An Encounter at Suotuo City Great Soul Arena!

"Yee-haw~ yaza-hei~"

Humming meaningless words, Haiming strolled down the city streets. Dressed entirely in blue, with a folding fan in hand and azure hair cascading to his waist, he looked every bit the refined young gentleman, drawing the attention of countless passing girls.

Haiming was not in Heaven Dou City at the moment, but in Suotuo City, which belonged to the Balak Kingdom, a vassal state of the Heaven Dou Empire.

His reason for coming here was simple: to deliver the Jade Pendant to Ning Rongrong.

Of course, he had not come to be a simp. After the auction ended, Ning Fengzhi had told Haiming about the Jade Pendant, stressing that he wanted to buy it back rather than demand that Haiming hand it over. Even if Haiming refused to sell it, Ning Fengzhi still wanted him to take it to Shrek Academy and let Ning Rongrong see it, if only to ease his daughter's worries.

To Haiming, an item like the Jade Pendant was a useful tool, but it held little emotional value.

The only sentiment attached to it was that it had been a gift from his grandfather—though it had been forced on him. He had far too many gifts already, so he traded the Jade Pendant to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in exchange for a favor and one chance to call upon Sword Douluo.

After that, Ning Fengzhi asked him to personally deliver the Jade Pendant to Ning Rongrong.

As for Sword Douluo's favor and chance to act, Haiming had already decided how to use them when Ning Fengzhi explained the Jade Pendant's origins!

Within the Heaven Dou Empire, there were only two things he wanted most!

The Soul Bones of the Water-Fire Dragon Kings in Sunset Forest!

And the Sea God's Heart, kept by the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family!

Even if he asked the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for the Sea God's Heart, they could never obtain it. It was the national treasure of the Heaven Dou Empire. Therefore, there was only one thing he could scheme for with the sect's help: the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well in Sunset Forest!

Kyogre represented ultimate water. Haiming believed he could conquer the Water Dragon King's power!

As for the Sea God's Heart... at worst, he could wait a few years. Once Spirit Hall prepared to strike against the Heaven Dou Empire and he had fully grown his wings, he could trade with Spirit Hall for the Sea God's Heart as an outside ally—or simply take it by force. After all, strength was everything.

"Hey~ Why does every Great Soul Arena like putting a tombstone in the most conspicuous plaza?"

Looking at the enormous stone pillar in the distance, Haiming curled his lips. With those densely packed names, anyone with trypophobia would probably faint on the spot!

"Hey, Zhu Zhuqing, let's enter a 2v2 match. My Soul Power might reach level thirty before long. Once that happens, I'll have to compete in the Soul Elder division. I don't have that many points to lose~"

A soft, delicate voice drifted into Haiming's ears from afar. Soft and crisp—two descriptions that had no business belonging together somehow perfectly suited that one voice!

Even without seeing her, one could imagine the beauty of its owner!

Haiming turned with a smile, but he did not look at Ning Rongrong, who was hugging someone's arm. Instead, his gaze fell on the cool, beautiful girl wearing a somewhat helpless expression.

"Fine. But we still have a tough battle tonight. Grandmaster and the others told us to forfeit all of today's matches. I can only accompany you for one match."

Zhu Zhuqing was helpless. She knew that if she did not agree to Ning Rongrong's request, Ning Rongrong would definitely start pestering her again. Unless Zhu Zhuqing could tell her where the Jade Pendant she had been searching for was, Ning Rongrong would never give up!

"Hmph, fighting a team made entirely of Soul Elders." A trace of disdain flashed through Ning Rongrong's eyes. That Grandmaster seemed to think far too highly of his students!

Even with her Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda supporting them, it would be difficult to fight opponents above their level!

Not to mention that their opponents had the exceptional support Martial Soul, Nine-Heart Begonia. Their control-system Soul Master was the descendant of a Titled Douluo, and their captain was one of the heirs of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

What did they have to fight with?

Ning Rongrong truly could not see where the seven of them had any chance of winning, nor did she understand what Grandmaster's so-called trump card was.

Zhu Zhuqing's body visibly stiffened. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her flesh, but the faint pain did not draw her attention.

Grandmaster's trump card... probably included her.

But could she really do it?

Use that Martial Soul Fusion Skill!

Thud!

With a faint sound, a small pain came from the top of her head. Zhu Zhuqing turned around, only for someone to pinch her nose.

"Why are you less alert than before? You could detect a Soul Emperor pursuing you, yet you didn't even notice me standing behind you."

Haiming stood behind Zhu Zhuqing with a smugly punchable expression. At over six feet tall, he was just half a head taller than her. Standing together, they made quite a striking pair!

"Zhu Zhuqing... who is he?"

Ning Rongrong froze beside them. Ever since she had met Zhu Zhuqing, she had never seen her interact with any other man.

Moreover, according to Ning Rongrong's investigation, Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai had a marriage contract. Given Zhu Zhuqing's nature, even if she knew Dai Mubai was not a good man, she would never go flirting around.

So where had this flower come from?

"It's you!"

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes brightened. She then rubbed her nose and looked at Haiming with a touch of resentment.

That hurt!

"Haha~ I didn't expect to run into you here."

Haiming's words carried another meaning. He was not referring to meeting Zhu Zhuqing in Suotuo City, but to encountering her in the Great Soul Arena's plaza. He had not deliberately searched for her, yet they had met anyway. It could only be called fate.

"You've recovered from your injuries, right?"

Haiming's gaze landed on Zhu Zhuqing's ample chest. His invasive stare made her shudder, after which she rolled her eyes beautifully.

"Thanks to you, I recovered well in Waterfall City. No lingering problems were left behind."

Zhu Zhuqing looked toward Haiming's hand. Seeing that he was not holding the folding fan he had carried before, she relaxed slightly.

"Where's your fan?"

Her words carried another meaning as she blinked at Haiming.

Haiming smiled. Before approaching Zhu Zhuqing, he had already put both the fan and the Jade Pendant into his ring. From what they had said, it seemed they had a tough battle tonight. At a time like this, it would be better not to take out the Jade Pendant and disrupt Ning Rongrong's state of mind.

He would give the Jade Pendant to Ning Rongrong after they finished fighting tonight.

From beginning to end, Haiming had merely glanced at Ning Rongrong a few times with appreciation and paid her no further attention.

Yet Ning Rongrong had taken an interest in Haiming!

"Wasn't it after we met? Judging by the way you look... could it be..."

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Ning Rongrong revealed a sweet smile and casually moved her hands behind her back, making a few gestures.

As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she had plenty of hidden guards watching her every move!

Unknown boy, do you have anything to do with my Jade Pendant?

·

·

Declaration!

I'm not simping for Ning Rongrong, so stop coming here to make your presence known!

I'm really scared of you people!