When Hu Liena asked that question, for some reason, her heart also started beating a little faster.
The feeling was strange, like anticipating something, yet also like being afraid to hear something.
She herself couldn't explain it.
The moonlight shone on her face, making her slightly reddened ear tips appear and disappear.
Fortunately, it was dark, and no one noticed this detail.
Gui Yuan reached out and flicked Hu Liena's forehead, the touch light but with a slight emphasis. " Sister Nana, do you think I'm that kind of person?"
"Love at first sight is unreliable; it's best to develop feelings over time. Ning Rongrong and I only met for the first time, how could I possibly like her?"
There was a hint of helplessness in his tone.
Hu Liena touched her forehead, which was slightly red from being flicked, but instead of being annoyed, she smiled.
Because she got the answer she wanted to hear.
How should I put it? Her feelings towards her junior brother are very complicated right now.
Firstly, Gui Yuan is her junior brother, and the two grew up together.
Secondly, they have known each other for so many years, trained together, fought together, and just recently experienced life and death together.
That was the first time she had been carried in a princess carry, the first time she had been so close to a man, which stirred up a strange feeling in her heart, and she found it very strange.
If Gui Yuan were to be captivated by the beautiful young woman he had just met, it would leave her feeling frustrated.
Whether this sense of frustration stemmed from the senior's feelings for the junior, or from romantic feelings, she herself wasn't quite sure.
There was one thing Hu Liena knew in her heart: if she ever needed a husband in the future, he had to be like her junior brother—handsome, talented, and capable.
Hu Liena's gaze lingered on Gui Yuan's face for a moment before she looked away, her tone returning to its usual lightness. "If that's the case, why did you invite him to the Spirit Hall? You should know the relationship between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Spirit Hall."
Bibi Dong walked a few steps ahead, and although she didn't turn around, she was clearly listening intently.
Gui Yuan then explained, "It was just something I said offhand."
"I was thinking, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is, after all, the number one support sect on the continent. It would be great if the Spirit Hall could one day take this sect as its vassal."
"And there's something I find strange."
Gui Yuan looked at Bibi Dong, his tone becoming more serious. "In my opinion, it's unlikely that a support sect can become one of the Upper Three Sects, especially since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has such a flaw in its Martial Soul."
Bibi Dong said calmly, "That's because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was lucky enough to acquire Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, two sect-protecting Douluo. Otherwise, with their Martial Soul abilities, they wouldn't be able to rank among the Upper Three Sects."
" Ning Fengzhi also knew that relying on just the two of them was not a long-term solution, so he had been trying to recruit some geniuses over the years, but unfortunately, he hadn't achieved much success. How easy was it to cultivate a Titled Douluo?"
Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, possessing the continent's number one Beast Martial Soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, currently only has one titled member.
Bibi Dong's voice was exceptionally clear in the night breeze. "Moreover, Ning Fengzhi cannot guarantee that the Titled Douluo nurtured with the sect's resources will be as loyal as Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo."
Gui Yuan nodded in agreement.
Titled Douluo Titled Douluo cultivated by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are different from those produced by the Spirit Hall or other sects.
First, the Spirit Hall gathered Titled Douluo from all over the continent, and these Titled Douluo were extremely loyal.
It's not just because the Spirit Hall provides a lot of cultivation resources, but also because the Spirit Hall possesses Soul Bone resources that other sects can't even imagine.
Most importantly, the leader of the Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu Qian Family, is Level 99 Peerless Douluo, which is a very powerful deterrent.
Any Titled Douluo who wants to betray their cause should think twice about whether they can withstand the wrath of a Peerless Douluo.
As for the Titled Douluo of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Sect, they are all direct descendants who share the honor and disgrace of their sects.
However, the Titled Douluo trained by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect are all from outside the family. It's inevitable that once they reach the Titled Douluo level, they might turn around and suppress the direct lineage of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Are they used as auxiliary tools?
Loyal individuals like Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong are just exceptions.
Hu Liena nodded thoughtfully and looked at Gui Yuan: "But Junior Brother, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect now has at least two Sect Guardian Douluo. It won't be so easy for our Spirit Hall to take this sect as a vassal."
Gui Yuan shook his head. "That's not necessarily true."
"According to what I learned from my eldest and second uncles, Ning Fengzhi, the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, is an old fox."
They talk about the Upper Three Sects being of one mind and one body, but their actions have nothing to do with being of one mind and one body.
"Furthermore, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect definitely underestimated the number of top-tier combatants in my Spirit Hall. Coupled with the confidence given to Ning Fengzhi by the two Titled Douluo, it's natural that he's unwilling to submit now."
He paused, then continued, "But if our Spirit Hall demonstrates sufficient strength and puts pressure on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, do you think they'll agree?"
"Furthermore, given how much strength the teacher revealed tonight, Sword Douluo will probably have to report this when he gets back."
Bibi Dong was also somewhat curious. "When do you think would be the most appropriate time to showcase the Spirit Hall's strength?"
Gui Yuan smiled and said, "After the finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament, all the famous figures from across the continent will come to watch, and the victor will be our Spirit Hall Team."
"If the Spirit Hall intends to subjugate other sects or even establish an empire by then, this would be the most appropriate opportunity to announce it."
"They can even spread the word that I possess the Divine Trial. With my current Soul Ring Configuration, those sects will have no choice but to believe it."
A glint flashed in Gui Yuan's eyes. "It's a pity that Grandpa Qian others are unwilling to force things, otherwise, why would it be so troublesome? They could just suppress them with force."
Bibi Dong's lips curled slightly when she heard what Gui Yuan said. She found that Gui Yuan's personality suited her very well.
Not only are they smart, but they are also bold and outspoken.
"You actually managed to guess that the Spirit Hall plans to establish a nation in the future." Bibi Dong smiled.
Gui Yuan said, "My Spirit Hall is so powerful that it has branch halls all over the continent, and it has more than 70% of the Soul Master on the continent, as well as the Worship Hall and the Elders' Hall."
"With such strength, wouldn't it be a pity not to establish a nation?"
On the other side.
By the campfire, Ning Rongrong watched the direction Gui Yuan and the others had left in, until their figures were completely swallowed by the night before she looked away.
She stood there, hands on her hips, her mind replaying Gui Yuan's words over and over again.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, and she couldn't help but stomp her foot. "What does he mean by this?"
"When we first met, he was wary that we were from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and might be a threat to his Spirit Hall. Now, he's the one inviting me to visit the Spirit Hall."
As Ning Rongrong spoke, a blush appeared on her face, clearly indicating that she was angry.
Her cheeks were flushed slightly in the firelight, whether from anger or the heat of the fire, it was hard to tell.
Furthermore, there was one thing she couldn't understand: why did Gui Yuan specifically suggest that she absorb a high-quality Soul Bone to save her life?
Given her status, would anyone dare to harm her in the future?
Clearly, Ning Rongrong still believes that as long as she encounters danger outside, she can remain safe by invoking her identity as the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's sect leader.
She turned to the old man beside her, her tone tinged with resentment. " Grandpa Sword, do you think he's crazy? How could he say something like that?"
"Besides, finding a suitable Soul Bone isn't that easy. I wonder if the sect's treasury has any."
Chen Xin did not answer immediately, but stared intently in the direction where the three had disappeared, as if deep in thought.
Ning Rongrong added, her voice lower, tinged with a hint of envy she herself didn't realize. "I never imagined he was even younger than me, yet he already possessed such strength."
She lowered her head in frustration. "I'm older than him, but I'm still only a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster."
Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, and her voice grew softer and softer.
Ning Rongrong wasn't actually very interested in cultivation; otherwise, with her innate ninth-level talent, she wouldn't have only reached the second ring now.
After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has its flaws, and no matter how talented she is, she can only reach level 79 at most in the future.
Generally speaking, as long as Innate Soul Power is above level six, or even slightly below level five, one can reach the Soul Saint.
Whether it's level 79 or not is actually not important.
After all, the increase rate between level 71 and level 79 is the same; the only difference is the total amount of Soul Power the Soul Master possesses.
Chen Xin narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought.
All he knew was that when he got back, he had to tell Fengzhi everything he had seen and learned that night.
Then Chen Xin said to Ning Rongrong, "Perhaps he's right. You're a support-type Soul Master, so having an offensive Soul Bone would be better for you."
"It's a pity, though. As far as I know, our sect doesn't have any Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. We do have a few Thousand-Year Soul Bone, but their quality is too low. Unless absolutely necessary, we absolutely cannot absorb them."
His voice was gentle, carrying a hint of comfort typical of an elder.
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong pouted and said somewhat defiantly, "With my Martial Soul, I'll only ever reach the Soul Saint level in the future. It doesn't really matter what kind of Soul Bone I have."
Chen Xin frowned, her tone softening slightly. "Don't think like that. Your Innate Soul Power is the highest in the sect's history. Fengzhi is even thinking that you might be able to overcome the sect's Martial Soul's weakness."
Ning Rongrong sighed softly to herself.
The sect has been passing down its traditions for so many years without breaking the shackles of its Martial Soul; what use is she alone?
" Grandpa Sword, let's leave the Star Dou Great Forest now," Ning Rongrong said. "I've already hunted down my Second Soul Ring, and I don't want to stay any longer, lest we encounter real danger."
Chen Xin nodded. "Okay, let's go now."
It's better to be safe than sorry.
Although he wasn't afraid of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Rongrong was by his side, so leaving now was the best choice.
On the other side.
Bibi Dong, however, was in no hurry to leave.
She glanced up at the sky, then looked at Gui Yuan and Hu Liena: "Let's stay here."
Hu Liena asked, puzzled, "Teacher, since there's danger in the forest, shouldn't we leave now?"
Before Bibi Dong could speak, Gui Yuan interjected, "Are you stupid, Senior Sister? Teacher is so strong, he must have injured that Soul Beast. How could it possibly be active again in such a short time?"
Hu Liena gave Gui Yuan a flirtatious glare. "Of course I know that. I'm just asking because I'm worried."
Bibi Dong watched the two bickering, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
Under the moonlight, Hu Liena's brows and eyes held a hint of anger, while Gui Yuan shrugged innocently.
This scene, when seen by Bibi Dong, actually brought a touch of warmth to her heart. She thought to herself, "These two have such a good relationship."
"Alright, let's find another place to rest first," Bibi Dong said. "We'll continue hunting for suitable Nana Soul Beast in the Mixed Zone tomorrow morning."
On the other side.
Beside a lake in the Core Zone Star Dou Great Forest. (Not Lake of Life )
Da Ming put Er Ming down, and the latter's huge body slammed heavily to the ground with a dull thud.
Er Ming lay on the ground, panting heavily, his body covered in wounds.
The edges of those wounds gleamed with a purplish-black and dark green sheen, and the toxins continued to spread into the body.
Er Ming's body was soaked in blood, giving it a dark, somber appearance under the moonlight.
While suppressing the toxins within its body, trying to force them out, it gritted its teeth and said, "I never imagined that the human who obtained Aunt's Soul Ring and Soul Bone would be so strong."
Its voice was filled with resentment and anger. " Da Ming, if you really want Sister Xiao Wu to take revenge outside, I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult."
"Even at our peak, with our combined strength, we might not be a match for them."
Da Ming's body returned to the lake, his gaze fixed on the heavily injured Er Ming, his voice low and somber. "We can only take it one step at a time."
"If I'm not mistaken, that person possesses two Martial Soul. Judging from this, she must be a genius among human Soul Master, unparalleled in her own right."
"If nothing unexpected happens to her, we probably won't have a chance for revenge in this lifetime."
Da Ming was silent for a moment, then said, "Don't think about that too much for now. Focus on healing. If you don't clear the toxins out quickly, it will damage your foundation."
Er Ming responded softly and closed his eyes reluctantly.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.
Bibi Dong had already gotten up. She glanced at Hu Liena and Gui Yuan, who were still sleeping, and said calmly, "It's time to go."
Hu Liena and Gui Yuan rubbed their eyes, stretched, and stood up.
The three re-entered the Mixed Zone, with Bibi Dong leading the way, releasing her Spiritual Power to search for a suitable fox-type Soul Beast for Hu Liena.
P. S.: This is a combined two-part chapter, a 4k-long chapter, please continue reading!