"Fengzhi, are you really okay with letting Rongrong be out there all alone?" Chenxin's voice echoed through the hall, filled with grievance and anger.
He knew there were many hidden spies around the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's territory.
If Ning Rongrong had left the clan without Ning Fengzhi's orders, she would inevitably be caught and brought back.
Not long ago, the disciple who delivered Rongrong's letter, worried about her safety, went directly to find Chenxin.
Only then did Chenxin learn that Rongrong had already been away from the clan for a whole day.
Afterward, that disciple handed the letter to Ning Tianchen.
Ning Fengzhi shrugged helplessly, "Uncle Jian, you all have spoiled Rongrong inside the clan. It's time she ventured out on her own."
Chenxin did not oppose Rongrong going out to gain experience. What he cared about was, "Fengzhi, why didn't you inform Tianchen when Rongrong left the clan? With him around, Rongrong's safety would at least be somewhat guaranteed."
Of course, Ning Fengzhi secretly assigned some disciples as shadow guards to follow Rongrong from a distance. But these spies could only keep far away. Getting too close risked exposing their presence.
Therefore, if Rongrong encountered danger, they could not immediately intervene.
Ning Fengzhi had assumed that Tianchen and Rongrong had agreed to leave the clan at different times.
He did not expect Tianchen to remain inactive, showing no intention of pursuing her.
Just then, Tianchen's voice came from outside the hall, "Clan Leader, Grandfather, are you here?"
Ning Fengzhi's eyes brightened, "Uncle Jian, Tianchen's here. Rongrong's not moving too fast, if Tianchen sets out now, he can catch up within a day."
Ning Tianchen was called into the hall.
He immediately handed the letter left by Ning Rongrong to Ning Fengzhi.
In his heart, he wanted to leave the clan and explore, but unlike Rongrong, he couldn't act so impulsively. At the very least, he had to inform Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi returned the letter with a smile and suggested, "Hehe, Tianchen, it's time for you to venture out too. Why not take this chance to travel with Rongrong and gain some experience on the continent?"
Having stayed inside the clan for nearly six years, Ning Tianchen was restless and eager to see the customs and scenery of Douluo Continent, and also to meet the fortunate son, Tang San.
"Uncle Ning, I am willing to go out and train," Ning Tianchen said respectfully.
Ning Fengzhi patted his shoulder, "Go ahead. Rongrong hasn't gone far yet. With your speed, you'll catch up quickly."
"Before you leave, remember to visit the clan's treasury to get some gold spirit coins for your expenses."
After Ning Tianchen left, Ning Fengzhi looked at Chenxin, "Uncle Jian, rest assured. Rongrong and Tianchen will be fine."
Chenxin snorted lightly, "If anything happens to Rongrong, I'll hold you responsible!"
With that, he stepped onto the Seven Kill Sword and flew out of the clan's council hall.
...
Ning Tianchen received a heavy bag from the elder in charge of the treasury.
He didn't open it but knew it contained gold spirit cards instead of gold spirit coins.
"Uncle Ning is really generous. There must be at least a few million gold spirit coins in here," he chuckled and stored the bag inside his ring spirit device.
Only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was rich enough to hand over such a sum. For some other larger families, a few million gold spirit coins might be their entire assets.
Of course, Ning Fengzhi trusted his prudence to entrust him with such money.
On the way to Balak City, he opened the bag.
Inside were mostly white gold spirit cards worth 100 gold spirit coins each, along with two purple cards and one black card.
Certain places on the continent required proof of wealth to enter. The black gold spirit card was probably to ensure they wouldn't be turned away at the door.
Altogether, the cards amounted to roughly 2.3 million gold spirit coins.
This sum was enough for an ordinary soul master to purchase training resources for their entire life.
After a moment, Ning Tianchen put away the thoughts and began considering Ning Rongrong's route.
Knowing her well, since she didn't specify her path in the letter, she likely avoided the usual routes.
Rather than wasting time searching on the road, it was better to head straight to Balak City to find her.
Throughout the journey, Ning Tianchen chose not to take a carriage but to run.
For him, running was also good exercise.
...
More than half a month later, Ning Rongrong arrived at Balak City first.
At this moment, she was leaning against the window of the hotel room, idly gazing at the cityscape.
This was her first successful run-away from home, and an inexplicable joy filled her heart.
Inside the sect, she was Ning Fengzhi's cherished daughter, but Ning Fengzhi's teachings were extremely strict.
The rebellious Ning Rongrong naturally could not tolerate that.
What she didn't know was that the coachman escorting her to Balak City was an outer sect elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, possessing the strength of a Soul Saint.
Otherwise, with the remote mountain paths she had chosen, she would have likely been captured by bandits long ago.
Ning Rongrong muttered, "I wonder where Brother Tianchen is, and whether he has seen the letter I left behind?"
"Hmph, if Brother Tianchen hasn't seen it, it must be Dad causing trouble. Hmph, bad Dad."
For the next two days, Ning Rongrong stayed in the hotel, waiting for Ning Tianchen while pondering over the contents of the letter she left.
Suddenly, she realized, "Oh no, I don't think I told Brother Tianchen which hotel we'd be staying at."
Although Balak City was not as large as Tiandou City, trying to find a person in the city within a short time would be nearly impossible.
After realizing this, Ning Rongrong immediately left the hotel.
However, after searching the streets briefly without seeing any trace of Ning Tianchen, she gave up.
That day happened to be market day, so Ning Rongrong slipped into a bustling street to pick out things she liked.
...
On the other side, Ning Tianchen had just arrived at Balak City.
At the city gate, he was stopped by a guard disciple.
"Stop! Non-residents must pay one gold spirit coin as an entry fee."
Ning Tianchen was stunned.
In his previous life, when reading novels, he thought such an entry fee was unreasonable.
According to the stories, one gold spirit coin could cover the expenses of a family of three for several months.
So, who in their right mind would be willing to spend a gold spirit coin just to enter a city?
Later, he learned that this one gold spirit coin fee only applied to outsiders; locals just had to show residency proof and would not be charged.
Of course, these guards charged differently depending on the person—some collected one silver spirit coin, others five gold spirit coins.
Ning Tianchen grew up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He had never registered as a soul master at the Soul Master Hall and didn't have a soul master handbook.
At his age, a three-ring Soul Emperor rank was very conspicuous, and there were many large families in Balak City.
To avoid unnecessary trouble, he obediently paid the one gold spirit coin entry fee.