Titled Douluo Certification

She still hadn't left Soto City?

Seeing the girl walking toward him, Ning Yao was slightly surprised.

Ever since they had parted ways, whether over the past two days or during the battle between Shrek Academy and the Royal Dou Team, he had not seen Zhu Zhuqing again.

He had thought that after leaving Shrek Academy, Zhu Zhuqing would have departed Soto City.

Yet he had not expected to run into her here today.

"Senior."

When Zhu Zhuqing saw Ning Yao, she was equally taken aback, but she did not seem particularly surprised. Instead, she respectfully cupped her fists and bowed to him.

"You came here specifically to find me?"

Ning Yao tilted his head, noticing something.

Zhu Zhuqing's reaction was off. Unusual.

Her target had been him all along?

Ning Yao thought of what had happened last night.

Faced with Ning Yao's question, Zhu Zhuqing nodded without concealing anything.

"It was yesterday. Tang San and the others sent me a message. To force me back to the academy and continue forming the Shrek Seven Monsters with them so Dai Mubai could use the martial soul fusion skill, they said that Shrek Academy's dean, the Four-Eyed Cat Owl Flender, and the Unmovable Ming King Zhao Wuji had come to surround you. So I wanted to rush over and warn you."

"But those hypocrites refused to say much, so it took me an entire night to find out where you lived..."

Zhu Zhuqing bowed slightly, lowering her head as her voice paused.

"I just didn't expect you to be so strong, Senior. You actually defeated two of the finest Soul Sages without suffering a single injury. Zhuqing underestimated you."

As she spoke, a bitter smile appeared on her lips.

She had always known Ning Yao was strong and that his soul power level was certainly not low, but before today, she had actually shared Dai Mubai's opinion.

She had believed Ning Yao was merely a Soul Sage-level expert.

That was why she had been so anxious to find Ning Yao last night, wanting him to flee Soto City as quickly as possible.

But when she truly arrived here that morning, Zhu Zhuqing realized she had been wrong. Terribly wrong.

She had been completely wrong from the very beginning.

Senior Ning Yao was no Soul Sage at all.

As a former member of the Shrek Seven Monsters, she knew Flender and Zhao Wuji's strength better than anyone.

Those two were among the very best of all Soul Sages, yet even when such powerful experts joined forces, they had lost.

And not merely lost. One had died, while the other had been severely injured.

As for Ning Yao, whom she had been worried about? He was completely unharmed, as though nothing had happened.

"Senior, those two Soul Sages who met with misfortune here last night..."

Zhu Zhuqing spoke softly and raised her head to look at Ning Yao.

The meaning behind her words was obvious.

She wanted one final confirmation.

Ning Yao did not evade the matter and simply nodded.

"It was them. I was the one who did it."

Zhu Zhuqing immediately fell silent. She now scarcely dared to imagine what Ning Yao's true identity was.

An absurdly powerful Soul Douluo?

Or had he already reached the pinnacle of Douluo Continent, standing above tens of thousands as a Titled Douluo?

Zhu Zhuqing did not dare think further, nor did she dare ask.

"Forgive my disturbance, Senior. Zhuqing has one more matter she wishes to seek your guidance on."

After a long silence, Zhu Zhuqing spoke hesitantly.

"Go ahead."

After receiving Ning Yao's permission, Zhu Zhuqing gave him a deep bow.

"Senior said that I could leave Shrek Academy, but where can I go now? Dai Mubai is practically finished. Where should I go? Zhuqing asks Senior to point me toward a path."

"If there is ever an opportunity in the future, I will certainly repay you!"

Zhu Zhuqing's voice was soft, and it was clear that saying those words had taken a great deal of effort.

Ning Yao simply stood quietly before her, his expression unchanged as he listened.

"Go to Wuhun City. Star Luo's claws cannot reach there. Your talent is not bad. Going there may become an opportunity for you."

Ning Yao slowly voiced his opinion.

In his understanding, if there was still any way for Zhu Zhuqing to break free from her fate through her own efforts, it was probably Spirit Hall.

The people in the Heaven Dou Empire could not be relied upon.

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing more and nodded firmly.

"If you ever need me, Senior, simply send word to Zhuqing. Zhuqing will certainly come."

With that, Zhu Zhuqing gave one final salute, then turned and left.

Only after watching Zhu Zhuqing depart did Ning Yao raise an eyebrow slightly.

He suddenly became curious about how the plot of this world would develop after reaching this point.

In less than a month, he had already planted far too many variables into this world's fate.

However, he did not dwell on it. Before long, once Zhu Zhuqing had vanished from sight, he too left the area.

His next destination was Spirit Hall.

Not long afterward, he returned to the Soto City branch of Spirit Hall. Two soul master guards had been stationed at the entrance again. Perhaps they had been specifically instructed, because the moment they saw Ning Yao approach, both hurriedly straightened their backs and cast off their previous lazy demeanor.

They neither took the initiative to speak to Ning Yao nor tried to stop him. They simply allowed Ning Yao to pass by them and enter Spirit Hall.

After passing through a marble corridor, Ning Yao arrived in the main hall.

At that moment, the Spirit Hall steward was seated there, apparently writing something down. He happened to look up, and the instant he saw Ning Yao, he jumped in fright.

"Senior? What brings you here!"

The steward leaped to his feet in excitement and hurried over to Ning Yao, while also ordering his subordinates to quickly prepare tea for their guest.

But Ning Yao promptly declined.

"I came today for only one matter. I want Spirit Hall to certify my identity and strength."

Ning Yao spoke with a smile.

When traveling outside, one's identity was something one gave oneself. Ning Yao had realized that if he continued without an official identity, incidents like those involving Flender and Zhao Wuji might only become more frequent in the future.

There were countless people on Douluo Continent who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Even possessing a token could not fully settle matters with many of them.

It would be better to have Spirit Hall certify an identity for him and spread the news, giving him some deterrence and preserving a measure of peace.

Who was the Spirit Hall steward? The instant he heard Ning Yao's words, he understood what Ning Yao meant.

"I shall obey your command, Senior. Please come with me to test your soul power level."

This old fox felt as though his heart was about to leap from his chest.

He felt that he could retire tomorrow.

The wealth and glory of the rest of his life were practically waving at him!

Certifying a Titled Douluo who had never been recorded by Spirit Hall—he did not even dare imagine how great that achievement would be.

Soon, filled with excitement, the steward led Ning Yao into a sealed room deep within Spirit Hall.

"Senior, please release your martial soul."