How to Divide Two Qiluo Tulips?

Shui Bing'er looked at the two immortal herbs before her, which radiated astonishing energy fluctuations, and then at Ning Xiaochun's clear, earnest eyes. A monstrous wave surged through her frozen heart.

She could certainly sense the immense energy and miraculous properties contained within these two herbs; their value was likely even more precious than the Blood-Colored Swan Kiss petals Dugu Yan had used just moments ago.

This was a heaven-defying opportunity capable of elevating the quality of one's martial soul!

One does not accept rewards without merit. This was a principle Shui Bing'er had upheld since childhood. Although she and Ning Xiaochun had a betrothal, it was merely a transaction. How could she accept such a valuable gift for nothing?

"This... is too precious." Shui Bing'er took a half-step back, her ice-blue eyes filled with hesitation and resistance. "I... I cannot accept this. I have done nothing for you; I am unworthy of such a grand gift."

Ning Xiaochun seemed to have anticipated her refusal. The smile on his face did not fade; instead, it took on a tone of "it's only natural." He tilted his head, looked at Shui Bing'er, and said in that clear, slightly "cowardly" tone:

"Big Sister Bing'er, if you don't become stronger... how will you protect me in the future?"

"I am a pure support-type soul master, after all, with zero combat ability. When we go out in the future and encounter danger, I'll be relying entirely on you!"

"Only when you become stronger can I be safer. Just think of this immortal herb as... an advance investment in your role as my 'bodyguard'."

"So, don't feel like you owe me anything. Just accept it for the sake of protecting me. That should be fine, right?"

The young boy's voice was crisp. His reasoning sounded somewhat shameless, yet it was incredibly straightforward and hit the mark.

He used the most practical angle—one that perfectly fit his "fear of death" persona—to provide a reason Shui Bing'er could not refute.

To protect him, she needed to become stronger. Accepting the herb was for the sake of better fulfilling her duty of "protection."

This reason perfectly bypassed the "no merit, no reward" hurdle in Shui Bing'er's heart and aligned with the sense of responsibility tied to her by the transaction, even... faintly touching a certain string in her frozen, maidenly heart.

Does he... really trust me this much, entrusting his own safety to me?

Shui Bing'er looked at Ning Xiaochun's large eyes, which were filled with "sincerity" and "fear of death," and a hard place in her heart seemed to be gently touched by something.

She remained silent for a moment, her ice-blue eyes looking deeply at Ning Xiaochun as if to carve his current image into the depths of her soul. Then, she reached out her fair, slender hand and took the two immortal herbs; one felt icy cold, the other warm.

"Alright." Shui Bing'er's voice remained cold, but it seemed to hold something more.

"I will become stronger. And then..."

She paused, leaving the sentence unfinished, but the meaning was already clear.

I will protect you.

A wide smile bloomed on Ning Xiaochun's face: "Mm! I believe in you, Big Sister Bing'er!"

Next, Ning Xiaochun selected the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo for Sword Douluo. This bamboo contained extremely pure Geng metal sharpness, making it most suitable for tempering a sharp martial soul like the Seven Kill Sword, allowing its sword intent to become more condensed and pure.

He chose the Earth Dragon Golden Melon for Bone Douluo. This melon contained the essence of the earth's dragon veins—heavy and majestic—which could nourish and strengthen beast martial souls related to the earth and space, such as the Bone Dragon, enhancing their defense and power.

Although Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo didn't say much, the relief and excitement flashing in their eyes could not be hidden. At their level, advancing further was as difficult as ascending to heaven; these immortal herbs were undoubtedly a monumental opportunity.

Finally, it was Ning Fengzhi's turn.

Ning Xiaochun's gaze fell upon a spot near the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well where the spiritual energy was most dense.

There, two plants grew that looked similar, as if carved from the finest tulip jade. Their bodies were crystalline, their petals unfolded in layers, and a faint golden halo flowed within the pistils, emitting a graceful, noble, and intoxicatingly strange fragrance.

Aromatic Silk Beauty! And there were two of them!

This item was the king of all herbs, capable of absorbing the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of the sun and moon. In the original story, it was precisely by consuming this herb that Ning Rongrong evolved her Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda into the Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda, breaking through the limitations of her martial soul!

Ning Xiaochun's heart pounded. With this, his father's Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda could evolve!

The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect would possess a true Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda soul master with infinite potential! The sect's support capabilities would undergo a qualitative leap!

But... there were only two.

One for him, one for his father.

Then... what about Rongrong?

What about his younger sister, Ning Rongrong, who was one year his junior, still playing wildly back at the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, and had yet to awaken her martial soul?

If he and his father used them, even if Rongrong awakened the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda in the future, she would be forever trapped at level 79, unable to break through to the Soul Douluo realm.

In the original story, it was precisely because Tang San gifted a Aromatic Silk Beauty that Ning Rongrong was able to evolve her martial soul and become the Nine-Colored Goddess.

Both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh. His father's kindness to him was as heavy as a mountain, and he was his greatest backing; he had to be improved. He himself also needed to evolve his martial soul to deal with future crises. But his sister...

Ning Xiaochun fell into unprecedented hesitation. He stood there, looking at the two swaying Qiluo Tulips, his young face showing, for the first time, a heaviness and struggle that did not match his age.

No, that wouldn't do. Ning Xiaochun shook his head vigorously. He was a coward, he feared death, and he wanted to live a comfortable life, but his regard for his family was carved into his bones.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect was his harbor; his father, his sister, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, and those clansmen who watched him grow up were all people he wanted to protect.

Let him monopolize the opportunity and sacrifice his sister's future? That went against his core philosophy of "developing steadily and protecting those who matter."

"Father..." Ning Xiaochun looked up, his voice somewhat dry. He poured out his internal conflict, "These two Qiluo Tulips can very likely... no, they definitely can allow the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda to evolve, break through the seven-story limit, and become the legendary Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda!"

"Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda?!" Ning Fengzhi's entire body shook violently. His scholarly face lost its composure for the first time due to extreme shock.

As a Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda soul master, he knew better than anyone what "nine stories" meant!

It was the only possibility to break the shackles of his bloodline and reach a higher realm! It was a legend that countless generations of Seven Treasures Glazed Sect ancestors had dreamed of!

Ecstasy crashed into Ning Fengzhi's heart like a tsunami, but he was, after all, a sect master who had weathered many storms. He quickly forced down his excitement and noticed the heaviness and struggle on his son's face, which were completely at odds with the massive surprise.

"Xiaochun, what is this..." Ning Fengzhi squatted down to look his son in the eye, his voice gentle.

"There are only two." Ning Xiaochun's voice was very low, filled with deep frustration and self-reproach.

"One for each of us, it fits perfectly. But... what about Rongrong? She is supposed to awaken her martial soul next year, and if she also has the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda..."

He did not continue, but Ning Fengzhi understood everything. So, his son was struggling with this.

A warm current surged in his heart. This child was gifted and meticulous, sometimes cowardly to the point of making one laugh and cry, but this sincerity and sense of responsibility toward his family had never changed.