Such a Young Hero

Hearing this childish voice, Ning Yurong instinctively froze, and then, a trace of helplessness couldn't help but surface on her exquisite, noble, and beautiful face.

Turning her head, she looked toward the direction the sound came from.

"Grandpa Guang, you're being naughty again, aren't you..."

"Didn't Father tell you not to eavesdrop on my conversations with others..."

As her words fell, in the artificial greenery outside Nine Treasures City where Ning Yurong was staring—

A little boy with white hair, covered in leaves and attempting to hide himself within the greenery, standing even shorter than Ning Yurong, stepped out from the thicket.

And he was none other than Guang Yan, one of the two Guardian Douluos of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, the Chess Douluo, a level 94 Control-type Titled Douluo.

Raising an eyebrow as he stepped out of the bushes, Guang Yan stood with his hands on his hips, his head held high, a playful smile on his lips as he sophistically argued.

"Hey! What eavesdropping? I was listening fair and square from the grass! Also, call me Brother; I'm not old at all!"

Looking at Guang Yan, who was a total old urchin in both personality and appearance, Ning Yurong could only sigh helplessly.

"Grandpa Guang, why are you here?"

Hearing this, the playful and frivolous look on Guang Yan's face faded significantly, and he turned serious.

"Your father sensed that the Spirit Emperor protecting you had met with trouble. He was originally planning to send me out to find you, but who would have thought I'd run into you at the city gate."

"Let's go, come back with me, and explain it to your father yourself."

Nodding, Ning Yurong said no more, allowing Guang Yan to walk up and grab her wrist.

The next second, a flash of golden light flickered in place, and Ning Yurong and the man vanished instantly from the city gate...

The Nine Treasures Glazed Sect was located inside Nine Treasures City. The city was divided into an inner and outer city, with ordinary people living in the outer city.

Only spirit masters lived in the inner city, which was the true location of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.

At this moment, a golden streak of light was flashing rapidly through the majestic and grand architectural complex of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.

It was Guang Yan bringing Ning Yurong back, but he did not head toward the sect's main hall.

Instead, he flew straight toward one of the two green peaks behind the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.

That was the place established by the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect for the Guardian Douluos to cultivate in peace.

Usually, apart from the Guardian Douluos themselves, almost no one would set foot here; even the Sect Master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect needed permission to enter.

As for other idle people, they wouldn't even have the chance to get close to Douluo Peak.

But at this moment, Guang Yan landed precisely on the summit of this green peak with Ning Yurong in tow.

A simple and crude small courtyard sat here; apart from the lack of farmland, it looked no different from an ordinary farmhouse.

Landing and looking at the farmhouse before him, Guang Yan flicked a strand of golden-dyed hair from his forehead, tucking it back into his pale locks.

On his face, which was no different from that of an eight or nine-year-old child and still retained its youthful innocence, a playful smile reappeared.

He patted Ning Yurong on the shoulder: "Go on, your father is waiting for you. I have things to do, so I'm off."

After speaking, Guang Yan did not linger. Without waiting for Ning Yurong to react, he transformed into a golden light that shot into the sky, disappearing into the horizon.

Seeing this, Ning Yurong could only rub her forehead helplessly; Guang Yan's personality had always been like this.

Massaging her brow, Ning Yurong stopped thinking about Guang Yan and walked toward the simple courtyard.

Walking into the yard, a fresh and elegant fragrance of tea wafted toward her.

Following the scent of the tea—

A middle-aged man with black hair in green robes, his figure as upright as a sword, with sword-like brows and star-like eyes, yet an aura that was gentle and refined, sat before a stone table brewing tea with a calm heart.

Seeming to notice Ning Yurong's gaze, the middle-aged man smiled elegantly. He poured a cup of tea, placed it on the empty seat at the stone table, and said: "Come, Rong'er, tell your father what you encountered."

His voice was like the first breeze of spring, gentle and delicate, yet capable of putting one's heart at ease, without the slightest bit of arrogance.

Seeing this, Ning Yurong's eyes turned slightly red. She, who always maintained an indifferent, detached, and calm demeanor in front of outsiders—

Now, facing this middle-aged man, her father Ye Pi'an, a level 98 Super Douluo, could finally no longer keep up the facade.

With reddened eyes, Ning Yurong walked to Ye Pi'an's side. She didn't cry loudly, nor did she act overly sentimental.

She grabbed Ye Pi'an's green robe and gently buried her small face in his embrace, her delicate body trembling uncontrollably.

Seeing Ning Yurong like this, Ye Pi'an's gaze darkened. He didn't speak, but gently stroked Ning Yurong's silver-gray hair, comforting her in silence.

This child had always been mature; even in front of him, she rarely lost her composure.

But now...

Feeling the damp heat on his chest, Ye Pi'an closed his eyes. He said nothing, waiting for Ning Yurong to speak for herself.

A moment later, having vented her emotions, Ning Yurong rubbed against Ye Pi'an's lapel, her voice hoarse.

"Father, the matter is like this..."

Ning Yurong recounted the entire sequence of events from beginning to end.

As it turned out, she had initially just followed a Nine Treasures Glazed Sect caravan to Blizzard City to conduct business and gain experience.

Yet who could have known that they wouldn't even touch the gates of Blizzard City, meeting the Four-Eyed Demon Fox halfway and suffering total annihilation.

If not for the soul tool gifted by Ye Pi'an protecting her, she would have long since become a ghost in the belly of that Four-Eyed Demon Fox; how could she still be standing here?

Listening to everything Ning Yurong described—the ambush, the rescue, the subsequent attack, and her eventual return.

Ye Pi'an's mood had been on a rollercoaster ride the entire time.

If he weren't looking at Ning Yurong standing perfectly fine before him, he would have had the urge to wipe the entire Four-Eyed Demon Fox species from existence.

She was his youngest and most pampered daughter; if something had truly happened to her, he wouldn't know how to face his late wife in the afterlife.

Rubbing his brow and gazing at Ning Yurong standing safe and sound before him, Ye Pi'an tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a faint smile.

"It seems that our Rong'er being able to return is all thanks to that young man named Xue Mingqing."

"However... could such a young hero truly exist in this world...?"

Narrowing his eyes, Ye Pi'an looked at Ning Yurong, wanting to know if what she said was true.

Having heard the cause and effect described by Ning Yurong, the young man Xue Mingqing had naturally entered Ye Pi'an's field of vision.

And his talent was, naturally, exposed as well.

A thousand-year first soul ring, and the feat of slaying a ten-thousand-year soul beast alone at the age of six.

Either one of these things alone would be enough to shock the world.

With both combined in one person, it would be difficult for Xue Mingqing not to catch Ye Pi'an's attention.

Such heaven-defying talent made even Ye Pi'an uncertain about the veracity of Ning Yurong's description for a moment.

Meeting her father's slightly skeptical gaze, Ning Yurong cast her beautiful eyes aside.

Her tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction.

"If you don't believe Yurong, Father, you can go see for yourself..."

Seeing Ning Yurong display this unhappy little expression, Ye Pi'an smiled helplessly.

He compromised, "Fine, in two days, once we have prepared sufficient gifts of gratitude, I shall take you to Shrek Academy to find him, how about that?"

Hearing this, Ning Yurong nodded, and in the depths of her eyes, a trace of imperceptible cunning flashed by.

Exposing Xue Mingqing's talent was precisely to pique Ye Pi'an's curiosity, thereby getting him to take her to find him.

As for whether this would bring trouble to Xue Mingqing, based on Ning Yurong's understanding of her father.

He would absolutely never do something like stifling a genius; the most likely outcome was that he would try to win him over.

At this moment, Xue Mingqing did not know that just after he had left, Ning Yurong had exposed his talent.

Even if he knew now, he wouldn't have many thoughts on the matter.

Only because—

Having just left Nine Treasures City and continuing his journey toward Shrek Academy, he had run into trouble again!