Nine Treasure Glazed Divine Pagoda, Ning Tian Kisses Huo Chen

By the time Huo Chen returned to Shrek Academy, it was already evening.

He did not return to his office or Homecoming Cottage. Instead, he went straight to the core disciples' cultivation area. He asked a passing student to deliver a message and summon Ning Tian.

By the time Ning Tian arrived, night had already fallen. She wore a simple training outfit, her long black hair casually draped over her shoulders. When she saw Huo Chen, her eyes held a hint of confusion and anticipation. "Teacher Huo, you wanted to see me?"

Huo Chen said nothing more. He simply took a palm-sized jade bottle from his robes and held it out to her.

The jade bottle was pure white throughout, its walls as thin as cicada wings. Inside, she could vaguely see a golden liquid that glowed softly in the twilight.

The liquid was not viscous. Rather, it resembled a stream of flowing light, slowly swirling within the bottle and giving off an ancient, noble aura.

Ning Tian's breath caught slightly.

Though she had never seen such a thing before, her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda seemed to sense something at that moment. It trembled gently within her, releasing an almost yearning resonance.

"This is..." Her voice trembled slightly.

"The essence of the Silky Tulip," Huo Chen said. "I brought back part of its origin. It's enough for you to complete your martial soul's evolution."

Ning Tian's eyes instantly reddened.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say so many things—thank you, you've worked hard, I don't know how I could ever repay you—but every word felt pale and inadequate at this moment.

In the end, she merely nodded firmly, her voice choked with emotion. "Mm."

Huo Chen led her into the cultivation room and had her sit cross-legged at the center of the Soul Gathering Array. He then poured the golden essence from the jade bottle into a white jade bowl and handed it to her. "Drink it, then guide it into your martial soul. I'll use the power of reincarnation to help you refine it. Don't resist."

Ning Tian accepted the jade bowl. Looking at the liquid within, its golden radiance flowing endlessly, she took a deep breath and tilted her head back, draining it in one gulp.

The instant the golden liquid entered her mouth, a gentle yet immense force exploded within her body.

That force surged through her meridians. Everywhere it passed felt as though it had been soaked in warm water—comfortable and soothing.

Then, the force gathered at her dantian, enveloping her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda completely.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda trembled gently within her. Fine golden patterns emerged across its surface, as if something were breaking free from within its shell.

Ning Tian could feel her martial soul undergoing an essential transformation, an indescribable metamorphosis, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.

Just as she began to struggle, a warm palm gently pressed against the center of her back.

The power of reincarnation flowed slowly into her body like a gentle river.

That power was not domineering. Instead, it was like a pair of invisible hands, guiding the violent golden energy inside her along the proper path—circulating, merging, and ascending.

Ning Tian steadied her mind and guided her soul power to merge with that golden energy, pouring them together into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Time passed second by second.

Who knew how long had gone by when a dazzling seven-colored radiance suddenly burst from Ning Tian's body. The light shone through her, illuminating the entire cultivation room and casting brilliant shadows across the walls.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda slowly rotated within her dantian, rising layer by layer.

Eight layers.

Nine layers.

The nine-tiered pagoda shimmered with seven-colored light from top to bottom. Fine golden runes were etched across its surface, radiating a noble and sacred aura.

It was no longer an ordinary Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, but the evolved Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. No—it had gone a step beyond even an ordinary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

The golden runes on its surface contained the aura of the laws of reincarnation, making this pagoda more than an ordinary support-type martial soul. It now bore a trace of divine radiance—a god-grade martial soul.

The Nine Treasure Glazed Divine Pagoda.

Ning Tian slowly opened her eyes and lowered her head to look at her hands.

She could feel soul power several times more immense than before surging through her body. The bottleneck that had troubled her for so long had already vanished without a trace.

Level thirty-one.

Level thirty-five.

Level thirty-eight.

Level forty.

Her soul power level rose continuously before finally stabilizing firmly at the threshold of level forty.

She only needed to obtain another soul ring to become a true four-ringed Soul Ancestor.

She had succeeded.

Ning Tian raised her head and looked at the man before her as he withdrew his hand. A thousand words surged into her heart, yet she could not utter a single one.

Her eyes were red, tears welling within them, but she bit her lip and tried her best not to let them fall.

"Teacher Huo..." Her voice was hoarse and thick with tears. "Thank you."

Huo Chen smiled. "How do you feel?"

"I feel..." Ning Tian lowered her head to look at her hands, sensing the brand-new, immense power within her. "I feel like I've been reborn."

"That's good." Huo Chen rose to his feet. "You're level forty now. Next, you need a suitable soul ring. There's no rush for that. Wait—"

Before he could finish, Ning Tian suddenly stood up.

She stepped forward, rose onto her tiptoes, and kissed him on the lips.

That kiss came without warning. Huo Chen froze slightly, but he did not push her away.

Ning Tian's lips were soft and warm, carrying the faintly salty taste of tears. He did not know when she had started crying.

Her hands clutched tightly at the front of his shirt, as though she were using this kiss to express the gratitude and feelings she could not put into words.

A moment later, she let go of him and took half a step back, her cheeks burning red.

Tears still clung to her lashes, but her gaze did not waver. She looked straight into his eyes.

"Teacher Huo, I..." Her voice trembled slightly, but her tone was resolute.

"I like you. Not the way a student likes a teacher. It's... it's the way a girl likes a man."

After saying that, her cheeks turned even redder, but she still did not look away.

Huo Chen looked at her eyes, filled with courage and nervousness. After a moment of silence, he reached out and gently wiped away the lingering tear tracks on her cheek. "I understand."

Ning Tian's lashes trembled.

"But you're still young." Huo Chen's tone was gentle yet serious. "When you're a little older, if you still feel the same way, then I'll say yes."

Ning Tian stared at him for several seconds, then nodded vigorously. "Okay. Then wait for me."

After saying that, she turned and hurried out of the training room. At the doorway, she nearly tripped over the threshold and staggered two steps before steadying herself, then ran off without looking back.

Huo Chen stood in the training room, watching her flustered figure flee, and smiled helplessly.

He lowered his head and looked at his hand. His fingertips seemed to still retain the warmth and touch of her tears.

"Every single one of them is so bold," he murmured. There was a trace of helplessness in his voice, but also an indescribable warmth.

When he walked out of the training room, the night wind brushed against his face, carrying the chill of early autumn. The distant teaching building was brightly lit, and he could faintly hear the students laughing and playing after evening self-study had ended.

He stood in the corridor and glanced in the direction Ning Tian had run, then turned and headed toward Homecoming Cottage.