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"Yes," Ning Tian said with a nod. To stop Tang San from getting that hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone too early, he added, "But don't even think about soul bones. They're completely different from martial souls."
With that, he took Zhu Zhuqing's hand and walked away without a backward glance.
Over the past three months, Ning Rongrong had grown used to training with Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing. She followed them as usual. But this time, Ning Tian didn't start their routine practice.
Instead, he turned to them. "Zhuqing, Rongrong, I'm planning to leave Shrek."
"I'm coming with you," Zhu Zhuqing said without a second thought.
"Why leave so suddenly? Things are fine here," Ning Rongrong asked, puzzled.
"There's nothing left here to make me stronger," Ning Tian replied, his tone firm.
He had already won Zhu Zhuqing's trust and claimed the Eight Spider Lances. On top of that, his relationship with Tang San had fallen apart. Staying near danger wasn't his style. Tang San might act sincere, but Ning Tian knew he'd jump at the chance to get rid of him. If Tang San switched to his second martial soul, Tang Hao would show up. And if Tang San mentioned him then, who knew what might happen?
It was also time to start hunting for Blue Silver Emperor leg bones.
Ning Rongrong thought it over and nodded. "If you're both leaving, there's no reason for me to stay. I'll come too. What's your plan?"
"I was thinking of taking Zhuqing to my teacher's family to train for a bit, then enrolling in an advanced Spirit Master academy next year. We'd aim for the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Competition in two years."
"No need to go through all that," Ning Rongrong said, straightening up confidently. "I'll take you to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. My dad can write a letter to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and we'll enroll directly."
'Exactly what I wanted,' Ning Tian thought, keeping his face calm. "Then we'll be counting on Uncle Ning."
"It's no trouble. My dad would love for you to visit the sect. If you join us, even better. You'll see our castle and get a taste of our way of life."
Seeing Ning Tian agree, Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up with a soft smile. Then she paused. "Should we ask Xiao Wu to come?"
At Shrek, only Ning Tian, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu didn't get on her nerves. The others—Dai Mubai the coward, Tang San the mess, Ma Hongjun the flirt, and Oscar the scheming show-off, were unbearable. Without her friends, she'd have left long ago.
"No," Ning Tian said. For now, Xiao Wu was safest at Shrek.
All he needed was to reassure her later.
After parting with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, agreeing to leave that night, Ning Tian took steps to throw off Tang Hao's watch and Tang San's clinginess toward Xiao Wu. He swallowed an unused aphrodisiac and a strong laxative. Once he was sure Tang Hao wasn't around and had shifted the laxative's effects to Tang San, he went to find Xiao Wu.
...….
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang led Tang San to Flender's office.
"Teacher, Ning Tian's right. If I keep going like this, I'll fall behind everyone at Shrek. I need to switch to my second martial soul," Tang San said as he stepped inside.
Yu Xiaogang shot it down instantly. "No, you can't, Little San. You're risking your future. Have you thought about this? When you reach Titled Douluo, you can add soul rings to your second martial soul. Not even Ning Tian could match you then, hardly anyone on the continent could."
"But Teacher, look at me. I'm suffering from my martial soul's side effects. If this goes on, my soul power will stall forever," Tang San pressed.
As he spoke, the laxative Ning Tian had kicked in. Tang San, unbothered, pulled a spare toilet from his storage soul tool and relieved himself right in front of Yu Xiaogang.
At the same time, Yu Xiaogang felt the aphrodisiac's heat, his face flushing as he fought the urge to act. He forced it down and sighed. "Fine. If that's your choice, I'll respect it. But this isn't my call—your father has to decide."
"My father?" Tang San's eyes brightened mid-relief. He hadn't seen his dad since starting at Notting Academy and missed him terribly.
Hearing Yu Xiaogang had news of his father unleashed all his bottled-up frustration and setbacks. If Tang Hao were there, he'd have broken down crying. Even now, his eyes turned red.
"I'll reach him as soon as I can, but until then, don't do anything reckless," Yu Xiaogang said, nodding while battling his own urges.
He felt helpless. He'd tried to convince himself his theories were solid, that Tang San wasn't suffering from poison soul ring backlash like Ning Tian said. But the proof was staring him in the face, he couldn't deny it.
......….
Meanwhile, Ning Tian reached a small grove near the academy. His gaze softened as he spotted the girl waiting for him.
Xiao Wu wore her usual pink outfit, her black hair loose down her back—Ning Tian didn't like the scorpion braid. Her bright eyes met his with worry. "Little Six, why'd you call me out today? Is something wrong?"
They usually met at night, so this was out of the ordinary.
'I'm just planning to leave with two other girls,' Ning Tian thought, keeping his face steady. Sneaking around was one thing, admitting it was another.
Even if Xiao Wu was fine with it, telling her would upset her. As a decent guy, how could he let that happen?
"Sorry for worrying you," Ning Tian said, stepping forward to wrap her in a warm hug. Then he smiled lightly. "Tang Hao found me last night, so I have to leave Shrek. It might be a while before I can see you again. I'll figure something out."
He kept it casual, but Xiao Wu looked at him with pity, picturing him cornered by Tang Hao. "Little Six, it's my fault you're in this mess. As for Tang Hao and Tang San, I'd rather die than let them win. If it comes to that, I'll only be yours."
She leaned into him, tilting her delicate face up, her dark eyes full of feeling as she spoke softly. It was like she'd give herself up for him without a second thought.
"Silly girl, I won't let you die. Don't talk like that," Ning Tian said, shaking his head. He kissed her forehead. "I'm going to find the Lovesick Heartbroken Red for you. Once I get that Lovesick Heartbroken Red herb, it'll hide your aura. Then you won't have to worry about other Titled Douluos finding you."
"Little Six!" Xiao Wu gazed at him, touched, her voice gentle. In that moment, he was all she saw.
'Don't look at me like that, I might lose control,' Ning Tian thought, glancing around. No one was there. He leaned down, kissing her, pressing her against a tree.
......
The Grand Spirit Arena matches happened at night. That evening, the Shrek group reached Soutuo City and checked into a plain hotel near the arena. When they gathered, three people were missing.
Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing, Shrek's hardest workers, were late along with Ning Rongrong.
"Xiao Wu, where are Ning Tian, Zhuqing, and Rongrong?" Flender asked, figuring they were just delayed.
"They went out, I think," Xiao Wu said smoothly, avoiding any mention of Ning Tian.
He turned to Ma Hongjun, the only other one close to Ning Tian. "Hongjun, have you seen him?"
"He said he had something to do," Ma Hongjun replied, digging in his pocket. "Oh, he asked me to give you this."
He handed over an envelope. Flender opened it, and his face darkened with anger, his eyes flicking to Tang San.
Zhao Wuji noticed. "What's wrong?"
"Read it," Flender said, his voice tight.
Zhao Wuji took it and nearly burst with rage. The letter wasn't about Ning Tian's group, it was about Tang San. His glare sharpened.
Ning Tian wrote that a powerful, unknown Titled Douluo had threatened him, forcing him to leave Shrek with Zhuqing. Ning Rongrong went along to protect them, taking them to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Flender and Zhao Wuji immediately thought of Tang Hao—a rare Titled Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, tied to Shrek. The reason? Ning Tian had hurt someone's pride and nearly stolen his girlfriend.
It was ridiculous, Tang Hao's son couldn't compete, so he chased off Shrek's best students.
Tang San shrank under their stares.
Yu Xiaogang stepped in front. "Flender, what's going on?"
"Nothing. Just that Ning Tian, Zhuqing, and Rongrong have quit Shrek. They're not our students anymore. Tonight's team fight is off. I'll find new teammates for your disciple later," Flender snapped, his tone sharp.
A wave of helplessness hit him. Zhao Wuji sighed, meeting Flender's gaze, then crushed the letter.
Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were quietly pleased, no more rivals for Xiao Wu or challenges to Yu Xiaogang's ideas. Ma Hongjun looked lost, he'd mocked Tang San plenty and now faced being left out. Xiao Wu stayed blank; she knew why Ning Tian left. Dai Mubai and Oscar were furious—Ning Tian took Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, crushing their last hopes.
Oscar could let it go, he was just a food-type Spirit Master with no shot at revenge, and Ning Rongrong was never his. Dai Mubai, though, briefly thought about tipping off the Star Luo Empire or Zhu Zhuqing's family about her running off with another guy. But he didn't dare, if they caught her, his own shame would come out. A eunuch couldn't claim the throne. Better to wait and settle it later.
......
Meanwhile, Ning Tian's trio rented a fancy carriage and headed straight for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's castle. They meditated inside, boosting their soul power. After nearly ten days of travel, they arrived.
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