Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, when Ning Fengzhi learned that the group from Shrek Academy wanted to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he immediately suggested, "Our sect just recruited Skywater Academy. It's now Glazed Azure Academy, ten miles outside the sect. If you're going to join another academy, why not join our own?"
Ning Rongrong immediately shook her head. "Forget it. They only want to 'borrow a hen to lay their eggs.' They don't sincerely want to join another academy at all!"
Those had been Ma Hongjun's exact words, and Flender had wholeheartedly agreed. Ning Rongrong now felt there was something deeply wrong with the values Shrek Academy taught, just like Flender's earlier claim that "Anyone who doesn't dare stir up trouble is a mediocrity."
When she first arrived at Shrek, she had thought those words sounded pretty cool. Now, she understood that they were nothing but twisted reasoning.
Ning Rongrong knew she would return to the sect sooner or later, but at least she would never join an academy with the intention of freeloading off it.
If not for Ning Chuan, Ning Rongrong certainly would not have stayed at Shrek.
Besides, Ning Rongrong knew perfectly well that even if Glazed Azure Academy invited them, Tang San and the others would never join.
Ning Fengzhi had thought Ning Rongrong had already settled into Shrek. Hearing her say this, he immediately thought of Yu Xiaogang.
He thought to himself, As expected, how good could an academy be if it lets someone like Yu Xiaogang teach there?
With that thought, Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Rongrong, since you're back, why not simply join Glazed Azure Academy?"
"I can't!" Ning Rongrong shook her head helplessly. "I've already promised to compete with them in the next Soul Master Tournament!"
Ning Rongrong's soul power had now reached level thirty-five, placing her second among Shrek's seven members.
Having personally experienced top-tier support, Tang San and the others knew very well that only with Ning Rongrong on their side would they have a chance of achieving good results in the next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.
Ning Rongrong could also see how badly the Shrek Team needed her, so she had used that as leverage to demand that Tang San and the others not cause trouble for Ning Chuan.
Tang San was shrewd. He neither wanted Ning Rongrong to leave the team nor wanted to let Ning Chuan off just like that.
Thus, he promised they would never take the initiative to trouble Ning Chuan. But if Ning Chuan came to provoke them first, they could not be blamed.
Ning Rongrong understood Ning Chuan's temperament and knew he would not start trouble, so she had agreed.
Little did she know that Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun were already secretly plotting how to lure Ning Chuan into coming to trouble them first.
Ning Fengzhi did not understand why Ning Rongrong refused to leave, but he did not probe further. He could tell that she had clearly matured a great deal during her time away.
Moreover, Ning Rongrong's character had clearly not been influenced by Yu Xiaogang, which put Ning Fengzhi at ease.
Besides, Heaven Dou Royal Academy was very close to the sect. He could visit whenever he wished, so there was nothing much to worry about.
"By the way, Bone Grandpa, where's the disciple you took in? Why didn't you bring her over?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"She's working on a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with that girl Shui Bing'er!" Bone Douluo replied with a smile.
"A Martial Soul Fusion Skill?" Ning Rongrong immediately perked up. Zhu Zhuqing, beside her, was equally interested.
"They're on the island in the middle of the lake in the rear courtyard. Go have a look if you'd like. You're all young people, so you can exchange insights on cultivation, too!" Bone Douluo said.
"All right, we'll head over in a little while!" Ning Rongrong said.
Then she took out the Godly Zhuge Crossbow. "Father, this was made by a student at Shrek Academy named Tang San. It's called the Godly Zhuge Crossbow, and its power is astonishing. It can be used even without soul power and can effectively wound or kill soul masters around level forty!"
"I've spoken to Tang San. Our sect can work with him; we provide the funding, and he makes hidden weapons for us. He has other kinds of hidden weapons as well. They would be a great help to support-type soul masters like us!"
Ning Rongrong took matters that benefited the sect very seriously.
Besides, Tang San's character had not been discredited, and he was devoted to Xiao Wu, so Ning Rongrong naturally did not harbor much prejudice against him.
Tang San had agreed to cooperate with Ning Rongrong because he genuinely needed money, and secondly because he wanted to use this to strike a blow against Ning Chuan.
Ning Rongrong could actually see Tang San's second motive, but she knew that Ning Chuan would only support something that benefited the sect. He would never be petty about it.
In the past, Ning Fengzhi would certainly have been delighted to see the Godly Zhuge Crossbow. But now, with the Sword Manual Ning Chuan had provided, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's support-type soul masters needed only a longsword to wield the strength appropriate to their cultivation level.
Those with better comprehension could even wield strength beyond their current level, so a hidden weapon like the Godly Zhuge Crossbow no longer held much appeal for Ning Fengzhi.
Still, a hidden weapon that could be activated without soul power was indeed useful to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so Ning Fengzhi asked, "How powerful are the other kinds of hidden weapons?"
"The strongest can reach the Soul Emperor level!" Ning Rongrong answered.
Tang San had never intended to supply the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with his finest hidden weapons. Now, with Ning Chuan involved, he was even less likely to offer anything of superior quality. All he would provide were simple mechanical hidden weapons, so their power naturally would not be too great.
Still, reaching the Soul Emperor level was already quite good. After all, studying the Sword Manual required a foundation in swordsmanship, and gaining an understanding of it took time.
Moreover, Ning Rongrong meant well, so Ning Fengzhi naturally would not refuse. He nodded. "We can work with him, but keep it strictly a business relationship. Don't become too deeply entangled with him!"
Ning Fengzhi had already learned from Sword Douluo that Tang San was Tang Hao's son, so he naturally did not want to become too deeply involved with Tang San.
Ning Rongrong had never wanted much involvement with Tang San in the first place. Since Ning Fengzhi had brought it up, she naturally agreed with both hands raised.
"Then I'll tell Tang San when I get back. As for the details, Father, sorry for the trouble, but you'll have to negotiate them yourself!" Ning Rongrong said.
"All right!" Ning Fengzhi nodded.
Afterward, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Chuan headed to the island in the lake in the rear courtyard.
On the way, Ning Rongrong leaned close to Ning Chuan's ear and asked softly, "Fifth Brother, can you cultivate normally now?"
"I can!" Ning Chuan nodded.
"That's wonderful!" Ning Rongrong was delighted, but with Zhu Zhuqing beside them, she could not show it too openly.
The three soon reached the island in the middle of the lake.
Only three people were on the island: Xiao Yun, Shui Bing'er, and Xue Wu.
Xue Wu was there partly to guide Xiao Yun, and partly to see whether her martial soul could also resonate with Xiao Yun's, allowing them to achieve a three-in-one Martial Soul Fusion.
Seeing Ning Chuan arrive, Xiao Yun immediately rose and bowed. "Young Master Ning!"
"Ning Chuan!"
Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu both nodded to Ning Chuan as well.
"Who are these two?" Shui Bing'er asked curiously, looking at Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing beside Ning Chuan.
Ning Chuan immediately introduced them. "This is my younger sister, Ning Rongrong. This is Zhu Zhuqing, a good friend of my sister's!"
"So you're the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess. Your martial soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, just like Sect Master Ning's!" After spending these past few days in the sect, Shui Bing'er naturally knew about Ning Rongrong.
"Yes. You two must be older sisters from Skywater Academy!" Ning Rongrong said, looking at Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu.
"It's called Glazed Azure Academy now!" Shui Bing'er immediately corrected her.
"Right, I nearly forgot. Hehe!" Ning Rongrong giggled, then walked over to Xiao Yun. "Little sister, are you the disciple Bone Grandpa took in?"
"Yes. Greetings, Miss Ning!" Xiao Yun had already figured out Ning Rongrong's identity and immediately bowed to her.
"Little Sister Xiao Yun, since you're Bone Grandpa's disciple, there's no need to be so formal!" Ning Rongrong said, taking Xiao Yun's hand.
Ning Chuan smiled. "Rongrong, Xiao Yun is actually two years older than you. She used to have a physical condition, so she looks a little small."
"Oh, I see!" Ning Rongrong smiled. "Doesn't that mean I have another older sister now?"
With that, she called out openly and naturally, "Big Sister Xiao Yun."
Xiao Yun immediately said, "Miss, my status is lowly. How could I deserve to be addressed that way by you? Please..."
Before Xiao Yun could finish, Ning Chuan interrupted her. "Xiao Yun, it's been two or three months already. How have you still not recognized your own standing? Bone Grandpa watched Rongrong and me grow up. As his personal disciple, you're family to us. If Bone Grandpa learns that you're being so deferential to Rongrong and me, he'll think we've been bullying you!"
Before you continue