Ning Rongrong: Zhuqing, Come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! The Divine Radiant Academy-Will the Two Girls Enroll Together? (Please Read On!)

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Outside Suotuo City, beside a modest roadside teahouse.

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong sat facing each other, both looking somewhat lost and worn out.

After seeing the true colors of Shrek Academy,

and witnessing Dai Mubai—who was beyond saving—reduced to a complete wreck,

they had decisively chosen to leave.

"Zhuqing, where are you planning to go now?"

Ning Rongrong held her teacup in both hands, gazing at her cool, reserved friend with concern.

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes. Her slender fingers absently rubbed the rim of her cup, and her voice carried a trace of bitterness.

"I don't know.

I can't go back to the Star Luo Empire.

I thought that after traveling all this way to find Dai Mubai, the two of us could work hard together and perhaps find a way to survive,

to fight against our family's cruel fate.

But the result... It's laughable."

As she spoke, deep disgust flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.

Dai Mubai had always been a womanizer, and now he wasn't even a man anymore. Following him meant certain death.

Seeing her friend like this, Ning Rongrong squeezed her hand with concern and said earnestly,

"Zhuqing, if you don't know where to go, then come home with me!

Come to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

Zhu Zhuqing gave a slight start and looked up at her.

Ning Rongrong patted her chest and promised with proud confidence,

"Don't worry. Once you enter the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, you'll be my dearest friend, Ning Rongrong!

With my father, Sword Grandpa, and Bone Grandpa there,

let alone a family from the Star Luo Empire—even if the Star Luo Royal Family came in person, they wouldn't dare lay a finger on you!"

A warm current welled up inside Zhu Zhuqing at those words.

She knew Ning Rongrong genuinely wanted to help her, and as one of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect certainly had the strength to protect her.

"Rongrong, thank you..."

Zhu Zhuqing drew a deep breath, her red lips parting as she prepared to nod.

Just then, several passing Soul Masters beside the teahouse began excitedly discussing something at the top of their voices.

"Come on, hurry!

If we get there late, we'll miss the Divine Radiant Sect's recruitment!"

"My goodness, two Titled Douluo are stationed there!

Dragon Duke Meng Shu has even broken through!"

"Most important of all is that notice!

Regardless of your background, if you meet the talent requirements and become a Core Disciple, you'll be given secret medicine. It guarantees your cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds!

This is a once-in-a-thousand-years chance to rise to the heavens in a single step!"

"I heard that independent Soul Masters from all over the Heaven Dou Empire are heading to Bala City. We'd better hurry too!"

At the passersby's discussion, the words Zhu Zhuqing had been about to say abruptly caught in her throat.

Ning Rongrong was also stunned. Then she furrowed her delicate brows.

"The Divine Radiant Sect?

Two Titled Douluo?

When did such a terrifying force appear in Bala City?"

But Zhu Zhuqing's expression changed. The confusion in her eyes gradually gave way to burning longing.

She clasped Ning Rongrong's hand in return. Her voice remained cool, but carried a resolve unlike anything before.

"Rongrong, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could certainly protect me for a while.

But living under someone else's roof means I'll never truly control my own fate.

I want more than just to survive. I want the absolute power to hold my own destiny in my hands!"

Ning Rongrong understood what she meant and asked in surprise,

"Zhuqing, you want to go to that newly established Divine Radiant Sect?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, looking toward Bala City.

"Regardless of background, without asking about one's origins... I want to give it a try.

If the rumors are true, it might give me a chance to grow stronger quickly."

Seeing the fighting spirit rekindled in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes, Ning Rongrong smiled and pulled her to her feet.

"Good!

If you want to go, then I'll accompany you!"

Ning Rongrong gave her a playful wink.

"I'm curious about this new sect with two Titled Douluo stationed there, too.

Come on, let's head to Bala City and see what all the fuss is about!"

Two days later, in Bala City.

The main streets, once reasonably spacious, were now packed to the brim with Soul Masters pouring in from every direction.

In the busiest part of the city,

the sign for Beast Academy, once a Meng Family property, had been replaced by a huge plaque bearing the powerful, sweeping characters for "Divine Radiant Academy."

To build momentum for the Divine Radiant Sect, Meng Shu had acted swiftly and decisively.

He had transformed Beast Academy outright, making it the first gateway through which the Divine Radiant Sect would recruit disciples.

"Have you heard?

Senior Dragon Duke turned Beast Academy directly into Divine Radiant Academy!"

"It's an academy directly affiliated with the Divine Radiant Sect!

If you pass the assessment and perform well, you can be promoted directly to a disciple of the Divine Radiant Sect!"

"Don't push!

I have Innate Soul Power of level five. Let me get tested first!"

At the edge of the noisy crowd, two cloaked girls watched the chaotic scene.

"Oh my goodness, this is ridiculous!"

Seeing the line stretch several streets away, Ning Rongrong couldn't help clicking her tongue. She muttered under her breath,

"Even when our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect recruits outer disciples, it's never this crazy.

What kind of force is this Divine Radiant Sect? They've actually transformed an entire high-level Soul Master Academy. That's quite a grand gesture."

Zhu Zhuqing lifted one corner of her cloak.

Her cool gaze stayed fixed on the sign above the academy entrance, which read "Core Disciple Special Recruitment Zone."

"With two Titled Douluo as their calling card, not to mention the legendary secret medicine that lets people advance by leaps and bounds in a single day,

that temptation is enough to drive every unaffiliated Soul Master on the continent into a frenzy."

Ning Rongrong took Zhu Zhuqing's hand and eagerly led her toward the end of the line for the "Core Disciple Special Recruitment Zone."

"Come on, let's get in line too!

I want to see just how strict the Divine Radiant Academy's test is—and whether they can recognize the best support-type Martial Soul under heaven!"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded and joined the line with Ning Rongrong, reminding her softly,

"Rongrong, let's not reveal our real identities or backgrounds for now.

Since the Divine Radiant Sect's notice says they don't care about your origins, we'll let our Soul Power and talent speak for themselves."

"I know, I know. Don't flaunt your wealth—or your identity."

Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue and laughed in a hushed voice.

"But Zhuqing, with your Soul Grandmaster cultivation at level twenty-seven at only twelve years old, you're an absolute top-tier genius anywhere.

There's definitely a place for you among the Divine Radiant Academy's Core Disciples!"

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes narrowed slightly, and her hands clenched into fists without her realizing it. Her voice carried unwavering determination.

"I hope so.

As long as I can grow stronger, as long as I can escape the fate imposed on me by the Star Luo Empire...

I can endure any trial, no matter how harsh."

As the two were talking, the Divine Radiant Academy teacher in charge of registration called out from the front of the line,

"Next!

State your age, Martial Soul, and current Soul Power Level!

Anyone under twelve who hasn't reached level twenty, go line up in the ordinary zone. Don't waste time in the Core Zone!"