"Uncle Ci Xue, Uncle She Long, what are your thoughts on what Ning Fengzhi said?"
After Ci Xue and She Long returned, Xue Qinghe explained the situation in detail to them.
A 99th-rank and a 98th-rank possibly even two 99th-rank Limit Douluo-level Soul Beasts.
Xue Qinghe was completely out of options.
"The Star Dou Great Forest is truly unfathomable!" Ci Xue sighed.
"Indeed, if they're both at the 99th rank, then we…" She Long exhaled deeply. "Young Master, you previously mentioned that the High Priest was injured in his battle with Tang Chen. The Spirit Hall truly has no way to handle this."
If Qian Daoliu hadn't been injured, there might still have been room for negotiation. But after his fight with Tang Chen, he was still licking his wounds. Even if he came, it was uncertain whether he could win especially against two opponents at once.
"Young Master, if all else fails, you should abandon the Heaven Dou Empire and return to the Spirit Hall." She Long was most concerned about Qian Renxue's safety.
"That makes sense. A wise man does not stand beneath a crumbling wall." Ci Xue nodded in agreement.
"I can't do it." Xue Qinghe sighed. "I've spent over a decade of effort here. To just slink back in defeat I can't make that decision."
How many decades does a person have in their life? And she was so close to success here.
To give up halfway would be handing the Heaven Dou Empire to Xue Beng on a silver platter.
Qian Renxue could not swallow this humiliation.
"I've decided. I'll send a letter back to the Spirit Hall to hear Grandfather's opinion. I'll also ask about that woman's situation."
Bibi Dong had obtained The Heartbroken Acacia. Given her personality, she would undoubtedly use it to test her feelings for Yu Xiaogang.
If that woman truly couldn't let go of Yu Xiaogang and even gained the recognition of The Heartbroken Acacia, then Qian Renxue would have no choice but to resort to her final measure.
She, Qian Renxue, was the heir of the Angel Clan, bearing the weight of the Spirit Hall's legacy.
If that woman was determined to destroy the Spirit Hall and couldn't be persuaded otherwise, then the only option was to silence her.
However, all of this would have to wait until Grandfather recovered before any decisions could be made.
"Mother… I hope it doesn't come to that."
Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo returned from the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace late at night.
A black-haired girl in a red-and-black gothic lolita dress leaned against the hotel corridor wall, arms crossed, waiting quietly.
"Oh, you're back. Was it fun tricking Qian Renxue?"
"Uh…" The girl's teasing tone left Ning Fengzhi momentarily at a loss for words. "Where's Rongrong?"
"In the most luxurious suite of this hotel. Since the hotel is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's property, isn't it better for the young lady to cultivate in a nicer place?"
"I see." Ning Fengzhi nodded.
Beside him, the Sword Douluo found the Dark Devilgod Tiger, Tokisaki Kurumi, highly suspicious. Frowning, he asked:
"Didn't you become the spirit of Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? Why can you appear freely?"
"Still wary of me?" Tokisaki Kurumi chuckled.
"There's no need to be so guarded. I have no interest in you." She smiled.
"Fine, let me rephrase why do you think Ning Rongrong even needs the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as a martial soul?"
"What do you mean?" Ning Fengzhi frowned.
"That martial soul you all covet is completely unnecessary for her."
Tokisaki Kurumi glanced at Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo, noting their still-confused expressions.
She straightened up, a black pistol appearing in her hand.
The Sword Douluo's expression changed, immediately shielding Ning Fengzhi. "What are you doing?"
"Relax. You are my master's family. I can't harm you even if I wanted to."
Tokisaki Kurumi twirled the gun in her hand, seemingly unbothered by the Sword Douluo's warning.
"Tell me, what do you think a martial soul is?" She smirked, not waiting for an answer before continuing:
"According to my inherited memories, martial souls are fragments of the Dragon God's rules scattered across the Douluo Continent after his death, absorbed by humans or Soul Beasts."
"Of course, this is just knowledge I obtained from the Dark Devilgod Pearl. I don't know if it's true."
"But one thing I am certain of "
"The existence of a martial soul is nothing but a restriction for my master."
"A restriction?" Ning Fengzhi was puzzled.
"Ah, you still don't understand?"
Tokisaki Kurumi's weapon vanished as she leaned back against the wall, gazing at the full moon in the sky.
"For my master, the only purpose of Soul Rings is to allow her to use her original power."
"You may not realize it, but as someone who has fought her, I know very well."
"Her soul's resilience has long reached the level of a Titled Douluo."
"If she breaks through this time, her soul may even surpass Di Tian's."
"Master must have told you about her cultivation ranks, right?" She turned to Ning Fengzhi.
After a moment of thought, Ning Fengzhi nodded. "She said her current strength is slightly beyond peak Houtian, equivalent to a half-step into the Xiantian realm."
"Ah, exactly."
"Houtian, Xiantian, Zhizhen, and Life Destruction(Mingyun)."
"If my master at the Houtian realm is already comparable to a 70th-rank Soul Emperor, then what about when she reaches Xiantian?"
"And what about the two realms beyond that?"
Her words left Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo exchanging glances.
Indeed, if a half-step into Xiantian was equivalent to a 70th-rank Soul Emperor without Soul Rings, then…
Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo inhaled sharply.
If half-step Xiantian was already at the Soul Emperor level, how powerful would a true Xiantian Grandmaster be?
Would it far surpass a Soul Sage under the enhancement of a Martial Soul True Body?
"Speaking of which, with such a cultivation method, your cooperation with the Soul Beast world isn't a problem. It seems you're already considering it."
"I don't know much, but Bi Ji's power might be able to evolve your Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"This…" Ning Fengzhi fell silent.
Bi Ji, a 99th-rank Limit Douluo and the strongest healing-type Soul Beast, undoubtedly possessed extraordinary abilities.
"However, when negotiating with those two, if you don't want humanity to perish, don't reveal my master's cultivation method."
"Perhaps this sounds harsh, but without the existence of the God Realm, humanity in its current state is no match for the Soul Beasts."
"Cooperation is only possible when both sides are of equal strength. Otherwise, it's just being devoured."
"Alright, I've said what needed to be said. If you still don't understand, that's not my problem. You can leave now no need to block my way."
"Guarding my master is something I can handle alone. I don't need sleep."
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo exchanged glances before leaving for their rooms.
Tokisaki Kurumi watched the closed door.
"Master… you are no mere Soul Master."
"No ordinary Soul Master could defeat me so many times and force me into a contract."
"You seem unaffected by the will of this world. I wonder… just how far you'll go in the future."
"Well then, I'll be watching with great interest!"