Chapter 96: Ning Rongrong — That Heartless Man!
"So arrogant! Anyone who didn't know better might think you're a Titled Douluo!"
Dugu Feng chuckled in amusement.
"Elder Scorpion, keep an eye on Canghui Academy. I intend to bring them under our control as a subsidiary academy.
From what I know, their strongest member is a Spirit Sage named Shi Nian. He possesses a spirit bone. Send word to Elder Snake—tell him to capture Shi Nian alive!"
Dugu Feng's tone was calm but commanding.
He was greatly intrigued by Canghui's Seven-in-One Fusion Technique—the Seven Shura Illusion.
It was an incredibly underestimated ability.
Even Tang San, blessed with divine cheats, had to rely on his Purple Demon Eye and extraordinary spiritual power to counter it.
Ordinary opponents were completely defenseless once trapped within that illusion.
Moreover, Shi Nian's spirit skill fascinated him even more—if cultivated to Titled Douluo level, it could reveal an enemy's memories from within the illusion.
That was practically a divine technique!
His interest in Shi Nian deepened.
"Yes, Young Master!" Elder Scorpion replied swiftly.
Afterward, the Shrek Seven returned to the restaurant to eat, and the crowd dispersed. Silence gradually settled over the inn.
A while later, after finishing their meal, the group retired to their rooms.
Zhu Zhuqing followed behind Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu.
During the day's battle, she'd felt her spirit power surging unnaturally—it was stronger, faster than normal.
Could it be because she had reached level thirty but hadn't yet absorbed her third ring?
Reserved as she was, she kept her doubts to herself.
They were near the Star Dou Forest; soon she would hunt her spirit beast. The anticipation stirred her usually calm heart.
Her cultivation speed had already astonished her clan—twelve years old and nearly level thirty.
None in her family had ever advanced this quickly.
They even predicted that if she maintained this pace, she might one day reach the Titled Douluo realm.
Once back in her room, Zhu Zhuqing immediately sat to cultivate.
Ning Rongrong, who also practiced nightly, stayed silent as well.
Xiao Wu, seeing both of them so quiet, gave up trying to chat.
With a pout, she flopped onto her bed.
"Two cultivation maniacs…" she mumbled before yawning.
She hardly needed to train anyway—her spirit power naturally circulated through her hundred-thousand-year soul beast body, gradually transforming into human soul power through proximity with other humans.
Yawning again, Xiao Wu drifted to sleep.
Darkness and silence filled the room.
The day's journey and lack of training time left Zhu Zhuqing slightly uneasy.
It felt like a loss.
If she didn't cultivate at least eighteen hours a day, guilt gnawed at her.
Both she and her sister had discovered their meridians were far stronger and more resilient than others',
allowing far longer training sessions without exhaustion.
Combined with their strict discipline, they needed no one to push them—hence their rapid progress.
Zhu Zhuqing began channeling soul power.
Moments after entering meditation, a wave of nausea hit her without warning.
The feeling erupted violently.
Before she could respond, she opened her mouth and gasped aloud, "Ah!"
Startled, she sprang to her feet, scanning herself internally—but nothing seemed wrong.
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu jumped awake.
"Zhuqing, what's wrong?" Ning Rongrong asked, concern softening her tone.
After checking again, Zhu Zhuqing found no abnormalities.
She tried summoning her martial soul—no issues there either.
"I'm fine," she said calmly. "My soul power surged suddenly and made me feel nauseous, but it's gone now."
"Nauseous? Could you be… pregnant?" Xiao Wu asked, eyes wide. "I heard that's one of the signs!"
"Xiao Wu! You know way too much," Ning Rongrong teased, grinning. "Zhuqing's not like you. She isn't always stuck to her man like you and your 'third brother'!"
Xiao Wu crossed her arms proudly. "Hey, we're siblings! It's not what you think!"
Ning Rongrong chuckled inwardly. If that's sibling behavior, then the world's full of lovers pretending to be family.
"Remember when you challenged Teacher Zhao after enrolling?" Ning Rongrong continued mischievously.
"When Xiao Wu fainted, her dear 'brother' lost it—charged right at Zhao without hesitation, risking his life.
You really think they're just brother and sister?"
"Back in Nuoding Academy, they even shared the same bed!" she added with a knowing smile.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, playing along. "Exactly. Everyone's seen their closeness."
This time, Xiao Wu blushed crimson. "That was years ago! We were little, and it was the academy's arrangement.
After third year, we slept separately.
And anyway, Rongrong, you said everything about me—but what about you? Didn't you meet any talented guys at the Heaven Dou Academy? I bet someone caught your eye!"
Quick to deflect, that one.
"Heaven Dou City does have many geniuses," Zhu Zhuqing chimed in, curiosity sparkling despite her cool tone.
The mention of Heaven Dou City made Ning Rongrong's expression shift slightly.
She remembered that faintly familiar gaze she'd felt earlier in the day…
Could that have been Dugu Feng?
No, impossible. Dugu Feng had only recently obtained his third spirit ring—he couldn't possibly be here at the Star Dou Forest.
Maybe… she was just imagining it.
Yes, that had to be it. She simply missed him.
That heartless man! she thought bitterly. Never visits, never writes—completely made of stone.
"Zhuqing, look at Rongrong's face!" Xiao Wu said gleefully. "There's definitely someone she likes!"
Zhu Zhuqing tilted her head, intrigued. For the young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—renowned for her pride and genius—to take interest in someone? Unexpected.
"Xiao Wu, stop talking nonsense," Ning Rongrong shot back quickly. "Zhuqing meant Heaven Dou has many talents—I was just remembering old classmates. Some were even more monstrous than we are."
"Tell us more," Xiao Wu pressed, eyes shining. "I'm not familiar with Heaven Dou's prodigies."
"Next time," Ning Rongrong said abruptly. "Tomorrow we have to hunt spirit beasts—get some rest."
Her tone ended the conversation.
But her evasiveness only fueled more curiosity in the other two.
They could clearly see her mood shift—definitely triggered by a memory.
Yet since she wouldn't speak, they could only exchange knowing looks and file it away for later gossip.
The room quieted again.
Meanwhile, in another chamber, Dugu Feng turned a glowing spirit orb in his hand, smiling faintly.
Zhu Zhuqing's earlier discomfort had been his doing.
He had drawn one of her orbs out momentarily.
Unexpectedly, his little action had sparked a whole chain of gossip among the three girls next door.
The distance between them was small, and through the spirit orb connection within Zhu Zhuqing, he'd heard every word.
Who could've guessed that the cool, stoic Zhu Zhuqing was also so chatty at heart?
Truly, as the saying goes—three women, one lively drama.
(END CHAPTER)
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