Yu Xiaogang: You're saying the Seventh Elder I'm looking for is who?

At the same time, Yu Xiaogang had been searching Suotuo City for a long time before finally getting a lead on his target through the Mysterious Information Network--

Number Seven Token. It was the Seventh Elder Token of the Holy Spirit Cult.

The instant he learned this, he felt like his world had crumbled.

As a prospective elder, he knew far too little about figures at the elder level. He hadn't even known that they all carried Elder Tokens.

The Seventh and Eighth Elders were only one number apart. Yu Xiaogang didn't have an Elder Token himself, so it had never occurred to him that the Seventh Elder would have one.

"So the first clue to improving my Martial Soul—finding the holder of the Number Seven Token—is practically the same thing as becoming the Seventh Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult?" Yu Xiaogang murmured. Remembering how he'd missed his chance to enter the site of the Third Saintess Ritual, he walked over to the wall and leaned against it.

The Seventh Elder had been inside. The Number Seven Token had been inside. A great accomplishment had been inside. The chance to become the Seventh Elder had been inside...

And he'd missed it all.

It had never even crossed his mind that the Seventh Elder might have come out alive.

There weren't many Titled Douluo on the continent. As the Seventh Elder, the Seventh Elder's standing in the Holy Spirit Cult wasn't especially high, so it was unlikely he was a Titled Douluo. But Gu Rong was one.

Since Gu Rong had gone in, the Third Saintess Ritual was bound to have fallen through. The Seventh Elder was gone, too, and so was his chance to evolve his Martial Soul... or was it?

Yu Xiaogang's brow suddenly relaxed.

Wait.

If the Seventh Elder was dead, didn't that make him the new Seventh Elder?

The Eighth Elder was first in line to inherit the position!

Yu Xiaogang perked up and straightened his clothes. He figured it was only a matter of time before he became the Seventh Elder, so he could put that aside for now. For the moment, he'd go see his good disciple, Tang San.

He found the road to Shrek Academy and took a step forward.

Just then, a familiar figure dressed in black appeared in his field of vision.

He turned to look. It was Ning Rongrong, accompanied by three others... huh?

Why were there three people? And why had she changed clothes?

Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and a young woman he didn't recognize. Was she a friend of hers?

Yu Xiaogang was in a decent mood and didn't think much of it. It was all within the bounds of what he could accept, after all. So he took another step.

It was morning. A breeze brushed against Yu Xiaogang's skin, and he felt refreshed.

The breeze stirred Ning Rongrong's short skirt, too. It seemed almost enchanted, drawing Yu Xiaogang's gaze--

But lust wasn't the main reason. What truly caught his interest was the black token faintly visible beneath the skirt.

There seemed to be a "Seven" on it.

"Is this what a sect token from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect looks like?"

Yu Xiaogang fell into thought. It didn't match what he remembered.

Besides, his eyesight wasn't all that good. From this far away, he shouldn't have been able to make it out...

It was the Seventh Elder Token!

Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened. He froze in place, staring straight at the spot where the token hung from Ning Rongrong's skirt.

Seeing the token again, Yu Xiaogang staggered back several steps in shock.

There was no mistaking it. That familiar power was the unmistakable aura of the Holy Spirit Cult.

That token was the Seventh Elder Token!

As he thought back on his search for a way to evolve his Martial Soul, countless possibilities flashed through his mind. In the end, only one remained--

Ning Rongrong had been the Seventh Elder of the Holy Spirit Cult all along. She'd brought Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong along to ensure that the Third Saintess Ritual was completed and raise her standing within the sect. And the fourth person was the Saintess born from the Third Saintess Ritual!

Yu Xiaogang had convinced himself of his own theory. Even though there were plenty of holes in it, he couldn't think of a better explanation.

He stood there, trembling, and murmured, "I never expected that the person I was looking for would find me the moment I set foot in Suotuo City. Is this a hint for me?"

Cold sweat broke out all over him.

"Mas... Rongrong, there's a pervert over there who's been staring at you."

Zhao Xiaoya had noticed Yu Xiaogang's gaze. She patted Ning Rongrong on the shoulder and pointed in his direction.

Ning Rongrong turned and looked the man over.

He was trying his best to look like a passerby, but he clearly wasn't one.

On Lu Ma's game interface, the words "Yu Xiaogang, Level 29" were clearly displayed above his head.

There was something else Lu Ma found rather interesting, too: Yu Xiaogang's identity.

The game listed him as a "Holy Spirit Cult (Prospective) Eighth Elder."

"Interesting," Ning Rongrong said softly.

"Rongrong, what did you say?" Zhao Xiaoya hadn't quite heard her.

But Yu Xiaogang could read lips. He happened to sneak a glance and figured out what Ning Rongrong had just said.

This was another hint. If their earlier brush with each other had been a coincidence, now he was certain she knew who he was.

Yu Xiaogang turned around and was about to go ask her how to evolve his Martial Soul, but then he froze again.

Ning Rongrong didn't react, but Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong were already glaring at him as if they wanted him dead.

They clearly weren't going to let him approach.

It was so hot today.

Yu Xiaogang wiped the sweat from his face and hurried toward Shrek Academy.

He didn't have to approach the Seventh Elder right away. He'd have plenty of chances later. For now, he'd better get out of this trouble spot as soon as possible.

After Yu Xiaogang had gone some distance, the four people heading to the inn stopped.

Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong looked at Ning Rongrong, then at Zhao Xiaoya, their eyes full of concern.

"Rongrong, your Bone Grandpa and I have been away from the sect for a long time. We ought to head back. Would you like to... come with us?"

Ning Rongrong thought it over, then shook her head. "No. There are still things I need to take care of at Shrek Academy."

"Then I'll ask your Sword Grandpa to come protect you," Ning Fengzhi said.

"The sect is more important... Besides, the Saintess Ritual is over, so I'll be safe for a while. You don't need to worry."

Ning Rongrong smiled as she spoke.

"But..."

Ning Fengzhi was about to say more, but Gu Rong patted him on the shoulder. "Fengzhi, Rongrong is right. After what happened, there must be plenty to deal with at the sect. We also need to gather information from Spirit Hall, and we have to find out the identity of that Spirit Hall mole."

In the end, Ning Fengzhi nodded with relief, said, "Rongrong has grown up," and parted ways with her.

As for Zhao Xiaoya, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong took her back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for reform and reeducation.

And once again, Ning Rongrong was alone.

Ning Rongrong waved as she watched the three of them leave.

Only after they had disappeared from sight did she turn to look at the Light Blue Figure beside her.

Lu Ma had only seen her when he'd first entered the game. Back then, he hadn't been familiar with the game's functions, and there had been too much information, so he hadn't paid attention to her profile. Only now did he finally get a clear look at it.

Huo Shengsheng, Level 39 Soul Ancestor, one of the Holy Spirit Cult's "handlers."