Master of Balancing

Ning Tian's breath caught in his throat for a moment.

The jade box in her hand felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, making her fingertips go numb.

A vibrant green light flowed within the jade box, and the gentle energy fluctuations made even her, a direct descendant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, feel her mind tremble.

"A ten-thousand-year -Head Soul Bone..." Ning Tian uttered a few words with difficulty, his voice somewhat hoarse, "This is too precious."

This is nothing like the few Soul Bone that are the rewards for winning a competition.

This abundant energy is definitely at least 30,000 to 40,000 years old, far beyond ordinary 10,000 years! And Dai Huabin just casually took it out.

"Take it." Dai Huabin's tone was calm. "You are now the core support of the team. The higher your mental strength, the stronger the amplification effect, and the greater the improvement to the entire team."

He pushed the jade box forward and stuffed it directly into Ning Tian's arms.

"This..." Ning Tian held the jade box, unsure of what to say for a moment.

Cui Yajie and Xiao Xiao, who were standing nearby, had already crowded around, their eyes fixed on the jade box, their mouths agape.

"My God, it really is Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone!"

Xiao Xiao covered her mouth, her voice filled with astonishment.

"Squad leader, where did you get this treasure?"

Yajie nudged Dai Huabin with her elbow and asked with a wink:

"Squad leader, did you secretly rob some sect's treasure vault?"

She glanced again at the jade box in Ning Tian, then looked down at the piece she had just been allocated, and said jokingly:

"If I had known you had this, I wouldn't have chosen the previous one; this one suits me better."

Ning Tian blushed at her teasing, hugged the jade box even tighter, and said reproachfully:

"Yajie, don't talk nonsense."

"I'm not talking nonsense."

Cui Yajie smiled and put her arm around Ning Tian's shoulder.

"Our class monitor is the best; she knows how to treat everyone equally. Dong'er has one, Xiao Xiao has one, I have one, and now even Ning Tian, you little rich girl, has one. No one is left out."

Xiao Xiao also laughed:

"Yes, the class monitor is really great."

Wang Dong'er stood to one side, holding her brocade box, quietly watching this scene.

She didn't participate in the teasing, but her feelings towards Dai Huabin became even more complicated.

This guy always manages to do something shocking without even realizing it.

First, there was the overwhelming strength on the field, and now there's the magnanimity of casually giving away Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone.

He always seems to have an endless supply of trump cards.

Ning Tian took a deep breath and solemnly bowed to Dai Huabin:

"Squad leader, thank you. This gift is too precious. I will Ning Tian refuse to help you in the future, no matter what."

"Alright, we're all on the same team, don't be so formal."

Dai Huabin waved his hand.

"Alright, you guys go back and rest, then find a place to Soul Bone. Lulu and I are heading back first; Ling Xi is still in my dorm."

"Ling Xi?" Cui Yajie's gossip radar immediately went off. "What's she doing in your dorm?"

Xiao Xiao also looked over curiously.

"The college didn't arrange a dormitory for her, and Xue'er is sharing a room with another Xue'er. We can't just let her sleep on the street," Dai Huabin explained.

This reason is perfectly reasonable.

Di Lingxi's identity is special, making arrangements difficult.

"Oh..." Cui Yajie drawled, her smile ambiguous, "So that's how it is. I thought..."

"What do you think?" Dai Huabin glanced at her.

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

Cui Yajie immediately waved her hand, pulling Xiao Xiao and Ning Tian backward.

"We won't disturb your time alone with Zhu Lu. You two should go back now, don't keep Ling Xi waiting anxiously."

The four exchanged a knowing look, clutched their respective Soul Bone, and left together, laughing and joking.

Watching their departing figures, Dai Huabin shook his head helplessly.

He turned to Zhu Lu beside him. "Let's go too."

Zhu Lu nodded gently and followed quietly behind him.

The two walked side by side on their way back to the dormitory. The tranquility of the Sea God Pavilion was a stark contrast to the previous hustle and bustle.

The dappled sunlight in the corridor lengthened the shadows of the two people.

Zhu Lu's footsteps were very light, almost inaudible. She always lagged slightly behind Dai Huabin by half a step, a habit she had maintained for a long time.

Dai Huabin slowed his pace to keep up with her.

"Lulu."

"Hmm?" Zhu Lu looked up.

"I'm sorry you had to go through this competition," Dai Huabin said. "You weren't included in the distribution of Soul Bone."

Zhu Lu shook her head, her voice soft. "I'm not wronged. I'm happy as long as I can help you; the Soul Bone isn't important."

For her, nothing else mattered as long as she could stay by Dai Huabin's side.

Dai Huabin stopped and turned to look at her.

He was somewhat moved.

Zhu Lu's understanding and forbearance sometimes made him feel sorry for her.

He took something out of the Soul Tool Ring that Bi Ji had given him.

It was a Soul Bone, its entire body a bluish-white color, its surface covered with strange patterns, and an indescribable sharp aura emanated from it.

Simply taking it out seemed to cleave the surrounding air apart.

Zhu Lu's pupils suddenly contracted.

She could sense that the power contained in this Soul Bone far exceeded any of the ones they had just been given, even including Ning Tian's ten-thousand-year-old Emerald Spirit Skull.

"This is..."

"The Wind Shadow Leopard King Left Leg Bone." Dai Huabin handed the Soul Bone to her. "It suits you very well."

Zhu Lu froze completely.

She stared blankly at the Soul Bone in Dai Huabin's hand, her mind completely blank.

Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?

That goes beyond being described as merely "valuable".

That was a legendary treasure, something that countless Titled Douluo dreamed of.

Dai Huabin simply took it out and offered it to her.

"Huabin, I can't accept this." Zhu Lu subconsciously took a step back, shaking her head repeatedly. "This is too... too precious."

Her voice was trembling.

She never imagined that one day she would be able to touch Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone with her own hands.

"Take it." Dai Huabin didn't allow her to refuse, stepped forward, and directly stuffed the Soul Bone into her arms.

The Soul Bone felt cold to the touch, yet it also carried a scorching power, as if I were holding a sleeping Ferocious Beast.

"This is something I obtained from the Star Dou Great Forest; its attributes are a perfect match for you."

Dai Huabin's tone was very serious.

"Your Nether Civet Martial Soul leans towards extreme speed and unpredictable assassination. This left leg bone of the Wind Shadow Leopard King can maximize your speed and explosiveness."

Seeing Zhu Lu's bewildered expression, he softened his voice:

"Lulu, I know you don't care about these things. But I do."

"You've followed me from the White Tiger Duke Mansion to Shrek, always silently supporting me without ever asking for anything in return."

"I was the one who wronged you before."