Ning Rongrong Goes on a Hunger Strike

The next day, the four of them returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The first thing Ning Fengzhi did upon his return was test whether Whale Rubber could raise a Soul Master's limit for absorbing Soul Rings, just as Ning Wen had said.

As sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, verifying something like that was easy.

After all, the one thing the sect never lacked was Soul Masters.

Finding a few willing volunteers was no trouble at all.

Besides, Whale Rubber posed no real danger.

As for how to use it, they could simply try each method.

Ning Fengzhi kept the matter quiet and secretly summoned several Soul Masters.

All of them were about to hunt Soul Beasts for their next Soul Rings, though their ages and cultivation levels varied.

They had one thing in common: their families had served the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for generations, and they were loyal, steadfast, and trustworthy.

Most importantly, Ning Fengzhi did not even need to buy the Whale Rubber. He already had plenty in storage.

In this era, Whale Rubber was hardly rare. It often appeared in auction houses and medicinal shops across the continent's major cities.

Most noble households kept some on hand as an aphrodisiac to spice up their private lives.

In a secluded, empty courtyard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi dismissed every servant and left only the four core sect Soul Masters he had summoned.

Their cultivation levels varied. One was a level-ten Soul Master about to absorb his first Soul Ring, while another was a Soul Elder stuck at the level-thirty bottleneck and preparing to obtain his third ring. The youngest was only twelve; the oldest was already past twenty.

Without exception, the sect had vetted them through round after round of screening. Their families had served the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for generations, and they were utterly loyal, discreet, and levelheaded. They would never divulge a sect secret.

If even they betrayed the sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not be far from ruin.

"Nothing that happens today is to be disclosed to anyone outside this courtyard. Violators will be punished under sect rules."

Ning Fengzhi stood in the courtyard. His manner was gentle, but he carried the authority of a leader. His voice was calm, yet it left no room for defiance.

"As you command!"

The four Soul Masters bowed in unison, their expressions solemn. None dared let down their guard.

Nearby, Chen Xin and Gu Rong stood quietly, curiosity plain on their faces.

They were eager to know whether Whale Rubber, long used as an aphrodisiac, could truly increase the age limit of the Soul Rings a person could absorb.

If Ning Wen's claim was true, it would shake the entire Soul Master world and bear directly on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's future.

For both personal and practical reasons, they needed to be there to witness the whole process.

Ning Fengzhi nodded and took out five pieces of Whale Rubber.

In the sunlight, the Whale Rubber gleamed with a smooth, translucent luster. A faint scent of the deep sea slowly spread through the air.

"Begin."

At Ning Fengzhi's signal, one Soul Master stepped forward.

Soul Power stirred at his fingertips, and a gentle, warm, pale-red flame rose from his palm.

Under the flame's heat, the five pieces of Whale Rubber gradually softened, then melted into five glistening, viscous pools of milky-white liquid.

Ning Fengzhi needed no further explanation. Without hesitation, the four Soul Masters swallowed the warm liquid one after another.

The moment the Whale Rubber entered their bodies, a mild, soothing warmth spread through them, flowing across their limbs and through their meridians and bones.

Within half an incense stick's time, the five of them showed changes in their expressions, surprise and uncertainty appearing in their eyes.

"Sect Master! My body feels much lighter!"

"My Soul Power seems to be circulating a little faster?!"

Several of them spoke up in succession, their voices full of disbelief.

Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up.

He had not expected such luck. The very first method had worked.

At the same time, Chen Xin and Gu Rong extended their spiritual senses, carefully observing the changes in the volunteers' bodies.

After a long while, their eyes flashed.

Their bodies had improved.

All five had truly gained some measure of physical strength!

The changes were slight, but they were real.

That meant every word Ning Wen had said was true!

Ning Fengzhi made his decision at once. He mobilized every commercial channel and covert trading house the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possessed, ordering them to buy up Whale Rubber in secret, whatever the cost.

Fortunately, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was wealthy beyond measure, with trading houses across the continent. It could stockpile large quantities of Whale Rubber without drawing immediate attention from the other great sects, Spirit Hall, or the other major powers.

Still, he knew the secret would come out sooner or later. All he could do now was keep it hidden for as long as possible.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had to seize whatever head start it could.

At noon, the sun shone brightly.

Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Rongrong sat at the dining table, cheeks puffed out and head lowered, without saying a word.

The table was laden with delicious food, its aroma filling the room.

But she made no move to eat. Stubbornness was written all over her face as she staged her silent protest.

The thought of strict etiquette lessons day after day—being told how to stand, how to sit, and having her every word and action policed—made Ning Rongrong feel suffocated.

They wanted her to obediently attend etiquette lessons?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

She, Ning Rongrong, would fight this to the end.

If Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Gu would not help her, she would go on a hunger strike.

"Rongrong, you haven't eaten a thing all day!"

Gu Rong looked at Ning Rongrong with an aching heart. "You can't do this. You're still growing!"

"Rongrong, be good and eat something. Your health comes first!" Chen Xin urged her too.

"..."

Ning Rongrong remained unmoved. She only raised her watery eyes to Ning Fengzhi, who sat at the head of the table.

Her meaning was obvious: unless he canceled the etiquette lessons, she would not eat.

Chen Xin and Gu Rong could hardly bear the sight, but there was nothing they could do.

In the past, no matter how willful or unruly Ning Rongrong had been, Ning Fengzhi had never done more than lecture her briefly. He had never had the heart to truly punish her.

This time, however, Ning Fengzhi had made up his mind.

Rongrong was spoiled and willful, arrogant and selfish, and she threw a tantrum whenever things went wrong.

For now, he, Uncle Sword, and Uncle Bone were there to protect her, so it had not caused much trouble.

But she had a long road ahead. People could be cruel, and the world was complicated. If she kept behaving as she pleased, sooner or later she would suffer for it.

Especially after what had happened with Ning Wen.

Even now, Ning Fengzhi had not given up on bringing the two of them together.

Before that, he had to break Ning Rongrong of all her bad habits.

Otherwise, she would only hurt herself and others.

"What? Are you refusing to eat because you think you can force my hand?"

Ning Fengzhi's expression remained calm as he looked at his daughter's stubborn little face. He did not waver in the slightest.

Ning Rongrong trembled faintly. She bit her pink lip but said nothing.

"Rongrong, I'll say this one last time."

"The decision is made. Nothing will change."

Ning Fengzhi's voice turned cold. "The Etiquette Teacher I hired for you should arrive today. Give up on changing my mind!"