Schemes

Then a thought flashed through Lin Rong's mind, and he continued along the line of their previous conversation:

"Your sect's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is a gem-type martial soul."

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes. "Nonsense. Isn't that common knowledge? You can tell just from the name!"

"Then Miss Ning might consider hunting Gem Spirit Beasts for your soul rings." Lin Rong revealed his purpose. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's first soul skill is nothing more than a Strength or Agility Boost."

"In that case, Diamond Mammoths and Emerald Birds would both be good choices."

"Diamonds and the feathers of Emerald Birds are both types of gems. They complement the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda perfectly, don't they?"

Having said that, Lin Rong left the valley directly with the Old Butler. Just as he was about to exit, he turned back and tossed out a remark meant to provoke Ning Rongrong.

"Oh, right."

"My First Soul Ring is over four hundred years old. As Sect Leader Ning's daughter, I'm sure you wouldn't think much of a Spirit Beast under four hundred years old either."

Without waiting for Ning Rongrong to react, Lin Rong walked away without looking back.

"Damn it, are you looking down on me?" Once Ning Rongrong came to her senses, she was like a bristling hedgehog as she shouted toward the valley entrance. "It's just a four-hundred-year First Soul Ring! What's there to be proud of? I'll get one for you in no time!"

Beside her, Gu Feng, the captain of the guard, said timidly, "Um, Young Miss, we..."

"What are you standing around for?" Ning Rongrong glared fiercely at Gu Feng and ordered, "Didn't you hear what I just said? Go find a Diamond Mammoth. Anything under four hundred years old is unacceptable."

"Now! This instant! Immediately!"

"Yes!"

Seven voices answered in unison, echoing through the valley. They exchanged glances, inwardly lamenting how difficult this little ancestor was to serve. Diamond Mammoths were exceedingly rare Spirit Beasts—finding one would be no easy task!

On the road back to Heaven Dou City, Lin Rong sat in the carriage, lost in thought.

In the original story, Ning Rongrong's martial soul had evolved from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda after she absorbed Aromatic Silk Beauty.

Aromatic Silk Beauty absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, along with the radiance of the sun and moon. It complemented gem-type martial souls perfectly, which was why it could evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

But natural gems themselves were the essence of heaven and earth, and gem-type Spirit Beasts could likewise absorb the radiance of the sun and moon.

Even if they could not compare to Aromatic Silk Beauty, small accumulations could add up. With the enhancement of soul rings produced by numerous Gem Spirit Beasts, it might not be impossible for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to evolve.

Besides, whether it succeeded or failed, Lin Rong had nothing to lose.

If it succeeded, however, he could earn the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's favor, which would benefit his future plans.

Most importantly, he could use this matter to indirectly teach Ning Rongrong, that ill-mannered girl, a lesson.

The reason Ning Rongrong could behave so recklessly was simply because she relied on the indulgence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's two Titled Douluo. Even if Ning Fengzhi wanted to discipline her, he had no way to do so.

But once signs of evolution appeared in Ning Rongrong's martial soul, things would be different.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda concerned the very foundation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Therefore, as long as Ning Rongrong's martial soul showed signs of evolution, Ning Fengzhi would certainly demand that she cultivate diligently in hopes of obtaining her next soul ring sooner.

Those two Titled Douluo might indulge Ning Rongrong over trivial matters, but when it came to something this important, they would only follow Ning Fengzhi's orders.

"Ning Rongrong, if my speculation comes true, you can kiss your carefree life goodbye for good!"

"Soul Power cultivation, noble etiquette, and learning Heart Separation Control—those are the things you should be doing."

"As for that Shrek Academy, you'd better not go. Stay obediently in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and be its Young Sect Leader."

"Achoo!"

Ning Rongrong rubbed her nose.

Upon hearing it, Gu Feng, the captain of the guard beside her, immediately said, "Young Miss, the cold lingers heavily in spring, especially in the forest. You should put on more clothes so you don't catch a chill."

"Hm? Are you telling me what to do?" Ning Rongrong showed no appreciation, yet obediently took out a fur coat from her Soul Tool and draped it over herself.

"Instead of hovering around me with all this spare time, why don't you hurry up and find a Diamond Mammoth?"

"This..." Gu Feng immediately felt troubled.

The other six guards had each gone off to search for a Diamond Mammoth. He was the only one left to protect the Young Miss, and he absolutely could not leave.

If anything happened to this little ancestor, the two exalted figures in the sect would skin him alive and tear him apart.

Boom! Boom!

Suddenly, a burst of fireworks appeared in the distant sky, blooming into the shape of a seven-tiered pagoda.

"They found one? So quickly?" Gu Feng could not help feeling surprised when he saw the signal.

Ning Rongrong did not see it that way. Right now, all she wanted was the Diamond Mammoth's soul ring. She did not want to waste even a second.

"What are you standing around for? Hurry and take me there."

Inside the carriage.

Lin Rong multitasked, circulating the Marrow Cleansing Scripture to cultivate his Soul Power while asking:

"Grandpa Yu, it has already been over two months. Is there still no news from the guards sent to the Balak Kingdom?"

"In reply to Young Master."

After a brief moment of thought, the Old Butler beside him answered respectfully:

"Captain Xu has already found a child who awakened the Fire Phoenix Martial Soul in a village near Suotuo City in the Balak Kingdom."

"Following Young Master's instructions, they could not coerce the child and could only entice him with benefits."

"Captain Xu kept your teachings firmly in mind. Seeing the child gaze longingly at the delicacies in the towns along the way, he took him around to sample local foods, which delayed them considerably."

"When they went to Sunset Forest to hunt soul beasts, according to reports from the Secret Sentries, they were already not far from Heaven Dou City."

"Several days have passed since then. They should have arrived at the Duke Mansion by now."

"Mm, very good." Lin Rong nodded faintly and said nothing more.

Among Shrek's Seven Devils, Dai Mubai came from the Star Luo Empire's Royal Family, while Zhu Zhuqing came from the Star Luo Empress's family. Tang San and Ning Rongrong came from the Top Three Sects, while Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form.

Only Oscar and Ma Hongjun came from commoner backgrounds, making them the two most suitable targets for recruitment.

However, although Oscar valued loyalty and friendship, he was far too shrewd, with a sensitive and suspicious nature and plenty of petty schemes.

This could be seen in the original story on Sea God Island, where Tang San deliberately let Oscar overhear his conversation with Ning Rongrong so that Oscar could resolve the knot in his heart.

People like him would never pledge loyalty to any force. One could only become brothers with him, trade sincerity for sincerity, and rely on their friendship to make him willing to act.

Unfortunately, Lin Rong had many things he could offer Oscar—wealth, power, retainers—he could satisfy Oscar in all those respects, but he alone could not offer him sincerity.

Ma Hongjun was different. That little fatso was simple-minded, the type who listened to whoever treated him well. He was well suited to being cultivated into a thug, a sharp blade in Lin Rong's hand.

As for why Lin Rong had waited until after Ma Hongjun awakened his Martial Soul to recruit him, there were two reasons.

First, while it was not hard to guess which village Ma Hongjun came from—it was near Shrek Academy, and everyone in the village possessed chicken-type Martial Souls—

there were countless commoners across the continent, and many shared the same name. If he searched for him before his Martial Soul awakened, he might very well find the wrong person.

Second, recruiting someone still required a reason, and Ma Hongjun's innate Rank Nine Soul Power talent was the best possible reason for Lin Rong to recruit him.

Of Shrek's Seven Devils, Ma Hongjun was now in Lin Rong's grasp. And once Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul showed signs of evolution, Ning Fengzhi would never allow his daughter to attend Shrek Academy.

That meant two of Shrek's Seven Devils were already gone, leaving only Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar.

However, Lin Rong had other plans for Tang San, and coupled with the butterfly effect caused by these actions, Tang San and Xiao Wu would not appear at Shrek Academy either.

That would leave only three of Shrek's Seven Devils.

If it was truly as the original story said—that the academy decided to continue operating only after recruiting Tang San and the other three—then six years from now, Shrek Academy would disband on the spot.

Tang San was only six years old now. There were still fourteen years until chaos engulfed the world, and the current Douluo Continent was still far too peaceful.

Thinking of this, Lin Rong suddenly instructed the Old Butler:

"Grandpa Yu, after we return to the mansion, send someone to Moonlight Pavilion with a calling card. We'll choose a day to pay Madam Yue a visit."