"What's the reason?" Gu Yuena's voice pulled Bi Ji back from her daze.
With a "swish," Bi Ji turned her gaze directly to Ning Rongrong.
"Sigh, Gu Yuena, as the half-body of the Dragon God, do you really lack the Dragon God's complete memories?"
"This has nothing to do with whether I have those memories or not," Gu Yuena responded. "I won't ask how you came to know this information, but what's the reason behind the Dragon God restricting soul beasts from breaking through?"
"As a member of the soul beast clan, I can't possibly accept this."
"I'm sure the Golden Dragon King wouldn't accept it either."
"They say it's to find a glimmer of hope for the dragon clan, but isn't that just a matter of perspective?" Ning Rongrong didn't retort sharply, instead explaining calmly, "Back then, the Dragon God failed to break through, causing chaos in the Dragon Realm."
"Many gods from other factions fell…"
"With the Dragon God's temperament, it might have been to atone for his sins."
"Or perhaps he was worried that without his protection, the dragons and beast clans that ascended to the Divine Realm would be suppressed or even perish under other divine factions."
"I don't understand," Bi Ji interjected before Gu Yuena could respond. "If they don't break through to the divine level, does that mean soul beasts won't be suppressed?"
Becoming a god at level 100…
For countless years, the soul beasts of the Star Dou Forest had watched human gods emerge, yet no matter how much they endured, they could never cross the threshold to godhood.
Even after soul beasts reached level 95…
Each level they broke through required facing terrifying divine punishment.
If the inability to become gods was a rule set by the Dragon God to ensure the survival of their race, then what about the soul beasts who faced tribulation, with only one in ten surviving?
"Maybe it was designed that way," Ning Rongrong said with a smile. "Compared to me, as a demigod, you should know more, shouldn't you?"
"Whether it was the Dragon King betraying the Dragon God, or the Dragon God acting to secure a brighter future for the dragon clan, doesn't it seem odd?"
Silence. A long silence.
Gu Yuena sighed softly:
"I can't confirm whether what you're saying is true, but in my memories, there is indeed a rule that soul beasts cannot become gods, established based on the will of some supreme being."
"If that supreme being is the Dragon God, I can't imagine such a scenario."
As the Dragon God's demigod half, she was not the Dragon God himself.
On the surface, she was the so-called co-lord of soul beasts, but if she were to merge with the Golden Dragon King and reclaim the Dragon God's divine authority, she would absolutely make herself the dominant entity and devour the Golden Dragon King.
"Well, it's none of my business anyway." Ning Rongrong shrugged nonchalantly. "In short, I've told you what I know. What you do with it is up to you."
"Of course, whether you believe it or not is entirely your choice."
Ning Rongrong's words left both Gu Yuena and Bi Ji in silence.
After a long pause, Gu Yuena spoke: "Can you tell me about your cultivation method?"
"Name any condition you want—be it a 100,000-year soul bone, a soul ring, or even the more precious Gold of Life."
"You can't cultivate it," Ning Rongrong shook her head.
A wisp of white light appeared in her palm.
"Soul power and my power are incompatible. Unless, like Kurumi, you completely abandon everything and become the spirit of my Nine Treasures Glazed Tower, otherwise…"
Ning Rongrong wasn't worried about Gu Yuena turning hostile.
The white light orb slowly drifted to Gu Yuena's palm.
Gu Yuena looked down at the orb in her hand, a strange glint flashing in her eyes.
"It's neither soul power nor divine power…"
"It's an energy I completely don't recognize."
It wasn't even within the scope of the powers governed by the Divine Realm.
Bi Ji also looked curiously at the light orb in Gu Yuena's palm but, as a subordinate, decided to wait until her boss was done before asking.
However, it didn't take long.
Suddenly, a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of Gu Yuena's mouth, and her amber eyes revealed a look of shock.
"It repels to such an extent?"
No sooner had Gu Yuena spoken than the light orb in her hand went "pop."
It shattered into specks of light, slipping through the gaps of her fingers.
At that moment, Ning Rongrong's voice rang out.
"As long as you're still bound by the Dragon God's system, you can't use my cultivation method."
"The absolute difference in rules isn't so easily reconciled…" Ning Rongrong sighed.
She hadn't considered letting Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo cultivate zhenqi.
The issue lay with their martial souls.
Martial souls were fragments derived from the Dragon God, deeply rooted in both soul beasts and soul masters.
Unless, like Ning Rongrong, one was extremely familiar with techniques, meridians, and zhenqi, completely purging soul power from the start and leaving only an empty shell of a martial soul, cultivation was impossible.
For others, it was simply unfeasible.
Once someone became a soul master, their soul power permeated every cell, perfectly integrated with their soul.
That made it even more impossible.
Even Dugu Yan, with her current physique, was still restricted by the rules of soul masters.
As for soul beasts, they had inherited rules since the Dragon God's fall.
Generation after generation, there was no possibility of cultivating differently.
And for Gu Yuena, the Dragon God's half-body, shedding the Dragon God's imprint was simply unattainable.
This was also why Ning Rongrong sought Di Tian's Yin-Yang Soul Core for cultivation.
Under normal circumstances, having Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo break through to Limit Douluo would take too long.
Not everyone was a prodigy like Tang Chen.
Even in Huo Yuhao's era, there was a 10,000-year buffer.
Even Mu En only reached level 99 from level 98 after obtaining the Golden Holy Dragon's pearl and comprehending part of it.
This was also why Ning Rongrong wanted to find the Dragon Tomb.
Breaking through to level 99 might be relatively easy for Sword Douluo, but for Gu Rong… Bone Douluo.
Barring any surprises, reaching Limit Douluo in a few decades would be difficult.
Not everyone had Tang San's cheats.
With the Sea God feeding him and the Asura God guiding him, who among normal people didn't face bottlenecks?
"A very unique cultivation method," Gu Yuena's voice echoed in the City of Devouring Time.
"It's unlike anything I know, and indeed, as you said."
"Neither I nor any soul beast or soul master on this continent can cultivate it."
Gu Yuena sighed. "You know about Xue Qinghe and Qian Renxue, don't you?"
Ning Rongrong didn't respond.
Gu Yuena didn't press further.
Some things, when left unanswered, were as good as confirmation.
"I'll ask one last time: what exactly does the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect want?"
"Or rather, are you friend or foe?"
Gu Yuena's amber eyes grew solemn as she spoke.
"I only want the sect to be preserved, and for the people I care about and who care about me to live," Ning Rongrong said calmly. "I don't want to get involved in your affairs."
"But anything she does, I don't want it to involve the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect."
"And that includes you."
"Is that a threat?" Gu Yuena's brows furrowed tightly.
"No, just a warning," Ning Rongrong sighed. "You don't need to test me further. The god behind me doesn't belong to the Divine Realm's pantheon either. Knowing that is enough."
"Alright." Ning Rongrong clapped her hands, dispelling Tokisaki Kurumi's City of Devouring Time, and looked at Gu Yuena again. "I've said all I can. The information you and she wanted to know, I've told you."
"Beyond those two conditions, don't think about dragging us into this."
"After all, my father is her teacher."
"Not wanting to get involved is one thing, but it hasn't reached the point of betraying one's master, has it?"
Hearing this, Gu Yuena fell silent again.
Still, this exchange had at least given them some insight into the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's intentions.
There were no conflicts in their interactions or interests.
That could be considered a gain.
As for the Dragon God…
That would have to wait until there was an opportunity to address it later!
After Ning Fengzhi awoke, Gu Yuena left with Bi Ji.
Xue Ke stayed temporarily at the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, reportedly to be picked up by someone sent by Xue Qinghe.
Ning Rongrong returned to the main hall.
Ning Fengzhi's appearance had become younger, his every movement exuding elegance and gentleness.
Finally, the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect had its own proper auxiliary Title Douluo, not like her, who was terrifyingly strong and an unconventional auxiliary.
Ning Fengzhi's current soul rings were: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red.
"Congratulations, Father," Ning Rongrong stood before Ning Fengzhi, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned. "The Nine Treasures Glazed Sect is finally worthy of its name."
"Indeed!" Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Ning Fengzhi felt deeply moved. "I never thought I'd break through to Title Douluo in my lifetime."
And not just at the shameful level 91, either.