The Sword Titled Douluo and Bone Titled Douluo were somewhat exasperated. This child Rongrong, really! If she was going to praise the Demon Suppressing Doulou, did she need to be so harsh with them, two old men? What did she mean, compared to the Demon Suppressing Doulou, they became ugly? They weren't ugly, okay?
Especially the Sword Titled Douluo, he prided himself on being a dignified and handsome young man in his youth. Now that he was old, even though he was no longer a handsome young man, he certainly wasn't ugly, was he? Alas, they, these two old men, treated this child Rongrong as their own granddaughter. Yet she actually disparaged them like that, showing no regard for their reputation at all.
Hearing this, Zhao Ling secretly glanced at Ning Fengzhi and the two protecting Titled Douluo with a hint of schadenfreude, then deliberately put on a serious face and reprimanded Ning Rongrong, "Rongrong, how can you insult your Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone like that? While it's true they're not as handsome as your Big Brother Ling, you can't describe them as ugly, can you? How embarrassing for them?"
I'm telling you! The Sword Titled Douluo and Bone Titled Douluo were even more indignant this time. What did he mean, "we're indeed not as handsome as you"? Couldn't he have some shame? Did he think everyone was like him, so good at seducing respectable women? He even managed to mesmerize a little kid like Rongrong?
Of course, despite their indignation, the Sword Titled Douluo and Bone Titled Douluo knew their place. He was, after all, known as the strongest person below a deity. No matter how angry they got or how much they unleashed their inner power, they couldn't defeat him. So, they could only meekly accept their bad luck. What else could they do?
Seeing that they remained silent, Zhao Ling gently pinched Ning Rongrong's delicate nose and said softly, "Rongrong, you'll be able to awaken your spirit next year. When you do, Big Brother Ling will give you a gift. Do you want it?"
"A gift? Yes, of course! Rongrong wants any gift Big Brother Ling gives her!" Ning Rongrong's eyes immediately lit up when she heard that Zhao Ling would give her a gift after her spirit awakening. She asked somewhat impatiently, "Big Brother Ling, can you tell Rongrong what the gift is? Rongrong wants to know now!"
"Hmm... that won't do, sweetie. If I tell you what the gift is before you awaken your spirit, where's the surprise? Just do your best, and you'll find out when you successfully awaken your spirit." Zhao Ling shook his head slightly, a mysterious expression on his face, which made Ning Rongrong pout in frustration.
Ning Fengzhi, the Sword Titled Douluo, and the Bone Titled Douluo also grew curious, seeing Zhao Ling act so mysterious. A gift from the Demon Suppressing Doulou was surely extraordinary. Any low-tier gift would be beneath him, the one known as the strongest person below a deity. Therefore, they now also wanted to know what that gift was from Zhao Ling's mouth. But since he wouldn't say, there was nothing they could do.
"Hmph... Big Brother Ling is so stingy. It wouldn't hurt to tell Rongrong; he just has to be so mysterious. It's boring." Ning Rongrong turned her head away in dissatisfaction, looking like a young lady who was very angry and whose anger would have serious consequences.
"Anyway, Big Brother Ling said I can't tell you, so I can't. When the time comes, it'll definitely be a huge surprise for you." Zhao Ling found Ning Rongrong's pouting expression utterly adorable. People said Ning Rongrong was spoiled by Ning Fengzhi and the two protecting Titled Douluo. Yet, in front of him, she never showed any wilfulness or capriciousness. Instead, she was quite obedient and cute, which made Zhao Ling quite fond of this girl.
Of course, his current affection for her was purely the care of an elder for a junior; there were no strange thoughts. As for whether these thoughts would become problematic in the future, Zhao Ling wasn't entirely confident himself...
After returning to his mansion from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Zhao Ling went straight to the detached courtyard. He wanted to see how the hidden weapons research was progressing. It must be said that over the past decade or two, these people had researched terrifying things like the King of Hell's Invitation and the Pear Blossom Storm Needle. However, the most formidable, the Goddess of Mercy's Tear, had yet to be fully researched.
As the only hidden weapon in the Tang Sect capable of threatening a deity, Zhao Ling felt that if this item could be produced and given to each of his wives, then even if he wasn't at the mansion sometimes, any deity foolish enough to cause trouble would likely meet their demise there. However, the materials needed for the Goddess of Mercy's Tear were too demanding. Therefore, making one for each of his wives was probably a pipe dream.
Of course, Tai Tan and Lou Gao's enthusiasm for researching the Goddess of Mercy's Tear didn't seem to match their eagerness to replicate a practical version of the Cloud Piercing Shuttle. Both of them wanted to replicate the Cloud Piercing Shuttle to bring immense convenience to the entire Douluo Continent.
In addition, Zhao Ling had also once received a spirit-guiding cannon from the system that would only appear ten thousand years later, which Zhao Ling also handed over to Tai Tan and Lou Gao. These two, upon witnessing the power of the spirit-guiding cannon, felt as if they had found a treasure and were vigorously researching it. To Zhao Ling, while these spirit-guiding cannons were powerful, they were merely average. Never mind these spirit-guiding cannons, even the Goddess of Mercy's Tear, which could threaten deities, posed no threat to him.
Unexpectedly, upon arriving at the detached courtyard, Zhao Ling encountered Bai He with a little girl about four years old, reminiscing with old friends. Upon seeing Zhao Ling, Bai He quickly nodded slightly to him and said, "Bai He greets Master..."
Since the four affiliated sects had long pledged allegiance to Zhao Ling, Bai He's address of Zhao Ling as Master was correct. The three- or four-year-old girl, seeing her grandfather so respectful to Zhao Ling, curiously looked up at Zhao Ling. Then her eyes lit up, and she extended her small hand towards Zhao Ling, saying in a childish voice, "Pig, pig-master, Xiangxiang wants candy..."
Bai He immediately frowned, pulled his granddaughter behind him, and sternly reprimanded her, "Chenxiang, don't be rude to Master." Then Bai He offered Zhao Ling an apologetic smile, "Master, I apologize, the child doesn't know any better..."
Zhao Ling also smiled awkwardly, "It's fine, innocent childish talk, innocent childish talk." He knew that Bai Chenxiang also wanted to call him Master like Bai He, but because she was so young, her pronunciation was a bit unclear, causing her to accidentally call him "pig-master," which was quite embarrassing. But how could an adult like himself get angry with a child?
Zhao Ling looked at the adorable little girl, exquisitely sculpted like pink jade, and tentatively asked Bai He, "Old Man Bai, is she Bai Chenxiang? I remember seeing her once when she was just born at your place. I didn't realize she'd grown so much in the blink of an eye."
"Yes, she is indeed Chenxiang." Bai He gently stroked Bai Chenxiang's head with a benevolent expression, his eyes filled with tenderness.