Heaven Dou City, Shrek Academy.
Early that morning, Su Ming learned that Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, was coming. After all, he had told Ning Rongrong the day before. Ning Fengzhi would surely bring either Sword Douluo or Bone Douluo with him, and there was even a chance both guardian Douluos would come.
Su Ming informed Dean Flender and asked him to prepare to receive the guests.
So Su Ming set off early that morning for Dugu Manor to find Dugu Bo. After catching up with Dugu Bo at the manor, the two headed straight for Shrek Academy.
Sure enough, as soon as they reached the gates of Shrek Academy, Dean Zhao Wuji was waiting there.
When Zhao Wuji saw Su Ming and Dugu Bo approach the school gates, he hurriedly greeted Dugu Bo.
"Senior Dugu, this way, please."
The three of them headed for the reception room on the fourth floor of the teaching building. On the way, Zhao Wuji introduced the members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who had come.
"Senior Dugu, Su Ming, the people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect include Sect Master Ning Fengzhi, as well as both guardian Douluos, Sword and Bone."
"Take it easy, kid."
"Don't worry, Teacher Zhao. I've made ample preparations. Nothing will go wrong."
After hearing that, Zhao Wuji said no more.
Su Ming turned to Dugu Bo and said,
"Old Monster, if they really threaten me later, don't say a word when you hear them. Just get up and fly straight to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then wait there for the final result of our negotiations. If we haven't reached an agreement, scare them half to death."
"As for me, you don't need to worry. You've seen my Soul Core. I could blow Ning Fengzhi to smithereens."
Dugu Bo understood what Su Ming meant. It was simply to demand more terms in Su Ming's favor. Besides, Sect Master Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wasn't stupid; he knew Su Ming had a trump card to keep them in check.
If he was going to play along, he might as well make a killing.
"Sure thing, Little Monster. No problem. The moment I hear him threaten you, I'll leave. Once you and Ning Fengzhi have reached an agreement, remember to get Yanyan a ten-thousand-year Ice-attribute dragon-type Soul Bone."
"No problem. I'll make sure Sister Yan Yan gets the best one."
Zhao Wuji, standing nearby, felt a little awkward at their conversation. One moment they were talking about running away if there was danger, the next about ten-thousand-year Soul Bones.
Zhao Wuji quickly led Su Ming and Dugu Bo to the entrance of the reception room on the fourth floor of the teaching building, then said, "Everyone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is inside. Su Ming, Senior Dugu, go on in. I won't intrude."
With that, Zhao Wuji left.
Su Ming stepped forward and pushed open the door. Ning Fengzhi sat at the head of the conference table, sipping tea at his leisure. Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo sat on either side of him, while Dean Flender was beside them, making tea.
Bone Douluo Gu Rong sat with his eyes closed, resting. He didn't open them until the two of them entered the conference room. His gaze swept over Su Ming, who was at the front, its sharpness wholly undisguised, as if he intended to see right through Su Ming.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin, meanwhile, looked at Dugu Bo, who was much younger than Su Ming. Dugu Bo noticed Chen Xin's gaze, and the two locked eyes. In their clash, a Level 94 faced a Level 95; as a Super Douluo, Sword Douluo had a slight advantage.
Ning Rongrong stood obediently behind Ning Fengzhi and stuck her tongue out at Su Ming.
Out of courtesy, Su Ming took the initiative to greet Ning Fengzhi, who had already risen to his feet.
"Hello, Sect Master Ning. Sorry for the wait."
Ning Fengzhi glanced at Dugu Bo behind Su Ming, naturally understanding why Su Ming was late. He smiled faintly and said, "It's nothing. Poison Douluo, please join us."
After they had taken their seats, Ning Fengzhi continued,
"Su Ming, is it all right if I call you that?"
Su Ming nodded. "Of course, Sect Master Ning."
"In that case, don't call me Sect Master Ning either. You and Rongrong are classmates, so just call me Uncle Ning."
"Certainly, Uncle Ning."
Seeing that the introductions were more or less done, Flender quickly took over the conversation and chatted with Ning Fengzhi and the others about Su Ming's time in Suotuo City.
After some more pleasantries, Flender saw that they had talked enough and knew it was time for him to leave. He found an excuse and took his leave.
Now only Sword and Bone Douluo, Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi, Su Ming, and Dugu Bo remained in the reception room. For a moment, silence fell.
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi took the initiative to break it and asked Su Ming,
"Su Ming, I heard you can help others achieve Martial Soul Evolution. I wonder whether, with your help, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's inherited Martial Soul, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, can advance to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda?"
At Ning Fengzhi's words, Su Ming leaned back in his chair, then answered,
"Yes."
Before anyone else could speak, Ning Rongrong was the first to leap to her feet. Her face alight with excitement, she asked Su Ming,
"Yay! Can my Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda advance to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda too? Yesterday, you told me to have my father come. He's here now, so what's the method? Tell me quickly!"
"I happened to acquire a new medicinal herb suited to gem-type Martial Souls. I refined it into two pills."
At this, Su Ming looked at the expectant expressions on Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong's faces.
"The effect of these two pills is that just one can advance the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda."
Ning Rongrong was practically Ning Fengzhi's spokesperson.
"Really? Can we have a look?"
Su Ming heard Ning Rongrong's question and glanced at Ning Fengzhi's hopeful expression.
Seeing this, Su Ming took a jade bottle from his Storage Soul Tool and poured out a pill. He held it in his palm with Soul Power and slowly sent it toward Ning Fengzhi.
As soon as Ning Fengzhi lifted the pill into his palm with his Soul Power, he caught its faint yet rich scent of tulips. The pill's rich aura gave him a sense of opulence and grandeur.
Just a single breath of its fragrance made Ning Fengzhi feel an overwhelming desire well up in his Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul, as if it were telling him that, by devouring the pill, it could advance to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Ning Rongrong smelled the fragrance too and immediately exclaimed,
"Wow, it smells so good! Su Ming, didn't you say you had two? Why did you only take out one?"
Su Ming only smiled without answering.
Bone Douluo Gu Rong saw Ning Fengzhi freeze after taking the pill, his face alight with excitement, and realized it was effective. He immediately spoke to Su Ming.
"Kid, it's just you and Poison Douluo here. Aren't you afraid we'll snatch it by force, taking it out so brazenly?"
Hearing the threat in his words, Dugu Bo did exactly as he and Su Ming had agreed. Without a word, he stood up and headed straight outside.
Bone Douluo was taken aback, then called after Dugu Bo.
"Hey, Old Poison, are you scared and leaving? Where are you going?"
Dugu Bo was already flying toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Hearing Bone Douluo's words, he called back,
"I'm not going anywhere in particular. I heard the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has beautiful scenery, so I thought I'd go take a look. What, am I not welcome?"
Ning Fengzhi, who had by now come back to his senses, hurriedly spoke up.
"Of course you're welcome! How could you not be? It's an honor for our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to have Poison Douluo visit."
He then signaled Bone Douluo to hurry after him.
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