Chapter 287
This is your battlefield!
"Ning Rongrong".
Lin Xia's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced through all the invisible barriers of soul power, striking everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer hitting Ning Rongrong's ear.
"This is your battlefield today."
He ignored the astonished, scrutinizing, and even mocking gazes that instantly focused on him from all the luminaries present, speaking in a tone as calm as if stating a simple fact.
"You need to be in their hands."
Lin Xia raised her hand and pointed to the faces around the round table that represented supreme authority and power, her gesture casual yet carrying an undeniable sense of control.
"Snatch up a share of my latest batch of soul tools."
Lin Xia tilted her head slightly, and her deep, dark eyes, as cold as a pool, finally landed on Ning Rongrong's pale face. A faint but chilling smile appeared on her lips.
"I hope you won't disappoint your father."
"boom--!"
Ning Rongrong felt her mind go blank, and a huge roar exploded inside her head!
battlefield?
Grabbing market share?
In the hands of these people?
Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, Prince Xue Qinghe, Davis, Zhu Family Head... and Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus and the Lower Four Sects?
Each name is as heavy as a mountain!
The forces they represent each possess the power to easily crush a small place like Shrek Academy!
And now, she's actually going to compete with them as the heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School? To "steal" it?
Her father's desperate words, "It's all gone," echoed wildly in her ears like a curse. A tremendous panic, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly coiled around her heart, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
My body trembled slightly uncontrollably, my nails dug deep into my palms, causing a slight stinging pain, but it couldn't dispel the overwhelming fear and helplessness.
She stood frozen in place, as if encased in invisible ice. Her glassy eyes lost all their luster, leaving only endless confusion and despair.
The private room was deathly silent. All eyes were fixed on the trembling, pale-faced girl. There was pity, scrutiny, but mostly cold indifference and mocking schadenfreude.
In the eyes of these predators who stand at the top of the continent, she is nothing more than a helpless young beast forcibly pushed into the arena.
"hehe."
A soft, feminine laugh broke the silence. Ju Douluo Yue Guan held the illusory, rare, heaven-reaching chrysanthemum in his hand, the edges of its petals gleaming with a sharp, cold light. He examined Ning Rongrong with great interest, his eyes fixed on her as if she were a novel flower.
"Interesting. Sect Master Ning is quite willing to throw this little princess into this den of tigers and wolves for training? But with such delicate skin, I'm afraid she won't be able to withstand much hardship, will she?"
His voice trailed off, carrying a playful teasing tone, yet every word was like a knife, scraping against Ning Rongrong's heart.
Zhu Zhan, the head of the Zhu family, snorted coldly, his voice like muffled thunder, carrying undisguised contempt and impatience.
"Is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School lacking in talent? Sending a mere immature girl to discuss such important matters? What is Ning Fengzhi up to?"
His sharp gaze swept over Ning Rongrong, carrying the iron will and direct pressure unique to Xingluo soldiers.
Yu Luomian frowned, looking at Ning Rongrong's precarious state, then at Lin Xia who remained calm and composed, his anxiety deepening. He spoke in a deep voice, his tone tinged with impatience.
“Lord Lin, this matter is of utmost importance, and time is of the essence. Although Miss Ning is the heir, she is still relatively inexperienced. Should we perhaps…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear: skip this unnecessary step!
Davis scoffed out loud, his blond hair gleaming in the morning light streaming through the window, his eyes filled with naked aggression and mockery.
“Little beauty, look at your pitiful state, why don’t you just let your parents come out and talk to you? Otherwise you’ll be scared and start crying later, which wouldn’t look good.”
His words were flippant and full of humiliation, with the aim of completely crushing Ning Rongrong psychologically.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe still wore a gentle smile, but deep within his clear eyes, a faint chill, like cracks in ice, and a hint of understanding flashed.
He looked at Lin Xia, then glanced at the despairing Ning Rongrong, and spoke gently, his voice like a spring breeze, yet carrying an invisible pressure.
"Lord Lin, what you all say may be somewhat blunt, but it is not without reason. Soul tools are related to the future strategies of each family, and their importance is extraordinary. Miss Ning is taking on this important task for the first time, and the pressure is immense. Perhaps..."
He subtly changed the subject, his words carrying a "well-intentioned" attempt to defuse the situation, yet every word implied that Ning Rongrong was unfit for the task.
All the pressure, contempt, ridicule, and doubt, like a surging tide, crashed down on the isolated and helpless Ning Rongrong from all directions.
She felt herself plummeting rapidly into the icy depths of the sea, surrounded by monstrous beasts and surging undercurrents.
Her father's despairing gaze resurfaced, and the heavy burden of the sect's legacy almost made her kneel down.
Just as she was teetering on the brink of collapse, about to be completely consumed by fear, a cold gaze, like a tangible ice spike, pierced her senses once more—it was Lin Xia!
He remained seated in the main seat, his posture unchanged, and he didn't even look at her again. But in the depths of his eyes, as deep as a cold pool, a faint, almost indifferent calm reflected her current disheveled state, fear, and helplessness like a cold mirror!
That look seemed to be a silent question.
Is this the successor of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?
Is that all you've got?
Your father is right. It's only a matter of time before the sect is ruined after you hand it over!
An indescribable humiliation and extremely cold anger, like volcanic lava suppressed to the extreme, suddenly erupted from the deepest part of Ning Rongrong's heart!
It instantly dispelled all fear and confusion!
On what grounds?!
Why should I be looked down upon like this?!
Why should I stand here trembling like a piece of trash?!
"It's all over."
...These three words were like a branding iron, burning fiercely into her soul!
No! Absolutely not!
Ning Rongrong's violently trembling body suddenly stiffened!
A sense of pride and stubbornness, stemming from the depths of his bloodline and belonging to the heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, mixed with the iron will that had been born during the trial of Flander last night, was now completely ignited by the cruel reality and that cold gaze!
She bit her lower lip hard, even tasting a faint metallic flavor of blood. The tears and fear in her glassy eyes receded rapidly like a tide, replaced by a burning, all-consuming resolve!
She suddenly straightened her slender spine, which seemed to have been bent countless times!
Amidst Ju Douluo's playful chuckle, Zhu Zhan's impatience, Yu Luomian's anxiety, Davis's mockery, Xue Qinghe's seemingly gentle pressure, and the indifferent gaze of the representatives of the Lower Four Sects, the girl, whose face was still pale, whose eyes were dark and whose body was still trembling slightly, took a deep, deep breath.
The icy air filled my lungs, like a quenching spring.
Then, under the watchful or intrigued gazes of all the industry giants, Ning Rongrong took her first step.
His steps were still somewhat unsteady, yet carried a heavy and resolute weight, as if cutting off all retreat. (End of Chapter)