Sword Douluo returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and recounted everything that had happened at Shrek Academy. Then he wanted to take Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo to bring Ning Rongrong back and teach Tang Xiao and Tang Hao a lesson.
As Tang Hao had expected, Ning Fengzhi stopped Sword Douluo.
"Uncle Jian, Spirit Hall is growing more powerful by the day, and its ambition to swallow the entire continent is plain to see. Only by joining forces can the Upper Three Sects stand against it. We shouldn't pick a fight with the Clear Sky Sect just yet."
"What about Rongrong, then?" Sword Douluo asked angrily.
"Uncle Jian, please calm down. The Tang brothers are after that hundred-thousand-year shapeshifting Soul Beast. They won't do anything to Rongrong."
"So you're saying we should just hand over that hundred-thousand-year shapeshifting Soul Beast too?"
"Of course not. Uncle Jian, you've been wronged, so we have to get even for you."
"Fengzhi, what do you plan to do?" Bone Douluo asked from the side.
"Why, teach Tang Xiao and Tang Hao a lesson, of course."
"Uncle Jian, Uncle Bone, let's go." With that, Ning Fengzhi set off with Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong to find the Tang brothers.
However, Ning Fengzhi had no intention of bringing Ning Rongrong back.
The Clear Sky Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Star Luo Empire all had heirs at the little Shrek Academy. It was the perfect chance for Ning Rongrong to befriend them and, in turn, win over the forces behind them. That would benefit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's development.
That was Ning Fengzhi's real plan.
On the way, Sword Douluo looked at Ning Fengzhi and said, "Fengzhi, are we really going to fight the Tang brothers?"
"I was angry just now, so I spoke impulsively. But you're the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. You can't act rashly—you have to think of the sect."
"Uncle Jian, don't worry. I have a plan."
"That's good."
Bone Douluo, standing nearby, turned to Sword Douluo. "What's the matter, you rascal? Don't tell me you're scared."
"Old Bone, who are you calling a rascal?"
"Scared? What a joke."
"I'm worried about the sect and Rongrong."
"Old Bone, you're worrying over nothing. Everyone knows Fengzhi is a crafty old fox. He wouldn't do anything unless he was sure of success."
"That's good, that's good."
Hearing Bone Douluo's assessment of him, Ning Fengzhi merely smiled faintly and said nothing.
Soon, the three of them found the Tang brothers.
"Sect Master Tang, His Excellency Haotian, would you mind coming out to see us?" Ning Fengzhi called.
"You're too kind, Sect Master Ning," Tang Xiao replied.
When Tang Xiao and Tang Hao saw Ning Fengzhi arrive with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo to settle the score, they weren't the least bit flustered. They had clearly expected this.
If you bullied someone, naturally they'd want to bully you back.
"It's been many years, yet the Clear Sky Twin Stars are as impressive as ever. Unlike me—I'm still only a lowly Soul Saint."
"You flatter me, Sect Master Ning. May I ask what brings you here?"
"It's just that we haven't seen each other in years, and I've missed you. Uncle Jian told me you two brothers were here, so I came especially to catch up with old friends."
"Sect Master Ning, we've known each other for years. Please speak plainly."
"Since you're so straightforward, I won't beat around the bush. It seems you and your brother had a misunderstanding with my Uncle Jian earlier, and things turned unpleasant. I've come to resolve the bad blood between our two sects." Ning Fengzhi spoke to Tang Xiao without changing expression.
Tang Xiao didn't answer this time. Instead, Tang Hao stepped forward with a box in his hands.
"Sect Master Ning, there are two Soul Bones in here: a thirty-thousand-year Wind-Chasing Greedy Wolf left leg bone and a thirty-five-thousand-year Black-Winged Goshawk right leg bone. Please accept them as an apology from my brother and me to Senior Sword Douluo."
As he spoke, Tang Hao handed the two Soul Bones to Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi made no move to accept the Soul Bones Tang Hao offered.
"Your Excellency Haotian, what are you doing? Please, take them back."
"Our Upper Three Sects have always stood together, bound by an unbreakable bond. How could two Soul Bones possibly compare to the friendship between us?"
Tang Hao glanced back at Tang Xiao after hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, and Tang Xiao looked back at him. The brothers both understood: Ning Fengzhi thought the offer was too small.
What a smooth talker. He clearly wanted to get as much as he could, yet he made it sound so high-minded.
Tang Xiao said to Ning Fengzhi, "Please don't be so modest, Sect Master Ning. My brother and I were in the wrong, so please accept these two Soul Bones."
"Also, to show our sincerity, within three days my brother and I will send another forty-thousand-year Soul Bone to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Oh, Sect Master Tang, what are you doing? Our Upper Three Sects have always stood together, bound by an unbreakable bond."
"Fifty-thousand-year ones."
"Perhaps you've misunderstood me, Sect Master Tang. I meant to say..."
"Two."
"No, Sect Master Tang..."
"Three."
"Since you insist, Sect Master Tang, I can hardly refuse. I'll swallow my pride and accept them on behalf of Uncle Jian."
In fact, as soon as Tang Xiao offered three more fifty-thousand-year Soul Bones, Ning Fengzhi looked to Sword Douluo. After all, Sword Douluo was the one who'd been wronged. Sword Douluo felt the offer was fair and nodded to Ning Fengzhi. Only then did Ning Fengzhi agree.
After receiving the two Soul Bones and the Tang brothers' promise of three more fifty-thousand-year Soul Bones, Ning Fengzhi prepared to leave with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
"Sect Master Tang, Your Excellency Haotian, now that the misunderstanding between our two sects is cleared up, I won't keep you any longer. Farewell."
"Safe travels, Sect Master Ning."
After Ning Fengzhi and the others left, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao headed straight into the Star Dou Forest. As for what they were going to do, of course they were going to ask some Soul Beasts for Soul Bones.
What if the Soul Beasts refused to lend them any?
Then they'd just have to settle things by force.
But Soul Bones weren't easy to find. Before long, blood flowed like a river through the Star Dou Forest.
Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
As soon as they got back, Bone Douluo said to Ning Fengzhi, "Fengzhi, I didn't expect Tang Xiao and Tang Hao to be willing to part with so much."
"Old Bone, you don't understand. What else could Tang Xiao and Tang Hao do but pay up? Did they really think they could take on you and me?"
"With Fengzhi's support, I don't even need you. I could handle the two of them by myself."
"You rascal, you're all talk."
"What, you don't believe me? Then let's fight!"
"Fine, let's fight. Who's afraid?"
"Uncle Jian, Uncle Bone, you're both so old. Why are you acting like children? Can't you sit down and talk things over?"
"I've got nothing to discuss with this old bone."
"I've got nothing to say to this rascal either. But Fengzhi, you really knew what to say today."
"Old Bone is right, Fengzhi. With these five Soul Bones, I'd say getting upset was worth it."
"Uncle Jian, the Tang brothers wronged you. We can't just let it go."
"Fengzhi, what else do you plan to do?"
"Moonlight Pavilion. Tang Yuehua."