Sword Douluo had already been waiting inside the cave.
When he and Ning Chuan returned yesterday, Ning Chuan had told him about the effects of the Aromatic Silk Beauty. Since Ning Rongrong would be taking it, Sword Douluo would naturally stand guard over her.
As for the secret of Ning Chuan's martial soul, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Ning Fengzhi still wanted him to keep it from Ning Rongrong. It was not that they distrusted her, but that they feared Shrek Academy might deceive her.
After all, Ning Rongrong was only twelve years old and still immature. With a hypocrite like Yu Xiaogang at Shrek Academy, Ning Fengzhi and the others had no choice but to take precautions.
Thus, the credit for the immortal herbs could only go to Sword Douluo.
However, Sword Douluo had not expected Ning Chuan to bring Zhu Zhuqing along as well, so he asked through voice transmission, "Xiao Chuan, you picked two immortal herbs. Was the other one prepared for this young lady?"
"That's right. She's already agreed to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!" Ning Chuan said.
"She belongs to the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire. Can she be trusted?" Sword Douluo asked.
"Yes, Sword Grandpa. She's also part of my plans for the Star Luo Empire," Ning Chuan said.
Sword Douluo froze at those words. He had never expected Ning Chuan to look so far ahead.
"Good. Sword Grandpa trusts your judgment!" Sword Douluo did not object. It was only one immortal herb, after all. As long as Ning Chuan did not reveal his own secrets to Zhu Zhuqing, it was no great concern.
After his conversation with Sword Douluo through voice transmission, Ning Chuan headed toward the chamber deeper inside the cave. "Rongrong, Miss Zhu Zhuqing, wait here a moment. I'll go get your gifts!"
"All right!" Ning Rongrong nodded.
After entering the chamber, Ning Chuan prepared to take the two immortal herbs out of the Creation Exquisite Pagoda. Yet the moment his consciousness entered the pagoda, he discovered that both herbs had undergone considerable changes.
The two immortal herbs floated inside the Creation Exquisite Pagoda, enveloped in a layer of misty energy. All three soul spirits clustered around them, looking as though they were about to drool.
"System, System, what's going on?" Ning Chuan immediately asked.
The System replied, "The Creation Exquisite Pagoda can nourish all things. It's perfectly normal for heavenly treasures like these to develop a divine aura after being nurtured inside it!"
"Huh? Can they still be consumed directly?" Ning Chuan asked.
The System replied, "Titled Douluo can consume them directly, but anyone below that realm will most likely explode and die!"
"You've got to be kidding!" Ning Chuan felt utterly helpless.
The System immediately gave him a disdainful look. "Host, why are you so stupid? You've already comprehended Elemental Flow. Why not simply use the fire element to refine them into pills with gentler medicinal properties?"
"But I don't know alchemy!" Ning Chuan said.
The System replied, "You don't, but the Creation Exquisite Pagoda does. Simply channel the fire element into the pagoda, and it will carry out the pill-refining process on its own."
"It can even do that?" Ning Chuan exclaimed in surprise. He realized he still knew far too little about the Creation Exquisite Pagoda's functions.
Following the System's instructions, Ning Chuan summoned the Creation Exquisite Pagoda, then activated his third soul skill and used the fire element to channel fire-attribute soul power into it. Two masses of flame immediately appeared inside the pagoda, enveloping the immortal herbs and beginning to refine them automatically.
Ning Chuan had thought pill refining would take some time. To his surprise, it took only a few minutes to produce two pills whose divine aura was contained within them.
"That's unexpectedly fast!" Ning Chuan could not help marveling.
For Ning Chuan, the Creation Exquisite Pagoda's pill-refining function was undoubtedly an unexpected delight.
Ning Chuan took out the pills and walked out of the chamber.
Inside the cave, Ning Rongrong was pestering Sword Douluo about what the gifts were when she suddenly sensed an aura that refreshed her to the depths of her lungs. Her gaze was instantly drawn toward it.
Zhu Zhuqing and Sword Douluo were no exception. All three looked toward the approaching Ning Chuan.
Sword Douluo had seen the immortal herbs, but the aura they released was nowhere near as rich in divinity as that of these pills.
"Xiao Chuan, when did you refine those two immortal herbs into pills?" Sword Douluo asked through voice transmission.
Ning Chuan immediately replied, "Sword Grandpa, the Creation Exquisite Pagoda refined them on its own. Even I didn't expect it!"
Upon hearing that the Creation Exquisite Pagoda had refined them itself, Sword Douluo had no further questions. By now, nothing the pagoda did would surprise him.
"Rongrong, Miss Zhu Zhuqing, one for each of you. Just swallow them. Sword Grandpa will stand guard over you!" Ning Chuan offered the two pills to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
Ning Rongrong reached out and accepted hers, while Zhu Zhuqing stood frozen in place. She had never expected Ning Chuan to give her such a miraculous pill.
"Young Master Ning, I can't accept a reward I haven't earned. This pill is far too precious. I can't take it!" Zhu Zhuqing immediately declined.
Ning Chuan tossed the pill straight toward her. Startled, Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly caught it in her hands.
"This is your welcome gift for joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Stop turning it down!" Ning Chuan's voice followed.
Ning Rongrong also urged her, "Zhu Zhuqing, since my brother gave it to you, just accept it. You can repay him when you have the chance!"
After saying that, she walked over to Ning Chuan, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "Fifth Brother, you gave away such a miraculous pill without a second thought, and you still claim you aren't interested in Zhu Zhuqing."
Ning Chuan said helplessly, "You little rascal. Why is your head always full of romance?"
Ning Rongrong playfully stuck out her tongue, then asked with concern, "Fifth Brother, have you taken a pill like this yourself?"
Sword Douluo immediately spoke up from beside them. "Don't worry, Rongrong. Xiao Chuan took one long ago!"
"That's good!" Ning Rongrong nodded. Only then did she put the pill into her mouth with peace of mind.
The pill dissolved the moment it entered her mouth. Ning Rongrong felt a miraculous power instantly flood her entire body. Her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul was drawn out in response, and her soul power aura began surging rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda broke through the shackles of her martial soul and transformed directly into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Her soul power rose from level thirty-five all the way to level forty before stopping.
At that moment, nine-colored radiance swirled around Ning Rongrong as she floated in midair, like a goddess descending into the mortal world, wondrous beyond compare.
The pill's effects continued, transforming Ning Rongrong's constitution.
Ning Rongrong was utterly shaken.
She could tell that the pill Ning Chuan had given her was extremely precious, but she had never imagined its effects would be so heaven-defying.
Zhu Zhuqing was already staring in a daze. Sword Douluo, however, was not particularly shocked, because Ning Chuan had told him long ago that the Aromatic Silk Beauty could allow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul to evolve.
Now that the immortal herbs were connected to the Creation Exquisite Pagoda, Sword Douluo could readily accept whatever happened.
"Rongrong, focus on absorbing the medicinal power. Don't let yourself get distracted!" Sword Douluo immediately reminded her.
Ning Rongrong nodded slightly, then closed her eyes and concentrated on absorbing it.
"Miss Zhu Zhuqing, what are you still standing there for? Hurry and take the pill!" Ning Chuan reminded her.
Zhu Zhuqing's hands trembled as she held the pill. After witnessing its effects, she felt even more reluctant to take it.
"Young Master Ning, this pill is simply too precious. Please take it back!" Zhu Zhuqing said, looking at Ning Chuan.
"I've already given it to you. If you won't eat it, throw it away!" Ning Chuan said mildly. This tactic worked quite well on an earnest young lady like Zhu Zhuqing.
"Ah, but..." Zhu Zhuqing no longer knew what to say.
Sword Douluo chimed in with a smile. "Little lady, you've already joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, so don't burden yourself with misgivings. Your growing stronger is a good thing for the sect, too. Since you're still refusing the pill, could it be that you haven't truly accepted the sect in your heart?"
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly waved her hands. "Of course not! The moment I agreed to join the sect, I decided that I would forever be a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I just... I just..."
"There's no 'just' about it. What you said before is enough. Now take the pill immediately. The future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ultimately belongs to young people like you. Do you understand, little lady?" Sword Douluo stroked his beard, his tone warm and gentle.
Before you continue