Ning Qingyun stood rooted to the spot, completely dumbfounded.
Ignoring her image as the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she raised a hand and vigorously rubbed her eyes.
But when she looked again, there were still six black and three red Soul Rings—an absolutely outrageous configuration.
She had never seen a Soul Ring configuration like this in her entire life.
Yellow, purple, black, red.
Those were the colors Soul Rings were supposed to be.
Whose Soul Rings were black, red, black, and red?
Was this even right?
Ning Qingyun stood there with her mouth slightly agape, disbelief written all over her face.
Her mind was in chaos, all kinds of thoughts tangled together. For a moment, she didn't even know what to say.
Watching her like this, Leng Yaozhu felt inexplicably pleased.
Soul Ring configurations in Douluo III were all beyond the norm.
Usually, no one would be shocked by them. But ten thousand years in the past, they became a crushing advantage.
Still, she was only a little satisfied. On the surface, her expression remained calm.
"This Soul Ring configuration can count as a reward for your cooperation."
Gu An spoke up, too.
"Exactly."
He jumped down from Mother Gu's arms and landed steadily on his feet.
Then he released his Martial Soul.
The Dragon-Phoenix Phantom appeared out of thin air. A dragon and a phoenix coiled around each other, letting out a deep dragon's roar and a clear, lilting phoenix cry.
The two phantoms circled Gu An once, then turned into streams of light and entered the pearly white flute in his hand.
At the same time, a Soul Ring rose from beneath Gu An's feet.
A Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, black as ink.
Ning Qingyun's attention had been drawn to Gu An's actions, and she naturally saw the black Soul Ring.
Her pupils constricted again.
If Leng Yaozhu alone had such an outrageous Soul Ring configuration, Ning Qingyun could still have convinced herself not to believe it.
Maybe it was some kind of divine trial.
Maybe it was a special inheritance.
There really were trials left behind by gods on the continent. Completing them could increase the age of one's Soul Rings.
But what about Gu An?
A child who looked eight or nine years old.
His First Soul Ring was already ten thousand years old!
There was no faking that.
A child's body simply couldn't withstand the impact of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, unless some power far beyond her imagination stood behind him.
Ning Qingyun's heart was racing.
She quickly weighed the pros and cons.
Even if it was fake, even if it couldn't give the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Soul Rings beyond the norm—
Investing in two people who might become gods in the future would still be an incredible deal. Ah.
No matter how she looked at it, she had nothing to lose.
Gu An watched Ning Qingyun's expression shift again and again. He knew she had already made up her mind.
But he didn't mind adding more fuel to the fire.
He wanted her utterly devoted.
Gu An raised a hand and summoned the Green Blade Falcon.
The miniature Green Blade Falcon landed in his palm, tilting its head as it looked at Ning Qingyun with bright, lively eyes.
It looked exactly like a real living creature.
Gu An held the Green Blade Falcon out and looked at Ning Qingyun.
"Do you know what this is?"
Ning Qingyun's gaze was fixed on the miniature Green Blade Falcon.
Without waiting for her to answer, Gu An gave her the answer directly.
"A Soul Spirit."
"The soul of a Soul Beast, retaining its own consciousness. It can form a contract with a Soul Master."
"It can not only assist in battle but fight on its own, too."
He paused, looking Ning Qingyun in the eyes.
"What do you think that means for an auxiliary-type Soul Master?"
If the grand promise from earlier had already filled Ning Qingyun up—
Then Gu An's words had stuffed her completely full.
What was a grand promise compared to this? This was happening right in front of her!
Her mature, beautiful face was full of both shock and delight.
Her red lips parted with excitement, but not a single word came out.
A Soul Spirit could fight on its own.
What did that mean for an auxiliary-type Soul Master?
It meant the auxiliary Soul Masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would no longer be helpless lambs at the mercy of others.
A Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda Soul Master with a Soul Spirit at her side that could fight on its own—
Who would dare approach her lightly?
Hidden Weapons?
Soul Tools?
Those were external possessions.
Nothing could compare to a real increase in one's own strength.
Besides, having a Soul Spirit didn't mean they couldn't keep using Soul Tools.
The two didn't conflict at all.
After thinking it through, Ning Qingyun's face flushed red, her breathing quickened, and her chest heaved violently.
Join.
They had to join.
They had to join, no matter what.
Even if they weren't allowed in, they still had to join.
Today, Ning Qingyun would get down on her knees and beg if she had to—she was going to shove the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect into this faction.
Meanwhile.
When Wu Yunshan heard that his Sect Master had gone alone to face that Titled Douluo, he was frantic as an ant on a hot pan.
He hurried in the direction of the lingering Soul Power.
"Sect Master! You can't let anything happen to you!"
When he finally arrived, he was utterly dumbfounded.
His Sect Master, usually so dignified and elegant, with impeccable poise—
Was holding a little boy in her arms, her face covered in an ingratiating smile.
"Young Master, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has three vast estates in the eastern part of the city. They'd be perfect for building an academy!"
"If the east doesn't suit you, there's another plot in the north, backed by mountains and facing the water, with an absolutely beautiful view!"
"Don't worry at all about Gold Soul Coins. Leave everything to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
"Building materials, craftsmen, formation arrangements—we'll provide the whole package. I guarantee you'll be satisfied, Young Master!"
Wu Yunshan was completely dumbfounded.
His mouth hung open, his jaw almost hitting the ground.
Was this really their Sect Master?
Something was wrong here.
Where was Ning Qingyun, who could face envoys from Shrek Academy without fawning or groveling?
Where was Sect Master Ning, who called the shots at sect meetings and commanded the room?
Why was she acting like a real-estate salesman now?
And that little brat.
His Sect Master was fawning over him like this, yet he looked utterly resigned to his fate.
Wu Yunshan was gnashing his teeth at the sight.
Did that little brat even know how many people dreamed of having those two heavy responsibilities on his shoulders? Damn it.
Ning Qingyun caught sight of Wu Yunshan standing not far away, frozen in bewilderment.
She immediately stood up, her ingratiating smile switching in an instant to the majesty of a sect leader.
"Elder Wu, you're here."
Wu Yunshan opened his mouth.
"Sect Master, this..."
Ning Qingyun walked over to him, lowered her voice, and quickly explained what had just happened.
After hearing her out, Wu Yunshan's expression changed dramatically.
He turned around and went straight to Gu An, his old face brimming with smiles.
"Young Master."
"When my unfilial granddaughter, Wu Feng, returns from Shrek Academy, you must give her a good thrashing."
"Beat her, scold her—whatever you like."
"As long as she can keep up with you, anything goes."
Ning Qingyun hurried over, too.
"Right, right. My Ning Tian is in your hands, too, Xiao An."
She patted her full chest, which quivered with the motion, her face brimming with confidence.
"As for the academy, leave everything to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"It's called Spirit Transmission Academy, right?"
"Give us ten days."
"My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will absolutely have it built."
"And we'll make it even better than Shrek Academy."
As she spoke, she lifted her chin slightly, her eyes sparkling.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might have fallen on hard times.
But if she said they were the second richest in the world, no one would dare claim first place.
Did they even understand the prestige of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
Seeing her looking so fired up, Gu An's mouth twitched slightly.
He hadn't expected things to go even more smoothly than he'd planned.
He nodded.
"Fine. I'll leave it to you, then."
"We'll discuss everything else after the academy is built."
Ning Qingyun nodded repeatedly, her head bobbing like a chick pecking at rice.
"Good, good, good."
"I'll send someone to notify Ning Tian and the others right away and tell them to come back quickly."
Wu Yunshan nodded vigorously beside her.
"Right, right. This old man will write a letter at once."
"I'll tell that little brat Wu Feng to get her butt back here!"
The two exchanged a look, their eyes full of resolve. Whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could rise again depended on this one move.