Lin Rong's mind flashed with a thought, and he continued what he had just said:
"Your esteemed sect's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is a gem Martial Soul."
Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes after hearing this. "Nonsense, isn't that common knowledge? You can tell just by the name!"
"Then perhaps Miss Ning could consider hunting Gem Spirit Beasts to obtain Spirit Rings," Lin Rong stated his purpose.
"The first Spirit Skill of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda would undoubtedly be a Strength or Agility Boost."
"Therefore, the Diamond Mammoth and the Emerald Bird would be good choices."
"Diamonds, as well as the feathers of the Emerald Bird, are types of gems, and they complement the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda perfectly, don't you think?"
After speaking, Lin Rong, accompanied by his old butler, left the valley directly. Just as he was about to exit, he turned back and said something to provoke Ning Rongrong:
"Oh, right."
"The year-limit of my first Spirit Ring exceeds four hundred years. I believe that as the daughter of Sect Master Ning, you wouldn't look down on Spirit Beasts with year-limits below four hundred years, would you!"
Without waiting for Ning Rongrong's reaction, Lin Rong left without looking back.
"Damn it, are you looking down on me?" Ning Rongrong reacted as if she were a bristling hedgehog, shouting towards the valley entrance:
"So what if it's a four-hundred-year first Spirit Ring? What's so great about it? I can get one for you in minutes!"
Beside her, the guard captain Gu Feng said weakly, "Um, 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. Don't bring back anything below four hundred years."
"Now! Immediately! At once!"
"Yes!"
Seven synchronized replies echoed through the valley. They exchanged glances, lamenting how difficult this young ancestor was to serve. Diamond Mammoths were exceptionally rare and very hard to find!
...
On the way back to Heaven Dou City, Lin Rong sat in his carriage, lost in thought.
In the original story, Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul evolved from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda after absorbing the Beautiful Silk Tulip.
The Beautiful Silk Tulip, which absorbed the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of the sun and moon, complemented gem-type Martial Souls, thereby enabling the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
However, natural gems were inherently the essence of heaven and earth, and gem-type Spirit Beasts could also absorb the radiance of the sun and moon.
Even if it wasn't as potent as the Beautiful Silk Tulip, accumulating over time with the blessings of Spirit Rings produced by numerous gem-type Spirit Beasts, it might still be possible for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to evolve.
Moreover, whether this succeeded or not, Lin Rong would suffer no loss.
Conversely, if it succeeded, he would gain the favor of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which would be beneficial for his future plans.
Most importantly, he could indirectly educate Ning Rongrong, that ill-mannered girl, through this matter.
The reason Ning Rongrong could act so lawlessly was nothing more than her being spoiled by the two Titled Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, making it impossible for Ning Fengzhi to educate her even if he wanted to.
However, once Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul showed signs of evolution, it would be different.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was fundamental to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Therefore, as long as Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul showed signs of evolution, Ning Fengzhi would surely demand that Ning Rongrong cultivate diligently to obtain her next Spirit Ring as soon as possible.
And those two Titled Douluo, while lenient with Ning Rongrong in minor matters, would only obey Ning Fengzhi's orders in such significant affairs.
"Ning Rongrong, if my plan succeeds, then your leisurely, carefree life will be completely over!"
"Soul Power cultivation, noble upbringing, and learning the method of divided attention are what you should be doing."
"As for that Shrek Academy, you shouldn't go. You should honestly remain the Young Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
...
"Achoo!"
Ning Rongrong rubbed her nose.
Beside her, the guard captain Gu Feng heard the sound and immediately said, "Young Miss, the spring air is cold, especially in the forest. You should wear more to avoid catching a cold."
"Huh? Are you telling me what to do?" Ning Rongrong was unappreciative but still took a fur coat from her Soul Guide device and put it on.
"If you have the spare time to loiter around me, why aren't you going to find a Diamond Mammoth yet!"
"This..." Gu Feng felt conflicted.
The other six guards had already gone to search for Diamond Mammoths, leaving him alone to protect the Young Miss's safety. He absolutely could not leave.
If anything happened to this little ancestor, the two Title Douluo of the sect would surely flay him alive.
"Boom~ Boom~"
Suddenly, fireworks erupted in the distant sky, blooming into a seven-layered pagoda shape.
"Found it? So quickly!" Gu Feng was somewhat surprised upon seeing the fireworks.
Ning Rongrong, however, did not feel the same. All she wanted now was to obtain the Diamond Mammoth's Spirit Ring and wouldn't delay for even a second.
"What are you still gawking at? Hurry up and take this young lady over there."
...
Inside the carriage.
Lin Rong was multitasking, circulating the Marrow Cleansing Scripture to cultivate his Soul Power while asking, "Grandpa Yu, it's been over two months. Is there any news from the guards sent to the Barral Kingdom?"
"Replying to young master,"
The old butler, after a brief moment of thought, respectfully replied, "Guard Captain Xu has found a child who awakened the Fire Phoenix Martial Soul in a village near Sotto City in the Barral Kingdom."
"As per your instructions, young master, we cannot coerce the child, only entice them."
"Guard Captain Xu, remembering your teachings, noticed the child's longing for the delicacies of the towns along the way. He took the child to sample various local cuisines, which caused quite a delay."
"When they went to the Sunset Forest to hunt for Soul Rings, according to intelligence from the outposts, they are already not far from Heaven Dou City."
"After these past few days, they should have arrived at the Duke's mansion by now."
"Mm, that is excellent." Lin Rong nodded slightly and then fell silent.
Among the Shrek Seven Devils, Dai Mubai hailed from the Star Luo Empire's royal family, and Zhu Zhuqing came from the Star Luo Empress's family. Tang San and Ning Rongrong originated from the Upper Three Sects. Xiao Wu was a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Only Oscar and Ma Hongjun came from impoverished backgrounds, and they were the most suitable individuals to recruit.
However, although Oscar was loyal and righteous, he was overly shrewd, had a sensitive and suspicious nature, and was full of little schemes.
This could be seen from the original work, where on Sea God Island, Tang San deliberately let Oscar overhear his conversation with Ning Rongrong to help Oscar resolve his inner turmoil.
For someone like him, he wouldn't pledge loyalty to any single faction. You could only be brothers with him, exchanging genuine feelings for genuine feelings, and relying on friendship to make him willingly do things.
Regrettably, Lin Rong could offer Oscar many things – wealth, power, retainers – he could satisfy Oscar in all these aspects, but he couldn't offer him genuine friendship.
Ma Hongjun was different. This chubby kid had a simple mind. He was the typical type to listen to whoever treated him well. He was very suitable to be cultivated as a fighter, becoming a sharp blade in Lin Rong's hand.
As for why he waited until Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul awakened to recruit him, there were two reasons.
Firstly, though Ma Hongjun's village was not hard to guess – near Shrek Academy, where everyone's Martial Soul was a poultry – there were millions of commoners on the continent, and many people shared the same name. If he searched for the person before their Martial Soul awakened, he might find the wrong person.
Secondly, recruiting someone still required a reason, and Ma Hongjun's innate talent of Rank Nine Soul Power was the best reason for Lin Rong to recruit him.
Of the Shrek Seven Devils, Ma Hongjun was now in Lin Rong's hands. And once Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul showed signs of evolution, Ning Fengzhi would not allow his daughter to go to Shrek Academy.
With this, the Shrek Seven Devils had already lost two of their members, leaving only Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Oscar.
However, Lin Rong had other plans for Tang San later on. Coupled with the butterfly effect of these actions, Tang San and Xiao Wu would also not appear at Shrek Academy.
This way, only three members would remain from the Shrek Seven Devils.
If, as in the original work, the academy decided to continue operating only because they recruited Tang San and the other three, then Shrek Academy would be disbanded on the spot six years later.
Tang San was only six years old now. There were still fourteen years before the world descended into chaos. The current Douluo Continent was still too peaceful.
Thinking of this, Lin Rong suddenly spoke, instructing the old butler, "Grandpa Yu, after we return to the mansion, send someone to Moon Xuan to deliver a visiting card. We will choose a date to pay Madam Yue a visit."
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