If Ning Fengzhi were to give the Qiluo Tulip to Ning Rongrong to absorb, she would never live to see adulthood—and by then, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School would likely have already been destroyed.
If Ning Fengzhi absorbed it himself, it wouldn't matter much. At most, there would simply be one more Spirit Douluo with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul.
After all, the time required for him to cultivate all the way to Titled Douluo would be far from short.
Yin Zhang glanced at Dugu Bo as he departed, shook his head slightly, then went to look for Qiangu Yunying.
As for whether Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong had already left, that was still unclear.
By the time Yin Zhang learned that Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong would only depart in the afternoon, Qiangu Yunying had already come bounding over to find him.
"Xiao Zhang, let's go out and have some fun!" she said brightly.
Looking at Qiangu Yunying—smiling widely, full of youthful vitality—Yin Zhang smiled and replied,
"Sister Yunying, let's not play today. Come with me to meet someone."
Qiangu Yunying froze. "Meet who?"
"The Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School—Sect Master Ning. I have a deal to make with him," Yin Zhang said with a smile.
"A deal?"
Qiangu Yunying grew curious and was about to ask more, but Yin Zhang had already pulled her along toward the exit.
"Hey, Xiao Zhang! We haven't eaten anything since we woke up! Wouldn't it be better to have lunch first? I'm starving!" Qiangu Yunying protested.
Yin Zhang chuckled. "Alright, can't we just grab something to eat on the way? I'll even buy you two extra of those big chicken legs you like most—how about that?"
---
At the moment, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong were at Moon Pavilion, a well-known establishment in Heaven Dou City.
Its fame came not only from the fact that its founder was Tang Yuehua, the younger sister of the Clear Sky Sect Master, but also because of her noble domain, which cultivated generation after generation of refined aristocrats—earning widespread praise among Heaven Dou's nobility.
Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong had come here before leaving Heaven Dou at Emperor Xue Ye's request.
At present, the Second Prince, Xue Qinghe, and the Third Prince, Xue Luochuan, were both studying at Moon Pavilion.
Xue Ye's intention was clear—he wanted Ning Fengzhi to personally observe the two princes and choose one to instruct.
Both princes were outstanding, but deciding who would become Crown Prince and heir to the Heaven Dou Empire was a major matter. The stance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School—one of the Upper Three Sects and a long-time supporter of Heaven Dou—was crucial.
In simple terms, Xue Ye wanted Ning Fengzhi to judge for himself.
Watching Xue Qinghe and Xue Luochuan studying below alongside a group of noble youths, Ning Fengzhi nodded with satisfaction.
Tang Yuehua followed his gaze and, noticing that he seemed to regard both princes highly, asked with curiosity,
"Sect Master Ning, between the Second Prince and the Third Prince, which one do you favor more?"
Ning Fengzhi turned back and replied with a flawless smile,
"I like both princes very much. Their demeanor is admirable. As for who I favor more… I can't say just yet. Many things cannot be seen clearly at a glance."
Behind him, Gu Rong stood calmly, occasionally glancing down at the young men and women learning aristocratic etiquette, his eyes filled with disdain.
What use was etiquette?
On the Douluo Continent, strength was supreme.
Even if one mastered etiquette perfectly, before absolute power, they would still be nothing more than a clown.
Instead of using their best years to cultivate, these people came here to learn so-called manners.
Was this Heaven Dou's nobility?
Gu Rong sneered inwardly—but at that moment, he frowned slightly.
"Isn't that the young couple from Spirit Hall?" he muttered. "What are they doing here?"
"Fengzhi, that pair from Spirit Hall has arrived," Gu Rong said quietly as he walked up beside Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi was also puzzled. "What are they doing at Moon Pavilion?"
Tang Yuehua asked curiously, "They? Who?"
Ning Fengzhi chuckled.
"They are the captain and vice-captain of the Spirit Hall Academy Team—the champions of this Elite Tournament."
Tang Yuehua was mildly surprised. "So it's them. I wonder why they've come here."
After all, this was the first All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, and its influence across the Douluo Continent was considerable. The Heaven Dou Empire had gone to great lengths in organizing it, and nearly all of Heaven Dou City had come to watch.
The Spirit Hall Academy Team, which had dominated the competition and claimed the championship with overwhelming ease, was especially eye-catching.
Tang Yuehua had watched most of the matches herself and was very familiar with Spirit Hall Academy's battles.
---
Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying were stopped by the guards at Moon Pavilion. Just as Yin Zhang was about to explain that he wished to visit Sect Master Ning, a woman's voice rang out.
"Let them in."
The guards stepped aside immediately, allowing Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying to enter one after the other.
At once, the gazes of the nobles learning etiquette below were drawn to them.
Seeing that Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying walked without the slightest trace of aristocratic bearing, a few people showed looks of disdain.
Of course, such people were in the minority. Most recognized their identities—and remembered the overwhelming might they had displayed during the Elite Tournament.
Among them, Xue Qinghe and Xue Luochuan stood out the most.
Yin Zhang naturally ignored Xue Luochuan. That man was already finished—interfering with him now would only invite trouble, and there was no need.
He smiled back at Xue Qinghe, causing her face to flush slightly—though it was unclear whether it was due to the crowded pavilion or the rising warmth in the air.
"Sect Master Ning, Your Excellency Bone Douluo, Pavilion Master Tang," Yin Zhang greeted as he looked up, noticing that all three were watching them.
Ning Fengzhi and Tang Yuehua exchanged a glance and smiled faintly.
"Come up first," Ning Fengzhi said.
Thus, amid the curious and confused gazes of the nobles below, Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying walked up and stopped before the three of them.
Yin Zhang bowed slightly once more.
"Greetings, Sect Master Ning, Your Excellency, and Pavilion Master Tang."
Qiangu Yunying followed suit, cupping her hands lightly.
"Greetings, Sect Master Ning…"
Tang Yuehua glanced at the students below, who had paused their practice, and gracefully descended to resume instruction—leaving the four of them above.
Ning Fengzhi looked at Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying. Though doubts lingered in his heart, he maintained the composure of a sect master and smiled.
"I wonder what brings you two geniuses here today. It seems we've had no prior dealings."
Yin Zhang smiled faintly.
"To be frank, Sect Master Ning, I've come specifically this time to conduct a transaction with you."
"A transaction—with me?" Ning Fengzhi was taken aback.
The two before him were from Spirit Hall. Given their identity, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but wonder whether Yin Zhang had some ulterior motive in seeking him out.
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