something to make your soul power and martial souls a little stronger." Ning Rongrong said as the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shimmered. Three beams of white light shot out, directly entering the bodies of the three.
"W-What is this?" The first to react was Shui Cangyue, the Soul Douluo. "My martial soul… it seems to be changing."
"Mhm, it's a treasure I obtained from the Blizzard Valley. This is the extra portion, so it should be somewhat useful to you. Take your time absorbing it—no need to rush."
Ning Rongrong took a few steps back, waiting for the three to finish.
Shui Cangyue and Shui Yue'er both had the Dolphin martial soul, a lineage passed down through generations.
But Shui Bing'er's martial soul was a top-tier one—the Ice Phoenix.
"Zafkiel: City of Devouring Time!"
Tokisaki Kurumi activated the City of Devouring Time to accelerate the flow of time within its domain.
In just moments, the three had fully absorbed the energy infused into their bodies.
As the City of Devouring Time faded, the surroundings returned to normal.
"How do you feel?" Ning Rongrong observed the three, whose auras had become noticeably more refined than before.
Indeed, elevating one's energy level could enhance a martial soul to some extent, though it wouldn't reach the stage of evolution.
The energy she had just given them was the excess she had extracted from the Ancient Ice Phoenix.
Since their attributes aligned, it was perfect for these three. As for why she gave them benefits first—
Did they really think they could escape after receiving them?
"My strength… improved?" Shui Cangyue examined her martial soul, which had become slightly more translucent. Her control over ice attributes had also grown more precise, and her soul power had actually increased by three levels.
"An 88th-ranked Soul Douluo, a 45th-ranked Soul Ancestor, and a 37th-ranked Soul Elder. Not bad." Ning Rongrong murmured.
She was referring to Shui Cangyue (88), Shui Bing'er (45), and Shui Yue'er (37).
"So? Will you join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?" Ning Rongrong pressed again.
"Do we even have a choice?" Shui Cangyue smiled bitterly.
"I'll need some time. My family will require an explanation, and so will the Empire. After all, I am still the dean of Tian Shui Academy…"
Shui Cangyue suppressed her excitement and sighed inwardly.
In this situation, anyone could guess the consequences of refusal. If they didn't join, they wouldn't just disappear—their entire family might be uprooted along with them.
"Don't worry about the academy. His Majesty Xue Qinghe is my father's disciple, and my relationship with him is decent."
Even if the academy is under the Empire's jurisdiction, if I, Ning Rongrong, want it, would Xue Qinghe dare refuse?
After all, in the palace, he was Xue Qinghe—not Qian Renxue.
"As for your family…" Ning Rongrong pondered. "Would you like to gamble on whether you can become a Titled Douluo?"
"A… Titled Douluo?" Shui Cangyue thought she had misheard.
"That's right. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan possesses a special secret technique that can elevate you from level 88 to level 90."
"Even if you don't reach 90, you'll still be extremely close afterward."
"It should be safe, though the process might be painful. But it won't affect your future potential."
"Would you like to try?" Ning Rongrong paused briefly. "I can give you some time to consider."
Just then, Ning Rongrong noticed Dugu Yan pulling her aside, with Tokisaki Kurumi following.
Kurumi casually erected a soundproof barrier.
"Hey, Rongrong, since when did our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan have such a secret technique?" Dugu Yan couldn't help but complain.
The energy from the spatial rift that boosted their levels by three was one thing, but this so-called secret technique? She had never heard of it before.
"I'm just testing it out. What if it works?"
"Huh?" Dugu Yan stared blankly.
"Just watch." Ning Rongrong turned to Tokisaki Kurumi. "Can you do it? Something similar to what we did with Dugu Yan?"
"You… You plan to use that?" Tokisaki Kurumi's lips twitched.
"If she's not a Titled Douluo yet, the rules of Spirit Hall shouldn't interfere. Forcibly unblocking her meridians might just work."
"I can't exactly test it on my father, can I? This Soul Douluo is the perfect candidate."
Tokisaki Kurumi: "…"
I don't mind, but isn't this Shui Cangyue a bit too pitiful?
This situation was entirely different from Dugu Yan's case, where the Misfortune Poison Body was used to forcibly open the Ren and Du meridians.