Dragon Duke thought Ning Chuan was a genius secretly nurtured by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Snake Granny and Meng Yiran thought the same.
Yet the moment Ning Chuan gave his name, all three froze on the spot.
Only after a long pause did Dragon Duke ask, "Is this young gentleman Sect Master Ning's fifth son-Ning Chuan?"
"Indeed!" Sword Douluo nodded. He had anticipated their reaction; after all, Ning Chuan's reputation as a "good-for-nothing" was already common knowledge.
Sword Douluo realized that Ning Chuan's unsavory reputation was not entirely without its benefits.
Those blessed with exceptional talent never lacked friends, but whether those friendships were sincere was another matter;
Now that Ning Chuan carried the label of "good-for-nothing," it might actually help him make genuine friends.
Sword Douluo had been watching Meng Yiran's expression closely.
Like Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, her expression briefly stalled when she heard Ning Chuan's real name. After that moment of surprise, however, she quickly composed herself and returned to normal.
Meng Yiran stepped forward and graciously extended her right hand, introducing herself to Ning Chuan in a gentle voice. "Hello, I'm Meng Yiran. I'm sixteen this year."
Under ordinary circumstances, she would have given her martial soul and soul power level as well.
But having long since heard about the Malignant Mutation of Ning Chuan's martial soul, she naturally refrained from using her own talent and cultivation to sting him. She gave only her name and age.
"Ning Chuan, eighteen!" Ning Chuan politely extended his hand, gave hers a light shake, and immediately let go.
Sword Douluo saw Meng Yiran's reaction and felt quite pleased.
He could tell that although Meng Yiran possessed the innate pride of someone born into a soul master family, the refinement in her words and conduct was impeccable.
"In that case, we won't disturb young Meng while she absorbs her soul ring!" Sword Douluo told Dragon Duke and Snake Granny, then turned to Ning Chuan. "Xiao Chuan, let's go!"
Dragon Duke and Snake Granny immediately cupped their hands in farewell. Suddenly remembering their encounter with the Titan Giant Ape two days earlier, Dragon Duke hurriedly warned him, "Oh, Your Eminence Sword Douluo, two days ago, the Titan Giant Ape from the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest suddenly appeared on the outskirts for some unknown reason. Since you have Young Master Ning Chuan with you, please be on your guard."
"The Titan Giant Ape!"
Sword Douluo murmured to himself, then nodded slightly to Dragon Duke. "Thank you for the warning."
He then left with Ning Chuan.
After watching Ning Chuan and Sword Douluo depart, Dragon Duke carried the Purple-Eyed Swift Shadow Snake over to Meng Yiran.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly treats its direct descendants well. Ning Chuan should only be here to obtain his first soul ring, yet His Eminence Sword Douluo came to escort him personally," Snake Granny remarked softly.
"Indeed!" Dragon Duke nodded, then looked at Meng Yiran. "Yiran, what do you think of Ning Chuan?"
After a little thought, Meng Yiran said, "His talent is probably much as the rumors describe. But just now, he seemed calm and composed, nothing like the person in those stories who fears arduous cultivation and willingly lets himself sink into ruin."
"Well said!"
Stroking his beard, Dragon Duke smiled. "Ning Chuan's reputation has spread throughout the soul master world, even farther than that old affair involving the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Yet seeing him in person today, there wasn't a trace of dejection on his face. Instead, he had an extraordinary bearing and a cheerful disposition. Judging by that, those rumors are decidedly biased."
Snake Granny added, "I heard before that Ning Chuan founded the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's merchant association, but no one believed it. Now it seems the rumors were true!"
"Ah!" Dragon Duke sighed. "What a pity. With a temperament like his, if his martial soul hadn't undergone that Malignant Mutation, he would have become the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's heir long ago."
After speaking, Dragon Duke turned to Meng Yiran and said slowly, "Yiran, absorb your soul ring first. If you meet Ning Chuan again and can lend him a hand, do what you can to look after him. When making your way across the continent, having one more friend never hurts."
"Mm!" Meng Yiran nodded. After killing the Purple-Eyed Swift Shadow Snake, she began absorbing its soul ring.
Meanwhile, Sword Douluo continued searching for a suitable soul beast with Ning Chuan. Having learned from Dragon Duke that the Titan Giant Ape had appeared nearby, he did not take Ning Chuan any deeper into the forest.
"Xiao Chuan, why don't we just hunt that Cloud-Eared Deer on the outskirts? Your martial soul is indeed of very high quality, but this is still your first time absorbing a soul ring. Recklessly absorbing one beyond the age limit is far too dangerous!" Sword Douluo advised him. Deep down, he still did not want Ning Chuan taking that risk.
Ning Chuan shook his head. "Sword Grandpa, you've known me since I was little. You should know I don't do anything unless I'm confident. I believe the guidance my martial soul gave me would never harm me!"
Seeing how serious Ning Chuan was, Sword Douluo raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Tell me, how old is the first soul ring you have in mind?"
Naturally, Ning Chuan wanted one as old as possible, but he also knew that naming too high an age would make it impossible to convince Sword Douluo.
So he said, "As long as it's older than that Purple-Eyed Swift Shadow Snake!"
Sword Douluo paused briefly, then said, "Xiao Chuan, that Purple-Eyed Swift Shadow Snake was already close to two thousand years old. Are you sure you're not joking?"
Ning Chuan said solemnly, "Sword Grandpa, I wouldn't joke with my own life. If you're worried, why not catch a soul beast between three and five thousand years old for me first? I have a way to prove I can absorb its ring safely."
"No, absolutely not!" Sword Douluo refused. He had thought a thousand years would be the most Ning Chuan would ask for, never imagining his appetite would be so great.
Ning Chuan felt helpless.
Only he could see the system. Even if he wanted to prove it to Sword Douluo, he had no way to show him.
Yet to hunt a soul beast of such an advanced age, he had to rely on Sword Douluo's strength.
To persuade Sword Douluo, Ning Chuan could only reveal his second martial soul.
"Sword Grandpa, there's actually another secret I haven't told any of you. If you agree to catch a soul beast over three thousand years old for me, I'll tell you!" Ning Chuan said, looking at Sword Douluo.
Sword Douluo did not fall for Ning Chuan's ploy at all. He chuckled. "Xiao Chuan, your Sword Grandpa watched you grow up. Aside from the Creation Exquisite Pagoda that just evolved, what could you possibly have kept hidden from me?"
"I have a second martial soul!" Ning Chuan said with utmost seriousness.
Sword Douluo immediately froze. He knew Ning Chuan's character well and knew he would not lie about something like this.
"What martial soul is it?" Sword Douluo asked at once.
"Like yours, Sword Grandpa, it's a sword-shaped martial soul!" Ning Chuan answered frankly.
Sword Douluo had devoted his entire life to the way of the sword and had long hoped to take on a disciple with a sword-type martial soul.
Unfortunately, his standards were extremely high, and in all these years, he had never found anyone suitable.
Now that he knew Ning Chuan's second martial soul was also sword-shaped, excitement surged through him.
"Quick, release it and let Sword Grandpa have a look!" Sword Douluo urged excitedly.
Seeing Sword Douluo's reaction, Ning Chuan knew his little scheme would not fall through.
"Sword Grandpa, agree to my request first!" Ning Chuan said.
Sword Douluo said helplessly, "You little rascal, now you're bargaining with Sword Grandpa? Hurry up and release your martial soul. Let me see it first!"
"No, not unless Sword Grandpa agrees to my request!" Ning Chuan said, putting on a haughty air.
Sword Douluo's curiosity had already become unbearable, and he immediately nodded. "All right, all right, Sword Grandpa agrees!"
Though he agreed aloud, he secretly calculated, He's only asking me to catch a three-thousand-year-old soul beast. When the time comes, I'll only catch it. As long as I don't beat it within an inch of its life, Xiao Chuan won't have the strength to kill it anyway.
Before you continue