Inside a luxurious hotel suite.
Ning Rongrong sat cross-legged in meditation, faint strands of zhenqi swirling around her.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda floating beside her emitted a soft glow.
This radiance intertwined with the zhenqi, filling the room with a hazy atmosphere.
Three Flowers Gather at the Summit, Five Qi Return to the Origin.
Opening the twelve meridians, then breaking through the final connecting vessels the Ren and Du meridians to complete the zhenqi cycle and achieve internal circulation.
This was the Xiantian realm, also known as the Grandmaster realm.
As the name suggested, a Grandmaster's every movement carried the power of heaven and earth.
Being impervious to heat and cold, or soaring through the skies these were trivial feats at this level.
In her past life, had she truly reached the Grandmaster realm, she wouldn't have perished in that devastating avalanche.
Back then, she seemed to have broken through at the last moment, but her life force had already reached its limit, leaving her unable to exert her full power.
And then, when she awoke, she had crossed into this world.
There was no point dwelling on the past. Today, Ning Rongrong would step into the Grandmaster realm.
The sound of a bottleneck shattering echoed in her ears.
Ning Rongrong's aura surged abruptly.
The gap between Houtian and Xiantian (Grandmaster) was once again laid bare.
An endlessly regenerative energy spread outward from her, carrying a faint but palpable pressure.
"Oh? It seems she succeeded."
Tokisaki Kurumi, dressed in her gothic lolita attire, leaned against the wall outside the suite, arms crossed. She was the first to sense the vast, oppressive energy emanating from within.
"She succeeded. Now, all that's left is complete fusion with the Dark Devilgod Pearl…"
Her gaze drifted to the opposite end of the hallway, where two figures stood.
Whether they were worried about Ning Rongrong or distrustful of her, the Dark Devilgod Tiger, these two night owls hadn't slept either.
Well, they seemed important to Ning Rongrong, so she couldn't be bothered to care.
Tokisaki Kurumi glanced at the door.
"If Master fully masters the Dark Devilgod Pearl's power, I'll also receive quite a boon."
After all, the Dark Devilgod Pearl was a divine artifact formed from the remains of a fallen Evil God a condensed fragment of divine power.
If used to condense a Soul Ring…
"Heh, who knows how long that'll take?"
She shrugged and closed her eyes again, feigning sleep.
"Sword Elder, do you sense it?"
As Tokisaki Kurumi had mused, Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo had been closely monitoring Ning Rongrong's breakthrough, their nerves taut.
Ning Fengzhi felt the spreading pressure and couldn't hide his shock.
"Yes, it's strong…" The Sword Douluo sensed the peculiar energy radiating outward, feeling an inexplicable weight.
"Just the aura alone rivals a Soul Sage under the full enhancement of a Martial Soul True Body perhaps even stronger."
"A Soul Sage!" Ning Fengzhi marveled. "Rongrong has already reached such heights?"
"She's almost caught up to me."
"I fear it's more than that." The Sword Douluo frowned in thought.
"What else have you noticed?" Ning Fengzhi turned to him.
"I'm not certain, but Rongrong may be planning to condense a Soul Ring likely related to that Dark Devilgod Pearl."
At the mention of the Dark Devilgod Pearl, the Sword Douluo's eyes flicked toward Tokisaki Kurumi.
"Fengzhi, you may not have realized."
"But Tokisaki Kurumi's aura is far more concentrated now than before."
"You mean…"
"If the Dark Devilgod Pearl is truly a relic of an Evil God, then a mere Dark Devilgod Tiger couldn't fully control it. Given Rongrong's personality, she might…"
A deep unease settled in the Sword Douluo's heart.
"Are you worried Tokisaki Kurumi is deceiving Rongrong?" Ning Fengzhi's brow furrowed.
After a moment, he relaxed slightly and shook his head.
"Rongrong is methodical in her actions. I doubt the Dark Devilgod Tiger could deceive her or even if she could, it's unlikely. Mutual benefit is more plausible."
"Let's hope so." The Sword Douluo sighed.
After all, this involved divine power. For a mortal to harness the might of a god how could he not worry?
The night passed, and the oppressive aura that had filled the hotel gradually receded, stabilizing within the suite.
When Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo asked Tokisaki Kurumi how long Ning Rongrong would remain in this state, her answer aligned with their expectations.
The breakthrough was complete. Now, she was condensing a Soul Ring.
Tokisaki Kurumi didn't specify the Soul Ring's age but hinted it might take days or longer.
She assured them there was no need to worry she had no reason to harm a master who could help her ascend to godhood.
Baffled but unable to stay, Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo left for the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace early the next morning.
Meanwhile, Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiao had also spent a sleepless night.
Humiliated by their crushing defeat at the hands of a woman using their own techniques against them they were left in disgrace.
But what truly darkened Yu Yuanzhen's expression was Yang Wudi's crippling injury.
His decision to sever ties with the Spirit Hall had been a gamble, and Yang Wudi's condition would undoubtedly draw criticism from his clan.
With a headache brewing, Yu Yuanzhen accompanied Tang Xiao to Shrek Academy.
The academy had a 70th-rank Food System Soul Master who provided significant aid to Yang Wudi, but the aftermath still left Yu Yuanzhen at a loss.
Thus, Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiao remained awake all night.
Seated in Shrek's main hall, they began discussions.
Present were not only the Golden Iron Triangle but also Shrek's core disciples, including the "Path of the Undying" and others.
But rather than a discussion, it was more of an interrogation.
Under the gaze of multiple Titled Douluo, Xiao Wu clutched Tang San's sleeve, her heart pounding wildly.
If not for Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiao's insistence, she would never have willingly faced Titled Douluo.
Their stares felt like predators eyeing prey her heart rate easily hit 150 beats per minute.
"Xiao Wu, don't worry. The Clear Sky Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan are honorable sects."
"We've sworn not to take your Soul Ring or Soul Bone. There's no need for fear. Tang San's mother my brother's wife was also a 100,000-year transformed Soul Beast. We bear no prejudice."
"If not for the Spirit Hall back then, my brother wouldn't have…"
"Elder Brother, let's not dwell on the past. Let's focus on the matter at hand." Tang Hao waved his hand, cutting off Tang Xiao's reminiscence.
Tang Xiao nodded and turned to the solemn Yu Yuanzhen.
"Clan Leader Yu, would you like to ask, or shall I?"
"Xiao Wu is your people. It's not my place to interrogate her. You handle it I'll just listen."
The Clear Sky Clan's… peculiar preferences were best left to them. As for Xiao Wu's Soul Ring and Soul Bone, he no longer cared.
Before returning, Tang Xiao had assured him that this incident wouldn't affect their agreement. The debt remained.
At least until the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan obtained a 100,000-year Soul Ring and Soul Bone, the Clear Sky Clan owed them.
With Tang Xiao's word, Yu Yuanzhen had no choice but to concede.
Besides, he was the one who had called for reinforcements, only to be utterly crushed. The blame lay with his lack of preparation.
His mistake, not Tang Xiao's.
Tang Xiao took a deep breath and asked:
"Xiao Wu, do you know the identities of the two transformed Soul Beasts we fought today?"