Chapter 228: Ning Rongrong's Secret Escape
"First, let's discreetly contact someone on Sea God Island to find a way to protect Little San's identity," Tang Xiao pondered. "As long as the people from the Martial Soul Hall don't discover that the successor of the Sea God is Little San, they won't act rashly."
"Also, get in touch with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. The Martial Soul Hall's arrogance has been growing, and we need to start preparing to implement our plans against them. Also, inform the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi, to increase his interactions with the Heaven Dou Royal Family, while we will handle communications with the Star Luo Empire."
"Once Little San successfully inherits the divine position, that will be the day of the downfall of the Martial Soul Hall."
The Second Elder had no objections to Tang Xiao's plans, and upon receiving his instructions, he left the council hall to dispatch missions to various disciples within the Haotian Sect.
Under the surface, while the Martial Soul Hall seemed to be the only active force on Douluo Continent, in reality, currents were stirring in the shadows.
...
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"What?! Dad, you're making me marry that ugly freak Tang San?!" Ning Rongrong stared in disbelief at the new engagement contract her father handed her.
She was frozen in place for a long time before looking up at her father, who was smiling at her. Beneath that smile, Ning Rongrong could sense her father's immense excitement.
"Rongrong, don't be disrespectful. Do you know what Tang San's status is now?" Ning Fengzhi was slightly displeased with his daughter's reference to Tang San as an 'ugly freak' and scolded her.
"He's just the son of Haotian Douluo, isn't he?" Ning Rongrong disdainfully threw the marriage contract onto the floor, her voice carrying a hint of defiance. "Even if he has twin spirits, I still look down on him."
Ning Rongrong did want to marry a strong individual, but she absolutely refused to marry someone she considered unattractive.
Moreover, she had little affection for Tang San to begin with.
Especially knowing that Tang San was also a disciple of Grandmaster, she had a natural aversion to him.
"Ridiculous!"
Seeing Ning Rongrong treat the marriage contract as if it were just a piece of trash, Ning Fengzhi's face darkened, and he burst into anger: "Pick up the marriage contract immediately!"
When Ning Rongrong saw her father yelling at her, the spoiled young miss, pampered by two Title Douluo, got defiant and retorted with a lifted face: "I won't!"
Slap!
A crisp slap sounded, and in Ning Rongrong's stunned gaze, she collapsed to the floor.
Ning Rongrong was dumbfounded.
Her father, who had always doted on her... had hit her?
When had the spoiled Ning Rongrong ever suffered such humiliation?
Her nose turned sour, and tears began to form in her eyes, falling like little pearls from her eye sockets.
Outside the room.
Hearing Ning Rongrong's crying, the two Title Douluo who were just outside came in.
"Fengzhi, I've told you to be more tactful. Why did you hit Rongrong?" Bone Douluo glared at Ning Fengzhi with a reproachful look.
Ning Fengzhi's expression was grim.
"Grandpa Jian, Dad hit me... wah wah wah..." Seeing her rescuers, Ning Rongrong immediately grabbed Sword Douluo Chenxin's clothes and complained, "Grandpa Jian, I don't want to marry that ugly freak Tang San. Please make Dad cancel the engagement."
Under Ning Rongrong's hopeful gaze, however, she saw the usually indulgent Sword Douluo Chenxin shaking his head, "Rongrong, Grandpa Jian can't help you with this. You have to understand your father's intentions. He's doing this not just for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but for you as well."
"Do you know what Tang San's current situation is?"
Ning Rongrong paused, only to hear her Grandpa Jian continue, "Tang San has now, at the level of a forty-year Soul Ancestor, absorbed a ten-thousand-year black soul ring for his second spirit, the Haotian Hammer. With your intelligence, you surely understand what this represents."
Hearing that Tang San had achieved something on par with Su Yun, a Saint of the Martial Soul Hall, Ning Rongrong's mouth fell open in shock.
As Ning Rongrong processed the revelation about Tang San being the inheritor of the Sea God's legacy, her father Ning Fengzhi continued to outline the significant strategic alliance forming because of this union.
Despite her personal feelings, the implications of Tang San's potential divine ascension had far-reaching effects not only for her personally but for the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Under the watchful eyes of the elders, Ning Rongrong finally picked up the discarded marriage contract from the floor. Her father, Ning Fengzhi, embraced her, trying to reassure her of his intentions.
"Rongrong, don't be upset with your father for hitting you. One day, you'll understand the sacrifices I've made for you. Being the wife of a god will secure a better future than being ordinary. The future of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect now depends on you," Ning Fengzhi explained softly, trying to ease the tension.
Ning Rongrong, though not verbally responsive, nodded slightly, signaling a reluctant acceptance of her fate.
That night, within the compound of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect:
A slender figure clad in dark clothing stealthily made her way out of the sect compound, exploiting the gaps in the watchful eyes of the night guards. As she slipped out, several shadowy figures followed discreetly, keeping a vigilant eye on her movements without her knowledge.
Inside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's council hall:
Bone Douluo expressed his concerns to Ning Fengzhi, "With the Spirit Hall making such significant moves, it's risky to let Rongrong sneak out. What if something happens to her?"
Ning Fengzhi responded with a calm smile, "Uncle Gu, I understand your concerns, but Rongrong's strong-willed nature is something I'm well aware of. She's internally resistant to this marriage with Tang San, and that's understandable. However, alliances like these don't accommodate personal wishes. If our sect is to survive and thrive, we need the backing of someone like Tang San, who is set to become the Sea God."
"Rongrong is my daughter, and she must bear the future responsibilities of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"As for her 'escape,' consider it a chance for her to experience the world outside. Once she sees the dangers out there on her own, she'll realize the wisdom in our decisions."
"Moreover, her safety is not something you or I need to worry about. Uncle Jian has arranged for her personal guards, trained by him, to protect her discreetly," Ning Fengzhi reassured.
Bone Douluo looked towards Old Sword Chenxin with a stern voice, "Old Sword, if anything happens to Rongrong, you and I will have issues!"
Old Sword Chenxin remained silent, merely sitting cross-legged in his chair, meditating.
Outside, as Ning Rongrong made her way through the darkness, the adventure she was unwittingly embarking upon was set to test her in ways she could not yet imagine. The protective shadows lingered, ready to intervene, but the night was deep, and the paths of fate were winding and unpredictable.
A year later.
Inside the Martial Soul Hall.
Su Yun had elevated his soul power to level seventy-five and had also acquired his seventh soul skill, the Blue Silver True Body.
Moreover, he had successfully advanced his Taiyi Green Wood Art to the third realm—Remolding.
From then on, Su Yun's body was nearly approaching immortality.
This year, not only did he make tremendous progress, but with the help of his martial soul, the realms of Zhu Zhuqing and Hu Liena also greatly advanced.
Within the year, the Martial Soul Hall was busy deploying people across the continent to find out who had become the successor to the Sea God.
However, information from Sea God Island was tightly sealed. Even though the Martial Soul Hall tried every possible means, they could not uncover it, and to this day, not many of their spies had managed to land.
Especially since the people of Sea God Island became aware of the Martial Soul Hall's unusual activities and learned that Su Yun was affiliated with them, their vigilance had increased several times over.
"The top three sects and the two great empires have been quite active this past year," Bibi Dong said with a sneer as she looked at the messages presented by the people below.
In her view, these people were merely trying to shake a giant tree with a vine.
During this year, the Martial Soul Hall continued to quietly accumulate strength, and also followed the guidelines originally set by Su Yun to infiltrate the lower strata of cities on the edges of the empire.
There, the empire's officials rarely governed directly, leaving local nobles in control of power. One could imagine how poor the lives of ordinary, non-soul master citizens were.
Through the operations of the Martial Soul Hall, many citizens had developed a sense of belonging to the Hall, though they kept it hidden in their hearts, quietly waiting for an opportunity.
At this moment, Su Yun entered the Pope's Hall from outside. Bibi Dong had sent someone to summon him, and after he bathed and changed, he arrived.
A year had passed, and Su Yun's originally youthful face had become more heroic and manly. Seeing him, Bibi Dong's eyes immediately brightened, and a hint of unusual emotion flickered through them.
"Teacher, what do you need me for?" Su Yun asked.
Looking at her increasingly handsome disciple, Bibi Dong said softly, "The continental high-level soul master academy elite competition is about to begin, and I am planning to send you to talk with the other two great empires. What do you think?"
Naturally, Su Yun would not refuse. He saw this as an opportunity to relax, so he nodded and said, "Of course, there's no problem, Teacher."
Bibi Dong nodded. "I trust you to handle it. This is also a good opportunity for you to take Nana and the others out for a stroll, to unwind."
Bibi Dong waved her hand, and a guard passed over the documents.
Su Yun took the documents related to the competition and quickly glanced through them, noting the absence of their Martial Soul Hall.
However, he also knew that if the Martial Soul Academy were to participate, he would undoubtedly be an essential candidate.
Considering his participation would likely make the competition one-sided, Bibi Dong had decreed that their academy would not participate this time.
Of course, the students of the Martial Soul Academy had no objections.
They knew that the reason they were not participating was that they had a genius, the number one ranked youth of this era, and their non-participation was merely giving face to the other academies.
"Teacher, since that is the case, I will go down and prepare."
"Alright."
Su Yun left first, leaving only Bibi Dong in the hall, her eyes flickering with a strange color as she watched his retreating figure.
...
Meanwhile.
Sea God Island.
The Stairway of the Sea God.
Tang San's footsteps were climbing towards the summit!
(End of chapter)
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