Chapter 155: Return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect

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The events that transpired at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had not yet spread widely. However, as one of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had still caught wind of some details. 

Thus, a day later, when Dugu Bo arrived with his entourage, Ning Fengzhi was already waiting outside the sect's gates alongside Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong. 

Upon seeing Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Wang Li, Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up. With a warm and courteous smile, he greeted them: 

"Your Eminence, the Jade Phosphor Douluo, your presence shines brighter than ever—it is truly a cause for celebration. Upon learning that you would be bringing your granddaughter and her husband, I prepared a banquet. Let's chat over drinks." 

Beside Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin's eyes flickered with a sharp glint the moment he saw Dugu Bo. He was well aware that Dugu Bo had now reached the same level of strength as himself. 

A surge of battle intent stirred in his heart. Chen Xin had been at Rank 96 for many years, and now, upon encountering another Rank 96 Titled Douluo, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. 

Gu Rong, however, felt somewhat awkward. In the past, he had never taken Dugu Bo seriously, regarding him only as a minor threat due to his formidable poison. 

But now, the situation had shifted. What was once a dismissive attitude had turned into an unreachable gap. 

Hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, Dugu Bo simply nodded in agreement. After all, one does not slap a smiling face. 

"In that case, we'll gladly impose upon your hospitality." 

Before long, they were led into a grand hall. The interior was lavishly decorated, its golden splendor gleaming with radiant brilliance. The dazzling glow of glazed tiles reflected the sect's immense wealth—truly, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was as prosperous as a nation. 

Ning Fengzhi's gaze swept over Wang Li and Dugu Yan, a flicker of envy flashing in his eyes before he let out a bitter chuckle. 

"Your Eminence, I must admit, I envy you. You have nurtured two outstanding juniors. Rongrong, Oscar, your friends have come to see you." 

As his words fell, Ning Rongrong and Oscar stepped forward, having meticulously groomed themselves for the occasion. Among the two, Ning Rongrong took the lead as they approached. 

They first greeted Dugu Bo with proper etiquette. 

"Your Eminence, Jade Phosphor Douluo." 

Then, they turned to Wang Li, their gazes complicated. 

Sensing the atmosphere, Ning Fengzhi quickly took charge, smiling as he said, 

"Now that everyone is here, let's all take our seats." 

The seating arrangement was carefully planned. Ning Fengzhi sat in the center to maintain control of the situation. Chen Xin and Gu Rong sat beside Dugu Bo, while Ning Rongrong and Oscar took their places next to Wang Li and Dugu Yan. 

Once everyone was seated, Chen Xin wasted no time, his sharp gaze locking onto Dugu Bo as he asked directly, 

"When did you break through?" 

Now that he had reached this realm himself, Dugu Bo finally understood just how powerful Chen Xin had been all along. With a serious expression, he responded, 

"It has been a while. After reaching this level, I finally understand—compared to before, the difference is like heaven and earth." 

Chen Xin nodded in agreement, then extended an invitation, 

"When you have time, we should spar and exchange insights." 

Dugu Bo considered the offer and nodded. It wasn't a bad idea—perhaps he could gain something valuable from the exchange. 

"Of course." 

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hall— 

Ning Rongrong couldn't help but blurt out, 

"Brother Wang Li, Sister Dugu, are you two really just normal Spirit Emperors? During your journey across the continent, you defeated so many Spirit Douluo powerhouses! My annoying old man keeps using that to lecture me. I haven't even had a proper break in two years!" 

The comparison was inevitable. Because of Wang Li and Dugu Yan's achievements, Ning Fengzhi had raised his expectations for Ning Rongrong significantly, making her training even harsher. 

Wang Li remained calm and replied indifferently, 

"Well, I suppose I am a bit unusual. Many of my spirit rings exceed their natural absorption limit. Other than that, everything else is normal." 

"But wait—have you two graduated already? If not, shouldn't you still be in the academy?" 

At this question, Ning Rongrong and Oscar fell silent for a moment. Then, Ning Rongrong spoke first. 

"Not long after the last Continental Advanced Spirit Master Tournament ended, my father arranged for me to graduate and return home for family training." 

Oscar then followed suit.

"I recently reached Rank 40 in spirit power. After absorbing my spirit ring and becoming a Spirit Ancestor, I voluntarily applied for graduation and officially joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." 

Perhaps because he trusted Wang Li, Oscar felt comfortable confiding in him. Letting out a bitter chuckle, he continued: 

"Wang Li, you might not know this, but during the Continental Spirit Master Tournament, Xiao Wu broke through to Rank 40. When Teacher Erlong took her to hunt for a spirit beast, the Titan Giant Ape suddenly appeared and took her away." 

"The first time we ever encountered each other, the Titan Giant Ape had already taken Xiao Wu once. I never imagined that history would repeat itself." 

Before Wang Li could react, Dugu Yan gasped in surprise. 

"So that Titan Giant Ape that suddenly appeared in the Star Dou Forest that day was actually after you?" 

She remembered that moment vividly. When the Titan Giant Ape appeared, countless spirit beasts fled in terror. By sheer luck, the spirit beast Wang Li needed for his fourth spirit ring had been among those desperately escaping. 

Recalling the dangerous scene, Ning Rongrong and Oscar couldn't help but shudder at the memory. 

Oscar continued, "After Xiao Wu was taken, Tang San fell into a deep depression for a long time. Eventually, he disappeared as well. Grandmaster told us that Tang San's father had taken him away for special training, hoping to help him recover." 

"With both Xiao Wu and Tang San gone, our team of seven was suddenly reduced to five. Not long after, Sect Master Ning arranged for Rongrong's graduation as well." 

Hearing this, Wang Li couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow. After all, his role in the story was that of Tang San and Xiao Wu's friend. Frowning slightly, he muttered, "I never expected so much to have happened." 

Oscar forced a wry smile and shook his head. 

"None of us did. With Xiao Wu and Tang San gone, Grandmaster stopped training us. He locked himself in the attic all day, obsessing over his research into something mysterious." 

"The academy isn't doing well either. The headmasters have disagreements, and as a result, fewer and fewer new students enroll. If not for the investment from Sect Master Ning back then, the academy might not have even survived." 

"We could only watch helplessly. But worrying wouldn't change anything. Once I broke through to Spirit Ancestor, I applied for graduation. I didn't want to continue using the academy's resources, so I came to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to continue my training." 

"Fatty also graduated, but he didn't want to be tied down. He's been making a living by hunting spirit beasts for others. And because of his martial spirit—well, since he still doesn't have a proper girlfriend, he's been using the money he earns to... uh, visit certain places." 

Dugu Yan, who had been quietly listening, frowned slightly in confusion. 

"What kind of martial spirit requires him to do that?" 

Wang Li leaned over and whispered an explanation in her ear. After hearing it, Dugu Yan's expression immediately turned disdainful. She scoffed and muttered, 

"How vulgar." 

Ning Rongrong and Oscar also looked a bit embarrassed. When they first learned about Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix martial spirit, their initial reaction had been the same. 

However, over time, they had accepted him as a companion and stopped commenting on it. Even so, the awkwardness in the air was undeniable. 

Sensing the tension, Wang Li stepped in to ease the atmosphere. 

"Life is unpredictable. If Xiao Wu managed to escape from the Titan Giant Ape once, maybe she can do it again. I just hope she's safe." 

"As for Tang San... I remember he came from a village like me, but it turns out he has quite the background. You really can't judge a book by its cover." 

Ning Rongrong and Oscar both nodded. Wang Li had voiced their exact thoughts. They saw Xiao Wu as a companion and hoped she was unharmed. 

With a shared topic of interest, the conversation became livelier. As they ate and drank, the atmosphere grew increasingly warm and amicable. 

Ning Fengzhi wore a satisfied smile. Compared to Yu Yuanzhen, he was the true master strategist. 

Still, he couldn't help but marvel at how much had changed in just a few years. Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Wang Li had all undergone dramatic transformations, making it impossible to ignore them. He had to take them seriously and put effort into maintaining a good relationship. 

Where had things gone so differently from what he expected? 

As the day passed, Dugu Bo eventually rose to take his leave, bringing Dugu Yan and Wang Li with him. Ning Fengzhi, along with Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, Ning Rongrong, and Oscar, personally escorted them to the sect's gates. 

Once they were gone, Ning Fengzhi's expression grew serious. 

"It's truly unbelievable. A mere Spirit Emperor capable of defeating multiple Spirit Douluo... According to the information we received, yesterday, Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Wang Li visited the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. But what exactly happened there is still unknown." 

"If the Spirit Douluo of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had defeated Wang Li, why would they be keeping things so quiet? It's obvious—Wang Li must have beaten them. Even the so-called strongest assault-type beast martial spirit in the world couldn't stop his rise." 

Chen Xin and Gu Rong both nodded in agreement. The strength of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial spirit had been proven in countless battles. 

Defeating ordinary spirit masters despite a rank gap was one thing. But defeating Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit masters at a higher rank? That was another matter entirely. 

After a brief silence, Ning Fengzhi turned to look at Ning Rongrong, then at Oscar. His tone was gentle but firm. 

"Oscar, we have all witnessed your talent firsthand. A food-type spirit master with innate full spirit power—perhaps you are the only one of your kind in the entire continent." 

"However, in our hearts, Rongrong's ideal partner is a powerful combat spirit master like Wang Li. Otherwise, if two support-type spirit masters were together, who would protect whom in times of danger?" 

"But since you have chosen to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, rest assured, we will spare no effort in cultivating you. In the future, we will entrust you with great responsibilities." 

As his words fell, Ning Rongrong bit her lip tightly, while Oscar's face turned pale.

Oscar couldn't imagine watching Ning Rongrong marry someone else, seeing her share a wedding night with another man—how utterly devastating that would be for him. 

At this moment, he felt just how useless his Sausage Martial Soul was. Even with innate full soul power, the fact remained—he had no combat ability. 

Ning Fengzhi was being quite straightforward. He laid everything out clearly instead of giving Oscar false hope or empty promises. 

In the end, Oscar bowed deeply and said, 

"Master Ning, I truly love Rongrong. Please, give me a chance. The Sausage Martial Soul may not be suited for battle, but even the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was once considered worthless." 

"If I can find a way, even my Sausage Martial Soul will one day possess combat strength." 

Though Ning Fengzhi didn't have much faith in Oscar, a food-type Soul Master with innate full soul power was still highly valuable. He nodded and said, 

"Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, from now on, Oscar will train under your guidance. Oscar, this is the opportunity I'm giving you—it's up to you whether you can seize it or not." 

Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged looks. They weren't particularly impressed with Oscar's delicate, almost pretty-boy appearance, but since Ning Fengzhi had personally arranged this, they both nodded and agreed. 

Oscar, feeling as if a massive red "CRISIS" symbol loomed over his head, expressed his gratitude to Ning Fengzhi profusely. 

Meanwhile, outside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Wang Li were making their way down the mountain. 

Dugu Bo sighed, 

"Ning Fengzhi is truly a cunning old fox. He welcomed us with a smile the whole time—I never even got a chance to propose a challenge against their top experts." 

Wang Li had initially wanted to challenge not just ordinary Soul Douluo but even one of the Sword or Bone Douluo. However, that opportunity had slipped away. Still, gathering so much intelligence about Shrek Academy and the Shrek Seven Devils made the trip worthwhile. 

Shrek Academy was struggling, and the Seven Devils had scattered. 

Wang Li shook his head and chuckled, 

"Well, if we couldn't fight, then we couldn't fight. But I've already gained a lot of insights from this trip. I'm confident that with just one period of closed-door training, I'll make a huge breakthrough." 

"Aside from me, Yan-yan also needs to advance. She's already at Rank 69—she must go into seclusion to break through the Rank 70 threshold as soon as possible." 

"In fact, we've already located the perfect soul beast for her seventh ring. Everything is ready—only the breakthrough remains." 

"The Storm Abyss Dragon from the Tempest Strait—it's a true dragon species. Its body is as hard as steel, its wings grant it unparalleled mobility, and it's at least seventy thousand years old." 

Hearing this, Dugu Bo became visibly excited. His granddaughter was about to hunt a real dragon for her seventh soul ring. Without hesitation, he said, 

"Forget returning to Heaven Dou City—let's head straight for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well." 

Wang Li and Dugu Yan both nodded in agreement. 

Without further ado, Dugu Bo changed course, while Wang Li carried Dugu Yan as they flew alongside him. 

Glancing back at the two, Dugu Bo couldn't help but smirk and say, 

"Wang Li, your luck is truly ridiculous. You even managed to stumble upon a hundred-thousand-year-old soul bone while traveling. Now, you have the ability to fly at the Soul Sage level—unbelievable." 

Since Wang Li had gained flight capabilities, he no longer needed Dugu Bo to carry him. Smiling, he replied, 

"It really was luck. The soul bone belonged to a Blue Silver Emperor Soul Beast, just like my martial soul. That's why I was able to sense it and retrieve it. Now, with flight capabilities, I'll be even more useful when we hunt the Storm Abyss Dragon." 

Soon, they arrived at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. 

After a full year away, the place remained unchanged. 

Breaking through from Rank 69 to Rank 70 was a major hurdle, which was why Dugu Yan had been stuck at this bottleneck. 

Now that they had returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—a place rich with energy—she had the perfect environment to advance. The extreme heat and cold energies, which others considered poisonous, were instead a source of high-quality soul power for her. At this point, they no longer posed any threat to her body. 

So, on the second day after their return, Dugu Yan entered seclusion, focusing on breaking through. 

As for Wang Li, he submerged himself in the core of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, preparing for his own advancement—one that would take him directly to Rank 80. 

(End of Chapter)