"Hmph~"
Seeing Ning Fengzhi back down, Zhao Rong'er felt as if she had won a battle. Hugging Ning Rongrong in her arms, she continued gnawing on the pork knuckle.
Yet her eyes were expectantly fixed on the main entrance, wondering whether her savior would send more pills.
Not only had he saved her life, but he had also given her such incredible pleasure.
He truly was a miraculous doctor!
Without a doubt, due to the unique sensations brought by the pills, Zhao Rong'er had already developed considerable fondness for Ye Tian, whom she had never met.
Provided that...
Ye Tian would remain a lifelong good friend of her husband.
Otherwise, as someone who made a living by plundering and robbing, she would wholeheartedly support Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo if they decided to simply seize the pills by force...
Of course, only if they could win.
Just as the minor commotion ended, the entire first floor suddenly fell silent.
Only a loud voice from outside could be heard.
"Master of the Martial Soul Grand Hall, Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall, Sarath, has arrived—"
As the echoes faded, an elderly man draped entirely in a crimson robe slowly stepped into the banquet hall. He wore a five-pointed platinum crown on his head, with narrow shoulders and a tall, slender frame resembling a spear. His eyes carried a hint of venom.
The old man was followed by numerous attendants, exuding an air of arrogance and indulgence.
His gaze ignored everyone else, focusing solely on Ning Fengzhi seated at the head of the table.
He completely disregarded representatives of other factions, yet no one dared to voice any objection.
Or perhaps they were too afraid to speak out.
All because the visitor was Sarath, one of the four Platinum Bishops of the Spirit Hall!
The highest ruler of the Spirit Hall in name was undoubtedly the Pope. Beneath the Pope were several bishops.
However, there were distinctions even among bishops.
Cardinals were merely the backbone of the Spirit Hall, while the four Platinum Bishops among the many bishops were the true gatekeepers of the Spirit Hall's upper echelons.
The four Platinum Bishops were distinguished by their five-pointed platinum crowns.
Their status was second only to the Pope and the elders.
In the vicinity of Heaven Dou City, their status and authority were comparable to that of the empire's ruler.
Coupled with Sarath's formidable personal strength, no one dared to offend him.
Sarath, followed by his attendants, casually approached Ning Fengzhi's table and greeted him with a smile.
"Congratulations, Sect Master Ning, on the birth of your daughter. I have come on behalf of the Spirit Hall to offer my felicitations."
After speaking, Sarath raised his hand, and an attendant behind him stepped forward, presenting a brocade box to him.
Sarath smiled and said, "Sect Master Ning, this is a longevity lock crafted from Millennial Cold Marrow and Poison-Fire Ore. The two forces balance each other, providing warmth in the scorching heat and coolness in the harsh winter. A humble gift, but I hope it conveys my respect."
"Haha~ The Spirit Hall is too kind."
Ning Fengzhi finally stood up, smiling as he greeted Sarath and gestured, "Bishop Sarath, please take a seat."
"Mmm~"
Sarath was quite satisfied with Ning Fengzhi's demeanor.
He nodded slightly and turned to lead his entourage to their seats.
However, his eyes swept across the hall as if searching for someone.
He did not see the person he had hoped to find.
Sarath and his entourage settled into their seats calmly. No sooner had they sat down than Sarath spotted the target figure, his eyes filled with curiosity.
What was even more intriguing was that after Sarath and his group moved away, Ning Fengzhi did not immediately take his seat.
Instead, he continued to gaze toward the entrance.
He even pulled his wife, who was busy tending to her swelling granary and replenishing its stores, to her feet.
He had Zhao Rong'er stand up, holding the child.
Just then, the attendant at the entrance announced in a voice that stirred a thousand waves:
"Vice Pavilion Master Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin of the Longevity Pavilion, Saintesses Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling of the Longevity Pavilion, have arrived—!"
The Longevity Pavilion?!
Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin!
The entire hall erupted in murmurs.
Dugu Bo, the head of the Jade Scale Snake Dugu Family, and Ye Renxin, the head of the Nine-Hearted Begonia Ye Family—if either of these figures had arrived alone, no one would have been surprised. Even if both had come together, it would have been understandable. Yet, they had not used their own family names but instead identified themselves under the so-called Longevity Pavilion...
This was what left everyone bewildered and astonished.
Vice Pavilion Master and Saintesses...
Just these two titles alone made it clear that the Longevity Pavilion had already gained momentum!
Who could it possibly be?!
Who could have simultaneously won over Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin, two rather unique figures in the Spirit Master World?
Could it be that a newly advanced Titled Douluo had truly emerged in the Spirit Master World?
Tang Yuehua, the Mistress of the Moon Pavilion, sat gracefully near the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's seating area. Her beautiful eyes calmly watched the steadily approaching figures in dark green and apricot-yellow, her expression filled with confusion and speculation.
It could be said that, aside from Ning Fengzhi,
almost everyone was taken aback by the name of the Longevity Pavilion.
Including Sarath, the Hall Master of the Martial Soul Grand Hall!
Even though he had received orders from His Holiness the Pope to fully accommodate this faction called the Longevity Pavilion, he was equally puzzled. Why had this faction earned the Pope's favor? Moreover, their facade had been constructed by the Defense Clan under the commission of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, suggesting a rather complex web of relationships...
In addition,
the two maids accompanying the Crown Prince, representing the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, also watched Dugu Bo's arrival with keen interest.
"Hehe... how lively!"
Jin Yue'er heartily devoured a pork knuckle.
Qian Renxue shot her a glance and warned, "Don't speak carelessly, understand?"
"Mhm, mhm!"
Jin Yue'er nodded repeatedly, but her eyes drifted toward the two Saintesses of the Longevity Pavilion.
She thought to herself that someday, she would ask Ye Tian for a Saintess title too.
A Holy Son paired with a Saintess—a perfect match!
"————"
Qian Renxue silently observed Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin, knowing full well that Ye Tian's Longevity Pavilion was about to step into the spotlight, delivering an absolute shock to the entire Spirit Master World!
"Haha~"
Ning Fengzhi's hearty laughter rang out, pulling everyone's thoughts back to the present.
"Vice Pavilion Masters, you've kept Ning waiting for quite some time."
"Hiss—!"
Upon hearing this, numerous gasps echoed through the hall.
It seemed they had realized something: the reason Ning Fengzhi had not taken his seat was entirely due to the arrival of the Vice Pavilion Masters of the Longevity Pavilion.
And he had even taken the initiative to greet them.
This was a courtesy not even extended to the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire or Sarath, the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall!
Just who had founded this Longevity Pavilion?
A dense cloud of suspicion hung over everyone's heads.
"Haha~ My sincerest apologies. Preparing the humble gift for your daughter took quite some time, so I hope Sect Master Ning will forgive the delay."
Ye Renxin smiled as he offered his apology.
Exchanging a glance with Ning Fengzhi, both understood perfectly well.
This was merely a well-rehearsed duet, a performance staged to showcase the strength of the Longevity Pavilion.
"Oh? Then I am truly looking forward to it."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes brightened slightly.
He wasn't lying; he genuinely anticipated the congratulatory gift Ye Tian had prepared for his Rongrong.
Even Zhao Rong'er was filled with anticipation.
She knew the pill she had taken came from this mysterious Longevity Pavilion.
"Easy, easy."
As Dugu Bo finished speaking, he raised both hands.
Clap! Clap!
Dugu Bo clapped twice, then turned his head with a smile and instructed, "Yan Yan, Lengleng, quickly present the congratulatory gift our Longevity Pavilion has prepared..."
"Mhm!"
Ye Lengleng and Dugu Yan nodded in unison. They glanced at each other, then slowly stepped forward, moving from behind Dugu Bo and the others to stand before them.
The veils over their faces added a touch of mystery.
But what aroused even greater curiosity were the brocade boxes that had mysteriously appeared in their hands.
Her jade-green hair was neatly combed and gathered at the sides of her ears.
A hint of pride on her face, Dugu Yan introduced in a clear, sweet voice, "Sect Master Ning, I, Dugu Yan, a junior, by order of the Pavilion Master of the Longevity Pavilion, present this full-month congratulatory gift for your esteemed daughter... a pill that will allow your daughter to successfully absorb a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring when she reaches level ten as a Soul Scholar—the Body Tempering Pill!"
"!!!"
By the time everyone realized what they had just heard, their eyes were already wide with shock.
Silence, a deathly stillness!
Even the ever-graceful and dignified Tang Yuehua's eyes widened in disbelief, her heart filled with bewilderment.
Common knowledge in the Spirit Master World.
Even though she could never break through to become a Spirit Master herself, she was still acutely aware of it.
Unsurprisingly, after the deathly silence came thunderous, roaring laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"A Thousand-Year Spirit Ring for the first ring? Did I hear that right? Haha..."
"This is utterly preposterous!"
"Everyone knows that a Spirit Master can only attempt to absorb a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring when they reach the thirtieth level. And even then, it's merely an attempt..."
Facing the mockery from the representatives of various powers, Sarath's expression suddenly darkened.
As the gatekeeper among the upper echelons of the Spirit Hall.
He naturally had his own sources of information, and in an instant...
Sarath understood.
Dugu Yan's words were not false.
Moreover, he even began to form a guess about the Pavilion Master of the Longevity Pavilion.
If it truly was as he suspected.
Having navigated the power struggles of Heaven Dou City for many years, he could see clearly at this moment that this was a grand performance designed to slap the entire Spirit Master World in the face!
The timing wasn't quite ripe yet.
All Sarath could do now was watch and wait.
Ready at any moment to give this grand performance a push.
"Hmph! What a bunch of foolish and pitiful frogs at the bottom of a well!"
Qian Renxue chuckled, her eyes filled with scorn.
"Exactly, exactly, a bunch of idiots."
Jin Yue'er nodded repeatedly, her words far more blunt and crude.
"Patriarch Dugu, Patriarch Ye, surely you haven't been deceived by someone? Even though this prince is not adept at cultivation, I still understand that the limit for a first Spirit Ring is four hundred and twenty-three years. I hope the two patriarchs will not amuse us with something even a child wouldn't believe."
"Haha... Prince Xuexing is quite right."
As Prince Xuexing's words fell, another wave of mocking laughter and agreement followed.
Yet Dugu Bo, Ye Renxin, and the others standing before Ning Fengzhi remained composed and steady in place.
Their faces held faint, elusive smiles.
Even Ning Fengzhi wore an inscrutable smile.
Gradually...
Finally, some clever individuals began to sense something amiss.
Tang Yuehua, who had always known Ning Fengzhi well, furrowed her delicate brows.
A deep unease suddenly welled up within her.
Sarath also seized this precise moment, looking at Prince Xuexing with a knife hidden in his smile and thorns in his words: "Prince Xuexing, Sect Master Ning's wisdom is renowned throughout the Spirit Master World. Could it be that you think even Sect Master Ning could be deceived by such lies? Are you the only sober one among the drunken crowd? Or do you believe Sect Master Ning's abilities are inferior to yours?"
"Uh!"
Sarath's words left many who were still laughing speechless.
They all looked at Ning Fengzhi with doubt and suspicion.
The reputation of the old fox was well-known.
But a ten-level Soul Scholar absorbing a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring was simply too absurd.
Even with Ning Fengzhi's credibility...
Could it truly prove such a ridiculous thing had become reality?
Upon hearing this, Prince Xuexing immediately frowned and snorted coldly: "Hmph! Bishop Sarath, this prince certainly did not mean that. Do not try to trap me..."
"Trap you? Those who bark wildly without knowing the truth—such fools don't even need me to set a trap."
Sarath unceremoniously dragged everyone who had mocked earlier into his words.
"!!!"
This instantly left many people seething with anger but not daring to speak.
"You!"
Prince Xuexing glared furiously at Sarath.
At that moment, the Crown Prince, who had remained silent until now, suddenly stood up.
With a straight nose, square mouth, and a refined, gentle appearance.
At Qian Renxue's signal, Xue Qinghe stepped in as a peacemaker.
And also to push this farce forward.
"Imperial Uncle, Bishop Sarath, let us not harm our harmony. As for the truth, we can naturally ask the two Saintesses of the Longevity Pavilion to enlighten us."
"Exactly!"
In Ning Fengzhi's view, Sarath's assistance was only to be expected.
Seeing that the timing was finally right, Ning Fengzhi no longer remained silent and spoke earnestly: "Everyone, I am an old acquaintance of the Pavilion Master of the Longevity Pavilion and know him somewhat. On such a joyous occasion, he likely would not make such a laughable joke... As for the truth, the guests from the Longevity Pavilion will naturally clarify it for us."
After speaking, Ning Fengzhi turned his gaze to Ye Renxin.
"Haha~"
Ye Renxin laughed heartily.
"It seems that even with the guarantees of my Ye family and the Dugu family, everyone remains skeptical of the Body Tempering Pill's efficacy. Very well, facts speak louder than words... Yan Yan, Lengleng, why don't you both demonstrate a little and let everyone here see for themselves."
"Hmph, I've wanted to do this for a while now."
Dugu Yan snorted lightly; she had endured enough of those ignorant people's mockery.
Ye Lengleng also held back a breath of frustration.
The two girls exchanged a glance, then with perfect synchronization, they simultaneously activated their Soul Power.
Witnessing this, everyone present couldn't help but hold their breath, staring intently at the two Saintesses of the Longevity Pavilion, their eyes gradually widening in astonishment!
Hum!
A massive emerald serpent with two small protrusions on its forehead emerged from behind Dugu Yan, coiling in the air.
A pinkish-white Nine-heart Sacred Begonia, extending golden roots, materialized above Ye Lengleng's head. It appeared vibrant and full of life, brimming with the vitality of spring!
Almost simultaneously, a flash of purple bloomed beneath the feet of Dugu Yan and Ye Lengleng.
Spinning, it transformed into a purple Soul Ring!
"Hiss!!"
Gasps of astonishment rose one after another!
Prince Xuexing even lost his composure, standing up abruptly as he stared at the two dazzling purple Soul Rings, exclaiming loudly.
"How is this possible?!"
Many of the Soul Masters who had laughed heartily moments earlier reacted in the same manner.
"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"
"They haven't even reached level twenty—how could they possibly absorb a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring?"
"It's fake! This must be fake!"