Qian Renxue's Surprise!

"Thank you, Senior Sword Douluo! I'll remember this."

Zhou Tao bowed slightly, gratitude showing on his face.

Only then did Ning Rongrong recover from her earlier shock.

She felt that she had been thoroughly surpassed.

She had once believed that, because she was talented, she was the greatest genius. Now, it seemed that talent was nothing special.

Without hard work, talent alone would not take one far.

Not long afterward, Zhou Tao found a suitable Immortal Herb for Ning Rongrong and had her consume it on the spot.

A long while later, Ning Rongrong finally woke up.

"Rongrong, how do you feel?"

Ning Fengzhi hurried over with concern.

"Father, after absorbing the Aromatic Silk Beauty, I feel lighter and stronger than before."

Ning Rongrong carefully sensed her body. Then, a glazed tile pagoda shimmering with a seven-colored halo appeared in her hand, radiating a rich tulip fragrance.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has actually grown from seven stories to nine, breaking the Martial Soul's limitation."

"My Martial Soul is now the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"

Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was the strongest support-type Martial Soul on Douluo Continent, its inherited limitations prevented its possessors from ever breaking through Rank 79. Now, the Aromatic Silk Beauty had restored its origin, shattered the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's seven-ring shackles, and evolved it into the unprecedented Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

"My Martial Soul Evolution succeeded!"

Ning Rongrong excitedly threw herself into Ning Fengzhi's arms.

"Good! Good!"

Seeing his daughter's Martial Soul evolve, Ning Fengzhi's face was full of relief.

After a while, Ning Fengzhi looked at Zhou Tao and said excitedly, "Little Friend Zhou Tao, you have solved my family's Martial Soul Evolution problem. What I promised you takes effect from today onward."

With that, he truly gave Zhou Tao one million Gold Soul Coins.

"If anyone dares lay a hand on you in the future, I will be the first to refuse!"

Before Zhou Tao could even react, Ning Fengzhi had already sworn it.

"Sect Master Ning, this is far too much..."

Zhou Tao did not know whether to laugh or cry. Sect Master Ning was truly too straightforward.

"No need to decline it. You deserve this."

"If you want to thank me, then thank my daughter."

"How about letting my daughter follow you and cultivate alongside you from now on?"

Ning Fengzhi suddenly proposed this, taking the chance to tie Rongrong and Zhou Tao together.

Relationships had to be nurtured from childhood. Only then would they be stable.

"Brother Zhou Tao, Rongrong has never accepted anyone, but I accept you."

At this moment, Ning Rongrong was completely convinced by Zhou Tao.

He had actually found a way to make up for the flaws in a Martial Soul.

If she followed Zhou Tao, who knew how many more opportunities she might encounter in the future?

Watching Ning Rongrong's transformation, Ning Fengzhi revealed a gratified smile.

This little princess was finally willing to put aside her pride.

In the past, Ning Rongrong's princess-like temper had given him quite a headache.

After all, as a support-type Martial Soul user, she would ultimately have to cooperate with other Spirit Masters.

If she were too spoiled and willful, what other Spirit Masters would be willing to tolerate Ning Rongrong?

Thus, Ning Fengzhi had worried about his daughter's future.

Now,

seeing that Zhou Tao could curb his daughter's princess temper, Ning Fengzhi was very pleased.

Among the younger generation of Spirit Masters in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, none had the makings of a Title Douluo.

If Rongrong could find a promising talent like Zhou Tao, that would also be a good choice.

Crown Prince's Residence, Heaven Dou City.

Within a grand hall adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, a figure sat upright in the seat of honor.

This person was Qian Renxue, with golden hair, green eyes, and handsome features, disguised as Xue Qinghe.

She toyed with an ancient short sword in her hand, her expression thoughtful.

Knock, knock, knock~

Heavy footsteps sounded as Snake Lance Douluo entered the hall.

"Reporting to Young Mistress, we have found information on Zhou Tao."

Snake Lance Douluo bowed respectfully before speaking.

Qian Renxue set down the short sword and raised her head with interest.

"Speak."

Snake Lance Douluo took out a dossier. "He registered as a Spirit Master at Spirit Hall. His Innate Soul Power was Rank 1, and his Martial Soul was Lightning Blue Silver Grass."

"Innate Rank 1? That is very ordinary."

"Indeed."

"However, this subordinate discovered some interesting information."

"What information?"

"Zhou Tao had a dispute with Yu Xiaogang. Afterward, Zhou Tao left Nuoding City, and at that time, his Soul Power was only Rank 10."

"However, after arriving in Heaven Dou Imperial City, his Martial Soul rapidly transformed into Lightning Blue Silver Vine, and his Soul Power reached over Rank 30."

"Furthermore, his Lightning Blue Silver Vine was remarkably powerful. He once fought more than ten people from the Royal Academy alone and defeated every one of them."

"Imperial Fighting Team captain Yu Tianheng withdrew from the academy because of this and also left the team."

"In just over two years, this person has changed greatly. He possesses a thousand-year first Spirit Ring, a thousand-year second Spirit Ring, and a ten-thousand-year third Spirit Ring. His performance has far exceeded what one would expect from an originally useless Martial Soul."

"I deduce that he must have encountered a great opportunity during this time!"

"After investigating, I discovered that he has earned Old Poison's recognition and has cultivated in Dugu Bo's herb garden for a long time. Perhaps that place holds some secret."

At these words, Qian Renxue's eyes lit up.

"Interesting. Brother Zhou went from being a Spirit Master with a useless Martial Soul and Innate Rank 1 Soul Power to having over Rank 30 Soul Power in his teens. He even made that old poisoner Dugu Bo view him in a new light."

"There must be a secret."

Qian Renxue stopped pacing and turned toward Snake Lance Douluo. "Dugu Bo is a Title Douluo. Why would he care so much about a child in his teens?"

She paused, beginning to analyze the matter. "Perhaps this Zhou Tao possesses some special ability that helps Dugu Bo. After all, his talent really is quite ordinary."

Snake Lance Douluo agreed.

"This subordinate has heard that Zhou Tao helped Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling evolve their Martial Souls. Perhaps that is what makes him special."

Qian Renxue nodded, a trace of excitement flashing through her eyes.

"He understands the method of Martial Soul Evolution and can allow Martial Souls to break past their limits. He is a rare genius seen only once in a century."

"This person must be used by me."

Qian Renxue turned around, her eyes brimming with intense interest.

"Send him an invitation. Invite him to the Crown Prince's Residence. I want to meet him personally."

"The Young Mistress will go in person? With your status, receiving a commoner child seems somewhat..."

"What is wrong with meeting my little brother?"

Qian Renxue chuckled.

"This subordinate understands. I will handle it immediately!"

Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Zhou Tao was tempering his body.

Boom!

A sudden tremor sounded within his mind.

With a flicker of consciousness, he arrived before a gate of lightning, where the Thunder God's phantom stood with his back to him.

"Zhou Tao, very good. Your power of thunder has finally transformed."

As he spoke, he pointed at a gate of lightning behind the Thunder God Hall and said,

"That is where my Thunder God's Origin lies, buried in a hidden place somewhere on Douluo Continent."

"Complete the Nine Trials of the Thunder God, and you may undergo tempering by divine lightning within, completely obtaining the Thunder God Inheritance."

"You have already completed the Thunder God's First Trial."

The Thunder God's voice was solemn and vast. "Next is the Thunder God's Second Trial: compete with the fifty-thousand-year Thunder-Roaring Purgatory Vine for the Thunder God Inheritance and obtain its Spirit Ring."