Meeting Dugu Yan

"What? Brother Ji, you're already level thirty?"

Ning Rongrong stared at the poised, elegant Ji Hongchen. Upon learning that he had already reached level thirty, she was so astonished that her mouth fell open.

Ji Hongchen was only twelve.

A twelve-year-old, level-thirty Soul Elder-his talent surpassed even the geniuses of the great families. Feng Xiaotian, for instance, possessed a beneficially mutated Gale Demon Wolf martial soul and innate full soul power, yet he had only been in his twenties at twelve.

Ji Hongchen spoke calmly, as though discussing something perfectly ordinary.

"It's not bad. Aren't you almost level twenty yourself, Rongrong?"

At that affectionate form of address,

Ning Rongrong's pretty face flushed. Much of her Little Demoness demeanor faded, and she said softly, "Mm. Brother Ji, come hunt a soul ring with me when the time comes."

"Sure."

Ji Hongchen readily agreed.

Sweetness welled up in Ning Rongrong's heart. She then took out a token engraved with the image of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and handed it to Ji Hongchen.

"This is my token from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Its authority is second only to my father's. Keep it, Brother Ji. If anyone bullies you, just show them this!"

Ji Hongchen accepted the token.

Catching the faint fragrance lingering on it, he couldn't help smiling knowingly.

I finally have someone backing me.

Next, I can consider terminating Dugu Yan's contract and redeeming Dugu Bo.

With this token, at least Dugu Bo won't dare act recklessly.

After all, Dugu Bo's greatest concerns now were his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, the continuation of the Dugu Family, and the poison afflicting him.

"Go cultivate first, Rongrong. I'm going out to buy some cultivation resources."

Ji Hongchen reached out and ruffled Ning Rongrong's hair.

Ning Rongrong nodded obediently.

Brother Ji's hand is so warm.

She closed her eyes in enjoyment, her heart beating rapidly and her cheeks faintly flushed. She rubbed her cheek against the back of Ji Hongchen's hand, looking utterly adorable.

"Okay. Go take care of your business, Brother Ji."

Ning Rongrong's voice was soft, without any of her usual haughty young-miss airs. Though she was still a little mischievous, there was a hint of coaxing sweetness to her tone.

Ji Hongchen left the hotel.

Ning Rongrong began cultivating diligently.

She hadn't cultivated before because she had no goal. Now, however, things were different. She had her own goals and aspirations, and she had to reach level twenty quickly so she wouldn't hold Brother Ji up.

Ji Hongchen barely hesitated.

With a fortune of a hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in his pocket, he felt as though he were floating higher than anyone. Getting rich overnight felt absolutely incredible.

He walked into the Ye Family's medicine shop.

Naturally, Ji Hongchen felt bold enough to soar into the heavens. "Shopkeeper, bring out all your ten-thousand-year whale glue. However much you have, I'll take it all!"

The Ye Family shopkeeper was a woman.

She wore a sexy, form-fitting outfit that outlined her curvaceous figure and snugly enveloped her magnificent breasts.

Two girls stood beside her.

One had a voluptuous figure, a lovely face, and a head of striking emerald-green hair.

Beside her stood a girl with long silver-gray hair, a cool, aloof air, and a touch of baby fat on her cheeks. She gave off a distinctly unapproachable feeling.

Hearing that someone wanted to buy ten-thousand-year whale glue,

both girls couldn't help looking over.

After all, ten-thousand-year whale glue was extremely potent. Ordinary people only dared steep it in water to drink, and if someone consumed too much at once, keeping their spear standing for seven days would be no problem.

But when they saw that the buyer was a boy around their own age, both froze.

A scrutinizing look appeared in Dugu Yan's eyes, and she couldn't resist asking curiously, "How old are you, little fellow? You're already using something like this?"

Ji Hongchen noticed Dugu Yan as well.

Just when I was wondering how to find someone who could introduce me to the Poison Douluo, she's delivered herself right to my doorstep.

"I'm merely running an errand for someone."

Ji Hongchen smiled faintly.

Dugu Yan pursed her lips. Still, Ji Hongchen's looks were so outstanding that she couldn't help stealing a few more glances.

"Sis, stop staring at him!"

Seeing Dugu Yan staring at Ji Hongchen, Ye Lingling poked her waist and quietly reminded her.

Dugu Yan came back to her senses and turned her head away in embarrassment.

"Ahem, I was thinking about something and got a little distracted."

Upon hearing Dugu Yan's explanation,

Ji Hongchen paid it no mind. Instead, he walked over and went straight to the point. "You're Miss Dugu Yan, the Poison Douluo's granddaughter, aren't you?"

Dugu Yan nodded.

Though she didn't know how the person before her had recognized her, she replied politely, "That's me. Is there something you need?"

Ji Hongchen smiled and took out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect token, showing it to Dugu Yan. "There's something I'd like to consult Senior Poison Douluo about. If the opportunity arises, I hope I can meet him."

He didn't state his purpose outright.

After all, bluntly pointing out the flaws in someone else's martial soul would be rather rude.

Dugu Yan glanced at Ji Hongchen's token, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.

He's actually from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

And judging by the token's design, he must be one of their innermost members, at the very least.

"All right. I'll pass it on."

Dugu Yan thought it over and decided it wasn't a big deal. He was probably another person trying to win her grandfather over, so she agreed.

After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength spoke for itself.

She had to show them at least that much courtesy.

"By the way, what's your name?"

Dugu Yan suddenly asked, looking at Ji Hongchen curiously. He really was exceptionally handsome, and there was something distinctive about his bearing.

Ji Hongchen smiled slightly.

"Ji Hongchen. We'll meet again."

With that, Ji Hongchen put away the four pieces of ten-thousand-year whale glue on the counter, tossed down two gold cards worth ten thousand Gold Soul Coins each, and turned to leave.

Dugu Yan watched Ji Hongchen's retreating figure.

She seemed lost in thought.

What a mysterious fellow.

"Sister Yan, you're spacing out again."

Seeing Dugu Yan standing there, staring blankly in the direction Ji Hongchen had left, Ye Lingling covered her mouth and chuckled, nudging her with an arm.

"Don't tell me you've fallen for him?"

"If you like him, you have to make the first move~ He's so handsome, plenty of girls might already have secretly given him their hearts."

With no outsiders around now, Ye Lingling loosened up and couldn't resist teasing Dugu Yan.

Ye Lingling was normally quiet and appeared demure, but in front of Dugu Yan, her only friend, her true nature as a girl with a dirty mind came out.

"Lingling, what nonsense are you talking about!"

Dugu Yan's pretty face flushed, and she huffily pinched Ye Lingling's cheeks as punishment.

"Mmph~ Sister Yan, I was wrong. Stop pinching my cheeks." Ye Lingling's cheeks had been pinched red, and she spoke in a pitiful voice.

Dugu Yan let go.

Naturally, she wouldn't really blame Ye Lingling. After all, Ye Lingling only behaved this way around her, and she did think that Ji Hongchen was rather handsome.

Nearby, Ye Qingxian smiled at the sight of her daughter. To outsiders, Ye Lingling was quiet and reserved, but as her mother, she naturally understood her daughter's personality.

Her silence around others was merely wariness toward strangers. Moreover, after that incident, Ye Lingling had become afraid that her friends would leave her, which was why she had grown so insecure.