A 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor and a 100,000-year Emerald Swan, both spirit bones needing to be life-recovery oriented.
That was no small demand!
Hearing Ning Rongrong's answer, everyone fell silent.
"Let's not mention the 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor spirit bone for now does a spirit beast like the Emerald Swan even exist? And reaching the strict 100,000-year level at that?" Bone Douluo asked with some doubt.
"Emerald Swans are extremely rare, but they do exist," Ning Rongrong said after thinking. "In the core area of Star Dou Great Forest, there's one over 400,000 years old."
"Converted to human soul master ranks, that would be around a 97th or 98th-ranked Title Douluo an exceptionally rare healing-type Title Douluo at that."
"Her status in Star Dou Great Forest is second only to its ruler, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, Ditian."
"A place like the core area of Star Dou Great Forest... No matter how you think about it, we couldn't just waltz in and out safely, could we?" Dugu Yan couldn't help but complain.
Ditian, who could fight evenly with 99th-ranked Qian Daoliu, was far beyond what the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could currently handle not to mention that the heart of Star Dou Great Forest was a forbidden zone for humans.
"So that option's impossible," Ning Rongrong shrugged. "The simplest method is to find the 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor."
"But isn't a 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor equally hard to find?" Dugu Bo asked. The previous hunt for the Evil Spirit Orca King had seemed straightforward, but that was only because they'd ambushed it and his poison happened to counter the orca pods exceptionally well.
100,000-year spirit beasts weren't just rare they were hard to kill. Their intelligence meant they'd flee!
Besides, hadn't it been said before? Even the weakest 100,000-year spirit beasts generally had strength equivalent to a 95th-ranked Title Douluo, and most lived in remote areas far from human activity.
"Rongrong, stop keeping us in suspense. Explain your actual plan," Ning Fengzhi said, sensing hidden implications in her words. All this talk about Emerald Swans felt secondary her real target was clearly the 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor.
Mentioning the Blue Silver Emperor inevitably made Ning Fengzhi think of Tang Hao's wife.
Rumors said she'd been a 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor who took human form.
"Tang Hao probably still has a 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor spirit bone. If we could obtain it, there's a real chance to overcome your spirit's limitations and reach Title Douluo rank."
Ning Rongrong's expression turned grave.
"Title Douluo Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Clan... Are you suggesting we make an enemy of the Clear Sky Clan?" If possible, Ning Fengzhi would prefer not to antagonize Tang Hao.
But if it meant achieving the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda...
Ning Fengzhi drummed his fingers on the table. "Rongrong, you mentioned before that the former Clear Sky Clan patriarch, Tang Chen, was a 99th-ranked Title Douluo like Qian Daoliu."
"Right, which is why I'm hesitant. That Tang San likely has divine backing too. Picking the wrong side could be disastrous for us."
In truth, Ning Rongrong wasn't worried about 99th-rank powerhouses what concerned her was the Asura God behind Tang San.
What stance would he take?
If he unleashed Tang Chen from Slaughter City against them, the current Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would be crushed.
Stealing spirit bones? If investigated, the Asura God might well uncover the truth.
"Any alternatives?" Ning Fengzhi sighed.
"Then we'd need the Life Gold from the Life Lake at Star Dou Great Forest's core."
"If we could negotiate with Star Dou's rulers, obtaining some might not be impossible."
"But first, we'd need strength to make them treat us as equals."
Reaching Title Douluo could wait. Priority was getting Ning Fengzhi to 89th rank opportunities favored the prepared.
Ning Rongrong had detailed plans for his breakthrough, but some things were better left unsaid.
Their immediate mission was testing how far the Asura God would intervene, using the Spirit Douluo Breakthrough Pill as bait.
If divine interference proved minimal, then seizing Ah Yin's spirit bone became viable.
It wasn't Tang Hao, Tang Chen, or even Tang San that Ning Rongrong feared it was the supreme lawkeeper, the table-flipping Asura God.
As for the three upper clans standing united? Wishful thinking.
Backstabbing between them was common! Only the Spirit Hall's dominance forced their surface-level cooperation.
Me, Ning Rongrong, acting dishonorably?
Didn't I spare the Spicy Rabbit's soul ring and bone?
I only want the 100,000-year Blue Silver Emperor's spirit bone maybe plus a stalk of Blue Silver Emperor grass.
Where's the dishonor in that?
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan valued credibility and connections in business.
We keep our word what we promise, we deliver; what we target, we take.
"Actually, Dad, there's no rush. Reach 89th rank first you're still young, with plenty of time to break through to Title Douluo," Ning Rongrong said matter-of-factly.
Ning Fengzhi: "..."
You push me to cultivate while lazing about yourself?
Never had Ning Fengzhi felt so speechless.
"Let's change topics." Ning Rongrong knew her father's breakthrough required long-term planning.
They should first address immediate matters.
"Dad, I heard you've purchased many cat-eared girls, fox girls, and other... exotic items in the Heaven Dou Empire. How's that working out?"
"Uh... which aspect do you mean?"
Ning Fengzhi's brain stalled, struggling to follow his daughter's sudden pivot.
Ning Rongrong clarified: "Those mutated-spirit teenagers popular among nobles the ones costing over 100,000 gold each?"
Her repeated hints finally jolted the confused clan leader to awareness.
"Rongrong, why ask this?" Noticing the increasingly odd looks from others, Ning Fengzhi felt compelled to explain, "Ahem, I merely pitied them and provided shelter."
"With our clan's resources, specialized medicinal baths might help them become true soul masters."
"Even low-level soul masters could greatly benefit Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Failing that, they could live ordinary lives we can certainly afford that."
"I thought you bought them as bedwarmers!" Ning Rongrong teased, chin propped on her hand.
"Rongrong! Get to the point." Ning Fengzhi massaged his forehead, exasperated.
His daughter grew more mischievous daily.
What could he do?
He had standards these mutated-spirit children still had hope in their eyes, worth saving.
Moreover, raising them from youth ensured loyalty. In ten or twenty years, their descendants would have higher spirit awakening rates than average civilians.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's patriarch wasn't as shallow as Heaven Dou's nobility.
"Rongrong, I feel like you've been mocking Uncle Ning this whole time," Dugu Yan whispered.
"Guilty," Ning Rongrong smiled. "There's something amusing about seeing one's father flustered."
Dark lines crept across Ning Fengzhi's forehead.
The pre-breakthrough Ning Rongrong had been far more endearing. Since fixing her spirit, she'd become unrestrained.
While harmless in principle, constantly teasing her father?
I'm the dignified Clan Leader Ning! Have I no dignity left?
"Actually... Dad, I need confirmation. Those mutated-spirit children you rescued do you consider them trustworthy?"
Ning Rongrong's tone turned serious.
"What are you planning?" Ning Fengzhi frowned.
"Building a completely reliable team to handle lip-reading for our surveillance."
"It may take years. Their physical traits might lag behind soul masters, but some excel in specific areas hearing, vision, smell..."
"They could prove useful."
"Moreover, they'd surely remain loyal out of gratitude for their rescue."