Banquet

The conversation did not last long before the group moved to a nearby hotel. They booked a top-class suite and had Bone Douluo set up a powerful barrier, ensuring that their discussion could not be overheard.

Once everything had been arranged and the waiter had served the dishes, the atmosphere grew solemn once more.

Xue Qinghe sat at the head of the table, followed by Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo, then Master and Flender. The little monsters sat last.

By the time they left the Great Soul Arena, Zhu Zhuqing had already awakened. Though her face was still somewhat pale, she only needed to meditate and recover her Soul Power afterward.

Thus, she also attended this secret banquet.

No one spoke at the table. The news they had received earlier was already enough for them to slowly digest.

Spirit Hall had dispatched a Titled Douluo to capture Fu Hua. Yes, capture her. With no enmity or connection whatsoever, Spirit Hall wanted to take Fu Hua away.

No matter how one thought about it, something was wrong.

Ning Fengzhi remained gentle as he said, "I imagine this young friend Fu Hua must possess something that Spirit Hall covets."

Other than that, he could think of no other explanation.

After leaving the Great Soul Arena, the Shrek group had changed their clothes, removed their masks, and gathered at this hotel in separate groups. The hotel was not particularly famous—rather, it was simply decent in every respect, with fairly moderate prices.

It was the perfect place for a secret discussion.

As for Fu Hua's identity, one person present was Ning Rongrong's father, while another was Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who had long known who she was. It could be said that there were no outsiders here, so there was naturally no need to hide anything.

Xue Qinghe nodded and continued along Ning Fengzhi's line of thought.

"I believe the thing Spirit Hall covets is currently on Fu Hua's person."

"Oh? Your Highness has already investigated it?" Ning Fengzhi asked in surprise.

Had the Heaven Dou Empire truly attached such importance to this matter?

"Surely Sect Master Ning has also heard that legend?"

Though Xue Qinghe did not answer directly, Ning Fengzhi began to ponder seriously.

"Your Highness, are you referring to the legend that began circulating thirty years ago?"

Thirty years ago!

Master's expression suddenly darkened. Tang San, seated below, noticed it at once, but this was not an appropriate occasion to ask. He could only suppress his doubts and wait for a suitable opportunity.

"That's right. That legend from thirty years ago. Though no one has ever truly verified it, something that shook the entire continent did indeed occur thirty years ago."

"Dad, what is this legend from thirty years ago that you're talking about?" Ning Rongrong asked, voicing the question in the hearts of all the little monsters.

Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi had been speaking in riddles, leaving them completely confused.

"That's true. Few people still know about it in this day and age."

"Dad."

"Haha, fine! There's no harm in telling you. After all, it is only a legend."

It was said that thirty years ago, a peerless genius suddenly emerged. With nothing more than the body of an ordinary person, she could contend against Soul Elders. That was before she had even obtained a Soul Ring. Yet after gaining her first Soul Ring, her strength increased exponentially.

With one ring, she could battle Soul Ancestors.

With two rings, she could battle Soul Kings.

With three or four rings, she could directly contend against Soul Sages.

Once she obtained six Soul Rings, she could directly slay a Titled Douluo.

Everyone was shocked. The little monsters were horrified. How could that be possible? With the body of an ordinary person, she could fight a Soul Elder, and as a six-ring Soul Sage, she could directly kill a Titled Douluo.

It was utter fantasy. To monsters of their new generation, that person was the true monster.

But before they could recover from their shock, Ning Fengzhi revealed an even more explosive piece of news.

Most astonishing of all were that person's Soul Rings. Every single one was a white Soul Ring. On the Douluo Continent, those were universally recognized as ten-year Soul Rings, yet on that person, they displayed power far beyond anyone's imagination.

However, that was only natural. That peculiar Soul Beast seemed to produce Soul Rings of only one color, just as only one of them appeared at a time. No matter how powerful it was, no matter how many years it had lived, it possessed Soul Rings of only one color.

White Soul Rings.

Yet absorbing such Soul Rings was not something ordinary people could do. There had once been people who exhausted tremendous effort and paid a painful price to hunt one of those Soul Beasts, intending to absorb its Soul Ring.

But in the end, every one of them either went mad or was corroded by the power contained within the Soul Ring, becoming neither human nor ghost before being slain by their own people.

From then on, another legend spread as well: that this kind of Soul Beast appeared only one at a time, appearing for only one person. And whoever could absorb such Soul Rings would inevitably bring war to the continent.

After that peerless genius thirty years ago, no one had ever been able to absorb one again. Thirty years ago, a world-shaking battle had also taken place, nearly igniting the flames of war across the entire continent.

Yet for some reason, that person suddenly vanished without a trace, and the seeds of war were snuffed out in the cradle.

Before that person disappeared, she had already possessed eight Soul Rings. By the standards of the Douluo Continent, she was a Soul Douluo. But no one knew what her true strength had been.

At that time, she had already been invincible among Titled Douluos. Even Limit Douluos could do nothing to her.

Thus, a rumor somehow began to spread.

Gather all nine of those Soul Rings, and one could set foot upon the path to godhood.

But no one had ever verified whether it was true.

The silence in the suite was strange. The little monsters no longer knew how to express their feelings. Godhood was a realm they had never even imagined.

They had never expected that someone on this continent had already stepped into that realm.

"But, Sect Master Ning, if she was already so powerful, why did she suddenly disappear?" Tang San asked.

Ning Fengzhi nodded, appreciating Tang San's quick thinking.

"Exactly. If she was so powerful, why did she suddenly vanish? To be honest, I don't know either. Back then, I was merely a minor Soul King. I only learned of this matter when I succeeded to the position of sect master."

Unfortunately, Ning Fengzhi merely shook his head and sighed.

Never having seen that person for himself remained a lasting regret in Ning Fengzhi's heart.

"Could that kind of Soul Beast be the one Master mentioned..." Zhao Wuji suddenly realized that Master did not seem curious about this legend at all.

Moreover, his reaction was even stranger.

Tang San nodded. From the moment Sect Master Ning began recounting that legend, the change in his teacher's expression had been distinctly wrong.

Following Zhao Wuji's revelation, everyone turned to Master, who had maintained an eerie silence. His eyes were now filled with exceedingly complicated emotions.

Hatred, guilt, unwillingness.

A tangled mass of emotions too complex to distinguish. This was the first time Tang San had seen such an expression in Master's eyes, and he could not help wondering what Master had to do with the events of thirty years ago.

Judging by Master's age, he had still been a young man then. Though his cultivation had been mediocre, he should have known something.

"Xiao Gang..." Flender looked at his old friend with concern.

When Master had met them thirty years ago, his face had indeed been filled with sorrow, and his entire being had seemed shrouded in gloom. Otherwise, how could he have been drawn to a girl like Erlong, with her temperament, leading to what happened afterward?

Flender thought to himself.

Liu Erlong, a disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, could be considered Master's cousin.

Because of Master's mutated martial soul, which had left him unable to advance beyond rank thirty, he had been cast out by his clan. Later, he met Liu Erlong and Flender, and the three formed the Golden Iron Triangle. He had even fallen in love with his cousin, Liu Erlong.

Unable to bear seeing her condemned by worldly opinion, he had resolutely left, creating a regret that had lasted for decades. According to Flender, Liu Erlong seemed to have been waiting for Master's return all along, never marrying for her entire life.

Master's hand clenched, then loosened. His heart remained in constant struggle, unsure whether he should reveal this matter. After all, it was of great importance and involved feelings he had carried for many years. To speak of it himself would undoubtedly be like rubbing salt into an old wound.

The suite remained silent. It seemed as though they could hear Master's frantic heartbeat.

Fu Hua closed her eyes, her expression slightly grave.

She had a feeling that what was about to be said might concern her. Master's familiarity with her, coupled with his current expression, all pointed to it.

Perhaps it involved something even greater—such as Spirit Hall.

"Master."

Fu Hua's calm, gentle voice slowly left her lips, breaking the silence in the suite. Master's entire body relaxed, as though he had suddenly set down some heavy burden.

"If you do not wish to speak of it, then you do not have to. That matter must be very painful for you. Many answers need not come from one person's words alone."

She could search for that answer herself.

Master gazed into Fu Hua's eyes. There was not the slightest ripple within them; they were as tranquil as a still lake. Miraculously, that calmness settled Master's heart as well.

After a moment of silence, Master slowly spoke.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot explain this matter. I only know a little about that kind of Soul Beast as well."

Everyone's attention shifted away from Fu Hua once more. Hearing Master's words, they did not know what to say.

Even Master, who was reputed to know a great deal about Soul Beasts, did not understand it. Then perhaps no one on this continent did.

"Your Highness, then may I ask what Spirit Hall's interest in Fu Hua has to do with this legend?"

As soon as Ning Fengzhi spoke, the little monsters suddenly fell silent. They seemed to have seen the Soul Ring from that legend—and at this moment... it was on their companion.

The path to godhood.

The little monsters all looked toward Fu Hua. Even Xue Qinghe was no exception. Seeing their reactions, Ning Fengzhi seemed to understand something.

"So that is what Spirit Hall is after."

The path to godhood! What an enticing temptation. For Spirit Hall, which had gradually grown dominant, merely being a power on the continent was no longer enough. They wanted to become the masters of the continent's fate.

Their ambition truly was no small thing.

Ning Fengzhi shook his head with a bitter smile. It was not without reason that such a fatal temptation could ignite war across the continent. He simply had never expected the spark to be beside his own daughter.

His eyes grew solemn, and the look he gave Fu Hua changed again and again.

"Then let me ask once more, Miss Fu Hua. Have you considered it carefully?"

This time, Xue Qinghe was serious. Even the way he addressed Fu Hua now included the honorific "Miss." At this moment, he represented the Heaven Dou Empire.

With the Heaven Dou Empire behind her, Spirit Hall would not dare act recklessly in the open.

Even Ning Fengzhi felt it was a reasonable proposal. Besides, she was Rongrong's friend.

Fu Hua closed her eyes once more, but opened them again soon afterward. Her answer was already certain. She had long seen through the struggles for power at court, and had even grown weary of them.

It had been the same five hundred years ago in the Honkai World, and it was the same five hundred years later. Remaining under Otto had only been for the sake of protecting the Divine Land. She had experienced betrayal and being betrayed all too deeply.

Perhaps she was afraid. Or perhaps she was tired. She truly did not wish to become involved again.

Ambition or power...

None of this had anything to do with her. She only wanted to quietly seek out that answer, then retire to the mountains and forests and build another Taixu Mountain.

"I'm very sorry, Your Highness. I think you may be disappointed."

Xue Qinghe was not surprised. If Fu Hua had agreed so easily, he would not have gone to such lengths to win her over. All he could say was that geniuses could sometimes be quite hateful!

He both loved and hated her, utterly unsure how he should treat her!

"I understand. So it really is like this... I should have expected it long ago."

Xue Qinghe's expression turned bitter. He was naturally unwilling to let a future powerhouse slip away, but giving up so easily was not something Xue Qinghe would do.

"Since that's the case, let's stop talking about such depressing matters. Eat, eat! Drink, drink! Let's just consider ourselves friends."

He picked up the wine cup beside him, rose to his feet, clasped his hands in salute, and drained it in one gulp.

Seeing Xue Qinghe's boldness, the atmosphere in the private room finally returned to its original ease. Ning Fengzhi and Flender both raised their cups and emptied them in one go.

At this moment, there was no crown prince or sect master here—only friends enjoying a lively conversation. Even the little monsters gradually relaxed, eating what they pleased and drinking as they wished. The table was soon a complete mess, while Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo merely smiled without saying a word.

As they watched Ning Rongrong happily mingling with the little monsters, their faces were filled with gratification.

It seemed Rongrong had gained a great deal from this trip.

"Come, Fu Hua, I'll toast you. No official matters at this moment, only friendship. If you consider me a friend, then finish this cup."

Xue Qinghe familiarly slung an arm around Fu Hua's shoulders. To outsiders, it looked like two close brothers, but only those in the know understood Fu Hua's true gender. Thus, Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai both looked at Fu Hua and Xue Qinghe with suggestive expressions.

His intentions were obvious!

Ignoring the looks they cast her way, Fu Hua lightly raised her cup and clinked it against Xue Qinghe's, producing a crisp chime before draining it in one gulp.

When it came to alcohol, Fu Hua had loved drinking ever since she lived on Taixu Mountain. She could be considered someone who never got drunk no matter how much she drank. Even after several cups, there was still no sign of intoxication on her face.

The others were also chatting about everything under the sun, and few paid attention to their side. Seeing Fu Hua drink so readily, Xue Qinghe's frequency of toasting steadily increased. By the time only Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi, and Bone Douluo remained sober at the table, Fu Hua's expression was still completely unchanged.

As for Xue Qinghe...

"Mm~ Fu~ Hua, another one. I... toast..."

Clang!

He was drunk.

"You have an impressive tolerance, my friend. After so many jars of wine, you still show no sign of drunkenness," Ning Fengzhi said.

"Wine does not intoxicate; people intoxicate themselves."

As she spoke, she picked up another cup and drank it.

"Haha, good, good! 'Wine does not intoxicate; people intoxicate themselves.'"

Ning Fengzhi continued drinking with her. He did not get drunk because of his own strength, along with his talent (?). Moreover, he found the Fu Hua before him quite pleasing to the eye, so naturally he wanted to look at her a little longer.

Though she did not know what Ning Fengzhi was after, Fu Hua now inexplicably felt as though she were being evaluated as a potential son-in-law.

Even after learning her name, he still had not figured out her gender. On the Douluo Continent, quite a few men wore their hair long.

"Though it may be unnecessary for me to say this, I should still remind you: the path to godhood holds immense attraction for every Titled Douluo on the continent. They can resort to any means for it. Without a powerful background to support you, it will be impossible to remain safe."

"I understand. If they want to come, then let them come."

The fragrance of wine intoxicated the heart. As Ning Fengzhi looked at Fu Hua at this moment, his gaze seemed to drift elsewhere. It was clearly only a simple sentence, yet he sensed boundless dominance within it.

The courage to dare challenge a Titled Douluo—though she was still weak now, nothing would be able to stop her in the future.

He had been somewhat greedy, actually wanting to keep someone like her within the sect.

Shaking his head, he raised another cup. He really was getting old! This was already their stage.

He reached out to stroke the top of Ning Rongrong's head, his touch filled with tenderness and concern. Before he was the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he was still a father.

The sky gradually darkened, and dark clouds obscured the moon.

The feeling of an approaching storm grew ever stronger.

PS: This is the bonus chapter for reaching two thousand bookmarks, specially posted for you all. There have still been no delayed updates so far. Only nine more Monthly Votes are needed for another bonus chapter.

PS1: Also, I'll continue resting tomorrow. Updates will resume on the twelfth. The main reason I posted this today is because I finally cleared the Forgotten One, so I was happy and decided to release it.

PS2: Also, I think I'm already considered quite diligent among the many unsigned authors! Daily updates! It's good enough that I haven't started giving you monthly updates or yearly updates or something. Be content!