Just You Call Yourself a Theory Master?

"Make sure they all stay alert. Don't let anything go wrong."

Ning Qinghe was currently arranging for people to install Soul Cannons.

The main reason was that he had received some rather unfavorable news.

Both Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had replied.

The good news was that they acknowledged the Extreme Research Institute and were sending people over.

The bad news was that they acknowledged it too much—they were sending Titled Douluo.

Though he had been somewhat prepared, having it confirmed still placed considerable pressure on Ning Qinghe.

At the very least, the Extreme Research Institute could not embarrass itself during this display.

Whether it was his absorption of a fifteen-thousand-year Spirit Ring or the potential unrest among the major factions afterward,

he had to be prepared for all of it.

"Also, Grandpa Sword, I'll have to trouble you to keep watch lately. Don't let any outsiders enter the Research Institute."

Soul Cannons alone could not solve everything. Ning Qinghe looked toward Chen Xin in the distance.

After receiving Spirit Hall's message,

"Don't underestimate your Grandpa Sword. Rest assured."

"You just need to do what you want to do."

Even Chen Xin and the others took this matter very seriously. He had also been adjusting his condition these past few days.

With Titled Douluo coming personally, it could very well turn into a battle between Titled Douluo. He had to be ready to fight at any moment.

Serious as he was, Chen Xin still possessed the pride of a powerhouse.

In his view, unless several Super Douluo or even Ultimate Douluo came, nothing could possibly go wrong here.

Only after hearing Chen Xin's agreement did Ning Qinghe feel somewhat at ease.

At least he had a strong backing.

Several days passed in succession.

Ning Qinghe remained extremely busy and did not visit Dugu Yan or Dugu Bo, allowing the grandfather and granddaughter to do as they pleased.

He monitored the personnel in every area, had Soul Cannons installed throughout the grounds, and stationed Soul Saints there as well. If needed, they could immediately use the Soul Cannons to attack.

Once everything had been fully arranged and the miscellaneous matters settled, Ning Qinghe did not forget to cultivate.

There were still half a month until the day he absorbed his Spirit Ring.

After all, absorbing a ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring was no simple matter.

Ten thousand years was a threshold for Spirit Rings. Absorbing one was not merely a physical ordeal; there was also the impact of a Soul Beast's resentment at the moment of death. If someone with insufficient spiritual power recklessly absorbed a ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring, they might become an idiot before even advancing.

The Extreme Research Institute specialized in studying such matters, so naturally, he could not be unaware of it.

The physical body, Soul Power, and spiritual power were all indispensable in cultivation. He took each of them very seriously.

In the blink of an eye, night arrived.

Inside the Meditation Room.

Ning Qinghe had just finished a brief meditation session.

His mind felt refreshed, while his Soul Power rapidly condensed and recovered. It was an exceptionally pleasant feeling.

The moment he left the Meditation Room, he received a message.

"Poison Douluo wishes to meet with the director."

The message had arrived that afternoon. However, Ning Qinghe had entered the Meditation Room and had not emerged. Unless it was especially urgent, no one would interrupt him.

Upon receiving the message, Ning Qinghe understood.

He had not gone to see Dugu Yan, but Dugu Yan had become curious about him.

He did not refuse.

After finding Chen Xin in a nearby Meditation Room, the two headed toward Dugu Bo.

"Yanyan, Self-Created Soul Skills aren't something you can master so easily."

"You should rest a little."

At that moment, Dugu Bo was in the Soul Skill training area with his granddaughter.

Dugu Bo was practicing alongside her while also learning a little about the so-called Self-Created Soul Skills here.

It was essentially an extended Soul Power version of Soru. It reduced the difficulty of learning it while increasing the difficulty of controlling it. It had been named Explosive Step, a footwork technique that burst forth to increase one's speed.

These past few days, aside from studying the Poison Sac Method and Poison Body Method, he had spent most of his time here.

Ning Qinghe had not been stingy at all with most things in the Research Institute.

He had also provided Dugu Bo with ample resources.

As long as Dugu Bo needed something, Ning Qinghe gave it to him.

After all, he had his eye on Dugu Bo's strength and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Explosive Step was the same.

After arriving here, anyone could learn it as long as they wanted to.

For Dugu Bo, mastering it was not particularly difficult, but for Dugu Yan, it was somewhat challenging.

In a separate training area, the old man and young woman repeatedly burst out with Soul Power. Dugu Yan clearly lacked sufficient control over her Soul Power, and her physical strength was not enough either.

"Poison Douluo."

"This must be Miss Dugu Yan."

Ning Qinghe's arrival interrupted their training.

Dugu Yan quickly turned around, swiftly concealing her exhausted state and heavy breathing.

When she saw Ning Qinghe in spotless white robes, with his gentle temperament, her eyes lit up. She then looked him over from head to toe.

She had been here for several days now and understood her grandfather's situation.

He had voluntarily joined the Extreme Research Institute, and there truly were many interesting things here.

It was even more interesting than the Royal Battle Academy.

For example, these Self-Created Soul Skills, special cultivation methods, numerous medicines, and detection Soul Tools.

She was also curious about Ning Qinghe. There were many geniuses in this world, but someone with innate half-rank Soul Power who had caused such a huge stir—and whose Spirit Rings were supposedly much stronger than those of ordinary Soul Masters—was unprecedented.

"Director."

"You can just call me Dugu Bo, or Old Poison like the others do."

"Now, I'm only someone from the Research Institute as well."

After so many days, Dugu Bo had accepted his situation of living under another's roof.

Coupled with the benefits of the Extreme Research Institute, he had fully accepted his identity.

"This is my granddaughter, Dugu Yan. Yanyan, this is the director, Ning Qinghe, and also the son of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's sect master."

"Greetings, Director. I am Dugu Yan."

Under ordinary circumstances, Dugu Yan would naturally not have been so polite toward someone about the same age as her.

But the situation was different now.

This was their first meeting, and her grandfather was now working for him.

"Then I'll call you Elder Dugu. Miss Dugu Yan and I are about the same age, so I'll just call you Yanyan. You can call me Qinghe as well."

Since they wanted to be a little closer, Ning Qinghe adopted a more intimate form of address for Dugu Yan as well.

That brought smiles to both their faces.

"Qing... he."

Dugu Yan was somewhat unaccustomed to it at first.

But she quickly accepted the form of address.

After that, things became much more relaxed.

Dugu Bo soon spoke about calling Ning Qinghe by name as well.

"Regarding the Poison Body Method, I've had some ideas. I may need a great deal of time to research it afterward."

"That means I won't have time to accompany Yanyan later, so I wanted to speak with you."

"I want Yanyan to study here."

His purpose was quite clear.

Beside him, Dugu Yan blinked as she looked at Ning Qinghe.