The First Millennium Soul Ring, Ning Fengzhi's Shock!

Ning Fengzhi was so stunned he could not speak. His attention was completely drawn to that purple Soul Ring.

"A Millennium Soul Ring? Your first Soul Ring is millennium-grade?!" Ning Fengzhi's voice rose sharply. "What level are you even at? How could you possibly absorb a Millennium Soul Ring? And the reports said you only had level sixteen Soul Power—how are you level nineteen now..."

Lin Ming smiled faintly. "That is my secret."

He was not lying. His Soul Power had indeed risen to level nineteen due to Martial Soul Evolution.

Ning Fengzhi fell silent.

He reevaluated the boy before him. The reports from his subordinates had said Lin Ming's Martial Soul was an Iron Spear, that he possessed two and a half levels of Innate Soul Power, and had level sixteen Soul Power.

Yet what stood before him now was a top-tier Martial Soul, the Sky-Piercing Spear; level nineteen Soul Power; and a first Soul Ring that was millennium-grade!

How was this trash? He was clearly a genius who had been buried away!

"Good kid, you hid yourself deeply." Sword Douluo suddenly laughed, a glimmer of appreciation flashing through his eyes. He stepped forward and circled Lin Ming once, becoming more satisfied the longer he looked.

"Your Sky-Piercing Spear follows the path of offense, doesn't it?"

Lin Ming nodded. "Senior, you have keen eyes."

"The path of offense suits me perfectly!" Sword Douluo stroked his beard and laughed heartily. Then he cleared his throat and turned serious. "Lin Ming, let me ask you: are you willing to take me as your master?"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone was shocked.

Bone Douluo's eyes widened. "Old man, are you serious?"

"Of course I am." Sword Douluo stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze burning as he looked at Lin Ming. "In terms of attack power, this boy's Martial Soul may not be inferior to my Seven Killing Sword. If properly trained, he will surely become someone great. I have never accepted a disciple in my life, but today, I find myself cherishing talent."

Ning Rongrong was the first to react. She excitedly grabbed Lin Ming's sleeve. "Lin Ming! Hurry and agree! Grandpa Sword is a Titled Douluo! For him to accept you as his disciple is a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Lin Ming had already been celebrating inside.

A Titled Douluo was voluntarily taking him as a disciple—he would not find such luck even with a lantern! He immediately dropped to one knee and clasped his fists. "This disciple, Lin Ming, greets Master!"

"Good, good, good!" Sword Douluo laughed loudly and reached out to help Lin Ming up. "Get up, get up. From today onward, you are the only personal disciple of me, Sword Douluo!"

Ning Fengzhi's eyelid twitched as he watched from the side.

Uncle Sword was really quick to make a move. He had originally wanted to observe Lin Ming a while longer, but Sword Douluo had directly taken him as a disciple. Now, it would be unreasonable for him to try and send the boy away.

He sighed and put on a kindly smile. "Since that is the case, I can no longer play the villain. Lin Ming, since Rongrong likes you and you are willing to remain in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then let this matter be settled."

He paused, then added, "Of course, you are still young. There is no need to rush your matter as a couple; you are both still children... First, cultivate properly under Uncle Sword. We can discuss it again once you have sufficient strength."

This boy truly was worth cultivating. If nurtured well, perhaps he could really bring the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a future Titled Douluo. No matter how he calculated it, this deal was not a loss.

"Wonderful! Dad, does that mean you agree to let me marry Lin Ming?"

The moment Ning Rongrong said that, Ning Fengzhi nearly sprayed out the tea he had just swallowed.

He set down his teacup and looked helplessly at his daughter. "Rongrong, when did I say I agreed? I only said he could stay in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I never said you two could marry!"

"But just now, you clearly said..."

"I said we would discuss it after he has sufficient strength!" Ning Fengzhi cut off his daughter, his expression stern. "How old are you? Twelve! And you are already thinking of getting married? Where would that leave my dignity, Ning Fengzhi's dignity, if word got out?"

Ning Rongrong pouted, looking thoroughly unhappy. "Then how long do we have to wait..."

"At least until he becomes a Titled Douluo!" Ning Fengzhi casually tossed out an impossible goal, hoping his daughter would retreat in the face of difficulty.

Who would have thought that Ning Rongrong would not back down? Instead, her eyes lit up. "Fine! It is settled, then! Lin Ming, did you hear that? Dad said we can marry once you become a Titled Douluo! You have to work hard!"

Lin Ming's mouth twitched. A Titled Douluo? Those were existences at the peak of the Douluo Continent. There were only a few dozen across the entire continent. This old fox was clearly making things difficult for him.

But it did not matter. With the system in hand, becoming a Titled Douluo was merely a matter of time.

Seeing that he could not scare off Lin Ming, Ning Fengzhi could only change the subject and bring up his treatment. "Lin Ming, since you have joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I will not treat you poorly. Starting today, you will receive cultivation resources worth ten thousand Gold Soul Coins every month—enough to support you until you become a Soul Ancestor."

Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins.

The number drew another round of startled cries from the servants present. An ordinary civilian Soul Master's annual cultivation expenses were only a few hundred Gold Soul Coins. Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins were enough to support cultivation all the way to the Soul King level. Ning Fengzhi truly was generous.

However, Ning Rongrong was not pleased.

"Ten thousand? Dad, you are being far too stingy!" Ning Rongrong planted her hands on her hips, looking ready to seek justice for Lin Ming. "Lin Ming is Grandpa Sword's personal disciple! You are only giving him ten thousand Gold Soul Coins a month? Are you trying to dismiss a beggar? It should be at least five million!"

"Pfft—" This time, Ning Fengzhi really did spray out his tea. "Five million?! Do you know how much five million Gold Soul Coins are? That is enough to support an entire Soul Master army!"

"I do not care! It cannot be too little!" Ning Rongrong raised her chin stubbornly. "You are the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Isn't this tiny amount of money nothing but pocket change to you?"

Ning Fengzhi was so angry his beard practically stood on end. This girl had not even married out yet, and she was already taking someone else's side? If she really married him, would she not empty out the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?

"One million!" Ning Fengzhi gritted out. "At most, one million! Not one coin more!"

"Deal!" Ning Rongrong immediately beamed. She turned and winked at Lin Ming. "Lin Ming, did you hear that? From now on, you will have cultivation resources worth one million Gold Soul Coins every month! Spend as much as you want. If it is not enough, I will ask Dad for more!"

Ning Fengzhi only felt a pain in his chest. He seriously suspected that he had raised a fake daughter. This little padded jacket was leaking terribly.

Standing nearby, Lin Ming watched Ning Rongrong argue for him with sound reasoning and felt secretly delighted.

So this was what it felt like to have a wife backing you up? It was amazing!

Still, Lin Ming was not the sort of man who only knew how to live off a woman. Since he had accepted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's benefits, he had to show some real ability as well. Otherwise, would people not look down on him?

"Sect Master Ning," Lin Ming said, "thank you for the cultivation resources. However, I have a request and hope the Sect Master can help me."

Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow. "Let us hear it."

"I need Whale Rubber. A large amount of Whale Rubber."

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became strange.

Ning Fengzhi wore an odd expression, while Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo also looked at Lin Ming strangely. Their gazes were like those directed at a... well, rather improper young man.

"Cough..." Ning Fengzhi dryly coughed. "Lin Ming, do you know what Whale Rubber is used for?"

Of course Lin Ming knew. Whale Rubber came from a type of deep-sea soul beast. Its meat was delicious, but its greatest characteristic was—enhancing virility.

In this era, Whale Rubber was basically used as an aphrodisiac. Nobles often spent vast sums to buy it for... well, improving marital relations.

"I know." Lin Ming's expression did not change. "But I need Whale Rubber, not for that."

"Then what is it for?" Bone Douluo asked curiously.

Lin Ming organized his thoughts before slowly saying, "Whale Rubber contains a special kind of energy that can nourish a Soul Master's meridians and raise the limit of what their Soul Rings can withstand. Simply put, it can increase the age of Soul Rings."