Thanks to Ning Rongrong's spatial jump ability, she quickly returned to the Nine Treasure Merchant Association in Vast Sea City.
Inside the association's conference hall.
All the important figures of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School who had come to Vast Sea City were gathered.
Seated in the main seat was the sect leader Ning Fengzhi, flanked by Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. Below them, eight Soul Douluo were seated in two rows, the three strongest among them already at level 85.
It could be said that in the ten years Ning Rongrong had diligently worked and cultivated, even excluding the top combat power of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, the middle and high-level soul masters' fighting strength had improved tremendously.
When the space in the empty area trembled, everyone present was startled. Only when they saw the familiar teleportation gate form and the pink-haired girl step out did their vigilance ease.
Especially Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo—the three elders who were most worried about Ning Rongrong—finally let their suspended hearts settle.
"Rongrong, it seems there were no accidents." Ning Fengzhi looked at Ning Rongrong, who appeared completely unchanged, and couldn't help sighing in relief. "From your expression, the matter is resolved?"
Not long ago, Ning Rongrong's clone had returned with Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan's face had been as pale as paper, startling Ning Fengzhi and the others.
Only after asking for details did they learn it was the aftereffect of slaughter, and they immediately told Dugu Yan to rest and not overwork herself.
After understanding the situation, Ning Fengzhi unconsciously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Killing over a hundred thousand soul beasts in one breath…
That was far more shocking than Dugu Bo killing ordinary soldiers!
Before Ning Rongrong's clone disappeared, she had instructed him to gather everyone with Soul Douluo strength or higher because there was something important to announce.
Although the clone hadn't explained in detail, Ning Fengzhi guessed it was probably related to soul rings and soul bones.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School currently had nineteen Soul Douluo. Eight had come to Vast Sea City this time, and among them, the strongest were at level 85. Including Ye Renxin, the Nine Heart Begonia soul master, there were three at that level.
While Ning Fengzhi was lost in deep thought, Ning Rongrong finally returned. He was already familiar with her teleportation gate and no longer found it strange.
That was why he asked whether Ning Rongrong had completely resolved everything.
Although it was phrased as a question, seeing his daughter standing calmly here, if the problem hadn't been solved, she definitely wouldn't be this relaxed!
In response to Ning Fengzhi's question, Ning Rongrong swept her gaze across everyone present and nodded.
"The source of the beast tide has been dealt with. Vast Sea City is safe."
"Hiss—"
At those words, Ning Fengzhi and the other two sucked in a cold breath.
Especially Sword Douluo—no one understood the Sea Princess's strength better than he did.
Her vast water-attribute abilities, the extreme chill of ultimate ice, the terrifying power that could freeze the entire Vast Sea City with a casual wave of her hand.
Even with Ning Fengzhi's boosts and without using Ring Explosion, he would only be on equal footing with her at best, perhaps gaining a slight upper hand.
But in a life-or-death battle, the outcome was uncertain, especially since she was a soul beast extremely skilled in mental attacks, making the fight even more troublesome.
"Rongrong, what about the Sea Princess?" A limit Douluo half-god realm soul beast like the Sea Princess—if she sought revenge, it would be a catastrophe for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School. Sword Douluo couldn't help but worry.
"There will be no more Sea Princess." Ning Rongrong said.
"This…"
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo exchanged glances.
The meaning was clear: the Sea Princess had been killed.
Thinking back to the terrifying rift that stretched for thousands of meters and the horrifying power it emitted, both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo fell into a long silence.
"Alright, snap out of it, everyone." Ning Rongrong clapped her hands lightly, signaling everyone to return to their senses.
She raised her slender hand, and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda quietly rested in her palm. Then, each level of the pagoda began radiating light, gradually bathing the entire hall in a halo.
Black, black, black, black, red, red, red, red, red.
One soul ring after another gradually appeared.
Nine soul rings lined up neatly around the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
But everyone present was stunned.
Because Ning Rongrong's own soul rings weren't like this, and these soul rings… how should they put it?
They gave the feeling that they hadn't been absorbed yet.
"Rongrong, these soul rings, could it be…"
"Yes, all of them are wild soul rings that can be absorbed."
"Four rings over 95,000 years, and five 100,000-year soul rings."
After Ning Rongrong finished speaking, aside from Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo who had seen the "big world," the rest of the enshrined elders didn't fully grasp it, or even if they had guesses, they weren't certain.
Ning Rongrong paused for a moment, then briefly and clearly explained to the soul masters present.
The sound of collective sharp inhalations rose and fell throughout the hall.
Some people's bodies even trembled slightly, their expressions collapsing, pupils dilated, as if they were witnessing something unbelievable.
After a long while, a burly enshrined elder with bronze-colored skin stood up, first cupped his fists toward Ning Rongrong, then asked:
"Young Sect Master, are you saying these soul rings were stripped from soul beasts and that we can absorb them?"
Ning Rongrong had spoken very clearly, but many still felt they might have misheard.
As everyone knew, only the person who killed a soul beast could absorb its soul ring.
"Enshrined Wang Teng, your understanding is correct." Ning Rongrong explained.
"These soul rings come from the high-level sea soul beasts that launched the beast tide."
"My Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda can temporarily seal the soul rings dropped by soul beasts and turn them into ownerless rings that anyone can absorb."
"However, it can only seal nine at a time, and the sealing duration… is only seven days."
"No, I was delayed one day while recovering, which means you only have six days left. After six days, these nine soul rings will dissipate."
"We generally understand what the Young Sect Master means, but this is asking too much of us."
An enshrined elder with graying hair stood up. Like Wang Teng, he was also level 85.
Going from level 85 to level 90 required at least one level per day.
No matter how they thought about it, it was impossible!
Not everyone was like their completely unreasonable Young Sect Master whose Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could come alive and beat people up.
Back then, Kurumi had single-handedly beaten every disobedient Soul Douluo enshrined and Soul Sage guardian in the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School from top to bottom.
Now, although it was shocking that the Young Sect Master could produce 100,000-year soul rings and had possibly killed multiple 100,000-year soul beasts, it was still acceptable.
But to break through to level 90 and absorb these soul rings within a few days?
If they could do that, would they have been stuck at Soul Douluo for so many years?
Crossing five levels in six days was utterly impossible unless they stacked a massive number of soul bones.
Even with soul bones piled up, if their talent wasn't enough, they would very likely be stuck at level 89.
Insufficient talent was insufficient talent.
Even if they were just one level short of 90 and equipped with a full set of soul bones, if they couldn't cross the threshold, they simply couldn't.
"I naturally have a way since I brought the soul rings back."
Seeing everyone's worry, Ning Rongrong swept her gaze across the room and continued,
"But the path to Title Douluo has never been easy. Are you all prepared?"
"For example… the resolve to die!"