Ning Rongrong becomes a hostage

As Tai Yi finished speaking, Qian Daoliu and the others revealed expressions of approval, and the entire group turned their gazes toward Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi looked at the ninety-nine-level peerless Douluo Qian Daoliu, the five Super Douluos—Golden Crocodile Douluo, Qianjun Douluo, Xiangmo Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo—as well as the two Title Douluos, Snake Spear and Pufferfish. Eight Title Douluos were blocking the gate.

Ning Fengzhi understood clearly that if his next condition failed to satisfy these people from Spirit Hall, the very people standing before him could wipe out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in an instant.

Thinking of this, Ning Fengzhi glanced at Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, and finally, he looked at Ning Rongrong.

The four of them nodded, preparing to bring over Xiao Wu, whom Bone Douluo had captured.

Originally, when Bone Douluo captured Xiao Wu, he had intended to hand her over to Spirit Hall as an offering to atone for their mistakes.

However, everyone has their own selfish motives. After capturing Xiao Wu and learning that she and Ning Rongrong were classmates at Shrek Academy, they wanted Ning Rongrong to build a good relationship with her, hoping to find a way to have Xiao Wu sacrifice herself for Ning Rongrong; otherwise, they planned to keep her imprisoned in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect forever.

When Ning Rongrong learned of this, she was overjoyed, yet she also felt fear. The hatred between humans and soul beasts was etched into everyone's heart, and Ning Rongrong couldn't help but feel terrified thinking that this hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast had been right by her side.

But when she thought about the possibility of obtaining a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, Ning Rongrong suppressed her fear and began to treat Xiao Wu well. It could be said that within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, aside from her freedom, Ning Rongrong gave Xiao Wu everything she could, all while anticipating the day she would need Xiao Wu to sacrifice herself for her.

Ning Rongrong had already considered this prize as good as hers. Now that she had to give it up, she was unwilling, but no matter how much of a spoiled young lady she was, she was not a fool. Even if she was reluctant, she had no choice but to hand her over.

Under Ning Fengzhi's signal, the guards of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect went to bring the imprisoned Xiao Wu to the sect's entrance.

Once Xiao Wu was brought forward, Ning Fengzhi spoke to Qian Daoliu:

"Great Elder, this is a transformed hundred-thousand-year soul beast captured by our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. We present her to Spirit Hall to compensate for our sect's transgressions."

As Xiao Wu was brought out, the eyes of everyone from Spirit Hall fixed upon her. After all, this was a hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast; obtaining her meant that someone in Spirit Hall would surely gain a hundred-thousand-year soul ring in the future.

Tai Yi was stunned as he watched this scene. He had never expected that when he had tried to capture Xiao Wu at Shrek Academy, they had arrived only to find her gone. He had wondered back then where she could have possibly run off to.

Seeing her appear now at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Tai Yi finally felt the power of the butterfly effect; because of his own appearance, Xiao Wu had actually been captured by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Qian Daoliu felt his heart stir when he saw Xiao Wu. He knew his granddaughter needed a hundred-thousand-year soul ring for her eighth soul ring.

Wasn't this soul ring delivering itself right to his doorstep?

Moreover, as the possessor of the Six-Winged Angel spirit and the successor to the Angel God, Qian Renxue's soul skills were already fixed; she only needed to consider the age of the soul ring. Thus, Xiao Wu's appearance could not have been more perfect.

However, looking at Ning Fengzhi and the others, although he was satisfied with the compensation, Qian Daoliu did not want to let the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect off so easily. He spoke to Ning Fengzhi:

"Sect Master Ning, we accept these reparations."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo revealed expressions of relief, thinking it was finally over.

But the next words from Qian Daoliu made the three of them feel extremely uneasy.

Qian Daoliu continued:

"However, in addition to these things, your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must become an affiliated sect of our Spirit Hall starting today. Furthermore, your daughter must accompany us to Spirit City to study."

Ning Fengzhi was naturally unhappy to hear this. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been passed down for so many years; how could it become a vassal to another power under his watch?

Moreover, demanding his daughter go to Spirit City to study—under the guise of education, everyone knew this was to hold Ning Rongrong hostage to ensure the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would never harbor thoughts of rebellion.

Ning Fengzhi could not accept either of Qian Daoliu's conditions, yet he had no way to refuse, not with eight Title Douluos standing right before him.

Ning Fengzhi said to Qian Daoliu:

"Great Elder, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can agree to join Spirit Hall, but my daughter Ning Rongrong cannot go to Spirit City to study. As the next Sect Master, she must learn to manage the sect from within."

Qian Daoliu replied:

"Refuse, and you die. Regardless, once we eliminate you, everything you possess will belong to Spirit Hall anyway."

Hearing Qian Daoliu's harsh words, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo were left speechless. Sword Douluo, in particular, felt the pain of his severed arm and his diminished soul power; even if he had the desire to resist, he lacked the strength. In the end, he could only lower his head in despair.

Ning Fengzhi felt the same. He did not want his daughter to be a hostage, but facing the might of Spirit Hall, he was powerless. Finally, he could only look toward his daughter.

It was then that Ning Rongrong stepped forward herself and said to everyone present:

"Father, Sword Grandpa, Bone Grandpa, and the esteemed lords of Spirit Hall, I am willing to go to Spirit City to study. I believe that with geniuses like Young Mistress Qian Renxue and Young Master Tai Yi as my role models, I will make progress in Spirit City."

Ning Rongrong did not want to go to Spirit City either, but she understood that if she did not, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would face destruction. She could afford to be a spoiled young lady at other times, but as the young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the current situation did not allow for it.

That was why Ning Rongrong spoke those words.