Ning Rongrong's request
One week later.
Heaven Dou City, Shrek Academy.
A three-story building has been added to the east side of the college.
The building's exterior is similar to the main building of Spirit City, with a black sign with gold lettering hanging above the entrance: "Douluo Game Hall - Shrek Branch Hall".
On opening day, the place was packed with people.
The Shrek Academy students had long heard of the Game Hall's reputation, and they were all eager to get started, lining up to wait for it to open.
Liu Erlong stood at the door, wearing a newly made dark blue management uniform, her hair neatly tied up, and a smile on her lips.
Flender stood beside her, holding a teacup, his expression complex.
Yu Xiaogang didn't come. He locked himself in his office, immersing himself in studying the Pythagorean Theorem and new mathematical laws, neglecting to eat or sleep.
A horse-drawn carriage was parked at the entrance.
He wore a white brocade robe, a white jade pendant at his waist, and had a handsome face and a refined and noble air.
Xue Qinghe.
Liu Erlong went to greet him, "Your Highness Qinghe."
Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the storefront of the Game Hall, and a slight smile curved his lips.
Where is Qin Chuan?
"On the second floor."
Xue Qinghe stepped through the door.
Qin Chuan was already waiting on the second floor.
The two met in the corridor. Qin Chuan smiled and said, "Brother Qinghe, you've certainly made a grand entrance today."
Xue Qinghe glanced at him. "It would be rude of me not to come and support you on such a big occasion as opening a branch."
"Thank you."
After exchanging pleasantries, the two parted ways.
Qin Chuan led Liu Erlong to the second floor alone, and they went to the innermost room on the second floor.
This room is different from the others; there's no sign with the game's name on the door.
Qin Chuan pushed open the door.
The room was empty except for a complex array pattern carved on the floor in the center, with a fist-sized blue crystal embedded in the center of the pattern.
"What is this?" Liu Erlong asked.
"Spatial Connection Point," Qin Chuan said. "I've created a Spatial Passage between this room and the second floor of the Spirit City building, allowing free movement. You are the deputy curator, so this permission is only for you; don't tell anyone else."
Xue Qinghe's expression changed: spatial teleportation.
It takes most of the Heaven Dou City to Spirit City.
You'll arrive in an instant through this passage.
"Okay, Qin Chuan, from now on, if I need anything, I'll just come to you through this passage."
Qin Chuan nodded. "Okay, let's go out then, there's still a lot to do outside."
The two went downstairs.
A lively chatter came from downstairs.
The Shrek Branch Hall has officially opened.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Council Hall.
Ning Rongrong stood in the hall, hands on her hips, pouting. Her light golden curly hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her bright eyes were filled with defiance.
"I don't care, I'm going to the [Douluo Game Hall]!"
Three people were sitting in the hall. Ning Fengzhi sat in the main seat, holding an account book in his hands, his expression calm.
Bone Douluo Gu Rong, stood on the left, his thin face etched with wrinkles.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood on the right, his long silver hair tied back, without saying a word.
Gu Rong coughed twice. "Rongrong, you can't go to the Shrek Academy anymore. Tang San is too cunning, always scheming. And don't even mention Dai Mubai, he's always hanging around brothels, a complete wastrel."
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes. "I'm not going to Shrek. I just want to go to Spirit City to see Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing. I heard they're already level 46 or 47, and I'm only level 42. If this continues, they'll become Titled Douluo, and I'll only be a Soul King at best."
"Mainly because of a grudge with Qin Chuan." Gu Rong opened his mouth, but swallowed back what he said.
He glanced at Ning Fengzhi subconsciously. They had agreed not to mention the assassination attempt on Qin Chuan that day.
Ning Rongrong, with her sharp eyes, immediately noticed that something was wrong.
She walked up to Gu Rong, stood on tiptoe, and stared into his eyes. "Grandpa Gu, what did you just say? You have a grudge against Qin Chuan?"
Gu Rong's Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "No, there's nothing going on."
"Why won't you let me go if there's no holiday?" Ning Rongrong pressed. "What did Qin Chuan do to offend you?"
The hall fell silent for a few moments.
Ning Fengzhi closed the ledger and looked up. "Rongrong, this isn't about a holiday. Qin Chuan is from the Spirit Hall, and the Spirit Hall's ambitions are growing. This is a power struggle."
Gu Rong continued, "That's right. The Spirit Hall has enacted the Soul Beast Protection Law, intending to control all Soul Master in the world. From now on, anyone who wants to hunt Soul Beast will have to get their permission. This is clearly an attempt to control the entire continent."
Ning Rongrong listened and remained silent for two seconds.
She turned around, walked up to Chen Xin, and tugged at his sleeve. "Grandpa Jian, you've always been the best to me, please take me with you. I really don't want to fall so far behind Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing."
Chen Xin looked down at her. This little girl had grown up in the sect since she was a child, and was pampered by everyone. She could get almost anything she wanted.
But this time is different.
Chen Xin hesitated for a long time, then finally sighed, "Fine. I'll take Rongrong to Spirit City to check out the Douluo Game Hall."
Ning Fengzhi frowned. "Uncle Jian, is this appropriate?"
"Let her go," Chen Xin said. "I'll accompany her the whole time. Besides, I also want to see what's going on at that Game Hall."
Ning Fengzhi thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay, but on one condition. You're not allowed to go to the Shrek Academy's Game Hall."
"Great!" Ning Rongrong jumped up, and a smile finally bloomed on her face.
That morning.
Ning Rongrong changed into a light blue long dress with a white ribbon tied around her waist. She tied her hair into a high ponytail, revealing her smooth forehead.
Chen Xin stood at the sect's main gate. With a surge of his Soul Power, the Seven Kill Sword of Martial Soul was released from his body. The long sword hovered beside him, and the white cloth strip Entanglement the hilt fluttered slightly in the wind.
The Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath his feet.
"Grandpa Jian, let's go." Ning Rongrong ran over.
Chen Xin nodded slightly, and his third Soul Ring suddenly lit up.
[Third Soul Skill, Sword Wings Soar!]
Two clear, white sword energies separated from the Seven Kill Sword, unfolding and taking shape behind him, transforming into a pair of sword energy wings as thin as cicada wings.
Hold onto my arm tightly.
Chen Xin stretched out his left arm to steadily protect Ning Rongrong, while his right hand made a grasping motion, controlling the Seven Kill Sword that was floating beside him.
With a gentle flutter of its sword wings, the powerful Soul Power lifted the two of them into the air, breaking through the clouds and speeding towards the direction of Spirit City.
Spirit City, South Street.
The Douluo Game Hall's sign gleamed with a dark golden light in the sunlight. A long queue had already formed at the entrance, stretching all the way to the other end of the street.
Ning Rongrong stood at the back of the line, tiptoeing to look ahead.
She saw Fruit Machine, Blind Box Wall, and a group of people cheering in front of Claw Machine.
"So many people?" Ning Rongrong was somewhat surprised.
Chen Xin stood behind her, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the group. These people included the old and the young, men and women, but each of them wore an expectant expression.
The line moved forward a few steps.
A young man dressed in a black robe walked out of the Game Hall. He had long, black hair that reached his shoulders, and handsome, angular features.
Ning Rongrong hesitated for two seconds, then walked over. "Qin Chuan."
Qin Chuan looked at her and nodded. "Oh, isn't this Ning Rongrong? Here to play games?"
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Yes, I heard that Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing are both here."
"They're on the second floor," Qin Chuan said, then shifted his gaze to Chen Xin behind Ning Rongrong.
Chen Xin stood there, her long silver hair tied back, her eyes coldly fixed on Qin Chuan.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
Chen Xin's fingers gently caressed the hilt of the sword, her heart filled with complex emotions.
He remembered that night very clearly. Six Titled Douluo besieged a Soul Emperor, only to be utterly humiliated. In all his decades of dominating the continent, Chen Xin had never been so disheveled.
Qin Chuan looked at Chen Xin, but still gave him some face with a smile, "Senior Sword, please come inside."
Chen Xin nodded. "I came today to bring Miss Rongrong to have a look."
Qin Chuan nodded with a smile.
Chen Xin breathed a sigh of relief, but remained vigilant. He knew that Qin Chuan's game Soul Skill were unpredictable and he couldn't let his guard down.
Qin Chuan stepped aside and gestured for him to come in. "Come in."