Chapter 97: Ning Rongrong and Tang San
Four days later, at dawn in the Clear Sky Sect.
Tang San had just finished cultivating the Purple Demon Eye technique atop a small hill and was making his way down. His face was still mottled with bruises.
These were remnants of previous beatings. Since the upcoming Upper Three Sects gathering meant Spirit Hall would be arriving to challenge them, the usual conflict between the sect leader's faction and the elders' faction had temporarily subsided. As a result, Tang San hadn't been beaten for the last few days.
But of course, the verbal abuse—calling him a bastard—hadn't stopped.
On his way, he ran into two Clear Sky Sect disciples. One glance at his pale blue hair, and they instantly recognized him. After all, Tang San was the only one in the entire sect with that color hair.
"First thing in the morning and we already see that bastard Tang San. What rotten luck!"
"If his worthless father hadn't overestimated himself and challenged the Pope of Spirit Hall, our Clear Sky Sect wouldn't have been disgraced. The old sect leader wouldn't have died from rage, and we wouldn't be stuck living under Spirit Hall's shadow!"
"Forget him. Today's the Upper Three Sects gathering. I heard the Pope himself is coming with challengers. We better stay sharp! Clear Sky Sect cannot lose!"
Ignoring their glares and mocking words, Tang San silently returned to his room.
Once the door was closed, the cold smile on his face returned. A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes.
Every humiliation he had endured—he remembered them all, day by day. Once he awakened his martial soul, trained to mastery, and rescued his great-grandfather from Slaughter City… once he earned the Haotian Order, he would repay it all—with interest.
Then, using the Clear Sky Sect as a base, he would rebuild the Tang Sect anew.
Come to think of it, the Upper Three Sects gathering meant the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would also be attending. Would Rongrong be there?
He scoffed at himself. His father, uncle, and cousin hadn't been reborn. Rongrong likely hadn't either. With his current reputation in the Clear Sky Sect, even if she came, she wouldn't look at him twice.
Qian Xunji was bringing people to challenge the Clear Sky Sect—who would he bring? Spirit Hall's wolves… Qian Renxue was probably deep into her undercover mission in the Heaven Dou Empire by now.
After breakfast, with the sun rising, carriages began entering the Clear Sky Sect's thousand-meter-tall mountain. They carried not only members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but also affiliated factions of the Clear Sky Sect.
Just like how Spirit Hall had aligned with the lower four sects in the original story, the Upper Three Sects used this time to network. The gathering was the perfect occasion.
During the summit, sects traded goods, soul masters sparred, bonds were formed, and liquor flowed freely.
It was during one of these gatherings that Sword Douluo had once drunkenly bonded with the leader of the Strength Clan.
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi arrived with Sword Douluo and several disciples, including a noisy and eager Ning Rongrong—but not Gu Chen.
Gu Chen, with his twin martial souls and full innate soul power, was Ning Fengzhi's trump card for the next 150 years. Though the world only knew him as Bone Douluo's son and a rare genius, his dual martial soul remained a secret.
Bringing him here was too risky. If the Clear Sky Sect or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan suspected anything and decided to act… even if Ning Fengzhi declared war, it'd be too late.
Assassinating enemy geniuses wasn't uncommon in the soul master world. Ning Fengzhi, Spirit Hall, and countless noble clans had done it before.
Even Salas, the Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City, arrived at the Clear Sky Sect with a Spirit Hall envoy.
Qian Xunji and Qian Renxue had also come—not just for duels, but to sightsee and relax. How could Spirit Hall's might be shown without bringing some underlings?
"Tang San, someone's looking for you!"
A few hours later, as Tang San was meditating and cultivating Xuan Tian Gong, he heard the call and opened his eyes in confusion.
Who would look for me? With my reputation, even my cousin avoids me…
He opened the door and was stunned.
Standing there was a little girl in a blue skirt with chestnut hair, skin as smooth as porcelain, and features like a living doll—two or three years old, radiating energy.
He didn't recognize her. "Little one, who are you?"
"I'm Ning Rongrong. I'm looking for Tang San. Can you call him for me?"
Her tone was oddly mature. She didn't recognize the bruised boy before her as Tang San.
"Rongrong… you're Rongrong!"
Tang San's eyes widened. Other than the hair and baby-smooth skin, she looked nothing like the twelve-year-old girl he remembered. But she was still adorable—maybe even more than Xiao Wu.
"You're… San-ge?"
Once she confirmed his identity, she leapt into his arms, hugging his neck. "San-ge!"
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples secretly guarding her were stunned.
Even the Clear Sky Sect disciples who brought her were dumbfounded. Why would their sect's heiress hug Tang San—the bastard—so affectionately?
Neither of them cared. To Ning Rongrong, even if Tang San looked worse due to his different mother and bruises, he was still the most handsome, unbeatable person in the world.
He was her shield, her miracle worker, her first love.
Who says first loves always lose to the current one?
After closing the door, Tang San poured her a glass of water. She sat on a chair, white-stockinged legs dangling and swinging.
"San-ge, what happened to your face?"
Tang San sighed deeply, face darkening. "Rongrong… things have changed. Seeing you now confirms something I've been suspecting—someone in Spirit Hall has been reborn like us."
Cough!
Ning Rongrong nearly spat her water. "San-ge! Who is it?!"
Since her rebirth, she'd noticed some oddities. Her mother had changed—still one of Ning Fengzhi's many wives, but not the same one. Sword and Bone Douluo looked at her strangely, with a complex expression. And now she had a supposed genius brother named Gu Chen.
Still, she thought it was a win—Clear Sky Sect wasn't hidden, and her overpowered San-ge was around to shield her. She could just enjoy life.
But if someone like Bibi Dong or Qian Renxue had also reincarnated…
Unless San-ge or "Big Master" seduced them to buy time, things could turn nightmarish. Spirit Hall's raw power—ten elders, seven High Priests—could wipe out all three major sects if they united.
"I suspect… it's the Pope himself, Qian Xunji."
Tang San narrowed his eyes. He remembered—Qian Xunji had been killed by Bibi Dong three months after he was born. If it were Qian Renxue, Qian Xunji might still be alive. But now? Qian Xunji not only lived, but had beaten his invincible father one-on-one.
That could only mean one thing: Qian Xunji had been reborn, and brought with him years of battle experience… or worse—some dirty trick.
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