Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda

An exotic fragrance drifted through the pavilion in the rear garden.

Dugu Yan had already been sent off by Gu En to rest, leaving only Gu En and Ning Rongrong in the pavilion.

"Brother Gu En, can this flower... really evolve my martial soul?"

Ning Rongrong held the Qiluo Tulip in her hands, her large eyes filled with anticipation and a trace of nervousness.

"Trust me, Rongrong."

Gu En sat behind her and gently pressed both hands against her back, slowly channeling his gentle soul power into her.

"I'll protect you the entire time. Now, calm your mind, circulate your soul power, and guide its medicinal effects into your martial soul."

Ning Rongrong obediently followed Gu En's previous instructions and consumed it.

In an instant, a warm energy as gentle as jade yet as vast as the sea exploded within Ning Rongrong's body.

Gu En carefully controlled his own soul power, acting like a gentle guide as he escorted that energy straight toward Ning Rongrong's sea of consciousness.

Ning Rongrong only felt warm all over, as if she were soaking in the most comfortable hot spring.

The phantom of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda emerged behind her. Bathed in that violet-gold radiance, the pagoda began to tremble violently. Its original seven-tiered body actually started to stretch upward and grow taller.

Second by second, fine beads of sweat seeped across Gu En's forehead.

This was not merely the evolution of a martial soul, but a complete reshaping of her physical constitution.

Finally, accompanied by a crisp roar like glazed glass shattering and being reborn, brilliant light erupted around Ning Rongrong.

Amid the originally dazzling seven-colored radiance, two additional colors appeared, deeper and more noble than the rest.

That glazed pagoda had forcibly grown two more levels!

"Nine levels... the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!"

As Gu En looked at the nine-tiered treasure pagoda, shimmering with flowing light and exuding a sacred aura, his heart surged with emotion.

He knew that from this moment onward, the thousand-year fate of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been shattered by his own hands.

After absorbing the immortal herb, Ning Rongrong entered deep meditation.

Gu En watched over her for an entire night. Only after confirming that her condition had stabilized did he return to his room to rest.

A few days later, the previously tranquil sect suddenly erupted into uproar.

The reason was that while having tea with Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong proudly showed off her "new pagoda."

"Dad, don't you think my pagoda has become prettier?"

When Ning Fengzhi saw the nine-tiered pagoda glittering with strange light, the teacup in his hand fell to the ground with a clatter and shattered into pieces.

The sect master, who remained unfazed even when Mount Tai collapsed before him, actually rose to his feet trembling. Tears streamed down his aged face as he touched the two additional levels of the pagoda, his voice terribly hoarse.

"Nine levels... it really is nine levels! Heaven has blessed our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

Under Ning Fengzhi's repeated questioning, Ning Rongrong naturally held nothing back. She truthfully told him how Gu En had gone to Sunset Forest to search for treasure and how he had brought back a "token of love" for her.

Half an hour later, Gu En was urgently summoned to the council hall.

Inside the hall, aside from Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong were present as well.

Except for Gu Rong, the other two were staring fixedly at Gu En as he entered, their gazes practically treating him like a living god of wealth.

"En'er, come here quickly!"

Ning Fengzhi strode down the steps and grabbed Gu En's hand, his tone carrying unprecedented urgency and anticipation.

"I already know about Rongrong, as well as your martial soul fusion skill. A self-created martial soul fusion skill—you truly are a peerless genius."

"Do you still have any immortal herbs similar to that Qiluo Tulip?"

Sword Douluo Chen Xin could not help speaking as well, his voice carrying a slight tremor.

"En'er, what your Uncle Ning means is that if we could obtain a few more divine treasures capable of evolving martial souls, then our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect..."

Gu En had long expected their ravenous expressions.

He first bowed to the three elders before speaking frankly.

"Uncle Ning, Grandpa Sword, immortal herbs are unique treasures formed from the gathering of heaven and earth's spiritual energy. Every single one is one of a kind."

"I only found one Qiluo Tulip capable of improving the quality of a Glazed Tile Pagoda."

Seeing the disappointment on their faces, Gu En changed the subject and smiled faintly.

"However, while there is no second Qiluo Tulip, I do have several other top-grade immortal herbs with different effects. Some of them may be able to help you, Grandpa Sword, take another step forward on the path of the sword."

"Is that true?!"

A dazzling sharp light instantly burst from Chen Xin's swordlike eyes.

Gu Rong chuckled from the side and patted Chen Xin on the shoulder.

"You old bastard, didn't I tell you my grandson was a lucky star? Haven't you seen the effects of my Strange Velvet Sky-Piercing Chrysanthemum? Level ninety-seven! I never imagined I'd reach level ninety-seven so quickly in this lifetime!"

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He looked at Gu En, his expression turning incomparably solemn.

"En'er, the contributions you have made can no longer be measured by money or status."

"Tell Uncle honestly: how many trump cards have you left in that treasure land? How do you plan to distribute these immortal herbs?"

Gu En looked at Ning Fengzhi, his gaze clear and resolute.

"Uncle Ning, I have already completely taken control of that treasure land. As for the immortal herbs, since I brought them back, it is naturally to make the sect stronger."

"But immortal herbs choose their owners and cannot be used carelessly. I need time to create the most suitable absorption plans based on everyone's martial soul characteristics."

"Good! We'll follow your lead in everything!" Ning Fengzhi waved his hand. At that moment, the sect master seemed more like Gu En's assistant.

At the training grounds behind the council hall, sword qi crisscrossed the air, and even the atmosphere seemed to have been cut into countless fragments.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin sat cross-legged in midair. Resting across his knees was the Seven Killings Sword, entirely azure-blue and seemingly carved from crystal.

Before him, a slender bamboo stalk as black as ink, faintly gleaming with a jade-like luster, emitted a cold, ghostly radiance—the immortal-grade Ink Jade Divine Bamboo.

"Grandpa Sword, this bamboo is called the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo. It combines hardness and softness, making it ideal for tempering both the resilience and sharpness of sword intent."

Gu En stood to the side and offered quiet guidance.

Chen Xin said nothing. He merely took a deep breath, and the Seven Killings Sword Intent instantly surged forth, drawing a wisp of the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo's essence into his body.

Boom—!

In an instant, an enormous blue sword phantom shot into the heavens, forcibly splitting apart the clouds in the sky.

Chen Xin's bottleneck, which had long been firmly stuck at the peak of level ninety-five, shattered in that moment as easily as rotten wood.

Level ninety-seven!

"Haha, old bastard, looks like we'll be equals again from now on."

Though Gu Rong spoke with disdain, the joy in his eyes was sincere.

Chen Xin opened his eyes, and a flash of sword light passed through them. He looked at Gu En and nodded solemnly.

"En'er, Grandpa will remember this favor."

After handling the elders' advancements, Gu En did not relax. Instead, he made a special request to Ning Fengzhi: he wished to learn the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's ultimate technique—Heart Dividing Control.