Over two months had passed since Ning Rongrong's trio departed from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
During this time, aside from hunting whales in the ocean, they had either stayed in Vast Sea City or spent time on Purple Pearl Island, gradually becoming familiar with the Purple Pearl Pirates.
At the very least, Dugu Yan no longer maintained obvious distance from Zi Zhenzhu upon seeing her.
However, Zi Zhenzhu remained hesitant about joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Most of her subordinates were sea soul masters. While she herself didn't worship the Sea God, she couldn't guarantee the same for her crew!
Though many had been exiled from Sea God Island, to sea soul masters, the ocean was their faith, and the Sea God was the deity who granted them their power.
Theoretically, this wasn't entirely accurate but the overwhelming majority of sea soul masters believed it.
Joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda would inevitably come with restrictions. If she brought her crew into the sect, conflicts between sea and land soul masters might arise, and her subordinates could easily turn traitor.
Wouldn't it be excessive to bite the hand that feeds them?
Ning Rongrong had suggested recruiting soul masters who weren't devout Sea God worshippers as trusted aides, slowly nurturing them.
But executing such plans was far from simple.
Over these two months, Zi Zhenzhu had deliberately gathered information about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"Such a headache..."
In her cabin, Zi Zhenzhu ruffled her hair in frustration.
"I'll make my decision after they leave!"
A woman capable of reaching near-Soul Emperor strength in her twenties and nearly unifying all pirates in Vast Sea City years later couldn't possibly be empty-headed. Pirates ruling the seas were rarely kindhearted.
Through careful probing, she deduced that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda or rather, Ning Rongrong wanted to establish their own sea soul master force.
But the issue of faith among sea soul masters was unavoidable.
How could she ensure her loyal subordinates wouldn't abandon her if their beliefs clashed?
"One more month to think it over." Zi Zhenzhu tossed aside the gathered information and stepped out of her room.
The Purple Pearl had already returned, dropping off Ning Rongrong's group ashore.
"Our next voyage is in three days." Zi Zhenzhu told them. "We need time to restock."
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Thank you, Miss Zi Zhenzhu. Until next time!"
Watching the ship sail away, Ning Rongrong fell into thought.
"What's wrong, Rongrong?" Dugu Yan asked curiously.
"Zi Zhenzhu is still hesitating about joining the sect." Ning Rongrong glanced at Dugu Yan.
"Huh?" Dugu Yan looked baffled.
"Eyes, expressions, gestures sometimes they reveal a person's thoughts. She seemed completely distracted just now."
"Where did you learn this...?" Dugu Yan couldn't help muttering.
"Speak human to humans, ghost to ghosts it's basic training for sect disciples. Including reading surface-level intentions."
"Don't lie to me." Dugu Yan eyed her skeptically. "I doubt Uncle Ning would teach you this now."
"Books." Ning Rongrong chuckled. "Didn't you master Three Aperture Dispersed Heart too? You can multitask reading!"
"I've no interest in such nonsense... Split-focus reading is exhausting!"
Both Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan had learned the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's secret techniques, reaching the Three Apertures realm.
Dugu Bo studied it for alchemy, but Dugu Yan...
While extra skills never hurt, she'd never torture herself with split-focus reading like Ning Rongrong.
"Speaking of which, we've obtained four ten-thousand-year whale glue pieces. The last should come within a month."
Dugu Bo found their bickering amusing. Once they paused, he interjected:
"Indeed." Ning Rongrong agreed. "I'm surprised how tough whale spirit beasts are."
Deep-sea dwellers, they were hard to find and even harder to kill!
Dugu Bo had failed several attempts not from lack of strength, but because the whales fled faster than Soft Bone Rabbits upon sensing spirit power fluctuations.
As a land soul master, Dugu Bo couldn't pursue them into the abyss.
Two whale spirit beasts had escaped despite grave injuries by diving deep.
Moreover, wounded sea spirit beasts necessitated immediate retreat to avoid attracting predators.
Even so, they'd encountered numerous ten-thousand-year beasts drawn by blood.
Without Zi Zhenzhu's nautical expertise, their journeys would've been far more arduous.
Chatting, the trio reentered Vast Sea City.
Upon reaching the streets, they halted abruptly.
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in shock.
"Father? Grandpa Sword?"
An elegant middle-aged man approached swiftly, accompanied by a sharp-eyed elder.
"Long time no see, lass."
"What brings you here?" After greetings, Ning Rongrong looked puzzled.
"Can't we visit?" Though the words sounded stern, his gentle tone carried warmth.
"Ah... I didn't mean that." Ning Rongrong smiled. "Just surprised. Did Grandpa Sword break through?"
"Indeed! That old bone's no match now!" The Sword Douluo laughed, then glanced at Dugu Bo. "Old Poison, has our Rongrong been trouble?"
Though knowing her personality made this unlikely, it never hurt to ask.
"Not at all. I should thank her for accompanying us these months."
"Elder Dugu, no need for formalities." Ning Rongrong said. "I want Sis Yan'er to reach her full potential too."
At Vast Sea Grand Hotel, Ning Fengzhi booked two luxurious suites.
Gathered together, Ning Fengzhi and the Sword Douluo listened intently as Ning Rongrong recounted their adventures in detail far beyond the vague letters.
"So you highly value this Zi Zhenzhu pirate?"
From her account, Ning Fengzhi sensed Ning Rongrong's strong desire to recruit her.
A 27-year-old 59th-rank Soul King was indeed worth heavy investment.
But as a sea soul master, her faith was far more devout than land soul masters'.
If she defected later, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could suffer heavy losses.