Nine Treasure Pavilion

"Gu Rong is right. Leave the unknown to us sect-protecting Douluo to test first. Your safety takes precedence over everything, Sect Master."

As the two Titled Douluo voiced their objections, warmth welled in Ning Fengzhi's heart, but he also understood that their concerns were by no means unnecessary.

The little shop before them was simply too inconceivable.

Breaking the immutable laws of martial souls and creating twin martial souls out of thin air-such methods had already transcended a Soul Master's understanding. No one dared guarantee that no fatal dangers lurked within.

Thus, Ning Fengzhi said with a smile:

"In that case, which of you will go?"

Gu Rong stepped half a pace forward. The aura of space rippled faintly as he spoke first:

"Let me. If I encounter danger, my martial soul is better at self-preservation. And since I possess the spatial attribute myself, I'll have a better chance of escaping."

Beside him, Sword Douluo Chen Xin gave a slight nod, silently assenting.

He knew Gu Rong spoke the truth. A spatial martial soul excelled at escape and self-preservation, making him the safest choice to test it, so he did not argue.

At the counter, meanwhile, Lin Yue watched the scene quietly, feeling rather speechless.

It was only a game, yet the two Titled Douluo acted as though facing a formidable enemy, piling precaution upon precaution for fear of even the slightest danger. They really were making a mountain out of a molehill.

He shook his head and paid them no further attention.

Ning Fengzhi looked at Bone Douluo and solemnly cautioned him:

"Uncle Gu, be careful in everything, and don't push yourself. If you notice anything wrong, end the experience immediately."

"Understood."

Gu Rong nodded, reined in the spatial soul power circulating around him, and lay down in the Game Pod, placing the helmet-like device on his head.

Then the Game Pod closed with a sound.

Gu Rong's pitch-black vision suddenly lit up, revealing a vast, boundless river of brilliant stars.

Before him floated a translucent, pale-blue virtual screen. It displayed a densely packed array of martial souls in countless categories, a dazzling assortment beyond counting.

Suppressing his surprise, he swiftly scanned the many martial souls. With his Titled Douluo-level discernment, he soon settled on a top-tier martial soul that suited him and possessed excellent attributes.

The martial soul is chosen, and the task is complete. Time to leave.

With that thought, Gu Rong spoke softly:

"I've chosen my martial soul. How do I get out?"

Almost the instant the thought arose, the pale-blue virtual screen before him detected his intention and immediately displayed a clear prompt.

[User's intention to terminate the experience detected. Exiting the Parallel Experience Space shortly.]

Light flashed across the scene, and the brilliant river of stars quietly faded.

Outside.

Less than a minute had passed inside the little shop.

Under the anxious gazes of Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Ning Rongrong, the sealed Game Pod gave a soft click, and its lid slowly opened.

Gu Rong removed the headgear, rose calmly, and stepped out of the Game Pod.

Ning Fengzhi, who had been waiting with his heart in his throat, could no longer contain himself. He immediately stepped forward and asked impatiently:

"Uncle Gu! How did it go? Did you really obtain a second martial soul?"

Chen Xin's gaze sharpened abruptly. He stared unblinkingly at Gu Rong, the sword intent around him faintly taut.

Ning Rongrong even held her breath, her large eyes fixed on Gu Rong as her nervousness reached its peak.

Facing their eager gazes, Gu Rong's lips lifted slightly. He said nothing, merely summoning the martial soul he had chosen in the Game Pod with a thought.

The next instant!

The pale phantom of a bone dragon slowly materialized behind him.

Its dragon bones jutted starkly, a faint silver-gray halo flowing through their gaps. It looked exactly like the bone dragon they remembered.

Ning Fengzhi froze at first, unconcealable disappointment rising in his eyes:

"Uncle Gu, isn't... isn't this your Bone Dragon Martial Soul?"

His voice was gentle, yet carried a disappointment he could not quite hide.

Chen Xin frowned slightly, reining in some of his sword intent as he said gravely:

"Gu Rong, don't tell me you deliberately summoned your own martial soul to play a joke on us?"

Ning Rongrong opened her mouth and was about to say something, but Gu Rong shook his head gently, withdrew the bone dragon phantom into his body, and said with a deeper smile:

"What if I told you this was the second martial soul I just chose?"

At his words, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Ning Rongrong all sank into bewilderment.

Yet after only a few breaths, understanding dawned on all of them!

Watching their expressions change, Gu Rong nodded in satisfaction and said:

"Exactly. The second martial soul I chose was none other than the first martial soul I already possessed-the bone dragon."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted into the distance beyond the shop, carrying the composure of an old schemer:

"They look identical. If even you can't tell them apart, it'll be all the easier to fool everyone else in the world."

"That way, when I face an enemy in the future, if I summon another bone dragon and unleash an unexpected move, I imagine their expression will be quite a sight."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi could not help clapping his hands and laughing:

"What a clever scheme, Uncle Gu! Everyone knows your bone dragon excels at spatial escape and has unparalleled defense. But if you summon another bone dragon, you'll surely catch your opponent off guard."

"Then, when they see your identical martial soul unleash different soul skills, they may question their entire life until they fall apart."

Chen Xin also nodded slightly, a rare trace of a smile tugging at his lips. "That trick really does suit your style."

Ning Rongrong clapped delightedly. "Grandpa Gu, that's so sneaky! But I like it!"

Once they finished speaking, Ning Fengzhi raised his sleeve, straightened his clothes, and turned toward the counter first.

Gu Rong and Chen Xin accompanied him on either side. The smile faded from Ning Rongrong's face as she followed silently behind.

Seeing the four approach, Lin Yue, who was propping his chin on one hand, lazily lifted his eyelids:

"So you've confirmed it, Sect Master Ning?"

Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile. Without further words, he took a Storage Soul Tool from his sleeve and gave it a gentle shake.

With a clear jingling sound, glittering soul coins instantly covered half the counter, their gleam brightening even the little shop.

Lin Yue glanced over the pile of gold coins and raised an eyebrow:

"Are you planning to spend all these gold coins on the gaming pods?"

He pointed toward a machine by the wall and suggested:

"There's a prize machine over there. You can try your luck."

"A prize draw? We could give that a try later."

Ning Fengzhi followed his gaze toward the prize machine, then looked back at Lin Yue, his tone growing more earnest:

"But half these gold coins are a thank-you gift for you, Boss Lin. Today's events hold extraordinary significance for our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. In our haste, we didn't prepare a generous gift. The next time I visit, I'll be sure to bring suitable treasures."

"All right."

Lin Yue answered casually, then turned toward the corner and called out to Zhu Zhuqing, Yue Guan, and Gui Mei, who had been cultivating quietly all this time:

"Come here."

Hearing him, the three immediately stopped cultivating and hurried over to stand before the counter.

"Take this half of the gold coins and divide it among yourselves."

The moment he finished speaking, the scene caught Gu Rong and Chen Xin's attention.

Their gazes sharpened slightly, instinctively settling on Yue Guan and Gui Mei.

After only one glance, Chen Xin turned slightly, leaned toward Ning Fengzhi's ear, and warned him in a low voice:

"Fengzhi, the man on the left has a soft, sinister aura. He's Elder Ju of Spirit Hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan."

"As for the man beside him, his aura is concealed, yet he's extremely close to Chrysanthemum Douluo. He should also be a Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall!"

Ning Fengzhi's eyes darkened slightly. His expression did not change in the least, but a measure of vigilance quietly arose within him.

None of them had expected Titled Douluo affiliated with Spirit Hall to stay obediently in this little shop, following Lin Yue's instructions.

Meanwhile, at the counter.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance. As distinguished Titled Douluo, they were revered and sought after wherever they went.

Moreover, the wealth they had accumulated over years of service to Spirit Hall was more than enough not only to squander for a lifetime, but even to support an army of Soul Masters.

Thus, Yue Guan casually picked up a gold coin, rolled it between his fingers, then gently set it back on the counter and pushed it toward Zhu Zhuqing.

"Little Zhu Zhuqing, take all of this. Neither of us needs this bit of money."

Gui Mei also nodded slightly, his voice low and even:

"Don't decline. At your age, you're in the golden stage of cultivation. Your expenses must be considerable, so just accept it."

Zhu Zhuqing froze briefly. Looking at the pile of glittering soul coins, she opened her mouth to decline, but Yue Guan had already waved a hand and turned away, allowing no argument.

She hesitated a moment before finally murmuring, "Thank you, seniors," and carefully putting the gold coins away.

Watching from beside them, Lin Yue said nothing. After putting the remaining half of the Gold Soul Coins into the till, he looked up at Ning Fengzhi and the other three.

"All right. Whether you want to try the prize machine next or keep using the Game Pods, either is fine."

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi collected his thoughts, kept his expression composed, and cupped his hands slightly toward Lin Yue:

"Thank you, Boss Lin."

With that, he gave the two Douluo no further looks and led Gu Rong, Chen Xin, and Ning Rongrong back to the Game Pod they had used earlier.

"Uncle Jian, just do as Uncle Gu did and choose a suitable martial soul according to your wishes. With your discernment, I needn't say more."

After speaking, he looked toward Ning Rongrong beside him, his tone becoming more solemn:

"As for you, Rongrong, you're the future heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is available, choose it."

At his words, Ning Rongrong's delight at the prospect of experiencing something new instantly subsided, and she nodded earnestly.

"Mm, I'll remember."

But then she tilted her head and blinked as she asked:

"Then, Dad, what if there's no Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in there?"

Ning Fengzhi paused slightly, then raised his hand and gently rubbed the top of her head, saying warmly:

"Then choose whatever you like."

Ning Rongrong's eyes curved as she gave an emphatic "Mm!" A smile spread across her face again.

The four said no more.

Ning Fengzhi lay down in a Game Pod first. Chen Xin chose the adjacent one, while Gu Rong and Ning Rongrong each headed toward an empty pod.

Silence returned to the little shop.

Inside the Game Pods.

Looking at the densely packed martial souls on the virtual screen, Ning Fengzhi immediately prepared to search for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

His greatest lifelong obsession was to break the shackles of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and remedy the flaw in his sect's martial soul.

Once the Wisdom System precisely detected that obsession, the icon for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul enlarged and appeared before him.

Elsewhere, Chen Xin had cultivated the sword all his life, obsessed with it and loving it as his very life. No martial soul in this world, however magnificent, felt as real to him as the Seven Kill Sword in his hand.

After a moment's consideration, he lightly tapped a finger and, like Gu Rong, chose the Seven Kill Sword he had already awakened.

Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, was in the same situation as Ning Fengzhi and ultimately chose the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

With that, all three finished choosing their martial souls in succession.

After a brief wave of dizziness, their vision cleared, and Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Ning Rongrong saw Gu Rong already waiting there.

Chen Xin surveyed their surroundings. They were in a deserted corner of a town, and he could not help asking:

"According to that brat, have we truly come to another world?"

"So it would seem."

Ning Fengzhi nodded. Then, under his lead, the four strolled along the old-fashioned street, preparing to explore this unknown town.

Along the way, the ancient street beneath their feet was paved with bluestone slabs, their mottled, deep-grained surfaces bearing the weathered traces of countless years.

Looking up, they saw buildings and towers stretching along both sides at varying heights. It seemed considerably more prosperous than their own world.

Before they had gone far, however, a grand and exquisitely elegant pavilion came into view, standing imposingly in the middle of the long street.

Its signboard was made of pitch-black wood. Three gilded characters, carved with bold, vigorous strokes, shimmered with flowing light: Nine Treasure Pavilion.

At the sight of the familiar yet imposing name, Chen Xin abruptly stopped, raised his brows slightly, and said in surprise:

"Fengzhi, doesn't the name Nine Treasure Pavilion sound a little too familiar?"

Beside him, Gu Rong also fixed his gaze on the signboard thoughtfully before voicing his puzzlement:

"If you replaced the 'Nine' in Nine Treasure Pavilion with 'Seven,' wouldn't that make it the Seven Treasure Pavilion run by our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

His eyes shifted slightly as a few conjectures arose:

"Could this world also have a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? And it seems to have broken through its shackles and evolved its martial soul into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi kept his gaze on the gilded signboard and slowly nodded:

"Uncle Gu, that possibility occurred to me just now as well. Only..."

He paused, a trace of contemplation passing through his eyes:

"This Nine Treasure Pavilion stands at the very center of the city, with crowds thronging its doors and extraordinary grandeur. Clearly, it has deep foundations. If it truly is connected to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, then this world's sect may be far more powerful than we imagine."

At that, he withdrew his gaze and said gravely:

"Let's go. We'll know once we look inside."

With that, Ning Fengzhi followed the stream of people forward. The other three followed closely behind, entering the Nine Treasure Pavilion together.

They had barely come to a stop inside the Nine Treasure Pavilion when a slender, graceful figure slowly approached them.

The woman had a willowy figure and wore a simple, elegant qipao. Her bearing was gentle and dignified, her manner poised and natural.

She bowed lightly in greeting, her voice sweet and pleasant:

"Welcome to the Nine Treasure Pavilion. Honored guests, please let me know if there's anything you need."