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I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: AFKing to Become a God
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"The original seven members of Shrek's Seven Monsters… four of them are already in Spirit City, and now Zhu Zhuqing has suddenly been sent to Spirit City, right here beside me…"
"Other than Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, they're all here!"
"Not to mention Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan—the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall…"
"And from the older generation—Yu Xiaogang, who entered the city with me; Liu Erlong, who followed me into the city; Bibi Dong, Tang Hao…"
"This Spirit City is truly bustling now!"
This thought flashed through Dai Chengfeng's mind.
But what Dai Chengfeng didn't know was…
At this moment, deep within the borders of the Tian Dou Empire, in the lush valley where the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect resided, a scene of a "running away" was unfolding.
The mountain breeze was cool, brushing past the exquisitely layered pavilions and terraces.
A slender girl dressed in an elegant pink princess gown moved like a stealthy cat, quietly bypassing the guards stationed along the main path. She sneaked her way to the base of the towering temple gate, her movements cautious and deliberate.
Her lively, big eyes sparkled with mischief and barely contained excitement. Her delicate face radiated an air of smug triumph—"See how clever I am? None of you can catch me!"
"Hmph, Father, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bones—they must think I'm still holed up in my room studying soul techniques!"
"I'm a genius, after all. Escaping is as easy as pie for me!"
Ning Rongrong, the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, clenched her tiny fists in self-congratulation for her successful stealth mission. She glanced back at the mist-shrouded peak of the sect, gave a light humph, and then cheerfully sprinted down the stone steps leading away from the mountain.
"Spirit City, here I come!"
However, dozens of meters away from her sneaky route, on a lavish terrace completely concealed by dense foliage…
Three figures, the pillars holding the fate of the vast Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, silently watched as the small pink figure gradually disappeared along the winding mountain path.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his posture straight as a pine tree. His sharp gaze carried the indulgence of an elder.
Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood slightly behind Chen Xin, half a step away. His usually somber face was now etched with worry so profound it seemed ready to overflow. His bony fingers unconsciously rubbed against one another.
"Fengzhi, Rongrong… isn't it too risky for her to go to Spirit City alone? She's still so young…"
Gu Rong's low voice sounded again, filled with concern.
After all, he had watched over Ning Rongrong as she grew up, and their bond was deep.
Standing ahead of the two, in the central position, was Ning Fengzhi, the master of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. He was a man of refined elegance, calm and composed.
He gazed in the direction where his daughter's figure had vanished, his expression complex—mingling pride, reluctance, and worry, but above all, a decisive acceptance that the fledgling bird must eventually leave the nest.
He let out a soft sigh, his voice gentle yet reassuring:
"Uncle Gu, please rest assured. I've already made arrangements."
"For her journey down the mountain, our people will discreetly follow and escort her to the station at the foot of the mountain."
"Afterward, for the trip to Spirit City, we've prepared the safest merchant caravan carriage. The driver and several 'traveling companions' are all trusted elite soul masters from within the sect. They'll ensure her safety and guarantee her smooth arrival in Spirit City."
With that, he turned to look at Gu Rong and Chen Xin, his face breaking into a warm yet resolute smile:
"Children must grow up eventually. The future of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda cannot forever remain under the shelter of our wings. She needs her own vast world to explore, to experience, and to weather storms."
"The stage of Spirit City may just be the perfect place for this pearl to hone her brilliance."
Gu Rong's furrowed brows did not fully relax, but after hearing Ning Fengzhi's detailed plans, the tension in his heart eased somewhat.
He fell silent for a moment, ultimately letting out a long sigh:
"Alas… I hope this little ancestor of ours behaves herself and avoids trouble."
Though he spoke these words, his gaze remained fixed on the direction where Ning Rongrong had disappeared, brimming with the care of an elder.
Chen Xin's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile as his gaze swept across the distant horizon—toward the direction of the Spirit Hall.
"Spirit City… a land of rising winds and gathering clouds."
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "It's just… I wonder…"
"What will become of Rongrong and Dai Chengfeng in the end?"
Chen Xin did not answer immediately. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, the mountain wind gently brushing against his simple robe. His gaze was distant.
After a long pause…
He finally spoke, his voice slow and measured: "Fengzhi, let things take their natural course."
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Spirit City, Dai Chengfeng's room.
Zhu Hongxiu looked at the nominal engaged couple before her—one polite and distant, the other cold and scrutinizing. Their interaction was far from the budding affection she had imagined between a boy and girl meeting for the first time.
A flicker of worry passed through her eyes, quickly replaced by a gentle smile.
It's probably because it's their first meeting and they're still unfamiliar with each other. Things will improve later…
Thinking this, Zhu Hongxiu lightly clapped her hands, breaking the subtle silence in the room. Her voice retained the characteristic warmth of an elder but carried an undertone of authority that brooked no refusal:
"Well, enough standing around."
"Chengfeng, Zhuqing has traveled a long way and must be tired. As the host, shouldn't you invite her to sit and rest?"
She turned her gaze to Dai Chengfeng, her tone carrying a hint of playful reproach, then shifted her gaze to Zhu Zhuqing, her smile gentle:
"Zhuqing, don't be shy. Treat this place as your home."
"Chengfeng's personality might be a bit… well, proud, but his heart is good."
"You two have been betrothed since childhood. Though you haven't seen each other for many years and feel a bit distant now, your bloodlines are connected, and your martial souls are compatible. This is the perfect time to grow closer."
Upon hearing this, Dai Chengfeng understood his mother's intentions.
Outwardly, he remained impassive, simply nodding in compliance. He gestured toward the intricately carved chair cushioned with soft brocade, his tone still mild:
"Please, have a seat."
Zhu Zhuqing's cold gaze lingered on Dai Chengfeng's face for a moment, then swept over Zhu Hongxiu's expectant smile. Finally, she gave a slight nod, said nothing, and gracefully sat down as instructed.
She sat upright, her legs neatly crossed and placed to the side, her hands naturally folded on her lap.
Every movement exuded impeccable manners, yet also conveyed an icy aloofness that kept others at bay.
Dai Chengfeng also took a seat opposite her, separated by a small table adorned with exquisite tea sets.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze returned to Dai Chengfeng. She fell silent for a moment, as if carefully choosing her words, then finally spoke.
Her voice was as clear and cold as a spring, devoid of emotion but carrying a subtle edge:
"Your Highness."
She used the formal title. "I've heard that in recent years, Your Highness has been training at the empire's borders and rarely returns to Star Luo City."
"May I ask for Your Highness's thoughts on the ironclad rule of the Star Luo imperial family—that the strong prevail, and the victor reigns supreme?"
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