"Wait."
Seeing Jiang Bai about to leave, Zhang Lexuan called out to stop him. When Jiang Bai turned around, he saw that she now held a bottle in her hand.
"Heavenfrost Spring. A single sip can increase the purity of one's ice attribute and promote Soul Power growth." Zhang Lexuan casually added.
"Consider it a welcome gift for a junior."
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
Holding the Heavenfrost Spring Zhang Lexuan had given him, Jiang Bai went to a resting area outside.
A single sip of Heavenfrost Spring could increase the purity of an ice attribute and promote Soul Power growth.
She called it a welcome gift for a junior, but Jiang Bai knew it was because he had given Bei Bei a chance at a Martial Soul awakening.
"It wouldn't be bad as a drink, either."
Sitting outside, Jiang Bai cultivated as he waited for Xiao Xiao to absorb her Soul Ring and Soul Bone.
After a long while, Gong Changlong came running over in a panic.
"Did something happen to Xiao Xiao?"
Seeing Gong Changlong's appearance, Jiang Bai hurriedly asked.
"No. I just forgot something."
Gong Changlong shook his head. He had no desire to discuss such a subject with the little fellow before him. He had seen plenty of human hearts.
Watching Gong Changlong hurry away again, Jiang Bai made a guess.
Could something have gone wrong while she was absorbing the Soul Bone again?
Jiang Bai recalled how, in the original story, Xiao Xiao's body had been unable to endure the Soul Bone's absorption. But he was not worried. Xiao Xiao was not in a place like the Star Dou Great Forest now; she was at Shrek.
Besides, Zhang Lexuan was inside. This Senior Sister had always handled matters reliably—more reliably than a certain rank ninety-eight Titled Douluo.
And Mu En was still alive. He might even be watching from somewhere nearby. No matter what happened, nothing should go wrong.
Still, he had waited for an awfully long time. Jiang Bai checked the time. It was already midnight.
But it did not matter. He would cultivate if he went back, and he would cultivate here too. It was the same anywhere. He just wondered whether that little girl Xiao Xiao would cry.
Just as Jiang Bai was thinking that, Xiao Xiao emerged from around the corner.
The little girl's face was somewhat pale, her eye sockets slightly red, with undried tears still clinging to her lashes.
The moment she saw Jiang Bai, she quickened her pace and practically charged over at a run.
"Waaah! I thought I'd never see you again!"
Tears still hung in Xiao Xiao's eyes as she threw herself into Jiang Bai's arms.
She really was much heavier than before. It was not an illusion. Xiao Xiao had not grown much taller, and her figure had not changed much, but her whole body had become noticeably heavier.
It should have been the Soul Bone's effect.
"What happened?"
Jiang Bai gently brushed a hand through Xiao Xiao's hair. This little girl really had been frightened badly.
"There was an accident while I was absorbing the Soul Ring. Fortunately, Senior Sister helped me."
Xiao Xiao pulled herself free from Jiang Bai's embrace and answered weakly.
It had been terrifying just now. Her hand had almost been ruined.
That right palm bone was, after all, a top-tier Soul Bone from a Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear. It was different from ordinary Thousand-Year Soul Bones. Even Huo Yuhao in the original story had relied on multiple Soul Bones and Life Gold to absorb it intact.
It truly was not suitable for Xiao Xiao to absorb it now, but judging by the situation, there should not be any problems.
"What happened to your hand?"
Jiang Bai saw several green patterns on the back of Xiao Xiao's right hand, spreading like vines from the roots of her fingers to her wrist.
The patterns were emerald green and faintly luminous, brimming with dense life energy, as though the lines themselves were breathing.
"Uh..."
Hearing that question, Xiao Xiao did not know how to answer. Zhang Lexuan stepped out from behind her to rescue her.
"This is a secret technique that can strengthen the body. The mark will disappear shortly. Student Jiang Bai, do not tell anyone about this."
Zhang Lexuan had come up with that excuse on the spot. It was a little crude, but it was enough to fool Jiang Bai.
"Mm, I understand."
Jiang Bai nodded, fully understanding. After all, it was an External Soul Bone.
Jiang Bai actually preferred wing-type External Soul Bones. Something like Wind-Thunder Wings, for instance—he might absorb one for fun.
"Then, Senior Sister, we'll be heading back first?"
Although Xiao Xiao had that vitality within her body, the mental energy she had expended just now had also left her extremely exhausted.
"Mm."
"An External Soul Bone. This little girl's fortune is quite extraordinary."
The Ice God spoke. The commotion inside had not escaped his notice. With his experience, he naturally recognized what the green pattern on Xiao Xiao's hand was.
"She's always been lucky," Jiang Bai replied. Xiao Xiao had always had good luck.
No matter how one looked at it, Xiao Xiao's destiny could not be poor. After all, how could anyone around Huo Yuhao be simple?
"Senior, how much strength can the backup measure you left in the Ice God Divine Position provide?" Jiang Bai suddenly asked from his bed.
"If you use it, it can push you to the Soul Saint level. After all, the Divine Position isn't on you."
"If it were Huo Yuhao, then with the Ice Empress and that big worm's power added in, he should be able to reach Titled Douluo level."
The Divine Position was with Huo Yuhao, and he also had two helpers.
"Mm."
"A Titled Douluo of Ultimate Ice?"
"Of course."
The Ice God answered. This would certainly be Titled Douluo combat power formed on Huo Yuhao's own foundation, and the attribute would inevitably be Ultimate Ice.
As though he had thought of something, a bold idea arose in Jiang Bai's heart. But if he did that, the Divine Trial would have to be altered, and the later arrangements would need to be reconsidered as well.
"What would it consume? The origin of the Ice God Divine Position?"
He needed to see the cost first. That was the most important part. If the loss was too great, it would be better not to act recklessly.
"There will be a slight loss. However, I have already revived, and the Ice God Divine Position can replenish its own origin. Still, a full-force release would require a year to recover."
The Ice God answered. Though he did not know what Jiang Bai wanted to do, he had a feeling it involved him.
It was an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
The next morning.
Inside Class One, a figure walked up to Jiang Bai's desk and stopped. Jiang Bai raised his head.
Wu Feng stood before him with her arms crossed over her chest, her expression as cold as ever. Her gaze swept across Jiang Bai's face, and her tone was somewhat stiff.
"The Young Mistress wants to see you."
"Student Wu Feng?" Jiang Bai set down his book and looked at Wu Feng before him. "What is it?"
"The Young Mistress wants to see you," Wu Feng repeated, with no intention of explaining further.
She did not know why Ning Tian wanted to see Jiang Bai, either.
"What does she want with you?"
Xiao Xiao frowned slightly. Why did Ning Tian want Jiang Bai? Did she want to lure Jiang Bai into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
"She has something to discuss. You alone." After saying that, Wu Feng left.
Leaving Jiang Bai looking thoughtful.
With the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's information channels, they should know what would happen in a few days. It should be that Selection Tournament.
Was Ning Tian interested in it?
"Are you going?"
Xiao Xiao asked. Seeing Jiang Bai like this, he seemed to intend to keep the appointment.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Jiang Bai asked in return. Ning Tian was the Young Mistress of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—a future major patron. The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had always needed information on gem-type Soul Beasts.
Jiang Bai had a seventy-thousand-year Crystal Stone Beast in his storage space.
He had been waiting until he was strong enough to go to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and make a fortune off them. This was a perfect chance to get acquainted with them first and learn more about the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"You won't get bought off, will you?"
Xiao Xiao asked with some concern. Though the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's foundation was not as strong as Shrek's, it was still one of the foremost powers on the Douluo Continent.
"How could that happen?"
Jiang Bai immediately dismissed the possibility. How could the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect buy him off? The only thing in the sect that interested Jiang Bai was its treasure vault. Everything else was meaningless.
Hearing Jiang Bai's answer, Xiao Xiao relaxed as well.
That was true. Jiang Bai would definitely become an Inner Court student of Shrek in the future. How could the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect possibly steal him away? She had worried for nothing.
"How about I come too?" Xiao Xiao lowered her head to think for a moment before making the suggestion.
She was truly curious about what Ning Tian wanted.
But Jiang Bai rejected it. "She said I should come alone. It wouldn't be appropriate to bring you."
"Fine."
Knowing that, Xiao Xiao did not persist.
Nine Treasure Pavilion stood on the eastern side of the academy. It was an independent building, not ostentatious in appearance, yet every detail carried an air of refinement.
The highest-grade VIP room inside was located on Nine Treasure Pavilion's top floor. By the time Jiang Bai pushed the door open and entered, Ning Tian was already inside.
The room was not large, but it was arranged with great care. Several landscape paintings hung on the walls, a potted bonsai stood in the corner, and a faint sandalwood fragrance lingered in the air.
Ning Tian sat in a chair with a cup of tea in hand. Seeing Jiang Bai enter, she set down the cup and smiled faintly.
"Student Jiang Bai."
Jiang Bai was not reserved at all. He was not the one asking her for a favor, so he casually sat down on the sofa.
"What does Student Ning Tian want with me?"
Getting straight to the point, Jiang Bai did not intend to waste time with Ning Tian here. His time was valuable too.
"Mm. A Selection Tournament will begin in a few days. I want to place among the top seven."
Ning Tian spoke simply and directly stated her request.
"You came to me? I'm only an ordinary Soul Elder."
"You're different. I think you can help me."
Ning Tian said to Jiang Bai. She did not know why Huo Yuhao had become a dual Core Disciple, but from that alone, she could be certain that Huo Yuhao would be among the winners of that selection.
As for the other six, one would definitely be Wang Dong, who possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Another would be a Soul Engineer from the Soul Engineering Department.
She then inferred that two others should be the Outer Court Twin Stars, Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi.
As for the final remaining spots, if nothing unexpected happened, they would likely go to Jiang Bai and Xiao Xiao.
Ning Tian knew that she could not replace any of those four. But Jiang Bai and Xiao Xiao were another matter. So her goal was to replace either Jiang Bai or Xiao Xiao.
Of all these people, Jiang Bai was the one she had dealt with the most, so she wanted to test the waters.
"Actually, with Student Ning Tian's background, getting in shouldn't be difficult, right?" Jiang Bai asked doubtfully.
Two members of the original Shrek Seven Monsters had come from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect: Ning Rongrong and Oscar.
"The times are different."
Hearing Jiang Bai's words, Ning Tian shook her head. Even the Tang Sect, which had the deepest ties to Shrek, had declined. Why would Shrek care about the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
At most, Shrek would give them face in public. But asking Shrek to handle matters for them?
Difficult...
Before you continue