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Ning Tianchen didn't have any ancient text—it was all just bluster.
"Is Senior Dugu trying to pull off something for nothing?"
Dugu Bo wasn't someone to be trifled with. He immediately responded, "Boy, you'd better understand your current situation. There's only you and me here. If I wanted to attack you, no one could come to your rescue."
But Ning Tianchen remained unfazed.
He had already grasped the crux of Dugu Bo's weakness. In the ensuing conversation, whether he liked it or not, Dugu Bo would have no choice but to concede.
Shrugging indifferently, Ning Tianchen replied, "Of course, Senior Dugu can kill me. But the moment you act, your presence will be exposed. Elder Ke, a Soul Douluo at Level 89, is still within the academy. With your strength, escaping him would be nearly impossible. Moreover, if the sounds of battle spread, my grandfather and Bone Grandpa will arrive here as well."
"Do you really think, Senior Dugu, that you can defeat all three of them working together?"
Dugu Bo sneered, "I'm no match for the Sword Bone Douluo, but if you push me too far, the entire Seven Treasures Academy will pay the price. You should know which is more important."
When dealing with someone shameless, you had to be even more shameless.
Ning Tianchen spread his hands, feigning indifference. "The students of Seven Treasures Academy aren't disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect. If they die, so be it. Anyway, you'll take the blame."
"Afterward, Uncle Ning can issue a few memorials across the continent, and the matter will be over. The academy will continue recruiting new students."
"However, Senior Dugu, Dugu Yan should be nearing Suotuo City by now. I wonder if she'll be able to escape the pursuit of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect."
"You dare!" Dugu Bo was enraged, and his soul power began to surge uncontrollably.
But at the last moment, he managed to calm himself down.
What Ning Tianchen said wasn't without merit. Killing the students of Seven Treasures Academy—especially if it wasn't done by the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect—wouldn't have much impact on them.
And if he dared to do such a thing, he would immediately become the enemy of the entire continent. At that point, even if the Sword Bone Douluo didn't intervene, both him and his granddaughter would be dead.
It was better to live another day, especially since it hadn't come to that yet.
Dugu Bo suddenly burst into laughter. "To have such ruthless thoughts at such a young age—the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect might truly become the number one sect on the continent in the future."
"Senior Dugu flatters me. It's precisely because I know your character that I resorted to this tactic. Please don't take offense."
As for Dugu Yan's current location, Ning Tianchen didn't need to send anyone to track her. In a few days, the Imperial Team would face off against the Shrek Team in Suotuo City. Naturally, she would be there.
Dugu Bo disliked pointless bickering and got straight to the point. "Hand over that ancient text, and I'll unconditionally agree to help you with three tasks as long as they don't violate my principles. But the condition is that the contents of the text must align with what you've said."
Ning Tianchen shook his head. "Senior Dugu, stop fantasizing. The text doesn't contain any information about a cure. However, since I'm such a kind-hearted person, I can help you treat your condition."
"If you're asking me to join the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, forget it." By now, Dugu Bo saw no point in denying that he was poisoned.
Ning Tianchen smiled faintly. "Senior Dugu, why are we discussing exchanges of benefits? I'm not an elder of the sect, and these matters aren't my responsibility."
"I have no other intentions. I simply want to be your friend. What do you say?"
Dugu Bo fell silent.
Making friends wasn't an issue. After their conversation, he had developed a keen interest in Ning Tianchen. However, whether or not Ning Tianchen had hidden traps in this "friendship" remained uncertain.
"How can I trust you? What if you give me poison instead of medicine?"
Ning Tianchen interrupted, "Senior Dugu has spent his entire life dealing with poisons. Are you really afraid that I'd dare poison you?"
"The herbs required for your treatment are extremely rare. Even with the influence of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, it would be difficult to gather them all in a short time."
His real target was Dugu Bo's medicinal garden, but he couldn't make it too obvious, lest it provoke the other party.
"Herbs are easy to discuss. I have a medicinal garden filled with rare plants. Let me show you first. If we can't gather everything, we'll figure it out later."
"Of course, if you can help me detoxify, I'll agree to assist the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect in accomplishing a major task. And, how about becoming your friend?"
Ning Tianchen accepted this offer.
After leaving a letter behind, he set off with Dugu Bo toward the Ice and Fire Dual Extreme Eye.
---
Ning Tianchen had left in a hurry, leaving behind only a letter without informing anyone else.
An hour later, Feng Xiaotian arrived at the simulated cultivation field where Ning Tianchen usually trained.
The battlefield environment was excellent for cultivating a soul master's mental state, and Feng Xiaotian also enjoyed training here.
Upon entering, he looked around and didn't see Ning Tianchen, assuming he was in seclusion elsewhere.
But when he sat down cross-legged, he suddenly noticed the letter in front of him.
After reading its contents, his expression changed drastically.
Everyone in the prominent families of Tiandou City knew who Dugu Bo was.
Ning Tianchen had no prior dealings with Dugu Bo. Being taken away by him likely meant trouble.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Feng Xiaotian immediately informed the rest of the team and Ke Jie.
While arranging people to search for Ning Tianchen's whereabouts, Ke Jie also sent the letter back to the sect.
---
Inside the study, Ning Fengzhi had just finished reading the letter and immediately felt uneasy.
Before he could call for anyone, Chen Xin and Gu Rong rushed into the room together.
"Sect Leader, that old poisonous fiend dares to disregard the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect and kidnap Tianchen from the academy. Allow me to go and kill this lawless wretch!"
Chen Xin rarely lost his composure, but with his grandson involved, how could he stay calm?
"Old Sword Man, calm down. I recognize the handwriting in the letter—it's definitely Tianchen's. At the very least, he isn't in immediate danger," Gu Rong quickly interjected, stepping in front of Chen Xin.
This might not necessarily be a bad thing. If Chen Xin went chasing after Dugu Bo, he might ruin everything.
After calming down, Ning Fengzhi analyzed the contents of the letter. "In the letter, Tianchen mentioned that he had some sort of deal with Dugu Bo. If it's a deal, Dugu Bo has no reason to harm him."
"Sword Uncle, you stay at the sect. Bone Uncle and I will go to the academy to check the situation."
"But…" Chen Xin was visibly anxious.
"Old Sword Man, we've known each other for years. Don't you trust me? If anything happens, I'll send someone back to inform you immediately," Gu Rong said earnestly.
Having known each other for years and frequently sparred together, Chen Xin naturally trusted him.
With a deep sigh, Chen Xin waved his hand, tacitly agreeing to Ning Fengzhi's proposal.
---
Back at the academy, upon hearing that Ning Tianchen had been "taken away" by Dugu Bo, Ning Rongrong joined the others in seeking out Ke Jie.
Ning Rongrong's eyes were vacant and devoid of their usual luster, as if all the light had been drained from them. At first glance, she appeared indifferent, but closer observation revealed her slightly reddened eyes—she had clearly been crying for a long time.
"Elder Ke, please bring Brother Tianchen back safely."
This matter was of great importance, and without instructions from the sect, Ke Jie dared not act rashly.
"Rongrong, calm down. We've all read the contents of the letter, and it contains a secret mark we agreed upon. Tianchen must have left voluntarily rather than being taken away," Yu Die explained carefully after observing closely.
The mark left by Ning Tianchen was subtle and hard to notice. Yu Die only discovered it after reading the letter twice.
If Dugu Bo had forced Ning Tianchen to write the letter or had written it in Ning Tianchen's tone, such a mark wouldn't have been included.
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