An Old Father's Scheme

Thunderclap Canyon had originally been a small gathering place for soul beasts. Ever since the first clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan discovered that cultivating in Thunderclap Canyon brought enormous benefits to Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon soul masters,

when he established the clan, he had privately designated Thunderclap Canyon as the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's territory.

Many people had opposed it at the time, but the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan produced several formidable leaders in succession, leaving the various forces afraid to set their sights on them.

Over time, it became their private territory.

On Douluo Continent, it was hardly unusual for great clans and aristocratic families to monopolize cultivation resources. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was comparatively better, but it still occupied quite a few resources.

They were all much the same. Ning Fengzhi and the other two neither agreed with nor opposed Ning Rongrong's words.

"Let this matter rest here. I always feel that a storm is about to sweep across the continent. Maintaining good relations with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will benefit us as well."

Ning Fengzhi had never abandoned the idea of standing united with them.

Of course, Ning Tianchen, who possessed a god's-eye view, understood just how naive that idea was.

Though the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had declined, the pride in their bones meant they would not readily cooperate with others.

Moreover, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been far too prominent within the Heaven Dou Empire. It seemed Ning Fengzhi had yet to realize that what flourished to its peak was bound to decline.

Ning Tianchen sighed inwardly but said nothing more.

He was currently enjoying the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources and support. He could hardly smash the pot after finishing the meal.

"Thank you, Sect Master. Thank you, Sword Offering and Bone Guardian. I will certainly cultivate diligently." Ning Tianchen cupped his hands.

Gu Rong smiled awkwardly. "If you truly wish to thank me, why not become my disciple?"

"Hm? Old Bone, do you want to spar?" Chen Xin snorted and abruptly rose to his feet.

Even if he could not win, Gu Rong would not lose in momentum. He stood as well. "Come on. I happen to have made a breakthrough recently. Let's have a spar!"

The two were at daggers drawn, but only verbally. Neither made any actual move.

Ning Fengzhi smiled helplessly. The two had previously argued over whether Ning Rongrong should attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and now they were arguing again over Ning Tianchen.

"Sword Uncle and Bone Uncle are Level 96 and Level 95, respectively, yet they still act like children."

With a soft sigh, Ning Fengzhi turned to Ning Tianchen. "Go back and make your preparations first. We should receive a reply within the next couple of days. When the time comes, go hunt soul beasts with Sword Uncle."

"Dad, Rongrong wants to go too." Ning Rongrong hurriedly spoke, grabbing Ning Tianchen's arm with both hands.

Ning Fengzhi laughed wordlessly. Truly, a grown daughter could not be kept at home.

After some thought, he did not refuse.

When they went soul hunting, he could simply arrange for a Soul Douluo expert from the sect to accompany them.

After leaving the sect's main hall,

Ning Rongrong hurriedly pulled Ning Tianchen into a corner. After checking that no one was around, she whispered, "Tianchen Gege, Rongrong doesn't want to go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Ning Fengzhi was, after all, the leader of a sect. Although Sword Bone Douluo could influence his decisions to some extent, if he insisted on sending the two of them to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Sword Bone Douluo would be unable to stop him.

"Cultivating in the sect all the time won't help us improve our strength. Sooner or later, we need to leave the sect and gain experience outside for a while," Ning Tianchen said objectively.

Ning Rongrong shook her head and hurriedly explained her thoughts. "Tianchen Gege, it's not that I don't want to go out and gain experience, but what kind of place is Heaven Dou Royal Academy? How much could we really improve there?"

"Besides, I recently learned of an academy. It only admits geniuses, so it must be a good academy. We're geniuses too. We should be around geniuses, not those spoiled young masters at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Ning Tianchen asked, "Which academy are you talking about?"

Ning Rongrong said, "Shrek Academy in the Balak Kingdom. I heard that the academy has been established for twenty years, and among its first batch of graduates, one has now become Spirit Hall's youngest elder."

Ning Tianchen was speechless.

He could be absolutely certain that no one in Heaven Dou City knew of Shrek Academy.

From what he understood, Shrek Academy's admission standards were harsh, and there were destined to be very few students within the academy.

To reach Soul Power Level 21 or above before the age of thirteen, one had to be a genius with at least Innate Soul Power Level 6.

Those with such Innate Soul Power were mostly children of major families and could all be considered core disciples.

These families had their own webs of interest. Why would they hand their disciples over to some obscure little academy for training?

As for soul masters of commoner birth who met Shrek Academy's admission requirements, they would either join Spirit Hall or one of the major forces. They were even less likely to go to Shrek Academy.

Still, Shrek Academy's reputation was undeniably quite intimidating.

During every enrollment season, many rumors about it circulated within the Balak Kingdom. Unfortunately, those who went to register would only end up handing over ten Gold Soul Coins in registration fees for nothing.

No matter what, Shrek Academy's reputation could not possibly have reached Heaven Dou City.

How Ning Rongrong had obtained this information was worth considering.

Perhaps Ning Fengzhi knew she would refuse to attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy, so he had sent someone to secretly feed her information about Shrek Academy.

Though Ning Rongrong's temperament had changed considerably, she was still very playful. She needed strong medicine to curb the stubbornness in her heart.

For all he knew, Ning Fengzhi might already be exchanging letters with Flender.

With Ning Rongrong's current experience, she could not possibly uncover the trick behind it.

Ning Tianchen saw through it but did not expose it. "Really? I didn't expect such a unique academy to exist on the continent. But Rongrong, have you thought it through carefully?"

"What's wrong with it?" Ning Rongrong asked in confusion.

Ning Tianchen smiled. "Shrek Academy has existed for twenty years and only admits students under twelve. That means that, even today, its earliest graduates would only be thirty-two years old."

"An elder of Spirit Hall would surely be a Titled Douluo powerhouse, or someone with a special status like Sect Master Ning. If such a genius truly existed, then the record for the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent should have been broken long ago."

Could the elder Flender mentioned possibly be Yu Xiaogang, who had once lived off Bibi Dong?

"Th-this..." Ning Rongrong also began to feel that the rumors about Shrek Academy were not entirely true.

Still, Shrek Academy had already become a place she yearned for, so she would surely find some excuse to patch up the lie.

"Oh, Tianchen Gege. Maybe Shrek Academy didn't have an age limit when it was first established. I don't care. I've decided to go there and study. Are you coming or not, Tianchen Gege?"

Before Ning Tianchen could answer, Ning Fengzhi's voice came from nearby. "What are you two doing here?"

"Thunderclap Canyon has a unique environment, so make your preparations early. Once you enter the canyon, there will be no turning back midway."

Those words were mainly directed at Ning Rongrong.

"Bleh!" Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue, then dragged Ning Tianchen away.