The next day, after breakfast, Su Cheng and Ning Rongrong arrived together at the core hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
They were returning to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy today and wanted to say hello first.
When Ning Rongrong saw Su Cheng, her face showed a slightly unnatural expression, and her eyes darted away.
Su Cheng didn't think too much about it; his mind was preoccupied with many things and he didn't have much energy to focus on anything else.
Besides, he planned to take the opportunity later to consult Ning Fengzhi and the others about other matters.
At this moment, without actively probing with his soul power, others could no longer see the dark golden markings on his forehead, and the people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School obviously wouldn't use their soul power to observe him.
Such a change overnight was inconvenient to explain, so Su Cheng temporarily concealed it with a specially prepared medicine.
He planned to reveal his possession of an external soul bone after attaching the fourth soul ring to the Longevity Sword.
After everyone was seated in the hall, they chatted casually.
Ning Fengzhi showed no reluctance at the impending departure of the two.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy was very close to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School; they could meet anytime, it wasn't a problem.
"Sect Master, do you know anything about the major elemental academies?"
After a few casual words, Su Cheng finally asked the question he wanted to ask.
"I do know a little," Ning Fengzhi nodded, though he didn't know why Su Cheng suddenly asked.
Unlike other sects that were either closed off or low-key, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had always been active in the upper echelons of the Heaven Dou Empire, possessing extensive knowledge of news from all sides.
"These major elemental academies are Thunder Academy, Divine Wind Academy, Heavenly Water Academy, Blazing Fire Academy, and Elephant Armor Academy, all quite powerful. They represent five powerful elemental forces and are collectively known as the Five Major Elemental Academies of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"I remember there's also a Plant Academy?"
"The Plant Academy's strength is incomparable to these five academies. Moreover, while their martial souls are mainly plant-type, their martial soul attributes and soul ring combinations are not of a single attribute; they're practically a hodgepodge."
Ning Fengzhi seemed quite dismissive at this point.
Su Cheng nodded and continued, "If I wanted to join one of those five elemental academies, would that be possible?"
Ning Fengzhi was taken aback and looked at Su Cheng in surprise. "You want to go to an elemental academy?"
"That's what I'm thinking."
Chen Xin and Gu Rong, who had been sitting quietly listening to their conversation, were also surprised.
Chen Xin directly asked, "Cheng'er, those elemental academies aren't suitable for you. Why did you suddenly have this idea?"
"I just think they're interesting and want to see them," Su Cheng smiled, offering no further explanation.
His external soul bone was unknown, and his advancement path differed from others; explaining it in detail would be too complicated.
Hearing Su Cheng's words, Ning Rongrong, who had been quietly drinking tea beside him, involuntarily trembled slightly.
She first glanced at him in surprise, then her face paled, instantly turning ugly.
She lowered her head and remained silent.
However, the others didn't notice her unusual behavior; they were still surprised by Su Cheng's earlier thought.
"Your plan is probably not going to work," Ning Fengzhi said seriously after a moment's thought, shaking his head.
"The Five Elements Academy is incredibly powerful and has a large student body, so they don't really accept outsiders. Of course, with your talent, you'd be unique there too. But the problem is, these academies have always been exclusive, recruiting only students of the same element, aside from their own family members. Their teaching philosophy and teamwork approach have always been focused on maximizing power."
"I see." Su Cheng looked thoughtful, but wasn't too disappointed.
He knew a little about the Five Elements Academy, but hadn't actually been in contact with them before, so his understanding wasn't detailed.
As for the so-called maximizing power, Su Cheng naturally knew about it.
The maximizing power approach meant that a Soul Master's abilities should follow a pure path, developing their abilities in only one direction and maximizing that single ability. The
balanced approach, on the other hand, believed that a Soul Master's abilities should be developed in a balanced way, with a good balance between offense and defense.
In fact, because these elemental academies held a high position in the Heaven Dou Empire, most Soul Masters there were supporters of the maximizing power approach.
Soul Masters in the Star Luo Empire mostly followed the balanced approach; perhaps their explosive power was slightly weaker, but their weaknesses were much smaller, and their follow-up abilities were also much better.
However, these situations are only suitable for ordinary people, used to improve teamwork among Soul Masters.
There are countless Soul Masters in the Douluo Continent, but how many of them can break through to the Title Douluo level? So considering teamwork is perfectly normal.
But Su Cheng is different; he is confident that he will definitely reach the peak in the future.
Therefore, he doesn't have much interest in learning team combat techniques; overwhelming others with brute force is enough.
Seeing Su Cheng remain silent, Ning Fengzhi thought that he had not given up on this idea yet, so he continued to explain.
"The elemental attribute issue is not the most crucial reason. The key is that the forces behind these academies are not simple. Although they are called academies, they are actually similar to sects.
"For example, Thunder Academy is actually supported by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. However, the way they support them is relatively subtle. Those who join the academy are mostly collateral disciples of the family, while direct disciples are trained internally by the family. Only Yu Tianheng joined the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Although they are collateral disciples, the collateral branches of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan have always been very strong."
"The Divine Wind Academy is backed by the Wind Sword Sect, making it a direct subordinate force. The Wind Sword Sect also uses the academy as a channel to recruit fresh blood, creating a virtuous cycle to maintain the sect's strength.
"The Blazing Fire Academy is very well hidden; even I don't know the specifics, but I'm certain they also have a sect or family behind them. There are a large number of students with blood ties or marriage within this academy.
"The Heavenly Water Academy is somewhat similar to the Blazing Fire Academy; even their dean and vice-dean are related by blood, making it a family-run academy. Moreover, all their students are female, and their martial souls are all water-attribute. You can forget about getting in here.
"The Elephant Armor Academy's background is extremely clear: it's the Elephant Armor Sect, one of the four lower sects. All the disciples in this academy have Diamond Mammoth martial souls; outsiders can't possibly join." Su
Cheng nodded silently, thinking to himself that it seemed he could only find out more when they faced off in the academy competition.
He had no intention of using the exchange as an excuse to challenge them.
There was no enmity between them, and he didn't have the powerful backing of the Spirit Hall or the Clear Sky Sect. Without a huge benefit to be gained, he wouldn't be foolish enough to offend others unnecessarily.
After a moment of silence, Ning Fengzhi continued, "Besides, a support-type Soul Master like Rongrong, with a clear sect affiliation, would definitely not be accepted by those academies."
Su Cheng was taken aback.
He hadn't planned to take Ning Rongrong with him to another academy; he would go alone.
Looking at the slightly scrutinizing expressions of the people opposite him, he couldn't help but frown inwardly. Did they think he was Ning Rongrong's babysitter?
But Su Cheng didn't say anything more.
Anyway, it seemed like they wouldn't be going; let them think what they wanted.
After the Soul Master Competition, he would go to the Spirit Hall.
Until then, everything was just a transition.
After lunch, Su Cheng and Ning Rongrong left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and headed back to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Ning Rongrong looked somewhat downcast along the way, but Su Cheng didn't pay much attention, as he was still pondering his own problems.
The Elemental Academy should have an extremely deep understanding of martial soul attributes and soul ring attributes.
There are definitely many things worth learning from here. He
might not have noticed anything before,
but now that he possesses the Eye of True Sight, there's so much more he can explore.
However, judging from Ning Fengzhi's explanation, his previous ideas about enrolling in school were indeed somewhat unrealistic.
"Brother, what did you mean by what you said at home before?"
Just as Su Cheng was pondering silently, Ning Rongrong, who was standing beside him, suddenly asked.
Her tone was slightly low, causing him to pause for a moment.
"What?"
"You never intended to take me to other academies, right?"
"That's right. What would I take you for? You're not suited to join the Elemental Academy."
"Clearly, you're not suited to those Elemental Academies either. Why did you leave me alone at the Heavenly Dou Academy for no reason?"
Ning Rongrong stopped, her bright eyes looking at Su Cheng.
"The learning environment at Tiandou Academy is more suitable for you," Su Cheng said, somewhat bewildered. "Besides, it's closer to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, making it easier for the sect leader and teachers to take care of you."
"I don't need anyone to take care of me! Why do you all treat me like a child? Aren't you about the same age as me?" Ning Rongrong's voice suddenly became agitated. "Or are you going to another academy to avoid me?"
Su Cheng frowned, saying helplessly, "You're overthinking it. This is my own thought, and it has nothing to do with you. Besides, why would I avoid you?"
Ning Rongrong didn't believe his explanation.
In her view, Su Cheng's attitude had suddenly changed overnight, and his inexplicable desire to go to those elemental academies must have other reasons.
After all, Su Cheng had previously been eager to join the Royal Fighting Team.
Now that he had joined an academy and a team, he was thinking of leaving.
Thinking it over, the only reason for this sudden change could be herself.
More precisely, it was because of Ning Fengzhi's suggestion last night.
"If you want me to stay away from you, just say so. With my talent, I'd be sought after anywhere. Is the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy any better?"
Ning Rongrong was in an extremely bad mood.
The night before, Ning Fengzhi's rambling words hadn't really affected Su Cheng much.
He was mentally mature, with his own thoughts and understanding, and wouldn't overthink things because of a few words from others.
But Ning Rongrong was different; those words had a huge impact on her.
She barely slept all night, constantly reflecting on and examining her feelings for this "brother."
They hadn't spent a long time together, but it had been almost half a year.
And in that time, so much had happened between them.
At least in Ning Rongrong's eyes, a young girl who hadn't experienced many upheavals, their experiences were already more than enough.
Every single event was constantly challenging her understanding.
In the sect, her father had introduced her to many talented young people, from exceptionally gifted Soul Masters to noble children from distinguished families; she knew quite a few.
But she had never met anyone her age like Su Cheng.
It wasn't just her strength and talent, but her mental maturity that truly astonished her.
Whether it was her brotherhood with the renowned Poison Douluo or her effortless conversation with her father and Sword Grandfather, it all impressed her.
Her ability to outmaneuver the imposter Xue Qinghe during a perilous situation, stalling until Dugu Bo arrived, was remarkable, regardless of the methods she used.
However, what truly transformed Ning Rongrong's emotions was the evolution of her martial soul.
This event profoundly impacted her.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was a legend of the Seven Treasure Glazed
Tile Sect, the dream of generations. From childhood, she had often heard Ning Fengzhi speak of it.
His words, filled with sighs and reflections, were deeply etched into her heart.
But she never imagined that this dream, which had been so difficult for the entire sect to realize for countless years, would be achieved in her hands with Su Cheng's help.
Until last night, under Ning Fengzhi's guidance, the complex emotions within Ning Rongrong finally began to ferment further.
However, these were ultimately just her one-sided thoughts.
From Su Cheng's perspective, Ning Rongrong's words and actions were utterly insane,
making him somewhat irritated.
"So what do you want to do now?"
"I'm not going back to Tiandou Academy. Go back by yourself. I can do just as well in another academy."
Su Cheng stared at Ning Rongrong, who glared back without hesitation.
After a moment of silence, he said calmly, "Rongrong, if you stay by my side, I will teach you and protect you, fulfilling my responsibilities as an older brother. But if you act recklessly, you will have to bear the consequences of your actions, even if it means death." "
..." Ning Rongrong's expression shifted upon hearing this, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.
"I'm not saying this out of spite. Since you say you're not a child anymore, then I'll treat you as an adult and reason with you."
Ning Rongrong didn't speak, only glaring at him with red eyes, her resentment and grievances having long since overwhelmed her sadness.
Su Cheng, however, remained unconcerned, his voice still calm, his expression cold.
"I just want to tell you two things.
First, everyone has the right to choose their own future. No one has the right to make decisions for you, including your parents.
Second, if you want to control your own destiny, then be responsible for your actions. Don't think that just because you're my sister I have to take care of you for life. If you've made up your mind, even if you die out there because of it, don't regret it or complain, and don't expect me to save you from this."
Su Cheng calmly gazed at Ning Rongrong.
Wanting to be willful yet afraid of danger, making a choice but unwilling to pay the corresponding price.
There's no such thing as a free lunch.
...
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