Why try to attract Ning Rongrong's attention? Simple—she was the heiress to the richest clan in this world. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had money beyond imagination, and everyone knew it.
But it wasn't just the wealth that made her valuable. Her clan had a technique called the Heart Separation Control, which allowed them to split their thought processes into multiple simultaneous streams—up to seven at once. That ability alone would be incredibly useful.
I wouldn't mind trading for it.
Could I just use magic or mind control to take it from her? Of course. But I wasn't about to stoop that low unless absolutely necessary. I only did that to enemies, and the only people I had deemed enemies so far were Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.
I could be fair and aboveboard too, you know?
As for inviting her into the harem?
Hah.
Did you really think a spoiled princess like Ning Rongrong would willingly join a harem?
My harem was peaceful—for the most part. The only troublemaker was Yue, and maybe Xiao Wu, who I was positive had a crush on me by now. Ning Rongrong? She was used to being treated like royalty, not sharing.
Of course, Ning Rongrong wasn't stupid. She wasn't just going to believe a bunch of random strangers bragging about their strength.
"Sorry," she said, folding her arms. "That seems a bit unbelievable. Could you show me your spirit?"
A logical response.
"Sure."
With a thought, my armor and twin hammers appeared, and the air around us grew heavy under the weight of their presence.
Then, six silver soul rings materialized, glowing with an ethereal radiance.
Ning Rongrong went wide-eyed.
Silver soul rings?!
She had never seen anything like them before.
The others followed my lead. Serenity, Yue, and Xiao Wu all released their spirits as well—each one surrounded by pure black rings, signifying 10,000-year-old spirit beasts.
Zhu Zhuqing, while not quite at their level, revealed her three purple rings—still far beyond what was considered normal for someone her age.
The shock on Ning Rongrong's face was priceless.
She wasn't stupid.
Even with all her arrogance, she immediately understood—these people were monsters. Genuine, unparalleled monsters.
Not only would offending them be suicidal, but if her father learned about them, he would definitely want to recruit them into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Her attitude shifted instantly.
She quickly apologized for doubting us, her tone much more respectful now.
"Forgive me for my rudeness earlier. I just… had never seen anything like this before."
Then, with barely hidden excitement, she added, "Would you be willing to sell some of those Qi Pearls? Also… where are you staying?"
Ah.
There it was.
The bait had been taken.
~~~~
Ning Rongrong watched as the group walked away, her mind racing.
She had never seen such monstrous talent before, and more importantly—they weren't affiliated with any power.
That meant they were free agents.
She subtly signaled her hidden guard, fully aware that her father would never let her travel alone.
"Did you see everything?" she asked quietly.
"Yes, miss," the guard responded, his expression serious.
"Good." She handed him a small bottle containing the Qi Pearls she had just bought. "Have one of the others take this to my father immediately and report the news. Tell him… I'll be investigating further."
The guard nodded and disappeared into the shadows.
Ning Rongrong turned her attention back to the retreating figures of Ryan and his group. If they were staying in Suotuo, then so would she.
Without hesitation, she followed them into town, walking casually as if it was just a coincidence.
Upon reaching the hotel, she quickly booked herself a room at the same establishment.
For the next few days, she would observe them, interact with them, and—if possible—pry out their secrets.
~~~~
Of course, the group knew exactly what Ning Rongrong was doing.
This was all part of the plan.
Did she really think a 12-year-old could fool someone like Serenity—a world-class assassin with impeccable instincts? Absolutely not.
But that didn't mean they wouldn't feed her information.
"So, where are you from?" Ning Rongrong asked casually, picking up a large peach from the table. She took a bite, and her eyes widened in shock.
It was the most delicious peach she had ever eaten, but more than that—she could feel her spirit energy subtly increasing.
Ryan smirked at her reaction. "Ever heard about the God Realm?" he asked.
Ning Rongrong chewed slowly, considering his words before shaking her head. "No… what is the God Realm?"
Ryan leaned back, as if deciding how much to reveal. Then, in a conversational tone, he began spinning his tale.
"Well, when a person reaches rank 100, they can ascend to godhood. There are, of course, other ways—like divine trials—but once someone becomes a god, they can travel to the God Realm. Gods are also allowed to bring their family members with them. Occasionally, those family members choose to descend to the Douluo Continent—whether to train, experience life, or simply for fun."
It was a mix of truth and fiction, carefully crafted to sound both believable and mysterious.
Ning Rongrong's mind worked quickly to process this new information. "Are you saying… you're the family member of a god?"
Ryan chuckled. "Yep. I'm the Heir to the God of Strength."
Complete bullshit.
But it was plausible.
And, more importantly, it explained their monstrous talent in a way that no one would question.
Ning Rongrong's thoughts raced. If what he said was true, then his group had access to things far beyond what even her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could offer.
"Can you tell me more about the God Realm?" she asked eagerly.
Ryan nodded, launching into a detailed description of a spirit energy-rich land where cultivation was effortless, high-quality medicines were abundant, and top-tier martial arts and cultivation techniques were freely available.
And the best part?
Every single thing he described already belonged to him.
If needed, he could easily produce them—for a price.
Because while he had no issue trading, one thing was certain: He wouldn't be giving anything away for free.