Chapter 97: First Encounter With Ning Rongrong
Just as that crisp voice faded, three beams of light flowed into Zhu Zhuqing's body.
In an instant, Zhu Zhuqing's soul power, speed, and strength surged—an increase of over forty percent.
Originally at a disadvantage, Zhu Zhuqing gradually regained control of the battle.
Qi Tian lifted his head and saw a young girl and an old man standing atop the slope.
The girl's golden hair and white dress fluttered softly; her skin was as fair as snow, and her expression calm and poised. Beside her stood an elderly man, thin hair, sparse beard, exuding an aura of an oily old geezer.
These two were none other than Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Bone Douluo Gu Rong.
Ning Rongrong had just finished absorbing her soul ring and happened to pass by. With Gu Rong present, Qi Tian hadn't sensed their arrival at all.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing bullied by a soul beast, she couldn't resist trying out her new soul skill—helping Zhu Zhuqing at the same time.
Noticing Qi Tian's gaze on her, Ning Rongrong feigned composure and gracefully activated her soul skill, providing buffs for Zhu Zhuqing.
At this moment, to Qi Tian, Ning Rongrong's aura was remarkably similar to Qian Renxue's.
'What a coincidence. This girl actually dares to act in front of me?'
Qi Tian almost chuckled.
Ning Rongrong was usually mischievous, full of tricks and mischief. But now she was pretending to be some lofty expert.
Had Qi Tian not already known her true nature, he might have been fooled.
Zhu Zhuqing battled the Ghost Leopard for a long time. With Ning Rongrong's support, she gradually gained the upper hand.
Once Qi Tian saw she had trained enough, he stopped observing and directly activated the Blue Silver Domain.
"Huh? A talent domain?"
Gu Rong let out a soft sound of surprise, glancing at Qi Tian.
Someone capable of cultivating a domain was either extremely advanced in martial soul cultivation or possessed an exceptional innate ability.
Such individuals were rare even within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
And Qi Tian's martial soul was Blue Silver Grass—recognized across the soul master world as a trash martial soul. This was even more astonishing.
Qi Tian first used his first soul ring skill to disguise the colors of his soul rings.
They now appeared to be yellow, yellow, purple, purple—completely ordinary. Then, his second soul ring lit up.
Blue Silver Overlord Spear, combined with the Blue Silver Domain, fused into a new skill: Blue Silver Spear Array.
Under the effect of his three-way mental division, the three Overlord Spears precisely avoided the Ghost Leopard's illusions and locked onto its true body.
The three spears pierced into its abdomen and legs, crippling it completely.
Zhu Zhuqing seized the moment, thrusting her dark dagger into the Ghost Leopard's heart, ending its life.
When a violet soul ring formed, Zhu Zhuqing merely shot Ning Rongrong a faint glance. "Thanks."
Ning Rongrong withdrew her martial soul, feeling a little annoyed.
'This woman… She's quite pretty, but she's acting even more aloof than me.'
She was already ranked 33, and as an auxiliary-type soul master, no one had the right to act superior in front of her.
Qi Tian stepped forward as well, offering his thanks.
"Thank you, young lady, for lending a hand."
"I am Tian Qi, and this is my companion Zhu Zhuqing. May I ask for your esteemed name?"
Ning Rongrong's mood slightly improved. She replied calmly:
"No need for thanks."
"My name is Ning Rongrong. I am a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Lending aid is simply my duty."
"So Miss Rongrong hails from one of the Upper Three Sects! No wonder you're extraordinary!"
Qi Tian pretended to be surprised.
'Hmph. At least he has some eyesight,'
Ning Rongrong thought smugly.
"Haha, little friend Tian Qi is no ordinary youth. To possess such cultivation at your age… may I ask which sect you hail from?"
Gu Rong's gaze burned with interest, clearly impressed.
Qi Tian shook his head.
"Thank you for the praise, Senior. I have no sect or master."
Gu Rong's eyes brightened.
"Then why not join our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"Isn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a sect for auxiliary soul masters?" Qi Tian asked.
Seeing the two chatting pleasantly, Ning Rongrong suddenly felt displeased. She cut in, "Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect also has battle soul masters!"
"Rongrong is right," Gu Rong said. "We also have battle soul masters—and our treatment is far better than that of the Zhu family of the Star Luo Empire."
He leaned in with a mysterious grin.
"And there's even a chance to marry into the direct line of the sect, hehe."
Qi Tian cupped his hands politely.
"Senior's offer is generous, but I am accustomed to roaming freely. I fear I cannot live under the restrictions of any sect."
Gu Rong wanted to persuade him further, but when he remembered Qi Tian's martial soul was merely Blue Silver Grass—universally recognized as trash—he reluctantly stopped.
Just then, Zhu Zhuqing had begun absorbing her soul ring, drawing Gu Rong's attention.
"Tsk tsk. This girl's talent isn't inferior to Rongrong's. She actually dares to absorb a two-thousand-year ring."
"The Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire might finally produce someone noteworthy. Too bad this boy has no chance—the royal family won't allow it."
His muttering was quiet, but both Qi Tian and Ning Rongrong heard it clearly.
Qi Tian only smiled faintly, unconcerned.
But Ning Rongrong's gossip instincts ignited instantly.
"Grandpa Bone, you mean she's connected to the Star Luo royal family?" Ning Rongrong's eyes flickered between Zhu Zhuqing and Qi Tian.
Gu Rong nodded and began recounting the secrets of the Star Luo royal family.
As a veteran titled Douluo, he naturally knew many inside stories. And anything related to the Star Luo royal family wasn't exactly obscure.
He spoke of the Dai and Zhu Family, their martial soul fusion techniques, and their marriage traditions.
The more Ning Rongrong listened, the more excited she became as she looked at Qi Tian and Zhu Zhuqing.
She felt like she was witnessing a love story straight out of a romance tale—
A poor youth eloping with a royal bride, pursued desperately by the royal family…
How exciting!
'Anyway, I plan to run away from home to look for Brother Tian's traces… why not follow them too?'
'Traveling with them will definitely be fun!' Ning Rongrong thought, her heart racing.
With that idea, she quietly asked Gu Rong, "Grandpa Bone, why did you try to recruit Tian Qi? Don't you think highly of him?"
Gu Rong lowered his head and explained patiently:
"Indeed. That boy is impressive. At such a young age, he already possesses the cultivation of a Rank 47 Soul Ancestor."
Though he hadn't examined Qi Tian closely, the youth clearly wasn't older than sixteen or seventeen.
To reach the Soul Ancestor realm at that age—even in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—was considered top-tier talent.
"And he awakened a domain ability, and uses his soul skills masterfully."
"Just now, he combined his domain with a soul ring skill—the resulting power rivaled a soul skill of several thousand years. He is without doubt a true prodigy."
Ning Rongrong's curiosity toward Qi Tian grew stronger and stronger.
"Grandpa Bone, what if I go train outside with them?" she asked, eyes gleaming with eagerness.
Gu Rong nearly jumped in fright.
"Good heavens, my little ancestor—don't call me Grandpa!"
"Train outside? If anything happens to you, your father and that old killer will tear my old bones apart!"
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End of Chapter