Chapter Seventeen: Ning Rongrong

“Are you the Bone Douluo? Nice to meet you!” Ling Xiao landed in a clearing and looked at the elderly man before him.

“Yes, the sect leader has been waiting for some time. The Holy Son and I will go!” Bone Douluo said, then turned and walked in a certain direction.

Ling Xiao followed Bone Douluo to the council hall.

“Hahaha! Welcome, Holy Son!” Upon entering the hall, Ning Fengzhi’s voice rang out.

At this moment, he was seated in the center chair. To his right sat Sword Douluo, who was watching Ling Xiao with a wary expression.

“Leader Ning, may I ask the purpose of my summons?” Ling Xiao took a seat without paying attention to Sword Douluo’s mood and straightforwardly asked.

“Holy Son, it’s like this: I have a daughter named Ning Rongrong. I invited you here hoping you might teach her to become stronger. As long as you’re willing, price is no object. If there’s anything else you need, I will do my best to accommodate,” Ning Fengzhi said without pretension, directly stating his purpose.

“I don’t understand why you think I could teach others. Don’t forget, I’m still just a child!” Ling Xiao calmly replied, unmoved.

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo’s mouths twitched slightly, exchanging strange looks. They silently thought: It’s true he’s a child, but anyone who truly treats him as an ordinary child must be a fool.

“Holy Son, you need not joke. From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were no ordinary person,” Ning Fengzhi said. A child only a few years old possessing the strength of a titled Douluo—how could he be ordinary?

“But I really can’t teach others. My strength is only because of my innate talent,” Ling Xiao said, unaffected by Ning Fengzhi’s praise. In fact, it was true that his power came largely from the aid of the system.

“Holy Son, there’s no need to be so modest. Your presence here today is already enough for me. If it doesn’t work out, it’s no matter. After all, my own martial soul is now the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, and I can continue to grow stronger. Our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect’s strength has increased as well, so our future aid to the Martial Soul Hall and His Holiness the Emperor will be even greater,” Ning Fengzhi said, wearing a gentle smile like a spring breeze.

Ling Xiao fell silent upon hearing this. The Martial Soul Hall had now allied with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; as the latter grew stronger, so too did the Martial Soul Hall.

Moreover, only he possessed the method to evolve the Glazed Tile Pagoda. This alone meant that as long as the sect wished to develop further, rebellion was out of the question.

Therefore, it was indeed necessary for him to help the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect grow stronger, starting with Ning Fengzhi’s daughter.

“I will consider how to help your daughter become stronger. As long as your sect remains loyal to the Martial Soul Hall, I will do my best to assist,” Ling Xiao said.

“Of course, we have already allied with the Martial Soul Hall. Please rest assured, Holy Son. Now, I’ll trouble Uncle Bone to escort you to rest,” Ning Fengzhi’s smile grew even warmer.

After Ling Xiao and Bone Douluo left, Sword Douluo couldn’t help but ask, “Fengzhi, how do you know he truly intends to teach Rongrong? What if he schemes in secret? He said he only has great talent but no experience teaching others. What if he corrupts Rongrong?”

Sword Douluo’s questions reflected his distrust of Ling Xiao, as he had always doted on Ning Rongrong like a granddaughter and was very protective.

“Uncle Sword, it seems you still don’t understand this Holy Son. He wouldn’t do such a thing,” Ning Fengzhi shook his head, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.

“Why? We know nothing about him!” Sword Douluo looked puzzled. Why could Ning Fengzhi trust such an extremely dangerous person?

Indeed, since that day, Sword Douluo had regarded Ling Xiao as a tremendously dangerous existence.

“Uncle Sword, the last time I met the Holy Son, I was amazed and even frightened. He is intelligent and cold, not at all like a child. But I also saw another side: his concern for the Martial Soul Hall—or rather, for Bibi Dong,” Ning Fengzhi smiled.

“Everything the Holy Son does is for Bibi Dong. For example, that day, he punished someone simply for showing disrespect to Bibi Dong, but to prevent us from resenting the Martial Soul Hall, he made amends in other ways.”

“Also, that day, the other person standing nearby was the Angel Douluo, one of the world’s top masters—someone even the Emperor should show respect to.”

“But the Holy Son showed no reverence toward him, as if he were an ordinary person—and he didn’t care. This showed me that within the Martial Soul Hall, this Holy Son holds an extraordinary status. And since he treats Bibi Dong so well, it means that as long as something benefits her, this Holy Son is unlikely to refuse.”

Sword Douluo was stunned. So Ning Fengzhi had already thought all this through that day? He was getting old and slow in the mind.

“But we can’t go too far yet, since our relationship isn’t strong enough. Everything must proceed gradually,” Ning Fengzhi said, a sharp gleam crossing his eyes.

Meanwhile, Bone Douluo had arranged for Ling Xiao to stay in a luxurious residence.

Along the way, many members of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect showed great curiosity about Ling Xiao’s arrival.

After all, such treatment—being accompanied by one of the sect’s two pillars, Bone Douluo—was usually reserved only for the sect’s little princess. Many speculated about Ling Xiao’s background. Even some Douluos were discussing him.

To curb speculation, Bone Douluo informed everyone that Ling Xiao was the sect’s young master, a promising talent found by the sect leader outside.

Upon hearing this, all present showed understanding and ceased their guesses, but the stir caused by this news did not subside.

“Holy Son, you’ll stay here for now. If you need anything, just summon someone. There will always be people on standby outside!”

“Understood. May I stroll freely around the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?”

“Of course, Holy Son, feel free!”

After speaking, Bone Douluo left. Ling Xiao sat on the bed for a while, then stepped out and began exploring the sect.

At this moment, the system’s voice sounded.

“Ding, mission released: Life Ancient God’s fifth trial, train Ning Rongrong. Reward: Life Essence Liquid!”

Ling Xiao’s eyes brightened. Life Essence Liquid sounded like a valuable item that would greatly benefit his future growth.

On the way, many sect members looked at Ling Xiao curiously. The news that the young master had arrived, as announced by Elder Bone, had spread throughout the sect. After all, Bone Douluo was one of the two pillars of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

They were all very curious about the identity of the one called the young master.

Ling Xiao paid no mind to the others, as long as they didn’t disturb him.

But things never go as one wishes. Just as Ling Xiao was walking, several people suddenly approached him.

“Hey, you, stop right there!”

Ling Xiao heard the voice behind him, turned around, and saw a little girl.

She wore a pale blue dress, with blue pants reaching her knees, brown shoes, and a few attendants trailing behind her.

“Are you calling me? Who are you?” Ling Xiao asked.

“What! You don’t even know me yet dare to come to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!” The little girl exclaimed as if it were a grave crime not to recognize her.

“Listen up, I’m Ning Rongrong. The sect leader of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is my father. Are you the so-called young master Elder Bone mentioned?” Ning Rongrong crossed her arms, radiating pride and sternness.

“Something like that. You must be Ning Rongrong. Your father asked me to train you,” Ling Xiao said, looking her over disinterestedly while pondering how to help her grow stronger.

“What? You, training me? A kid!” Ning Rongrong’s face twisted with disdain. Although Ling Xiao looked a few years older, he was still just a child.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“You don’t look much older than me. How dare you say you’ll train me!”

“So will you train or not?” Ling Xiao asked.

“No! I would never do such a thing!” Ning Rongrong arrogantly refused, sneering at the idea.

“Is that so? Then it seems the sect leader’s daughter of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is nothing but a wild, ill-mannered girl,” Ling Xiao said, turning and walking away.

“Come back here! Who dares speak of me like that? I’ll have my father, Elder Bone, and Elder Sword punish you!” Ning Rongrong’s face flushed with anger as she stomped her foot and shouted.

“Aren’t you acting like that already?” Ling Xiao stopped.

“I-I’m not!” Ning Rongrong retorted.

“If not, then prove it. Starting tomorrow, I will train you. If you can hold on, then I was wrong. If not, then it will prove you were,” Ling Xiao said before leaving without looking back.

Left alone, Ning Rongrong fumed, “I won’t lose to you, you big villain! I will definitely persevere!”