Back to Nuoding Academy, Yu Xiaogang Had Lost His Mind

After returning home.

Ji Hongchen realized that it was about time for graduation at Nuoding Academy.

"It's time to give Xiao Chenyu what I promised him."

Ji Hongchen didn't like owing anyone anything.

A purple pill appeared in his hand. It had been refined using nine-grade purple ganoderma as its main ingredient, supplemented by other mild medicinal herbs.

It would be suitable for Xiao Chenyu to take.

Although it couldn't make Xiao Chenyu a Titled Douluo, becoming a Soul Emperor and gaining a noble title in Heaven Dou would be no problem.

"Rongrong, I'm planning to go out for a little trip. I might break through to level forty along the way and get a soul ring while I'm at it. Want to come?"

Ning Rongrong agreed without a second thought.

"Of course! Wherever you go, Hongchen, I'll go too."

"Oh, and let's have Grandpa Sword and Poison Douluo come along this time. We might even run into a surprise."

Ji Hongchen thought of that little rabbit.

By now, the interest had multiplied thousands upon thousands of times. Xiao Wu owed him at least several hundred million gold soul coins-the equivalent of mortgaging almost half the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to him.

There was no way that rabbit could pay it back.

Having her put up her own soul ring as collateral would be pretty good too.

The next day.

Ji Hongchen first woke the little sleepyhead Ning Rongrong in his arms, then left the room.

He could sense two additional presences nearby.

As expected, they were Dugu Bo and Sword Douluo, protecting them from the shadows.

He felt completely safe.

Even if Tang Hao showed up now, it wouldn't do him any good.

Having powerful backing really does make a difference.

With that thought, Ji Hongchen summoned the Jinghong Sword.

He held out his hand to Ning Rongrong.

"Rongrong, hop on."

Ning Rongrong took Ji Hongchen's hand and stepped onto the Jinghong Sword.

As the Jinghong Sword rose into the air.

Ning Rongrong glanced at the ground, a glint of mischief flashing in her eyes, then nestled a little closer into Ji Hongchen's arms as though frightened.

Ji Hongchen smiled without saying anything.

He rested his hand on Ning Rongrong's soft waist.

It felt nice and very soft. After refining the pill, Ning Rongrong had also acquired a faint fragrance. Even smelling it every day, he never grew tired of it.

Ning Rongrong noticed Ji Hongchen's movement.

Her pretty face flushed, and she nestled even closer into his arms.

In the shadows.

Sword Douluo watched Ning Rongrong snuggling against him like a little bird, an indulgent smile on his face. Ji Hongchen really was a good lad, someone she could entrust her life to.

Half a day later.

Ji Hongchen arrived in Nuoding City.

After asking around, he learned that Xiao Chenyu had already graduated from Nuoding Academy. He was now a level twenty-two Soul Grandmaster and had begun taking over the city lord's duties.

Ji Hongchen went straight to the City Lord's Mansion.

As soon as he landed, a soldier on guard duty came over.

"Lord Soul Master, what brings you to the City Lord's Mansion?"

Ji Hongchen said, "I'm a friend of Xiao Chenyu's. Please let him know I'm here."

The soldier nodded and went inside to announce him.

A moment later, the soldier returned with an excited young man following behind him.

"Ji, it really is you!"

Xiao Chenyu ran over excitedly. The moment he saw Ji Hongchen, he couldn't help recalling their days leading the Lionpack at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy.

"Chenyu, this is my fiancée, Ning Rongrong."

"Ning Rongrong!"

Xiao Chenyu exclaimed.

As the son of Nuoding City's city lord, and having begun taking over the affairs of the City Lord's Mansion, he naturally knew something about the continent's various powers.

Ning Rongrong's name was certainly familiar to him.

The cherished pearl of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, a favored daughter of heaven.

He had never imagined that someone like her would be nestled in Ji Hongchen's arms like a little bird.

He had been right all along.

Ji Hongchen truly was a hidden dragon, now astounding everyone with his first great cry.

After being welcomed into the City Lord's Mansion, Ji Hongchen took out a purple pill and handed it directly to Xiao Chenyu. "Chenyu, this is the pill I prepared for you."

"It was refined through a special process. Once you've absorbed it, you'll be able to become at least a Soul King in the future-provided you work hard at cultivating, of course."

Xiao Chenyu took the pill, then handed it back.

"Ji, I can't accept this!"

Xiao Chenyu hurriedly refused. It was far too precious. Even selling all of Nuoding City probably wouldn't buy this one pill.

Ji Hongchen's expression turned serious.

He pressed the pill into Xiao Chenyu's hand and said firmly, "Xiao, we're brothers. Besides, I'll need your help in the future."

Hearing that.

Xiao Chenyu felt warmth fill his heart. He stopped refusing and put the pill away.

The two chatted for a while.

Naturally, the conversation turned to Nuoding Academy's current celebrities, those two "geniuses," Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.

"You have no idea how close Yu Xiaogang has come to losing his mind these past few days. He spends every day researching some martial soul second awakening. It's hilarious."

"Who knows what's possessed that buzz-cut fellow? A few days ago, he actually started researching farts, only to get knocked out by the stink of his own martial soul!"

Xiao Chenyu couldn't keep a straight face at all.

After all, being knocked unconscious by the stink of one's own soul skill was a feat without precedent, unlikely ever to be repeated.

Ji Hongchen smiled.

In truth, Yu Xiaogang's martial soul wasn't weak. It was only because his physique was too poor for his bloodline to awaken that his martial soul had undergone mutation.

Take the martial soul fusion skill Yu Xiaogang performed with others, for example.

By using Liu Erlong's Fire Dragon martial soul as a vessel, Yu Xiaogang's martial soul could unleash a trace of the Radiant Sacred Dragon bloodline's power.

That showed that the martial soul wasn't too weak.

Rather, Yu Xiaogang's physique was too poor. Ji Hongchen even wondered whether Yu Xiaogang could beat a soldier clad in heavy armor with his physical strength.

After their conversation.

Ji Hongchen headed to Nuoding Academy.

The moment Ji Hongchen and Ning Rongrong entered the gates, their appearance caused quite a stir. Boys and girls alike stopped in their tracks to stare.

It couldn't be helped.

Ning Rongrong now possessed an ethereal grace and beauty that could topple cities and kingdoms. Though she was only twelve, her looks were already exceptionally striking, like an immortal maiden from the heavens.

Ji Hongchen, meanwhile, was handsome and dashing, standing as gracefully as a jade tree in the wind. With sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, he radiated heroic vigor, and the sword at his waist added to his easy elegance.

Standing together, they were a perfect match of talent and beauty.

"Isn't that... Senior Ji?"

"Senior Ji!"

Someone couldn't help exclaiming, "It's Ji Hongchen, our academy's youngest Soul Grandmaster, the first person to achieve a martial soul second awakening! Senior Ji!"

Soon, everyone recognized Ji Hongchen.

Word spread quickly, and people from all over the academy gathered around.

Yu Xiaogang emerged from his office looking dejected, his face troubled and his mind weighed down with worries.

Through his research.

He had already concluded that awakening a martial soul a second time was completely impossible, nothing but nonsense. Ji Hongchen must have used some other method.

At that thought, Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened.

Hearing the commotion nearby.

Yu Xiaogang frowned and walked over.

A familiar name reached his ears.

"Ji Hongchen?!"

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted. He pushed through the crowd and peered inside, spotting Ji Hongchen and Ning Rongrong beside him.

He strode forward.

He immediately blocked Ji Hongchen's path and demanded in a low voice, "Ji Hongchen, what exactly happened with your second awakening? Explain it to me right now!"

Ji Hongchen frowned slightly.

Yu Xiaogang really had lost his mind. He had become a man possessed.

Who would casually hand over conclusions they had painstakingly obtained by experimenting on themselves?

Especially to a thief of theories like Yu Xiaogang.