Lotus Beneath the Jade Tower Pool

On the way, Ning Wuque learned about the layout of Ning Tian's home from Ning Tian and Wu Feng.

The two large courtyards formed the shape of the character Lü. There was a pool in the front courtyard, while at the very back of the rear courtyard stood a three-story building for resting.

It sounded fairly ordinary, didn't it?

That was what Ning Wuque had thought at first. He had even felt that Ning Tian's lifestyle was rather simple and old-fashioned, choosing such a retro courtyard estate in an age where architecture leaned toward modern styles.

Then...

"Holy shit!"

Looking up, Ning Wuque could not think of any words to describe the shock in his heart. All he could do was curse in stunned disbelief.

Forgive him for never knowing that thousand-year Soul Beast Soul-Nourishing Wood could be made into walls, creating a natural cultivation ground that constantly radiated Soul Power.

Nor had he imagined that a Ten-Thousand Year Hanging Star Willow could be raised here, rooted in the center of the pool to gather the Soul Power radiated by the Soul-Nourishing Wood.

Still less had he imagined that the entire three-story pagoda was encased in Glazed Crystal, gleaming brilliantly from afar like an exquisite lofty tower.

And that was not all. Even the bricks beneath their feet were laid from White Elephant Jade, while the soil had been deliberately nourished with the corpses of ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts. As for the fish raised in the pool...

Those were ordinary ten-year Gold Silk Fish, kept purely for their looks. Carnivorous Soul Beasts were difficult to tame, especially fish-type Soul Beasts.

Still, Ning Wuque had been thoroughly stunned by what true wealth looked like. In Ning Tian's secondary residence, even a single small brick would cost at least a hundred Gold Soul Coins outside.

The entire courtyard was breathtakingly beautiful while also slightly increasing the speed of Soul Power cultivation. Ning Wuque felt that even if he spent his entire life selling hooks, he could never afford it...

Even an ordinary Titled Douluo could only call himself poor trash before Ning Tian!

"So this is how the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile little princess with Innate Full Soul Power lives? I've seen it now."

"Hahaha, never seen the world, have you? Makes sense. I grew up with Sister Tian, after all. The courtyard my father prepared for me is pretty luxurious too. If there's a chance, I'll take you to see it sometime~"

Wu Feng lifted her nose high. The only thing she could still lord over Ning Wuque was money. Though she did not possess even a tenth of Ning Tian's wealth, her spending money and real estate were likely beyond Ning Wuque's reach before he turned thirty.

As for after thirty, that would be harder to say. By then, no matter how mediocre Ning Wuque was, if he survived, he should at least have the strength of a Soul Douluo, right?

Ning Wuque ignored Wu Feng. Unlike before, when he had deliberately disregarded her, this time he truly had nothing to say, because everything Wu Feng said was simply the truth.

Compared to these two, he was undeniably just a poor kid.

In an instant, even the card holding ten million Gold Soul Coins in his Soul Tool no longer seemed all that impressive.

That much money might not even cover a fifth of the construction cost of Ning Tian's secondary residence.

Nine Treasure Glazed Tile—wealthy enough to rival a nation!

At least before the Sun-Moon Continent's invasion, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's assets definitely ranked number two in the original Douluo Three Kingdoms.

Naturally, Shrek ranked first. A single Golden Tree there was already beyond what the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could compare with, not to mention the Titled Douluos within and their independently run industries. None of that was something the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan could match.

Still, the nature of the two sides was different. Ning Tian's current status and private fortune came from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan being more family-oriented. Her Innate Full Soul Power was also far too dazzling, and she had been showered with affection from all sides.

Over at Shrek, direct descendants were not treated badly either. There were simply too many of them to distribute everything around.

"Aren't you quite clever? You always have a whole string of little poems ready to go. Why are you using such crude language now?"

Ning Tian pretended to be unhappy. Folding her arms and lifting her chin, she gave Wu Feng a look, signaling her to speak for her.

Given the chance, Wu Feng naturally pounced at whoever Ning Tian pointed to. She immediately darted to Ning Wuque's side and said fiercely,

"Right! Sister Tian wants you to compose a poem now. If you can't say one, Sister Tian will be unhappy. And if Sister Tian is unhappy, your days ahead will be difficult!"

"Oh? Be careful, or I'll make things hard for you during training!"

"Y-you-you, you're shameless!"

Wu Feng immediately stumbled backward, then pointed at Ning Wuque and complained, turning to Ning Tian with an aggrieved expression.

"Sister Tian, look at him~ He's bullying me!"

"Alright, alright. If you can't do it, forget it. Let's go inside and handle the important business first."

Shaking her head, Ning Tian did not make things difficult for Ning Wuque. After smoothing things over, she grabbed one of them in each hand and prepared to lead them into the Exquisite Pagoda.

However, Ning Wuque was simply too strong. He stood rooted in place without moving at all. When Ning Tian failed to pull him, she stopped as well. Seeing his face sink into thought as though he were composing a verse, anticipation glimmered in her eyes.

What kind of poem would Wuque use to praise her?

Ning Tian thought her hint had been obvious enough, hadn't it?

Standing where he was, Ning Wuque looked at the jade tower and small pool before him. Phrases flickered through his mind one after another before he recited,

"Upon Bushi Mountain stands Jade Dragon Residence, Its moon-washed radiance is hard to find. Lotus blooms beneath the pool reflecting the tower, Fair outside and wise within, with a tranquil Ning heart."

"Would this four-line poem satisfy the Young Mistress?"

"Satisfied! Very satisfied! Reward him! I'll reward you handsomely!"

Was Ning Tian satisfied? She was more than satisfied! Ning Wuque was simply too good at this. With one poem, he had not only praised her courtyard, but praised her as a person as well!

Especially the phrase "fair outside and wise within." It made Ning Tian blossom with joy. It was practically a phrase tailor-made for her!

Ning Wuque had completely hooked her. Her eyes were filled with delight as she looked at him.

This boy was not only exceptionally intelligent, strong-willed, and highly gifted, but also so good at praising people. It was hard for a young girl not to be moved...

Beside them, Wu Feng was completely dumbfounded.

No, bro, praising people like that just makes me look stupid. Normally, all I say is Sister Tian is smart, Sister Tian is pretty, Sister Tian works so hard. You come in and immediately raise the bar this high?

She instantly looked dejected. She felt that from now on, she would no longer be the most important person in Sister Tian's heart.

Instead, it would be this slick-tongued bastard, tough on the outside but secretly full of flirtatious thoughts!

Didn't he have to train for more than twelve hours a day? Why did he still have time to think up this stuff?

He had specifically prepared it to show off in front of others, hadn't he? Just like those previous two times. What an awful, shameless guy!

"Then I'll thank the Young Mistress in advance. I look forward to your reward."

Ning Wuque smiled. Showing off before others was about the only enjoyment he had left. Fortunately, he had picked up some literary knowledge before crossing over, or this really would have been difficult for him.

Before long, amid one person's cheerful laughter, another's smiling words, and one person's sullen displeasure, the three entered the Exquisite Pagoda together.

The moment he entered, Ning Wuque immediately experienced what true antique elegance was. However, after the earlier shocks, he had already built up some resistance and did not reveal an overly exaggerated expression.

He was just... a tiny bit... insignificantly jealous, that was all. Really!

The bug concerning the Blood Essence Soul Ring in Chapter 23 has been corrected.