Ning Rongrong and Dugu Bo (Part 1)

Bone Douluo sat cross-legged, pale gray Soul Power drifting around him.

A moment later, the wandering Soul Power slowly faded away.

Bone Douluo let out a long breath and rose to his feet.

"Now that was quite an experience!"

Bone Douluo turned his gaze toward the doorway.

Unsure of Bone Douluo's condition, Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong both remained silent.

"Rongrong, thank you for this," Bone Douluo said with feeling. "The Soul Bone's skill is excellent. And I can feel the bottleneck at Level 96 starting to loosen."

"Really?" Ning Fengzhi was surprised. Bone Douluo had remained at Level 95 for many years. Even after Ning Rongrong discovered her remarkable appraisal ability—

She could identify the general medicinal properties of herbs, allowing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to develop many different types of Medicinal Baths.

Yet after soaking in Medicinal Baths for years, aside from feeling improvements in every aspect—

Neither Sword Douluo nor Bone Douluo had shown much sign of breaking through. Bone Douluo in particular could clearly sense the bottleneck, yet he simply could not break open the path to Level 96.

Could this Soul Bone allow both pillars of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to reach Level 96?

The thought left Ning Fengzhi extremely excited.

"Feng Zhi, the bottleneck has indeed loosened. But if I want to break through, my initial estimate is that it will still take at least half a year to a year."

As Bone Douluo spoke, he looked toward the silent Ning Rongrong.

"Rongrong, Bone Grandfather is about to break through. Aren't you happy?"

"Huh?" Ning Rongrong snapped out of her thoughts. "Of course I am. I couldn't be happier that Bone Grandfather can break through to Level 96."

"It's just that I have a question. I don't know whether I should ask it."

"Oh? Let's hear it." Bone Douluo was very interested in Ning Rongrong's questions, as they often revealed useful information.

"I don't understand. Bone Grandfather's Bone Dragon should be more compatible with Space Attribute and Dark Attribute Soul Rings, so why did you choose Defense Type Soul Rings?"

Sword Douluo focused on offense, while Bone Douluo focused on defense. Everyone knew that.

But Bone Douluo should not be weak in terms of offense either!

"So that's what you were wondering about!" Bone Douluo exchanged a glance with Ning Fengzhi, then shook his head with a smile.

"Rongrong, unlike Chen Xin, who had an inherited legacy, I was always a lone wanderer before joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"So finding suitable Soul Rings was extremely difficult."

"Defense-oriented ones were easier to find, but Soul Beasts with attributes like space and darkness? You might not find a single one even among a hundred, or even a thousand, Soul Beasts of the same level."

"I see!"

After hearing Bone Douluo's explanation, Ning Rongrong fell into thought.

Soul Rings came from Soul Beasts. Ordinary plant- and animal-type Soul Beasts were relatively easy to find.

But rare attributes were another matter entirely! Even if one found them, killing them did not necessarily yield the desired Soul Skill.

A Soul Beast could possess several skills, but the Soul Ring it dropped after death could only inherit one of its Soul Skills or traits, aside from certain special cases.

Not everyone was like Qian Renxue, born into such wealth and power, with a Level 99 Qian Daoliu practically feeding her opportunities.

For ordinary Rogue Soul Masters, merely finding a Soul Beast reasonably suited to themselves, defeating it, and absorbing its Soul Ring was already difficult enough. How could they afford to be picky?

After clearing up Ning Rongrong's doubts, the three continued discussing the Soul Bone.

Before long, they stopped.

A knock sounded from outside the door.

"Sect Master Ning, is it convenient for you to go to the palace now? His Majesty wishes to see you."

"I understand. I'll head over after getting ready. Go back and report first."

"Yes. Thank you for your understanding, Sect Master Ning."

The footsteps outside gradually faded into the distance.

"What does Emperor Xue Ye want with us again?" Bone Douluo had been in a good mood, but now he had to go to the palace. He had wanted to go out and test the Soul Bone's skill.

"Perhaps it's about Xue Beng. Rongrong, what do you think?" Ning Fengzhi looked at Ning Rongrong.

"I think so too," Ning Rongrong said after some thought.

She could not predict five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future. How could she possibly know why Emperor Xue Ye wanted to see her father?

Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo left for the Heaven Dou City palace.

After calming herself somewhat, Ning Rongrong planned to begin cultivating. She had been busy with all sorts of matters these past few days and had not had time to enter a cultivation state.

"Are Sect Master Ning and Senior Gu Rong here? Dugu Bo has come to visit."

Dugu Bo?

Why had he picked this time? Shouldn't he take some time to process things after reading the letter?

Still, since he was already here, it would not be right to leave him outside.

Ning Rongrong pushed open the door and walked out.

The old man outside had Dark Green hair and beard, a body as thin as a bamboo pole, and emerald-like eyes gleaming with light. Who else could he be but Dugu Bo?

However, beside him stood someone Ning Rongrong knew rather well—Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan.

Judging from the faint green staining in her hair, she too showed signs of poisoning.

"Isn't this Poison Douluo Your Excellency, along with Miss Dugu Yan?"

"You've come in such a hurry. Is something the matter?"

"Young Sect Master Ning, may I ask whether your father, Sect Master Ning, is here?"

Since he had come to ask for help, he had to lower his tone. Besides, there was no shame in seeking aid from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which was wealthy enough to rival a nation.

"Father and Bone Grandfather have gone to see Emperor Xue Ye. You may have to wait for a while."

"Please come in first. They should return soon." Ning Rongrong led Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan into the residence.

Seeing the tense yet hesitant expression on Dugu Bo's face—

Ning Rongrong took out a pot of tea from the Soul Tool on her wrist, placed it on the table, and filled a cup for each of them.

"Did Dugu Mianxia come here because of what was written in the letter?"

Naturally, Ning Rongrong knew what the letter delivered to Dugu Bo contained. Ning Fengzhi had written it, but she had composed the wording.

"You knew?" Dugu Bo's face revealed an incredulous expression. Looking at this girl nearly ten years younger than his granddaughter, he gradually found her harder and harder to understand.

"Of course. I had Father write that letter to you, so how could I not know?"

Ning Rongrong poured herself a cup of tea and took a light sip.

"You..." He had originally wanted to question her, but upon remembering her identity, he suppressed his irritated emotions.

"The toxins in you and your granddaughter can be cured by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Ning Rongrong set down the half-finished cup in her hand, her clear eyes fixed on Dugu Bo.

"Th-this... is it true?" Dugu Bo's body trembled, and his hoarse voice became somewhat unsteady.

"Grandfather?" Dugu Yan looked worriedly at her grandfather. She had secretly read the letter earlier and understood her current condition.

She had even vaguely guessed that her parents had likely died unexpectedly because their toxins had erupted.

"Does Senior Dugu not trust the reputation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Ning Rongrong said. "I may be young and not look very convincing, but I am still the Young Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I would not use something like this to fool a Titled Douluo."

"Speaking of which, would you like to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Ning Rongrong asked calmly.