Douluo: So You're the Theoretical Master?

"You could even use this to win over some people."

Ning Qinghe spoke slowly.

If it were only one or two people, it could still be called an opportunity, or kept hidden.

But with such a large number of people, along with the vast resources required, the attention it drew would make it easy for people to connect the dots.

Announcing it themselves at an appropriate time would be the best outcome.

Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of the Upper Three Sects on the continent and possessed considerable strength, with two Super Douluo,

it was not invincible.

Naturally, it needed allies.

"..." Ning Fengzhi nodded.

"You already had this planned, didn't you?"

Before he had even finished preparing his own thoughts, the other party had already made up his mind.

Afterward, the two of them finalized the matter and decided to reveal it when he absorbed his second Spirit Ring.

They would give the continent a small shock.

At the same time, the next few years would be a period of growth for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

After discussing that, Ning Fengzhi's attention shifted back to his soul skill.

"Martial Soul, summon."

Ning Qinghe summoned his Martial Soul. The originally shabby little tower, with only its base remaining, was now covered in a yellow radiance and looked far more exquisite.

The previously illusory floors had also become partially solid.

"First soul skill, Endless Thick Earth."

Ning Qinghe had long since sensed the effects of his soul skill.

It was much as he had expected: a defensive skill.

When he used it, a layer of yellow radiance from the pagoda enveloped the area around him.

In addition, his body and Soul Power received strengthening buffs.

"It can provide me with a 145% defense boost, a 45% increase to all attributes, and a 170% increase in Soul Power recovery speed while standing on the ground."

Like his Spirit Ring, this ability was extremely outrageous.

"This ability can also buff other people, though the effects are only half as strong."

The news made even Ning Fengzhi swallow hard, feeling a little envious and jealous.

Terrifying defensive power, an increase to all attributes, and it could even buff teammates.

"Your soul skill is even stronger than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda..."

There was probably some of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's essence in it as well, wasn't there?

"Has your Martial Soul evolved?"

After his envy faded, Ning Fengzhi asked the question that truly concerned him.

"It seems it hasn't, but its attributes have changed a little."

Ning Qinghe had already confirmed that himself from the beginning.

Martial Soul Evolution was still somewhat difficult.

Although he could clearly feel that it was much better than before, it still needed more energy to replenish it.

"..." It was within expectations, but Ning Fengzhi still felt somewhat helpless.

After understanding the situation, Ning Fengzhi did not stay long.

Once someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect contacted him, he quickly left the Extreme Research Institute with his people.

"Come back to the sect when you have time. You've only seen your little sister a few times."

"Next time, definitely."

Hearing that, Ning Qinghe merely waved, watched the group leave, and only then returned to the Research Institute to handle his own affairs.

The little sister Ning Fengzhi mentioned was naturally Ning Rongrong. She was around three years old now, having been born roughly after the hundred people at the Research Institute absorbed thousand-year Spirit Rings.

Over the past three years, several things had happened across the continent. The most notable were Qian Xunji, the Pope of Spirit Hall, dying, Bibi Dong becoming the new Pope, Tang Hao being hunted as a wanted man, and the Clear Sky Sect sealing itself away.

This also confirmed for Ning Qinghe that the Tang God King was probably around three years old as well. That was enough. None of this had much to do with him. What mattered now was increasing his strength, or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not have a good ending in the future.

Of course, he had no interest in looking at a little baby, so he had only visited a few times, usually just stopping by when he happened to have business there.

Ning Rongrong's status was still very high now, but she still could not compare to him.

She was still the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but only the little princess.

Extreme Research Institute.

After everyone else left, Ning Qinghe had not forgotten about his own data.

He quickly led the researchers in fully determining all of his statistics.

"Director, your current cultivation speed is already roughly equivalent to that of a Soul Master with Innate Soul Power Level 4."

The researcher in a white lab coat finished testing the data and delivered it to Ning Qinghe.

"Innate Level 4?"

After absorbing his first Spirit Ring, Ning Qinghe's cultivation speed had increased slightly.

Although he was not particularly satisfied, at least he had seen improvement.

Rising from half a level to Innate Soul Power Level 4 sounded impressive, but reaching Level 20 had still cost Ning Qinghe a great deal of time. On top of that, he had to spend large amounts of time tempering his body.

"My current Spirit Ring absorption limit is 8,212 years."

"I'm still some distance away from a ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring."

"There's no rush..."

Very soon, Ning Qinghe obtained all of his personal data.

He then made arrangements for his future cultivation.

This improvement made him even more determined to raise the age limit of the Spirit Rings he absorbed—to ten thousand years, or even fifteen thousand years.

Setting everything else aside, the Soul Power gained from absorbing Spirit Rings alone was enough to make up for his lagging Soul Power Level.

With the cultivation speed of Innate Soul Power Level 4, he might even become faster.

And as it turned out, he had indeed been right.

For merely three levels of Soul Power, from Level 17 to Level 20, Ning Qinghe had actually spent six years before finally breaking through.

After reaching Level 20, Ning Qinghe did not immediately absorb a Spirit Ring.

Instead, he waited until he had raised his Spirit Ring absorption limit to the terrifying figure of fifteen thousand years before choosing to advance.

That had cost him another three years.

Based on the data, he had confirmed that his natural cultivation speed was far inferior to the massive Soul Power increase gained from absorbing Spirit Rings.

Over three years, at his speed, he might only raise his Soul Power by one or two levels. It was better to increase the Spirit Ring age by another three thousand years, since those extra three thousand years could also grant him roughly two levels of improvement.

By this point, the rate of his physical growth had also become slower and slower.

Ning Qinghe was now considering making his breakthrough.

A Soul Grandmaster at the age of could perhaps be considered decent in the eyes of ordinary people, but within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, that was merely the standard of an ordinary Soul Master.

As for the geniuses of the major academies, they were around that level at eleven or twelve years old. By twenty, they would at least be Soul Elders or Soul Ancestors.

Nine years passed in the blink of an eye, and Ning Qinghe had grown from a little brat into a youth over 1.8 meters tall.

Though his clothes concealed taut muscles and a powerful body, Ning Qinghe still carried a certain scholarly air due to spending so much time making polite conversation rather than fighting, as well as frequently researching and reading.

He had also taken over quite a few of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's businesses and even expanded them further.

Using data from the Extreme Research Institute, he had established a medicine business as well as a Spirit Ring absorption assessment program, earning the Extreme Research Institute a great deal of money.

This also gave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a justification for purchasing medicines and Soul Beasts in large quantities.

To outsiders, he was only known as the successor of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, yet his Soul Power Level and half-level Innate Soul Power

remained a point of criticism and even mockery for others.

Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Have you really decided?"

After nine years, Ning Fengzhi had gained a bit of a middle-aged air, though he did not look particularly old.

Hearing Ning Qinghe say that he intended to reveal part of the Extreme Research Institute's situation to the public, he still hesitated, his feelings complicated.

"Stupid brother..."