Time rewinds just a little.
On the eve of Ning Rongrong's departure from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, she came alone to the lotus-shaped mountain range within the clan's territory.
The mountain was not tall. A gentle, cool breeze blew steadily.
Before her eyes stood rows of ornate tombstones, each engraved with a different name.
This place was similar to Spirit Hall's Douluo Hall, an area dedicated to honoring the deceased.
However, it was not a burial ground reserved for Title Douluo. Instead, it was where enshrined elders and contributors to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—from Soul King to Title Douluo—were laid to rest after death.
Holding a bouquet of white flowers in both hands, she walked to a familiar name and gently placed the bouquet in the offering area before the tombstone.
"Enshrined Wang Quan… no, Elder Wang Quan…"
Any member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan who reached the Title Douluo level would receive the position of elder.
Although Wang Quan Fugui had never been formally invested with the title, that no longer mattered.
"I'm sorry. If I had returned from the Extreme North a little sooner, you probably wouldn't have fallen."
"It was my carelessness in the end." Ning Rongrong let out a soft sigh. She gazed at the familiar characters on the tombstone as the cool breeze gently lifted her long pink hair.
"I avenged you. The beast tide from the ice sea has been completely wiped out. The sea princess mother and daughter who invaded Hagan City are both dead. Liya, who struck you down, has also been slain by my hand."
"Rest in peace, Elder Wang Quan."
Ning Rongrong silently pressed her palms together and stood in quiet mourning for a long time.
"Rongrong."
Footsteps approached from afar.
Ning Rongrong lowered her hands and glanced toward the source of the voice.
"Why are you two here?" A trace of surprise appeared on her face.
"Zi Zhenzhu and I owe Elder Wang Quan our lives. We want to observe mourning and guard his grave for a while, so we'll be staying nearby for now," Ning Yun replied.
"I see…"
Only then did Ning Rongrong notice that both Ning Yun and Zi Zhenzhu were dressed in mourning clothes.
"What are your plans after this?" she asked.
"I…" Ning Yun fell silent for a moment, then clenched his teeth. "Rongrong, is there really no way to teach others your cultivation method?"
It was normal for a support-type soul master to harbor the heart of an assault-type one, especially after nearly dying in Hagan City. The blow to Ning Yun had been immense.
Although soul tools could be used, they were never as smooth as one's own martial soul.
"I had Father try. It's impossible," Ning Rongrong shook her head.
She herself was an exception. Possessing memories from a previous life, even when abnormalities occurred during cultivation, she could correct them using knowledge from two worlds. Even then, it had taken her six bumpy years just to form her ring.
Because of the nature of martial souls, cultivating a system outside of soul power required eliminating the low-quality energy known as soul power and clearing the meridians.
That step could not be assisted by anyone unless the rules of the martial soul were removed.
Or unless she was willing to spend ten, twenty, even several decades perfecting a cultivation method compatible with this world.
Where would Ning Rongrong find that kind of time?
"Big Brother, I know what you're asking." Ning Rongrong sighed. "In the little courtyard where I once cultivated, I left all the notes I recorded over the years, along with a basic cultivation method."
"But it's not a complete system. Many of the practices were deduced only because I needed them. They are not suitable for everyone."
"Don't even mention you—Sword Douluo himself encountered danger when he tried and had to stop."
Truthfully, when it came to zhenqi cultivation, Sword Douluo had attempted it more than once, but it was utterly impossible, so he gave up.
"So you're saying there is a possibility?" Ning Yun seized the loophole in her words.
"I don't have the time to spend ten or twenty years perfecting a cultivation method. This isn't something that can be done easily."
"As long as martial souls exist, my zhenqi cultivation method will always conflict with soul power."
"The reason I don't show obvious signs of this conflict is because of… that god of mine."
Ning Rongrong truly didn't know how else to explain it, so she simply pushed the responsibility onto an unnamed god. After all, gods could do anything.
"You can take those notes if you want, but do not cultivate them.
And you must get Father's permission first. Don't do anything reckless—I don't want to come back and see another tombstone buried here."
Ning Rongrong was helpless. After so many years as siblings, how could she not see through Ning Yun's thoughts? The question was, how likely was success?
She exhaled. "Miss Zi Zhenzhu, you're already a Soul Douluo now. After things here are settled, are you returning to Hagan City?"
"I will return, but I want to see if Ning Yun needs any help first."
"I also plan to work with Senior Lou Gao to truly build a fleet capable of handling 100,000-year spirit beasts."
Ning Rongrong: "…"
These two were more ridiculous than the last.
Ning Yun wanted to tear open the heavens that blocked his eyes, while Zi Zhenzhu wanted to dominate the seas.
Did they have no self-awareness?
Whether it was Ning Yun's dream or Zi Zhenzhu's, both required massive amounts of time.
Even if Ning Yun succeeded, it wouldn't happen quickly. Zi Zhenzhu's plan required enormous manpower, resources, and wealth.
"Then… good luck to both of you!" Ning Rongrong opened a spatial rift. "I'm leaving the clan soon. Next time I return, I hope I'll be attending your wedding banquet."
"Bye!"
Without waiting for their reactions, she quickly stepped into the fractured space.
"She really is…" Watching the rift rapidly close, Ning Yun shook his head. "She can never stay still. Can't she just remain in the clan a bit longer?"
"Rongrong isn't as idle as you," Zi Zhenzhu said. A faint blush flashed across her face and vanished as if it had never been. "Ning Yun, are you seriously considering Rongrong's cultivation method?"
"We already asked the Sect Master, didn't we? If even they can't do it, how confident are you?"
If Ning Rongrong's zhenqi cultivation were truly that easy to succeed at,
there wouldn't be only one person who had managed it even now.
"I want to try. With Rongrong's personality, if she had the time, she definitely would too," Ning Yun said, gazing at the sky above the lotus-shaped land. "Just think of it as something beneficial I'm doing for the clan."
"Is it because you can't get over watching the people you spent every day with die right in front of you?" Zi Zhenzhu murmured.
As a former pirate, seeing comrades die at sea had been commonplace. To others, however, it might be unbearable.
"Whatever. I don't plan to leave for the next few years anyway. I'll just stay in the clan."
"Besides, with two Title Douluo stationed there, whether I'm present or not makes little difference."
"I'm sorry," Ning Yun said apologetically.
Zi Zhenzhu shook her head.
On the other side,
Ning Rongrong left the lotus-shaped mountain where the clan's ancestors were honored.
She returned to the small courtyard where she had once cultivated and placed all the organized materials inside.
"Ning Yun, I don't know if you'll be able to sort it out."
"But I truly don't have the time to keep trying over and over."
The gods of this world—though the Douluo Continent was jokingly called the floor tiles of the divine realm—were not actually weak.
She needed to raise her strength as quickly as possible. Her current overall power was only around Level 96.
With extreme technique, she might survive against Level 98 or even 99.
But that was still not enough.
After organizing the important books, Ning Rongrong left the courtyard.
She found Tokisaki Kurumi, then went to Bone Douluo.
"Grandpa Bone, it's time to set off."
"Next stop: the Star Dou Great Forest."
(End of Chapter)