The Star Dou Great Forest was different from the human world.
As long-lived soul beasts, they were well-versed in matters concerning gods—especially the ascension to godhood at the hundredth rank. The Star Dou Great Forest had detailed records of such events.
Twenty thousand years ago, the Sea God Poseidon achieved godhood, and his final soul ring was golden.
Golden soul rings were commonly referred to as million-year soul rings, also known as divine rings.
Bi Ji, ever curious and studious, was intimately familiar with this history—she might have even witnessed it firsthand.
But she couldn't comprehend it.
Why would a million-year soul ring appear as the seventh soul ring of a Soul Sage?
This Soul Sage's soul rings were equally baffling. Each ring was nearly identical in age, all between fifty to sixty thousand years.
Except for the seventh ring, the rest were almost uniform in power.
There was no trace of soul beast impurities in the resonance of the rings—as if they were inherently part of the girl's own strength.
"So, you're Ning Rongrong?" Bi Ji suppressed her shock, her tone softening slightly.
"Ah, I'm honored that Lady Bi Ji knows of me."
Ning Rongrong placed a hand over her chest, performing a slight noble's bow.
"Might I ask why Lady Bi Ji sought me out in the middle of the night?"
"How do you know about our master?" Bi Ji's voice turned grave.
The Silver Dragon King was tied to the rise and fall of the soul beast race—how could a mere human know of her?
Had the Divine Realm already discovered her?
Ning Rongrong's soul rings were anything but ordinary, forcing Bi Ji to suspect the worst.
"Lady Bi Ji, what I know is my own knowledge—it has nothing to do with the Divine Realm. As for the reason… well…"
Ning Rongrong spread her hands slightly before continuing,
"As a first-grade god, the Silver Dragon King should understand that there are vast spaces beyond the Divine Realm."
"Lady Bi Ji, our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has no intention of making enemies of you, nor are we necessarily your foes. There was no need for you to investigate us."
"Human, why should I believe you?" Bi Ji frowned.
"Believe me or not—it makes no difference to our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
Ning Rongrong's words left Bi Ji puzzled. Just as Bi Ji was about to press further, Ning Rongrong spoke again:
"Lady Bi Ji, as long as you and Sir Di Tian refrain from stirring up trouble during this period, our sect is willing to turn a blind eye."
"You're threatening me and Di Tian?" Bi Ji let out a derisive laugh. "Human, where do you get the audacity?"
"Audacity? From strength, of course!"
Suddenly, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in Ning Rongrong's hand erupted with light.
Tokisaki Kurumi dissolved into a streak of white light, merging into the pagoda. Its radiance intensified dramatically.
At the same time—
Ning Fengzhi, the Sword Douluo, and the Bone Douluo felt their martial souls tremble faintly.
Light and darkness permeated the entire space.
"Impossible! That's—" Bi Ji could no longer maintain her composure.
Where light and darkness intertwined—or rather, where the martial souls of Ning Fengzhi, the Sword Douluo, and the Bone Douluo resonated in perfect harmony—
"Martial Soul Fusion Skill!"
The sheer pressure from the martial soul resonance alone nearly forced Bi Ji to her knees.
A faint sheen of cold sweat formed on her forehead.
"Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect… you're anything but simple."
This oppressive force even surpassed Di Tian's.
"Indeed, it's martial soul resonance. I'm sure a knowledgeable soul beast like yourself understands what this manifestation of soul power fusion implies?"
Two Rank 98 powerhouses, plus Ning Fengzhi at Rank 89—this combined force, when unleashed through a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, could pose a serious threat even to a quasi-god like Di Tian.
Yet, the three of them—currently in the pre-cast state of the fusion skill—were utterly bewildered.
Nya nya nya? Who are we? Where are we?
Since when could their martial soul resonance reach the level of creating skill phenomena?
Just earlier, when Tokisaki Kurumi's clone had sought their help to rescue her main body, they had barely managed martial soul resonance. What the hell is happening now?
Of course, despite their internal screaming, their expressions remained flawlessly controlled, giving nothing away to Bi Ji.
"Lady Bi Ji, does this give our words a bit more weight?" Ning Rongrong glanced at the forming phenomenon behind her before turning back.
"We have only one request—don't cause trouble during this time."
"Of course, if others provoke you first, retaliation is understandable. Just don't bring the battlefield into Heaven Dou City."
"You revealed your trump card just for this?" Bi Ji quickly grasped the situation, her tone solemn.
"A Martial Soul Fusion Skill—can you guarantee these three will stay together at all times?"
"If even one is missing, it becomes unusable."
"Of course not." Ning Rongrong chuckled lightly. "But Grandpa Bone has inherited the Dark Devilgod Tiger's legacy. A Rank 97 spatial and darkness-attribute Soul Master—do you think he could turn the Star Dou Great Forest upside down?"
"You and Di Tian's master, the Silver Dragon King, can't intervene due to the Divine Realm's restrictions, correct?"
"Lady Bi Ji, care to take that gamble?"
"You—!"
Bi Ji's anger made the swan-winged ornaments in her hair flutter.
"But that's not all."
As the fusion skill's phenomenon faded, Ning Rongrong's gaze turned icy as she stared at the Emerald Swan:
"Have you heard of Ring Fusion and Ring Explosion?"
"My Grandpa Sword is a master of Ring Fusion."
"While fused rings alone might not match Di Tian, what if combined with my Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"
"Perhaps we could capture every ten-thousand-year soul beast in the Star Dou Great Forest—excluding him, of course. That includes you, Bi Ji."
"Will you take that gamble?" Ning Rongrong narrowed her eyes.
"Bet on whether this divine soul ring of mine can elevate the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to rival Rank 99?"
In an instant, Ning Rongrong vanished, reappearing behind Bi Ji in the blink of an eye.
Bi Ji reacted swiftly, her palm transforming into a blade coated in pale green soul power. Using centrifugal force from her spin, she slashed backward with lethal precision.
Yet, the attack passed straight through Ning Rongrong's body as if she were intangible.
"Lady Bi Ji, you can't hit me~"
Ning Rongrong's voice came from behind her again.
Bi Ji struck once more, but this time, space itself seemed to stretch infinitely. The distance between them shifted mid-swing, causing her blade to miss by a meter, slicing through empty air.
"W-what did you do?!"
Sweat trickled down Bi Ji's face. After two failed attacks, she was certain—this was no ordinary Soul Sage.
The ethereal pressure she felt was faintly reminiscent of facing her master.
"Just a friendly spar." Ning Rongrong retreated to Ning Fengzhi's side.
"Lady Bi Ji, please remember my words. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect means you no harm, and we hope you'll grant us this courtesy."
"Now then—farewell, Lady Bi Ji."
"You—" Bi Ji's voice cut off abruptly.