The gazes of Ning Fengzhi, the Bone Douluo, and the Sword Douluo all converged on Ning Rongrong.
"Rongrong, are you serious?" Ning Fengzhi's voice trembled slightly, while the Bone Douluo's expression was filled with eagerness almost like an insatiable craving.
"Yes, I've analyzed some elements of the Dark Devilgod Tiger's bead." As she spoke, Ning Rongrong summoned her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Seven soul rings floated around her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda three purple, three black, and one red.
However, the red soul ring seemed unstable, as if it wasn't properly attached to the martial soul.
"The specifics will require a trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. I need its energy to suppress the malevolent aura of the Dark Devilgod Tiger's bead, allowing Grandpa Bone's soul ring to undergo refinement."
"Will there be any danger?" Before the Bone Douluo could speak, the Sword Douluo usually his rival frowned and asked.
"It shouldn't be dangerous. At worst, we'd just waste this soul ring." Ning Rongrong shrugged. "Tang Chen's return means the Asura God has intervened."
"We don't have much time left. If we don't have the strength to be players in this game, we'll just be pawns for other factions."
"But… even if I break through to the 97th rank and upgrade my soul rings to 100,000-year levels, I probably still wouldn't be a match for Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen."
The Bone Douluo was very clear about his limits. The gap between a 97th-ranked and a 99th-ranked Title Douluo especially veterans like Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu was insurmountable.
"Then we'll use Spirit Fusion Skills!" Ning Rongrong declared. "Tang Chen can't have recovered so quickly. Releasing him from the Slaughter City was likely the Asura God's limit."
"The main concern was that Qian Daoliu might kill Tang San, so the Asura God acted covertly."
"But the Divine Realm has more than one God King. Even if Tang Chen was released, he'd still need to purge the parasites in his body no easy feat."
"So, during this time, we must elevate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to a level comparable to the Clear Sky Sect and the Spirit Hall."
"At the very least, we need the ability to fight against a 99th-ranked Title Douluo."
In Ning Rongrong's view, Spirit Fusion Skills were the best solution.
The compatibility between Ning Fengzhi and the two Douluo was likely higher than the Golden Iron Triangle's. The Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo's martial souls complemented each other, creating the perfect conditions for a Spirit Fusion Skill.
They didn't need complete success just a fusion strong enough to severely injure either Qian Daoliu or Tang Chen. That would be enough!
"So, our next step is to find Elder Dugu?" Ning Fengzhi had pieced together Ning Rongrong's plan.
"Yes."
"Speaking of which, it's been almost half a year since I last saw Sister Yan. I miss her. I wonder how her Misfortune Poison Body is progressing."
"But since Elder Dugu hasn't sent any bad news, it must be going well."
Ning Rongrong had been unconscious when Ning Fengzhi gifted the external spirit bone to Dugu Yan, so she hadn't seen Dugu Yan after she began cultivating the Misfortune Poison Body.
"Very well, we'll leave tomorrow." Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Since Rongrong says we need the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to evolve Bone Elder's soul ring, Bone Elder, please accompany her."
"Sword Elder, you'll remain to guard the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"Don't worry, Fengzhi. With me here, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda won't fall into chaos."
Spirit Hall, Elder's Hall
"Big Brother, we can't let Tang Hao live!" The Golden Crocodile Douluo pleaded earnestly.
Ever since his last battle with Tang Hao, the psychological scars still hadn't faded.
Every day, after recovering from his injuries with medicine, he would come to Qian Daoliu this stubborn old man urging him to kill Tang Hao before it was too late.
Today was no different.
"There's no need."
Qian Daoliu descended from the platform where the Angel God's statue stood and approached the Golden Crocodile Douluo, handing him a letter.
"Tang Hao is already crippled. I don't know how it happened, but he'll be stuck at the 89th rank for life. This letter just arrived from Xue'er. Read it."
The Golden Crocodile Douluo looked skeptical but took the letter with trembling hands and unfolded it.
His expression shifted dramatically as he read.
"An unknown Title Douluo severely injured Tang Hao and destroyed his ninth soul ring slot?"
"Tang Hao is permanently stuck at the 89th rank. After seeking treatment from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, he only recovered to his peak at 89th rank."
"This… this…" The Golden Crocodile Douluo muttered for a long time before finally looking up. "Big Brother, is this real? Or is Xue'er tricking us?"
Qian Daoliu's face darkened. "Would Xue'er joke about something like this?"
"Ah… right." The Golden Crocodile Douluo coughed awkwardly.
"That's not what concerns me. Before dying, that Title Douluo claimed to have been close with Xiaojie, even calling himself his 'dearest friend.' I don't recall Xiaojie having someone willing to die for him like that."
"Big Brother, you mean…"
"It's nothing." Qian Daoliu sighed inwardly but didn't voice his thoughts.
"Keep reading. I meant the second page." The letter consisted of two pages the first detailing Tang Hao's situation, the second containing different information.
As the Golden Crocodile Douluo flipped to the second page, his frown deepened.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda discovered a rare herb garden in the Sunset Forest, currently guarded by Dugu Bo…"
"Tang Chen, the former former sect master of the Clear Sky Sect and the Haotian Douluo, has returned from the Slaughter City. The Clear Sky Sect will soon reemerge…"
After a long silence, the Golden Crocodile Douluo set the letter down, his expression conflicted.
"Big Brother, what do we do now?"
"First, let's see what Tang Chen intends. Given his temperament, if his strength hasn't deteriorated, he'll likely come to the Spirit Hall to find me."
From Qian Renxue's letter, it seemed Tang Chen hadn't become a god his condition might even be poor.
Well…
Never mind. We'll see how things unfold. Xue'er no longer needs to become the Angel God.
I'll bear all burdens myself.
As the Angel God's most devout servant, he shouldn't have been able to draw the divine weapon yet Qian Daoliu had done so without punishment.
This likely meant one thing: the Angel God of the Divine Realm might have fallen. Even if not, their condition was far from ideal.
"Tang Chen… Tang Chen."
"You, who also failed to become a god do you still think you can defeat me? I haven't been idle all these years."
Slaughter City… Asura God!
Whatever schemes you have, if you dare touch Qian Renxue, you'll have to step over my corpse first.
The Angel Clan does not cower!
Just like the Asura God, there was no Angel God in this world to begin with.
There was only an exceptionally talented girl who, through sheer effort, ascended to godhood.
If Poseidon of Sea God Island could achieve apotheosis independently, there was no reason my granddaughter Qian Renxue couldn't do the same.
Whether it's the Rakshasa God's agent or the Asura God's agent
If you seek to destroy the Spirit Hall, then I, Qian Daoliu, will stand in your way. Until Xue'er becomes a god, I will be her guardian.
With this resolve, Qian Daoliu turned from the Angel God's statue and spoke solemnly to the Golden Crocodile Douluo:
"Leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to Xue'er. We need not intervene."
"As for Tang Chen… I, Qian Daoliu, have never feared him."
At that moment, a voice echoed from outside deep, resonant, and piercing.
"Qian Daoliu, an old friend has come. Won't you greet me?"
Hearing this familiar yet long-absent voice, Qian Daoliu and the Golden Crocodile Douluo's expressions changed simultaneously.