Ye Lingling really didn't want to pay attention to Dugu Yan. Her peripheral gaze shifted to Ning Rongrong, who had been silently drinking tea the entire time.
"Miss Ning, what's your current strength level?"
There's no way she's higher than me, right?
Ye Lingling had just turned 18 and was already at level 38. From the perspective of a support-type Soul Master, that shouldn't be considered weak.
"Lingling, I don't want to discourage you..."
Ning Rongrong set down her teacup. "My cultivation method is different from yours, so there's no need to compare."
"So, what is it exactly?" Ye Lingling's eyelids twitched, a bad premonition creeping up on her.
"Me? Just an ordinary seven-ringed Soul Sage."
Ye Lingling: "..."
"Soul... Soul Sage?"
Ye Lingling was instantly stunned.
If it were Soul Elder, Soul Ancestor, or even Soul King, she could have believed it. But Soul Sage? Wasn't that just too absurd?
Wasn't that the same level as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's sect master, Ning Fengzhi?
Ye Lingling wasn't yet aware that Ning Fengzhi's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had evolved into the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. So, upon hearing "Soul Sage," her expression shifted repeatedly.
Though Ning Fengzhi was only a Soul Sage, his support capabilities were no less than those of a Titled Douluo. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to uphold the reputation of the number one support sect on the continent.
Listening to everyone's introductions and the information they shared about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect, Ye Lingling felt as if her entire world had shattered.
This state of hers lasted until Dugu Yan finally took her back to her room.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong took the opportunity to leave the hall and walk to a secluded corridor outside.
"Kurumi, is something the matter?"
"It's not me who has something to say—it's you, right?" Tokisaki Kurumi rolled her eyes at Ning Rongrong's words. "Didn't you say earlier that after talking with Ye Lingling, you'd find me to discuss something?"
"Oh! I almost forgot." Ning Rongrong patted her forehead. "Would you mind making a trip back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect?"
"Go back? For what?" Tokisaki Kurumi was puzzled. "The spatial coordinates over there are maintained by Gu Rong. Long-distance teleportation is possible, but it can't carry more than six people at once."
"Only six? Grandpa Bone managed to take everyone away from Heaven Dou Great Forest before. Why are you so limited?" Ning Rongrong didn't understand.
Tokisaki Kurumi rolled her eyes again and sighed. "Do you think this is like Sunset Forest or Heaven Dou City? The distance from here to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect is enormous. Do you even realize how far it is?"
"Fine, six people it is. That should be enough." Ning Rongrong nodded thoughtfully.
"What mischief are you plotting now?"
"Nothing. I'm just worried something might happen." Ning Rongrong explained,
"Kurumi, I need you to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect as soon as possible and help Father and the others complete their Martial Soul Fusion Skill."
"We've roughly determined the fusion frequency required for the Martial Soul Fusion Skill. There shouldn't be any issues."
After multiple observations of Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er using their Martial Soul Fusion Skill,
Kurumi and Ning Rongrong had used their domains to analyze the details extensively, gathering a lot of useful information.
This would likely increase the success rate of Ning Fengzhi and the other two's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
Ning Rongrong hoped Kurumi could return, deliver their findings to Ning Fengzhi and the others, and supervise them until they successfully completed the fusion.
Hearing Ning Rongrong's urgency, Tokisaki Kurumi sighed. "You know I can't stay too far away from you for long. You should be aware of that."
"True."
Ning Rongrong suggested,
"How about you deliver the information to them and then come back?"
"That's doable." Tokisaki Kurumi nodded. "By the way, are you planning to go to Blazing Fire Academy?"
"Mm. I asked Shui Cangyue, and she said Blazing Fire Academy has a similar kind of stone. To complete the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, I'll probably have to give it a try."
"That kind of stone definitely won't be cheap. Are you planning to take it by force?" Kurumi frowned.
"There's still an immortal-grade herb in my room, right? Go take a look and bring it with you."
"You're really going to do this?" Tokisaki Kurumi couldn't quite follow Ning Rongrong's train of thought.
"What else? We're civilized people. Some rules still need to be followed." Ning Rongrong explained. "Shui Cangyue has sided with us, but she has good relations with the Four Element Academies."
"There's no need for us to do anything that might be guessed at or create rifts. It's not worth it."
"Fine, whatever you say." Tokisaki Kurumi shrugged.
...
As Ning Rongrong had predicted,
Due to the Snow Empress's orders, Tian Shui City was still in turmoil. As part of the Shui family, it wouldn't be appropriate for them to leave the city at this time.
Thus, Shui Cangyue decided to stay behind for now to calm the people before making further plans. Ye Renxin also chose to remain temporarily.
Since her grandfather was staying with the Shui family, Ye Lingling couldn't bring herself to leave either, no matter how much she wanted to.
Moreover, with the relationship between Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong—and given Ye Lingling's years of noble academy experience at Heaven Dou Royal Academy—she had a vague feeling something was off.
So, after bidding farewell to the Shui family,
Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan set off on their journey to the Four Elements City.
"Rongrong, what was so special about the jade pendant you gave to Elder Shui Cangyue earlier?" Dugu Yan was rather curious.
Seeing that there was nothing else to do, Tokisaki Kurumi had gone back to sleep. At this moment, only Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan were walking side by side.
It was practically a world for just the two of them.
Hearing Dugu Yan's question, Ning Rongrong thought for a moment before replying:
"It's like a spatial coordinate marker. As long as the enemies Shui Cangyue faces aren't too outrageous, we can quickly return to the Shui family to support them."
Before leaving, Ning Rongrong had prepared for the worst.
Several groups that had entered the Extreme North had reportedly died at the hands of soul beasts there. No one dared to ignore the Snow Empress's words.
But there were always reckless adventurers. Some had reported this to the Spirit Hall branch, hoping the Spirit Hall would intervene.
This was just absurd.
Though it was unclear who had done it, someone had brought this matter to the Spirit Hall's attention. To uphold its reputation, the Spirit Hall might very well send forces to challenge the Snow Empress.
Who knew what would happen then? If Shui Cangyue, Ye Renxin, and the others were caught in the crossfire, wouldn't that be a huge loss for her?
So, after discussing with Tokisaki Kurumi, Ning Rongrong had made preparations for any unexpected scenarios.
As they spoke, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan left the Hagen Kingdom.
Their plan was to head straight for Four Elements City to negotiate for the stones they needed, preferably finding the source of such stones.
After leaving the Hagen Kingdom, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan entered the territory of the Balak Kingdom.
"Balak City... now that I think about it, I only came here once many years ago!" Ning Rongrong recalled her past.
The Balak Kingdom, long ruled by the Heaven Dou imperial family, resembled a smaller version of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The aristocratic atmosphere here was particularly strong. It was said that Shrek Academy, when operating within the Balak Kingdom, had been consistently suppressed and excluded by the kingdom's nobility.
Later, they had to relocate to that desolate place in the middle of nowhere.
Upon arriving in Balak City, the two followed their usual routine and booked a private room in a hotel to feast.
Halfway through their meal, Ning Rongrong noticed something unusual happening around the hotel.
"Sister Yan, have you noticed? The hotel guests are being forced out." Ning Rongrong smiled.
"Mhm. Must be the officials." Dugu Yan nodded, picking up a napkin to wipe the grease from her lips.
"Seems someone doesn't want us to leave so quickly." Dugu Yan extended her senses. "Someone's coming. Their footsteps are close."
Seeing that Ning Rongrong hadn't responded, a flicker of surprise crossed Dugu Yan's face.
"Aren't we leaving? If we engage with them, we might end up in trouble."
"It doesn't matter. Don't you want to meet them?" Ning Rongrong chuckled lightly. "Besides, this might be a good opportunity to inquire about Princess Xue Ke's whereabouts. Qian Renxue seems quite concerned about her too."
The hurried footsteps grew closer but stopped right outside the door, as if hesitating to enter uninvited.
"Young Master Ning, Miss Dugu Yan, the Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Beng, and the Heaven Dou Empire's Prince Xue Xing request an audience."
The voice was smooth and solemn, carrying not a hint of frivolity—giving off an air of strict professionalism.