SWNOVELXO Chapter 58: A Long-Awaited Reunion
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the day of the Tang Sect's birthday celebration for Tang San.
South of Heaven Dou City.
The former residence of the Strength Clan, after being renovated by the Control Clan, had now become the Tang Sect's headquarters.
In the early morning, beneath a plaque inscribed with the words "Tang Sect," the main gate stood open.
Luxurious carriages stopped one after another in front of the large courtyard. Dignitaries from Heaven Dou City emerged from their carriages.
The dignitaries, seeing each other daily, were all familiar with one another and nodded in greeting.
Before entering the gate, the servants beside them presented invitations. After their identities were verified, they were welcomed inside by the disciples on duty.
At this moment, two carriages arrived at the Tang Sect, traveling side by side on the street, one after the other.
The carriage on the left featured a swan pattern carved from white jade, while the carriage on the right had a glazed carving of a seven-story pagoda.
Almost simultaneously, three people alighted from each carriage.
"Sect Master Ning (Teacher), Lord Bone Douluo, Young Sect Master Ning."
"Your Highness Prince, Your Highness Crown Prince, Your Highness Fourth Prince."
Among the six, apart from an unusually tall and gaunt old man, the other five looked at each other and exchanged polite greetings.
"Sect Master Ning, I initially thought the Emperor would only send the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince to the banquet. I didn't expect Prince Xue Xing to also grace us with his presence."
Ning Fengzhi stood between Gu Rong and Ning Rongrong, a warm and friendly smile on his face.
Opposite them, Prince Xue Xing also stood between Xue Qinghe and Xue Beng.
However, despite the similar positioning, there was a hidden significance.
Ning Rongrong stood to Ning Fengzhi's left, while Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood to his right.
As for the royal trio, the Fourth Prince Xue Beng stood to Prince Xue Xing's left, while the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was surprisingly on Prince Xue Xing's right.
Since ancient times, the left side has been considered the position of honor.
As the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and deeply favored by Gu Rong, it was logical for Ning Rongrong to stand on the honored left side.
But the royal family's positioning held deeper meaning.
Prince Xue Xing, being the younger brother of Emperor Xue Ye, naturally had no issue standing in the middle.
However, the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe stood to Prince Xue Xing's right, while the Fourth Prince Xue Beng occupied the more honored left side.
Ning Fengzhi, with his keen insight, immediately perceived the issue with the royal trio's positioning.
As the Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's teacher, Ning Fengzhi, while not about to fall out with Prince Xue Xing over such a minor matter, found it easy to make a subtly sarcastic remark.
In response to Ning Fengzhi's statement, Prince Xue Xing replied indifferently:
"Sect Master Ning, you jest. I came only because my nephew is naturally unruly, and I feared he might do something to tarnish the royal family's dignity at this celebration."
"That's why I accompanied him, and incidentally, to see what sort of person this Tang Sect Master is."
"As for Sect Master Ning, aren't you also condescending to bring your own young sect master to a nine-year-old child's birthday celebration?"
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi remained unfazed, his gentle smile unchanged. He said:
"The Tang Sect is an important partner of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and we have frequent business dealings."
"Now that the Tang Sect Master is holding his first grand celebration, and since Fengzhi has been invited, I naturally wouldn't refuse to give face."
While they were conversing, the carriage carrying Lin Rong also arrived.
"Hmm?" Gu Rong, who had been silent until now, suddenly looked to the side, his gaze fixed on Lin Rong and the old butler Yu Yuan as they alighted from the carriage, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
More precisely, his gaze was fixed solely on the old butler behind Lin Rong.
Gu Rong stared at the figure of the old butler Yu Yuan, feeling a sense of astonishment:
"Is this my imagination? I actually sensed a trace of danger from a Soul Douluo."
Ning Fengzhi, with his meticulous nature, noticed the subtle shift in Gu Rong's expression and, without revealing anything, turned his gaze towards the master and servant approaching them.
"Why are you all standing here instead of going inside? Is there something interesting happening?"
Lin Rong put on a demeanor befitting an eight-year-old child, asking curiously:
"Could you perhaps tell me about it?"
Among the six, Ning Fengzhi was the first to speak:
"Duke Lin, I've heard about you from my daughter long ago. Seeing you today, you truly are a remarkable talent."
"Rongrong, why don't you greet Duke Lin?"
Ning Rongrong, standing beside her father, turned her gaze towards Lin Rong upon hearing his words.
Coincidentally, Lin Rong had also turned his gaze toward Ning Rongrong due to Ning Fengzhi's words.
Their eyes met like that.
"This elite education really makes a difference!" Looking at Ning Rongrong, who seemed like a completely different person, Lin Rong couldn't help but think:
"With this aura, this demeanor, if it weren't for the fact that her face hasn't changed, I wouldn't believe this is actually Ning Rongrong."
It had been over two years since they last met, but Ning Rongrong still recognized Lin Rong at a glance.
It was because of that one sentence Lin Rong had spoken that she had become the person she was now.
At first, Ning Rongrong resented Lin Rong.
But as time passed, Ning Rongrong, having received a good education, understood what responsibility meant.
The change in her own understanding also made Ning Rongrong realize that she carried the hopes of the entire sect.
Therefore, Ning Rongrong no longer resented Lin Rong, but after meeting again after two years, she couldn't help but feel a lingering awkwardness.
However, the education she had received over the years had taught Ning Rongrong to hide her emotions, and she didn't reveal this inner awkwardness.
"Hello, Duke Lin, it's been a long time."
Ning Rongrong offered a gentle, polite smile and greeted him softly.
"Hello, Young Sect Master Ning, it's been a long time."
Lin Rong politely returned the greeting, then secretly began to scan the soul power cultivation of everyone present.
Based on his Life Sense, the six individuals' soul power levels, from highest to lowest, were ranked as follows:
Bone Douluo, peak level ninety-five Soul Power.
Ning Fengzhi, peak level seventy-nine Soul Power.
Xue Xing, level fifty-five Soul Power.
Xue Qinghe (Qian Renxue), level fifty-two Soul Power.
Ning Rongrong, level thirty-six Soul Power.
Xue Beng, level twenty-two Soul Power.
"Ning Rongrong's soul power is actually level thirty-six?" Lin Rong was somewhat surprised after his scan.
"So that's how it is. There are energy fluctuations from two Spirit Bones within her body, one is a Torso Bone over fifty thousand years old, and the other is a Head Bone over sixty thousand years old, and they are both gem-type Spirit Bones."
"Ning Fengzhi has really gone all out!"
"A level thirty-six auxiliary-type Soul Elder at eight years and nine months old, this is the monster Ning Fengzhi has created by piling up two top-grade Spirit Bones, each over fifty thousand years old."
"Fortunately, I'm younger than Ning Rongrong, and my soul power cultivation is also higher than hers."
"Otherwise, if I were surpassed in soul power by a native of the same age, it would be a complete disgrace for a transmigrator."
Lin Rong was currently eight years and six months old, with level thirty-seven Soul Power, only one level higher than Ning Rongrong.
The soul power levels of the other five individuals did not surprise Lin Rong.
Gu Rong's soul power had always been stuck at the peak of level ninety-five due to his talent, unable to advance further.
Ning Fengzhi's soul power was capped at the peak of level seventy-nine due to the limitations of his Martial Soul, unable to take another step forward.
Qian Renxue, who in the original work was a Soul Saint with Soul Power in her early seventies around the age of thirty, now having only her early fifties Soul Power was normal.
Xue Xing, as a prince of a nation, although the Heaven Dou royal family's inherited Martial Soul, Swan, was not of the highest quality, it was not that bad either. His Soul Power cultivation at level fifty-five was normal.
Xue Beng, under Xue Xing's guidance, was deliberately hiding his abilities and not cultivating diligently. His Soul Power cultivation of level twenty-two was normal.
"Duke Lin, it has indeed been a long time since we last met."
Xue Qinghe suddenly spoke up and greeted Lin Rong, his smile as refreshing as a spring breeze.
"Exactly, exactly!" Just as Lin Rong was about to return the greeting, Xue Beng, standing nearby, interjected casually:
"Duke Lin, you never attend any of the social gatherings, big or small, held in Heaven Dou City."
"This is actually the first time I'm meeting you in person."
"Let me tell you, I know all the fun places in Heaven Dou City. How about I take you around sometime?"
"..." Xue Beng's overly familiar words completely silenced Lin Rong.
What exquisite acting. If Lin Rong hadn't read the original work and known that Xue Beng's current demeanor was all an act, he would have truly been fooled.
Seeing Xue Beng's interruption, Xue Qinghe's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly, and just as he was about to say something, Prince Xue Xing spoke first:
"Haha! Duke Lin, please don't mind him!"
Xue Xing stepped forward and said:
"My nephew here is notoriously a spoiled brat. His words earlier may have been disrespectful, please forgive him."
Seeing this situation, Lin Rong realized that Xue Xing and Xue Beng did not want him to converse with Xue Qinghe.
As a hereditary Duke, the Lin Clan held considerable influence in Heaven Dou. Xue Xing did not want Lin Rong to lean towards Xue Qinghe's side.
Therefore, he and his nephew Xue Beng had tacitly used the previous incident to interrupt even the polite greeting between Lin Rong and Xue Qinghe.
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