Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda vanished.
In the next moment, she gently pressed her palms together.
Bi Ji had yet to understand what was happening when the surrounding space trembled, and her figure completely disappeared.
Staring at the now-empty space, Ning Rongrong murmured, "I hope this has some effect. Otherwise, we'll really have to fight a tough battle."
After Bi Ji vanished, Tokisaki Kurumi flew out from Ning Rongrong's body.
"I mean, you went through all this trouble just to send her back?"
"What else could I do? Kill her here?" Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes at Tokisaki Kurumi.
Even if she wanted to, it wasn't possible!
This was just a clone.
Could she really follow the trail to Di Tian's lair, kill Bi Ji, and turn her into a Soul Ring for Ning Fengzhi?
Leaving aside whether it was feasible, considering Di Tian and Bi Ji's relationship…
Wouldn't Di Tian just start a beast tide in retaliation?
This wasn't Soul Land 3. After the refinement of soul tools and two millennia of slaughter, the soul beasts' power had greatly declined.
But in this era, humans were no match for the soul beasts—especially that vast army of them.
She needed someone like Bi Ji to keep Di Tian in check. Besides, Bi Ji wasn't an easy kill. She was, after all, a 99th-rank pseudo-deity-level soul beast.
"Rongrong, what's going on…?"
Ning Fengzhi's voice rang out, and Ning Rongrong instinctively turned to look.
She saw Ning Fengzhi wearing an expression of hesitation.
"Ahhh, let's talk about it when we get back!" Ning Rongrong said. "Maintaining this kind of alternate dimension is exhausting, but there was no other way to deceive a 99th-rank existence. The Emerald Swan Bi Ji is far too sensitive to energy fluctuations."
"Very well."
Ning Fengzhi nodded, understanding that now wasn't the time to sort out the details.
Ning Rongrong and Tokisaki Kurumi dispelled the constructed alternate dimension.
Everyone returned to the original battlefield in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Not much time had passed since Ning Fengzhi and the others had left, but the surrounding spectators were astonished.
Ning Fengzhi had returned, but the Emerald Swan Bi Ji was nowhere to be seen.
Many Title Douluo couldn't help but suck in cold breaths, their faces filled with lingering shock, as if the words "Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—utterly terrifying!" were written all over them.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo both sensed the gazes of multiple Title Douluo but chose not to address it.
The priority was to return and clarify the situation. Let the onlookers speculate all they wanted!
Just as Ning Fengzhi and the others were about to leave, an unwelcome group approached.
A black dot in the distance grew larger—three figures, two with formidable auras and one slightly weaker.
It was Yu Yuanzhen, Tang Xiao, and Tang Hao.
"Sect Master Ning, please wait." The three arrived before Ning Fengzhi and his group.
"Oh? Is there something you need?"
"Well…" Tang Xiao, Yu Yuanzhen, and Tang Hao exchanged glances.
They had instinctively chased after them, but they hadn't thought much about what to do once they caught up.
"We saw something happening over here and came to investigate. What happened to that transformed soul beast?"
"What, are you trying to steal it?" Sword Douluo's expression darkened.
"No, nothing of the sort." Tang Xiao waved his hands, trying to ease the tension. "I was simply amazed by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength and came to offer my congratulations."
"Sect Master Tang, you flatter us. That soul beast wasn't particularly strong—just unorthodox in her fighting style. If you were familiar with it, defeating her wouldn't have been difficult."
"However, we didn't actually capture her. We merely warned her against recklessly probing Heaven Dou City again."
"After all, I am still Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's teacher. I hold no particular prejudice against soul beasts." Ning Fengzhi spoke leisurely.
"So… the Emerald Swan Bi Ji escaped?" Yu Yuanzhen pressed.
Internally, he sighed in relief. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had obtained another hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring and Soul Bone, where would that leave his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect?
"Sect Master Yu, Sect Master Tang, and Title Douluo Tang Xiao, perhaps you underestimate the strength of the Star Dou Great Forest. The Emerald Swan Bi Ji is second only to Di Tian in the forest."
"If anything were to happen to her, Heaven Dou Empire would bear the brunt of the retaliation. As Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's teacher, it's my duty to ensure some measure of security. That's why we brought Bone Doulro—to serve as a deterrent."
"As for killing her… I advise against it. The Star Dou Great Forest's power surpasses even the Spirit Hall's. That's all I'll say."
With that, Ning Fengzhi prepared to leave.
"Wait." Tang Hao, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "Sect Master Ning, may I ask where your hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone came from?"
"Hm?" Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly. "Title Douluo Tang Hao, are you interested in my Soul Bone?"
"No, not like that…" Tang Hao sensed the displeasure in Ning Fengzhi's tone but pressed on. "My wife, A Yin, also left behind a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone. It's just…"
Tang Hao stumbled over his words, but the gist was clear—he wanted to know the origin of Ning Fengzhi's Soul Bone and its abilities.
"Ah, I see." Ning Fengzhi sighed. "I don't blame you for asking, Title Douluo Tang Hao. This Soul Bone comes from the Blue Silver Forest."
"We encountered that hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor by chance and engaged in battle."
"As for its abilities, one of them is flight—which is how I'm hovering right now."
Ning Fengzhi activated the Soul Bone's skill.
Tang Hao carefully examined it. There was no trace of A Yin's familiar aura, and he quietly relaxed.
Because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wasn't an enemy.
This Soul Bone wasn't A Yin's. Its energy lacked her gentle harmony.
Tang Hao still hoped the three great sects could unite against the Spirit Hall. That was his true concern.
"Title Douluo Tang Hao, have you verified it to your satisfaction?" Ning Fengzhi said calmly. "Since Soul Bones involve personal secrets, I won't demonstrate the second skill. I trust you understand."
"Of course. I was too impulsive." Tang Hao waved his hand.
Ning Fengzhi allowing him to sense the Soul Bone's aura up close was already a rare courtesy. Pushing further would be unwise—especially with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo glaring daggers at him.
"If there's nothing else, we'll take our leave."
"One last thing—unless absolutely necessary, do not hunt hundred-thousand-year soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest."
"Especially the Emerald Swan Bi Ji, the strongest healing-type soul beast on the continent. Provoking her would enrage the entire forest." Ning Fengzhi warned.
"We understand." Tang Xiao and the others nodded.
As Ning Fengzhi's group departed, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao watched them leave. Yu Yuanzhen, sensing the brothers had matters to discuss, excused himself and left.
Once everyone was gone, Tang Xiao confirmed that the nearby presences—likely Spirit Hall Title Douluo—had also vanished.
Only then did he speak. "Brother Hao, that Soul Bone… it wasn't A Yin's?"
"No." Tang Hao sighed. "It belonged to a male soul beast. Its aura was fiercer than A Yin's, filled with violent energy."
"Damn it! So it really was the Spirit Hall—those born evil—who took A Yin's Soul Bone! Those bastards!"
"Brother Hao, it's not that I don't want to help, but given the current situation…" Tang Xiao sighed.
Yes, Tang Xiao knew two Spirit Hall Title Douluo had been nearby. But he truly didn't dare act.
Unlike Tang Hao, he had an entire sect to consider.
"I don't blame you, brother." Hatred burned in Tang Hao's eyes. "The Spirit Hall will pay for this."
"Brother Hao, after we return, the Ancestor mentioned you should visit the Slaughter City. There might be a way to restore your strength."
"Slaughter City, huh…"
"I understand."