Heaven Dou City.
A tavern in the south of the city.
Afternoon sunlight passed through the window lattice and fell across a wooden table.
Ning Xian sat beside the window, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop. The wine before him remained untouched.
He wore simple white robes, his long hair secured with a jade hairpin. His features were handsome and refined, his bearing composed.
"Innkeeper, another plate of osmanthus cakes!"
A clear, bright voice came from the doorway.
Ning Xian raised his eyes.
A young girl stepped into the tavern.
She wore a pale green dress with a white jade belt around her waist, its hem swaying gently with her steps.
Her skin was fair, her features delicate, and her eyes bright and lively.
She looked around, then sat down directly opposite Ning Xian.
"No one's sitting here, right?"
Ning Xian looked at her without answering.
The girl raised a fine eyebrow.
"I'm asking you a question."
"No one."
Ning Xian withdrew his gaze.
"Good, then."
The girl placed the small bag she carried on the table, propped up her chin, and studied Ning Xian.
"Drinking alone?"
"I don't drink."
"Then why is there a wine jug in front of you?"
"To look at."
The girl blinked.
She had only asked casually, never expecting such a blunt answer from Ning Xian.
"You're a strange one."
"Calling someone strange the first time you meet them doesn't seem very polite."
"My name is Ning Rongrong."
She straightened her back, a hint of pride on her face.
"Now you know who I am, don't you?"
Ning Xian looked at her.
"Someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"You know the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
A little more interest entered Ning Rongrong's eyes.
"Who in the Heaven Dou Empire hasn't heard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"At least you're well informed."
She picked up a teacup and took a small sip.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is one of the Upper Three Sects. It has deep foundations and plenty of powerful experts, and its sect master, Ning Fengzhi, is the finest support-type Soul Master on the continent."
"Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong are also Titled Douluo whose names resound throughout the world."
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up as she spoke.
"Well? Impressive, right?"
"Certainly not weak."
"What do you mean, not weak?"
Ning Rongrong set down her teacup and tapped her fair fingers on the table.
"That's the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
"One of the continent's three great sects!"
"So many Soul Masters want to join, but aren't even qualified."
"Mm."
Ning Xian nodded.
Looking at his calm face, Ning Rongrong suddenly lost interest in boasting any further.
He's really handsome.
His white robes were clean, his features clear and refined. With him sitting there, the entire tavern seemed much quieter.
Yet there was always a weathered depth in his eyes that she could not understand.
He did not seem like someone around her age.
After staring for a moment, Ning Rongrong asked:
"What's your name?"
"Ning Xian."
"Ning Xian?"
She softly repeated the name.
"Are you from Heaven Dou City too?"
"More or less."
"What do you mean, more or less?"
Ning Xian did not answer.
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips but did not press him.
She stole several glances at Ning Xian, the feeling of closeness in her heart growing ever more distinct.
There was no reason for that feeling.
They had only just met, yet she was willing to sit here and tell him all sorts of things.
"I came out this time because Shrek Academy is coming to Heaven Dou City."
"Shrek Academy?"
"They're going to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to try to secure places in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament."
Ning Rongrong swirled her teacup.
"I only came out to wander around. I didn't expect to meet you here."
"You don't know me."
"Well, I do now, don't I?"
Ning Rongrong lifted her pretty face.
"Besides, you feel very familiar to me."
Ning Xian's fingers stopped.
His gaze fell on Ning Rongrong, then on her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect jade pendant.
A Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was carved at the pendant's center.
Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul was naturally the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
That answer held no surprises.
As Ning Xian looked at her, a thoughtful look gradually surfaced in his eyes.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
The Martial Soul he had once known best.
Hundreds of years ago, he had transmigrated to the Douluo Continent and awakened the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda.
It was an existence that stood above many top-tier Martial Souls.
With the system's help, he had cultivated his way to becoming one of the strongest Soul Masters of that era.
Later, he had established a family and left behind his legacy, then gradually faded from the world's sight.
Who could have imagined that, after hundreds of years of inheritance, his family would become today's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
And that supremely powerful Martial Soul of old had also degenerated into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
With the inheritance at its limit, its bearers could only cultivate to the Soul Saint realm.
Ning Xian gazed at Ning Rongrong before him.
In other words, I'm Ning Rongrong's ancestor.
The feeling of their blood connection could not be mistaken.
The jade pendant she wore proved it too.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ning Rongrong wrinkled her nose.
"Is there something on my face?"
"No."
"Then what are you looking at?"
"I just remembered some things from the past."
Ning Xian lifted his teacup and took a gentle sip.
Just then, the heavens trembled.
The tables and chairs inside the tavern rattled at the same time.
The teacup slipped from Ning Rongrong's hand, hit the floor, and shattered into several pieces.
She looked up and out the window.
An enormous fissure appeared on the horizon.
The fissure stretched across the heavens, golden light pouring from it and illuminating all of Heaven Dou City.
Countless pedestrians stopped in the streets.
Vendors looked up, Soul Masters drew forth their Martial Souls, and the guards on the city walls turned their eyes toward the sky.
Ning Rongrong stood, her delicate face filled with astonishment.
"What is that?"
Ning Xian walked to the window.
The Sky Screen slowly unfurled.
Golden words appeared across the heavens.
[The Douluo Heavenly Dao Ranking will soon open.] [Those who make the ranking may receive Heavenly Dao rewards.] [The ranking's contents will be revealed to all living beings on the Douluo Continent.]
The city erupted into an uproar.
"The Heavenly Dao Ranking?"
"You can even get rewards for making the ranking?"
"What kind of ranking is it?"
"Could it be a Soul Power ranking?"
"There are so many powerful experts on the continent. Who could rank first?"
Waves of discussion spread through the streets and alleys.
Gazing at the Sky Screen, Ning Rongrong said excitedly:
"Ning Xian, do you think I can make the ranking?"
"What level are you now?"
"Twenty-seven."
"Then it's uncertain."
"If you can't say anything nice, say less."
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at him.
"I'm the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, you know."
"Status doesn't count as strength."
"Hmph. Once I cultivate to Titled Douluo, let's see if you still dare say that."
Watching her proud expression, Ning Xian's lips curved into a faint smile.
At that very moment, the golden words on the Sky Screen changed again.
[This ranking: Powerhouse Ranking.] [A ranking of the Douluo Continent's ten greatest powerhouses.] [First place will receive a special Heavenly Dao reward.]
Boom!
The entire continent was shaken.
Spirit City.
Inside the Papal Palace.
Bibi Dong looked up at the Sky Screen, her expression grave.
From that golden Sky Screen, she sensed power that surpassed god level.
Even the Divine Realm did not possess such a vast aura.
"The Powerhouse Ranking..."
Bibi Dong slowly settled back onto the papal throne.
She had controlled Spirit Hall for years and knew just how many powerful figures lay hidden on the Douluo Continent.
But before the Heavenly Dao, no secret would have anywhere to hide.
Where will I rank?
Bibi Dong raised her eyes toward the Sky Screen that covered the continent.
She looked forward to the rankings being revealed.
Inside a tavern in Heaven Dou City, Ning Rongrong also held her breath.
Ning Xian, however, simply stood by the window, his expression calm.
Hundreds of years had passed.
Just how many truly powerful figures remained on the Douluo Continent now?
On the Sky Screen, the first line of the rankings slowly appeared.
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