Sword Douluo's Probe

Ning Rongrong glanced at Qin Chuan, then at Chen Xin, sensing a subtle tension between them.

But she didn't ask any more questions and followed Qin Chuan into the Game Hall.

Chen Xin followed behind, her gaze never leaving Qin Chuan's back.

The lobby on the first floor was bustling with noise.

A burly man stood in front of the Fruit Machine, pulling the joystick, and the patterns on the screen spun rapidly. Finally, the three patterns stopped at the same position.

"I've won!" the burly man shouted, grabbing a handful of Gold Soul Coin from the coin dispenser.

The people around him looked at him with envy.

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. "This looks fun! I want to try it too!"

Qin Chuan shook his head. "Let's go to the second floor first, Xiao Wu and the others are waiting for you."

The three of them went up the stairs.

The second-floor corridor was quiet. Several paintings hung on the walls, depicting strange scenes: a giant cat crouching on the roof, a group of people hiding in a vegetable garden, and a hand reaching out from under a bed.

Ning Rongrong was completely baffled. "What is this painting?"

"The Game Field," Qin Chuan said, "You'll see in a moment."

Reaching the end of the corridor, Qin Chuan pushed open a door.

Inside the room, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing sat on chairs. Xiao Wu wore a pink short outfit, her long legs crossed. Zhu Zhuqing wore a black tight leather jacket, her long hair draped over her shoulders, her eyes cold and aloof.

Seeing Ning Rongrong come in, Xiao Wu jumped up. "Rongrong!"

Ning Rongrong walked over, and the three girls hugged each other.

"Rongrong, you're finally here!" Xiao Wu patted her on the back. "I thought you were locked up by the sect."

"That's right." Ning Rongrong let go of his hand, pouting as she said, "Grandpa Bone and Grandpa Jian both wanted me to come. I had to beg and plead before Grandpa Jian finally agreed to bring me."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at her. "What level are you now?"

"Level 42." Ning Rongrong sighed. "Are you guys leveling up quickly? What's your level now?"

"I'm level 46," Xiao Wu said.

"Level 47," Zhu Zhuqing said.

Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. "How did you level up so fast?"

Xiao Wu chuckled, "It's all because of the games here. We come to play every day, and our Soul Power is increasing rapidly."

Ning Rongrong turned to look at Qin Chuan: "Is he really that amazing?"

Qin Chuan nodded. "You'll know once you try."

Qin Chuan led the three girls to a room. A sign on the door read "Object Hide-and-Seek".

"How do you play this game?" Ning Rongrong asked.

Xiao Wu eagerly explained, "It's like this: one person is the Seeker, and the others transform into various objects and hide. The Seeker goes around shooting, and if they find you, you're out. It's super fun! But you need a membership."

Ning Rongrong: "Okay, then I'll go register for a membership first."

"OK."

Qin Chuan instructed, "Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, take Rongrong out and have fun. I won't stay with you."

"Okay!" Xiao Wu nodded.

After the others left, Chen Xin walked up to Qin Chuan and said in a low voice, "Young friend Qin Chuan, may we talk alone?"

"OK."

The two left the lounge and went to a tea room at the end of the corridor.

The tea room was small, containing only a low table and two cushions. A calligraphy scroll hung on the wall, reading "Quiet".

Qin Chuan sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and then poured one for Chen Xin.

Chen Xin took the teacup but didn't drink it. Instead, he looked at Qin Chuan and said, "Young friend Qin Chuan, I hope you won't hold onto what happened before."

Qin Chuan wasn't angry; instead, he smiled and said, "It's alright. It was all the Clear Sky Sect's instigation that brought you here."

Chen Xin nodded.

The two chatted for a while longer, and the topic turned to the Game Hall.

Chen Xin asked, "How does your Game Hall allow Soul Master to increase their Soul Power while playing?"

Qin Chuan shook his head. "That's a secret."

Chen Xin didn't press further, but instead changed the subject. "If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wanted to cooperate with you, would you be willing?"

Qin Chuan glanced at him. "Cooperation? How do we cooperate?"

"We can open a branch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect," Chen Xin said, "And we'll split the profits fifty-fifty."

Qin Chuan thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Not for now."

Chen Xin frowned. "Why?"

"The Douluo Game Hall targets people with spending power, mainly in big cities. However, if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's spending can increase, it's not out of the question."

"Alright." Chen Xin nodded.

The two chatted for a while, and eventually Chen Xin went downstairs to play for a bit.

A few hours later, Chen Xin to the second floor.

Ning Rongrong was still laughing heartily with a few people.

Chen Xin walked up to Ning Rongrong: "Rongrong, we've played all day, it's time for us to go home."

Ning Rongrong looked up at the sky; it was almost dusk outside.

She stood up reluctantly. "Okay."

Xiao Wu held her hand. "Rongrong, will you come again tomorrow?"

Ning Rongrong nodded. "I'll come! I'll definitely come!"

Zhu Zhuqing also stood up. "See you tomorrow."

Ning Rongrong waved goodbye to the two people and followed Chen Xin out of the Game Hall.

Qin Chuan saw them to the door and watched them leave.

Chen Xin condensed the Seven Kill Sword and soared into the sky with Ning Rongrong in tow.

Ning Rongrong stood on the sword and glanced back at the Game Hall. The dark gold signboard gleamed in the setting sun.

"Grandpa Jian, I leveled up today," Ning Rongrong said.

Chen Xin was stunned for a moment. "Upgraded?"

"Yeah, from level 42 to level 43." Ning Rongrong's eyes crinkled with laughter. "I only played for an afternoon, and I leveled up."

Chen Xin's heart began to race.

One afternoon, Level 1.

If I play every day, I can reach level 30 in a month?

No, the amount of Soul Power required increases as you progress, so it's impossible to gain one level every day.

Even with a discount, gaining ten levels in a month is still a terrifying rate.

Chen Xin made a decision in her heart.

He wanted to persuade Ning Fengzhi to cooperate with Qin Chuan.

Even if it means severing ties with the Clear Sky Sect, we must cooperate.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Council Hall.

Chen Xin recounted her experiences of the day in detail.

Ning Fengzhi remained silent for a long time after listening.

Gu Rong sat beside him, his brows furrowed. "Uncle Jian, you said Rongrong leveled up in just one afternoon?"

Chen Xin nodded. "Yes."

Gu Rong gasped, "That was way too fast."

Ning Fengzhi put down the account book in his hand and looked at Chen Xin: "What do you think of Qin Chuan?"

Chen Xin thought for a moment, "Very strong, very intelligent, and broad-minded."

"Broad-minded?" Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow. "You mean, he'll forgive and forget what happened between us?"

"Yes," Chen Xin said. "He said he doesn't care about these things; he only cares about Tang Hao."

Ning Fengzhi's eyes flickered upon hearing this.

He was plotting something in his mind.

Gu Rong, standing nearby, said, "If we cooperate with Qin Chuan, we'll have to sever ties with the Clear Sky Sect. Is it worth it?"

Ning Fengzhi remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "It's worth it."

Gu Rong was taken aback. "Sect Master?"

"The Clear Sky Sect is in dire straits right now," Ning Fengzhi said. "After what Tang Hao did, who still has faith in the Clear Sky Sect? Furthermore, Qin Chuan's Game Hall can help Soul Master quickly improve their strength. If we can cooperate with him, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength will skyrocket in a short period of time."

After listening, Gu Rong nodded.

Chen Xin nodded. "That's what I think too."

Ning Fengzhi stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the night outside. "Uncle Jian, go to Spirit City again tomorrow and talk to Qin Chuan about cooperation. Tell him that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to sever ties with the Clear Sky Sect in exchange for cooperation with him."

Chen Xin nodded. "Okay."

That afternoon, in Spirit City, on the second floor of the Game Hall.

Qin Chuan lay on the bed, holding a book in his hand, flipping through it casually.

There was a knock on the door.

Knock knock.