...
"call out--!!"
Xuan Hao did not linger in Qibao City.
Instead, he took Ning Rongrong and flew directly over the city, ignoring the no-fly zone, heading straight for the core area of the back mountain.
"Who goes there?!
How dare you trespass into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?!"
The patrolling disciples responsible for perimeter security quickly noticed the anomaly in the sky, and several figures took off to try and stop it.
But the next second, when they saw the iconic golden dragon wings and the little ancestor in a white dress clinging to the boy's back, everyone immediately withdrew their martial spirits.
Xuan Hao's matter has become common knowledge in Qibao City over the past few months.
The journey was smooth and unobstructed.
Xuan Hao flew to the magnificent main hall with practiced ease.
At this moment, at the entrance of the main hall.
Ning Fengzhi, dressed in a spotless white sect leader's robe and holding a scepter, stood there with Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong.
He seemed to have sensed their presence long ago and was waiting with a smile.
"boom--"
A strong wind whipped up fallen leaves from the ground.
Xuan Hao suddenly folded his wings and landed steadily on the square in front of the main hall with Ning Rongrong.
It landed silently, with an elegant posture.
"Dad! Grandpa Sword! Grandpa Bone!"
As soon as her feet touched the ground, Ning Rongrong jumped off Xuan Hao's back.
Although her eyes were still a little red, she still obediently ran over to greet the elders.
"Hehe, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."
Bone Douluo patted Ning Rongrong's head with a kind expression, looking at her slightly red eyes with heartache.
He was about to ask if she had been bullied, but seeing that Ning Rongrong, though aggrieved, did not seem to be complaining, he swallowed his words.
Ning Fengzhi, on the other hand, kept his gaze fixed on Xuan Hao, a hint of undisguised amazement flashing in his eyes.
"Such speed..."
Ning Fengzhi watched as the golden wings behind Xuan Hao slowly retracted, and made a silent assessment in his mind.
The entire process of Xuan Hao swooping down from the sky and landing smoothly was breathtaking; his extreme speed and control over the airflow were simply awe-inspiring.
"Even those agility-type Soul Kings in the sect who specialize in speed probably don't have this kind of explosive power and extreme speed."
"This terrifying speed surpasses that of others of the same level..."
Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but think of an extremely special clan—the Min clan.
The family's inherited martial soul, "Sharp-tailed Swift," is known as the fastest martial soul in the Douluo Continent, unmatched by anyone of the same level.
"However, in pursuit of ultimate speed, the swift completely abandons defense and attack, making it as fragile as a piece of paper."
Looking at the young man before him, whose vitality was vigorous, whose defense was astonishing, and whose mental strength was even impenetrable, Ning Fengzhi felt even more impressed:
"And that kid Xuanhao..."
"Not only is the speed ridiculously fast, but the strength, defense, explosiveness, and even recovery ability are all top-notch."
"This True Dragon Martial Soul is truly unreasonable..."
After Xuan Hao safely delivered Ning Rongrong, he clapped his hands, not intending to linger, and turned to bow to Ning Fengzhi:
"Uncle Ning, Your Excellency Sword Douluo, Your Excellency Bone Douluo, since Rongrong has already been delivered, then this junior will not disturb you any longer and will take my leave now."
"Hey, young friend Xuanhao, why the rush?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled and raised his hand, "You've traveled a long way to bring Rongrong back, and you're leaving without even having a sip of tea.
If word gets out, wouldn't it make it seem like my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is being unhospitable?"
"Besides, it's getting late now."
Ning Fengzhi glanced at the darkening sunset on the horizon and continued:
"Why don't you stay at the sect for the night, get some rest, and leave tomorrow?
It's perfect timing, Rongrong has been well taken care of by you while she was away, so let me show you some hospitality tonight."
"Yeah yeah!"
Ning Rongrong, disregarding all pretense of modesty, ran over and grabbed Xuan Hao's arm, clinging to him and pleading pitifully:
"Brother Xuanhao, please stay and play for just one day! Just one day!
Okay?"
"Let me show you our family's Seven-Pagoda and the Crystal Lake behind the mountain, they're so beautiful!"
"Besides... and you said you wanted to balance work and rest!
This day won't interfere with your cultivation!"
Seeing the little girl's anxious expression, as if she was afraid he would run away, and then looking at Ning Fengzhi's "unable to refuse" smile, Xuan Hao thought for a moment and decided not to be coy anymore.
"Alright."
Xuan Hao nodded, "Then I'll trouble Uncle Ning for a day."
"However, I'll have to trouble Uncle Ning to send someone back to Tiandou City to tell my family members, so they don't think I've disappeared again and turn Tiandou City upside down."
"Haha, of course."
Ning Fengzhi laughed heartily, "I'll arrange it right away."
...
Since he stayed behind, he was naturally dragged all over the mountain by Ning Rongrong.
From the sect's martial arts arena to the alchemy room, from the scenic viewing platform to the heavily guarded treasure pavilion, Ning Rongrong wanted nothing more than to show Xuan Hao all the good things in her family.
Especially in the treasure vault.
"Brother Xuanhao, look!
This is a thousand-year-old blood jade coral!
Isn't it beautiful?
It's for you!"
"And this! This is a wristband made of deep-sea silver, it's very strong defensively!
You take it too!"
Inside the treasure pavilion, Ning Rongrong completely switched to "splurging child" mode, trying to stuff every good thing she saw into Xuan Hao's arms.
It was as if she wanted to empty the entire treasure pavilion and give it to him.
However, unexpectedly, faced with this dazzling array of treasures, Xuan Hao, who was usually known as "greedy and lustful," surprisingly did not reach out for them this time.
"What's wrong?"
Ning Rongrong held the necklace in her hands, looking at him somewhat helplessly, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes:
"Do you not like any of them?
Or do you think these things aren't good enough?"
"It's not that I don't like it, nor that it's not good enough."
Xuan Hao crouched down, looking into Ning Rongrong's clear eyes, his tone gentle yet earnest:
"Rongrong, these things are indeed very precious.
But they are the wealth that your father, your grandfather, and even generations of your sect have painstakingly accumulated."
"They don't belong to you, and they don't belong to me."
Xuan Hao gently placed the treasures back in their original places and said earnestly:
"There are limits to extortion.
I can make deals with your father and take things from your family's treasure trove because I have leverage and value."
"But I can't lie to a little kid about things."
"If you really want to give me a gift..."
Xuanhao rubbed her head and said, "Then we'll wait until you grow up, become stronger, and earn your own wealth through your own efforts."
"Then, you can give me another gift.
Even if it's just an ordinary stone, I'll accept it."
"Because that's your intention, the result of your hard work."
"Being wealthy doesn't mean you can be extravagant. What belongs to others may be easy to take, but it has no real weight."
Ning Rongrong looked at him, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Although she was still a little vague about the concepts of "effort" and "weight," she understood what Xuan Hao meant.
He doesn't want his father's things.
He wanted what she earned herself.
"Um!"
Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously, "I've got it!"
"I will definitely give you the best gift in the future! I'll buy it with my own money!"
...
Night falls, and the stars twinkle.
After playing all day, the two lay side by side on the grass behind the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, looking at the brilliant starry sky above.
Ning Rongrong gripped Xuan Hao's sleeve tightly.
Perhaps she was tired, or perhaps it was because they were about to part ways, but she appeared unusually quiet.
Xuan Hao turned his head and looked at the tender and delicate little face, a slight stirring in his heart.
Although this girl can be quite annoying at times, he has to admit that he hasn't treated her like an outsider during the past two weeks.
Moreover, the girl's performance today gave him hope for change.
"Since you've been so good, I'll give you a parting gift too."
Xuan Hao sat up and flipped his hand over.
A flash of light appeared, and a strange, magical herb appeared in his hand.
It was a tulip, its entire body a dazzling gold, with pale purple stamens, emitting an intensely rich fragrance that made one's soul power leap with joy just from a single whiff.
Tulips in full bloom.
He originally planned to give it to Ning Rongrong when she was older and more sensible.
But now it seems...
Whether I give it to her sooner or later, it's all the same.
I might as well help her now and fulfill my promise to make her "stronger".
"This is..."
Upon smelling the intoxicating fragrance, Ning Rongrong instantly snapped out of her daze, her large eyes fixed on the immortal herb, instinctively sensing that it was something extraordinary.
"A gift for you."
Xuan Hao handed the Qiluo tulip to her and said softly:
"Didn't you say you would cultivate diligently to help me?"
"Eat it."
"It can help you transform yourself and let you see... the true future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"real?"
Ning Rongrong didn't hesitate at all, nor did she ask what it was, or even if it was poisonous.
Trusting Xuan Hao completely, she accepted the herb and, following his instructions, gently absorbed the essence from its stamen.
As that extremely pure energy entered his body.
Buzz—
A dazzling seven-colored light suddenly erupted from Ning Rongrong's body, and her original level eleven soul power began to surge wildly, causing her body to become scorching hot.
Although this energy was enormous, it was not violent.
Instead, it was like a warm current, gently nourishing her limbs and bones, and transforming the origin of her martial soul.
"So sleepy..."
Ning Rongrong murmured, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier.
The effects of the Qiluo Tulip began to kick in; this was a self-protective mechanism activated by the body to adapt to evolution.
Soon, she lost consciousness completely, fell into Xuan Hao's arms, and fell into a deep sleep.
But the seven-colored light on her body grew brighter and brighter, and the phantom of the pagoda, which originally had only seven stories, slowly emerged in the light, as if it was undergoing some kind of amazing transformation.
Xuanhao adjusted her position to make her more comfortable.
He neither left nor practiced cultivation.
I simply stayed quietly by her side, watching the starry sky and listening to the mountain breeze, accompanying this girl who was undergoing the most important transformation of her life on this peaceful night, until dawn.
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