Better to Arrange a Betrothal?

In Suotuo City.

Flender led several teachers in a thorough search of the city, but they found none of the expected "culprit."

Under their crackdown, even the criminals in the city had become well-behaved. For some time to come, hardly any serious incidents occurred in Suotuo City.

Meanwhile, the letter he had written reached the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect at great speed.

While Ning Rongrong was in Suotuo City, disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had indeed been secretly following her.

But when she left the city, she rode in Wu Qi's carriage.

Although she had interacted with Wu Qi, it had not been for long. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples did not think they would share the same carriage.

Only after the carriage had traveled far away did the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciple realize something was wrong. Coupled with the news from Flender that Ning Rongrong had gone missing, how could he dare linger? He quickly returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to report.

Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi received Flender's letter, but it did not draw his attention. He casually tossed it aside.

Ning Rongrong's itinerary had been arranged entirely by him. Sword Bone Douluo knew nothing about it.

Upon learning that Ning Rongrong had gone missing, Sword Bone Douluo stormed into the sect's main hall and demanded answers from him.

Ning Fengzhi waved his hand, dismissing the disciple who had come to report.

Then he smiled bitterly. "Uncle Sword, Uncle Gu, you—"

Before he could continue, Sword Douluo said harshly, "Fengzhi, Rongrong's running away from home was entirely your doing, wasn't it? Now that Rongrong is missing, if anything happens to her, I'll hold you accountable!"

Gu Rong's words were comparatively tactful, but they carried the same reproach.

Ning Fengzhi sighed and took out a letter from his robes. "Uncle Sword, Uncle Gu, this is a secret letter sent by the Dragon Snake Family. Once you read it, you'll know where Rongrong is."

Chen Xin accepted the letter skeptically.

The letter naturally contained the Dragon Snake Family's apology to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

In the Star Dou Great Forest, Chao Tianxiang had verbally threatened Ning Rongrong. If the matter was not explained clearly, Ning Fengzhi would inevitably hold them accountable.

When Meng Shu learned of it, he did not dare take it lightly and immediately sent a letter in the family's name.

Ning Rongrong's appearance in the Star Dou Great Forest proved that she had not gone missing.

After reading the letter, Chen Xin's expression eased somewhat, but he was still puzzled. "Rongrong has been away from home for less than a month. Logically, her strength could have risen by at most one level, far from the point where she would need to obtain a Soul Ring. Why would she appear in a Soul Beast Forest?"

Before Ning Fengzhi could speak, Gu Rong snapped, "You old sword fool, look more carefully!"

The letter clearly mentioned that there were two others beside Ning Rongrong.

Moreover, Meng Shu had asked in the letter whether they were disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Wu Qi's looks had already deeply captivated Meng Yiran. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was willing to let him go, the Dragon Snake Family was willing to become their ally.

"The Dragon Snake Family sure has lofty ambitions. They even want to use us as their backer!" Gu Rong curled his lip.

Still, he had a question. Who were the two people beside Ning Rongrong mentioned in the letter? They were not very old either.

Ning Fengzhi smiled and explained, "They are two geniuses Qinghe recruited—Wu Qi and Qiangu Changkong."

The two had participated in Soul Fighting at the Great Soul Arena, and their Martial Soul information and Soul Power Level had been collected by Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples.

"Qing Luan Martial Soul?" Chen Xin murmured.

Six years ago, he had seen Azure Phoenix Douluo in Heaven Dou City. Could this Wu Qi be that boy from back then?

But why would the genius who had been taken away by Spirit Hall back then now appear in the Heaven Dou Empire?

"You old sword fool, have you guessed something?" Gu Rong asked with a half-smile.

Chen Xin frowned. "If he is the boy Azure Phoenix Douluo took away back then, then they are spies Spirit Hall planted beside Xue Qinghe!"

Ning Fengzhi said indifferently, "If he truly is one of Spirit Hall's people, that may not be a bad thing for us."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's commercial expansion overlapped with Spirit Hall's interests, and they had suffered no small amount of suppression because of it.

Azure Phoenix Douluo held no low position within Spirit Hall. His disciple would undoubtedly be one of Spirit Hall's core members.

If Wu Qi could mediate matters, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would only gain more benefits.

Ning Fengzhi's stance was flexible. Whichever side offered greater benefits was the side he would support.

Ever since the Clear Sky Sect had been forced into seclusion, the Upper Three Sects' supposed solidarity as a community of shared interests had long existed in name only.

Spirit Hall's influence was enormous. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect sided with them, it could gain both protection and greater benefits. Why not?

Gu Rong saw through his thoughts and chuckled. "Fengzhi, if Wu Qi truly is that boy from back then, he cannot be more than thirteen years old now."

"A Soul Elder under thirteen is an exceedingly rare existence even in the history of the entire continent. Tang Chen might not have possessed such cultivation at his age. In the future, he will surely become part of Spirit Hall's core."

"If his identity is confirmed, since Rongrong has taken a liking to him, why not arrange a betrothal early and bind that boy to our chariot?"

Chen Xin did not object.

Ning Rongrong's birth had determined her future destination. Finding someone she loved who also suited the sect's interests was already exceedingly rare.

Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile. "Uncle Gu is right. It's just that my disciple will have to suffer a little."

Taking Xue Qinghe as his disciple had also been for the sake of benefits.

Whatever the Heaven Dou Empire could give them, Spirit Hall could give them in the future as well.

Besides, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could stand with both sides and reap double the benefits.

Time passed, and the sun set in the west.

Suotuo City welcomed an uninvited guest.

A flat-headed middle-aged man stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the plaque above the city gate with deep emotion.

"More than ten years have passed, yet Suotuo City still looks the same. I wonder how Xiao San is doing in his new environment?"

"Counting the days, he should have broken through Level Thirty by now, right?"

The newcomer was Yu Xiaogang.

Many years ago, he had traveled here with Flender. Back then, Flender had boldly declared that he would build the most unique Soul Master Academy on the entire continent in Suotuo City.

Yu Xiaogang had already heard of Shrek Academy's reputation while he was in Notting City.

Although the academy's current development had not entirely followed Flender's original plan, it was still commendable.

Yu Xiaogang believed that with Tang San's addition, Shrek Academy would only grow better. Moreover, it was Tang San's stepping stone. After participating in the Soul Master Tournament in the future, Tang San would become famous across the continent, and Yu Xiaogang would share in the glory.

Lost in thought, he unknowingly passed through the city gate.

The city guards immediately stopped him. "Halt! Those without local registration must pay one Gold Soul Coin as an entry fee to enter the city."

His thoughts interrupted, Yu Xiaogang immediately flew into a rage. "Are you blind?"

As a Soul Master, he had never needed to pay an entry fee to enter a city.

How dared a mere brute block his path!

The city guards showed him no courtesy. At a command, a fully armed squad surrounded Yu Xiaogang.

"Suotuo City is not a place where you can act so recklessly!"