Martial Soul Evolution!

Ning Fengzhi wore a relieved, openhearted smile. He ruffled Ning Xiaochun's hair and spoke so casually, as if they were discussing what to have for dinner. "I thought it was something serious. That's all?"

"Huh?" Ning Xiaochun froze.

"The Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda is, of course, an enormous opportunity. But opportunities are lifeless; people are alive."

Ning Fengzhi's gaze swept over the two Aromatic Silk Beauties before returning to his son's face. His pride and affection were plain in his eyes.

"What difference does it make whether you use this Immortal Herb, Rongrong uses it, or I do? Either way, one of our Ning family children benefits.

"Your father is old, and he's reached the limits of his potential. Even if my Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda evolved into the Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda, my future achievements might not surpass yours. Rongrong is still young, and her talents haven't yet emerged. Her future holds endless possibilities. Even without this Immortal Herb, she has you as her big brother and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect behind her. She'll have a happy, peaceful life."

He paused. His eyes grew deep and wise, taking on the calculating resolve of a sect master.

"But Xiaochun, you're different. You have Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power. You're the future hope of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the key to facing those 'crises' you mentioned. Your strength is the sect's greatest safeguard."

Ning Fengzhi's words washed over Ning Xiaochun like a warm current, yet struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

His father had given him the opportunity and explained his reasoning so convincingly that Ning Xiaochun had no room to argue.

"But..." Ning Xiaochun tried to say more.

"And you've overlooked the most important question." Ning Fengzhi cut him off. He raised a finger and tapped Ning Xiaochun's forehead, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"You silly boy, you have two pagodas! The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda and the Seven Killings Glazed Pagoda! Are two Aromatic Silk Beauties really enough? Can they make both Martial Souls evolve at the same time?"

Boom!

Like a thunderclap exploding in his mind, Ning Xiaochun froze!

That was right! How had he forgotten? He had Twin Martial Souls! Two pagodas!

The Aromatic Silk Beauty's effect was to elevate and evolve the origin of pagoda-type Martial Souls.

Could the medicinal power of one Immortal Herb support the simultaneous evolution of two top-tier Martial Souls? What if the medicinal power wasn't enough, leaving the evolution incomplete—or even causing a backlash? The consequences would be unthinkable!

Risk! Enormous risk! Ning Xiaochun's "play-it-safe" instincts snapped taut.

If he ate just one, should he choose to evolve the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda or the Seven Killings Glazed Pagoda?

Whichever he chose, his other Martial Soul might lose this once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity to evolve. Besides, no one could guarantee that a single Immortal Herb would ensure a successful evolution.

Two... seemed like the "safe" choice. One for each pagoda, ensuring the success and completeness of both evolutions.

But then Rongrong would...

Selfishness and responsibility, family and the greater good, safety and risk... Thoughts clashed wildly in Ning Xiaochun's mind, creasing his little face into a frown.

Deep down, he was a kind boy. He couldn't bring himself to keep both Immortal Herbs for himself when they might determine his little sister's future, even if that might be the "safest" plan.

Ning Fengzhi saw every trace of his son's struggle. He felt both comforted and pained.

He was comforted by his son's kindness and sense of responsibility, and pained that someone so young had to bear such a difficult choice.

He knew that with his son's overly strong sense of "morality," if he didn't give him a push, the boy might stay here agonizing until nightfall.

So, while Ning Xiaochun stared blankly at the Aromatic Silk Beauties, torn between his choices, Ning Fengzhi made his move.

His hand flashed out. With a gentle yet firm surge of Soul Power, he uprooted the two Aromatic Silk Beauties, their alluring glow shimmering around them.

Before Ning Xiaochun could react, he stuffed them straight into his mouth, which had fallen slightly open in surprise, as fast as a bolt of lightning!

"Mm—!?"

Ning Xiaochun's eyes went round. Two surges of indescribable medicinal power, rich with a heady fragrance and a cool sensation, crashed down his throat like floodwaters bursting through a dam.

They quickly transformed into two warm currents, similar in nature yet subtly different, surging irresistibly through his limbs and body—and toward the two glazed pagodas hovering quietly in his dantian!

"Refine them properly! Stop overthinking!" Ning Fengzhi's voice sounded beside him, stern but concealing a deep tenderness.

"Rongrong will have plenty of opportunities in the future! At worst, once you're stronger, you can protect her and keep her safe and happy for the rest of her life! That's the kind of choice a man should make!"

"Now, focus! Circulate your Soul Power and guide the medicinal energy! Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, Brother Dugu, stand guard!"

As his voice fell, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Dugu Bo moved in unison, taking up positions in the four directions. They surrounded the three children absorbing Immortal Herbs—

Dugu Yan, Shui Bing'er, and Ning Xiaochun—at the center. Their vast Soul Power joined together, forming an invisible protective field that sealed off the area and remained alert to any possible mishap.

Ning Xiaochun could no longer think about anything else. Two vast, pure currents of medicinal energy surged through his body. Though gentle in nature and harmless, they filled him to the brim, while a powerful pull and impact on the origins of his two Martial Souls came from deep within his soul. He had no choice but to gather every bit of his focus.

He sat cross-legged and circulated the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's meditation method with all his might, guiding the two warm currents toward the palms of his left and right hands, where his two Martial Souls manifested.

He could clearly "see" the two golden streams of medicinal energy, pulsing with a strange rhythm. Like the most dexterous craftsmen, and like the gentlest mothers, they began carefully cleansing, nourishing, and sculpting every inch of his two glazed pagodas.

A tingling numbness and slight itch swept through him, accompanied by an indescribable sense of comfort and a faint shudder deep in his soul.

He forced himself to forget his guilt toward his little sister and focused entirely on this rare opportunity to evolve.

His father was right. Becoming stronger was the prerequisite for protecting everything. If he wasn't strong enough to protect himself and those around him, how could he even speak of the future?

Time slipped by beside the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. Only the burbling flow of the icy and fiery springs, and the increasingly dense waves of natural energy in the air, bore witness to the miracle unfolding here.

Dugu Yan was the first to finish absorbing the herb.

The ink-green glow of Soul Power around her suddenly drew inward, then erupted once more, denser and deeper than before. A faint dark-red hue even shone through.

A shrill, hissing cry came from within her. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's phantom appeared behind her once more, but this time its body seemed longer and more powerful. Two tiny bumps had appeared atop its head, and the edges of its scales gleamed with a dark-red, metallic sheen. Its ferocity had surged, clearly marking the completion of its initial evolution!

The fluctuations of Soul Power around her had also reached level thirty. She needed only a Soul Ring to become a three-ring Soul Elder!

Dugu Yan wasn't even fourteen yet. Not bad at all.

"Level thirty! Martial Soul Evolution! Hahaha! Excellent! Excellent, my granddaughter!"

Dugu Bo was overjoyed. He threw back his head and laughed, his excitement impossible to hide. He looked at Ning Xiaochun, who was still absorbing the herb with his eyes closed, and gratitude nearly brimmed over in his eyes.

If it weren't for this god-grandson of his, both he and Yanyan would have been in mortal danger, let alone had such an opportunity!

Right after that, a dramatic change took place with Shui Bing'er as well.