Do Not Speak Too Loudly!

Ning Tian left without doing anything unnecessary. Clever and perceptive as she was, she understood that some matters were not for her to consider at this moment. Those were her father's troubles.

After putting everything away, she planned to repeat her father's instructions to Ning Wuque tomorrow when they set out to hunt soul beasts.

Before long, Ning Fengxiao was the only one left in the study.

Standing by the window, he raised his head toward the crescent fang of the Waning Moon and murmured,

"Ancestors... perhaps we were wrong. Wrong for ten thousand years..."

At that moment, he recalled everything he had just seen. He closed his eyes, then slowly opened them again, a trace of hesitation flickering in their depths.

"On Completing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Spirit"

Material One: Cases concerning Tool Soul evolution... From these, it could be concluded that the evolution of Tool Souls was far less simple and direct than that of Beast Soul Spirits. One had to find the most suitable and precise path.

Material Two: Cases concerning Tool Soul mutations... From these, it could be concluded that Tool Soul mutations followed two directions.

1. When both parents possessed Beast Soul Spirits, a Tool Soul would most likely inherit traits of Beast Soul Spirits.

Examples: Serpent Cane, Dragon Spear...

2. Mutation was like smelting. The old was forged into the new upon an existing foundation, with most directions involving "adding elements," "increasing hardness and sharpness," or "changing size."

Examples: Clear Sky Hammer, sword soul spirits...

Material Three: Martial Soul Devouring Evolution Theory.

According to the conjectures of scholars... any soul spirit had a certain chance of changing when obtaining a soul ring. Such changes were most obvious when the soul spirit was weak, highly compatible with the soul ring, and the soul beast was of high quality.

Material Four...

Material Five...

Material Six...

Conclusion: For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to evolve, one must first find seven corresponding specific soul beasts. The soul beast types were limited to those such as "rock," "gemstone," and "crystal," for example, Mountain-Bearing Turtles and Crystal Scorpions.

This conclusion was merely speculation. Without actual testing, it could very likely leave the experimenter restricted for life.

Note: It is more advisable to first determine the seven most likely primary soul beasts, as well as two sets of seven secondary soul beasts, before conducting experimental tests. The writer of this theory bore no responsibility for the consequences of acting blindly.

"Should I stake everything on this?"

Ning Fengxiao could not make up his mind. From Ning Wuque's handbook, he could see the theoretically most likely path to success!

Whether it was the research into soul spirits themselves, the deductions drawn from vast amounts of information, or the understanding of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's own soul spirit properties...

Ning Wuque had done everything to the best possible degree. It was difficult to imagine that he was merely a boy not even twelve years old!

But perhaps it was precisely because he could derive the secret art of Ring Blasting from legends and records, and then use Ring Blasting to create the Self-Created Soul Skill known as the Ninefold Yama Gates, that he possessed the intelligence to consider the evolution of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda from such an angle?

Rather than thinking as they had for the past ten thousand years, their minds deeply rooted in the belief that only legendary immortal herbs could complete their clan's soul spirit.

And thus, they had never thought to organize and deduce these things!

Ning Fengxiao was not an arrogant man. He deeply understood that the thoughts of geniuses were not something ordinary people like them could fathom.

He was only considering whether he should go all in on Ning Wuque, supporting him as firmly as his ancestors had supported Tang San ten thousand years ago.

But... he was afraid. Afraid of making the same mistake as Ning Fengzhi! Afraid that Ning Wuque was not as honest, well-behaved, sensible, and obedient as he appeared on the surface, but would instead become the next Tang San!

With records spanning ten thousand years, even the most foolish descendants could realize the truth in hindsight. Unfortunately, they could not blame their own ancestors, much less Tang San.

After all...

"Do not speak too loudly, lest you startle the people in the heavens! What should I do? What should I do! Should I wait, or..."

Hesitation continued to circle in his heart.

The next day.

Ning Wuque got up early. After breakfast, he told Zhang Can that he was going to accompany Wu Feng on a soul beast hunt, then left.

When he arrived at the jade tower in Ning Tian's courtyard, she and Wu Feng were eating breakfast. Beside them stood a man and a woman in black cloaks, looking like assassins.

In truth, they were merely stewards responsible for patrolling the clan's Soul Hunting Forest, two Seven-Ring Soul Sages.

After all, one of the girls was the Young Clan Head, while the other was the Supreme Elder's Daughter. Their safety naturally had to be thoroughly ensured.

This was not a peaceful era. Evil Soul Masters sprouted everywhere outside like weeds. It was also because of this that Wu Feng had asked her father to capture her soul beast and bring it into the Soul Hunting Forest.

It was too dangerous outside. Don't take risks.

"Have you had breakfast, Wuque? Would you like to eat with us?"

"I've already eaten, Young Clan Head. We can depart at any time."

With outsiders present, Ning Wuque felt it would be better to address her more formally, so he did not call Ning Tian by name.

Across from him, Ning Tian nodded slightly, understanding what Ning Wuque meant. She did not say anything. It was enough that their little group understood among themselves.

After breakfast, the three of them followed the two Soul Saint stewards toward the clan's Soul Hunting Forest.

Along the way, the three rode in a spacious, luxurious carriage while the two Soul Saints concealed themselves nearby, remaining on alert at all times.

Inside the carriage, Ning Tian took out the booklet Ning Wuque had given her yesterday, along with the Seven-Colored Glazed Tile Token her father had given her, and handed them both to Ning Wuque.

"My father asked me to give these to you. He also said not to put too much pressure on yourself. Once you've completed some of the content above, contact him again. The clan will not shortchange you for your contributions.

"As for what it will be, he did not say for now. He might still be preparing it. That was all he said."

"Mm, it seems your father acknowledges the theoretical conjectures I compiled."

Ning Wuque nodded and took the two items back. As he rubbed the Seven-Colored Glazed Tile jade token in his hand, he said,

"Please convey my thanks to the Sect Master, Ning Tian. Also, tell the Sect Master not to place too much hope in me. I would advise him to take the initiative himself. I don't know whether I'll be able to complete the remaining content in this lifetime."

Naturally, he meant whether he would live long enough to see that day.

Unless his relationship with Ning Tian advanced to another level, he would not stop moving forward on his own path over this matter.

Among tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands, of different soul beasts, searching for several specific kinds was an extremely time-consuming and laborious task.

He hoped Ning Fengxiao would do it himself. With the direction established, everything else was merely a matter of patient effort.

"Alright!"

Ning Tian agreed, then continued,

"Um... Wuque, there's something I want to talk to you about. Is that alright?"

"Go ahead."

"It's just... you... should know about the tradition of our Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, right?"

"Mm, I know. Isn't it about going to Shrek Academy to recruit talented people? What, don't you have confidence?"

"..."

Ning Tian looked at Ning Wuque with slight resentment, somewhat displeased by his evasive answer.

"You know that's not what I wanted to ask."

To explain from Ning Fengxiao's perspective, he could not blame his own ancestors. History was also recorded by people, so Tang San had to bear the blame.

In truth, Ning Fengzhi's investment had been quite successful. Unfortunately, the ending produced a piece of trash.