Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda (Please Follow, Please Recommend)

"You little brat, are you sure you want to use these herbs of unknown effects to settle your debt?"

Dugu Bo looked at Yu Xiaowei, his face plainly saying, I don't believe you. You're trying to scam me again, aren't you?

After being tricked twice in a row, he had learned to be cautious. Whenever Yu Xiaowei opened his mouth, there was a one-hundred-percent chance nothing good would come of it.

"Senior, look, I even brought the creditor to you. As long as you give us two herbs you don't need, we can write off the debt, principal and interest included."

At the end, Yu Xiaowei added another sentence.

"A fair deal, no cheating the old or the young. You'll only profit, never lose."

Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes and said nothing, quietly calculating in his heart.

"Although these herbs are extraordinarily miraculous, I can't take them myself. That three-million-Gold Soul Coin debt won't be easy to repay either. Why not use them to settle it with this brat?"

Once that thought arose, he could not help considering the benefits of settling the debt this way. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was all gain and no loss for him. As for whether Yu Xiaowei would trick him again, that was no longer within the scope of his considerations.

"Fine, I agree. But let me make this clear first: eight or nine out of ten herbs here are highly poisonous. If something happens after you eat them, I won't take any responsibility."

"Senior is wise."

That was exactly what Yu Xiaowei had been waiting to hear.

Seeing the delighted look on his face, Dugu Bo felt an inexplicable pang of unease. After some thought, he took out paper and a pen from his Soul Tool.

"Words are no proof. Write it down. If your uncle comes looking for trouble later, I'll have evidence that you brought this upon yourself."

Without another word, Yu Xiaowei took the paper and pen, swept his hand across the page, and began writing.

Today, I have received __ herbs from Poison Douluo Dugu Bo as debt repayment. The debt of three million Gold Soul Coins has been settled in full. Note: should I suffer any accident as a result of consuming these herbs, I alone shall bear responsibility. Dugu Bo bears no responsibility whatsoever.

After signing his name below, Yu Xiaowei handed the note over.

Dugu Bo inspected it carefully, then frowned and asked.

"Why did you sign this little brat's name? Isn't the creditor this girl?"

"Hey, signing my name is the same as signing Rongrong's name, right, Rongrong?"

Ning Rongrong nodded repeatedly.

Dugu Bo gave them an amused look, then pointed at the blank Yu Xiaowei had left behind.

"I can give you two herbs."

"Ten."

"Do you think these are Blue Silver Grass?"

Dugu Bo was so angry he laughed. "Three at most."

"It seems Senior has no sincerity. Rongrong, let's go. Senior, farewell forever. As for your poison, please seek someone more capable. This junior is powerless to help."

Yu Xiaowei shook his head with a sigh, grabbed Ning Rongrong's hand, and made as if to leave.

"Stop—!"

Dugu Bo bellowed. After pacing back and forth several times, he held up five fingers as though his heart were bleeding. "Five herbs. That's the most. If you still refuse, I'd rather repay those three million Gold Soul Coins."

"Senior is so generous~"

Yu Xiaowei chuckled and hurried forward to clap hands with him.

A short while later.

Pointing at three Immortal Herbs, Yu Xiaowei spoke to Dugu Bo, who was sitting by the pool with his eyes closed in meditation.

"Senior, this junior has temporarily chosen three herbs. I'll leave the rest with you for now. You wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

Dugu Bo opened his eyes and looked in the direction Yu Xiaowei was pointing with an unfriendly expression.

Yu Xiaowei had selected an eight-petaled white flower, its center glittering like ice crystals; a fiery red plant resembling a cabbage; and finally, a golden tulip.

Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass, Infernal Delicate Apricot, and Aromatic Silk Beauty.

These were also the three Immortal Herbs most easily recognized from the original story. Apart from them, Yu Xiaowei could only recognize the Eight Petal Immortal Orchid and the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. He was not quite sure whether the other Immortal Grades matched the names in his memories.

The three he had chosen could all be consumed by him and Ning Rongrong today, saving them the trouble of storing and retrieving them.

Upon seeing the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, Dugu Bo's expression changed drastically. Furious, he cursed.

"You little brat, are you playing me?"

"Those two are the most poisonous herbs I have. If you want to die, go back to your Blue Lightning Family and kill yourself. Don't come cause trouble here."

Yu Xiaowei grinned shamelessly.

"What are you saying, Senior? This junior cherishes his little life dearly. Since I dared choose these two herbs, I naturally have a safe and reliable way to consume them."

"Is that true?"

"How could this junior joke with his own life? It's just that when the time comes, we'll need Senior to stand guard for us."

Dugu Bo squinted at him. After a long while, he slowly nodded and squeezed out a single word through clenched teeth.

"Fine."

The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot had been prepared by Yu Xiaowei for himself. Together with the spring water of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, they could forge him a golden body immune to both water and fire.

However, he did not intend to absorb them yet.

For one, he wanted to wait until he reached level thirty-nine, then use the herbs' power to break through the level-forty bottleneck before directly hunting a Soul Ring in Sunset Forest.

The other reason was that Ning Rongrong was starting to struggle. Although Yu Xiaowei had been protecting her with Soul Power, she was ultimately just an auxiliary-system Soul Master. Her body was too weak, and she was already showing mild signs of discomfort.

"Senior, please stand guard for Rongrong."

Dugu Bo looked at him strangely. "What about you? Aren't you going to take the herbs?"

"Rongrong can't endure the aura here much longer. This junior fears that delay may lead to trouble."

"Heh. I didn't expect you to care so much about your little sweetheart."

With a mocking snort, Dugu Bo revealed his Martial Soul Avatar. Just as he had protected Yu Xiaowei before, he helped Ning Rongrong block off the icy and fiery aura.

After plucking the Aromatic Silk Beauty, Yu Xiaowei solemnly instructed Ning Rongrong.

"Rongrong, the herb I chose for you has absorbed the essence of heaven and earth. It is a rare Immortal Grade, capable of strengthening your foundation and consolidating your roots."

"After you take it, no matter what changes occur, remember: apart from Uncle Ning, Grandpa Sword, and Grandpa Bone, don't tell anyone. We must avoid bringing unnecessary trouble to Senior Dugu."

Ning Rongrong nodded obediently.

Dugu Bo, transformed into the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, was briefly stunned. A faint smile appeared on his cold face as well.

"I will keep this little girl's matter strictly confidential too."

"Thank you, Senior."

After thanking him, Yu Xiaowei placed the Aromatic Silk Beauty into Ning Rongrong's hands.

"Don't swallow it. Gently inhale the flower's stamen and slowly draw the essence inside into your body. Then circulate it with your Soul Power, allowing the medicinal effect to spread through your limbs and bones."

Seeing Ning Rongrong follow his instructions and take the Aromatic Silk Beauty, Yu Xiaowei sat beside her. He cultivated while keeping part of his attention on her condition.

Very soon.

Changes began to appear in Ning Rongrong's body.

First, a rich floral fragrance and golden light spilled from her body. Then the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared automatically, floating silently before her and radiating a dazzling seven-colored glow.

The golden light grew stronger wave after wave, even tinting the emerald-green Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor gold.

As time passed, the golden light gradually receded. When it vanished completely, Ning Rongrong woke up.

"Brother Xiaowei, I-I'm level twenty-nine!"

After checking her condition, she could not help throwing herself forward and wrapping her arms around Yu Xiaowei's neck, crying out excitedly.

Looking at Ning Rongrong's jubilant cheers, Yu Xiaowei smiled.

"Look at your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."

Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then summoned the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and held it in her palm.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine."

"Nine? How did it become nine floors?"

Ning Rongrong covered her mouth, her voice trembling.

Before this, Ning Fengzhi had praised her as a sect genius who was highly likely to become the only person in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in hundreds of years with a chance to transform the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Eight Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Yet today, she had actually discovered that it had become the legendary Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Tears gradually blurred her eyes. Unable to contain herself, she buried herself in Yu Xiaowei's embrace and began to cry.