In a hotel room in Suotuo City, Ning Rongrong realized what the illustrated manual did after connecting just a single aperture.
She looked at Sword Douluo in astonishment and asked, "Sword Grandpa, is this a method for speeding up Soul Power cultivation?"
"That's right!"
Sword Douluo nodded. "Don't get distracted. Follow the illustrated manual and connect all your apertures as quickly as possible. Once you complete a full circulation, you'll have grasped the basics!"
"Okay!" Ning Rongrong nodded emphatically. She finally understood why Sword Douluo had been so serious earlier.
She had never even heard of a method that could accelerate Soul Power cultivation.
After experiencing it herself, she naturally understood how precious it was.
As she connected her apertures one after another, the shock in Ning Rongrong's heart grew ever stronger.
She marveled inwardly, When did the sect obtain such a priceless treasure? With this illustrated manual to help us, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will surely surpass Spirit Hall someday!
It took Ning Rongrong two hours to grasp the basics of the cultivation method.
From here, she only needed to keep exploring and familiarizing herself with it, accelerating the circulation of her Soul Power. Her cultivation would grow faster and faster until she reached the method's upper limit.
"All right, explore and practice on your own now. Remember, you must not teach this method to anyone!" Sword Douluo reminded her once again.
"Understood!" Ning Rongrong nodded solemnly. She naturally understood the gravity of the matter.
Then she turned to Ning Chuan. "Fifth Brother, have you already learned this method? Does it work for you?"
Ning Rongrong knew Ning Chuan never cared how outsiders saw him, but if he could cultivate normally, that would naturally be ideal.
Ning Chuan smiled and nodded. "Of course it works! You'd better work hard at your cultivation from now on. Don't let your fifth brother overtake you!"
"That's wonderful!" Hearing that it worked, Ning Rongrong was genuinely happy for Ning Chuan.
After that, Ning Rongrong didn't even sleep that night, devoting herself entirely to studying the cultivation method.
Early the next morning, Dragon Duke and Snake Granny came over with Meng Yiran.
They were preparing to leave Suotuo City and return to their clan, so they came to bid Sword Douluo farewell.
While Sword Douluo spoke with Dragon Duke, Meng Yiran specifically asked Ning Chuan to come downstairs.
Ning Chuan had no idea why, while Ning Rongrong watched with great delight.
Once they were downstairs, Meng Yiran said bluntly, "Ning Chuan, if that Shrek bunch really comes looking for trouble with you in two years, don't forget to call on your friend here!"
Ning Chuan had wondered what she wanted to say, but that was all it was. He nodded. "No problem! Miss Meng, whenever you have time, you're welcome to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"
The day after Meng Yiran and her two companions left, Ning Chuan and Sword Douluo also finished preparing for their return journey.
Over those two days, Ning Rongrong had made tremendous progress under Sword Douluo's guidance, increasing her cultivation speed to three times its usual rate.
"Rongrong, from here, just take your time getting familiar with it. Remember, don't chase quick results and rush ahead recklessly. If anything goes wrong with the route through your apertures, it will inevitably do considerable damage to your body!" Sword Douluo cautioned.
"I know, Sword Grandpa!" Ning Rongrong nodded. Knowing that Sword Douluo and Ning Chuan would leave today, she could no longer hide the reluctance on her face.
In the end, she was only a twelve-year-old girl who had never suffered the slightest grievance growing up.
Though she seemed to have let go of the incident with Dai Mubai, the hurt in her heart had never truly faded.
With Ning Chuan standing up for her so forcefully this time, she was incredibly happy and moved.
Moreover, Ning Chuan had made her understand something: she was a favored daughter of heaven to begin with, so why should she swallow her grievances and accommodate everyone else just to fit into Shrek?
Neither Dai Mubai nor Ma Hongjun, nor even Tang San, had deliberately reined in their own natures, yet they turned around and blamed Ning Rongrong for acting like a spoiled young lady.
It was simply that their backgrounds could not compare with Ning Rongrong's. They felt that gulf keenly, and to erase it, they wanted to drag her down from the clouds and force her onto their level.
She still remembered what Oscar had told her when they clashed with Canghui Academy on their earlier trip to the Star Dou Great Forest: if you want everyone to accept you, prove through your actions that you belong to Shrek.
Now she understood. She had no need to prove anything to Shrek. Rather, Shrek Academy should be considering what reason it could offer to keep the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess there.
At that thought, the knot in Ning Rongrong's heart instantly dissolved, and her state of mind became clear and unclouded.
She still decided to stay, because leaving now would make her seem guilty, as though Shrek had driven her out.
Besides, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun had all declared that they would seek out Ning Chuan to settle the score. She certainly would not let Ning Chuan shoulder that burden.
She would stay at Shrek, settle the matter in her own way, then leave with her head held high, giving none of them any grounds to criticize her.
"Fifth Brother, Sword Grandpa, let me see you out of the city!" Ning Rongrong offered. Her face seemed calm, but how could the wistful reluctance in her eyes escape Sword Douluo and Ning Chuan?
With tacit understanding, neither Ning Chuan nor Sword Douluo pointed it out. After gathering their things, they left Suotuo City together, with Ning Rongrong seeing them off.
Outside Suotuo City, Ning Rongrong watched until Ning Chuan and Sword Douluo disappeared from view. Only then did a tear slip from the corner of her eye. She quickly wiped it away and stood outside the city gates for a long time before returning to Shrek Academy.
After saying goodbye to Ning Rongrong, Ning Chuan and Sword Douluo headed back to the sect at their fastest speed.
Sword Douluo could hardly wait to share the wonderful surprises of this trip with Bone Douluo and Ning Fengzhi.
However, halfway through their journey, Ning Chuan suddenly triggered a system quest.
Ding! Side quest triggered. Host, please go to the village three li to the south and rescue a young girl. Quest reward: Fire Dragon Martial Soul Unsealing Card.
Ning Chuan hadn't expected this quest to reveal its reward in advance.
"System, can this Fire Dragon Martial Soul Unsealing Card give me another Martial Soul?" Ning Chuan asked.
"Of course not," the system answered. "This card can resolve a malignant mutation in the fire dragon Martial Soul and eliminate all the harmful side effects that come with it!"
"???"
"I don't even have a fire dragon Martial Soul. What use is this thing to me?" Ning Chuan asked in confusion.
"The host may choose not to do it, but no more side quests will be triggered in the future!" the system said.
"Fine, then I'd better go take a look!" Ning Chuan immediately called for Sword Douluo to stop.
"Sword Grandpa, I'm a little hungry. Let's find something to eat nearby!" Ning Chuan said.
Sword Douluo suspected nothing. After briefly sensing their surroundings, he took Ning Chuan toward the village to the south.
It was the only inhabited place nearby.
Once the two entered the village, their luxurious clothing immediately drew the villagers' attention.
Upon hearing that strangers had arrived, the village chief hurried over to welcome them personally.
"My lords, I am the chief of this village. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask!" The village chief was extremely respectful.
Sword Douluo took out a Gold Soul Coin and handed it to the village chief. "Sir, just prepare some food for us!"
The village chief hurriedly refused. "My lord, such a small matter isn't worth a whole Gold Soul Coin. Please take it back!"
Sword Douluo smiled. "No need to refuse. You deserve it!"
As he spoke, he pressed the Gold Soul Coin into the village chief's hand.
"Then thank you both. I'll have someone prepare it right away! Please follow me!" The village chief said a few words to the woman behind him, then led Ning Chuan and Sword Douluo into his courtyard.
Once they reached the village chief's home, Ning Chuan was just about to ask the system where the girl he needed to rescue was when a few noisy voices came from outside the courtyard.
Ning Chuan looked up and saw a woman trying to come inside, only to be stopped by the other villagers.
"What's this about?" Sword Douluo looked at the village chief beside him.
"Ah!" The village chief sighed and explained with a trace of helplessness, "Eight years ago, her daughter awakened her Martial Soul-a fire snake. It should have been a good thing, but the flames that burst from the fire snake severely burned the child instead."
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