"She's interested in this kind of competition?" Bone Douluo's voice carried surprise.
Ning Rongrong had never been fond of public appearances, saying that socializing was a waste of time better spent improving her strength.
Even if she stayed in the sect researching strange pills—like those for a certain unnamed Sect Master Ning's… ahem—
In short, her participation was strange, wasn't it?
Unaware of Bone Douluo's thoughts, Ning Fengzhi pondered briefly before speaking:
"Speaking of which, Dugu Yan has also been preparing for this tournament."
"Dugu Yan…"
At the mention of her, Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo collected themselves and sighed.
"Her condition… Honestly, I'm a little worried she might one day wipe out the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda." Sword Douluo's tone was laced with helplessness and a trace of wariness.
"Yeah, her toxicity keeps growing. If not for our timely intervention last time, perhaps…" Bone Douluo added.
"I wonder if Rongrong's decision to help Dugu Yan condense the Misfortune Poison Body was the right one."
"Elder Dugu has apologized repeatedly for the incident." Ning Fengzhi recalled that two years ago, after Dugu Yan broke through to the 60th rank and obtained her spirit ring, everything had seemed fine at first.
But a few days after returning to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, her toxins suddenly went out of control.
Several Title Douluo had to work together to suppress the poison within a confined area.
Otherwise, every spirit master in the sect below the Soul Sage level would have been reduced to nothing, not even bones remaining.
As a last resort, they had forced Dugu Yan to slow her cultivation speed.
She was not to rush into breaking through to Soul Sage.
This incident was later classified as one of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's highest-level secrets.
Apart from Dugu Bo, Ye Renxin, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and himself, no one else knew—not even Shui Cangyue, the dean of the Glazed Academy.
Fortunately, after Dugu Yan gradually adapted to her sixth spirit ring, she regained control, and the surrounding toxins were fully absorbed.
Otherwise, the mountain where she lived alone would still be barren even now, two years later.
"Fengzhi, don't you find it strange?" Sword Douluo mused. "Both Dugu Yan and Rongrong are very interested in this tournament."
"Logically, they shouldn't even know about the prizes yet."
Ning Fengzhi replied, "I'm also curious. It seems she started preparing two and a half years ago."
"Perhaps Rongrong mentioned something. Her intense training during this time might be related."
Hearing his answer, Bone Douluo's lips twitched. "Among their peers, aside from Qian Renxue possibly causing some trouble, is there anyone who can even challenge them?"
"That's what makes it fun!" Ning Fengzhi chuckled before his tone turned serious.
"The past two years have been turbulent for the entire continent. Who knows if it's a blessing or a curse?"
"Fengzhi, don't worry too much. Given the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's current state, self-preservation shouldn't be an issue."
"I hope so." Ning Fengzhi sighed. "Within a few decades, a deity-level existence will surely emerge. When that happens…"
"Ah, never mind. By then, I won't even be sect master anymore. Why worry?" His sudden shift in tone nearly made Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo stumble.
"Fengzhi, you trust in Rongrong's wisdom, don't you?" Bone Douluo said wryly. "But she might be thinking the same as you."
"Whatever. Let Rongrong do as she pleases." Ning Fengzhi shrugged, then thought of his two sons.
"What I'm more worried about are those two brats. I hope they don't cross the line and end up in Rongrong's hands. I don't have the ability to bail them out."
"Rongrong values family. You don't need to worry too much about that." Sword Douluo smiled. "Ning Tian is very much like you—he knows when to yield."
"You mean he's a fence-sitter, right, Uncle Sword?" Ning Fengzhi teased.
Human hearts were fickle. Who could say for sure?
"Speaking of which, Ning Tian seems to be getting close to Vice Pavilion Master Ye's granddaughter. On top of being Pavilion Master Lou Gao's disciple, it is a little concerning."
The disciple of the Spirit Tool Pavilion Master, cozying up to the granddaughter of the Alchemy Pavilion's Vice Master—if mishandled, things could get messy.
They themselves weren't worried, but the older generation might not see it the same way.
What if they assumed Ning Fengzhi was grooming Ning Tian as the next sect master?
He wasn't concerned about the stubborn elders, but with so many Soul Sages and Soul Douluos involved, he didn't want to create unnecessary tension.
"We can leave it for Rongrong to handle when she returns." Bone Douluo was indifferent.
Whether it was the Alchemy Pavilion or the Spirit Tool Pavilion, both had been brought in by Rongrong. With their support, what could the elders possibly do?
"I think Ning Tian is just infatuated with the girl and has no ulterior motives." Sword Douluo said plainly.
Ning Fengzhi: "…"
Bone Douluo: "…"
Sword, is that really how you talk about Ning Tian?
He was still the sect master's son. Though Fengzhi had developed some… unusual hobbies over the years, like buying catgirls and foxgirls to admire—
Ning Tian had no interest in such things, focusing instead on spirit tools.
After silently complaining for a moment, Bone Douluo turned his gaze back to Ning Fengzhi.
"Fengzhi, what do you think about Ning Tian's situation?"
"Both are support-type spirit masters, which goes against the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's rules."
"Since Ye Renxin hasn't intervened, let nature take its course." Ning Fengzhi said. "Didn't he help Pavilion Master Lou Gao develop an impressive spirit tool with his creative ideas?"
"In fact, it might be Pavilion Master Lou Gao's greatest achievement in years."
"But that thing…" Bone Douluo hesitated. "Fengzhi, you've used it too. To be honest, I'm not entirely satisfied."
"It's not an issue with the work itself, but whether it can truly break the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's restrictions."
"A seventh-ranked long-range spirit tool is enough." Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "If a support-type spirit master can match even a slightly weaker battle-type spirit master of the same rank, that's sufficient for self-defense."
"Besides, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda will be handed over to Rongrong."
"True. But Rongrong's combat power… Never mind." Sword Douluo thought for a moment and decided to drop it.
Rongrong's fighting strength defied logic—it couldn't be measured by normal spirit master standards.
From overpowering the 99th-ranked Qian Daoliu to casually slaughtering thousand-year Titan Giant Apes—
What support-type spirit master was as fierce as Ning Rongrong? If even she wasn't safe, then who was?
"Alright, that's enough. Since she's coming back soon, we'll leave everything to her." Ning Fengzhi said with relief. "It's been a while since I visited the Heaven Dou capital. I heard there's an auction coming up."
"You're going again?" Bone Douluo's lips twitched.
Did Ning Fengzhi have some strange obsession with auction houses?
Sword Douluo was even more direct. After scrutinizing Ning Fengzhi for a moment, he said:
"Fengzhi, are you going to buy another catgirl?"
Ning Fengzhi: "…"
When I say I'm going to an auction, all you think about are catgirls and foxgirls?
Have you been infected by Rongrong?!
This time, it's official business! Official business!