Sect Master Ning Fengzhi, Innate Level Nine Ning Rongrong

Ning Fengzhi wore a gentle smile, the dignity of a Sect Master commanding awe from the children present.

He was the ultimate authority of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a grand figure these children rarely had the chance to see.

Everyone struggled to suppress their excitement, their burning gazes following Ning Fengzhi's every step, hoping to catch his eye.

Only Ning Rongrong continued to sulk, while Han Yu turned his gaze elsewhere.

Witnessing this from the high platform, Ning Fengzhi let his eyes linger on the two for a brief moment before shaking his head slightly, signaling the deacon to begin the awakening ceremony.

"The awakening ceremony begins now."

"First, Mo Juren."

A boy dressed in green robes stood nervously within the magic circle.

Specks of starlight appeared out of thin air, guiding the martial soul within the boy to break through its barriers and gather the hidden soul power inside his body.

The next moment, a root-like object sprouted in the boy's hand, swaying left and right with an air of vitality.

The boy then placed his hand on the crystal ball to continue the test.

"Tool soul, Spirit Root. Innate soul power, level one."

The deacon glanced at it and recorded the result in silence.

"Next."

"Beast soul, Maodie. No soul power."

"Martial soul, Ear. Innate soul power, level five. Congratulations, what is your name?"

Whenever a child reached level five innate soul power, the deacon would record their name separately.

Those recorded were disciples worthy of the sect's investment and cultivation.

The vast majority of these individuals were children of deacons, while a small portion had parents who were high-level soul masters, granting them significantly higher talent.

The ordinary disciples were not as fortunate; it was rare for them to exceed level three innate soul power, and even if they embarked on the path of a soul master, they rarely achieved much.

Companions who had grown up under the same roof would soon part ways, walking paths as different as heaven and earth.

This world was just that cruel.

From the moment you were born, your martial soul and soul power were already labeled; unless a one-in-a-million mutation occurred, there was simply no chance of turning your fate around.

On the high platform, the smile on Ning Fengzhi's face grew somewhat strained, and he sighed softly.

The level seven innate soul power he had hoped for—a promising seedling for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—had yet to appear; the highest among this batch of sect children was only level five.

His fingers tightened around his scepter, disappointment stirring in his heart.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul had a massive flaw: a soul master could only cultivate to level seventy-nine, forever stuck at the Soul Saint realm. However, only by reaching the Soul Saint realm could the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda unleash its full potential.

Under normal circumstances, a soul master with level seven innate soul power could easily become a Soul Saint.

This was why Ning Fengzhi hoped for a level seven innate soul power to emerge within the sect.

Now, the three of them pinned their hopes on Ning Rongrong.

"Next, Ning Rongrong."

The deacon looked toward Ning Rongrong with respect.

Ning Rongrong walked forward slowly and stood still, making a face at the high platform.

As the awakening circle activated, specks of starlight rose from beneath her feet, swirling around her and gradually forming a vortex.

Suddenly, an anomaly occurred; a blinding white light rose slowly from her hands.

Ning Fengzhi stood up abruptly on the high platform, his hands gripping his scepter tightly.

An ice-blue pagoda, only a foot tall, floated upward. It had seven levels, tapering layer by layer, with a glazed, crystalline texture that caught the light. Each tier of the pagoda's eaves was adorned with delicate, shimmering gemstones.

The small pagoda rotated slowly, drawing the gaze of everyone in the great hall toward it.

"What a beautiful Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda," the deacon remarked, his expression growing even more respectful, his eyes filled with intoxication.

Having been in charge of the awakening ceremonies for many years, this was the first time he had ever seen such a magnificent Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul.

"Young Lady, please test your soul power."

Ning Rongrong looked at the crystal ball before her, frowned, and wiped it carefully with a handkerchief before placing her small hand upon it.

Another burst of blinding white light erupted.

The crystal ball shone like the sun, illuminating the entire hall.

"Innate soul power! Level nine!" The deacon could not contain himself and exclaimed aloud, his face filled with incredulous ecstasy.

Ning Fengzhi appeared beneath the high platform in an instant, leaning in to carefully inspect the crystal ball.

The number clearly visible on its surface was nine.

Ning Fengzhi, usually so composed, could no longer sit still and had come over to see for himself.

Seeing this, a look of envy flickered in Han Yu's eyes, though he soon smiled and let it go.

He couldn't compete with having a powerful father.

Ning Fengzhi had shed his usual solemnity, his eyes brimming with excitement as he pulled Ning Rongrong into his arms.

The genius with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul he had been hoping for had finally appeared.

And it had appeared in his most beloved daughter, no less.

For Ning Fengzhi, and indeed the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, this was the most perfect outcome imaginable.

An innate soul power of level nine—the highest ever recorded for a possessor of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda—which meant she might even break the limit of level seventy-nine in the future and achieve the unprecedented rank of Titled Douluo.

"Rongrong, you did very well. Daddy is proud of you." Ning Fengzhi wore a gentle smile as he lifted Ning Rongrong up and placed her on his shoulders.

"Daddy, I'm not a little kid anymore. Put me down, quickly."

Ning Rongrong was stunned for a moment, but upon catching Han Yu's observant gaze, her cheeks flushed red and she immediately turned her head away.

"Hahaha," Old Qian laughed.

"Distribute ten thousand gold soul coins to everyone present," Ning Fengzhi declared with a wave of his hand, his face beaming with joy.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" the deacon bowed respectfully.

"Hm? Why do your trousers look a bit loose?" Ning Fengzhi was in such a good mood that he suddenly took an interest.

"This..."

"You should pull them up a bit."

"Thank you, Sect Master!!!" The deacon had a sudden realization and knelt down to kowtow in tearful gratitude.

"Let's go." Ning Fengzhi turned to leave.

"Daddy, what about Han Yu?" Ning Rongrong tugged on Ning Fengzhi's ear, turning him back around.

Ning Fengzhi offered an awkward smile to appease his precious daughter and signaled for the deacon to continue the awakening ceremony.

Han Yu was the only one left who had yet to awaken his martial soul.

All eyes were now fixed upon him, which made Han Yu, who always preferred to stand in the background, feel quite uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, Han Yu walked forward with composure, his expression calm.

The deacon swallowed hard and took a deep look at the boy.

This was the boy rumored to be the young lady's childhood sweetheart; this was not an easy task. He didn't think much of the boy's prospects, and if his awakened talent turned out to be poor, it might even earn him the young lady's resentment.

He could only pray for the boy in his heart.

Han Yu steadied his mind and slowly stepped into the magic circle.

The next moment, starlight filled the sky, completely engulfing Han Yu's figure and forming a massive vortex that showed signs of expanding even further.

"Stupid Han Yu, if you dare not awaken any soul power... I... I will never talk to you again!"

Ning Rongrong sat on Ning Fengzhi's shoulders, her small hands tugging hard on a few strands of his hair, completely oblivious to the resentful gaze of a certain someone.