Sword Douluo turned his gaze toward Ning Fengzhi.
"Tonight at the Lantern Festival, Rongrong seemed to have had a little contact with that Gu Qing."
He briefly described the scene he had secretly observed of Ning Rongrong strolling with Gu Qing.
"The two seemed to get along well enough. From the look of Rongrong, she doesn't seem to dislike the boy."
At this news, the furrow in Ning Fengzhi's brow instantly smoothed.
He sat back down in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.
If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could use Ning Rongrong's connection to get acquainted with this being who might become a god in the future, it would undoubtedly be a boon with no downside.
Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"This is an unexpected stroke of good luck."
He looked at Sword Douluo, his tone now much more relaxed.
"Rongrong's usually so high and mighty. It's rare for her to take a boy her own age seriously."
Ning Fengzhi lifted his teacup and took a light sip.
"Uncle Sword, find an opportunity to give Rongrong a nudge."
He set down his teacup and gave his final verdict.
"Have her spend more time with Gu Qing from now on. Whatever it takes, she must befriend him."
Sword Douluo nodded slightly, then turned and left the hall, leaving Ning Fengzhi deep in thought.
Night spread like thick ink across the shabby signboard of Shrek Academy.
The heavy wooden gate was suddenly slammed open from outside.
Amid a burst of ragged panting, a staggering figure tumbled into the muddy ground at the center of the courtyard.
Blood seeped from the person's torn clothes into the soil, drop by drop. The thick stench of blood instantly spread on the night breeze.
The teachers and students discussing the Soul Master Tournament in the hall were startled by the commotion.
Everyone hurried out of the hall.
By the faint torchlight atop the wall, Dai Mubai immediately recognized the wretched, blood-soaked figure on the ground.
"Little Ao!"
The golden-haired young man's eyes instantly reddened. He darted forward and carefully lifted the person lying in the muddy water.
Oscar's face was as pale as paper in his arms. Deep and shallow slashes covered his body, especially across his chest, where the flesh was a bloody mess.
His once handsome features were now twisted beyond recognition with pain, and even his breathing came in broken, uneven gasps.
Tang San hurried over and crouched down beside him, swiftly pressing his fingertips to Oscar's pulse.
Black Soul Power brimming with an aura of destruction still clung to the wounds, steadily eating away at Oscar's life force.
"What a vicious hand."
Tang San furrowed his brow. Pale, jade-like Mysterious Heaven Skill inner energy surged from his palm, forcibly protecting Oscar's heart meridians.
Behind them, Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a glance. Shock and solemnity were written across both teachers' faces.
Shrek Academy might be fiercely protective of its own, but in a place like Heaven Dou Imperial City, who would dare strike with such brutality?
Dai Mubai stared at his brother in his arms, his words squeezed through clenched teeth.
"Little Ao, hang on. Tell me who did this to you!"
Oscar struggled to lift his heavy eyelids. A hoarse, broken sound came from his throat.
"It was... Gu Qing."
The moment those two words were spoken, the entire courtyard fell into deathly silence.
Then an uncontrollable fury erupted in the heart of every Shrek student.
"That Gu Qing again!"
Dai Mubai slammed his fist into the flagstone beside him. The hard stone instantly cracked, fine fissures spreading like a spiderweb.
A few days earlier, Ma Hongjun's prized Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul had been crippled, leaving him almost a cripple. The culprit had been this newcomer.
Now Oscar had been beaten half to death as well.
Old and new grudges tangled together, pushing Dai Mubai's reason to the brink of collapse.
Tang San withdrew his hand and slowly rose to his feet, a shadowy glint flickering in his eyes.
"This man has repeatedly tried to kill our people. There's no way it's just a coincidence."
After listening to Tang San's analysis, Flender pushed up his crystal spectacles, his expression so grim it seemed water might drip from it.
"It looks like the other side is deliberately picking a fight with Shrek Academy."
The dean gave a heavy snort, a powerful wave of Soul Power bursting from his body.
"Whatever this brat's background, he's dared to trample all over Shrek. We're not letting this go!"
Zhao Wuji clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked and chimed in.
"Find out everything about this Gu Qing at once. I'd like to see what gives him the nerve to act so arrogantly."
Under the night sky, Shrek's people stood united, vowing to make the man called Gu Qing pay a terrible price.
Meanwhile, deep inside the Crown Prince Mansion in Heaven Dou Imperial City.
The spacious bedroom was now enveloped in an incredibly rich, emerald-green light.
Crystal-clear vines wound along the walls and rafters, interlacing to form a vast, mysterious formation.
This was the Blue Silver Domain, which Gu Qing had personally laid out using Life-Type Blue Silver Grass.
An immense vitality, almost tangible, filled the air. Tiny green motes of light even coalesced in midair.
Qian Renxue sat cross-legged in the center of the large bed, her eyes closed.
With every breath she took, the free-floating life energy surged wildly into her limbs and every part of her body.
Her Soul Power, which had been stuck at a standstill, now circulated at an astonishing speed under the domain's enhancement.
A brief stay here was worth days of arduous cultivation outside.
The exhilarating feeling of getting twice the result with half the effort sent ripples through Qian Renxue's heart.
She slowly opened her golden eyes and looked at the room's flourishing vines, her thoughts turning complicated.
That bastard was arrogant in his actions and frivolous in his words. He had even crossed the line with her again and again.
But there was no denying that he was helping her in an incredibly domineering way.
Whether it was intimidating Sword Douluo or laying out such a precious cultivation domain...
Qian Renxue knew that Gu Qing was actually very good to her.
But if she agreed to that marriage contract just like that, she felt she would lose face.
She was the dignified Martial Soul Hall Young Master. If a few slaps and a little sweetness were all it took to make her obedient, how could she ever hold her head high in front of him again?
Her prideful, self-defeating stubbornness took hold, and she forced down the faint urge to give in.
Just as Qian Renxue's thoughts were wandering, someone pushed open the bedroom door from outside.
Gu Qing walked in at an unhurried pace, casually pulling a chair over and sitting beside the bed.
"Take care of your business here in Heaven Dou Imperial City as soon as you can."
He looked at the golden-haired woman sitting on the bed, his tone casual.
"Once everything's arranged, come back early. I'm taking you somewhere."
Qian Renxue paused, then asked without thinking,
"Where?"
The instant the words left her mouth, she regretted it. Wouldn't that make it seem like she was looking forward to it?
But the strong curiosity welling up inside her was impossible to suppress.
Before you continue