Heaven Dou City, Blue Tyrant Academy.
"La la la~ Your Lady Rongrong is back! Everyone, come welcome me~"
Ning Rongrong bounded through the academy gates with her arms spread wide, but all that answered her was the rustle of wind through the treetops and a few birdcalls from the distant training field.
"Huh? Where did everyone go?"
Ning Rongrong made a circuit of the academy. The dormitories were empty, the training grounds were empty, and so was the little garden.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing-not one of them was there. Even the teachers' courtyard was deserted.
She found her way to the dining hall and poked her head inside. Shao Xin was busy at the stove in an apron, his pan sizzling as the sweet scent of caramel filled the room.
"Teacher Shao!"
Ning Rongrong sidled over.
"Where is everyone else? Why are you here all alone?"
Shao Xin turned, saw her, and smiled. "Little Rongrong, you're back. They all went out to obtain soul rings. Xiao San, Xiao Wu, and Dai Mubai left together, and Zhu Zhuqing and Oscar went along too. Your teacher and your teacher's wife Erlong have also gone out. It seems they went back to their clan."
"Oh?"
Ning Rongrong drew out the sound, her shoulders drooping with disappointment. "I see... I wanted to share my good news with them."
"Heh."
Shao Xin chuckled, then turned and scooped a plate of golden food out of the pan. "You're just in time, little Rongrong! Come try the new dish I've been developing-Candied Goldfish!"
Ning Rongrong looked down. A palm-sized fish had been fried golden and crisp, then coated in translucent strands of sugar. A ring of emerald-green leaves lined the plate as a garnish. It certainly looked good.
"Let me try."
Ning Rongrong picked up a piece with her chopsticks, blew on it, and put it in her mouth.
The crisp skin, wrapped in piping-hot sugar, melted in her mouth. The fish was tender and juicy, its sweetness mingling with saltiness.
"Mmm~ Delicious!"
She gave him a thumbs-up.
"Hahahaha! Just as I thought! It really does taste good cooked this way!"
Shao Xin rubbed his hands in delight, then pulled a little notebook from inside his clothes and began writing. "The steps are fine. Just need to adjust the heat a little..."
Watching him study it so earnestly, Ning Rongrong could not help smiling and shaking her head.
Teacher Shao Xin really did love cooking. It was perfectly normal for a distinguished seven-ring Food-Type Soul Saint to have a little hobby.
"I'm starving! Teacher Shao, I want food!"
That familiar voice.
Ning Rongrong turned around, and sure enough, a group walked into the dining hall.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Dugu Yan-not one was missing. Everyone was here.
"Rongrong! You're back!"
Oscar spotted her first. His eyes lit up, and he twisted his body as he hopped over to her.
Ning Rongrong smiled and beckoned to him.
Just as Oscar was about to reach her, she flicked her fingers and jabbed her chopsticks through the air.
"Ow!"
Oscar clutched his forehead and squatted down to draw circles, looking up at Ning Rongrong with tearful eyes.
"Rongrong, what was that for?!"
"Heehee, saying hello."
Ning Rongrong waved the chopsticks in her hand, her eyes curving with her smile.
Xiao Wu had already bounded over and hugged Ning Rongrong's arm. "Rongrong! When did you get back?"
"I just got here too."
"I'm already a Soul Elder now, you know~"
"So am I."
The others all looked pleased with themselves too, especially Ma Hongjun, who slapped the table with a loud laugh. "Hahahaha! I'm a Soul Elder now too! Hahaha!"
There was a reason he laughed the most smugly. Ever since his evil fire had been brought under control, he no longer needed to suppress it by eating and drinking to excess, and his overall vitality had improved considerably.
"I'm already level 34!"
Ma Hongjun held his head high, practically overflowing with pride.
"What about you, Zhu Zhuqing?"
Ning Rongrong turned to ask her.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded lightly. "Level 35."
"I'm level 35 too!"
Ning Rongrong beamed. "We're the same!"
"Boss Dai is level 42."
Oscar got up from the floor, rubbed his forehead, and added with a smile, "I'm level 35, Zhu Zhuqing is level 35, Rongrong is level 35, and Fatty is level 34. What levels were Sister Xiao Wu and Third Brother again?"
Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a smile.
"I'm already level 45."
On this trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Tang San had absorbed another two immortal herbs. The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot had not increased his soul power much.
But they had allowed him to cultivate the Ice and Fire Golden Body, forging a body immune to all poisons.
And he had gained quite a few other things too...
Xiao Wu raised her chin proudly. "Level 42!"
Their soul power still raced far ahead of the pack. Even after taking an immortal herb, Dai Mubai had only barely caught up.
After all, the two of them had become disciples earlier.
Among their fellow disciples, only Dugu Yan's cultivation was higher than theirs now.
Dugu Yan was already level 49.
She would soon break through to level 50, obtain her fifth soul ring, and become a Soul King.
"Has Teacher not come back yet?"
Tang San asked.
Shao Xin shook his head. "Not yet. I reckon it'll be another couple of days."
As they spoke, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others walked in from outside. Flender heard the latter half as soon as he entered and picked up the conversation with a smile. "Yu Xiaogang and Erlong went back to hold their heads high this time."
"Ah, if only I were a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. I'd really love to go along and watch the fun."
"They went back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
Ning Rongrong tilted her head in confusion. "Won't it be dangerous?"
If she remembered correctly, her teacher did not seem particularly welcome in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
"Heh, they're members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to begin with. What danger could there be in going back?"
Flender waved a hand, a hint of glee at others' misfortune in his voice. "They'll probably end up showing off and slapping a few faces this time. Besides, Erlong is a Soul Douluo now. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would be only too eager to have them back. How would they dare touch them?"
"I see..."
Ning Rongrong nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, right. My father said he'd come to visit in person in a few days. I wonder whether he'll make it in time for Teacher's return."
"Oh? Sect Master Ning is coming?"
Flender raised his eyebrows. "Then he really hasn't picked a good time. Still, you never know. Yu Xiaogang and Erlong should be back soon."
Of course, that was only a casual remark.
Everyone's strength had taken a great leap this time. Between the immortal herbs, the Six Styles, the training methods Yu Xiaogang had arranged for each of them, and their research into self-created soul skills, their combat strength would surge by at least two or three tiers once they had completed all their training.
As it happened, Ning Rongrong had left early and had yet to formally begin practicing the Six Styles.
Yu Xiaogang had therefore made arrangements in advance for Tang San, the eldest disciple, to teach her in his place.
After all, the Six Styles were self-created soul skills that anyone who became a disciple could learn. They simply could not be passed on to outsiders.
Tang San immediately began instructing Ning Rongrong in the open space outside the dining hall.
After a round of instruction, Ning Rongrong could not help exclaiming in amazement.
"What powerful self-created soul skills..."
Ning Rongrong tried a few times and discovered, to her delight, that even she, a support Soul Master with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, could practice them. "Even support Soul Masters can practice these! Just what you'd expect of soul skills created by Teacher!"
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