The Gathering of All Parties

"I only brought three." Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment before saying, "Rongrong, you seem rather wary of Xue Qinghe. I don't know which one to choose right now."

Over the past few years, they had collected large quantities of medicinal herbs and confirmed the edibility and medicinal properties of certain herbs through repeated experiments.

Although they were practically useless to Soul Douluo and Titled Douluo,

they could increase cultivation speed or improve one's physique for soul masters whose Soul Power was not particularly high.

They could not achieve the effects of the immortal medicines Ning Rongrong had mentioned, but they were far superior to ordinary herbs.

Ning Fengzhi took out three Jade Boxes and placed them on the table.

"Fire Dragon Fruit, White Spirit Ginseng, and Three-Leaf Clover."

Looking at the labels engraved on the exquisitely crafted jade boxes, Ning Rongrong muttered to herself.

Fire Dragon Fruit was a special spirit fruit covered in spikes, with Purple-Red flesh and densely packed seeds.

Consuming it could improve one's physique and had exceptional effects on fire-attribute Martial Souls.

White Spirit Ginseng was an unconventional variety of ginseng. Before reaching a hundred years of age, it was highly poisonous. After a hundred years, it could be consumed to increase a soul master's cultivation speed, though it was still toxic and could not be taken over a long period.

Three-Leaf Clover was a special plant with three leaves that grew around Blue Silver Grass. Consuming it could nourish the complexion.

Naturally, Ning Rongrong was no stranger to the spirit medicines they had collected. Using the characteristics of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and True Qi, she could detect the general properties and medicinal uses of spirit medicines.

They would then be handed over to personnel specializing in spirit medicines to verify their true effects.

Whether in the medicine storehouse or the spirit medicine garden, there were quite a few spirit medicines capable of improving a soul master's physique.

However, the effects of these spirit medicines were not obvious.

Even if ordinary soul masters consumed them, they would find it difficult to notice the subtle changes.

Their effects were gradual, unlike immortal herbs, which produced immediate results.

Unless one knew the effects of the herb beforehand and cultivated according to those effects, only then could one clearly sense the herb's influence on one's body.

Take the Fire Dragon Fruit, for example. If an ordinary soul master or commoner ate it, they might not notice anything special about it.

Had Ning Rongrong not discovered its properties through the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's treasure-appraisal ability,

it might have been treated as an ordinary fruit. Of course, Fire Dragon Fruit was relatively rare, and even if most people found one, they would not recognize it.

Because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect collected rare treasures and exotic fruits, some soul masters would bring in unfamiliar spirit medicines to sell. The Fire Dragon Fruit was one of them.

"Let's go with the Fire Dragon Fruit!" Ning Rongrong said after thinking for a while. "This should suit her better."

"I thought Rongrong would choose White Spirit Ginseng as the gift." A look of surprise appeared on Ning Fengzhi's face.

Ning Rongrong shook her head. "White Spirit Ginseng has a certain degree of toxicity. If it is to be used medicinally, it is best paired with other herbs or spirit medicines that can eliminate toxins."

It was precisely because so many spirit medicines had one characteristic or another that Ning Rongrong had thought of asking Dugu Bo to study alchemy.

In her previous life, she had merely been an ordinary independent cultivator. She knew quite a bit about medicinal herbs, but when it came to alchemy, she was completely clueless.

At most, she knew the process of combining ingredients. As for how to refine them, she had no idea at all!

Dugu Bo should be interested in it.

"Rongrong, is choosing the Fire Dragon Fruit really alright?" Bone Douluo asked in confusion.

"I remember Xue Qinghe's Martial Soul isn't fire-attributed. If he eats it..."

"There won't be any problem. Even if he eats it as a fruit, it can still improve his physique," Ning Rongrong answered.

Ning Rongrong divided the herbs of this world into three categories.

They were Common Medicine, spirit medicine, and immortal medicine.

Common Medicine, as the name implied, referred to ordinary medicinal herbs.

Spirit medicines possessed certain special properties and could only be consumed after meeting certain conditions. Like Fire Dragon Fruit and White Spirit Ginseng, they could have various adverse effects if they had not yet matured.

Immortal medicines were the immortal herbs Tang San had plucked from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in the original work. Aside from their unique properties, most could influence their surroundings.

They usually required special methods to be harvested, and their effects were immediate upon use.

In a sense, immortal medicines like these should not have existed in nature at all.

While Ning Rongrong, her father, and Bone Douluo discussed medicinal herbs,

Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan returned to their residence.

"A Thirty Thousand Year Soul Bone!" Dugu Bo sighed. "Ning Fengzhi is truly generous."

"Grandpa, is there something wrong with this Soul Bone?"

Dugu Yan asked curiously. As Dugu Bo's granddaughter, she could not possibly be unaware of how precious Soul Bones were. She could only marvel at how absurdly wealthy the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was, to give away a Soul Bone for free.

"It's nothing." Dugu Bo's somewhat withered hand stroked the head of his granddaughter, Dugu Yan, who had grown to shoulder height.

"Yan Yan, we may truly have to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As for Yu Tianheng..."

"Grandpa, I'm not a child anymore." Dugu Yan's expression turned serious.

"I know what to do. I only have a slight fondness for Yu Tianheng. It's not as though I have to marry him."

"Besides, he approached me with ulterior motives."

"In short, I'll make him give up all such thoughts," Dugu Yan said.

"I'm sorry, Yan Yan."

"It's nothing. I should be thanking you, Grandpa. You've shown me how major sects handle matters."

"I was far too naive before."

Whether it was Yu Tianheng or Ning Rongrong, both appeared very mature in the way they handled matters.

Meanwhile, she looked like an immature child who did not even fully understand her own grandfather's situation.

The day of the Apprenticeship Ceremony finally arrived.

The ceremony was held in the reception hall of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

It had to be said that nobles truly knew how to enjoy themselves. The phrase "jade halls and golden horses" fit perfectly.

At a glance, it was all the sweat and blood of the people.

Uh, no.

It should be described as a dazzling display of jewels and treasures, luxury evident everywhere.

Ning Rongrong stood beside Bone Douluo. She had no interest in socializing at banquets, and besides, she was only a child. Who would come to socialize with her?

Especially with Bone Douluo wearing such an unfriendly expression that he might as well have had "Hurry up and finish this so we can leave" written across his face, naturally no one wanted to provoke him.

Still, not entirely.

Two figures headed in their direction: Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.

The two gave off a somewhat furtive feeling.

Dugu Bo walked over to Bone Douluo and said in a low voice, "I gave away the thing in the Jade Box."

"Don't look at me."

Bone Douluo glanced sideways, declaring that he was merely an emotionless guard.

Dugu Bo's emerald green eyes immediately turned toward Ning Rongrong, who still had snacks in her mouth.

Ning Rongrong swallowed the food in her mouth and patted her chest. She looked as if she had nearly choked. After catching her breath, she said:

"Mm, Senior Dugu, you don't need to tell us about that!"

"Since Father gave you the Jade Box, it became yours. What you do with it afterward, even if you give it to Prince Xue Xing, is entirely up to you."

"Just as expected..." Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance.

Dugu Bo had only said that he gave it to someone. He had not said whom he gave it to, yet she had immediately revealed the truth.

If they had merely been speculating before, now they had confirmed it.

That Thirty Thousand Year Soul Bone had been meant to make him, Dugu Bo, repay a favor!

Of course, it seemed he could choose whether or not to repay it.

"Yan Yan Jie, there's no need to be so nervous, right?" Ning Rongrong grabbed Dugu Yan's hand. A faint chill came from Dugu Yan's fingers.

"Um... I'm not nervous."

Though she was several years older than the little girl before her, she instead seemed more like the child.