"Sect Master, Young Master Ye has arrived."
Just as Ning Rongrong was feeling smug, the servant at the door came in to report.
"Ah, Brother Ye is here."
Ning Rongrong's eyes suddenly lit up upon hearing that Ye Ruilin had arrived.
Brother Ye had been cultivating all this time, and she had not seen him in a long while.
The moment Ye Ruilin entered the room, Ning Rongrong threw herself directly at him.
"Brother Ye, you've finally finished cultivating."
The girl blinked her large eyes, which seemed to hold a hint of grievance.
Ye Ruilin knew that during his cultivation, Ning Rongrong had come to see him once every day.
His gaze instantly softened somewhat.
He raised a hand and patted Ning Rongrong on the head.
"Be good. I won't cultivate for so long next time."
Originally, he had not felt anything toward Ning Rongrong. He had only thought of her as a little girl spoiled by Ning Fengzhi.
But when such an adorably cute little girl wandered around in front of him every day, he could not help but soften his heart a little.
Ning Rongrong had not expected Brother Ye to take the initiative to pat her. A look of surprise instantly appeared on her face.
She hugged her own head with both little hands, looking utterly adorable.
Ye Ruilin chuckled, then looked toward Ning Fengzhi.
"Sect Master Ning, Old Wu told me that you seemed to have something to give me?"
He tilted his head slightly, his eyes carrying a trace of confusion.
Ning Fengzhi immediately thought of the soul bone Kirin Douluo had sent over not long ago.
It was a Ten Thousand Year fire-attribute torso bone.
This soul bone was exceedingly rare and exceptionally precious.
Ning Fengzhi was somewhat puzzled. Why had Kirin Douluo not handed it to his own son personally?
Instead, he had told him to find some excuse to give this soul bone to Ye Ruilin.
Seeing the confusion in the youth's eyes, Ning Fengzhi smiled faintly.
It seemed both father and son were awkward people. Kirin Douluo probably did not want his son to know.
"Actually, it's nothing much."
"I watched your cultivation last time, and you seemed to possess an incredibly terrifying degree of control over flames."
"I happen to have a soul bone here that is quite suitable for you."
"If you do not mind, just take it."
As he spoke, a crystalline, fiery-red torso bone appeared in his palm.
Fire-attribute energy fluctuations radiated from the soul bone.
With just one glance, anyone could tell it was a good thing.
Bone Douluo did not know where this soul bone had come from, but his eyes remained fixed on the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone.
However, he had no objections whatsoever to Ning Fengzhi's actions.
Ye Ruilin was rather shocked.
This was a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, and an exceptionally precious torso bone at that!
No matter where it was placed, it would be a treasure countless talented experts would fight over.
Ning Fengzhi was just giving it to him like this?
The youth frowned slightly.
One should not accept rewards without merit, especially when facing a smiling tiger like Ning Fengzhi.
He did not believe Ning Fengzhi would give him such a precious soul bone for no reason.
In the future, he would certainly have to repay him with compensation equal to the value of this soul bone.
With that thought, Ye Ruilin directly shook his head.
"Sect Master Ning, one should not accept rewards without merit. This soul bone is far too precious."
"This junior does not deserve it. Please take it back, Sect Master."
Ning Rongrong had also been somewhat surprised when her father took out the soul bone, but she did not feel any resistance toward it.
However, when she heard Ye Ruilin refuse, an anxious expression immediately appeared on her little face.
"Brother Ye, why are you refusing? This soul bone is extremely rare."
"With this soul bone, your strength will become even greater."
From the looks of it, she had seemingly forgotten that it was her father giving it away.
Ning Fengzhi glared irritably at his daughter. She was still so young, yet she was already taking someone else's side.
"You need not worry about it."
"You only need to know that with your talent, once you grow, you will surely become a mighty expert."
"My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has always enjoyed befriending powerful experts. Consider this an advance investment in a future favor."
Ning Fengzhi's expression remained calm. With a flick of his hand, he tossed the soul bone directly toward Ye Ruilin.
Ye Ruilin caught it instinctively, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes.
After a moment, he cupped his hands and bowed to Ning Fengzhi.
"This junior thanks Sect Master Ning for your kindness. If that day truly comes, I will never forget today's favor."
Seeing that Ye Ruilin had finally accepted it, Ning Rongrong's face blossomed into a bright smile.
She then moved in front of Ye Ruilin and spoke excitedly.
"Brother Ye, Father already awakened my Martial Soul just now. My Martial Soul is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and my Innate Soul Power is Level Nine!"
After speaking, Ning Rongrong proudly raised her chin, though her eyes remained fixed on Ye Ruilin.
Ye Ruilin instantly understood what Ning Rongrong meant.
He immediately smiled, then praised her with a serious expression.
"So Rongrong's talent is that impressive."
"Then Brother Ye will have to rely on Rongrong to take care of me in the future."
Those two sentences made Ning Rongrong's smile grow even brighter. She immediately patted her chest and promised,
"Don't worry, Brother Ye. Rongrong will definitely support you well in the future. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is the strongest support-type Martial Soul."
The pride and smugness on the girl's face made everyone present laugh.
Ye Ruilin then thought of something.
The Auspicious Qilin Martial Soul he had awakened came with Pixiu Power.
One of the abilities within Pixiu Power, Fortune Gathering, seemed to share some common ground with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Did that mean his Auspicious Qilin Martial Soul and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda also had some degree of compatibility?
After all, Martial Soul Fusion Skills could only be successfully performed when both Martial Souls shared a degree of compatibility.
Did that mean his Martial Soul and Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?
His eyes flickered as the thought stirred restlessly in his heart, and he had a feeling.
His idea seemed possible.
"Sect Master Ning, you should also know that the Martial Soul I awakened is the Auspicious Qilin, which possesses Auspicious Power."
Ye Ruilin looked toward Ning Fengzhi.
A trace of confusion flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He did not understand why Ye Ruilin had suddenly brought up the details of his Martial Soul.
Still, he nodded subconsciously.
After the previous two battles, he had gained some understanding of Ye Ruilin's circumstances.
This kid had definitely not awakened Twin Martial Souls.
The white Qilin and Fire Qilin that had appeared in the arena should have been related as manifestations of the same Martial Soul.
"I would like to ask Sect Master Ning to allow Rongrong and me to attempt Martial Soul Fusion."
The moment Ye Ruilin spoke, the teacup in Ning Fengzhi's hand shattered with a crack.
Scalding tea ran down his fingertips, yet Ning Fengzhi did not feel it at all.
His attention had been completely captured by the words Martial Soul Fusion.
"You mean you want to attempt Martial Soul Fusion with Rongrong?"
"One of you has a beast Martial Soul, while the other has a tool Martial Soul. You want to fuse them?"
As Ning Fengzhi spoke, he subconsciously shook his head.
Two Martial Souls with completely different attributes—trying to fuse them was simply impossible.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo also shook their heads, believing it to be impossible.
Yet Ye Ruilin's face was filled with confidence.
"Sect Master Ning, please let me try!"
Before you continue