"I am Ji Hongchen, your junior. Greetings, Sect Master Ning, Senior Bone Douluo, Senior Sword Douluo."
Ji Hongchen spoke calmly.
Although he still felt a little nervous facing Ning Fengzhi and the other two, having Dugu Bo backing him gave him considerably more confidence.
Seeing that Ji Hongchen was handsome, carried himself with distinction, possessed exceptional talent, and was courteous to boot, Ning Fengzhi felt quite satisfied.
"No need to stand on ceremony."
"Since my Rongrong likes you, I certainly won't be the elder who takes a stick to a pair of lovebirds."
Ji Hongchen smiled as well.
If he had been a good-for-nothing with only half a rank of innate soul power, Ning Fengzhi would probably have cosplayed Qian Xunji, flown into an impotent rage, and finally thrown him out.
Ning Fengzhi looked at Ji Hongchen and continued, "So, I was thinking, how about getting you and Rongrong engaged in the next few days?"
Ji Hongchen froze for a moment, then replied with a smile:
"Since this is an elder's command, how could I dare refuse?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded in satisfaction, then asked Ji Hongchen curiously, "I heard that your martial soul underwent a second evolution. Is that true?"
Ji Hongchen did not conceal anything.
He also knew what Sect Master Ning had in mind. He simply wanted to evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and strengthen his sect.
"I already have some leads on a second evolution for martial souls. And through my time with Rongrong, I've also gained some ideas about giving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda a second awakening."
"Really?"
Ning Fengzhi was overjoyed, his voice even trembling slightly.
This was his lifelong wish.
To evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, strengthen the sect, and give the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a Titled Douluo of its own!
Ji Hongchen answered firmly, "Absolutely. But right now, I only have a few leads. I'll need to explore them gradually before I can refine the method further."
Ning Fengzhi nodded repeatedly.
"Good, good, good. If you need anything from now on, just say the word. You're my son-in-law, so naturally, we're family."
Well, now. He certainly closed that distance fast.
Straight to being family in a single step.
Just then, Dugu Bo suddenly spoke from the side. "What do you mean? Ji Hongchen, are you not engaged to Ning Rongrong yet?"
He was meticulous and quickly noticed that something was amiss.
But he did not mind.
Instead, another thought arose in his heart. Wouldn't it be wonderful if a genius like Ji Hongchen became the Dugu Family's son-in-law?
Sword Douluo Chen Xin seemed to sense Dugu Bo's thoughts and immediately said, "Brother Dugu, we agreed to the engagement verbally long ago. This visit is merely to complete the formalities."
"Heh."
Dugu Bo sneered. As if he would believe that.
Seeing the two poised with swords drawn and bows bent, Ji Hongchen hurriedly spoke up. "Sect Master Ning, I came this time to take Rongrong hunting for a soul ring."
Ning Fengzhi nodded.
Then, as though something had occurred to him, he said, "By the way, Hongchen, you're my daughter's fiancé. Just call me Father-in-law from now on. No need to be so formal."
Ji Hongchen nodded.
"Also, Rongrong told me about using whale rubber to increase the age of soul rings. Does this method have any side effects? Could you tell your father-in-law?"
Ji Hongchen concealed nothing here either. After all, as long as Ning Fengzhi wasn't a fool, once he collected whale rubber, he would immediately use it on himself and Ning Rongrong.
"There aren't any side effects, but I recommend starting with ten-year whale rubber. Once you develop a tolerance, move on to older varieties. You also have to take it with medicinal herbs that reduce internal heat, to keep that heat from building up."
"Good."
Ning Fengzhi was quite satisfied. "I came in a hurry this time, so I didn't prepare much. Here are five million Gold Soul Coins. Keep them for your cultivation, Hongchen."
Five million?!
As expected of the richest faction on the continent.
Ji Hongchen accepted the Gold Soul Coins. He had to admit that although Ning Fengzhi had been far too much of a merchant in the original story and liked to jump about stirring things up, he was truly sincere toward Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, and generous without the slightest hesitation.
There was no helping it. Ning Fengzhi's dream was to bring the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to prominence, but ambition clouded his judgment for a time, causing the sect to suffer devastating losses.
"Since we're all here, with three Titled Douluos present, why don't we go straight to the Star Dou Great Forest and choose suitable soul rings?"
Ning Fengzhi made the suggestion.
His gaze fell on Dugu Bo behind Ji Hongchen. Although he did not know what methods his son-in-law had used, Ji Hongchen had clearly brought Dugu Bo over to his side.
As long as Ji Hongchen became his son-in-law,
Dugu Bo would naturally count as half a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Then their sect would effectively have three Titled Douluos guarding it.
At that thought, Ning Fengzhi's heart swelled with lofty ambition, and his spirits soared. After a thousand years, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would finally rise to prominence in his hands.
The party, boasting three Titled Douluos and one support-type Soul Saint, headed straight for the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest in a mighty procession. Nearly every soul beast along the way fled at the first sign of their approach.
"Grandpa Bone, Grandpa Sword, Senior Dugu, please rein in your auras. Look, you've scared away all the soul beasts below."
Watching the three compete with one another, Ning Rongrong could not help pleading helplessly.
Hearing her, the three were just about to restrain their auras.
Then an exceptionally powerful lion's roar rang out below.
"What was that?"
The three Douluos' expressions changed, and their gazes immediately fell in unison on the soul beast below.
Beneath them, a soul beast resembling both a lion and a mastiff was staring up at them. Its fur was golden, and the aura it radiated was overwhelmingly domineering, enough to make their hearts tremble.
"What kind of soul beast is that?"
Dugu Bo's eyes grew grave. He had never seen this soul beast before, but he could sense its strength. It actually posed a slight threat even to him, a Titled Douluo.
Ji Hongchen, however, had already recognized it.
A Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff!
This soul beast was said to be the progenitor of canine soul beasts. It possessed an exceptionally powerful bloodline and an incomparably mighty domination domain. At five thousand years, its combat strength rivaled an ordinary Titled Douluo's, and at forty thousand years, it could wrestle with a ferocious beast.
"Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, Senior Dugu, please help me capture this beast. I feel that my martial soul needs it!"
Ji Hongchen spoke hurriedly.
This kind of soul beast could only be encountered by chance, never sought out. They had been lucky: the soul pressure they released had frightened away the other soul beasts, while only this Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff had stayed to snarl at them because of its unyielding will.
Dugu Bo was the first to act, snorting coldly. "A mere beast with a thousand-year soul ring hardly deserves the efforts of three Titled Douluos. Watch me capture it!"
With those words,
Dugu Bo, taking it no more seriously than that, charged straight down to capture the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff alive.
Unfortunately, in the next instant,
The Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff roared furiously, its body swelling in an instant. Its domination domain unfurled, spreading terrifying pressure, and it charged out in a streak of golden light.
Dugu Bo was caught off guard.
He took a heavy blow head-on and was sent flying dozens of meters before he barely managed to steady himself.
"Such tremendous strength!"
Dugu Bo's expression changed drastically, shock filling his heart.
Fuck, you're telling me this is a thousand-year soul beast?!
Its strength is no less than that of an ordinary Titled Douluo!
Seeing Dugu Bo suffer a setback, Gu Rong burst out laughing. "Say, you old poisoner, even breaking through to rank ninety-three hasn't helped you much! Let me teach you how to fight."
With those words,
Gu Rong charged straight in as well, but he did not release his martial soul. After all, it was only a thousand-year soul beast. No matter how strong it was, there had to be a limit.
Before you continue