Zhao Su and Ma Hongjun soon arrived at the meeting room, where Ning Fengzhi sat upright.
Besides Ning Rongrong, who sat obediently beside Ning Fengzhi,
there was also a man with a terrifyingly large build. Yet the muscles on his face and body looked withered; his towering stature came entirely from his enormous skeleton.
Zhao Su knew this man was Bone Douluo Gu Rong, who had a connection to the Bone Dragon, one of the Nine Guardian Divine Dragons.
[Ding, Bone Dragon aura detected. Moreover, it is an extremely powerful Bone Dragon aura.]
The moment Zhao Su entered the meeting room, the system's voice sounded in his mind.
Only now could Zhao Su confirm that Gu Rong had a connection to the Bone Dragon.
Before this, it had all been nothing more than his own conjecture.
With that confirmed, Zhao Su could not help beginning to consider how he might make Gu Rong unleash his Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar, and his ninth Soul Skill, Bone-Transformed Divine Dragon.
Once he determined which one was the Bone Dragon among the Nine Guardian Divine Dragons they needed, the rest would be easy.
If Zhao Su acted himself, he could naturally force Gu Rong to use those two Soul Skills.
But that would disrupt the plans he had laid out for later.
Without his own involvement, very few Titled Douluos on the Douluo Continent could truly force Gu Rong to use his full strength.
Unless several of them attacked him together.
That, too, would stray from Zhao Su's plans, so he could only wait for now.
"Young friend, I never expected us to meet again so soon!"
Seeing Zhao Su enter the meeting room, Ning Fengzhi rose with an easy smile. That alone showed how much importance he placed on Zhao Su.
Gu Rong remained seated with his eyes half closed, a few sparse strands of hair atop his head, and did not move.
"You're too kind, Sect Master Ning. May I ask what brings you to see me?"
Zhao Su cut straight to the point.
"Since you're so straightforward, young friend, I'll speak plainly as well." Hearing Zhao Su's words, Ning Fengzhi dispensed with the pleasantries. "Rongrong mentioned an aromatic silk beauty that could evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Do you have any more?"
"An immortal herb like that can only be stumbled upon, never sought out. So far, I've only had one, and I already gave it to Rongrong to eat!"
A trace of disappointment appeared in Ning Fengzhi's eyes, but he recovered almost instantly.
"Then where could I find one?"
"I don't know."
"I see. Still, no matter what, I must thank you for helping Rongrong evolve her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"Rongrong is my classmate, and more like a little sister to me. There's no need to thank me again, Sect Master Ning."
Afterward, Ning Fengzhi ordered another batch of hidden weapons from Zhao Su for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's self-defense.
Rather than insisting on assembling them himself, Zhao Su sold Ning Fengzhi the complete, detailed blueprints for five million Gold Soul Coins.
He also promised that if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's craftsmen encountered anything they did not understand, he would teach them how to assemble the weapons free of charge.
This was actually part of Zhao Su's calculations as well.
He knew the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's craftsmen would inevitably run into parts they could not assemble.
When that happened, he could visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and get closer to Gu Rong.
At the same time, he could sound Ning Fengzhi out and see whether he could bring him over to his side.
Early the next morning, Zhao Su left Shrek Academy.
He arrived before a tall building on Heaven Dou City's busiest street.
The building stood five stories high. Its exterior alone hinted at the luxury within. Above the main entrance hung a plaque bearing just two words: Moonlight Pavilion.
Anyone familiar with the original story would know that the owner of the Moonlight Pavilion was Tang Hao's younger sister, Tang San's aunt, Tang Yuehua.
But Zhao Su had not come to see her this time. He had come for Xue Beng, the Heaven Dou Empire's fourth prince.
From Dugu Bo, Zhao Su had learned that Xue Beng was not the wastrel prince he appeared to be.
Under the pressure of the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince, Xue Qinghe, he had been enduring in silence all along.
Back when he had joined forces with his uncle, Prince Xue Xing, to drive the Shrek group out of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it had not been because of his conflict with Dai Mubai.
That had merely been an excuse.
The real reason was that Heaven Dou Royal Academy was entirely under Xue Qinghe's control, and all three members of its education committee were his men.
If the people from Shrek Academy stayed at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, they would very likely become Xue Beng's enemies.
"Hello, sir. Do you have an invitation or an appointment?"
As Zhao Su entered the Moonlight Pavilion, the men guarding the entrance stopped him.
"No. I'm here to see someone!"
"I'm sorry, sir. Without an appointment or an invitation, you aren't permitted to enter at will."
"I'm here to see Prince Xue Beng."
"I'm sorry. You cannot enter without an appointment."
Originally, Zhao Su had not wanted to draw too much attention. After all, he had come to meet Xue Beng in secret and did not want everyone to know.
But seeing how the guards refused to budge, no matter what he said, his temper began to rise.
"I'll say it one more time. I'm here to see Prince Xue Beng."
As he spoke, Zhao Su walked inside, but after only a few steps, he was stopped again.
Since that was how it was going to be, Zhao Su hesitated no longer. He struck instantly, sending everyone blocking his way flying backward with a surge of powerful Soul Power.
However, he did not take their lives. After all, they were Tang Yuehua's people.
Tang Yuehua would still be of great use to him, so whatever else happened, he had to show her some respect.
"Stop! What's going on? Don't you know the lady is resting?"
Just then, a lean, middle-aged man who looked like a steward approached and rebuked them with a cold shout.
"Steward Aude, this man has neither an invitation nor an appointment, and he's trying to force his way inside."
"Oh? Who are you?"
Aude looked at Zhao Su. Although his eyes still held disdain, his tone was reasonably mild.
"I'm here to see Prince Xue Beng. I've already made that very clear!"
Today, Zhao Su was showing about as much restraint as he ever could. In the past, he would have already overturned this so-called Moonlight Pavilion.
"What's going on?"
Before Aude could speak, another voice came from the stairs. At the same time, Zhao Su felt a gentle aura approaching.
That gentle aura gradually soothed his rising anger.
Zhao Su looked toward the voice.
He saw a beautiful woman slowly descending the stairs. She wore a silver dress, and every movement was graceful and natural.
Zhao Su knew she was Tang Yuehua.
The moment he saw her, his eyes lit up.
Whether in bearing or beauty, she was in no way inferior to Bibi Dong.
She simply lacked the oppressive air Bibi Dong carried.
Her figure was not particularly striking, yet she had flesh in all the right places.
Most importantly, the noble, gentle air she exuded was something no one else possessed.
Her face looked no older than twenty-five or twenty-six, but the composure she carried after weathering life's storms made her a perfect blend of maiden and mature woman.
Zhao Su could not help becoming a little entranced.
"My lady, someone is causing trouble. I'm terribly sorry for disturbing your rest!"
Aude hurried forward and respectfully apologized to Tang Yuehua.
"Steward Aude, who are you saying is causing trouble?"
Before Tang Yuehua could speak, a cold voice rang out, carrying powerful killing intent that swept over Aude.
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