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Because his stay at the sect was very short, Ning Tianchen didn't waste any time.
That night, he first met with Hong Kui.
From him, Ning Tianchen learned that the framework for their collaboration had been mostly finalized.
Around six months later, the Seven Treasures Academy would hold its admissions, and by then, Hong Xinyue could smoothly enroll. To ensure she could focus solely on her studies, the Hong family decided to send another talented young individual to the academy.
This person's purpose wouldn't be to study but to act as a liaison between the two factions.
The preliminary cooperation had been established, and regarding the specific details, Hong Kui indicated that an elder from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would personally coordinate with him the next day.
With this matter settled, Ning Tianchen discreetly left the sect and inspected the Shadow Guards stationed in his fief.
Currently, Zhang Erhe had gone to Longxing City in the Star Luo Empire to investigate the status of the Breaking Clan.
For now, the Shadow Guards were temporarily under the command of Zhao Wuji.
"Teacher Zhao, judging by your strength, you're close to breaking through to Soul Douluo, aren't you?" Ning Tianchen asked with a smile.
Zhao Wuji bowed respectfully and replied, "Although we aren't formal members of the sect, the sect has treated us generously. Thanks to the sect's resources over this long period, my progress has been rapid."
In the original timeline, Shrek Academy received sponsorship from the Tiandou Imperial Family, gradually becoming prosperous.
Zhao Wuji then had the means to purchase cultivation resources and broke through to Soul Douluo before the five-year agreement with the Shrek Seven Monsters.
Given his innate talent, Ning Tianchen naturally didn't skimp on providing resources.
"You've all done well. When you need your eighth soul ring, have Old Zhang take you."
After exchanging pleasantries, they moved on to discuss official matters.
Currently, the Shadow Guards' deepest investigation focused on the Strength Clan within Tiandou City.
They discovered that during the Soul Master Tournament, the Strength Clan had contacted Tang Hao. Moreover, the entire clan held deep affection for the Hao Tian Sect. If called upon, they would return to the Hao Tian Sect at any time.
"From now on, there's no need to concern ourselves with the Strength Clan," Ning Tianchen remarked indifferently, not at all surprised.
Titan was originally Tang Hao's servant and now served as the leader of the Strength Clan. Under his leadership, most of the clan's members naturally leaned toward the Hao Tian Sect. Truly, some dogs never change their ways.
"The Breaking Clan is highly vigilant. Although their clan leader has the lowest soul power level among the four major clans, his strength even surpasses Titan's. Otherwise, Old Zhang wouldn't have taken so long."
Ning Tianchen said, "Later, organize the situation into a report. When I return next time, hand it over to me all at once. Once this task is complete, start investigating Prince Xue Xing. There's no time limit."
Dugu Bo still owed Prince Xue Xing a favor. Until this debt was repaid, Dugu Bo would always feel uneasy.
Since Dugu Bo had done so much for him, Ning Tianchen also needed to lend a hand.
…
The next day
After Hong Kui finished coordinating with the sect's elder, Ning Tianchen and the others set off again on their journey for training.
Ning Fengzhi hadn't opposed Ning Rongrong's departure but instead assigned her a mission.
During the Soul Master Tournament, Tian Chao had invited Ning Tianchen to visit.
Given Ning Rongrong's special relationship with Ning Tianchen, even if they traveled together, the Snow Mountain Sect wouldn't resent their presence.
Ning Rongrong's trip this time was as a representative of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to discuss potential cooperation with the Snow Mountain Sect.
Moreover, the Spirit Hall's influence in the northern regions of the Tiandou Empire was minimal, so there was no need to worry about their safety.
Inside the carriage, Ning Rongrong clung to Ning Tianchen's arm, locking eyes with Hong Xinyue.
A woman's sixth sense was sharp, and she noticed Hong Xinyue's intentions, using this gesture to assert her claim.
Meanwhile, Ning Tianchen discussed the finer details of the collaboration with Hong Kui, oblivious to the two women's actions.
After finishing their conversation, Hong Kui couldn't help but exclaim, "Xinyue just broke through to Level 40. I never expected you and Young Mistress Rongrong to already reach Soul Emperor and Soul King levels."
The depth of a great family's resources truly was impressive.
Ning Tianchen smiled in response but offered no further explanation.
After a brief pause, he turned to Ning Rongrong and asked, "Rongrong, has everyone left the sect already?"
Ning Rongrong nodded.
Chen Huayu and Oscar hadn't returned to the sect since their last departure.
Zhu Zhuqing, Yu Die, and Cai Die had returned twice in the interim. As for Feng Xiaotian, Ning Rongrong had encountered him multiple times while shopping in the city.
As she spoke, Ning Rongrong suddenly remembered something and said, "I forgot to tell you—Huang Wu and Bao Zhen were injured during that mission…"
Their injuries had occurred some time ago, and Ning Rongrong, in her rush to pack her belongings at the sect, hadn't recalled it immediately.
Ning Tianchen was startled and quickly lifted the carriage curtain.
By now, the carriage had traveled nearly a hundred miles from the sect's headquarters. Turning back would waste a significant amount of time.
More than a month had passed since Hong Xinyue broke through to Level 40, and further delays in obtaining her soul ring weren't acceptable.
After some thought, Ning Tianchen lowered the carriage curtain and said, "Never mind, we'll visit them next time we return."
Hong Kui reminded him, "Ever since Xinyue awakened her martial soul, the Hong family has gathered quite a bit of information about the Extreme North. It's said that various herbs capable of regenerating lost limbs can be found on the icy plains of the Extreme North. Perhaps you'll encounter them during your training."
"However, these herbs aren't particularly effective for treating eye injuries."
Ning Tianchen thanked him and replied, "Heavenly treasures aren't so easily found. We'll keep an eye out during our training."
Huang Wu had lost his right arm, and Ning Tianchen possessed two soul bones for the right arm. Absorbing a soul bone could allow a soul master to regrow a limb, but Bao Zhen's eye injury remained a tricky issue.
Ning Tianchen pressed further, "Rongrong, where were they attacked?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head, "Father issued a gag order at the time, so it must have been something serious. Otherwise, Father wouldn't have been so cautious."
Ning Tianchen understood.
When he returned to the sect next time, he'd personally inquire about the situation with Ning Fengzhi.
Huang Wu and Bao Zhen were his classmates and teammates. As the team captain, he had an obligation to avenge his teammates.
Over the next month, the carriage continued northward, and the weather grew increasingly colder.
Ning Tianchen and the others donned thick coats, whereas Hong Xinyue, being an ice-attribute soul master, could withstand the cold with her usual attire.
The carriage entered Bingxue City, and everyone decided to rest for the night.
That evening, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong sat by the fireplace to keep warm.
Suddenly struck by curiosity, Ning Rongrong asked, "Tianchen Brother, why does it get colder the farther north we go and hotter the farther south?"
On the Douluo Continent, only the imperial astronomers in the palace observed celestial phenomena. Other forces or individuals paid little attention to changes in the weather.
What Ning Rongrong had asked about was something covered in middle school geography textbooks in his previous life.
Ning Tianchen smiled and replied, "What you said isn't entirely accurate. If you keep heading south, eventually the weather will turn cold as well. But that requires traveling a very long distance."
Ning Rongrong pouted, "Tianchen Brother, you haven't answered my question yet."
Ning Tianchen chuckled and explained, "Did you notice when we entered the city? At noon, the sun wasn't directly above our heads but slightly ahead, visible with just a slight tilt of your head."
Ning Rongrong countered, "What does that have to do with anything?"
Ning Tianchen simplified his explanation, "You can think of it like this: when the sun is directly overhead, it's closest to us, providing ample sunlight and higher temperatures. In the north, the sun is relatively farther away, so the temperature drops."
Explaining this concept would require extensive geographical knowledge. People on the Douluo Continent wouldn't understand that they lived on a spherical planet. Rather than going through the trouble of explaining it in detail, it was better to keep it simple and comprehensible.
"I see," Ning Rongrong nodded, though she didn't fully grasp the concept.
She then teased, "But how do you know all this, Tianchen Brother? Have you touched the sun?"
Ning Tianchen explained, "I read about it in books. Not only that, but the stars in the north are also very bright."
As he spoke, he walked to the window and pulled back the curtains.
Looking up, the stars outside were exceptionally luminous.
Ning Rongrong came to the window and gasped in amazement.
She had never seen such bright stars while at the sect.
Of course, in Tiandou City and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the nights were illuminated by spirit-guided lamps, which obscured the stars' light.
In contrast, the sparse population and underdeveloped state of northern cities meant there was no light pollution.
Ning Tianchen draped a coat over her shoulders and reminded her, "It's cold by the window; be careful not to catch a chill."
Ning Rongrong thanked him and stood by the window, gazing at the stars for a long time.
After satisfying her curiosity, she closed the curtains and returned to the fireplace to warm herself. "It's so cold. By the way, Tianchen Brother, aren't we heading to the Frozen Forest? How are we planning tomorrow's journey?"
Ning Tianchen took out a map and pointed, "If we exit through the northern gate of Bingxue City and travel about twenty miles, we'll arrive at Snowfield Town, also known as Wasteland Town. This town is similar to a spirit beast town and connects to the Frozen Forest."
Previously, Tian Chao had given him a token and instructed him to look for someone in Wasteland (Snowfield) Town.
He didn't know if he'd find anyone from the Snow Mountain Sect, but he decided to take a chance.
…
The next morning, Ning Tianchen and the others set off again in the carriage.
The cold-resistant horses provided by the Hong family were in excellent condition, showing no signs of discomfort despite the harsh environment, with neither their strength nor endurance diminished.
Snowfield Town.
After parking the carriage at the inn, everyone began gathering information within the town.
Before departing, Ning Tianchen retrieved several pairs of sunglasses from his spirit tool storage and distributed them to the group.
"Don't stare directly at the snow. Wearing these glasses will help."
Their purpose here was to inquire about traces of spirit beasts suitable for Hong Xinyue. Later, everyone would enter the Frozen Forest.
Compared to the entirety of the Extreme North's icy plains, the Frozen Forest was only a small outer section.
Ning Rongrong was seeing such heavy snowfall for the first time. She scooped up some snow from the roadside, formed it into a snowball, and hurled it at Ning Tianchen.
"Rongrong, you're an auxiliary-type soul master. You won't be able to catch the snowballs I throw," Ning Tianchen said with a wry smile.
Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue and threw another snowball at him.
Ning Tianchen didn't dodge, standing still to let her hit him.
Little did he know that this action, when noticed by certain onlookers, carried a different implication.
A group of idle men gradually took notice of them.
"Boss, that little girl is still carefree enough to play with snowballs. That guy doesn't look too old either, but their attire suggests they're from wealthy families. Should we…?"
The man made a throat-slitting gesture.
The leader chuckled, "Don't rush. First, let's see if they have anyone backing them. Damn it, if we don't pull off something big soon, by winter, we'll all freeze to death."
Clothing, food, shelter, and transportation—why is clothing ranked first?
Aside from covering the body, clothing also provides warmth and protection against certain illnesses.
Winter in the north was no joke. Without proper clothing and sturdy, insulated housing, people could indeed freeze to death.
...
After wandering around the small town, Ning Tianchen still hadn't found any trace of the Snow Mountain Sect disciples.
Not long after, he noticed a group of people tailing them.
Ning Rongrong dropped the snowball in her hand and rubbed her hands together as she asked, "Brother Tianchen, haven't you found anyone yet?"
Ning Tianchen shook his head. "The Snow Mountain Sect's training in the Extreme North is likely periodic. If they aren't planning to explore the Extreme North right now, there are probably only a few people left behind in the town."
Winter was approaching, and it wouldn't be wise to explore the Extreme North at this time.
Soon, Hong Kui and Hong Xinyue joined them.
"How did it go? Did you find out anything?" Ning Tianchen asked.
Hong Kui nodded but hesitated for a moment before replying, "There's a soul-hunting team that knows the locations of spirit beasts, but their condition is that we must hire them to assist in hunting souls."
Getting lost in the Frozen Forest was no joke—the freezing temperatures at night could easily kill someone.
"Do you have any thoughts?" Ning Tianchen asked.
"Dad, let's just hire the soul-hunting team," Hong Xinyue suggested. "Although we've gathered a lot of information about the Extreme North, we haven't personally experienced it all, so we can't fully trust it. Hiring a soul-hunting team would give us some peace of mind."
What worried Hong Kui wasn't getting lost.
He was afraid that the soul-hunting team might turn on them during the hunt.
If a fight broke out in the forest, they would also end up lost.
Ning Tianchen suggested, "Master Hong, I can sense even the faintest traces of killing intent. Let me meet with the soul-hunting team first and see how they behave."
While it was true that some soul-hunting teams engaged in betrayal, not all of them were like that. There were still plenty of reputable teams.
…
Soon, Hong Kui led Ning Tianchen to the team.
The group that had been following them earlier saw Hong Kui and instinctively backed off a bit, though they didn't completely abandon their pursuit.
Ning Tianchen sneered inwardly, "Their killing intent is practically overflowing. Are they worried that I've discovered them?"
For now, he didn't plan to deal with these troublemakers. First, he needed to help Hong Xinyue complete her soul hunt.
The soul-hunting team Hong Kui found consisted of seven members.
The team leader was a middle-aged man who appeared to possess Soul Sage-level strength based on his aura.
Ning Tianchen felt puzzled.
A soul-hunting team led by a Soul Sage should have no shortage of clients. Why would they actively take on jobs?
Unless they weren't exuding any killing intent, he might have suspected them of being a murderous gang.
"One thousand gold spirit coins—have you decided? Winter is almost here, and once it arrives, no team will guide you into the forest."
As he spoke, the captain added, "This is our last job before winter. Follow our team, and you'll be safe."
The price was reasonable.
A soul-hunting team led by a Soul Sage would ensure no mishaps when hunting a fourth soul ring.
Ning Tianchen leaned close to Hong Kui and whispered, "You can agree to it."
Hong Kui nodded and promptly paid one thousand gold spirit coins.
As the soul-hunting team prepared their gear, Ning Rongrong pointed at two members and asked, "Brother Tianchen, doesn't he look like Fatty Chen?"
Ning Tianchen nodded and then pointed at another person, "And doesn't he look like Xiao Ao?"
Ning Rongrong covered her mouth in surprise, "No way! I heard they went north for training. Could they really be them?"
Ning Tianchen chuckled and called out loudly, "Chen Huayu, Oscar!"
Only one way to find out.
Sure enough, as soon as his voice faded, two members of the soul-hunting team immediately looked up and began scanning their surroundings.
Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong were bundled up tightly against the cold, so the two hadn't recognized them right away.
"Fatty, I think I just heard Tianchen's voice," Oscar said uncertainly.
Chen Huayu nodded and pointed ahead, "I heard it too. Look, don't those two look like Boss and Young Miss?"
Oscar replied, "Their figures look similar, but they're wrapped up too tightly to tell."
"They're coming over. Let's ask them when they get here."
Seeing that the two were still looking around, Ning Tianchen walked up and kicked Chen Huayu lightly.
"Damn Fatty, is it really that hard to recognize me after such a short time?" Ning Tianchen teased with a laugh.
Chen Huayu rubbed his butt and exclaimed joyfully, "Boss, is that really you? Why are you and Young Miss Rongrong here in the Extreme North? Are you here to hunt souls?"
Oscar interjected grumpily, "Tianchen and Rongrong broke through to Soul Ancestor ages ago. The fourth soul ring we're helping hunt isn't something they'd need."
"Do you know each other?" Hearing the commotion, the team leader walked over.
After Oscar explained the situation, the leader burst into laughter, "Haha, so you're friends of Xiao Ao and Huayu! Allow me to introduce myself—I'm Hao Te. Consider this soul-hunting job free of charge; we're all friends here."
People from the north were known for their straightforwardness and hospitality toward friends, offering fine food and drink as a welcome.
Hong Kui tried to decline, but when Hao Te insisted on returning the money, he said, "Alright, when we return, I'll treat everyone to a meal to express my gratitude."
Hao Te and his team happily accepted.
But Ning Tianchen felt uneasy.
Hao Te and his men appeared friendly on the surface, but their hearts weren't aligned. If something went wrong in the middle of the journey, it could spell trouble.
In the original timeline, when Oscar obtained his sixth soul ring, which included a soul bone, this group had immediately tried to seize it.
Ning Tianchen hadn't expected fate to be so unpredictable.
Though Oscar's life trajectory had changed drastically compared to the original timeline, he still ended up meeting Hao Te and his crew.
"Boss, do you know what happened to Huang Wu and Bao Zhen?"
Ning Tianchen replied, "I only stayed at the sect for a day and left in a hurry. I didn't have time to ask about the situation. I'll check when I return next time. By the way, you two seem to be doing quite well. You've even joined a soul-hunting team led by a Soul Sage."
…
With preparations complete, the group set off into the forest in full force.
Back in the town, the group that had been following Ning Tianchen could only stop in frustration.
"Damn it, they actually hired Hao Te's team."
In the forest, soul-hunting teams were obligated to ensure the safety of their employers.
Hao Te's team had an excellent reputation, with no record of employers dying under their watch.
These thugs were no match for Hao Te's team. Attempting to rob them would be suicide.
"Boss, what do we do now?"
The burly leader cursed, "What can we motherf*cking do?"
(T/N: The literal translation is 'F*ck your mother's t*ts'. I normally only translate official docs, this is the first time I've seen shit like this lmao)
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