After refining some medicinal pills, quite a few Immortal Herbs remained. Ji Hongchen did not choose to use all of them for pill refining, instead saving a portion to use for securing alliances.
"Next is the Aromatic Silk Beauty."
Ji Hongchen picked up the Aromatic Silk Beauty.
As the king of flowers that absorbed the essence of the sun and moon, the Aromatic Silk Beauty was precisely what allowed Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to evolve into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
He refined the Aromatic Silk Beauty.
Three pills were produced, except this time the medicinal pills were of different colors.
One was refined from the essence of the Aromatic Silk Beauty, presenting a trace of incomparably noble golden-yellow and emanating wisps of mysterious halos.
The other two were refined from scrap trimmings, appearing pale yellow. Their medicinal efficacy naturally could not compare to the top-grade Aromatic Silk Pill, and they could only be considered superior-grade.
"Still, that is enough."
Ji Hongchen took out all the refined medicinal pills.
Then he began frantically consuming them.
He started with two Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid Pills and one Narcissus Jade Muscle Pill, coupled with the Ninth-Grade Purple Pill for Foundation Consolidation, and Ji Hongchen directly refined all of them.
Instantly.
A majestic medicinal force surged into his body, yet it did not run amok within him. After a round of refinement, the medicinal force of these pills was gentle, making it much more suitable for a Soul Master to absorb.
Only, the medicinal force was too immense.
Ji Hongchen needed a long time to carry out the refinement.
And so.
Half a month later...
Ji Hongchen opened his eyes, and his aura had also grown increasingly solid.
"Rank 39 Soul Power!"
Ji Hongchen muttered to himself, sensing the Soul Power within his body, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Furthermore, his cultivation speed had returned.
Now he could roughly achieve a cultivation speed of two ranks a year. With sufficient resources, three or four ranks a year was not impossible, something even geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power could not accomplish.
"Hongchen, you've broken through!"
Dugu Bo walked over, and seeing Ji Hongchen's solid aura, he did not feel surprised.
After all, given Ji Hongchen's strength.
Even if he stirred up some earth-shattering event, he would not find it strange.
Ji Hongchen nodded. "I made some gains."
"Let's head back first. That girl Rongrong must be waiting anxiously, and Yanzi can just right absorb the Snow-Colored Swan Pill to advance her strength further."
Dugu Bo nodded.
"That's right, Hongchen, what do you think of Yanzi?"
Hearing Dugu Bo suddenly ask this, Ji Hongchen was startled for a moment, then spoke as a matter of course.
"Yanzi is very beautiful and very gentle."
"Do you like her?"
Dugu Bo asked, far from angry and instead delighted.
Ji Hongchen nodded.
"Everyone has a love for beauty, and besides, mutual affection between two people is quite normal, isn't it."
"However, I cannot agree just yet. When my strength is sufficient to prop up the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, I will do it."
Ji Hongchen's tone was resolute.
It could be considered giving Dugu Bo a reassuring pill.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect currently only supported him in view of his value, and if he wanted to establish his own faction, he still needed to focus on roping in Dugu Bo.
Everyone had ambitions.
Ji Hongchen was no exception. The Douluo Continent lacked a Sword Sect, leaving the Clear Sky Hammer to dominate the scene alone, and perhaps he could fill this vacancy.
As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
He would not be an ingrate either, and had allowed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to evolve, but his desire to establish his own faction did not conflict with his protection of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Perhaps he could even cooperate with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
In the future, his Sword Sect would provide protection while the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect provided support; the two great sects complementing each other and developing hand in hand-wouldn't that be better than now?
"Good lad, this old man believes you."
Dugu Bo laughed heartily.
With Ji Hongchen's words, he felt at ease.
Inside the small courtyard.
Ning Rongrong sat listlessly in a reclining chair, gazing at the sky in a daze while toying with her pink hair.
In the sky.
A shadow swept past.
"Rongrong."
A familiar voice sounded, and Ning Rongrong looked up, a smile blooming on her face. "Brother Hongchen!"
Yet immediately after, Ning Rongrong put on a straight face and let out a cold huff.
"Hmph, you took so long to come back."
"Rongrong is angry!"
Ning Rongrong pouted, looking like a picture of displeasure.
Ji Hongchen chuckled, pulling Ning Rongrong into his embrace as a bright golden medicinal pill appeared in his hand.
"Rongrong, this is for you!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. She picked up the medicinal pill in Ji Hongchen's hand and examined it closely.
"Brother Hongchen, what is this?"
Ji Hongchen smiled, reaching out to pinch Ning Rongrong's cheek. "Hmph, your Brother Hongchen went to great lengths to find a method for your martial soul to evolve, and you're still mad at your Brother Hongchen. You really are a little ungrateful wretch."
Martial soul evolution!
Only then did Ning Rongrong realize Ji Hongchen's painstaking efforts, and for a moment she felt a pang of guilt.
"I'm sorry, Brother Hongchen~"
"How are you sorry?"
Ji Hongchen pressed his advantage as he looked at Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong blushed and raised her head, lightly kissing Ji Hongchen on the corner of his lips.
"Do you want another?"
Ji Hongchen looked at Ning Rongrong's flushed face, the corners of his mouth curving upward, but wisely chose to quit while he was ahead. After all, Ning Rongrong was still young and prone to getting electrocuted.
"Alright, hurry and refine this medicinal pill."
Ning Rongrong nodded and swallowed the medicinal pill.
As pure Soul Power surged into her body.
"Mh~"
Ning Rongrong let out a soft cry as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared, floating in mid-air.
Following the influx of medicinal force.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda emitted a brilliant and dazzling radiance, akin to the starlight of the sun and moon, dazzling to the eye.
Before long.
Ning Rongrong opened her eyes, the radiance around her body dissipating, replaced instead by a flash of pleasant surprise.
She looked at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her hand.
No.
Now it was the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
With an excited leap, Ning Rongrong threw herself into Ji Hongchen's arms, launching into a flurry of fierce kisses against Ji Hongchen as her little tongue continuously stirred within his mouth.
Ji Hongchen was somewhat dazed.
After a good while, Ning Rongrong felt somewhat tired before finally climbing down from Ji Hongchen's body.
Ning Rongrong's face was slightly flushed.
Clearly, she had yet to calm down from the excitement.
"Alright, alright, little Rongrong, are you trying to stir up my temper?"
Ji Hongchen couldn't help pinching Ning Rongrong's cheek.
This girl really was too tempting.
Ning Rongrong gave a coquettish huff. "Hmph, I'm not little anymore. Besides, I'm turning twelve soon; I've already grown up. If Brother Hongchen has a temper, I'll help you vent it!"
Heh, what an utterly precocious girl.
In the original work, Ning Rongrong was a somewhat mischievous lass, and she was the same now, only even more mischievous. If he were willing, Ning Rongrong would truly dare to shoulder his spear.
Ji Hongchen glanced at Ning Rongrong's two little bread rolls and couldn't help smiling.
This little girl should develop a bit more first.
Lest she starve the child in the future.
"Let's go find your father first. Your martial soul evolving is a good thing, and I still have two pills left in my hand, which will make a great surprise for your father."
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up.
"That's right, Brother Hongchen, you've delivered a huge gift to Dad this time. You simply must make Dad give you a reward!"
Her eyes rolled.
In her heart, she was still plotting how to make Ning Fengzhi cough up gold coins.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Fengzhi was sitting in the main hall.
Because sect affairs were all handled by the clan elders, he, this sect master, was relatively leisurely and only needed to take charge of macro-level decision-making.
"I think Hongchen's idea of roping in other auxiliary soul masters is very good. After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is inherently the number one auxiliary martial soul, and we ought to take the lead."
Ning Fengzhi recalled the idea Ji Hongchen had casually mentioned to him previously and felt it made a lot of sense.
As long as they controlled all auxiliary soul masters.
The position of their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would undoubtedly become even more secure, and they could also acquire greater benefits.
Before you continue