"As for Nan Qiuqiu…"
Chen Junting weighed his words carefully before telling Ning Tian everything he knew. In truth, his knowledge was limited—he could only recount what happened after they captured Dark Lightning Douluo.
Once they subdued Dark Lightning and Nan Qiuqiu fell unconscious, Chen Junting essentially repeated on him the same procedure he'd used on Bloodbear Douluo Zhang Xuan: transforming him into an undead abomination—specifically, a Lich—before releasing him back into the wild, just like Zhang Xuan, to await the right moment.
"Sun Moon Empire has sealed off Mingdu," Ning Tian murmured thoughtfully, then turned to Chen Junting. "Brother Junting, logically speaking, saving the Earth Dragon Sect was hardly worth the risk. So why go to such lengths?"
Her question piqued Gu Tianchen's curiosity as well.
After all, as Ning Tian pointed out, Chen Junting had initially refused to intervene—but the moment he heard it was the Earth Dragon Sect, he changed his mind instantly, risking everything to save them.
"Worthless? Not exactly," Chen Junting said, shaking his head as he tapped his fingers on the table. "I received intelligence that the Earth Dragon Sect guards a hidden treasure. I don't know its exact nature, but from what I've heard, it's coveted enough to make the entire world salivate. Right now, aside from me, only the sect master likely knows of it."
"But since it belongs to someone else—and their sect still has members stationed there, with no conflict between us—it wouldn't be right to seize it by force. So I figured, if the chance arose and we could act without exposure, we'd save them. If not… well, we'd have to take it by other means."
Originally, Chen Junting hadn't been overly eager about something like Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow. After all, the location was obscure, access nearly impossible, and its greatest benefits were reserved for ice-attribute soul masters or soul beasts—so he'd planned to proceed slowly.
But now, with Snow Empress as his soul spirit, he could channel the marrow's power through her, using it later to aid in forming his second soul core.
Of course, the real reason was timing: he'd just happened to receive the intel at the critical moment—and acted in time to save Nan Qiuqiu.
That was fate.
As for the Ultimate Ice Crystal, which only extreme ice could harvest…
Well, that was indeed a magnificent treasure too.
Meanwhile, after hearing Chen Junting's account—carefully omitting the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Marrow—Ning Tian and Gu Tianchen both nodded in understanding.
"Where did you even get this information, Brother Junting?" Ning Tian asked curiously, though she didn't press further.
Her mind was already racing on two fronts:
First—what exactly was this world-coveted treasure?
Second—how should they handle Nan Qiuqiu's future? Should they help her return to rebuild her sect… or, leveraging their "life-saving grace" and promise of vengeance, invite her to join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—securing both talent and territory?
After all, Nan Qiuqiu's martial soul was formidable: the Rouge Dragon with its Annihilation attribute rivaled true dragon martial souls.
If she joined their sect and married one of their male direct-line disciples, the Rouge Dragon bloodline could become a new pillar of their inheritance—just like the Wu family's Red Dragon martial soul.
Ning Tian's thoughts spun outward.
If Chen Junting knew, he'd give her a thumbs-up: You're really starting to sound like a proper sect heir.
---
"I wish to join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!"
After resting and releasing her grief, Nan Qiuqiu's very first act upon finding Chen Junting's group was to make this bold declaration.
Her sole condition for abandoning her ancestral legacy? Help her take revenge.
Her primary target: Dark Lightning Douluo.
Secondary targets: the deputy commander of the eastern Sun Moon legion and the soul engineer squads that hunted her sect.
Nan Qiuqiu knew full well—on her own, achieving the strength needed for vengeance might take decades. Even if she reached that level, she'd still be powerless alone.
As for the surviving Earth Dragon disciples' opinions… she assumed most would agree. After all, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's treatment far surpassed their own sect's.
Her only fear was that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect might look down on them.
Of course, any disciple unwilling to join would be compensated and dismissed.
Surely, their ancestors wouldn't blame her for this.
Ancestors in the Netherworld: You sellout descendent!
"Yes," Ning Tian and Chen Junting exchanged a glance—and immediately agreed.
Perfect timing. Their current plans already included opportunities for Nan Qiuqiu to strike at the deputy commander and those soul engineer squads.
And as for Dark Lightning Douluo? Even better—he'd already been turned into a Lich. If Nan Qiuqiu wished, they could summon him back right now for her to kill repeatedly. After all, as long as his soul flame burned, a Lich could never truly die.
"Great!" Nan Qiuqiu's face lit up with joy. Before Ning Tian could react, she dropped to her knees and kowtowed three times—hard, resounding thuds echoing in the room.
"Qiuqiu, what are you doing?" Ning Tian reached out to lift her—but Nan Qiuqiu sidestepped respectfully.
"This is my formal sect initiation," Nan Qiuqiu declared firmly. "Disciple Nan Qiuqiu greets Sect Heir Ning Tian. As long as you help me avenge my mother, I will serve the sect loyally—without hesitation, forevermore."
This time, Ning Tian successfully raised her up, smiling warmly. "Since the Earth Dragon Sect wishes to join us, any of your disciples who choose to enter our sect will be welcomed with open arms—never turned away."
"Thank you, Sect Heir!" Nan Qiuqiu beamed.
Don't be fooled by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's grand reputation and open recruitment.
In truth, only geniuses from minor sects ever qualified to join.
For the sect to accept all of Earth Dragon's remaining (admittedly mediocre) disciples was an extraordinary blessing.
Nan Qiuqiu then glanced at Chen Junting, thanking him once more for saving her life—and solidifying her final decision.
"Sect Heir Ning, our Earth Dragon Sect's territory holds a mysterious place. To repay Brother Chen's life-saving grace, I offer this location to the sect."
Chen Junting's heart stirred.
After exchanging a look with Ning Tian, he asked directly, "Is this place a cultivation sanctuary? Does it hold rare herbs, spirit metals, or mineral veins? And can it be accessed—or is it forbidden?"
Nan Qiuqiu answered openly: "According to my mother's dying words and our ancestral records, it's a mineral vein—but the ore is strange, radiating extreme cold. We believe it's a rare metal, though details are uncertain."
"If the sect has a powerful ice-attribute soul master, they could lead an expedition to extract it. Only ice-attribute soul masters can survive there—the temperature is so low, ordinary soul masters couldn't last a moment, let alone go deep inside."
A powerful ice-attribute soul master?
They just happened to have one.
"Qiuqiu," Ning Tian said gently, "you needn't worry about that at all."
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