Chen Xin's Curiosity

As he ate,

Shi Quan noticed a certain ambiguity in the way Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan exchanged glances, though it was only ambiguity. They seemed to be keeping a certain distance between themselves.

Could Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan not be together yet?

Shi Quan watched the scene with a strange expression. When the two had appeared in the original story, they had already been a couple. Yet he had arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy two years early, and they seemed to have only just entered the stage of tentative flirting, still some way from actually getting together.

But it has nothing to do with me.

Shi Quan lowered his head and wolfed down his meal, thinking as he ate.

I can't casually reveal Dugu Yan's poisoning. At the very least, I need to wait a while—until we know each other better—then use training as an excuse to gain a deeper understanding of her Spirit Soul before exposing it. Then I'll wait for Dugu Bo to come looking for me. I'm not familiar with medicine, so before that, I need to make further achievements in Spirit Soul Theory. Only then can I earn Dugu Bo's trust.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any further information about Immortal Herbs from Tang San. I can only choose from the few Immortal Herbs mentioned in the original story.

Getting Immortal Herbs from Dugu Bo—and being allowed to consume them—will also be a problem. I'll have to take it one step at a time.

You can't rush things. I've already joined the Heaven Dou Battle Team anyway. Once Dugu Bo comes, I'll make more detailed arrangements.

With those thoughts, his mind gradually settled. He chatted with Yu Tianheng and the others while eating, deepening their bond.

Meanwhile, in the Dormitory.

Ning Rongrong sat alone on her bed, lost in thought. Her eyes were red, as though she had cried.

Between the things Shi Quan had said to her and everything that had happened over the past few days, she had no choice but to admit that Shi Quan was a more outstanding Spirit Master than she was.

Her pride had been ruthlessly trampled beneath Shi Quan's feet and utterly shattered. But Ning Rongrong was not one to admit defeat.

"I will surpass you!" Ning Rongrong declared resolutely as she looked out at the pitch-black sky beyond the window.

Elsewhere, at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Council Hall.

On the northern side of the hall stood a large carved rosewood chair facing south.

Ning Fengzhi sat quietly upon it.

Suddenly, a vigorous and powerful voice rang through the hall, seeming to come from every direction. The entire hall trembled and rattled.

"Fengzhi, I only went into cultivation for a few days. How is Rongrong gone already?"

As the voice sounded, an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard—but a face as tender as a baby's—strode in and casually seated himself in a chair beside Sect Leader Ning Fengzhi. He looked at Ning Fengzhi with an expression of accusation.

Ning Fengzhi looked helpless. "Sword Uncle, I sent Rongrong to Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

There was only one person whom Ning Fengzhi would call Sword Uncle: Sword Douluo Chen Xin.

The moment Chen Xin heard that, he said unhappily, "What? Do you think we haven't taught her well enough? You had to send her to study at that trash academy?"

Ning Fengzhi hurriedly shook his head. "Sword Uncle, you didn't know because you were in seclusion these past few days. A genius Grandmaster of Spirit Soul Theory has arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. His Spirit Soul is Blue Silver Grass, yet he has developed a method for the evolution of the Blue Silver Grass Spirit Soul. Furthermore, he has created the New Limit Spirit Ring Theory. He is an exceptionally rare talent. You know Rongrong's gift. I specifically sent her there partly to win over this Grandmaster, but also for Rongrong's own good. If she can learn something from him and find a method for Martial Soul Evolution, it would be greatly beneficial not only to her, but even to the entire sect..."

"Blue Silver Grass can evolve? And what is this New Limit Spirit Ring Theory?" Chen Xin looked at Ning Fengzhi in shock and uncertainty.

Ning Fengzhi immediately began explaining it to Chen Xin in detail.

"You're saying this Grandmaster is only ten years old? The same age as Rongrong?" Chen Xin stared at Ning Fengzhi in astonishment, at one point wondering whether he had misheard.

When Ning Fengzhi nodded in confirmation,

Chen Xin finally calmed down. "Going by what you've said, this Shi Quan truly is a rare talent. It's hard to imagine that a ten-year-old child could possess such courage and vision."

"But..." Chen Xin asked again with displeasure, "You're not trying to find Rongrong a child husband, are you?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled. "As long as Shi Quan does not die young, I believe he will certainly achieve something in the future. Even if he cannot become romantically involved with Rongrong, becoming partners would still be an excellent choice. Moreover, Shi Quan has a steady temperament. If Rongrong stays with him, he may help temper her spoiled nature."

That only made Chen Xin more dissatisfied. "Who says Rongrong is spoiled? She just likes to play around normally."

Ning Fengzhi shook his head helplessly. "Sword Uncle, the two of you spoil Rongrong far too much. Letting her go out this time to see other geniuses and learn more about the outside world is a good thing."

"Hmph." Chen Xin snorted. "Who says I spoil Rongrong? Rongrong is simply well-behaved, all right?"

Ning Fengzhi said seriously, "Sword Uncle, this matter is settled. You must not bring Rongrong back. With the Three Great Education Committees at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Rongrong's safety is assured. You needn't worry, and it isn't far away either."

"I understand." Chen Xin rose to his feet and departed on his sword, muttering indignantly, "But I want to see just what kind of genius this Shi Quan is. A child husband? Fengzhi really dares to think of anything!"

The next day.

Late at night, Shi Quan returned to the Simulated Cultivation environment and cultivated for the entire night.

Ning Rongrong did not come to disturb Shi Quan during his morning studies and research.

Seeing that it was about time, Shi Quan ended his morning of study and got up to head toward the Cafeteria in the main school district halfway up the mountain. After lunch, he needed to go to the Heaven Dou Battle Team's Training Ground for training.

Skipping the morning group training and study sessions was something Shi Quan had discussed with Qin Ming the day before. Shi Quan only needed to attend the afternoon and evening group training.

At the entrance to the Cafeteria.

Shi Quan spotted Ning Rongrong from a distance.

After thinking all night, Ning Rongrong had made her decision. She would prove to Shi Quan that she was the most outstanding one. Didn't Shi Quan want to teach her? Not only would she learn everything he taught her, she would surpass him!

"Congratulations on joining the Heaven Dou Battle Team." When Shi Quan approached, Ning Rongrong was the first to break the silence.

Shi Quan looked up at Ning Rongrong. "Mm. Have you eaten? Want to eat together?"

"Together." Ning Rongrong nodded and walked into the Cafeteria.

After getting their food, the two found seats opposite each other and sat down.

"Are we still cultivating in the forest this afternoon?" Ning Rongrong asked.

While eating, Shi Quan replied, "We're not going to the forest. This afternoon, I'll be training with my teammates from the Heaven Dou Battle Team. Come with me. They should welcome you too."

The two chatted sporadically, as though nothing had happened yesterday.

After the meal,

they headed toward the Heaven Dou Battle Team's Training Ground.

Compared to yesterday, the Training Ground contained many more pieces of equipment today.

These were all items Shi Quan and Qin Ming had discussed and decided on yesterday. In just one day, the academy had already made them and delivered them, arranging them neatly along one side of the Sports Field.

Yu Tianheng and the others were also curiously trying out the equipment before them. When Shi Quan and Qin Ming had discussed it yesterday, they had clearly explained the purpose and method of use for every piece of equipment.

Under Qin Ming's guidance, the six of them were still clumsy in their movements, but they had roughly grasped how to use some of the equipment.

Such as dumbbells, barbells, pulleys, and so on.

"Xiao Quan, you're here." Yu Tianheng put down the dumbbells in his hands and waved at Shi Quan. His gaze quickly fell on Ning Rongrong beside him. "Xiao Quan, this is?"

Everyone else also turned their attention to Ning Rongrong.

Shi Quan introduced her, "She's Ning Rongrong. I first learned about Heart Separation Control from her."

"A direct descendant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Everyone immediately understood what Shi Quan meant.

Shi Quan continued, "Teacher Qin, Rongrong is cultivating with me now, so I brought her along. But don't worry, she won't interfere with the Heaven Dou Battle Team's training."

Qin Ming looked at Ning Rongrong and nodded. "It's fine. Nice to meet you. I'm Qin Ming, the Heaven Dou Battle Team's leader."

He still needed to show the proper courtesy to a direct descendant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Hello, Teacher Qin. Don't worry, I won't disturb you." Ning Rongrong put on an obedient expression, then asked curiously, "Teacher Qin, what are these things? They look so interesting. Are they special training equipment exclusive to the Heaven Dou Battle Team?"

Qin Ming looked strangely at Ning Rongrong, then glanced at Shi Quan. "You should ask Xiao Quan about those. He came up with all of them."

Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then stiffly turned to Shi Quan. "Shi Quan, did you make all these things?"

"I didn't make them. I only drew rough sketches. The academy handled the actual production."

Shi Quan had not gone to gyms much in his previous life. The only fitness equipment he could remember were a few common, well-known pieces, while the rest were simple equipment such as rotating stick targets and wooden dummies.

Ning Rongrong bit her lip, a trace of anger in her expression. "Why didn't I have these things when I was training? Every day, it was just Horse Stance. Did you never seriously teach me?"

Shi Quan frowned at Ning Rongrong but patiently explained, "You are different from them, so your training methods must also be different. This equipment is only supplementary. Horse Stance may be basic training, but it is also indispensable. Only when your foundation is solid will your later cultivation go smoothly."

"Really?" Ning Rongrong looked at Shi Quan with reddened eyes. It was not that she was overly sensitive; rather, she had suffered too many grievances from Shi Quan over the past two or three days. After all, she was only ten years old. Thinking of it all made her eyes redden uncontrollably.

Shi Quan sighed softly. Seeing Ning Rongrong's aggrieved expression, he knew she had misunderstood.

Just as he was about to explain, an aged voice rang across the entire Training Ground.

"Rongrong, Grandpa has come to see you..."