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Early the next morning, Yang Xiong set out following the guidance of sect members. After only two days of travel, he encountered Ning Rongrong in a small town.
However, Ning Rongrong was laden with bags of all sizes, clearly indulging in shopping and sightseeing with no intention of heading to school anytime soon.
Upon seeing Yang Xiong, Ning Rongrong immediately perked up. "Little Bear, come quickly and help me carry these things. Didn't you leave for this town earlier? Why couldn't I find you anywhere?"
Yang Xiong looked at the items Ning Rongrong was carrying and sighed inwardly. "Rongrong, don't you have soul-guidance devices? Why are you carrying all these things by hand?"
Ning Rongrong smirked proudly. "My soul-guidance devices are already full. Since it's such a long journey to Suotuo City, I decided to buy more stuff."
"And stop calling me 'Classmate Rongrong'. Just call me Rongrong—it sounds better."
Yang Xiong was momentarily speechless. "Alright, Rongrong. Suotuo City is thousands of kilometers away from here. Do you really plan to shop and wander your way there slowly? Let's rent a carriage and get going faster."
Ning Rongrong appeared carefree. "School is just an afterthought. This is my first time leaving the sect without Father, Grandpa Sword, or Grandpa Bone watching over me. I want to enjoy myself."
Yang Xiong was at a loss for words. How had this mischievous little girl ended up at Shrek Academy in the original story?
Seeing Ning Rongrong's demeanor, Yang Xiong didn't press further and instead accompanied her as she wandered around the streets for half a day.
Still, the shopping prowess of this young woman was impressive. Within just half an hour, Yang Xiong was already carrying quite a few items.
Under Yang Xiong's insistence, however, the two finally boarded a carriage the next day and began their journey to Suotuo City.
Even so, this little troublemaker's playful nature couldn't be contained. Along the way, she continued to explore and play, acting like a child who had never seen the world before, leaving Yang Xiong utterly exasperated.
Despite her playful antics, Ning Rongrong's cultivation talent was undeniable. Even inside the carriage, she could focus on her meditation. It wouldn't be long before she reached level twenty-nine. In terms of talent, she wasn't far behind Tang San or Xiao Wu.
About ten days later, the two finally arrived in Suotuo City.
Suotuo City was the second-largest city in the Kingdom of Balak and was bustling with activity.
Unexpectedly, after wandering around, the two ended up at the famous Rose Hotel from the original storyline.
Fortunately, they arrived early, and it wasn't yet crowded since the school term hadn't started.
When the server saw Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong checking in, his eyes lit up.
"Two rooms, please."
The server gave them a knowing look.
"Are you sure you need two rooms? Unfortunately, we only have one room left. You'll have to share if you'd like to stay here."
To Yang Xiong's surprise, Ning Rongrong's face turned slightly red. Though most of their time together had been spent meditating, they had grown somewhat closer during the journey.
Yang Xiong didn't waste time arguing and simply pulled out a bag of gold spirit coins. "Two of the best rooms, preferably adjacent. Otherwise, we'll go elsewhere."
The server's face broke into a wide smile. "Of course, sir. I've checked again, and we do have two rooms available. We hope you enjoy your stay at our hotel."
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For the next few days, both stayed at the Rose Hotel, waiting for the start of the school term.
During the day, Ning Rongrong would go shopping, returning to the hotel at night to rest and meditate. Yang Xiong, on the other hand, spent nearly all his time meditating, except for meals.
Since practicing the Yin-Yang Meditation Technique, his cultivation speed had noticeably increased. His soul power flowed more smoothly, and he encountered fewer bottlenecks. He estimated that he could break through to level twenty-seven in as little as half a month.
However, Ning Rongrong sneered at Yang Xiong, finding him dull and overly focused on cultivation. If not for Ning Rongrong insisting that eating alone was boring and dragging Yang Xiong along daily, they might not have seen each other for days.
One day, as Yang Xiong and Ning Rongrong returned to the Rose Hotel after dinner, they witnessed a chaotic scene. Tables, chairs, and other furniture were scattered and broken.
Yang Xiong's expression grew serious as he observed the fight.
Both combatants were soul masters. One wielded the White Tiger spirit, while the other used Blue Silver Grass. They seemed deeply engrossed in their battle.
Dai Mubai stood tall at 1.8 meters with golden hair, appearing quite handsome. However, the two girls accompanying him somewhat spoiled the image.
Tang San, about 1.7 meters tall, had short black hair and wore blue clothing. Though unremarkable in appearance, he moved with agility.
Yang Xiong recalled something and scanned the area, spotting a cute girl.
This girl was about 1.7 meters tall, slender and delicate, with a rosy complexion. She was not only beautiful but also exuded a playful charm. Her two long braids, resembling scorpion tails, almost reached her thighs.
This was Xiao Wu—a transformed hundred-thousand-year spirit beast. Despite his vast experience, Yang Xiong's gaze flickered with interest. A hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone were treasures coveted by all soul masters.
However, Yang Xiong quickly composed himself. With his current strength, obtaining a hundred-thousand-year soul ring or bone was still far out of reach—not to mention the lurking presence of Tang Hao.
After a fierce battle, Tang San and Dai Mubai settled their conflict peacefully. Dai Mubai left with the twin girls in tow, while Tang San and Xiao Wu checked into the hotel.
Ning Rongrong watched Dai Mubai's departure with disdain, clearly disapproving of his flirtatious behavior.
Yang Xiong, however, remained nonchalant. Soul masters held a prestigious position in the Douluo Continent, and having companions was considered normal.
From the earlier fight, Yang Xiong noted that Dai Mubai favored brute force, fitting for a top-tier White Tiger spirit. Tang San, on the other hand, relied on agility and technique. He had likely employed skills like Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps and Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon. Without these techniques, Tang San wouldn't have been able to withstand Dai Mubai's raw power.
Ning Rongrong pouted unhappily. "Little Bear, why didn't you teach that lecherous tiger a lesson? Seeing him makes me so upset."
Yang Xiong was momentarily dumbfounded. "He's a Spirit Elder—far above my current level. What if I tried to teach him a lesson and ended up being humiliated instead?"
Ning Rongrong huffed. "So what if he's a Spirit Elder? He's much older than us. Besides, even a Spirit Elder shouldn't be a problem for you. Father said your combat strength is exceptional—you can easily take on higher-level opponents."
"Do you even know what fighting above your level means, little miss?"
Yang Xiong sighed and returned to his room. Both Tang San and Dai Mubai were still inexperienced. Defeating them wouldn't pose much difficulty for him.
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