The Role of Domains

"Aromatic Silk Beauty—it's an Aromatic Silk Beauty!"

She excitedly grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's hand. "Zhuqing, look! With this Immortal Herb, maybe..."

"Maybe Father's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda can evolve too! He might even have a chance to break through to Titled Douluo!"

Her Martial Soul had evolved from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda precisely because the Dean had granted her an Aromatic Silk Beauty.

But the Dean had also said that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had a unique environment. It would likely be impossible to find another Immortal Herb of equal quality anywhere in the world.

Yet the Heavenly Dao's reward had directly bestowed one upon her!

How could she not be overjoyed?

Boom!

The next moment, an even more vast and pure surge of golden energy than when Dugu Yan had received her reward ignored the barriers of space and poured into Ning Rongrong's body.

Her Soul Power Level broke through repeatedly. The four Soul Rings around her body, originally two yellow and two purple, shone brilliantly as their colors rapidly deepened.

In the end, they all became a deep purple!

Four thousand-year Soul Rings!

At the same time, dazzling nine-colored glazed light spread out from her as its center, forming a strange domain roughly ten meters in diameter.

Light flowed within the domain, filled with a peaceful yet powerful aura of support.

It was her Innate Domain: Glazed Divine Light.

A tulip-like Immortal Herb, crystalline throughout and giving off a rich fragrance and Soul Power Fluctuation, also appeared in her hand out of thin air.

"Congratulations, Rongrong."

Zhu Zhuqing was sincerely happy for her friend, though a trace of envy inevitably flickered deep within her beautiful eyes.

Now that both of them had received such heaven-defying opportunities and greatly increased their strength, while she...

As if sensing Zhu Zhuqing's emotions, Ning Rongrong restrained some of her excitement, took her hand, and comforted her.

"Zhuqing, don't worry. This is only the first Ranking List. There will definitely be more later!"

Dugu Yan also walked over and said with a smile, "That's right, Zhuqing. The Dean said this Ranking List was just something to watch for fun. You don't need to take it too seriously."

"We just need to cultivate properly at the academy. Improving our strength is what really matters."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded. A faint smile was forced onto her frost-like face, but the urgency in her heart only grew stronger.

She silently swore that she had to cultivate even harder.

At this moment, Teacher Li Bai somehow walked over and studied the faintly visible domain power around Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan with great interest.

"Oh? Innate Domains?"

"Not bad, not bad. Looks like you two can bring me some new tricks in the next assessment."

Hearing this, the little confidence Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan had just gained was immediately dealt another blow. They said with bitter expressions,

"Teacher Li Bai, please stop teasing us. Even with Domains, we're still far from even touching the corner of your clothes, aren't we?"

Li Bai laughed heartily, took a drink of wine, and said no more.

When Lu Xiao caught sight of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda ranked twelfth on the Sky Screen, above the Clear Sky Hammer, a faint trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.

"Oh? The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is ranked twelfth?"

His heart stirred slightly, but he soon understood, the corner of his mouth curving into an almost imperceptible smile.

"Hmm... thinking about it carefully, it isn't too surprising."

His thoughts turned as he analyzed the reason. "The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda truly counts as a Miracle on this Douluo Continent. One may not appear even once in several centuries."

"Its Martial Soul essence is ultimate support. The effects of every Soul Skill are practically heaven-defying. With the power of one person, it can qualitatively elevate the strength of an entire Soul Master legion."

"Considering its influence over the entire battle, a complete Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Master indeed has greater Strategic Value than a Clear Sky Hammer Soul Master of equal cultivation who purely pursues individual combat strength."

"It seems this Heavenly Dao Ranking List does not judge solely by a Martial Soul's attack power or the depth of its inheritance."

Then, his attention fell upon Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong.

More precisely, it fell upon the Innate Domains they had just received.

He felt a trace of curiosity toward these Domains produced by the so-called "Heavenly Dao reward."

"Tell me, what exactly are these two Domains you just received capable of?"

Lu Xiao asked casually.

Hearing the Dean question her in person, Ning Rongrong quickly composed herself and carefully sensed the dazzling nine-colored glazed light around her.

Then she explained earnestly, "Dean, my Domain is called 'Glazed Divine Light.' Within this Domain, the effects of every support Soul Skill I use are increased by about ten percent compared to normal!"

She paused. A trace of delight and reassurance appeared on her little face as she continued, "And this Domain has another very important function."

"Any enemy who enters the range of my Domain will have their overall attributes—such as speed, attack power, and defense—weakened by fifty percent!"

"That way... even if I'm alone and encounter danger, I'll have at least some ability to protect myself."

After hearing this, Lu Xiao nodded slightly, a fairly satisfied expression appearing on his face. "Mm. It balances offense and defense, especially by making up for the weaknesses of Auxiliary system soul masters."

"A fifty percent reduction is quite impressive. It is enough to make Assault Type Soul Masters cumbersome and greatly reduce the speed of Agility Attack System Soul Masters."

"Not bad. This Domain is interesting. Develop it properly, and your future will be promising."

As an Auxiliary system soul master, Ning Rongrong's greatest weakness was her own fragility. She was extremely easy to target.

The weakening effect brought by this Domain was undoubtedly a tremendous supplement to her ability to survive.

Especially before the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda obtained its powerful Eighth and Ninth Soul Skills.

Lu Xiao then turned his gaze toward the cool and glamorous Dugu Yan beside her. "What about yours? That 'Ice Fire Poisonous Miasma Domain' doesn't sound like something harmless. Tell me about it."

When Dugu Yan saw the Dean asking about it, confidence flashed in her jade-green eyes. She gathered her thoughts and explained.

"Dean, my Ice Fire Poisonous Miasma Domain is just as its name suggests. Within the range covered by the Domain, a mixed poisonous miasma will diffuse, based on my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison and fused with the power of the two opposing Ice and Fire attributes."

Her voice carried a hint of coldness. "Once enemies fall into my Domain, they will unknowingly absorb this mixed poison through their breathing and even through the pores of their skin."

"This poison is extremely insidious. Not only does it contain the Destructive power of the conflicting extreme cold and extreme heat attributes, it also combines the nerve-paralyzing and corrosive traits of my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor Poison. Even if they use Soul Power to protect their bodies, the poisonous miasma can still slowly seep through to a certain extent and erode their Soul Power defenses."

"Once poisoned, they will suffer intense pain throughout their bodies in a short time, their Soul Power circulation will become sluggish, and their combat ability will be severely weakened or even lost. It is an offensive Domain... inclined toward control and sustained attrition."

Lu Xiao nodded after hearing her out and commented, "The fusion of Ice and Fire properties makes the poison more elusive and difficult to guard against, while also giving it stronger penetration. It should be remarkably effective against groups of enemies or in prolonged battles."

"Not bad. Both of your Domains have their own distinctive qualities, but..."

His tone shifted, and he resumed that lazy demeanor as he reminded them, "Domains may be good, but they are ultimately external tools and support. The foundation of a Soul Master still lies in their own Soul Power cultivation, their use of Soul Skills, and their fighting will."

"Do not rely too heavily on these Domains. Your own strength is true strength."

"Yes, Dean! We understand!"

Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan answered in unison.