Fishing

Fishing

Shi Yi arrived in Suotuo City. With nothing better to do, he strolled around, figuring that even if Ning Rongrong gave up, she would not do so this quickly.

After wandering for a while, Shi Yi came to a teahouse not far from the city gate. Of all the routes from Shrek to Suotuo City, the west gate was the closest. Ning Rongrong presumably would not go out of her way to enter through another gate.

He ordered a pot of tea and took a seat by the window, quietly waiting for his prey to appear.

As the sun climbed higher, Ning Rongrong soon appeared at the city gate.

By then, Ning Rongrong was panting from running. The moment she spotted the teahouse, she rushed straight toward it.

Seeing Ning Rongrong heading for the teahouse, Shi Yi smiled. He more or less understood what was going on, then took a book from his Soul Tool.

Ning Rongrong rushed into the teahouse and was just about to ask the waiter for a pot of tea when she happened to see Shi Yi, dressed in fitted white clothes, sitting by the window and reading.

Shi Yi was pretending to be absorbed in his book, sitting casually and carefree by the window. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell over him, casting a faint halo around his body.

For a moment, Ning Rongrong froze slightly, as though she had forgotten the exhaustion brought on by running laps.

Before long, Ning Rongrong's crisp voice reached Shi Yi's ears. "Hey, why are you here?"

Shi Yi pretended to come back to himself, only to see Ning Rongrong sit across from him. She picked up an upside-down teacup from the table, poured herself a cup without the slightest politeness, and drained it in one gulp.

The corners of Shi Yi's lips curled into a smile as he said calmly, "I found a place to read. Also, my name is Shi Yi. Besides, shouldn't you be running laps right now?"

"I'm too tired. I don't want to run anymore." Ning Rongrong casually poured herself another cup of tea.

"I suggest you finish those twenty laps. Otherwise, it will be hard to explain yourself." Shi Yi flipped through his book as he spoke blandly.

Ning Rongrong smiled and said to Shi Yi, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Ning Rongrong. Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Shi Yi stopped turning the pages and said meaningfully, "Ning? Then indeed, nothing serious will happen."

A trace of pride flashed across Ning Rongrong's face. She looked at Shi Yi curiously. "Are you really Innate Level 1?"

Shi Yi replied casually, "Even if I said I was, you would not believe me. In your minds, that is absolutely impossible. Even a genius like Xiao San, with Innate Full Soul Power, only reached Level 29 by the age of twelve."

Ning Rongrong nodded. "This young lady had Innate Soul Power of Level 9, yet I've only reached Level 27 after cultivating until now. How could someone with Innate Level 1 reach your current Soul Power Level? Unless... you can prove it to me."

"Miss Ning certainly knows how to make a good calculation. But I have never needed anyone else's approval. To me, whether I attend Shrek or not makes little difference." Shi Yi chuckled.

"If you truly have that ability, tell me how you did it. I can have you join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, become one of its core disciples, and receive the best training. How about it?" Ning Rongrong looked at Shi Yi with complete confidence, every bit the young lady of a great house.

Shi Yi could not help but laugh. "Now I understand why Sect Master Ning sent you here. You should go finish your twenty laps first. There is still time."

With that, Shi Yi slowly rose to his feet and headed out the door, leaving Ning Rongrong behind.

Before he had taken two steps, Ning Rongrong's voice came from behind him. "Shi Yi, you'll regret this!"

Shi Yi smiled and left without looking back. The bait had already been cast. All that remained was to let things take their natural course.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Council Hall.

On the north side of the hall, the seat of honor facing south was a large carved rosewood chair. A huge piece of jade was inlaid into its backrest. The jade was emerald green and gave off a faint, gentle aura. It was clearly a piece of top-grade warm jade.

A man sat upright in the carved rosewood chair. His face was as fair as jade, with a straight nose and square mouth. His features were refined and gentle, and his spotless white robe did not carry a speck of dust. He looked to be in his forties, his gaze mild; no matter how one looked at him, he seemed like an ordinary man. His smooth black hair draped loosely down his back. Everything about him appeared so casual, without the slightest affectation.

At that moment, he was looking at a young man kneeling below him, dressed in fitted white clothes.

"Reporting to Sect Master, the young lady has arrived at Shrek Academy and was successfully admitted," the young man said respectfully.

Ning Fengzhi nodded. A trace of helplessness showed on his face as he sighed softly. "It is good for that little ancestor to go out and temper herself. Otherwise, she will turn the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect upside down. How is Shrek Academy?"

"Please forgive me, Sect Master. Shrek Academy has at least one Soul Saint and several Soul Emperor-level experts. This subordinate is incompetent and could not enter to investigate. However, I delivered the letter you instructed me to send to one of Shrek Academy's teachers. It will certainly reach their Dean."

Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly. Thinking of how Ning Rongrong had stirred up trouble in the sect, he could not help but smile. "Flender, you can deal with the headache now. Perhaps only after leaving home will that little devil become more sensible. All right, you may leave."

The young man hesitated. "Sect Master, there is one more matter. I do not know whether it is true."

"Oh?" Ning Fengzhi looked at the young man in some surprise.

The young man stepped forward, leaned close to Ning Fengzhi, and whispered something into his ear. Afterward, he slowly stepped back.

At that moment, ripples appeared in Ning Fengzhi's previously calm eyes.

"Have you investigated that young man's background?" Ning Fengzhi asked softly.

The young man nodded, took a Scroll from his Soul Tool, and respectfully presented it.

Ning Fengzhi slowly opened the Scroll and read it carefully. When he saw the entry for personal connections—Teacher: Yu Xiaogang—an enlightened expression appeared on his face.

"Very well, I understand. You may leave," Ning Fengzhi said to the young man.

"Yes, Sect Master." The young man quickly backed away and left.

Just then, a powerful, vigorous voice rang out in the hall. It seemed to come from every direction, making the entire hall tremble.

"Fengzhi, are you really at ease letting Rongrong stay outside alone? Could that Shrek Academy possibly teach her better than we can? No, I'm going to bring Rongrong back. I can't rest easy with her out there."

As the voice sounded, an old man with white hair and beard emerged from the rear hall. Though his hair was entirely white, his face was as smooth and tender as an infant's. He sat down in a chair beside Sect Master Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi said helplessly, "Uncle Jian, with you and Uncle Gu around, I could not let this girl stay in the sect any longer. You spoil her far too much. She can no longer be disciplined at home. Perhaps some education outside will change her."

Chen Xin snorted in displeasure. "Who says we spoil Rongrong? You only see the side of Rongrong that likes to play around. You do not see her well-behaved side. You have plenty of sons, but only one daughter. You can really bear to do this."

Ning Fengzhi made a firm decision. "Uncle Jian, no matter what, I will not go look for her this time. Neither you nor Uncle Gu may go either. You need not worry about Rongrong's safety at all. The Dean of Shrek Academy is one of the former Golden Iron Triangle. He cannot possibly fail to recognize the martial soul of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. With him protecting her, Rongrong will be fine."

Chen Xin snorted angrily. "If anything happens to Rongrong, I'll hold you responsible. I'm feeling a little stiff. I'll go find Cheap Bone and loosen up."

Ning Fengzhi's tone immediately softened. "Uncle Jian, wait a moment. There is something I would like to ask you."

Like a child, Chen Xin immediately replied, "Bring Rongrong back, and I'll answer your question."

Ning Fengzhi looked helpless as he said seriously, "Uncle Jian, please stop joking with me. Rongrong going out is a good thing. As it happens, I have some good news to ask you about."

Seeing Ning Fengzhi's serious expression, Chen Xin's face also became solemn. "Go ahead."

"Uncle Jian, from the perspective of a Title Douluo, do you think someone with Innate Level 1 Soul Power could possibly cultivate to Level 27 by the age of fourteen?" Ning Fengzhi asked Chen Xin.

Chen Xin looked at Ning Fengzhi as though he were an idiot. "Fengzhi, you told me not to joke around, yet you are the one making jokes. If you do not want to bring Rongrong back, just say so."

"You also think it is impossible?" Ning Fengzhi asked earnestly.

"Without external help, it is absolutely impossible. If someone's innate talent is limited and they wish to change it, they would have to rely on Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures or Soul Bones of extremely high quality. Only then would success be possible." Seeing Ning Fengzhi's serious expression, Chen Xin gave him a serious answer.

As soon as Chen Xin finished speaking, Ning Fengzhi handed him the Scroll he had just been holding.

Chen Xin read it with a puzzled expression. After finishing it, ripples also appeared in his formerly calm eyes.

"If this is true, the theory this person has developed may truly change the entire continent," Chen Xin said with feeling.

Ning Fengzhi nodded as well. "But there is something I do not understand. If this is true, why has Yu Xiaogang, his teacher, shown no change at all?"

"Fengzhi, some things are already decreed by heaven. To change heaven's decision, the price paid will certainly not be small. Even if everything that happened to this young man is true, perhaps he is still an unrepeatable miracle," Chen Xin said to Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi nodded in agreement and sighed softly. "It is good for Rongrong to go out and meet these outstanding young talents."

Chen Xin's face darkened. "Fengzhi, how old is Rongrong? You are already thinking of marrying her off?"

Ning Fengzhi sighed faintly. "Uncle Jian, the two of you are getting old as well. Rongrong is the future heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. While I still have you two to help for a few more years, it is time to begin looking."

Chen Xin fell silent for a while before saying slowly, "Rongrong should grow up."

Though Ning Fengzhi looked to be in his forties, he was actually already over sixty years old. Ning Rongrong was his youngest child and his only daughter.

Night fell. The Dean of Shrek Academy, Flender, stood on the large training field, looking at the eight students before him.

The expressionless Zhu Zhuqing, the disdainful Dai Mubai, the lecherous Ma Hongjun, the expectant Tang San and Xiao Wu, the smiling Shi Yi, the nervous Oscar, and the fearless Ning Rongrong.

At that moment, Flender's attention was focused solely on Oscar and Ning Rongrong. His sharp gaze was enough to make people afraid to meet his eyes.

Flender said calmly, "Oscar, have you finished running twenty laps?"

Oscar coughed nervously, then nodded. "Dean, I finished."

Flender snorted coldly. "I asked whether all of you finished, not whether you did."

Oscar turned to look at Ning Rongrong. She was looking at him too, her beautiful eyes filled with innocence.

Oscar gritted his teeth and nodded. "Yes, we all finished."

Shi Yi smiled but said nothing. After all, it was Shi Yi's first time seeing a sycophant with Innate Full Soul Power. If it were anyone else with Innate Full Soul Power, their tail would probably be sticking up in the sky.

Flender smiled too, but his smile was sinister.

"Very good, Oscar. I did not expect you to have such a spirit of friendship. Come here." Flender pointed to the spot in front of him.

A bitter, helpless smile appeared on Oscar's face, as though he were bravely walking to his death. Yet Shi Yi saw Ning Rongrong's utterly unconcerned expression.

Flender slowly raised his right hand and lightly patted Oscar on the shoulder. "I appreciate your spirit of friendship. Since that is the case, go run another twenty laps. Let me see just how deep your friendship goes. If you do not finish, you will not eat. I have already sealed your Soul Power, so do not even think of undoing it. Go."

Oscar said nothing. He merely nodded silently, turned around, and ran outside.

Flender turned his gaze toward the others. "Do you not understand why I did this? Why I made him continue running?"

"I understand. He froze at the sight of a pretty girl. Pretty pathetic," Shi Yi said to Flender with a smile.

Ma Hongjun burst into laughter, about to voice his agreement with Shi Yi, but Flender's sharp gaze made him too afraid to speak.

Flender turned to Shi Yi, his face darkening. He glared at him. "Do you want to go run laps like Oscar too?"

Shi Yi spread his hands, indicating that he would not speak again.

"Wrong! It is because he lied. Although he lied out of friendship or some other reason, he still lied. You are all still children, and lying is the worst kind of character flaw. I hope you understand that."

With that, Flender's gaze fell on Ning Rongrong. "Tell me, did you complete the assignment I gave you this morning?"

Ning Rongrong honestly shook her head. "No. The distance was too long, and I was hungry. I could not keep going."

Flender said calmly, "So you ran to Suotuo City alone, had several cups of tea with Shi Yi, wandered around Suotuo City's commercial district, ate a large meal, and only just returned to find Oscar. Is that right?"

Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes widened. "You were spying on me!"