Chapter 424: The Hunter

...

"You want to go out for training?"

Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo, looked at his disciple with surprise and disbelief.

"Yes, master. I feel like I have reached a plateau in the sect and hope to gain more breakthroughs by exploring the continent." Zhu Zhuqing respectfully replied.

Upon hearing her words, Gu Rong pondered for a moment, hesitating.

Indeed, during the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, he had witnessed Zhu Zhuqing's outstanding talent and formidable strength. She was even able to defeat opponents of higher levels, which, combined with his arch-nemesis Sword Douluo having a disciple with extraordinary potential, appeared to be a constant flaunt in front of him.

Through Zhu Zhuqing, Gu Rong saw a shadow of Zeng Yi, believing that she could become a genius Spirit Master similar to Zeng Yi. Consequently, he wanted to take her as his disciple.

Facing the Bone Douluo's invitation, Zhu Zhuqing readily accepted.

First, Gu Rong was an Elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and she was good friends with the sect's little princess, Ning Rongrong. Moreover, there was no conflict between Zhu Zhuqing and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, considering her relationship with Zeng Yi.

Second, due to the restraints imposed on Zhu Zhuqing by her family, she couldn't protect herself with her own strength. Therefore, she needed the power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to aid and protect her.

If she had a Titled Douluo standing behind her, her family would have to take her seriously and refrain from forcing their demands upon her.

Of course, the most important reason for Zhu Zhuqing was that Zeng Yi was also in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

However, Zeng Yi was currently not in the sect. After staying in the sect for nearly three months, Zhu Zhuqing found it dull and uninteresting.

Naturally, she was aware of Zeng Yi's runaway marriage, as it was widely spread throughout the mainland.

However, two months had passed since the incident, and Zeng Yi hadn't returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Zhu Zhuqing believed that he wouldn't come back.

Therefore, she planned to explore, practice, and search for clues about Zeng Yi while being on her own.

After some contemplation, Gu Rong still couldn't make a decision.

Zeng Yi wasn't in the sect, and currently, among the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's disciples, in terms of combat talent, Zhu Zhuqing was the most outstanding one and had the potential to become the next pillar of the sect.

Therefore, he had to be cautious.

"I need to discuss this matter with Ning Fengzhi."

However, Gu Rong left some room for consideration.

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing nodded reluctantly.

Several days later, in the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

After hearing Gu Rong's explanation about Zhu Zhuqing's desire for training outside the sect, Ning Fengzhi fell into contemplation.

"Going out for training? I want to go too!"

A crisp and vibrant voice reverberated in the hall. Both men turned to look and saw Ning Rongrong running towards them from out of nowhere.

Ning Rongrong energetically rushed to her father's side, sitting next to him and affectionately holding his arm. She coquettishly said, "Daddy, I also want to go out for training. Lately, my cultivation progress has slowed down, so maybe going out to explore will help me breakthrough."

Hearing her words, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but smile wryly, "You already have a Level 44 spirit power. Isn't that a fast enough growth rate? Do you expect to level up every two months? How would other Spirit Masters survive?"

"I don't care! I just want to go out. I'm getting bored staying in the sect! I want to go with Zhuqing!" Seeing her father's unwillingness, Ning Rongrong resorted to her childlike coaxing.

"And also! Since our alliance with the Spirit Hall has broken, why haven't we gone to find Zeng Yi for so long? What if he's been caught by Spirit Hall again?"

For a moment, Ning Rongrong's expression changed instantly, her eyes revealing a menacing look, and she fiercely pinched her father's waist with her fingers to question him.

This question made Ning Fengzhi sigh helplessly, his face showing signs of fatigue.

"My little princess, things are not as simple as you think. Since Zeng Yi managed to escape from Spirit Hall and hasn't returned to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, it means he doesn't want to come back. Moreover, that boy is quite cunning, unless he voluntarily reveals his identity, who could find him?"

"After experiencing such an event, he might decide to live in seclusion on the mainland. It would be extremely difficult to find his whereabouts in this vast land."

After speaking, Ning Fengzhi thought of something, his gaze turned towards his daughter, staring at her intently.

"You don't want to use this as an excuse to find Zeng Yi, do you?"

Hearing his words, a blush appeared on Ning Rongrong's fair cheeks.

Turning her face away, as graceful as a swan with her chin held high, she hummed in a spoiled tone, "Who wants to find him? It's better if that guy is dead!"

Witnessing his daughter's contradictory words, Ning Fengzhi merely smiled without saying anything.

How could he, as her father, not know about her little scheme?

"Alright then, you can go with Zhu Zhuqing for training."

"Really?"

Ning Rongrong widened her eyes, looking at her father with disbelief. She hadn't expected him to agree so readily.

"Yes." Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile.

"Great! I'll go tell Zhuqing!"

Ning Rongrong jumped up from her seat with great excitement and rushed out of the hall, quickly disappearing.

After Ning Rongrong left, Gu Rong beside him had an anxious expression on his face, looking at Ning Fengzhi, he said...

"Fengzhi, isn't it a bit inappropriate? With the current grave situation, letting them go out is quite dangerous, isn't it? Zhu Zhuqing has at least some self-defense capabilities, but Rongrong is an auxiliary Spirit Master."

He continued, "Moreover, Rongrong's Martial Spirit is too conspicuous."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi sighed and his face showed some weariness.

"However, staying within the sect is also dangerous. Furthermore, the current state of mind for both of them is uncontainable. Letting them go out to relax is good. We don't need to overly worry about their safety. After all, Zhu Zhuqing also possesses formidable strength. Along with Rongrong's support, as long as they aren't faced with Titled Douluos, they won't be defeated."

"With that strength, as long as they exercise caution, it should be enough for them to wander the mainland."

"Regardless, they are still Spirit Masters. Staying in a sanctuary won't allow them to become qualified Spirit Masters. Only by experiencing the world's dangers, by observing the cunningness of human hearts, will they grow and become more mature and powerful."

Hearing Ning Fengzhi's words, Gu Rong had nothing more to say.

Two days later, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing secretly left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, commencing their adventurous journey.

...

One year later.

Star Dou Forest.

"Roar~"

The roar of beasts echoed throughout the heavens, and terrifying energy shockwaves spread in all directions like tidal waves, shattering countless trees, making leaves dance in the sky.

The torn space caused by the clash of spirit powers was in chaos, as if having been cleansed by a hurricane.

Two gigantic figures entangled in a fierce battle. Each collision sent terrifying power shocks that made the earth tremble.

Standing on a tall tree in the distance, Zeng Yi gazed deeply at the battlefield, feeling the tremendous power that reached even this far. Through the ground, Zeng Yi could feel every inch of the tree trunk, realizing the strength of that power.

This made him inwardly praise the might of a 50,000 year level spirit beast. Its terrifying strength was equivalent to that of a Titled Douluo. Even if faced with a Titled Douluo, it wouldn't be able to harm these spirit beasts.

Watching the intense scene of the two spirit beasts fighting, Zeng Yi felt a slight numbness on his scalp.

Fortunately, he remained rational and didn't recklessly charge in. Otherwise, even if he managed to kill a spirit beast, he would have suffered serious injuries and possibly been taken advantage of by other spirit beasts or Spirit Masters.

Therefore, Zeng Yi had devised a plan that caused one spirit beast to engage in combat with his target while he waited for both spirit beasts to be severely injured before taking advantage of the situation.

This plan was effortless, haha~

Zeng Yi laughed to himself, giving himself a nod of approval for his cleverness.

However, hunting spirit beasts and obtaining spirit rings alone was undoubtedly challenging.

After all, if spirit masters at the same level wanted to obtain suitable spirit rings, those spirit beasts' strength would far exceed that of the spirit masters themselves. Moreover, even if they succeeded in hunting the spirit beasts, they still had to be wary of other nearby spirit beasts or spirit masters.

That's why people usually formed groups when hunting spirit beasts and obtaining spirit rings.

Indeed, Zeng Yi's current spirit power had reached the 50th rank.

Currently, he was preparing for his next spirit ring.