"Is it some sea soul beast faction?" Dugu Yan's eyes revealed worry. In all these years, this was the first time she had seen Ning Rongrong with such a serious expression, exuding an inexplicable chill.
It was no wonder Dugu Yan thought this way. Forces capable of holding back Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi while killing a Title Douluo of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were rare, even in the vast ocean.
Sea soul beasts were numerous, but only in quantity. There might be many hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, but how many reached the level of a Limit Douluo?
With Sword Douluo bolstered by Ning Fengzhi's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the fact that the enemy could kill a Title Douluo was terrifying.
"It's unclear for now. The information from the soul tool is too limited." The chill around Ning Rongrong gradually dissipated. "It's not urgent on my father's side. The message was to return as soon as possible, not immediately."
Not an immediate return meant Vast Sea City could still hold out, but they hoped she would return quickly to handle some matters.
"What's the plan then?" Dugu Yan asked. "I should be fine on my end."
As Dugu Yan spoke, the Ice Empress and Snow Empress approached from a distance.
Their conversation hadn't been concealed.
With the Ice Empress and Snow Empress' cultivation, they could hear everything clearly.
"Let's head back first. No matter what, we need to return to Vast Sea City," Ning Rongrong said. "I also need to understand the role Sea God Island is playing in this."
Sea God Island was overseen by the first-level god, Sea God. Unless absolutely necessary, Ning Rongrong had no intention of making an enemy of them without sufficient strength to protect herself.
Forget about claims that the God Realm couldn't descend to the mortal world.
If something major happened, the five God Kings could make a decision!
This wasn't a game. Ning Rongrong wouldn't gamble her life or the lives of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect on mere probability.
"If Sea God Island is openly involved, what then?" Dugu Yan's tone was cautious.
Having spent so much time with Ning Rongrong, she understood what Ning Rongrong feared.
But what if the other side made a move?
"Then Sea God Island wouldn't need to…" Ning Rongrong's deep eyes flickered slightly, but she didn't continue.
"Snow Empress, Ice Empress, we'll be leaving the Extreme North. Thank you for your care during this time."
Ning Rongrong took out two tokens from her soul tool and handed them to the Ice and Snow Empresses.
Before they could ask, Ning Rongrong explained, "These are tokens of honorary elders of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Consider them payment for this time."
Ning Rongrong briefly explained the tokens' functions to the Ice Empress and Snow Empress.
The Ice Empress and Snow Empress looked surprised. The Snow Empress asked doubtfully, "Aren't you worried we'll empty your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's herb treasury?"
Though they had previously discussed helping the Ice Empress find herbs to mend her soul, giving them tokens to take whatever they wanted seemed a bit too trusting.
"A storm is coming," Ning Rongrong said. "Human lifespans are too short. I hope to secure some insurance for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future, like your friendship."
"Heh," the Ice Empress scoffed, putting away the token. "You've got quite the plan, making us protect your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"No, you're just incidental," Ning Rongrong shrugged. "It's mainly the Snow Empress. Her promise carries more weight. Even if something happens, with her character, she'd ensure the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's legacy survives."
"What do you mean I'm incidental!" The Ice Empress' anger flared, her green twin tails flailing. "I'm not weak, okay! Why do you and the Snow Empress treat me like a child?"
"Is there a child this big?"
"You just give off an unreliable vibe," Ning Rongrong completely ignored the Ice Empress' rising temper. "That's it, then. Dugu Yan and I will leave first."
"You…"
The Ice Empress' green twin tails flailed chaotically. She and Ning Rongrong were clearly incompatible.
However, the Snow Empress reached out, stopping the Ice Empress from erupting.
"Calm down," the Snow Empress said, studying Ning Rongrong seriously for a moment. "I promise, no matter what happens, for ten thousand years, I'll ensure the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't destroyed."
"Thank you!"
"Snow Empress, you're boarding a pirate ship," the Ice Empress glared at Ning Rongrong, then turned to the Snow Empress discontentedly. "This girl just wants you to be her unpaid enforcer."
"What does it matter?" the Snow Empress countered. "The future is uncertain."
"Since we're honorary elders of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it's within the rules for the Ice Empress and me to visit Vast Sea City, right?"
The Snow Empress' sudden suggestion left Ning Rongrong silent.
Sensing Ning Rongrong's concern, the Snow Empress considerately said, "I swear on the faith of the Ice Goddess that I won't interfere in your affairs, including the sea soul beast tide."
The Ice Empress wanted to speak but was silenced by the Snow Empress' look.
"The Ice Empress and I are just going to take a look and learn about the human world."
Since Di Tian had allied with humans and planned to resist the God Realm, the Snow Empress hadn't taken a clear stance. But to avoid being caught in the crossfire or to survive, she needed to understand the entire continent.
Know yourself and your enemy to survive a potentially dark future.
With the Snow Empress putting it this way, Ning Rongrong couldn't refuse.
"Alright," Ning Rongrong said seriously. "But Snow Empress, you need to be careful with your identity."
"I understand," the Snow Empress nodded knowingly.
Humans knew little about the Extreme North, unaware of beings like the Ice Empress or Snow Empress.
But two and a half years ago, due to the incident with the Ancient Ice Phoenix, a phenomenon resembling the birth of a rare treasure occurred.
The Snow Empress had appeared, unleashing power comparable to a Limit Douluo or quasi-god by leveraging the Extreme North's environment. She expelled all humans from the Extreme North and barred them from entering for a year.
This event was widely known in the human world, so the Snow Empress had to be cautious not to reveal herself in human territory.
Ning Rongrong agreed to let the Snow Empress and Ice Empress accompany them.
Half an hour later, the Ice Empress and Snow Empress returned after informing their trusted aides of their departure.
"Hey, Ning Rongrong, how are we leaving? Just flying?" The Ice Empress, for some reason, always found Ning Rongrong grating and pouted. "The Snow Empress and I don't have Di Tian's spatial abilities."
"I'll handle it," Ning Rongrong sighed. "Just don't resist, or I can't guarantee where we'll end up."
Clock-like pupils reappeared in Ning Rongrong's eyes, clearly visible to both the Ice Empress and Snow Empress.
"How fascinating," the Snow Empress remarked, observing the opened spatial portal. It was clearly the Dark Devilgod Tiger's ability, but it seemed to operate on a higher level.
"Tokisaki Kurumi is still asleep, so there might be some errors in my power manipulation," Ning Rongrong explained. "Just be prepared."
Using zhenqi, Ning Rongrong lifted the three of them into the opened spatial rift, executing a spatial leap.
In the blink of an eye, they appeared in a modestly sized city.
"Are we there?" The Ice Empress felt her body lighten, her expression slightly dazed.
"No, there's a bit of an error," Ning Rongrong glanced at the distinctive city lord's mansion below.
Well, no doubt about it—Notting City.
After several more failed spatial leaps, they got closer to their target.
Finally, they stood above an endless sea.
"You're not very good at this, are you, Ning Rongrong?" the Ice Empress teased. "This teleportation is no different from when the Dark Devilgod Tiger jumped to my Ice Jade Scorpion clan's territory."
Before submitting to Ning Rongrong, the Dark Devilgod Tiger had used spatial leaps to reach the Extreme North, intending to wipe out the Ice Jade Scorpion clan. It was stopped by the Ice Empress and Snow Empress.
But that creature was slippery. Though it lacked a sense of direction, it was fast.
Hearing the Ice Empress' jab, Ning Rongrong's face darkened. "We're here, alright? Stop complaining."
This Ice Empress was like a nagging mother.
Sure, they were a few dozen kilometers off, but they were already over the sea, weren't they?
"The smell of blood is strong," the Snow Empress frowned, her deep gaze looking into the distance. Faintly, she could see remnants of uneaten corpses.
"This is the Vast Sea City sea region," Ning Rongrong released her perception, gently holding the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, which emitted a subtle glow. Her eyes closed slightly.
"A sea soul beast with the strength of a Limit Douluo demi-god, plus several hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. No wonder they could kill Wang Quan Fugui."
After a moment, Ning Rongrong slowly opened her eyes, her gaze shifting to the Snow Empress.
"Let me ask you something. You don't have to answer if you don't want to. Besides the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, do you know of any other Limit Douluo-level soul beasts in the sea?"