On the other side, Ning Rongrong, her face brimming with pride and joy, was leading her father out of Shrek Academy.
Along the way, she couldn't stop showing off her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and boasting about how powerful Xiao Tianyang was. However, as soon as she reached the entrance, she was taken aback by the lively scene before her.
Recalling the recent challenge from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Ning Rongrong frowned in frustration. "Why won't these guys ever give up?"
As the saying goes, the more you dwell on something, the angrier you become.
Ning Rongrong stomped her foot, pushed through the crowd, and exclaimed, "Damn it! I'll teach you a lesson today, you ignorant Heaven Dou Imperial Academy students!"
"Sister, you might have misunderstood," a nearby Shrek Academy student quickly explained, trying to clarify the situation.
But Ning Rongrong's shock only deepened, and instead of slowing down, she sped up, quickly making her way to the front.
"Soul Douluo!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening as she saw the eight soul rings surrounding Tai Tan.
"No, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda..." Ning Rongrong muttered, about to assist Xiao Tianyang by enhancing his condition. But before she could finish her incantation, her wrist was grabbed.
"Father, what are you doing?" Ning Rongrong asked, recognizing her father, Ning Fengzhi. She tried to pull away, saying, "If this continues, Tianyang will be in danger."
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly and looked at his daughter. "Is Tianyang the only one you're worried about?"
Ning Rongrong's cheeks flushed as her thoughts were exposed. She quickly lowered her head and said coyly, "Of course, there's also Tang San. But father, this isn't the time to talk about this. What are you planning to do?"
Ning Fengzhi reached out and gently patted her head. "Didn't you just say how powerful this classmate of yours is? Let Father take a good look at him so we can evaluate him properly, alright?"
"But Father, that's a Soul Douluo!" Ning Rongrong protested, covering her flushed face with her hands. But she still couldn't help worrying. "What if he gets hurt?"
Ning Fengzhi reassured her, "Don't worry. With uncle Bone here, he won't let anyone get seriously injured."
"Oh, right! Grandpa Bone is here too!" Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up with relief.
Bone Douluo, standing nearby, couldn't help but sigh. "Ah, such a daughter who's already eager to leave her father behind."
But Ning Rongrong's attention was no longer on him.
Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi remained calm and composed, his demeanor as relaxed as ever. In truth, his mind was brewing with thoughts.
"There's a way to evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and perhaps even further. This boy is truly extraordinary," he mused.
"Moreover, Rongrong mentioned that he cultivated those herbs himself, meaning he has the potential to evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Combined with his background..."
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Ning Fengzhi's lips curled into a subtle smile. His eyes held a mix of appreciation, scrutiny, and satisfaction, with no trace of negativity.
This expression could easily be interpreted in four ways:
Pride: The natural attitude of a father-in-law evaluating his potential son-in-law.
Appreciation: Recognizing the remarkable achievements of someone so young.
Satisfaction: Knowing that the other party's status and background are worthy of his daughter.
Secret Joy: Perhaps due to Ning Rongrong's transformation, he felt he had stumbled upon a treasure.
And indeed, it was true.
Why was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ranked among the top three sects, despite being an auxiliary-focused sect? Was it solely because they had two Titled Douluo? While that played a part, the true reason lay in the overwhelming power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul.
A Soul Sage with this spirit could empower two Titled Douluo to rival three! When assisting a single individual, it could bridge a gap of two entire levels!
This was why the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect held its prestigious position.
However, the sect had its limitations.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could only reach the Soul Sage level, a constraint inherent to its martial soul. Yet, history had seen one genius who broke this barrier, giving rise to the legend of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. But such geniuses were rare.
Now, Xiao Tianyang had emerged as someone who could potentially change this phenomenon—not through sheer talent, but through opportunity.
Xiao Tianyang had enabled Ning Rongrong to take that crucial step, and perhaps even held the key to evolving his own martial soul to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
This realization only deepened Ning Fengzhi's fondness for Xiao Tianyang.
To call Ning Fengzhi a father who would "sell his daughter for glory" would be inaccurate.
If not for Ning Rongrong's genuine feelings, he wouldn't have entertained the idea. Moreover, the presence of two Titled Douluo within the sect wasn't just for show.
While auxiliary martial souls were powerful, their role was inherently supportive. Without the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, no amount of strength would suffice.
Thus, Ning Fengzhi's actions were pragmatic, guided by both logic and a touch of opportunism.
This also explained why Bone Douluo, standing nearby, regarded Xiao Tianyang with a less-than-friendly gaze.
It was the natural reaction of a father seeing his daughter's attention being taken by another man—a feeling akin to watching the flowers he had carefully nurtured being taken away, pot and all.
Meanwhile, far away in an alley, another pair of eyes watched the scene unfold.
"Is it really not him?" Qian Renxue murmured to herself.
Even without using her alternate identity as Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, she was well aware of the events that had transpired in the imperial city.
The battle had taken place on the main street, in front of the Heaven Dou Auction House—a location where suppressing the incident would be nearly impossible.
This was why the Spirit Hall had been so furious afterward.
Not only did they have to maintain their dignity, but the attackers had also left them no room to save face. The public humiliation had been too great.
Qian Renxue knew the extent of the trouble caused by the attackers and their unique methods.
Almost immediately, she had suspected one person: Xiao Tianyang, the man who had once fought against her.
But now, seeing him here, calm and composed, with no trace of guilt in his eyes, her certainty wavered.
Of course, if she had known that Xiao Tianyang had become an expert in masking his emotions, she might not have been so quick to dispel her initial suspicion.
…
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