Ning Rongrong and Dugu Bo (Part 2)

Silence. Dugu Bo fell silent.

Not knowing what to say, Dugu Yan merely watched quietly, but the expression on her face betrayed her. She was deeply uneasy as well.

"Change the terms. I, Dugu Bo, have grown accustomed to an idle life." Dugu Bo sighed.

Dugu Bo's refusal did not surprise Ning Rongrong.

"Senior Dugu, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has actually conducted an in-depth investigation into you."

"Xue Ye, Prince Xue Xing, and even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan have all been trying to recruit you."

"If they can do it, why can't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

As Ning Rongrong spoke, her gaze shifted slightly toward Dugu Yan. "Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan deliberately entered Heaven Dou Royal Academy in order to get close to you."

"What do you mean?" Dugu Yan frowned tightly.

"Normally, direct descendants of the Upper Three Sects do not attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy. The reason is simple: they fear being indoctrinated after entering."

"Yet Yu Tianheng, the grandson of the current Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan leader and one of its heirs, entered Heaven Dou Royal Academy. It is difficult not to become suspicious."

"Wouldn't you agree, Senior Dugu?" Ning Rongrong fell quiet after speaking.

"Grandpa..." Dugu Yan still had some fondness for Yu Tianheng.

There was still time before the original plot unfolded, but how could a young, handsome, and wealthy boy not catch a girl's attention?

Yet that hazy affection seemed to have been shattered by cruel reality.

Especially when she saw that her grandfather, Dugu Bo, had no intention of refuting it, her heart jolted violently.

"Yan Yan, I would like to say no, but it is most likely just as Young Sect Master Ning said. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wants to use you to recruit me."

"I had indeed noticed it. But Yan Yan, you did not seem particularly disgusted by Yu Tianheng, and Yu Tianheng's character appeared fairly decent as well, so I pretended not to notice."

Dugu Bo let out a long sigh. "Grandpa is old now, and with the toxins in my body, I do not know how much longer I can live. But I should live long enough to see you marry into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. As for the final outcome... perhaps it will be good, perhaps not so good. But Yu Tianheng..."

"Enough, Grandpa." Dugu Yan interrupted him. "Does this kind of pursuit with ulterior motives really mean anything? Do you think I would be happy?"

"Then join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!" Ning Rongrong interjected.

"What difference is there between your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Isn't it all for Grandpa?" Dugu Yan seemed to be on the verge of breaking down.

"Yan Yan! Do not say such things carelessly." Dugu Bo stopped Dugu Yan, afraid that she might say something even more shocking.

"Senior Dugu, Miss Dugu is actually right."

"I, or rather the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, also value Poison Douluo's worth. Fundamentally, there is no difference."

Ning Rongrong paused slightly as she spoke.

"However, personally, I think more highly of Miss Dugu Yan's future."

"My future?" Dugu Yan was taken aback.

"That's right. Miss Dugu's Soul Power Level is close to level thirty, isn't it?" Ning Rongrong smiled faintly.

"To possess strength close to that of a Soul Elder at such an age may not be heaven-defying, but it is still outstanding."

"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect needs talented people like Miss Dugu Yan."

Although Ning Rongrong said this somewhat against her conscience, what did it matter?

What she valued was Dugu Yan's future, not her present.

"How unbelievable." Dugu Bo looked Ning Rongrong up and down. Ning Rongrong gave him the impression of a wise strategist who had everything under control, like a smaller version of Ning Fengzhi.

Was this what disciples of great sects were like?

At such a young age, they had already begun devising plans for their sect.

First Yu Tianheng, now Ning Rongrong, and Xue Beng, who seemed to be under Prince Xue Xing's protection and whose status as a wastrel was uncertain.

"Speaking of which, what is Young Sect Master Ning's Soul Power Level? Why can't I sense it at all?"

"Because it has been concealed." Ning Rongrong smiled without offering further explanation.

"If you want to know my Soul Power Level, wait until Senior Dugu joins the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"You are that certain Yan Yan and I will join?"

Dugu Bo looked rather surprised. Should he call the little girl before him arrogant or confident?

"No. I am merely doing my utmost."

Ning Rongrong had known Dugu Bo would ask that.

"Compared to joining the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be far more beneficial to Senior Dugu."

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?

A bunch of brutes. Their understanding of Poison Douluo was probably no more than that he was a Titled Douluo.

How could they compare with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

To say nothing else, their sect's medicinal herb treasury alone could let Dugu Bo squander herbs every day until he produced some useful result.

Would the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan dare do that?

This was the foundation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the reason Ning Rongrong wanted Dugu Bo. His status as a Titled Douluo was secondary; what mattered was his mind, his application of poisons and medicinal herbs, combined with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's discerning eye for treasures.

Couldn't they establish a new profession called an Alchemist or Pill Refiner?

If that still didn't work, they could bring Yang Wudi over.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacked many things, but money and treasures were not among them.

After considering it for a long while, Dugu Bo said, "If you recruit me like this, aren't you afraid Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire will cause you trouble?"

He was a prized catch in the Heaven Dou Empire, with one foot already in its camp.

Unlike the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he was a lone cultivator, someone they could recruit without restraint.

"It's fine. We already have everything planned out. We'll simply say that my health is poor, and that I came to Senior Dugu seeking treatment."

"Given enough time, feelings will naturally grow. Even if the Heaven Dou Emperor learns that you joined us later, he won't have much to say."

"So... your target was me from the very beginning?" Dugu Bo finally realized.

The matter of Ning Rongrong's extremely poor health had also been mentioned during her earlier conversation with the three Education Committee members.

Wasn't this a little too absurd?

Ning Rongrong had coughed up blood when awakening her Martial Soul, and then her health had deteriorated.

Could it be that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had started setting its sights on Dugu Bo two years ago?

Heavens, I never knew I was this important.

They had actually needed the Young Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to maintain a frail constitution just to recruit him.

Seeing Dugu Bo's expression, as though he wanted to speak but stopped himself, then stopped himself only to want to speak again, Ning Rongrong had no idea what he was imagining, but she still said:

"Senior Dugu, it seems you don't fully understand your own value!"

"In the eyes of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, your value far exceeds that of an ordinary Titled Douluo."

"One could even say that you are as important as the two Guardian Elders of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Th-then, is that true?" Dugu Bo's heart pounded wildly.

He, who was so often mocked by the outside world as the Shame of Titled Douluo, could actually receive such high praise from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

The two Guardian Elders who protected the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

One was a Level 95 Titled Douluo, while the other possessed the terrifying strength of Level 96.

What right did Dugu Bo, merely Level 91, have to be mentioned in the same breath as those two?

"Rongrong is right. Dugu Mianxia's value is far greater than that of an ordinary Titled Douluo. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has long admired you as well."

A sudden voice rang out, and everyone turned toward the doorway.

Entering were an elegant middle-aged man and an elderly man clad in armor, whose entire presence carried a somewhat sinister aura.

They were Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong, who had just returned from the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.