Self-Righteous

Elsewhere.

After Zhao Wuji woke up, he immediately gathered the remaining four Shrek monsters and began searching for Tang San along the Titan Giant Ape's trail.

Before long, they ran into Tang San on the way, just as he finished absorbing his spirit ring and was preparing to return to the group.

What they had not expected was that Xiao Wu had returned with Tang San. She had actually escaped from the Titan Giant Ape's grasp.

Just as in the original timeline, Xiao Wu repeated the explanation she had given Shen Tianchen, including how she had conveniently obtained her third spirit ring.

Zhao Wuji and the others were left speechless.

Xiao Wu and Tang San's luck was simply unbelievable. One had gotten a third spirit ring for free, while the other had obtained one with barely any effort.

At the same time, when Xiao Wu saw the spirit beast corpse Tang San had absorbed nearby, she could not help nodding to herself. Brother finally understands. For a plant-type spirit, it's best to absorb a plant-type spirit beast.

I wonder what Brother's teacher was thinking, making him absorb spirit rings from animal-type spirit beasts. The key is that Brother believes it without question.

As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Xiao Wu had naturally experienced far more than Gangzi.

When it came to broad, general knowledge, she might have been slightly inferior to Gangzi. But when it came to understanding spirit beasts, she was streets ahead of him.

Unfortunately, Tang San had no idea how much nonsense his teacher had drilled into him. He obeyed Gangzi in everything and would not listen to her at all.

While questioning them, Zhao Wuji sharply noticed what seemed to be wounds from a sharp weapon on the Thorn Demon Vine. Judging by their size, it looked as though some Sword Spirit had cleaved it apart with a single strike.

Sensing the lingering Soul Power on the Thorn Demon Vine's corpse, Zhao Wuji's expression changed. He then asked Xiao Wu, "Xiao Wu, was someone else here just now? Did they help Tang San hunt this spirit beast?"

Xiao Wu paused, then said, "When I came back, I saw someone called Shen Tianchen standing guard around Brother with a girl. After asking what happened, I learned that they were the ones who helped hunt the spirit beast."

"Shen Tianchen?" Zhao Wuji was puzzled.

Dai Mubai immediately asked, "Xiao Wu, is his spirit a cyan-blue sword?"

After Xiao Wu confirmed it, Dai Mubai was startled. "No mistake—he's the one who defeated me at the Suo Tuo City Great Spirit Arena!"

Xiao Wu lowered her head and thought for a moment before adding, "I heard Shen Tianchen call that girl Rongrong."

So they had spent several days searching the Suo Tuo City Great Spirit Arena, only for those two to quietly head to the Star Dou Great Forest instead.

Dai Mubai fell silent. So he and Flender had both guessed wrong. There was no one out there hunting geniuses; they had clearly come here.

Still, at least they now knew where the other party had gone. They could tell the dean once they returned.

Seeing Dai Mubai like this, Zhao Wuji could not help saying, "What the hell are you spacing out about, kid?"

After thinking it over for a long while, Dai Mubai finally explained the whole story.

Xiao Wu seemed to understand. "No wonder he helped Brother obtain a spirit ring. So he's a classmate."

Ma Hongjun muttered from the side, "What classmate? Nothing's set in stone yet."

Dai Mubai glared at him. "You fatso, do you even know why? Let me tell you, Shen's far stronger than I am. Once he joins the academy, don't expect me to stand up for you. I'm not looking to get myself beaten up again."

Stronger than Dai Mubai!

The others all had different thoughts.

Oscar, meanwhile, felt a little downcast. Another new student was joining the academy, and he was even bringing a lackey with him. Oscar's standing would probably drop again.

Dai Mubai broke the silence. "Teacher Zhao, since there's nothing else to do, let's head back to the academy first. We shouldn't make the dean keep searching."

"The academy is going to get lively from now on."

After Tang San finished absorbing the spirit ring, he naturally did not obtain a spirit bone. His Third Spirit Ability was not much different from the Spider Web Restraint of the original timeline. It was also a restraining ability, only without the venom of the Man Faced Demon Spider.

Still, he had a strange feeling, as though he had lost something, yet he could not say what it was.

But once he saw Xiao Wu return safe and sound, he put those thoughts out of his mind.

As for his third spirit ring, although it had not followed Yu Xiaogang's plan, the spirit ability's effect was quite good. Shen Tianchen and the others deserved the credit for that. Tang San thought that the next time they met, he would have to thank them properly.

Elsewhere.

Inside Suotuo City.

Flender and several academy teachers had just conducted another secret investigation. They found that aside from Shen Tianchen and his companion disappearing, hardly anyone with decent talent had gone missing recently. Thus, Flender dismissed his initial suspicion.

During their investigation, they had secretly sought out a few local thugs. Their information network was the most extensive.

After Flender and the others had a friendly chat with them, those thugs had even become much more well-behaved. That could be considered an indirect contribution to Suotuo City.

A few days earlier, the letter he had written had also been delivered to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with great speed.

Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi sat in a chair at the center of the sect's main hall, handling sect affairs.

He had received Flender's letter long ago, but he felt everything was under control and did not pay much attention to it, simply setting it aside.

He had personally arranged his daughter's destination, but the two guardian Douluo of the Sword and Bone did not know the truth.

After learning that Ning Rongrong had gone missing, the two Titled Douluo barged straight into the hall, intending to ask Ning Fengzhi what exactly he meant by this.

Seeing the way the two had arrived, Ning Fengzhi said with a bitter smile, "Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, what is this about...?"

Sword Douluo's tone was somewhat cold. "Feng Zhi, so Rongrong running away from home was all your doing."

"Now Rongrong has gone missing, yet you still look completely confident. If anything happens to Rongrong in the end, I won't let you off. Hmph!"

Bone Douluo's expression was equally unpleasant. Though his words were not as sharp as Sword Douluo's, he meant the same thing.

Ning Fengzhi sighed bitterly upon hearing this. He took out a letter from his Soul Tool and handed it to the Sword Bone Douluo. "Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, this is a letter sent by the Peerless Dragon Snake couple. Once you finish reading it, I believe you'll know where Rongrong is."

Chen Xin accepted the letter with some doubt.

The letter's contents were simple. Naturally, the Dragon Snake Couple expressed their apologies for their trip to the Star Dou Great Forest two days earlier and stated that the Dragon Snake Family had no intention of becoming enemies with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. They were willing to become friends of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

A few days ago, Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang had unknowingly threatened Ning Rongrong verbally in the Star Dou Great Forest. It was rather difficult to put the matter into words.

After Chao Tianxiang informed him, Meng Shu did not dare take the matter lightly. He hurriedly wrote an apology letter himself and sent someone to deliver it to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect by express.

After reading the letter, Chen Xin's expression improved slightly, but he was puzzled. "Rongrong has only been away from home for how long? Logically, she shouldn't have reached the point of needing another spirit ring yet. Why did she suddenly appear in the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Just as Ning Fengzhi was about to speak, Gu Rong interrupted him. "Old Sword, take a good look."

The letter mentioned that there had been someone of unknown origin beside Ning Rongrong.

Moreover, Meng Shu had subtly inquired whether Shen Tianchen was a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ever since they returned, Meng Yiran had been distracted all day. If he was a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they hoped Ning Fengzhi would spare the two elders some face and let him go. From then on, the Dragon Snake Family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be ironclad allies.

"What a scheme from the Peerless Dragon Snake couple. They actually have such designs—they want to pull us into their camp."

"Unfortunately, their plans are bound to fail."

However, the Sword Bone Douluo did not know who the person beside Ning Rongrong was.

Ning Fengzhi explained with a smile, "He is a genius recruited by Qinghe. His strength is quite impressive."

"A mysterious Sword Spirit..." Sword Douluo murmured.

A few years ago, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect spies in Spirit City had sent back intelligence. There had been a child in the western district of Spirit City who had just awakened his spirit, which seemed to be a sword. Moreover, his Soul Power Level had not been low.

"Old man, what did you think of?" Gu Rong asked.

Chen Xin frowned. "There were rumors that a child in Spirit City awakened a Sword Spirit years ago and was immediately taken to the Worship Hall by Qingluan Douluo."

"If the child beside Rongrong is the one Qingluan Douluo took away back then, then he is a spy Spirit Hall placed beside Xue Qinghe. If so, the Heaven Dou Empire may be in danger."

Ning Fengzhi still looked calm and composed. "If he truly is someone sent by Spirit Hall, that may not necessarily be a bad thing for us."

"These past years, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's business has remained in a stage of expansion. In certain areas, we have encroached upon Spirit Hall's interests and have often been suppressed by them."

"If he can mediate between us, our situation will improve greatly. We may even obtain greater benefits."

At the end of the day, Ning Fengzhi was still a merchant. Whichever side offered greater benefits was the side the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would favor.

Gu Rong, who was more meticulous in his thinking, guessed Ning Fengzhi's intentions. "Feng Zhi, if things are truly as Old Sword says, then this child's age cannot be over twelve. His Soul Power Level must be at least that of a Soul Elder."

"With such talent, even the two pillars of the Spirit Master World—Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen—might not have matched him at that age."

"If that's the case, since Rongrong likes this boy, why not bring them together? That way, our safety will be guaranteed as well."

Chen Xin also nodded slightly in agreement.

From the moment Ning Rongrong was born into a great sect like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it had been decided that her other half could not be an ordinary person. Now, she had someone she liked, and he happened to come from Spirit Hall. This was undoubtedly the best possible situation.

Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile. "Uncle Bone and I are thinking alike. It's just a pity my disciple will have to suffer."

Taking Xue Qinghe as his disciple had naturally been for the sect's better development.

But now they had a stronger backer, and whatever the Heaven Dou Empire could give them, Spirit Hall would be able to give them in the future as well.

For a merchant, that was undoubtedly an enormous temptation.