Unfortunately for Zhu Zhuqing, she thought she had guessed everything right. But she was only half correct.
Xiao Wu had already left the dormitory last night.
At this very moment, inside the grand halls of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—
"Father, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Gu Rong! I'm back!" Ning Rongrong's crisp and cheerful voice rang out as she skipped into the main hall, her steps light, her mood obviously bubbling with excitement.
The sect master Ning Fengzhi, along with the two sect guardians, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong, had been discussing serious internal matters. But as soon as they caught sight of their precious little princess, the stern lines on their faces immediately relaxed, and all three of them smiled at once.
"Rongrong? Why are you back today?" they asked in unison, their voices full of warmth.
Ning Rongrong flitted over to them, her big eyes blinking mischievously. "What? Am I not allowed to come back just to see my father and my two grandpas when nothing's wrong? Humph~~"
With a small pout pushing at her lips, she looked playful and adorable, as if demanding indulgence.
Ning Fengzhi and the two Titled Douluo glanced at each other and chuckled wryly. Her coquettish antics were nothing new, but they could all tell—whenever Rongrong behaved like this, it meant she had something big to share. They knew her personality far too well.
"Haha, of course you're welcome anytime," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile. "But seeing you this overjoyed… something must have happened, right?"
Only one possibility came to his mind. "Could it be that Xiao Tian and Dugu Bo have returned?" he asked tentatively.
Ning Rongrong's bright smile widened as she nodded. "Hehe, Father, you guessed right! But I'm not just happy because of that. If it were only about Xiao Tian coming back, I wouldn't have specially hurried to the sect."
Her mysterious answer instantly sparked curiosity in all three of them.
Chen Xin leaned forward a little, an indulgent grin tugging at his lips. "Enough, little girl. Don't keep us hanging. Hurry and tell us what's going on."
"Mm… fine then. But the three of you better watch closely!" Ning Rongrong announced proudly.
She crossed her hands before her chest, her delicate body glowing with spirit power.
"Nine treasures emerge as Glazed Tile, nine layers of nine colors—Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"
In that instant, her martial spirit manifested in front of her.
Ning Fengzhi and the two Titled Douluo froze, their eyes locking on the brilliant tower of light in utter disbelief.
Nine Treasures? Did she just say… Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!?
They hurriedly leaned in, desperately checking the glowing pagoda tier by tier.
Holy heavens!
It was true!
The tower had nine layers! It was truly the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!
Ning Fengzhi was so shaken that his cane clattered to the ground unnoticed. Trembling, he clutched Ning Rongrong's shoulders, his expression both nervous and ecstatic. "Rongrong! What happened? Your spirit actually evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? That's something our sect only has in ancient legend!"
Words tumbled from her father's lips as if he was afraid this miracle would vanish at any second.
Ning Rongrong, fully enjoying their wide-eyed reactions, gave a proud little explanation. She told them simply how her spirit had evolved, carefully omitting the cultivation methods Xiao Tian had passed along to her.
Those techniques were treasures far beyond even external spirit bones. Xiao Tian's decision to entrust them was proof of the pure trust between him and them. Since he had specifically told her not to reveal it yet, she couldn't betray that. At most, she sighed inwardly, apologizing silently to her father and two grandpas for the omission.
Hearing her account, Chen Xin and Gu Rong quickly got over their shock. They placed their hands gently on Ning Rongrong's forearm, channeling spirit power to scan her physical condition.
Moments later, both breathed in relief and withdrew. "No major issues with her body. Her physique is much stronger than an ordinary support-type spirit master…"
Ning Rongrong puffed her cheeks slightly at them. "Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, this was an immortal herb Xiao Tian gave me! How could there possibly be a problem?"
"Ahem…" Ning Fengzhi coughed lightly, hastily smoothing things over. "Rongrong, don't be upset. You know your two grandpas only worry about you. They didn't mean any offense."
Then his sharp gaze softened again. "Tell me honestly—your spirit power has already reached level thirty-eight?"
"Of course!" Rongrong replied with a little huff. She knew her grandpas always spoke without thinking too much, but still—Xiao Tian had helped her so much, and to hear them sound doubtful irked her. Lifting her chin proudly, she added, "Yes, Father. And I can feel my cultivation speed accelerating as well. Actually, I came back today because I wanted to discuss something."
She paused deliberately, then said seriously, "Father, I want to teach Xiao Tian our sect's Heart Separation Control secret art… as well as my spirit ring fusion method. Is that okay?"
The main hall instantly sank into silence.
All three elders exchanged glances, their eyes heavy with thought.
Then Ning Fengzhi chuckled warmly, breaking the tension. "Of course, Rongrong. That's fine. After all Xiao Tian has done for you, if our sect's Heart Separation Control or spirit ring fusion can aid him, then it's a good thing."
At his consent, Rongrong's face bloomed with relief and joy. She wasn't wrong—Xiao Tian was already frighteningly strong, but if he mastered these? His strength would rise to an entirely new level.
Chen Xin, sword cultivator through and through, mulled over it silently. He understood better than most. For geniuses like Xiao Tian, the Heart Separation Control wasn't particularly vital. At its essence, that method relied heavily on one's mental force. But sword intent itself was born from mental force—the unity of spirit, sword, and will. For someone like Xiao Tian, Heart Separation Control would barely make a difference.
The ring fusion technique, however, was another matter. That path depended wholly on innate talent. Within the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect across countless generations, only Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong had successfully learned it.
Chen Xin himself had once begged Fengzhi to teach him. But no matter how hard he tried, the method evaded him. If he had succeeded, perhaps the vaunted title of "number one weapon spirit in the world" wouldn't rest with the Clear Sky Sect today.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought of Xiao Tian. This boy might just break that precedent.
Though Chen Xin himself never unraveled the complete mysteries of spirit ring fusion—or its counterpart, Ring Explosion—he understood their differences as only a Titled Douluo could.
Ring Explosion leaned on physical durability. Flood the body with too much power, shatter spirit rings, then unleash terrifying strength at the cost of grievous damage. The requirements were brutal: a body reinforced by complete sets of spirit bones, tempered to peak condition. The technique was relatively easy to learn but savagely self-destructive.
Ring fusion, however, was elegant. It asked for extreme talent and control. If one could succeed, it harmonized rings perfectly, releasing spirit skills amplified severalfold without destroying anything.
The Clear Sky Sect's ability to explode rings repeatedly without losing them—that was a mystery Chen Xin long pondered. His curiosity never quite settled.
Brushing the thought aside, Chen Xin turned back to Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong. Since you've already decided, then teach them to him. Pass those arts on to Xiao Tian wholeheartedly."
"Yes," Ning Fengzhi added firmly. "But to be safe, come with me later. I'll explain the important details and precautions you need to remember while teaching. You may know the methods yourself, but teaching them to someone else is different."
Rongrong almost pouted again, the retort dancing on her lips—"Father, do you think I'm that bad?"—but she swallowed it down. He was right. Her own Heart Separation Control was only at the second aperture. Teaching Xiao Tian alone might be difficult. With Father's additional guidance, he'd learn faster and safer.
"Oh, right!" Rongrong suddenly remembered. "Father, Grandpas… when I came in just now, all three of you looked really serious. Did something happen to the sect?"
Her innocent question fell into the heavy silence of the great hall.
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