Inside the Villa, Ning Rongrong took a cue from the way Dugu Yan had asked her question. She now knew what she wanted to ask, too.
"H-Honesty, I'd like to ask how our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect fared after the war."
Ning Rongrong's reason for asking was simple. Since Spirit Hall planned to unify the entire Douluo Continent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as one of the Upper Three Sects, would surely bear the brunt.
She was a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and her father was its sect master. Knowing the sect's future circumstances now would let them prepare in advance.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Chen Shi repeated the question. He felt like laughing, but held it in.
Yet this sight made everyone curious. Just what had made him laugh for no apparent reason?
Then they heard Chen Shi say:
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was just about the most miserable sect after the war. Apart from Spirit Hall, no one on the entire continent had it worse.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect suffered devastating losses in the war, and its two Titled Douluo died in battle. You can imagine what happened to the sect's wealth, once enough to rival a nation, without powerful figures to protect it. Within a few generations, it vanished without a trace from the Douluo Continent."
"What? How is that possible?"
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong could not help crying out in shock.
Her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect not only possessed wealth to rival a nation, but also had two Titled Douluo protecting it. How could it decline just like that?
At this thought, she could not help pressing him. "Our sect's Grandpa Jian and Grandpa Gu are powerful even among Titled Douluo. How could they fall in the war?"
Hearing this, Chen Shi burst out laughing, no longer able to hold it in.
At the sight, Ning Rongrong's expression turned icy. He could still laugh at a time like this. Wasn't he mocking her?
The other four were also intensely curious. Just what secrets did the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hold that even Chen Shi could not control himself?
A dozen or so breaths later, Chen Shi clutched his stomach, tears still clinging to the corners of his eyes, his mockery growing ever more apparent.
Only after getting himself somewhat under control did Chen Shi say apologetically:
"Haha, I'm truly sorry. As a show of sincerity, I'll tell you a little more this time!"
At these words, everyone focused their attention on Chen Shi, afraid of missing anything.
"Normally speaking, your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was indeed extremely powerful before the war broke out, far surpassing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Not only did it have two Titled Douluo, but your father had also reached his limit of level 79 early on.
"More importantly, you took the immortal-grade herb Aromatic Silk Beauty, and your martial soul improved, evolving into the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong's eyes widened, her face full of shock. Even from Chen Shi's words, she could hear how powerful her sect was.
And her martial soul had even evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! That was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's legendary martial soul, and she had actually attained it before war broke out on the Douluo Continent.
But with foundations like these, why would the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect still decline?
Meanwhile, on the Douluo Continent.
Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, after Ning Fengzhi and the other two heard Chen Shi's words, Ning Fengzhi exclaimed in delight:
"Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, Rongrong's martial soul became the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! Haha, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will become the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect in the future!"
Chen Xin and Gu Rong merely nodded with bitter smiles. Wasn't everything going well for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? How had they ended up falling, taking the sect into decline with them?
Hadn't Rongrong already obtained the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul? Given how much they valued her, there was no way she would die.
With the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda surviving, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had still failed to revive itself in the end?
Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged a glance, their faces full of bewilderment.
What on earth had happened?
Looking at the delighted Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo finally spoke up to remind him:
"Sect Master, what Chen Shi says next may be what matters most."
At these words, Ning Fengzhi's expression stiffened.
How could he not have understood that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would decline in his hands? His behavior was precisely a case of joy born from the depths of sorrow.
He considered himself a prodigy blessed by the heavens. If not for the limitations of his martial soul, he felt that he, rather than Tang Hao, might have been the earliest on the continent to become a Titled Douluo.
After his cultivation could advance no further, he devoted himself to governing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, bringing the entire sect to the greatest heights in its history.
The entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possessed wealth to rival a nation, and he had also become Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's teacher. Whether in power or money, he stood at the very pinnacle.
But what exactly had happened to bring the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect into decline?
Inside the Villa, Chen Shi continued:
"But prosperity gives way to decline at its peak, and that, too, began with you.
"Your martial soul's evolution into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was connected to Tang San. Together with Tang San's hidden weapons, this led you into a close partnership with him.
"You acted as the intermediary, using the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's wealth to establish a sect for Tang San and build up his forces.
"Although your sect suffered a surprise attack from Spirit Hall before the war began, it didn't lose too much of its strength. The main turning point came during the war between Spirit Hall and the Two Great Empires.
"Your sect's Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo died before your father Ning Fengzhi's eyes to save Tang San, while more than half the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's elite were lost in that battle.
"Although you possessed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, your loyalties lay outside your own family, and you were closer to the Tang Sect. In particular, after you became a god and ascended, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect no longer had any powerful figure to shelter it.
"After becoming a god, you left no legacy behind, and neither did Tang San. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had helped him so much, yet he gave it little help in return.
"So, without powerful figures to shelter it, you can imagine your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's future. By contrast, even without Tang San, the Tang Sect's strength continued to advance by leaps and bounds. As for why, that's unknown."
At these words, everyone present was stunned.
They did not care about the course of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's decline. What concerned them was that Ning Rongrong had actually become a god, and according to Chen Shi, Tang San would become one too. How could that not be shocking?
On the Douluo Continent, after hearing Chen Shi's words, Tang Hao stopped restraining his soul power, increasing his speed yet again.
After all, his son would become a god in the future. If he did not hurry, what would he do if something happened to his precious son?
"Little San, I knew I was right about you. I'll leave avenging your mother to you!"
Tang Hao muttered to himself, but a thorny problem had now arisen: would Spirit Hall truly tolerate his son becoming a god?
If so, he would once again face Spirit Hall's pursuit.
But now that hope of revenge had appeared, how could he give up?
Now he could only hope that Dugu Bo had not harmed his son and would leave him enough time to rush over and protect Tang San.
Although he was now a level 95 Titled Douluo, reaching Sunset Forest would still take him more than half a day.
"Little San, you must wait for me!"
Before you continue