"So that's how it is." After listening to Ning Rongrong's explanation, Ning Fengzhi's brows furrowed, clearly pondering how to address the issue in Hagen City.
"How could this be? Is Sea God Island really made up of such people?" Zi Zhenzhu's face showed shock.
Although she didn't worship Sea God Island, she still held some respect for it. But the idea that Sea God Island planned to use a beast tide to reshape faith—what a bizarre notion. Didn't Hagen City have the freedom to believe as it wished?
Look at the Spirit Hall. You could believe in anything—whether it was the Angel God or nothing at all. They emphasized fate and choice.
Yet, because the Nine Treasure Commerce was selling pills and soul tools in Hagen City, and sea soul masters used these to survive at sea, causing their unwavering faith in the Sea God to waver, Sea God Island planned to use drastic measures to make Hagen City bear the wrath of the Sea God? Or rather, the wrath of Sea God Island itself?
And they even intended to swoop in at the end to clean up the mess?
Although Ning Rongrong didn't say it outright, Zi Zhenzhu, having lived in Hagen City for decades and coming from a pirate background, wasn't naive. She could piece things together without overthinking.
"It's quite normal," Ning Rongrong said. "Those with vested interests will always protect their own benefits. Just like sea soul masters, who consider themselves superior to other soul masters on the sea. Isn't the assessment on Sea God Island the same way? It's their territory, their rules. But Sea God Island's reach seems a bit too long, don't you think?"
Ning Rongrong calmed Zi Zhenzhu and turned to her father. "Dad, is Hagen City part of the fief matter?"
Ning Fengzhi paused, then said, "Yes, Hagen City is indeed the fief Princess Xue Ke granted you. You could choose another place, but it can't exceed Hagen City's scope too much."
Participating in the Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament came with titles and fiefs, but Ning Rongrong had yet to claim hers. She had mentioned it to Xue Ke before, and Xue Ke agreed that Hagen City was merely nominal to the Heaven Dou Empire, leaving it to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to handle. Of course, Xue Ke also gave the option to choose another place if desired.
For some reason, Xue Ke seemed to still side with Spirit Hall and didn't want conflict with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Pondering this, Ning Rongrong said, "Then Hagen City it is. It's time to let Senior Lou Gao's soul tools shock the continent."
"Is that wise?" Ning Fengzhi asked with some concern.
"No problem. Hagen City is my fief. What does Sea God Island have to do with what I do? Besides, I plan to counterattack passively, engaging in unlimited self-defense."
"This…" Ning Fengzhi and the others exchanged glances.
Seeing her father's hesitation, Ning Rongrong continued, "Wouldn't it be better to let those near the sea see Sea God Island's true colors? Anyway, I'm thinking about how to reduce their faith in the Sea God—it's an unstable factor in the end."
"Rongrong, aren't you worried about the forces behind Sea God Island?" Sword Douluo spoke cautiously, mindful of Zi Zhenzhu and others who weren't close confidants.
"With righteousness and advantage on my side, they can't do much even if they try." The God Realm wasn't ruled solely by the Asura God and Sea God. Besides, according to Hypnos, the God of Slaughter from Yin-Yang Crown, a day in the God Realm equaled a year on the ground. Only two and a half years had passed—roughly two and a half days in the God Realm. The Asura God and his miners were still busy patching up the Golden Dragon King's seal. Where would they find time to meddle with soul masters on the Douluo Continent?
Moreover, from Hypnos's memories, Ning Rongrong knew the Sea God was in confinement. With the five God Kings absent, the Sea God couldn't even emerge. The priority was to increase strength quickly. These trivial matters should be settled decisively.
If not for Tang Chen and Bo Saixi each wielding divine artifacts imbued with divine will, Ning Rongrong would have considered eliminating them—or even Tang San—directly.
"Stay low, don't act recklessly!" That was Ning Rongrong's way of handling things.
As Ning Rongrong decided to make Hagen City the new stronghold for the Nine Treasure Commerce's expansion, Tang San, Tang Chen, and Bo Saixi were also in Hagen City, discussing matters.
"Great-grandfather, I don't understand," Tang San said. "You and Senior Bo Saixi together couldn't defeat Di Tian?" Recalling how Tang Chen and Bo Saixi fled like mice before a cat upon seeing Di Tian, Tang San felt utterly stifled. How could this be the behavior of the Clear Sky Clan, his clan? Moreover, wasn't this a disgrace to Sea God Island? By extension, a disgrace to the Sea God—and to Tang San himself?
Not to mention, they'd lost a Title Douluo and his somewhat dim-witted subordinate, Tai Tan. It was like losing both the wife and the soldiers—exhausting and costly!
"We couldn't take him," Tang Chen said, sensing Tang San's dissatisfaction. "Di Tian's combat strength is no less than the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's—perhaps even stronger. Your Senior Bo Saixi and I are still injured. Even if we fought, victory aside, we couldn't protect you. The likely outcome would be a stalemate with Di Tian, the fall of Golden Crocodile and the Demon Empress, and you, Tang San, possibly dying in the battle's aftermath."
"This…" Tang San froze, then realized the truth. He was just a mere Soul Emperor. If they couldn't protect him, what was the point of defeating the enemy? Even killing Golden Crocodile and the Demon Empress wasn't as important as him. He was the future hope of becoming a god, the pillar of the Clear Sky Clan, Sea God Island, and the Tang Sect—not comparable to a mere Limit Douluo.
"Great-grandfather, Senior Bo Saixi, I was too obsessed," Tang San said, his eyes blurring with tears, a trace of moisture at their corners. "When I think of Senior Sea Lance and Senior Tai Tan dying because of me, I just…"
"Tang San…" Bo Saixi sighed deeply. "As Tang Chen said, you're truly a man of loyalty and righteousness. The Sea God and Asura God likely chose you for this quality. Sea Lance merely returned to the sea's embrace. Life and death mean little to the Sacred Pillars. Protecting the inheritor of the divine test is the duty of the Seven Sacred Pillars and even me, Bo Saixi."
"Senior Bo Saixi…" Tang San murmured.
"Enough," Bo Saixi waved her hand. "Let the sorrowful matters pass. Though I'm not willingly involved in this beast tide, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. The Spirit Hall is colluding with the Star Dou Great Forest—traitors to the continent. The Spirit Hall may be at its peak, but one day, the vastness of the sea and the glory of the God Realm will cast them into eternal ruin. For the wicked, we must adjust our strategy accordingly. Even if it means a beast tide, I'm willing to go against our ancestors' decisions."
Bo Saixi paused, then continued, "In Hagen City, there are Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin. To completely eliminate them, the current scale of the beast tide isn't enough. I must leave. Keep a close watch on the Nine Treasure Commerce's movements."
After speaking, she looked at Tang Chen. "I'll leave this to you."
"Go," Tang Chen nodded. "Tang San is my great-grandson. Even if I must risk my life, I'll ensure his safety."
After noticing Bo Saixi's departure, Ning Rongrong left Hagen City with Dugu Yan. With Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi present, Tang Chen alone wasn't much of a threat. After more than ten imprecise spatial jumps, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan finally reached their destination—the Far North.
Their target this time was the Ice Jade Scorpion, or rather, the Ice Empress's clan.