Douluo Continent: An Adventure Begins in Wuhun City

Having such a close female friend by his side is quite in line with Ning Fengzhi's impression of Chen Yao back then.

However, the man next to the woman was rather unsightly. To say he was plain-looking would be an understatement. He was completely different from Chen Yao's bewitching face back then, and they were not even the same person!

"I wonder who you two are?"

For a moment, Ning Fengzhi's excitement cooled down slightly. With doubt in his heart, he took Ning Rongrong forward and tentatively asked her.

"Sect Leader Ning, it has been a long time since we parted ways in the Star Dou Forest."

Meeting Ning Fengzhi's suspicious gaze, Chen Yao was not surprised. He grinned, revealing a row of pitted, yellow teeth, thus confirming his identity.

"It really is Brother Chen!"

Upon hearing the familiar tone, Ning Fengzhi's face was once again filled with joy, and he quickly stepped forward to greet her.

"Hehe, Sect Leader Ning is still so polite."

Seeing Ning Fengzhi's serious demeanor, Chen Yao couldn't help but chuckle.

"Brother Chen, how could I, Ning Fengzhi, not treat you with the utmost courtesy?"

Ning Fengzhi chuckled, then tugged at Ning Rongrong beside him and drank.

"Rongrong, what are you standing there for? You've seen your godfather, why don't you hurry up and pay your respects?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong's face immediately turned bitter. Although she didn't have much affection for this godfather in her memory, and was even quite afraid of him, she still remembered him as a very handsome man. But now, how did he turn into such an ugly old man?

For a moment, Ning Rongrong's heart was filled with resistance and disgust. She was about to refuse when she suddenly felt Ning Fengzhi's stern gaze. She was immediately frightened and realized that this was not the usual time when Ning Fengzhi would tolerate her nonsense. She could only suppress her grievances and solemnly bow to the ugly face in front of her, speaking in a slightly aggrieved tone.

"Rongrong greets her godfather!"

"Hehe, in the blink of an eye, Rongrong has grown up so much."

Chen Yao chuckled and reached out to stroke Ning Rongrong's head.

As the black leather-clad hand reached out, Ning Rongrong shuddered and instinctively wanted to dodge. But when she recalled Ning Fengzhi's stern gaze, she gritted her teeth, controlled her body, and stood still, letting Chen Yao's hand approach.

But as Chen Yao approached, the rotten stench that she had been expecting didn't come. Instead, a cool and pleasant fragrance slowly spread, lingering around her upturned nose and permeating her heart and soul. This caused Ning Rongrong's tense body to gradually relax, and the resistance in her heart also lessened considerably.

Feeling the gentle touch on her head, Ning Rongrong felt that the lewd and ugly face in front of her suddenly became kind and gentle, blinking its big, jewel-like eyes as it carefully examined her.

Seeing the harmonious scene between Chen Yao and Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi's lips curled up, and he felt great. At the same time, he took this opportunity to ask the question that had been bothering him.

"Brother Chen, it's been so many years. I still remember your dashing figure back then. Even I can't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. How could you be like this now?"

Upon hearing this, even Ning Rongrong immediately perked up her ears. She was also very curious about how the man she remembered from back then had undergone such a drastic change.

"Sect Leader Ning must know something about my situation. Just in case, he took some precautions. Since even Sect Leader Ning couldn't see through it, I feel much more at ease."

Chen Yao chuckled and explained, without deliberately trying to hide anything.

"I see."

Ning Fengzhi immediately understood upon hearing this and nodded. Then he looked at Gu Yuena beside Chen Yao with a strange light in his eyes. It was not only because of her stunningly beautiful appearance, but also because of the soul power fluctuations on her body that Ning Fengzhi had to pay attention to. If he estimated it, it was probably no less than that of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.

Such a super expert was actually following Chen Yao around, acting as if he were protecting him. This made Ning Fengzhi pay even more attention to Chen Yao.

However, he did not rashly press for more information, but instead smiled kindly and said...

"Alright, Brother Chen, let's go upstairs first. Let me do my best to be a good host. We can have a good chat at the banquet later!"

Chen Yao nodded as well.

"The guest does as the host does."

Then, led by Ning Fengzhi, the group slowly walked towards the palace on the mountaintop.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, Ning Fengzhi first led Chen Yao and Gu Yuena on a casual stroll, giving them a brief introduction. Afterward, they parted ways, and two maids led the two to an extremely luxurious private room to settle in. After bathing and changing, they were then guided by the maids to the central palace.

Inside the hall, a banquet had already been prepared. On the magnificent dining table, which stretched for about a hundred meters, a dazzling array of dishes were laid out, making one's mouth water.

Upon seeing Chen Yao and his companion arrive, Ning Fengzhi was overjoyed and stood up, gesturing to them.

"Brother Chen, please have a seat!"

Chen Yao nodded and walked in with Gu Yuena, chuckling softly.

"Sect Master Ning is too polite."

The two then took their seats with great poise. Next, two more familiar faces appeared in the hall, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. After exchanging friendly nods with them, the banquet officially began. As the guests clinked glasses, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Seeing that the time was right, Ning Fengzhi asked Chen Yao the question that had been on his mind.

"By the way, Brother Chen, I haven't yet asked about the person beside you."

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong's expression shifted, and she secretly glanced at Chen Yao's side. She was also very curious about the unrealistically beautiful older sister who was accompanying her adoptive father.

Sword and Bone Douluo, who were sitting upright to the side, were also able to sense the terrifying soul power emanating from the woman, and their eyes were filled with inquiry.

"Her name is Gu Yuena. She's by my side mainly to ensure my safety. Right now, I'm having some health problems and need to recuperate, so I'll probably have to keep Sect Leader Ning company for a while."

Chen Yao made no attempt to hide anything, and after casually introducing Gu Yuena, he also explained the reason for his visit.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 165 Settling In, Ning Rongrong's Grievance

"Her name is Gu Yuena. She's by my side mainly to ensure my safety. Right now, I'm having some health problems and need to recuperate, so I'll probably have to keep Sect Leader Ning company for a while."

Gu Yuena, standing to the side, described herself as a bodyguard and thug. Her expression shifted slightly. She took a sip of her drink, glanced at Chen Yao, but still didn't say anything.

Although she is the ruler of all soul beasts and has her own pride, she views Chen Yao, who is still in the early stages of his rise to power, with an equal eye.

Gu Yuena asked herself, with her severely injured body and her subordinates who could barely hold their own against the divine servants on the continent, how could she possibly launch a counterattack against the divine realm? It was simply a pipe dream, a fantasy.

In the memories of the Dragon God she inherited, she had an extremely profound understanding of the supreme power displayed by the Dark Lord during that horrific divine war.

For her soul beast clan to survive and seek revenge, they needed this kind of extraordinary power to help them.

As for Chen Yao, as the only successor chosen by the Dark Lord over countless years, Gu Yuena had reason to trust the Dark Lord's judgment and believed that Chen Yao would definitely possess strength no less than that of the Dark Lord in the past, and be able to lead her soul beast clan to wash away the shame and move towards the dawn.

As a human, Chen Yao's attitude towards whether or not to help soul beasts is still ambiguous. Therefore, Gu Yuena is showing her utmost sincerity by being willing to personally protect Chen Yao, who still needs to grow. She does not feel any dissatisfaction with Chen Yao's statement at this moment, but rather accepts it calmly.

On the other side, Ning Fengzhi was surprised when he saw that this expert, who was no less powerful than the Sword and Bone Douluo, tacitly agreed with Chen Yao's statement. Then, he was overjoyed. Especially when he heard that Chen Yao wanted to recuperate at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School for a period of time, he couldn't help but smile.

"Brother Chen, you're being too polite. Your desire to recuperate at my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is an honor for us. There's no question of you nagging. Please rest assured and stay here. I, Ning Fengzhi, can guarantee you that the Spirit Hall will not send you any further information!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yao grinned, nodded, and raised his glass.

"Then thank you very much, Brother Ning."

Chen Yao knew that Ning Fengzhi was trying to win him over by adopting this attitude. Chen Yao didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was not as powerful as the Spirit Hall, it still had its own strength. Although it might not be able to completely deceive Bibi Dong, it could at least buy him a lot of breathing time.

"Brother Chen, please!"

Ning Fengzhi also raised his glass, the two glasses clinked together, and they both drank it down in one gulp. In an instant, the atmosphere of the banquet became lively, the two chatted happily, drinking and laughing, with bursts of joyful laughter frequently heard.

This intense atmosphere lasted until midnight before gradually subsiding, and the guests dispersed.

Watching Chen Yao and Chen Yao walk away side by side until they disappeared, Ning Fengzhi's smile remained. With Chen Yao's addition, even if only for a moment, he felt that most of the pressure that had been increasing due to the growing strength of the Spirit Hall had been relieved, and he felt a sense of relief.

After a long pause, as if he had thought of something, Ning Fengzhi looked at Ning Rongrong, who was already looking tired and yawning from time to time, and shook his head with a light laugh, then said.

"Rongrong, what do you think of your godfather now?"

Upon hearing Ning Fengzhi's question, Ning Rongrong became more alert. After thinking for a moment, her expression immediately turned somewhat conflicted.

Her feelings towards Chen Yao were actually somewhat complicated. Back then, Chen Yao had constantly frightened her, and although she couldn't remember the specifics, it still left Ning Rongrong with some lingering trauma. Coupled with his current ugly appearance, it would be a lie to say she liked him. However, today, she didn't feel any resistance or aversion to Chen Yao's approach and intimacy, which left Ning Rongrong somewhat at a loss for words.

Seeing Ning Rongrong's bewildered expression, Ning Fengzhi, who knew his daughter's slight obsession with appearance, had anticipated this. He gently rubbed her head and smiled.

"Rongrong, is it because of your godfather's current appearance that you feel disgusted with him?"

Ning Rongrong was slightly taken aback after hearing this.

Dislike? Not really, it's just that she's afraid of that face; it's too ugly, and it makes her feel physically uncomfortable.

But if she didn't look at his face, standing next to Chen Yao actually felt quite good; there was a faint sense of familiarity and security.

It's unclear whether it's because her mother entrusted her to Chen Yao before she died.

Although she couldn't figure it out, Ning Rongrong nodded in agreement with Ning Fengzhi.

“You may have been too young back then, Rongrong, to remember, but I can assure you that your godfather was once an exceptionally handsome man. He has only changed his appearance due to some troubles. This is not his true face.”

Ning Fengzhi's words caused a strange glint to flash in Ning Rongrong's eyes.

Just as Ning Fengzhi said, even though she only had a vague outline in her memory, she still vaguely remembered that he was a very good-looking person, definitely not like this now.

In an instant, Ning Rongrong perked up completely and asked Ning Fengzhi with curiosity.

"What does Father and Godfather look like? Are they more handsome than you?"

Ning Fengzhi could only laugh and cry at Ning Rongrong's question, shook his head, and answered truthfully.

"Even though your grandmother gave me a good birth, which relieved me of this anxiety, I still felt inferior to Brother Chen back then."

"really?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong's eyes immediately lit up with a bright light.

She's someone who judges by appearance. With her natural biases, plus the fact that Ning Fengzhi is exceptionally good-looking, with his handsome face and innate nobility, she always believed that Ning Fengzhi was the most handsome man in the world.

She had always used Ning Fengzhi as the standard for finding playmates, but there was no one in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School who met her criteria. She was extremely disdainful of the boys in the sect who were eager to curry favor with her. In addition, her spoiled nature, shaped by her pampered upbringing, made her even more prone to beating and scolding these annoying flies.

This is also why Ning Rongrong has become the little devil that sect disciples fear.

Hearing Ning Fengzhi say this, Ning Rongrong immediately became interested. Coupled with her exploration of the vague memories in her mind, she felt itchy and couldn't wait to tear off her adoptive father's disguise and see the lineup, so that the vague memories would become clear and complete.

Seeing Ning Rongrong's eagerness, Ning Fengzhi smiled and said.

"So, Rongrong, do you want to see your godfather's face?"

Ning Rongrong nodded repeatedly, but then, as if remembering something, she said with some frustration.

"But Father, isn't it because of some trouble that you don't show your true face to others? How can I see what my godfather really looks like?"

Ning Fengzhi gave another strange smile upon hearing this.

"That depends on your abilities, Rongrong. Your godfather will be staying at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School for a long time, and I will go and get rid of him. In my spare time, I will guide your cultivation. If you can win your godfather's favor, you can act cute and beg him. I believe that in a safe place like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, your godfather will not mind fulfilling your wishes."

"I understand, Father!"

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong felt her mind open up, her eyes lit up, and she jumped up from her chair.

"If I just act cute like I do in front of Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone, I don't believe my godfather won't like me!"