"In theory, yes." Lin Ming nodded. "However, this soul skill has its limitations. The distance and direction of the dash must be determined before activation and cannot be changed midway. It also requires a brief charge-up when activated. If an opponent interrupts it, that would be troublesome."
Even so, the power of this soul skill was already beyond doubt.
Lin Ming assessed his current combat strength—his god-grade Heaven-Piercing Divine Spear Martial Soul, three Soul Rings over a thousand years old, with the third one even being ten-thousand-year level.
Combined with the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear External Soul Bone and the physique tempered by three Immortal Herbs, this entire setup gave him the strength to fight even a level-fifty Soul King.
Just one month ago, he had still been a useless person at only level sixteen, struggling even to survive.
Now, he had caught up to the talented members of his generation and even showed faint signs of surpassing them.
And all of this was only because he had bonded Ning Rongrong as a "wife."
Several other names involuntarily surfaced in Lin Ming's mind—Qian Renxue, Gu Yuena, Bo Saixi, Snow Empress.
If he could bond them as well, just how far would his strength rise?
Lin Ming swallowed and forced himself to calm down.
Food had to be eaten one bite at a time, and roads had to be walked one step at a time. It was still too early to think about such distant matters. The urgent priority was deciding on his next target.
He carefully analyzed his current situation.
Gu Yuena, the Silver Dragon King and ruler of the soul beasts, should still be sleeping in the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest. Looking for her with his current strength would be no different from seeking death.
Bo Saixi, the high priestess of Sea God Island and a level-ninety-nine Peerless Douluo, was far overseas. With his current status and strength, he simply could not reach her.
Snow Empress, foremost among the three great rulers of the Far North and a seven-hundred-thousand-year soul beast, was likewise far beyond his reach.
After considering it from every angle, the easiest person for him to contact at present was actually Qian Renxue, who was disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
She was in the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial palace, while the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lay within the Heaven Dou Empire's territory. Given the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's status, meeting Crown Prince Xue Qinghe would not be difficult.
"Looks like I need to make a trip to Heaven Dou City," Lin Ming murmured.
"Lin Ming, what are you thinking about?" Ning Rongrong moved closer, tilting her head as she looked at him.
Lin Ming came back to himself and smiled. "Nothing. I was thinking about what to do next. Come on, let's go back and see Master and the Sect Master first."
The two returned along the same route and soon found Sword Douluo waiting at the outskirts. When Sword Douluo saw the black Soul Ring behind Lin Ming, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes, but he did not ask further. He merely nodded. "Not bad. Let's return."
The three of them made their way back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
When Ning Fengzhi learned that Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and that her Soul Power had broken through to level thirty-three, the normally steady Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was so excited he nearly jumped up.
"Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! It really is the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!" Ning Fengzhi held Ning Rongrong's hand as he looked at the nine-tiered glazed pagoda, his eyes reddening. "Heaven bless the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! Heaven bless the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
He turned to Lin Ming, his eyes full of gratitude and admiration. "Lin Ming, you truly are the lucky star of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! Not only did you evolve Rongrong's Martial Soul, but you also helped her increase her Soul Power by so much! I truly don't know how to thank you!"
Lin Ming humbly replied, "You are too kind, Sect Master. Rongrong is my future wife. It is only right that I do these things."
Ning Fengzhi nodded repeatedly, then made an important decision.
"Lin Ming, from today onward, your marriage engagement with Rongrong is officially confirmed!" Ning Fengzhi declared solemnly. "Once you reach marriageable age, I will personally preside over your wedding! Furthermore, from this moment on, you hold half the inheritance rights to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! Whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can flourish in the future will depend on you!"
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong jumped up in delight and grabbed Lin Ming's arm. "Lin Ming! Did you hear that? Dad agreed to let us get married!"
Lin Ming smiled and stroked her head, but a powerful sense of crisis welled up inside him.
The better the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect developed, the more wary Spirit Hall would become. In the original story, once Spirit Hall's ambitions had swelled to a certain point, it launched a surprise attack on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, leading to that tragic battle that destroyed the sect.
Although several years still remained before that war, Lin Ming did not dare let down his guard. He had to increase his strength as quickly as possible while expanding his own power as much as he could.
And to oppose Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue was a crucial figure.
As Spirit Hall's young mistress and the inheritor of the Angel God, she held an extremely important position within Spirit Hall. If he could bring her to his side, then when the time came to fight Spirit Hall, he would have an important insider.
Of course, Lin Ming would never admit that he had another reason for wanting to contact Qian Renxue—this was Qian Renxue! A goddess immensely popular in the original story, with an angelically pure face and a noble, icy temperament!
I'm not lusting after beauty, Lin Ming silently told himself. I'm doing this for the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Yes, that's exactly it.
After reassuring himself, Lin Ming presented his thoughts to Ning Fengzhi.
"Sect Master, I don't want to stay in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect all the time, working in isolation. I want to see the outside world. Ideally, I'd like to study at an academy, broaden my horizons, and make some friends."
Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment before nodding. "You have a point. Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Going out to gain experience will benefit you as well. Which academy do you want to attend?"
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy," Lin Ming said without hesitation.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy was the Heaven Dou Empire's foremost institution for Soul Masters. Located within Heaven Dou City, it had an exceptional faculty, and many of its students were noble children and talented Soul Masters. More importantly, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe often visited Heaven Dou Royal Academy, giving him a chance to contact her there.
After thinking it over, Ning Fengzhi felt that Heaven Dou Royal Academy was indeed a good choice. "Heaven Dou Royal Academy is not bad. Its faculty is strong, and it is located in Heaven Dou City, close to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If anything happens, you can return at any time. How about this? Let Rongrong go with you as well. The two of you can look after each other."
Naturally, Lin Ming had no objections.
Ning Rongrong raised both hands in agreement. "Great! I've wanted to go play at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for ages! I heard their cafeteria has especially delicious food!"
Two days later, a luxurious carriage stopped outside the gates of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
A teenage boy and girl stepped down from the carriage. The boy had ink-black hair, sharp brows, and bright eyes, with a faintly roguish smile at the corner of his lips. He wore a well-fitted white martial outfit, and a specially made token of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hung from his waist.
The girl wore a long pink dress. Her skin was fair as snow, her features delicate, and her large eyes lively and spirited. When she smiled, two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks.
They were Lin Ming and Ning Rongrong.
Before you continue