After Ning Fengzhi and Grandpa Bone left, Dugu Yan, who had been keeping an eye on Ning Rongrong, wore a puzzled expression and couldn't help but ask:
"Rongrong, you seem unsettled. Isn't the plan going well?"
Ning Fengzhi and Grandpa Bone had departed first.
By the agreed-upon date, they would return with Tang Hao, Qian Renxue, and the others to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
During this time, Ning Fengzhi would seize the opportunity to let Qian Renxue know about the situation with the Lovesick Heartbroken Red, explaining that this immortal-grade treasure had been reserved specifically for her.
Given this, Qian Renxue would undoubtedly take the herb.
Whether it would later be handed over to Bibi Dong would depend on subsequent arrangements.
In Dugu Yan's view, judging by Qian Renxue's personality, there was a high probability she would give the Lovesick Heartbroken Red to Bibi Dong, triggering the storyline between Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang.
"I'm not worried about that." Ning Rongrong sighed inwardly as her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda manifested. A black pearl appeared in her palm.
"I'm just a little concerned about the Dark Devilgod Tiger…"
"Forget it." Ning Rongrong didn't continue. "During this time, I need to raise all my Soul Rings to ten-thousand-year level. If time permits, I plan to continue breaking through."
Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo exchanged glances, not fully understanding the implications of Ning Rongrong's words.
However, if the Young Master wanted to break through, wasn't that a good thing?
Thus, Dugu Bo spoke up: "Rongrong, focus on your breakthrough. Leave everything else to me and Yan Yan."
"Mm."
Ning Rongrong nodded and walked to the edge of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The reflection of the red-and-blue spring water shimmered in her pupils as she sighed inwardly.
Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King…
"Once I break through to the Grandmaster or Supreme realm, I'll meet you properly."
"Without strength, there's no right to speak."
With that, she sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state.
Time passed swiftly.
The day when Tang Hao and the others would be brought to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well by Ning Fengzhi drew closer.
Yet Ning Rongrong remained in cultivation.
Her original three purple and three black Soul Rings had now become two black, one purple, and three black.
Aside from her third Soul Ring, which remained purple, all the others had turned black.
"Rongrong hasn't eaten in over ten days. Could this cause problems?" Dugu Yan's face showed worry.
Due to their enhanced physiques, Soul Masters could endure hunger better than ordinary people, but they weren't capable of true fasting.
"Her cultivation method is different from ours. Maybe she really can go a month or two without eating."
Dugu Bo tried to reassure her, but the inexplicable pressure emanating from Ning Rongrong didn't seem like someone who had gone without food for days.
"Sigh… I hope so."
While Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo were talking, Ning Rongrong was making the final push in refining her Soul Rings.
A wisp of dark-gray energy invaded her mental space, disrupting her cultivation progress.
Ning Rongrong directly erased the invading energy with her spiritual power.
After the energy was wiped away, a pitch-black pearl trembled before her eyes.
"Stop pretending. I know you've fused with the Evil God's Pearl."
Ning Rongrong manifested as a spiritual entity within her mental space, calmly observing the object that had tried to corrupt her mind.
"Damn it! You're just a support-type Soul Master why are you so stubborn?"
The Dark Devilgod Pearl flickered, transforming into a faint silhouette the outline of the Dark Devilgod Tiger.
Compared to its former ferocious appearance, the current Dark Devilgod Tiger, formed from the pearl, resembled a miniature black kitten adorable yet fierce.
Yes, the legendary "Dark Devilgod Kitty."
Seeing the shadowy form of the Dark Devilgod Tiger, Ning Rongrong showed no surprise, only a faint smile.
"You're really hard to kill. But why the fear? Weren't you hiding all this time, waiting to escape?"
"Are you worried I'll destroy you after my breakthrough?"
The Dark Devilgod Pearl was a treasure left behind by the Evil God. Even if Ning Rongrong reached the Master realm, she wasn't sure she could completely eliminate it.
Throwing it away felt like a waste and like releasing a future enemy.
Nowadays, extermination meant leaving no loose ends. Even the guard dog at the gate had to be dealt with, lest it return decades later as a vengeful demon.
She had killed the Dark Devilgod Tiger multiple times, yet it always revived.
As long as the Dark Devilgod Pearl existed, it could regenerate.
It had even absorbed the remnants of her hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring's energy.
Who knew what it was planning?
"Human, your cultivation method doesn't belong to this world." The Dark Devilgod Tiger's childish voice rang out.
"And? What's your point?" Ning Rongrong didn't deny it.
"I can form a contract with you, becoming your seventh Soul Ring."
The Dark Devilgod Tiger spoke solemnly.
"I don't need Soul Rings. If you've been observing me, you should know that already."
"So what use is a Soul Ring to me? Besides, your Soul Ring was already absorbed by our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's Grandpa Bone. What bargaining chip do you have left?"
"No, it's different." The Dark Devilgod Tiger insisted. "Not me but you should have a way."
"I've seen the memories of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King. As you said, soul beasts cannot become gods on Douluo Planet. You didn't lie to me."
When attempting to escape earlier, the Dark Devilgod Tiger had set up several contingencies. Sensing the residual divine souls in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, it had used the Evil God's power to extract fragments of their memories.
It had also considered that its chances of escaping Ning Rongrong's grasp were slim.
"Fine."
"But we must form a master-servant contract and I will not tolerate betrayal."
"Don't push it." Though the Dark Devilgod Tiger wasn't entirely sure what kind of contract Ning Rongrong meant, its inherited fragments of the Evil God's memories gave it some understanding of such pacts.
A master-servant contract was no different from being a watchdog or a house cat.
"I don't trust you." Ning Rongrong's tone was firm. "You can review the contract terms. Don't worry it's nothing unbearable. I don't have such tastes."
She condensed the contract's contents within the mental space and tossed it to the Dark Devilgod Tiger.
The shadowy outline of the tiger solidified further as its dark eyes scanned the floating document.
After a moment, its expression shifted to surprise.
"That's it?" The Dark Devilgod Tiger was stunned.
"I need a companion, not a subordinate." Ning Rongrong paused briefly before continuing,
"Besides, you're no longer purely the Dark Devilgod Tiger. The Evil God's influence has faded darkness and time have fully merged with you, haven't they?"
In other words, the current Dark Devilgod Tiger was no longer heavily influenced by the Evil God's power, which had once warped its mind, corrupted others, and even driven it to devour its master.
By killing the Dark Devilgod Tiger repeatedly, Ning Rongrong had not only purged its evil aura but also considered taming it.
Of course, whether this was possible didn't matter much to her.
"Very well, I accept."
"If you're willing to help me ascend to godhood, what are a few restrictions?"
The Dark Devilgod Tiger immediately imprinted its soul essence onto the contract.
"Good. Pleasant cooperation."
Once the Dark Devilgod Tiger "signed," the contract dissolved into starlight, scattering across the mental space.