Still Pointing Fingers

"Oh, right. This Divine Ring isn't restricted to one user. As long as you agree, you can give it to someone else to use."

Feng Xiaotian merely nodded casually at this, his expression calm, without taking the matter of giving it away to heart.

After all, even if he gave such a priceless treasure to the dean, who had treated him like his own son and painstakingly nurtured him for years, the dean probably would never readily accept it.

He would only tell him to absorb it as soon as possible and improve his strength, lest a long night bring more troubled dreams.

By contrast, undisguisable greed and fervor instantly flooded the eyes of the powerful figures in the shop.

Deep within their gazes lay the same thing: longing.

And the first to speak was none other than Ning Fengzhi.

Ever since inheriting the position of sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he, too, had remained trapped by the shackles of his martial soul.

Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was the world's foremost support martial soul, it ultimately stopped at seven stories, unable to transform into its legendary supreme form, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Under his arrangements, the sect's elders had been staying in another world through the Game Pods, trying every possible means to find information on how the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda broke through its shackles to advance, as well as how it was passed down.

Unfortunately, their efforts had remained fruitless.

So, if he could obtain this Divine Ring before him, could its divine power forcibly break through that barrier? Could it truly transform the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?

At this thought, Ning Fengzhi immediately spoke earnestly, offering an astronomical price in exchange for the Divine Ring.

"Young friend Feng, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to offer three Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones, one Sect Secret Legacy Art, and funding of five million Gold Soul Coins a month for a full year in exchange for this Divine Ring."

"What do you think?"

His words sent an uproar through the room.

Such an offer nearly emptied half the reserves of a super sect. Even the powerful figures of his generation present could not help marveling at his decision.

Immediately afterward, before anyone could digest the shock, another voice rang out.

Qian Daoliu also stepped forward.

"What boldness, Sect Master Ning. However..."

He paused, his gaze settling on Feng Xiaotian.

"My Spirit Hall can offer a complete set of Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones, along with three personal favors from me, a Level 99 Limit Douluo. How about it?"

Though this was a hefty offer, to him, a Divine Ring was worth far more than these external possessions.

Qian Renxue already possessed a god-level Angel Martial Soul and the foundation of innate level 20 soul power. With a Divine Ring added to that, her path to godhood would undoubtedly become smoother and more open, potentially even saving her decades of arduous cultivation.

For his granddaughter, this deal was worth it.

At that moment, the entire room fell deathly silent once more.

Although their hearts burned with desire and they wanted to compete, the staggering offers thrown out one after another by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Spirit Hall thoroughly intimidated them all. They could only suppress their thoughts.

Only Dugu Bo still wore a look of certain victory as he calmly walked up to Feng Xiaotian.

From his Storage Soul Tool, he took out a peculiar immortal herb.

As the immortal herb appeared, rich, boundless life spiritual energy drifted outward, filling the entire shop and giving everyone an inconceivably wondrous sensation.

Yue Guan, watching the commotion from the kitchen area nearby, raised his eyebrows at the sight of the immortal herb and spoke in surprise.

"Oh? I didn't expect you to be willing to bring out an immortal herb to compete for the Divine Ring, old poison. That truly surprises me."

Then his tone shifted.

"But just this one immortal herb isn't quite enough to impress."

Rather than getting angry, Dugu Bo smiled faintly and turned his hand over again.

Another immortal herb of a completely different shape appeared in his palm. It was purplish-red all over, with crimson radiance faintly flowing among its branches and leaves, giving off a scorching yet lively aura.

"Then what about two?"

The two peerless immortal herbs appeared together, rosy light swirling around them, their spiritual energy almost taking physical form.

The younger generation looked on curiously, asking in hushed voices about their origins.

"Immortal herbs... what are those?"

Some of the knowledgeable elders recounted the various legends surrounding immortal herbs.

"Legend has it that there are spiritual treasures between heaven and earth, nurtured by the essence of the sun and moon and born of nature's creation. They are called immortal herbs."

"They are said to cleanse the marrow and meridians, rebuild one's foundation, and even help soul masters break through barriers and extend their lives. They may even help their martial souls evolve."

Learning their value, everyone kept glancing between the immortal herbs in Dugu Bo's hands and the Divine Ring before Feng Xiaotian.

As overwhelming longing filled their hearts, they also secretly lamented why they had not taken first place in the Arena rankings...

For a time, everyone waited for Feng Xiaotian's answer.

Normally, anyone would waver before such an astronomical offer.

However, after a moment of silence, Feng Xiaotian

raised his head and swept his gaze over Ning Fengzhi and Qian Daoliu, determination showing in his eyes.

"Thank you for your kindness, seniors."

"But... I don't want to disappoint Godwind Academy's teachers and dean."

He turned around, looking at the companions and teachers who had fought beside him, as well as the dean, who had not managed to hide the gratification in his eyes.

Seeing this, Feng Xiaotian's lips slowly curved upward. He turned back and bowed deeply to Ning Fengzhi, Qian Daoliu, and Dugu Bo, his voice filled with apology.

"Seniors, I'm truly sorry. I intend to keep this Divine Ring for myself."

The three had already seen his resolve in his words and actions, so they felt neither displeasure nor dissatisfaction at his refusal.

Instead, they smiled gently and offered a few words of praise, bringing the matter to a close.

Then Feng Xiaotian turned toward Lin Yue behind the counter and asked,

"Boss, how do I use this Divine Ring?"

Lin Yue answered in his usual casual tone.

"Summon the martial soul you want to give the Divine Ring to, then bring it close."

"All right."

Feng Xiaotian replied, looking at the ball of platinum light in his hand. Though somewhat puzzled, he followed the instructions.

The next moment.

The phantom of an enormous crimson wolf coalesced behind him.

When he brought the platinum ball of light within four feet of the Crimson Flame Demon Wolf, it abruptly turned into a streak of light and sank into the martial soul.

In an instant, a vast, surging power poured backward into his body from deep within his martial soul, rushing through his meridians.

At the same time, he could clearly feel the Crimson Flame Demon Wolf martial soul being strengthened and tempered continuously, as though it were about to break through some shackle.

In merely a few breaths.

The Crimson Flame Demon Wolf's powerful fire-attribute flames gradually transformed toward ultimate fire, only ceasing to change once they finally reached the level of divine fire.

At the same time, a genuine platinum Divine Ring slowly emerged beneath Feng Xiaotian's feet.

Having witnessed the entire process of the Divine Ring's attachment and the martial soul's transformation, everyone present exclaimed in wonder, their voices rising one after another.

"After the Divine Ring was attached, its fire-attribute flames actually evolved to rival the light attribute of the god-level Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul. Truly wondrous."

Qian Daoliu's words rang out like a thunderclap, instantly doubling the shock in everyone's hearts!

Afterward, although they still could not stop staring at Feng Xiaotian, the dust had ultimately settled. No matter how tempted they were, it would do no good.

So they gradually gathered their emotions and dispersed one after another.

The clamor subsided, and the little shop returned to its usual peaceful routine.

Before long, however, several familiar figures quietly appeared at the entrance: Yu Xiaogang, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and all of the Shrek Seven Devils.

Since their last battle against the Heaven Dou Royal Team, they had repeatedly suffered setbacks and humiliation because of the shop, undoubtedly leaving them brooding over this place and harboring resentment.

At the same time, the heaven-defying opportunities and various miracles constantly emerging from the shop deeply stirred their greed, making them restless with desire and eager all along to enter and try it for themselves.

Unfortunately, their previous lesson had cut too deeply, and Lin Yue's strength was already etched into their hearts. Despite all their desires, they remained deeply wary, and not one dared be the first to suggest coming.

Until that morning.

Ma Hongjun had become distracted during cultivation and been harshly reprimanded by Yu Xiaogang in front of everyone.

Feeling quite wronged, he had blurted out a complaint in anger, directly bringing everyone's recent thoughts into the open.

His words instantly set everyone off.

Then, as things escalated further and further, they ultimately developed into the current situation.

Standing outside the shop now, although they had claimed on the way that they were not afraid and had even talked some trash, once they actually arrived, they all became cautious, deliberately restraining themselves and hiding all their auras and sharp edges, not daring to show the slightest swagger.

Precisely because of this, they entered the shop quietly without attracting anyone's attention.

When no one drove them away, they recalled the rule Lin Yue had stated that day-anyone was welcome as long as they did not come to cause trouble-and could not help secretly sighing in relief.

Yu Xiaogang in particular, once his unease faded, even inexplicably grew somewhat arrogant and snorted softly.

"Hmph. Such a large shop, yet they ignore customers entering, without even the basic courtesy of a greeting. How rude."

The Shrek group dared not respond. They could only stand silently where they were, looking around awkwardly and taking in the novel sights within the shop, somewhat at a loss.

Only Yu Xiaogang swept his gaze around and was drawn to the Giant Live-Streaming Screen hanging in the shop.

He immediately walked toward it, leading the others over before stopping to watch.

On the screen, two soul masters were locked in fierce combat, their attacks sharp and the pace extremely fast.

The animated discussion of two young soul masters reached their ears.

"Amazing! How many times has Huo Wushuang optimized his soul ring setup now? Barring any surprises, he'll definitely beat Ye Lingling this time, right?"

"Not necessarily. I've watched so many matches, and now, as long as support system soul masters properly combine recovery, attack, and defense soul skills, they're much stronger than pure power attack system soul masters."

"Winning will probably be a little difficult."

Yu Xiaogang had initially listened casually, but his brows furrowed more deeply the longer he listened.

Support system soul masters absorbing attack and defense soul skills?

He immediately shook his head and interrupted their conversation.

"Absurd. Utter nonsense."

The two froze and turned to look at this thin-faced, middle-aged man.

"Support martial souls are fundamentally inclined toward enhancement and healing. Their innate qualities are unsuited to offense and defense. For support soul masters to forcibly absorb attack and defense soul rings is simply a waste of their talent."

"They may appear versatile, but in truth, they're loose in every aspect. Their offensive power will never match orthodox power attack soul masters, and their defense will fall short of defense system soul masters. Putting the cart before the horse like this is bound to lead nowhere."

After speaking, he looked disappointed and shook his head lightly as he admonished them.

"You don't even understand the most basic common knowledge of martial soul compatibility and soul ring combinations. With such shallow understanding, which soul master academy provided your basic education? Did your teachers never teach you even such common knowledge?"

His condescending judgment left the two young soul masters red-faced.

They immediately argued back, bluntly stating that the shop's combat system had long since broken the outside world's conventions and that practical results were far more reliable than rigid theories, launching into an unending dispute with Yu Xiaogang on the spot.

Soon, as the argument between the three grew increasingly heated, the people around them turned to look.

Among them, the Blazing Fire Academy Dean and the Godwind Academy Dean looked at the two young soul masters whom Yu Xiaogang had scolded red-faced.

Seeing that they were core students from their respective academies, both frowned slightly and slowly approached to ask what had happened.

"What's going on?"

At this, the two students turned and saw their deans. As though they had found support, they hurried over, their voices full of grievance.

"Teacher! We were only analyzing the battles in the Arena, but this guy..."

As he spoke, he turned and glared fiercely at Yu Xiaogang.

"He suddenly appeared and said our views were all wrong. He even said support system soul masters absorbing attack soul rings was a waste of talent and putting the cart before the horse, and criticized our academy's basic education as a complete mess!"

Another student from Skywater Academy likewise stood beside his own dean and nodded in agreement.

"Exactly! We were just having a normal discussion the whole time, but he barged in and lectured us without another word. He even said we didn't understand the most basic common knowledge!"

After hearing them out, the two academy deans turned their gazes toward Yu Xiaogang and looked him up and down, displeasure showing on their faces.

Then the Blazing Fire Academy Dean spoke first.

"Friend, neither you nor the people behind you look familiar. You must be newly arrived customers."

He paused, his tone growing colder.

"Regardless of whether our students were right or wrong, wasn't it rather inappropriate for you to approach unprovoked and publicly reprimand and belittle them?"

Faced with this questioning, Yu Xiaogang showed no panic whatsoever. Still maintaining the upright bearing of a teacher impartially correcting mistakes, he spoke calmly.

"I was merely discussing the matter at hand."

"Soul master cultivation has its immutable rules, unchanged through the ages. How can they be altered at will?"

He stood with his hands behind his back, his tone growing increasingly composed, even carrying a hint of compassion for the world's suffering.

"Deluding yourselves into having support system soul masters absorb attack and defense soul rings is simply abandoning the root to chase the branches and destroying your own foundations."

"If I hadn't kindly corrected them today, wouldn't that be worse than sparing them from destroying their martial soul foundations through these mistaken beliefs and regretting it for the rest of their lives?"

Having said this, he lifted his chin slightly and calmly swept his gaze across the two deans' faces, as though he were the only clearheaded person in the dispute.

Hearing this, the Godwind Academy Dean immediately scoffed, his eyes full of derision.

"Correcting them? That 'common knowledge' of yours doesn't necessarily apply here."

"Yet you jumped to conclusions without investigating and belittled our students and academies. At the end of the day, you're simply arrogant, narrow-minded, and ignorant!"

Their words clashed head-on, and the thick smell of gunpowder instantly filled the air.

[Thank you to reader Tako for the nine recommendation votes. Although I've thanked you many times already, I still want to say thank you for your support over the past half month.]