Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends.

"Oh? Is that what His Majesty the Demon Whale King said?" Ursula chuckled softly, her laughter low and knowing, carrying a hint of "you're too young to understand."

She used one of her tentacles to pick up a silver goblet that had been salvaged from a shipwreck. It was rusted but its original ornate patterns were still faintly visible. She played with it between her fingers.

“The ocean is indeed vast, but this world is much bigger than you can imagine.” Ursula’s gaze fell on the wine glass, and her emerald green eyes seemed to see something else through it.

"Where the sun shines, there are vast lands where a creature called humankind lives."

"Humans?" Lan Fuzi repeated the unfamiliar word, tilting his huge head to the side.

Under the protection of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, she has never left the Deep Sea Demon Whale Sea. Coming to the Fishbone Cave in Ursula, which is 10,000 meters deep in the sea, is already her greatest act of rebellion.

As for the Deep Sea Demon Whale Sea, no human has ever dared to venture there because of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King.

In the deserted deep-sea area of ​​the Demon Whale, Lan Fuzi stayed for a very long time.

“Yes, humans.” Ursula seemed lost in memories, her tone carrying a subtle, almost imperceptible seduction.

"They are a very peculiar kind of creature. Most of them are pitifully weak, and even a thousand-year-old soul beast could easily tear them apart. But they are very interesting."

She paused, noticing the growing curiosity in Lan Fuzi's eyes, before continuing in a tone as if describing a magical scene: "They built enormous cities, constructing towering houses of stone and wood, denser than the largest coral reefs. They had something called lights that could illuminate entire districts in the dark, like plucking stars from the sky and placing them on the ground. They also crafted all sorts of exquisite objects, like this..."

Ursula gently pushed the silver wine cup toward Lan Fuzi.

"Although it's rusty, you can still see something, right? They use this thing to hold a liquid called wine. Drinking it will make them forget their worries and become light... Oh, they also like to hold grand parties, wearing colorful clothes made of the most delicate fabrics, singing and dancing, and the noise can spread far away..."

The scene she described was simply an unimaginable fantasy to Lan Fuzi, who spent her days surrounded by darkness, silence, and massive skeletons.

City? Lights? Party? Dancing? Every word challenged her preconceived notions.

Lan Fuzi's eyes were wide open, and she even breathed softly, afraid of missing a single word.

"Really? There's such a place in the world? Aren't they afraid of the Sea Soul Beast?"

“Afraid? Of course I’m afraid.” Ursula scoffed, her voice tinged with contempt for humanity.

"But they are very good at hiding and making tools. Moreover, their lives are very short, like mayflies, lasting only a few decades or a hundred years. So they are always eager to experience everything, create everything, and make a big commotion..."

Her words were like opening a window for Lan Fuzi, allowing her to glimpse a bizarre and vibrant new world.

That world was completely different from the eternal, dark, and lonely deep sea where she lived; it was full of color, sound, and liveliness.

And this is exactly what Lan Fuzi desires deep in her heart.

Her massive body trembled slightly with excitement, and she couldn't help but lean forward, almost touching Ursula: "What else? What else? What else is there in the human world? Tell me quickly!"

Seeing Lan Fuzi's completely captivated expression, Ursula knew the time was right.

She suddenly stopped talking, a hint of regret on her face, and nervously stirred the seawater with her hands.

“Oh dear, look at me, why am I telling you all this?” Ursula’s tone shifted, becoming deliberately cautious and concerned.

Chapter 171 The Human World

“Princess Lan Fuzi, you are still young, and your cultivation level… well, I mean, it’s too early for you to know these things. The human world may seem interesting, but it is also full of dangers and treachery. Your father’s decision to protect you in the Demon Whale Sea must have a deeper meaning. Just pretend you didn’t hear these words, go back quickly, and play with your toys.”

The more Ursula tried to stop her and emphasized the danger, the more Lan Fuzi's curiosity burned.

Being overly protected by her parents actually triggered her rebellious tendencies.

“I’m not afraid of danger!” Lan Fuzi retorted immediately, her voice filled with dissatisfaction at being looked down upon.

"I'm very strong! And I just wanted to know, I didn't say I had to go right now! Ursula, tell me! What is the human world like?"

Ursula looked troubled, but after being urged repeatedly by Lan Fuzi, she reluctantly added a few more sentences, describing the noisy hawking sounds of the human market, the colorful kites floating in the sky, and the balls that children played with that rolled on the ground...

Each simple description built a more vivid picture in Lan Fuzi's mind, making her itchy with desire.

Seeing that Lan Fuzi's curiosity had been thoroughly piqued, like a child whose appetite had been whetted, Ursula once again brought the car to a stop at the opportune moment.

"Alright, alright, my little princess, that's enough for today." Ursula gently patted Blue Buddha's huge fins with her tentacles, her tone soothing.

“If you keep talking, your father will find out that I’ve corrupted you, and he’ll definitely tear down this fishbone hole of mine.”

Lan Fuzi clearly hadn't heard enough, but seeing Ursula's resolute attitude, he could only grumble reluctantly, his huge tail thrashing impatiently, stirring up another undercurrent in the cave.

"Then...then I'll tell you next time I come!" she stated her condition.

A hint of triumph flashed in Ursula's eyes, but on the surface, she readily agreed: "Of course. And..."

She deliberately dragged out her words, and her single eye lit up again as she looked at Lan Fuzi.

"Next time you come, I might be able to think of a way to bring you one or two small items that are actually from the human world. So you can see them with your own eyes and touch them with your own hands."

"Really?" Lan Fuzi was so surprised she almost jumped up, though she only floated up slightly in the water.

"It's a promise! Ursula, you're so kind! I'll definitely come to see you again next time!"

Having received this promise, Lan Fuzi was satisfied. She chatted casually with Ursula about how to play with the new toys, then eagerly rolled up her pile of treasures, her huge body nimbly turned around, and she happily swung her tail fins as she rushed out of the fishbone cave.

Her figure quickly disappeared into the dark seawater, clearly eager to return to her nest, playing with her toys while processing that exhilarating dream about the human world.

Hu Shan and Jia Shan came over and looked at Wusula with awe.

Ursula looked in the direction where Lan Fuzi had disappeared, her smile slowly fading, leaving only unfathomable calculation in her dark green eyes.

She gently stroked the high-quality ocean energy crystal, her tentacles tightly entangling it.

“Objects from the human world…” Wusu murmured to himself.

"It seems we need to send Hu Shan and Jia Shan to the sea closer to the land to retrieve some driftwood."

Ursula's low, hoarse voice echoed in the hollow Fishbone Cave, carrying a hint of triumphant satisfaction at her successful plan.

Her eerie green eyes swept over Hu Shan and Jia Shan, and the two electric eels immediately lowered their heads respectfully, indicating that they understood.

"Go on, my little darlings." Ursula waved one of her tentacles.

“Go to the waters that human ships frequently pass through and keep an eye out for shipwrecks. Or, occasionally help one or two less sturdy ships sink, and then bring back small gifts that represent the human world. Remember, pick pretty and interesting ones.”

With a hissing sound, Hu Shan and Jia Shan twisted their bodies like two streaks of blue-purple lightning, swiftly darting out of the Fishbone Cave to carry out Ursula's orders.

Ursula watched the direction they disappeared in, her tentacles gently caressing the high-quality ocean energy crystal she had obtained from Lan Fuzi, feeling its powerful yet gentle energy, a deep smile playing on her lips.

Lan Fuzi... truly a treasure delivered to our doorstep.

Simple, wealthy, and backed by the true ruler of this ocean.

As long as we firmly grasp this line, how can our strength not grow rapidly? How can our faith not spread?

She seemed to see that, through the passage of Lan Fuzi, her tentacles would soon reach the deep-sea demon whale king that even she felt a chill in her heart.

Even a tiny bit leaking through her fingers would be enough to benefit her immensely.

“A little gadget from the human world…” Ursula repeated in a low voice, a calculating glint in her eyes.

“Mere description isn’t enough. She needs to see it with her own eyes and touch it with her own hands, so that her longing for that world is as deep and unfathomable as a trench.”

……

A duality of ice and fire.

The red and blue spring waters still flowed in distinct patterns, the mist carrying two completely different energies of extreme cold and extreme heat, giving this valley a unique and beautiful appearance.

Godot stood in front of her crystal house, her deep purple skirt almost trailing on the ground, her pale fingers habitually toying with the twisted wooden staff.

Her eerie green eyes gazed toward the entrance to the valley, where the poisonous miasma and illusions were silently parting to either side.

The first to step in was a figure as straight as a sword. The old man had white hair and beard, a cold face, and held a long sword. Just by standing there, he naturally exuded a sharp aura that could cut through everything. It was none other than Sword Douluo Chenxin.

His gaze swept across the valley with an unmistakable intensity, lingering for a moment on Godo, with a subtle scrutiny and warning.

Ge Duo didn't care at all; a faint smile even appeared on her lips. Her gaze passed over Chen Xin and landed on the figure behind him.

Ning Rongrong.

The little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Fengzhi's daughter, and the hope for the future of the school.

She came again today.

Watching Sword Douluo Chenxin lead Ning Rongrong step by step into the valley, Ge Duo revealed an impeccable, slightly lazy smile.

Initially, Ge Duo had no plans regarding the selection of researchers for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

In her opinion, it doesn't matter who comes, as long as they have a martial soul from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, so that she can study the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul and try to break the level 80 barrier.

It's just research material; who it is doesn't matter.

However, Ge Duo did not expect that the person who accompanied Ning Fengzhi to his first official research visit a few months ago would be Ning Rongrong.

Chapter 172 The Hidden Contract

This surprised Ge Duo greatly; she hadn't expected Ning Fengzhi to actually dare to send Ning Rongrong over.

After all, this was his precious jewel, the most dazzling pearl of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. If anything were to happen to her while she was with him, the consequences would be dire…

In this regard, Ge Duo had to admire Ning Fengzhi's courage.

After all, not everyone would dare to take such a risk, and she also knew that Ning Fengzhi had high hopes for Ning Rongrong, expecting her to break the sect's fate.

Of course, after seeing that the person who came was Ning Rongrong for the first time, Ge Duo's mind started to stir.

The value and additional significance beyond research of an ordinary disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School are completely different from that of a little princess who is regarded as a treasure by the sect leader and even two titled Douluo.

Returning to her senses, Ge Duo stepped forward a few steps, her posture elegant and composed, and nodded slightly to Chen Xin.

"Lord Douluo, you've worked hard."

Chen Xin remained expressionless, simply taking Ning Rongrong a step forward and saying in a deep voice, "Rongrong is now in Your Majesty's care. I will come to fetch her again in three days."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable power, as if to say that if Ning Rongrong were missing a single hair at sunset, the Seven Kill Sword in his hand would never grant his request.

Ge Duo seemed oblivious to the deeper meaning in his words. Her smile remained unchanged as she naturally reached out and took Ning Rongrong's hand from Chen Xin's.

Ning Rongrong was wearing a cute little dress and had her hair styled in an adorable updo today, looking like a porcelain doll.

But there was no smile on her face; her small mouth was slightly pouting, clearly indicating that she was still reluctant to come here to cooperate with the research.

When Ge Duo's cold hand grasped hers, she instinctively flinched, but managed not to shake it off.

"Your Majesty Swordsman, please rest assured, Rongrong will be safe here." Geduo lowered her head and gave Ning Rongrong what she thought was a kind smile.

Chen Xin gave Ge Duo a deep look, his gaze so sharp it seemed to pierce through people's hearts, but he ultimately said nothing more.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School chose to place limited trust in this mysterious and unpredictable alchemist, and the foundation of this trust, apart from that elusive hope, was the Seven Kill Sword in Chen Xin's hand.

He nodded slightly, his figure swayed, and disappeared from the spot as if merging into the air, leaving only the slightly rippling poisonous miasma at the entrance of the valley.

Beyond the duality of ice and fire, deep within the setting sun forest.

A sword light landed silently on the crown of a towering ancient tree, without the branches and leaves even trembling slightly.

Chen Xin stood silently, holding a long sword.

His gaze pierced through layers of branches and leaves, landing precisely on the scorching frost-covered ground, a patch of illusion and poisonous miasma.

He did not leave.

He did the same thing every time. He would send Rongrong into the valley, then find a place at the entrance, either standing or sitting, waiting for the research to finish before bringing the girl back to the sect safely.

It contains hope, but also unknown risks.

He cannot place the future of the sect entirely in the hands of others.

His presence here serves as both a deterrent and a source of peace of mind. As long as his sword remains, no one can harm the little girl inside. This is his heartfelt promise, needing no words.

Within the valley, the atmosphere seemed to relax for a moment as Chenxin left.

Ge Duo held Ning Rongrong's cold little hand, her smile fading slightly, returning to her usual languid and aloof demeanor.

She looked down at the exquisitely beautiful little girl, a glint of barely perceptible shrewdness flashing in her deep green eyes.

Ning Rongrong felt that gaze and subconsciously shrank back, muttering softly, "Your Majesty, what are we going to do today?"

Ge Duo released Ning Rongrong's hand and casually pointed to a smooth, warm jade platform next to her.

"Release your martial spirit as before, then meditate and gather your soul power."

"Oh..." Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong obediently walked to the jade platform, climbed up, and sat down.

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her somewhat nervous feelings.

A moment later, a dazzling seven-colored radiance rose from her palm.

A seven-story pagoda, over a foot tall and crystal clear, slowly emerged, its body shimmering with a dreamlike glow.