Hearing Tang San completely ignore her, the short-haired girl from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Rongrong, flushed red with anger. She had just confidently claimed that with her enhancements, they would surely defeat Tang San. Yet, he had instantly defeated Yu Yuanlei—who was under the effects of her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—with a single hammer strike.
Ning Rongrong shouted angrily, "Hey, you! Stop right there!"
Tang San naturally paid no attention to such an ill-mannered, spoiled girl. Without even turning around, he continued walking toward the backstage area.
When had Ning Rongrong ever been treated like this?! To be outright ignored!
Gnashing her teeth, she accused, "Y-you must have cheated just now! There's no way you could have won otherwise!"
At this, Tang San actually paused and turned his head slightly, replying in an indifferent tone, "You can't even discern the source of another's strength."
He found such cheating accusations rather ridiculous. Since awakening his Martial Soul, he had never slacked in his training over these past four years. What he had done most was consume strands of Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng while practicing the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique to build muscle.
Though Tang San possessed considerable resources and Tang Hao was a Titled Douluo, neither he nor even Tang Hao would allow him to use pills or other external means to rapidly boost his Soul Power.
After all, Tang San was still young. Strengthening his foundation and stabilizing his roots were far more important than anything else. They would never let him engage in reckless advancement that would stunt his growth.
As a Titled Douluo, Tang Hao understood better than anyone the importance of early-stage training and fundamentals. The reason he was hailed as invincible among peers was precisely because of the solid foundation he had built in his youth. At the same Soul Power level, Tang Hao's reserves were far more substantial than his peers'.
Tang San continued, "To be honest, your so-called support buffs are worse than having two Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon School disciples team up. At least that might have posed some minor trouble for me."
"You... were dead weight."
With that, he left without caring how she might react.
Watching his retreating figure, Ning Rongrong stood frozen in place, momentarily unable to process what had just happened.
Her—dead weight?! Ning Rongrong, the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's leader, the prodigy hailed as the pride of her sect—dead weight?!
"AAAH! Damn you, Tang San! Stop right there! If you've got any guts, fight me again! Just wait till I attach my second Soul Ring!!" Ning Rongrong completely lost her composure. Unable to accept the humiliation, she charged toward Tang San like a madwoman, intent on settling the score.
But she had forgotten—this was the Clear Sky Soul Arena, the territory of the Clear Sky Sect, not her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Before she could even get close, a Clear Sky Sect disciple serving as a referee blocked her path.
"Apologies, but this is the VIP area. You may not enter," the disciple stated firmly, barring her way.
"How dare you block me?! Do you even know who I am?!" Ning Rongrong raged, her noble demeanor nowhere to be seen.
The Clear Sky Sect disciple remained unfazed by her outburst. Weren't they all disciples of the Upper Three Sects? Who was she to act so superior?
"My apologies, but without an invitation from the Third Young Master, you cannot enter."
Ning Rongrong was practically fuming with rage, but there was no way her current strength could break through the blockade.
At this moment, Tang San had already returned to his office in the Soul Duel Arena, planning to consume some Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng to slowly recover his depleted Soul Power. Every battle presented the best opportunity for cultivation.
Feng Yang laughed and said, "Young Master is truly formidable! Facing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon of the Upper Three Sects and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, you actually fought one against two. Our Clear Sky Sect is undoubtedly the leader among the three sects!"
"I bet no one in Clear Sky City dares to challenge the Young Master anymore. You can directly advance now!"
Feng Yang was obviously flattering. There weren't many at the Iron rank to begin with, and many people obtained their Bronze Badges through consecutive victories. Someone like Tang San was actually quite ordinary in this regard.
Tang San cut off Feng Yang's flattery and instructed, "Enough with the flattery. Go to the auction house and the major shops in Clear Sky City to see if anyone is selling storage-type Soul Guidance Devices. I need a few of them."
The Soul Guidance Device Tang San currently possessed was a gift from his aunt, Tang Yuehua, back when he visited the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. He had previously thought it was sufficient, but now that he was preparing to head to Slaughter City, he needed to make more preparations just in case. After all, Slaughter City was no tourist destination.
"Understood." Without another word, Feng Yang dashed off toward the auction house.
However, just as Tang San was about to begin his cultivation, a sharp cry suddenly came from outside the door.
"Tang San!!!"
Hearing this voice, which sounded on the verge of breaking down, Tang San couldn't help but frown as he turned toward the door. The next second, the door was pushed open with a creak, revealing none other than the short-haired girl who had been provoked by Tang San.
The difference was that this time, the girl was accompanied by an elderly man over two meters tall.
Tang San sighed inwardly. Ever since his aunt Tang Yuehua had given him lessons on temperament and composure, he hadn't felt this irritated in a long time—yet this little devil had managed it.
"Barging into a private area—does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School lack manners?" Tang San sat on his ornate chair, his words laced with implication as he glanced at the towering elder.
To bypass the guards and silently infiltrate the Clear Sky Soul Arena, the old man's strength was practically self-evident.
Ning Rongrong completely missed the meaning behind Tang San's words, but the Bone Douluo beside her grew uneasy. After all, this was the territory of the Clear Sky Sect. If it were any other sect, barging in wouldn't be a big deal—but the Clear Sky Sect was a different matter.
Ning Rongrong declared, "Tang San, I have something to discuss with you."
Tang San took a deep breath, displaying the magnanimity befitting a young sect master, and said, "Go ahead and speak."
Ning Rongrong pondered for a moment, then placed her hands on her hips and announced proudly, "You've passed."
?????? Tang San tilted his head slightly. Was there something wrong with this girl's brain? Her words made no sense in context.
The Bone Douluo beside her added, "She is Ning Rongrong, the daughter of Sect Master Ning Fengzhi."
!?
Hearing the name "Ning Rongrong," a flash of understanding crossed Tang San's eyes. Given that she was being protected by a Titled Douluo, he had already guessed her identity—now it was confirmed.
Ning Rongrong, the only daughter of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Sect Master Ning Fengzhi, born in the same year as Tang San, and his betrothed since childhood.
Tang San had met the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School when he was young. His impression of him was: less like a Soul Master, more like a merchant.
Major sects and powerful factions often operated this way. It wasn't just the Clear Sky Sect—Tang San had heard of many forces arranging betrothals between children of allied powers to solidify relationships and promote beneficial alliances.
Now that the Upper Three Sects faced a common enemy in the Spirit Hall, child betrothals had become completely normal. Moreover, Tang San had awakened his Martial Soul with Innate Full Spirit Power.
Innate Full Spirit Power wasn't merely about faster early-stage cultivation—it proved one's extraordinary talent and powerful soul. There might even be hidden benefits that hadn't been discovered yet.
Tang San looked Ning Rongrong up and down before saying, "No."
(End of Chapter)