Twin Martial Souls and Taking a Master

The instant the Power of Void faded, Ning Rongrong could no longer hold back and burst into tears with a wail. The deathly stillness of all color draining from the surroundings, along with that icy coldness that seemed capable of swallowing everything, had left the little princess of the sect, who had been spoiled since childhood, trembling all over. Gu Rong hurried over, carefully gathered her into his arms, and gently patted her back to comfort her. "Rong Rong, don't be afraid. It's all right now. How about Grandpa takes you to get some candied hawthorns?" With that, he carried the still-sniffling Ning Rongrong out of the Seven Treasures Grand Hall, leaving only Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Wang Chuan behind.

"Xiao Chuan, the power of your Spirit is even greater than we anticipated." Ning Fengzhi spoke first, unable to hide his amazement. "When the void spread just now, I clearly felt a moment of Time-Space Stagnation. The reason it only lasted an instant is most likely because your cultivation is still shallow. Once your Soul Power rises, this ability may become a formidable trump card."

Chen Xin nodded as well, his gaze as sharp as a sword. "Not only that. That faded space must be the Nascent Domain of your Spirit. If Feng Zhi and I had not been sufficiently strong, Soul Masters of the same rank would not only have their minds corroded by the void, but their Soul Power circulation, attacks, and defenses would also be drastically weakened. The potential of this Spirit is truly terrifying."

Listening to the two of them, Wang Chuan felt both nervous and uneasy. He clenched the corner of his clothes, hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke in a soft voice. "Uncle Ning, Grandpa Sword, actually... I have another Spirit." The phenomenon caused by Drawing the Sword earlier still lingered in his mind, but he trusted the strength of the two men before him and no longer wanted to hide it. He simply released his Second Spirit.

A vivid shade of green slowly emerged from his left palm. As Soul Power surged, a palm-sized sapling gradually took shape—crystal-clear dewdrops clung to its tender green branches and leaves, its veins plainly visible, as though it had just pushed through the earth after a spring rain, brimming with boundless vitality. "It's called the Ambrosial Arbor." Wang Chuan looked at the sapling, uncertainty in his voice. "This Spirit... shouldn't hurt anyone, right?"

"Twin Martial Souls?!" Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin cried out in unison, their faces filled with shock. Chen Xin reacted first, instantly releasing his Soul Power. An invisible barrier enveloped the entire Seven Treasures Grand Hall, completely sealing off the aura within. Ning Fengzhi also immediately raised his hand to set up a barrier, layer upon layer of protection, terrified that even the slightest trace of this earth-shattering secret might leak out.

"This Spirit... is practically a wellspring of life!" Ning Fengzhi stepped closer, sensing the warmth radiating from the Ambrosial Arbor, and could not help sighing in admiration. "Simply standing near it feels like spring rain nourishing the earth. Even my Soul Power circulation is unconsciously accelerating. Its restorative ability surpasses even the Nine Heart Begonia!"

"No, it is stronger than the Nine Heart Begonia." Chen Xin refuted him without hesitation, his eyes full of certainty. "This life force can not only replenish Soul Power, but also subtly purify it, making it more condensed. Feel it more carefully—it can also release a gentle force that nourishes the body and strengthens one's physique. This is an all-purpose Spirit that combines offense, defense, and support!"

Seeing how excited they were, Wang Chuan asked quietly, "Uncles, are you all right?"

"It's nothing. We were simply too excited." Chen Xin drew a deep breath, his gaze falling upon Wang Chuan as his tone suddenly turned solemn. "Wang Chuan, are you willing to take me as your master? Though my Spirit is a sword and I am known as Sword Douluo, no one on the entire continent can claim to surpass me in mastery of the blade. I will surely train you into a top-tier powerhouse, to protect you and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Wang Chuan froze for a moment, then quickly came to his senses. He hurriedly knelt before Chen Xin and respectfully kowtowed. "Master, please accept your disciple's bow!" He had never imagined that he could become Sword Douluo's disciple. To him, this was an immense stroke of fortune.

"Good! Good disciple!" Chen Xin pulled him to his feet in one motion, a genuine smile appearing on his face for once. "From now on, we're family. There's no need to be so formal. Just like Rong Rong, call me Grandpa Sword, and call Gu Rong Grandpa Gu."

Ning Fengzhi teased him with a smile from the side. "Uncle Jian, I thought you would never take a disciple in this lifetime. So it wasn't that you refused to accept one—you simply never met anyone worthy of your notice. Still, this is a tremendous occasion. It deserves celebration."

After the laughter subsided, Ning Fengzhi's expression turned serious again. Looking at Wang Chuan, he warned him earnestly, "Xiao Chuan, your Second Spirit, the one called Ambrosial Arbor, must never be exposed. You cannot tell even Rong Rong for now—the only ones who may know this secret are me, your Grandpa Sword, and Grandpa Gu. Do you understand?"

"I understand, Uncle Ning." Wang Chuan nodded heavily. He knew it was to protect himself, and also to protect the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Looking at the boy before him, Ning Fengzhi could not help reflecting inwardly: Twin God-Tier Spirits, along with Innate Full Soul Power—given time, Wang Chuan would surely become another powerful Sect Protecting Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The sect's future had gained another safeguard.

He then called toward the hall's entrance, "Old Bone, bring Rong Rong in. Let her get acquainted with Wang Chuan."

Before long, Gu Rong returned with Ning Rongrong. Children's emotions came quickly and went quickly; Ning Rongrong was no longer crying, though her cheeks were still slightly red. The moment she saw Wang Chuan, she put her hands on her hips and said with a hint of spoiled arrogance, "So you're Wang Chuan? You almost scared me to tears just now, so you have to make it up to me! From now on, you have to play with me every day!" Her spoiled little devilish nature was on full display.

Wang Chuan was somewhat at a loss and answered softly, "O-okay, Miss."

"Why call her Miss?" Ning Fengzhi smiled as he rubbed his daughter's head. "Just call her Rong Rong, like we do, or call her little sister—Rong Rong is a little younger than you. Rong Rong, hurry and call him Brother Wang Chuan."

"I don't want to!" Ning Rongrong pouted in protest. "Dad, you're playing favorites! He made me cry just now, so why should I call him Brother?" As she spoke, she deliberately glared at Wang Chuan, looking both adorable and willful.

Ning Fengzhi helplessly shook his head, then turned to Chen Xin and said in a low voice, "Uncle Jian, have you noticed that Xiao Chuan seems to have been bullied before? Everything he says and does carries a trace of timidity. He lacks confidence, and his temperament still needs to be properly tempered."

"Of course I understand that." Chen Xin's gaze darkened. "What a swordsman fears most is a lack of confidence. I will teach him gradually from now on. Feng Zhi, tempering his character will require your help as well. But the most important thing right now is that tomorrow, I will take Xiao Chuan to the Soul Hunting Forest to hunt Soul Beasts and obtain his first Soul Ring."

"Good. Take him tomorrow, then." Ning Fengzhi nodded in agreement. "Gu Rong and I will discuss it tonight and prepare emergency supplies for you, to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Inside the hall, Ning Rongrong was still bickering with Wang Chuan, while Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi planned Wang Chuan's future nearby. Warm lamplight cast its glow over their figures, lending this night of newly revealed secrets a little more peace and anticipation.