Chapter 278: Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong Arrive
A month had passed since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's downfall, yet the Douluo Continent remained mired in chaos. Hostilities among the various powers ran high; each faction remained in a state of perpetual readiness, and even Spirit City was no exception.
Late one night, Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong, riding the Holy Tiger Spirit Beast, arrived at the gates of Spirit City, covered in dust from travel.
Because they were accompanied by a spirit beast—and because Spirit Hall's reputation had plummeted into the gutter, leaving it unable to keep order—incidents of spirit masters causing trouble were still rising in an inverted-L-shape trend.
Whenever Ning Fengzhi or Ning Rongrong needed food, they had no choice but to venture alone from the dense forest into a city to buy supplies. However, Ning Rongrong—among the top three beauties of the spirit master world, and lacking any real combat strength since her martial spirit was pure support—stood in grave danger if she ran into a malicious spirit master. Her fate would be all too predictable.
She once could have relied on her status as a direct disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to protect herself. Yet after the clan's utter annihilation, that status only turned her into a prized target for major families. Everyone wanted the Continent's greatest support-type martial spirit—especially the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, which surpassed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—to become part of their own family.
Thus, if they needed food, only Ning Fengzhi—whose hair had turned white overnight, looking like a sixty-year-old man—could hobble out of the forest on a walking stick to enter towns and buy provisions. With travel hindered by these circumstances, a journey that should have taken just a week on the Holy Tiger stretched out to a month.
"It's a spirit beast! Everyone, be on guard!"
The patrol squad by Spirit City's gate spotted a massive shadow approaching. That shape radiated formidable spirit power, yet no spirit rings gleamed at its feet, so they instantly concluded it was a spirit beast and shouted an alarm.
The city gates were guarded by a patrol squad led by a Spirit Sage captain and twenty Spirit Kings. Their spirit rings all lit up in unison—one hundred and seven rings altogether—illuminating the entrance as they prepared to unleash spirit skills to kill the spirit beast.
"Please wait! I'm Ning Fengzhi, Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan! I've come to request an audience with His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff!"
Ning Fengzhi raised his voice, hoarse with exhaustion. Beneath his feet, two yellow, two purple, three black—seven spirit rings—glowed. Dazzling rainbow light emanated from him, condensing into his right palm. In it appeared a brilliant, foot-tall, seven-colored pagoda.
"Stop, Xiao Guang! Don't worry, they aren't enemies."
Ning Fengzhi urged the Holy Tiger Spirit Beast—baring fangs in readiness to fight—to stand down, gently stroking its head.
Though the patrol squad kept their spirit rings active, their expressions tense, they refrained from attacking, thanks to Ning Fengzhi's words. The radiant, resplendent Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was easy to recognize.
Ning Fengzhi dismounted, pulling out a wooden cane from his storage-type soul tool. He had to pause for breath every few steps. Approaching the patrol members, he said, "Could I trouble you to report to His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff, that Ning Fengzhi, Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, seeks an audience?"
Within the top three sects, as well as among all external Title Douluo, each clan leader was an honorary elder of Spirit Hall. Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had been wiped out, the new Seven Great Sects had yet to be selected. Technically, the clan still ranked among the top three, making Ning Fengzhi both the clan's master and an honorary elder of Spirit Hall.
Seeing Ning Fengzhi so frail, hair white as snow, relying on a cane, the squad captain turned and ran off toward Spirit Hall.
Spirit Hall.
"Your Holiness."
Outside the Supreme Pontiff's bedchamber, the man who brought the news was Ghost Douluo, an elder of Spirit Hall. Indeed, one couldn't disturb the Supreme Pontiff at this hour unless the matter was of great importance.
If it weren't urgent, Ghost Douluo wouldn't have dared. At present, Spirit Hall bore all the blame for annihilating both the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Ning Fengzhi, the surviving clan master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, might be the only one who could clear Spirit Hall's name.
"What is it?"
Qian Xunji's voice rang from within, devoid of emotion.
"Your Holiness, Master Ning has arrived in Spirit City. He's currently waiting outside the gates to request an audience."
"Ning Fengzhi…!"
Ghost Douluo felt the space before him waver slightly. Qian Xunji had appeared, dressed in sleepwear, barefoot.
"Yes, Your Holiness, and his daughter, Ning Rongrong, as well. They have a ten-thousand-year spirit beast with them," Ghost Douluo answered quickly, bowing his head to avoid offending the Supreme Pontiff's authority.
Qian Xunji's mood soared at hearing Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong had arrived. Either one's survival, should they come to Spirit Hall, would be a great boon. The hall had never done a losing deal, especially given their earlier transactions with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan for the Qiluo Tulip.
Waiting anxiously at the city gate, Ning Fengzhi counted every second like a year, fully aware that Spirit Hall was now his only chance for vengeance and for preserving the final vestige of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in the world.
All of a sudden, a golden streak shot down. Qian Xunji appeared, still clad in nightclothes, his feet bare.
"Master Ning."
"Greetings, Your Holiness."
At once, the Spirit City patrol squad knelt on one knee in salute.
Ning Fengzhi moved to bow as well, but Qian Xunji supported him upright.
"You're in poor health—no need to be so formal."
Raising his gaze, Ning Fengzhi saw Qian Xunji in pajamas with bare feet, and tears welled up. He felt certain that coming here was the right choice.
"Your Holiness, your graciousness knows no bounds! To greet me without even dressing… I am truly overwhelmed," Ning Fengzhi said, cupping his hands in a show of respect.
"Ning Fengzhi, that spirit beast is…?"
Qian Xunji's gaze turned to the splendid creature, golden fur and faint gold stripes covering its body. Regal and imposing, it radiated twin attributes: fiery heat and gentle warmth. Judging by its soul power at the ten-thousand-year mark, it rivaled top-tier beasts like the Titan Giant Ape.
"Your Holiness, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is gone. Please just call me Fengzhi. That spirit beast is Xiao Guang, which I raised from infancy—our clan's guardian sacred beast. Without Xiao Guang, or Chen'er, or Uncle Sword, Rongrong and I would have perished at the clan's hands… at Bibi Dong's hands."
Recalling the slaughter at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—its destruction and the sight of Gu Chen sacrificing himself to save them—Ning Fengzhi felt tears fall once more.
Qian Xunji couldn't help showing his amazement. Ning Fengzhi had really surpassed himself by rearing a spirit beast to protect his clan. Even he had never considered such a thing.
"This is indeed a grateful, good-hearted spirit beast. Come, Fengzhi, Rongrong, Xiao Guang—Spirit Hall is your home from now on."
Approaching the Holy Tiger, Qian Xunji reached out to touch its head. It looked ready to bare its fangs, but the moment his palm stroked its forehead, it relaxed.
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