After concluding discussions with Xue Qinghe, Ning Fengzhi and his group left the imperial palace.
Upon returning to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's hotel outpost, they began deliberating.
"Rongrong, is something on your mind?" Ning Fengzhi was somewhat puzzled. Since entering Heaven Dou City, Ning Rongrong had barely spoken, even brushing off Xue Qinghe's inquiries with perfunctory replies.
This was unlike the mischievous little demoness of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Had she been replaced?
"That Zi Ji..."
Ning Rongrong let out a long sigh. "We might be in trouble."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?"
Sword Douluo was baffled, voicing the question on everyone's minds.
"Zi Ji, also known as the Demon Empress, is a Hell Demon Dragon King in her true form—a soul beast nearing 300,000 years in cultivation, with strength comparable to a rank 96 Title Douluo."
"300,000-year soul beast!"
Gasps echoed through the room.
However, Grandpa Bone quickly realized something was off. "Wait, Rongrong, her aura seemed entirely human to me."
A soul beast's aura was usually easy to detect when they used their abilities.
Especially for Title Douluo above rank 95, distinguishing a 100,000-year soul beast from a soul master wasn't difficult.
Hadn't the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan identified Di Tian and Bi Ji before recklessly charging in?
"There are countless ways to conceal one's aura. Don't forget, the Star Dou Great Forest has Di Tian of the Black Dragon Clan and the Silver Dragon King, a first-rank deity."
"It's just a matter of whether they choose to hide it or not." If even the Heartbroken Acacia could mask Xiao Wu's aura, preventing detection by Title Douluo, how much easier would it be for the Star Dou Great Forest?
Last time, they might have been careless or simply unconcerned.
But this time, the Star Dou Great Forest had clearly strengthened their concealment methods.
Take Qian Renxue, for example—hadn't she hidden her identity from everyone below rank 99 Title Douluo using just a soul bone?
"A rank 96 Title Douluo-level soul beast... and the Spirit Hall is connected to the Star Dou Great Forest?" Hearing Ning Rongrong's explanation, Ning Fengzhi frowned deeply.
Historically, the Spirit Hall and soul beasts were bitter enemies, if not outright hostile.
How could they possibly ally?
"Rumors say Bi Ji and Zi Ji are both Di Tian's lovers—though I don't know if that's true. But in the Star Dou Great Forest, their presence usually signifies the forest's own decisions."
"Zi Ji appearing in Qian Renxue's palace leads me to suspect..."
"Qian Daoliu and the Star Dou Great Forest may have reached some kind of agreement."
Trouble...
Ning Rongrong felt her scalp tingle.
Plans never kept up with changes.
The Star Dou Great Forest alone had four beings capable of rivaling rank 99 Limit Douluo—Di Tian, Bi Ji, Bear Lord, and Ten Thousand Demon King—not to mention the overpowered Silver Dragon King.
If the two factions allied, they would also gain Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong, both at rank 99.
Even if the Silver Dragon King remained dormant, they could still field six Limit Douluo—and that didn't even account for rank 98 powerhouses.
With such an alliance, unless the God Realm intervened, even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda with all its advantages wouldn't stand a chance.
If this were the case, the upcoming Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament could become extremely dangerous.
With six Limit Douluo and Bi Ji's near-miraculous healing abilities, crushing all opposing sects wouldn't be difficult.
Even if the Clear Sky Sect and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda joined forces, it would be futile.
This wasn't like ten thousand years later in The Unrivaled Tang Sect, where the Body Sect's Du Bisi could still extract seven 100,000-year soul beasts from the Star Dou Great Forest.
Now? Who knew how many 100,000-year soul beasts lurked in the forest.
"Father, we might be in serious trouble." Ning Rongrong couldn't fathom why someone like Qian Daoliu would collude with the Star Dou Great Forest.
"What do you mean?"
Ning Fengzhi seemed to grasp something, yet nothing concrete.
"During the Continental Soul Master Tournament, the Spirit Hall might be planning to take down both us and the Clear Sky Sect." Ning Rongrong sighed.
"Is that even possible?" Sword Douluo frowned.
"Highly likely." Ning Rongrong exhaled. "An alliance between the Spirit Hall and Star Dou Great Forest could field at least six Limit Douluo."
"And that's excluding the Snow Empress from the Far North. If she joins, the number only grows."
"Wouldn't the Spirit Hall fear public backlash?"
Grandpa Bone was skeptical. While the Star Dou Great Forest was formidable, would the Spirit Hall truly dare to ally with them?
"History is written by the victors. Besides..."
"The Spirit Hall may have realized they're being watched by the God Realm—though this is just my speculation."
"A desperate gamble?"
"Perhaps. Both the Spirit Hall and Star Dou Great Forest are targets of the God Realm. An alliance between them isn't impossible."
"Even former enemies can become allies when interests align."
"Wait, Rongrong..." Ning Fengzhi recalled something Ning Rongrong had mentioned before. "Wouldn't they fear drawing the God Realm's attention by acting so boldly?"
If they were already being watched, why make such a conspicuous move?
"Maybe they aim to create a god. Shared interests could drive them together."
"So, what should we do?" Grandpa Bone asked worriedly.
"I don't know. Everything has surpassed my expectations." Ning Rongrong's expression was grave.
For the first time, she felt completely out of her depth. If she could reach the Xiantian or even Everlasting Life realm, she might have been able to handle this.
"Rongrong..."
Dugu Yan opened her mouth to speak but hesitated.
This was the first time in years she'd seen Ning Rongrong so unsettled. No matter what happened before, she had always remained composed.
"Don't overthink it."
"Father..." Ning Rongrong looked up at Ning Fengzhi's hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I truly can't think of a solution."
"Ah, Rongrong, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda isn't yours alone. We old folks aren't dead yet!" Sword Douluo stood up. "So what if they have rank 99? We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
"Exactly. Though this coward is usually timid, it's nice to see him stand firm for once." Grandpa Bone also rose from his chair with a smile. "Rongrong, don't worry. I'll soon break through to rank 98."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda isn't so weak that we need to fear something that hasn't even happened."
"Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone..."
"I'll work hard too." Dugu Yan stepped forward. "I'll master the Misfortune Poison Body and do what I can to help."
"Sister Yan..."
Surrounded by Ning Fengzhi and the others, Ning Rongrong's restless heart gradually calmed.
Taking a deep breath, she considered their next steps:
"True. Nothing has happened yet. Overthinking is pointless."
No matter what, with the God Realm's presence, the Spirit Hall and Star Dou Great Forest couldn't act too openly. Most importantly, the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena, couldn't intervene.
In that case, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could still survive in the cracks.
The worst-case scenario would be exposing their alliance to the continent—letting the God Realm know about it and the Silver Dragon King's presence in the Star Dou Great Forest.