"Um, Sect Master Tang, may I ask you a question?" A sudden voice spoke up—it was Ning Rongrong. "Are you trying to confirm something from my father?"
"If you have something to ask, just say it directly. You're all so strange, beating around the bush like those nobles from Heaven Dou. It's really annoying."
Ning Rongrong's playful tone plunged the private room into silence.
Tang Xiao's purpose in coming here was indeed to probe indirectly.
If Xue Qinghe truly had dubious ties with the Spirit Hall, he wanted to see if Ning Fengzhi could pull him back—after all, Ning Fengzhi was Xue Qinghe's teacher.
Of course, more importantly, he wanted to uncover the truth. The Clear Sky Sect had been isolated for too long, and their information on current affairs was lacking.
"Hahaha~ Since Young Master Ning insists on directness." Tang Xiao laughed. "Sect Master Ning, let's speak frankly. If I offend you in any way, please don't take it to heart. Consider it just passing words."
"Sect Master Tang, you're too serious. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has always valued harmony." Ning Fengzhi gestured politely.
Tang Xiao nodded, then turned to Yu Xiaogang, who was putting on an air of wisdom.
"Grandmaster Yu, you're more familiar with the situation regarding the Heartbroken Acacia. Why don't you explain it to Sect Master Ning?"
Tang Xiao seemed reluctant to offend anyone himself. After all, Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi had a master-disciple relationship. If he said something wrong and angered them, it wouldn't be good.
Yu Xiaogang nodded, organizing his thoughts.
"Sect Master Ning, we suspect that Xue Qinghe is colluding with the Spirit Hall, which is why he handed over the Heartbroken Acacia to them. What are your thoughts on this matter?"
"How strange. Isn't it common knowledge that the Heaven Dou Empire is cooperating with the Spirit Hall? Even our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has some level of cooperation with them!"
Before Ning Fengzhi could answer, Ning Rongrong interjected.
"Compared to Emperor Qinghe's cooperation with the Spirit Hall, isn't it even stranger that the Spirit Hall gave the Heartbroken Acacia to Grandmaster Yu?"
Ning Rongrong's words made Yu Xiaogang's brain short-circuit.
"Th-This…"
Yu Xiaogang was at a loss for words.
Should he say that Pope Bibi Dong still had lingering feelings for him, traveling all the way to Shrek Academy just to gift him the Heartbroken Acacia?
Even he wouldn't believe that if he weren't the one involved.
"Young Master Ning, how we obtained the Heartbroken Acacia isn't important. What matters is that it did pass through the Spirit Hall's hands before reaching us."
Tang San spoke up in defense of the speechless Grandmaster. "Does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect know if Xue Qinghe has extremely deep ties with the Spirit Hall?"
"Without a strong connection, such a treasure like the Heartbroken Acacia wouldn't be given away so easily."
Xue Qinghe knew the effects of the immortal herbs from Ning Fengzhi, yet he still chose to give them away—and to someone from the Spirit Hall, no less. That was simply unbelievable.
Wouldn't such a treasure be kept for personal use rather than gifted as a favor?
"Sigh, I don't know how you came to such a conclusion." Ning Fengzhi finally spoke.
"Xue Qinghe is my disciple and also the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire. The Heartbroken Acacia was given to him by me, so it's his property."
"Whether he chooses to gift it to someone else—even if it's the Spirit Hall—has nothing to do with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Besides, so far, everything is just your speculation, isn't it?"
Ning Fengzhi paused briefly before continuing.
"Perhaps the Heartbroken Acacia you mentioned was simply obtained by the Spirit Hall by chance and then coincidentally ended up in your hands."
"What you're saying is baseless conjecture. The truth of the matter will only be clear after speaking with Qinghe directly."
"But—" Tang San wanted to argue, but Tang Xiao raised his hand to stop him.
"Sect Master Ning, you're right. Right now, everything is just our speculation."
"Whether the Heartbroken Acacia we obtained is the same one you mentioned is uncertain."
"The truth can only be confirmed after meeting Xue Qinghe."
In the end, there was no concrete evidence. Xue Qinghe himself had no reason to give away the Heartbroken Acacia to others.
Even if the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall had good relations, it wasn't to the extent where a treasure capable of influencing Title Douluos could be casually gifted.
Eventually, Tang Xiao had Tang San and Yu Xiaogang leave first while he stayed behind to discuss matters with Ning Fengzhi, planning to meet Xue Qinghe in the palace at an appropriate time.
After Tang San and Yu Xiaogang left, Tang Xiao and Ning Fengzhi continued their conversation.
Ning Fengzhi subtly probed for information about Tang Chen.
Tang Xiao, perhaps overly confident, didn't hide much. He only mentioned that Tang Chen had been injured in a fierce battle with Qian Daoliu but was still not inferior to him.
This carried an undertone of intimidation, but Ning Fengzhi pretended not to notice.
He was still considering when to visit the palace to meet Xue Qinghe when the manager of the hotel (owned by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect) delivered a message.
The gist was that Xue Qinghe hoped Ning Fengzhi would visit the palace.
As his disciple, he wanted to seek his teacher's advice—blah blah blah—essentially wanting to discuss matters.
"Since Qinghe is urging, let's go now. Sect Master Tang can also ask Qinghe for the truth." Ning Fengzhi smiled.
"Then I'll trouble Sect Master Ning." Tang Xiao nodded.
"Rongrong, are you coming?" Ning Fengzhi looked at his daughter.
"No, why would I go?" Ning Rongrong couldn't help but complain. "Listening to your long-winded discussions is worse than sleeping at home. I've been squeezed in crowds all day watching the ceremony—I'm exhausted."
Ning Fengzhi: "…"
You're lying through your teeth, Ning Rongrong. You really know how to act.
Though internally grumbling, Ning Fengzhi's expression remained composed and gentle.
Thus, Ning Rongrong watched as the Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo followed Ning Fengzhi to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace to meet Xue Qinghe.
Once everyone left, the private room fell silent again.
A black light emerged from Ning Rongrong's body, materializing into a human figure—Tokisaki Kurumi, who had just been claimed to be "sleeping."
"You humans are really boring. Is putting on an act that fun?"
Tokisaki Kurumi yawned, completely failing to understand why Ning Rongrong had to perform in front of Tang Xiao when she was already so strong.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wasn't weak either. Why not just charge forward instead of hiding?
That Tang Xiao guy kept mentioning "my grandfather Tang Chen" during the conversation, acting all high and mighty.
"You don't understand." Ning Rongrong sat down on a nearby chair, picked up an apple from the table, and took a small bite.
"The human world isn't just about fighting and killing. There's also human relations and social intricacies."
"Two Rank 97 Title Douluos are still too weak."
With Ning Fengzhi's Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo could reach Rank 98, but the gap to Rank 99 was still insurmountable.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have spent so much time simulating the might of a Martial Soul Fusion Skill to suppress Bi Ji and Di Tian's thoughts, making them conclude that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect should not be provoked.
To be honest, if the Star Dou Forest weren't so powerful, Ning Rongrong might have considered keeping the Emerald Swan Bi Ji as a soul ring for Ning Fengzhi.
Yes, she was that kind of unscrupulous outsider.