After sending Xiao Lin and the others to a small town near the Extreme North, Gu Rong couldn't help coming back to complain to Ning Fengzhi.
"That brat—he still dares to look down on my Rong Rong!"
Gu Rong was clearly riled up—his grizzled beard practically stood on end against gravity.
"That's not true, Grandpa Bone!"
Ning Rongrong's delicate little face wrinkled up. Saying things like that out loud was far too embarrassing.
In her heart, Ning Rongrong thought—sooner or later, she would get Xiao Lin anyway, so why was there a need to force things like this?
She even felt that Ning Fengzhi had just meddled unnecessarily.
It was mortifying!
And really, at school, could Xiao Lin possibly find a girl better than her?
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!Did he not understand the worth of the strongest future support in the world?
"Alright, let's just leave it to Rong Rong herself from now on."
Of course, Ning Fengzhi could see it clearly—right now Ning Rongrong practically wanted to keep her eyes glued to Xiao Lin at all times.
It might sound exaggerated, but it was the truth.
Did Ning Fengzhi not know his precious daughter?Because of her talent, her standards were sky-high.
Now that her martial soul had evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, who could possibly be worthy of her?If she didn't go for Xiao Lin, she might end up alone for life.
That would never do. If the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's line were to break after the name change…
Ning Fengzhi didn't even dare to think further.
"Rong Rong, when you're pursuing Xiao Lin, don't worry about spending money. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will always have your back."
In that moment, Ning Fengzhi directly passed on every method his father had taught him about courting a girl.
After all, their family had plenty of money, and with Rong Rong being a girl—well, when a woman chases a man, it's much easier, isn't it?
And his Rong Rong was beautiful, too!
"Dad!"
Ning Rongrong stomped her foot shyly as Ning Fengzhi instructed her in these things.
"Alright, alright, enough talk."
Ning Fengzhi laughed heartily, then looked toward Gu Rong.
"Uncle Gu, Xiao Lin didn't say exactly where that Nine-Colored Flower Soul Beast is, but he gave us a lot of clues."
"Understood. Eight thousand years of cultivation doesn't necessarily mean it's in the mixed zone, but Xiao Lin said there are quite a few soul beasts protecting it. Those beasts must be even stronger than the Nine-Colored Flower itself."
"Which means it's probably near the core area, at the edge of the mixed zone."
Gu Rong smiled faintly, then opened a spatial tunnel. From the other side of the tunnel came, from time to time, the roars of powerful soul beasts.
"Rong Rong, even though the Nine-Colored Flower is a plant-type soul beast, it'll still put you under a lot of pressure. How far have you gotten with your split-attention control training?"
Ning Fengzhi remembered this concern and asked with some care.
"I've already reached the 'Three Apertures Constant Heart' stage."
Ning Rongrong pouted—she hadn't been slacking off in the least.
Compared to the Ning Rongrong of the original timeline, this one had worked far harder.
With her extreme-limit soul rings, Ning Fengzhi's stricter guidance, the resources of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and even medicinal baths from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan…
"Alright then. We'll set off right away. The time we spend looking for the Nine-Colored Flower will be enough for Rong Rong to reach level 40."
As soon as Ning Fengzhi finished speaking, Gu Rong took the group and vanished from the spot.
Such methods—truly worthy of the most mysterious and unpredictable Title Douluo.
Meanwhile, in the Extreme North, in the Snow Spirit Province—
Aurora Town.
This town was located on the edge of the Extreme North, and compared to other settlements, it lay even closer to the far northern reaches.
Right now, Xiao Lin and his team of five were standing on Aurora Town's unique frozen ground. Looking up, they could see the magnificent aurora in the sky.
They had arrived at just the right time—this season had more daylight hours.
If they had come later, they might have encountered the months-long night.
Even wearing the heavy clothes meant for the Extreme North, the wind on their faces still felt like knives.
In this bone-piercing cold, they had no choice but to use their soul power to protect themselves.
"Xiao Lin, where is this place?"
Shi Mo looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings and asked the sharpest mind in their group.
"Not sure. But if we want to hunt for soul rings, we'll need to ask local hunters or soul-hunting teams."
As captain, Xiao Lin then assigned tasks: everyone was to gather intel and regroup here in two hours.
Tang Ni went alone, the Shi brothers formed one pair, and Xiao Lin went with Ye Lingling.
Each pair headed to a different bar in Aurora Town.
Here near the Extreme North, bars where soul masters drank to warm up and swap tall tales were often the richest sources of information.
After splitting up, Xiao Lin and Ye Lingling headed to the last bar.
"Lei Bing Bar!"
From several meters away, Xiao Lin could already hear the noisy chatter spilling from the place. Through the doors, he caught glimpses of the crowded interior.
"Ye Lingling, with a place this packed, it could be dangerous for someone as pretty as you. Stick close to me—hold on to my sleeve. I'll protect you with my soul power."
In his previous life, Xiao Lin had never been to a bar—especially not a rough one like this.
And in this life, he was actually walking into such chaos. At first, he'd been reluctant.
But there was no helping it—no matter what was inside, a man couldn't just let himself be "held hostage" by indecision forever.
As soon as he spoke, Ye Lingling's pretty face under her veil flushed slightly. She obediently took hold of his sleeve.
Softly, like a mosquito's hum, she replied:
"Mm."
Feeling her movement, Xiao Lin immediately activated his Diamond Body Technique and stepped toward the Lei Bing Bar.
Before long, his surging soul power enveloped Ye Lingling entirely.
Her face reddened even more.
Such domineering soul power!
Ye Lingling could feel how his energy completely suppressed her own—and with it came an overwhelming sense of security.
It was as if, with Xiao Lin's power surrounding her, nothing could hurt her, and even the cold disappeared.
"Hahaha! You idiot, your son's definitely been eaten by a soul beast in the Extreme North!"
"Exactly! After all this time, how could he still be alive?"
"Impossible! My boy's timid—he's only ever joined safe hunting missions. How could he be eaten by a soul beast?"
"If he had been, would you lot even still be alive?"
The moment Xiao Lin entered, he heard several soul-hunting team members mocking a middle-aged man with half-white hair.
The man's face was resolute—he simply refused to believe what they were saying.
"Bullshit! I'm strong as hell—you dare curse me like that?"
The scarred, burly leader slammed his bottle down and strode toward the man, the twisted scar on his face making him look even more menacing.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man retreated nervously.
But the other onlookers—also members of soul-hunting teams—blocked his way, hemming him in for their amusement.
In the Extreme North, no one knew whether death or tomorrow would come first.
The man's words had clearly angered the crowd, and now they surrounded him, eager to watch the show.
Xiao Lin, seeing this, knew that no matter how kindhearted he was, he had no reason to get involved.
(End of chapter)