As long as Shi Nian possessed the gemstone-type spirit bone, the justification for killing him became irrelevant.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin left with the same smiles they had when they arrived, confident that taking down a mere Spirit Sage like Shi Nian would be effortless for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, even if his methods were strange.
Moreover, as the lead instructor for Canghui Academy, Shi Nian was currently in Heaven Dou City, making him easy prey for the clan.
"Shi Nian, Shi Nian... You and I have no grievances, past or present. But you never should have obtained a spirit bone, especially not while being so weak!"
"Weakness is a sin. Might makes right."
"And my reasoning is the reasoning!"
Dai Mubai thought to himself with a smirk as he returned to the Shrek Academy rest area.
"Darling, what did you tell my father and Grandpa Sword? They seemed so happy when they left," Ning Rongrong asked as she wrapped her arm around Dai Mubai's.
Dai Mubai rubbed her head affectionately and replied,
"You'll find out in two or three days."
"Come on, just tell me now!" Ning Rongrong pouted.
"Pouting won't work!"
"Even if I wear black stockings?"
Dai Mubai: "..."
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Douluo Continent.
In Soto City of the Heaven Dou Empire, Ning Rongrong encountered a man named Li Si, who was clearly astonished by her generosity.
"Miss Ning, is there anything else you need?" Li Si asked, speaking respectfully.
He had no choice. She was just too extravagant.
For an item worth 100 gold spirit coins, she would casually pay 10,000!
This "patron"... no, this "divine benefactor" was someone he couldn't afford to offend.
"Hmph, I see potential in you. How about becoming my personal bodyguard?" Ning Rongrong asked, her tone a mix of arrogance and curiosity.
Li Si's face twitched. Why would he, a free soul, want to become a bodyguard?
Besides, with the fortune he just made—over 100,000 gold spirit coins—he and Xiao Wu could live comfortably for ages. As long as they avoided extravagant places like auction houses, their wealth could last until they ascended to godhood.
"Not happening. Don't even think about it!" Li Si thought to himself, though he couldn't say it aloud to his "divine benefactor."
Shaking his head, he replied reluctantly,
"Apologies, Miss Ning, but Xiao Wu and I have many places we want to visit. I'm afraid I can't accept your offer."
"Traveling?" Ning Rongrong murmured, deep in thought.
After all, wasn't leaving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan for a bit of adventure exactly why she had run away? She had also planned to visit the so-called Shrek Academy that only admitted monsters, though she wasn't too attached to that idea.
But traveling for fun? That couldn't be missed.
"Exactly! The Douluo Continent is vast, and Xiao Wu and I want to see it all. So, Miss Ning, you'll have to find someone else to be your bodyguard," Li Si said, spreading his hands.
Xiao Wu remained silent, nearly bursting into laughter.
It wasn't about sightseeing—Li Si simply didn't want to deal with this troublesome young lady. To him, she was nothing but a headache.
"No problem! I want to travel too. Do you know how boring it is back at the clan? I was practically losing my mind!" Ning Rongrong said dramatically.
Li Si rolled his eyes.
Losing your mind? More like driving everyone else crazy!
They were probably celebrating her departure with gongs and drums!
"You see? I want to travel, and you're traveling too. Why not take me along as your client?" Ning Rongrong pressed.
"No, no, no!" Li Si quickly waved his hands. Becoming her bodyguard? He'd end up as her nanny instead. No way!
"We live off the land and face unpredictable dangers. I need to protect the delicate and fragile Xiao Wu—I can't possibly protect you as well," Li Si explained.
Xiao Wu's expression turned odd. Delicate and fragile?
She was a level-40-plus Spirit Ancestor with a powerful attack-type martial spirit! Still, she understood that Li Si was just bluffing to deter this rich and naive girl.
She nodded in agreement.
"That's right. If danger arises, Li Si will definitely protect me first. He loves me so much—how could he prioritize you over me, even if you're the client?"
Ning Rongrong's face darkened. She just wanted to hire a bodyguard, but instead, she ended up being force-fed this couple's dog food!
What a pair of troublemakers!
She wasn't a fool. Their words made their intentions clear, and she finally grasped the situation.
"Unbelievable. Being a bodyguard for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's eldest daughter—what a hardship for you, huh?" Ning Rongrong thought bitterly, though there was nothing she could do.
This man could beat Spirit Sages, wield a domain, and dominate them in combat. If only he were slightly more handsome… alas.
"Fine, I won't force you. But you're missing out—there won't be another opportunity like this! I was planning to pay you 10,000 gold spirit coins per month," Ning Rongrong murmured.
Li Si: "???"
10,000 gold spirit coins per month?!
His heart ached slightly, though his face betrayed no emotion.
"10,000 gold spirit coins?" Xiao Wu repeated, her expression turning strange.
In all their years together, she and Li Si hadn't earned a total of 10,000 gold spirit coins in subsidies.
Spirit masters received monthly allowances based on their rank:
1 coin for Spirit Masters,10 for Grandmasters,100 for Spirit Elders.
Once a spirit master reached Spirit Ancestor rank, the allowance stopped altogether.
Li Si had stayed at Spirit Elder rank for a while, but Xiao Wu had only recently advanced to Spirit Ancestor, having absorbed the Yearning Heartbroken Red to break through.
Now, just by protecting Ning Rongrong, they could earn 10,000 coins a month? Xiao Wu could hardly believe it.
"Hmph, what good are gold spirit coins? Can they buy spirit power? Can they buy a 100,000-year spirit bone?" Li Si grumbled, sipping his tea, which now tasted faintly of lemons.
To put it in perspective, the Min Clan, led by Bai He, still required financial aid from the other three single-attribute clans to survive.
For them, a sum of 100 gold spirit coins was a considerable fortune.
"Well, it seems I'll just have to check out Shrek Academy after all," Ning Rongrong muttered.
After all, she was already in Soto City, and Shrek Academy was right nearby...
(End of Chapter)