"sigh..." Sword Douluo was the first to break the silence, his expression worried.
"Xiaochun's Martial Soul, the Seven Killings Glazed Pagoda, has terrifying potential. We've both seen it with our own eyes today. It ignores rank and forcibly weakens its targets. Given time, it will surely become a strategic-level deterrent. But unfortunately... it's paired with that timid disposition of his!"
He turned to Ning Fengzhi, his tone unusually heavy and helpless:
"Fengzhi, you saw it too. To absorb a four-hundred-year Soul Ring, he laid out a whole pile of pills, as if he wished he could empty the medicine storehouse. Sending him to the Star Dou Forest is like asking for his life.
This is only his First Soul Ring! What about the second, third... and even the seventh, eighth, and ninth? Am I supposed to go catch them for him every time? Can those ten-thousand-year and even Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts really be caught alive just like that?"
Bone Douluo Gu Rong leaned against the wall, his thin fingers tapping his arm with a soft, steady knock. His hoarse voice carried a hint of amusement, but the same worry showed through:
"Old Sword's words may be crude, but they're true. Xiaochun's talent is a heaven-sent opportunity for our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to reach the summit. But with his disposition, we're fortunate to be here protecting him for now... What happens when we're old? He might never set foot outside the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for his entire life."
Ning Fengzhi listened quietly, his fingertips absently tracing the smooth armrest of the jade chair.
The two guardian elders' words struck at the deepest worries in his heart. Xiaochun's disposition couldn't be changed.
As the saying went, you could tell what a person would be like by the time they were six. His "safety first" philosophy had already sunk deep into his bones. Forcing him to change would only backfire. He might even grow rebellious and become even less willing to show his talents.
If there was no solution from within, then... they would have to seek one from outside!
A thought flashed through Ning Fengzhi's mind like lightning in the dark, suddenly illuminating everything. His furrowed brow slowly relaxed, and a resolute glint appeared in his eyes.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, you're right." Ning Fengzhi spoke, his voice regaining its usual composure, but now carrying the weight of a firm decision.
"Xiaochun's disposition probably can't be changed, so we'll have to think of another way."
"Oh? Fengzhi, what do you have in mind?" Bone Douluo straightened up, intrigued.
Ning Fengzhi rose and walked to the center of the quiet room. His gaze swept over the two elders, who were like fathers, teachers, and friends to him, before he spoke slowly:
"Ever since our ancestor founded the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, we've had an unwritten rule—or rather, a lesson bought with blood and tears by generations of sect masters... Our direct-lineage Support System disciples must never marry other Support System Soul Masters."
Sword Douluo nodded. "That's right. The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda may be powerful, but it has no means of protecting itself. Our sect has stood firm to this day because of close marriages and alliances with Battle Soul Masters of the assault, agility, and control types. We make up for each other's shortcomings, leaving no weakness to exploit.
"Every sect master's wife throughout the generations, as well as the spouses of important direct-lineage disciples, has been a formidable fighter."
As he spoke, a look of remembrance crossed his eyes. He seemed to be thinking of Ning Fengzhi's late wife, who had once dazzled everyone.
"Exactly." Ning Fengzhi nodded, his gaze bright.
"Xiaochun's situation is more unusual than that of any direct-lineage disciple before him. He has Twin Martial Souls and greater potential, which makes him a more obvious target. Yet his disposition... means he needs even more protection.
"So, finding him a partner—a Battle Soul Master destined to become powerful, someone who can share his thoughts and entrust her life to him—is the best solution. No, not just an ordinary partner. Ideally, they would grow up together and form a bond, so protecting him would become second nature to her!"
"You mean...?" A glint flashed in Bone Douluo Gu Rong's eyes, as if he had thought of something.
"A child bride." Ning Fengzhi enunciated the three words, his expression utterly serious, with none of the levity of a joke—only the far-reaching judgment of a sect master.
"We'll find a young girl with exceptional talent, character, and looks. When she comes of age, she'll marry Xiaochun... Her sole mission will be to grow stronger and then protect him!"
The quiet room fell silent for a moment.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo looked at each other. The idea was... bold and direct, but it also seemed to be the solution best suited to Ning Xiaochun's eccentric disposition.
"That... might work." Sword Douluo considered the matter, stroking his snow-white beard.
"With Xiaochun's lazy, let-the-teammates-do-it disposition, having someone close to him who can fight and protect him might actually let him bring out two hundred percent of his ability. But..." His brows furrowed again.
"The choice is crucial! She'll need peerless talent, or she won't be able to keep up with Xiaochun. Ideally, she'll be someone certain to become a Titled Douluo..."
"But where are we supposed to find a genius like that?"
Bone Douluo grew worried.
Ning Fengzhi had clearly given the matter plenty of thought already.
"As for the candidate... I do have someone in mind." Ning Fengzhi opened a dossier and fixed his gaze on a particular page, reading slowly:
"Shui Bing'er, female, currently around eleven years old. Her origins are unknown, though she may be connected to the Extreme North. She currently attends Skywater Academy in the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Martial Soul: Ice Phoenix, a top-tier Beast Martial Soul with both assault and control attributes. Innate Soul Power: level nine and a half. At eleven, her Soul Power has already reached level twenty-five, and her cultivation speed is astonishing. She is hailed as a once-in-a-century genius at Skywater Academy!"
"Ice Phoenix?!" Sword Douluo Chen Xin's gaze sharpened.
"A top-tier Beast Martial Soul. No wonder she cultivates so quickly. Skywater Academy is lucky to have found such a treasure."
As a peak expert, he naturally understood the weight of a top-tier Martial Soul. An Ice Phoenix, with its combination of power and control, would become a fearsome weapon on the battlefield once it matured.
"Fengzhi, Skywater Academy will treasure a genius like her. They won't easily let her go. And besides, making her a... child bride?"
Even Bone Douluo found it hard to say the words when speaking of a talented young girl he had never met.
Ning Fengzhi closed the dossier and smiled with the absolute confidence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's master—the richest man in the world. His smile was warm, but carried an undeniable force.
"As for whether Skywater Academy will agree... Uncle Bone, Uncle Sword, do you think there's anyone in this world, apart from the reclusive Clear Sky Sect and the ambitious Spirit Hall, who could refuse the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
His tone was calm, yet brimmed with incomparable confidence—the kind built on boundless wealth, vast resources, and an intricate web of interests.
There was no time to lose. They made a few preparations and headed straight for Skywater Academy!
P.S. Brothers, if you think this is any good, please leave a good review and add it to your favorites.
Which do you think is better: multiple female leads or just one? Which, which?
The protagonist will also have a Martial Soul Fusion Skill later on. Try to guess what it does—it'll be explosive!!!
Before you continue