Offer Up Your Heart to the Young Lord!

"Come, have something to eat first. I had this specially made by a Food-Type Soul Saint. Wuque... you really succeeded!"

"Yes, I succeeded, Grandpa!"

Taking the ordinary piece of bread Zhang Can handed him, Ning Wuque took one bite and immediately felt as though he was eating the most delicious thing in the world!

This bread did not replenish his Soul Power or vitality in the slightest. Its only purpose was to taste good!

Incomparably delicious!

"Delicious, Grandpa, so delicious! It just doesn't replenish anything."

"That's why I said it was specially made. Eat, eat. Grandpa had someone prepare a whole table of good food for you. Once you're full, someone is waiting to see you."

"The Sect Master?"

Ning Wuque was not surprised. His performance in the finals had more than earned him an audience with the Sect Master.

An ordinary one-ring Soul Master, empowered by a secret technique, could briefly rival the ultimate combat strength of a top-tier three-ring Beast Soul Master. And there was that mysterious... Blood Essence Soul Ring!

He lowered his head, his mind flashing back to the Soul Ring that had suddenly risen beneath his feet that day. He did not know why it had appeared.

Because according to his memories, the prerequisite for a Blood Essence Soul Ring was Tang Wulin's Golden Dragon King Bloodline.

It was golden in color, representing the Golden Dragon King of strength. Under normal circumstances, it was impossible for a Soul Master to condense such a peculiar Soul Ring on their own.

Not to mention that Ning Wuque's Blood Essence Soul Ring had become an even more special color, like a beast Soul Ring—Blood Gold!

Moreover, Ning Wuque had not felt any of the effects a Blood Essence Soul Ring was supposed to possess. That Blood Gold Blood Essence Soul Ring had seemed like an empty shell, waiting for him to explore and uncover its secrets.

However... Ning Wuque really had felt something strange at the time. It was as though this Blood Essence Soul Ring was extremely important to him, a crucial "key"!

"Not the Sect Master. After I brought you back yesterday, I went to see him. He was very interested in you, but he chose to respect your decision. I'm sure a smart boy like you understands what that means, right?"

"I see..."

Ning Wuque nodded. He understood the Sect Master's meaning. The other party would not pry into his secrets. Whether he chose to hand them over to the sect depended on his own decision, and how he handed them over was also up to him.

He could write them down as a manual, or he could... tell someone in person. Someone who was waiting for him.

Wasn't the answer already obvious?

"Then where is she waiting for me? The usual place?"

"Yes, the usual place. The academy's on break after today's exams, so only the two of you will be there."

As soon as Zhang Can finished speaking, Ning Wuque had already formed a plan.

He did not ask further questions. From the information Zhang Can had given him, he had understood the sect's entire attitude toward him. What came next was his response to the sect.

It concerned the extent of the sect's future investment in him.

After eating the most delicious little bread in the world, Ning Wuque followed Zhang Can to replenish the stamina he had expended yesterday. Only then did he put on a full set of training gear, leave the house, and head toward the academy.

When Ning Wuque arrived at the academy, he spotted the two people waiting for him beneath the shade of a tree from far away. They were Ning Tian and Wu Feng.

However, compared to Wu Feng's former overbearing attitude, her gaze toward Ning Wuque now held fear, reverence, and an indescribable emotion.

It was like a lioness who had once ruled her territory being defeated once more by a male lion. She no longer dared to confront Ning Wuque head-on.

"Wuque, you're alright now, right? Yesterday, I read your report. Your injuries..."

"I'm fine. It was only a little hardship. If I were to fall because of this, it would only prove that I am nothing special. If I cannot reach the absolute peak, then I am destined to become just another flake drifting through the snow-filled sky."

Before Ning Tian could finish, Ning Wuque interrupted her. He shook his head, indicating that he was alright.

While they were eating, his grandfather Zhang Can had explained what had happened that day. At the time, his vitality had been utterly depleted and his Soul Power nearly exhausted. The blood in his body had been like a roller coaster, going from intense activation to sudden stillness.

His muscles had stiffened to death, and his internal organs had worked feebly due to the halt in blood flow. Even his heartbeat had come in fits and starts, frightening Zhang Can so badly that his soul nearly fled his body.

If Ning Wuque's physical constitution had not been tough enough, he might not have survived at all!

It was like childbirth for women. The first time often came with the risk of death, while the risks grew smaller with each subsequent time.

And Ning Wuque would have to go through such an experience at least eight more times. Every new Ring Blasting would be a challenge to his life!

"You need to cherish yourself more too. Forget it, let's not talk about that. Here, this is what I promised you. How about becoming my personal guard from today on? I'll pay you according to my mood. This is the first payment~"

She shook her head helplessly, but this was the Ning Wuque she knew—a boy who was extremely competitive.

As she spoke, she flipped her hand and took out the Gold Card from her Storage Soul Tool, pinching it between her index and middle fingers. Putting on an aloof expression, she casually waved it before Ning Wuque's eyes.

The corners of her mouth lifted of their own accord. She looked exactly like a mischievous friend eager to see another friend embarrass himself.

Indeed, your performance yesterday had looked incredibly cool to me, but would you take these ten million Gold Soul Coins? Or would you take them?

Hahahaha!

"Damn it..."

Ning Wuque clenched his fists, his face putting on an incomparably humiliated expression. Damn it, this vile money offensive!

He slowly raised his left hand.

With a smack!

His right hand fiercely pinned down his left hand, which wanted to reach out and take the Gold Card. Grinding his teeth, he acted out his words.

"Damn it, don't surrender so easily, you bastard left hand! Our will cannot be swayed by money!"

"Hahaha, hahahahaha—!"

Ning Tian laughed so hard at Ning Wuque's performance that she bent forward and backward. Laughing so hard that she collapsed against Wu Feng, she steadied herself and raised the hand holding the Gold Card to point at Ning Wuque.

But soon, Ning Tian discovered that her Gold Card had vanished.

When she looked up again, she saw Ning Wuque holding the edges of the Gold Card with four fingers from both hands, raising it beneath the sunlight to admire it.

Ding~

With a flick of his finger, a crisp and pleasant sound rang beside his ears.

Ten million. Even just hearing its ring was like celestial music!

"Then please guide me well from now on, Young Clan Head~"

He put away the Gold Card. There was no reason to refuse ten million. Since Ning Tian still wanted to help him, that meant it was not just her.

Even her father supported the two of them becoming friends and partners.

Since that was the case, Ning Wuque had nothing to be coy about. After all, he could not stop Ning Tian from being friends with him, could he?

"That's the wrong form of address! You're my guard now. When we're out, address me by my title!"

Ning Tian shook her head, highly dissatisfied with how Ning Wuque had addressed her.

Ning Wuque shrugged helplessly. After slipping the Gold Card containing ten million Gold Soul Coins into his pocket, he stood before Ning Tian.

He bent slightly and dropped to one knee, placing his clenched left fist over his heart as he solemnly said:

"Young Lord!"

"Please rise~"

Ning Tian covered her mouth and chuckled. Ning Wuque looked up from below, and their gazes met on the same level. Both saw playful amusement in the other's eyes.

Ah, this was a special form of address unique to their friendship.

At the rate you readers are following along, it feels like I'll have to write six chapters every day...