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The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's main building was a stunning pagoda-shaped palace, its yellow glazed tiles gleaming in the light.
Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing followed Ning Rongrong into the main hall, where four people waited. Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and the broad-framed Bone Douluo were expected, but the fourth caught Ning Tian off guard.
"Dad, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone—oh, and Brother Prince, what are you doing here?" Ning Rongrong asked.
It was Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. Ning Tian knew his secret: Qian Renxue, daughter of former Pope Qian Xunji and current Pope Bibi Dong, wielder of the Seraphim martial soul, and the continent's top beauty.
As the sect's little princess, Ning Rongrong knew Xue Qinghe, her father's nominal disciple.
Qian Renxue, playing her part, smiled warmly. "I had some business with your father, so I dropped by. How's Shrek Academy been, Rongrong?"
"Hmph, Shrek's just a sham academy," Ning Rongrong huffed, brushing it off. She pointed to her friends. "Oh, right, Grandpa Bone, Brother Prince, these are my best friends, Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing. Dad and Grandpa Sword already know them. They're about my age but at level thirty-four and twenty-eight."
Then she turned to Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing. "This is Grandpa Bone and His Highness, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire."
Qian Renxue glanced at them with mild surprise. Zhu Zhuqing's talent was decent, nothing special. But Ning Tian, level thirty-four at his age? Even she, with innate level twenty soul power, had only just hit Spirit Elder back then.
That sparked her curiosity.
"Greetings, Uncle Ning, Your Highness, Senior Sword Douluo, Senior Bone Douluo," Ning Tian and Zhu Zhuqing said politely.
Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo nodded back. Bone Douluo, having heard of them from Ning Fengzhi, was friendly since they were Ning Rongrong's friends and possible future sect members. He chuckled, "No need to be formal. Fengzhi and that old guy speak highly of you."
Qian Renxue, as Xue Qinghe, added, "Senior Bone Douluo's right. Brother Ning Tian, Miss Zhuqing, it's nice to meet you. Call me Brother Xue if you'd like, no need for 'Your Highness.'"
Knowing Qian Renxue's true identity, Ning Tian didn't call her out, there was no gain in it. He and Zhu Zhuqing agreed.
After hearing their story from Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi and the others learned Shrek was a low-rate academy. The trio planned to join an advanced Spirit Master academy for the Continental Elite Competition in two years.
Qian Renxue offered to take them to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy the next morning to sort out enrollment. Then Ning Fengzhi hosted a feast for everyone.
.......
That night, Ning Fengzhi set up rooms for Qian Renxue, Ning Tian, and Zhu Zhuqing, keeping Ning Rongrong back.
"Dad, did I mess up?" Ning Rongrong asked, worried he was mad about her leaving Shrek.
"No, you did great," Ning Fengzhi said, looking pleased.
Relieved, Ning Rongrong listened as Ning Fengzhi asked, "Rongrong, what do you think of Ning Tian?"
"He's great—strong, smart, tough, fearless. Other so-called geniuses don't even compare," she said without hesitation, adding silently that his build was nice too.
"And how's he been to you?" Ning Fengzhi asked with a grin.
"Um, pretty good, I guess," she said, thinking of how he'd saved her in the Star Dou Forest and looked out for her these past months.
Her face stayed calm, but her ears turned a little red.
"I see. Rest up then. You're off to Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Qinghe tomorrow," Ning Fengzhi said with a teasing smile, letting it drop.
After she left, Bone Douluo asked, "Fengzhi, are you really set on pairing Rongrong with that boy? He's already got a girlfriend."
"I know," Ning Fengzhi replied. "But Uncle Bone, you've seen it, Rongrong likes him a lot. And from what I've seen, he's not the type to stick to just one. If they end up together and Rongrong's fine with Zhuqing staying, we don't need to split them up."
"I'm with Fengzhi," Sword Douluo said, clearly impressed by Ning Tian. Oddly, he didn't mind the idea of Ning Rongrong sharing him.
Bone Douluo sighed. "Fine, but only if Rongrong is willing. I won't let you trade her happiness for the sect."
It made sense. On the Douluo Continent, strong men often had multiple wives. Ning Fengzhi himself had several, though only one daughter.
........
While Ning Tian's group reached the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Tang Hao finally arrived at Tang San's side, called by Yu Xiaogang.
But this Tang Hao was nothing like the one Tang San remembered. Once tall and sturdy with a rough edge, he now looked thin and frail, like a breeze could topple him. His bronze skin was gone, replaced by a dry, pale sheen. He seemed seventy or eighty years old.
Seeing this, Tang San, who prided himself on his strength, fell apart. Tears he hadn't shed even when he thought he'd lost Xiao Wu or during three months of constant diarrhea poured out. "Father..." he choked.
If not for the familiar face and eyes, he'd have thought it was a stranger.
"Father... Father, what's wrong? How'd you age so much in just six years?" Tang San sobbed, throwing himself into Tang Hao's arms.
"Clear Sky Douluo, what happened?" Yu Xiaogang gasped, stunned.
Tang Hao ignored him and said to his son, "I'm fine, Little San."
Tang Hao gave a faint smile but didn't explain. Truth was, he didn't know what had happened. Especially these last three months, his health had deteriorated, forcing him into constant seclusion to hold himself together. He'd made it through, driven by the fear he wouldn't live to see Tang San grow up and avenge the Clear Sky Sect.
After calming Tang San, Tang Hao turned to Yu Xiaogang, his face icing over. "What happened?"
He'd told Yu Xiaogang not to contact him unless it was critical. Clearly, something big was up, and it had to involve Tang San.
Yu Xiaogang's face twisted. He couldn't admit his teachings had messed Tang San up, causing side effects like Ma Hongjun's evil fire.
Tang San took a deep breath. "Father, my Blue Silver Grass martial soul's got a problem..."
He laid it all out: the sudden diarrhea before hitting level thirty in the Star Dou Forest, how it got worse after his third soul ring, until he was lugging a portable toilet everywhere. Sometimes it hit mid-fight, wrecking his training and reputation.
Then he shared Ning Tian's guess.
Tang Hao listened, his frown deepening into a sharp line. But he didn't rush to judge. He sent his level ninety-two soul power into Tang San to check.
Then he asked, voice low, "So, you want to switch to your second martial soul to fix the side effects?"
Tang San nodded. "Yes, Father."
"I just checked. Your internals have some light damage, but everything else is fine. From now on, I'll stick close. When the side effects hit again, I'll look deeper. As for you," he said to Yu Xiaogang, "this doesn't involve you anymore. Leave. I'll call if I need you."
His tone was hard, dropping even the "Master" title.
"Yes, Clear Sky Douluo," Yu Xiaogang said, swallowing as he felt Tang Hao's anger.
Tang Hao had to admit Ning Tian was right, his son had been ruined by Yu Xiaogang's guidance.
At that moment, he wanted to crush Yu Xiaogang. If not for his murky ties to Bibi Dong, the Martial Soul Hall's Pope and the only Titled Douluo with twin martial souls, he'd have smashed him flat.
He'd noticed Tang San slipping for a while—skin darkening, looks fading. At first, he thought it was normal, that the Blue Silver Grass's second awakening would fix it. But after hearing Ning Tian's take through Tang San, he realized it was all Yu Xiaogang's fault.
"Father, what's wrong?" Tang San asked, seeing his worry.
Tang Hao sighed. "Your diarrhea isn't from outside, it just happens. Ning Tian was right. It's likely those three poison soul rings. They've darkened your skin, and the toxins are piling up. You're purging them this way. Where's that kid? I need to talk to him."
"He's gone. Left Shrek ten days ago," Tang San said.
"And Xiao Wu?" Tang Hao's brows shot up.
"She's still here. Why?" Since his father knew Ning Tian, Xiao Wu wasn't a surprise, so Tang San didn't dwell on it.
Hearing Xiao Wu was safe, Tang Hao relaxed. He'd been worried his plans might unravel.
He'd have to watch her more closely from the shadows.
After a pause, he said to Tang San, "Tell me everything Ning Tian said to you, word for word."
Tang San didn't hold back, trusting his father wouldn't hurt him.
Learning soul bone attributes couldn't counter the poison soul rings, Tang Hao scrapped the idea of giving Tang San the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone early.
For now, Tang San would switch to his second martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, and add power-type soul rings.
One or two should do it.
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