Ning Rongrong's startled cry also drew Zhu Zhuqing's gaze.
They had imagined that Lu Ning was a genius.
But they had never imagined it.
Lu Ning's genius had actually reached this level.
A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor.
There had never been one in the entire history of the Douluo Continent!
A Soul Ancestor...
Even under Spirit Hall's certification system.
Soul Ancestors were no longer considered low-ranking Soul Masters.
They were truly a backbone force worthy of serious regard.
In either of the two great empires, they could easily be granted the title of baron with just a few more accomplishments.
This was the true middle echelon of Soul Masters!
"Yeah, I was pretty lucky."
"I managed to break through to level 40 last night."
As Lu Ning said this.
He also glanced toward Zhu Zhuqing.
As for being able to break through to level 40.
To be honest, Zhu Zhuqing had indeed helped quite a lot.
The "lust" option could raise his soul power by half a level each time and increase the age of all his soul rings by a hundred years.
That half level of soul power.
Was just enough to let Lu Ning cross that threshold.
And officially enter the Soul Ancestor realm.
If it weren't for the fact that doing it any number of times in one night still only counted as once.
Lu Ning could have gained at least four levels last night.
What a pity.
"...A true genius."
"Lu Ning, do you have any plans to join a sect in the future?"
"Have you considered joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Ning Rongrong extended an olive branch to the "teacher" before her. As long as a genius of this caliber did not fall before his time, becoming a Titled Douluo in the future was a certainty nailed to the board.
If Lu Ning was willing to join.
With Sword Douluo's guidance on top of that.
He would surely become another Sect-Protector Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future!
Besides.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's rules forbade direct-line disciples from marrying support-type Soul Masters.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, she herself.
Would also have to choose a Battle Soul Master as her husband in the future.
Lu Ning...
Was clearly the best choice.
They were close in age, his talent was astounding, and his Wine Gourd martial soul could help the sect grow stronger.
Ning Rongrong could think of no reason to refuse.
"Not interested."
Lu Ning spread his hands.
Fucking was fine, but being completely confined within a sect.
Especially somewhere with more rules than an ox had hairs, like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
He had no interest in that.
"Won't you give it some more thought?"
Ning Rongrong blinked, her voice turning a little softer and sweeter.
It rivaled Zhu Zhuqing's voice last night.
She clearly had no intention of giving up an opportunity to gain a Sect-Protector Douluo.
"No."
Lu Ning refused decisively.
Beside them, however, Zhu Zhuqing said nothing about inviting Lu Ning to the Star Luo Empire.
She had neither the standing nor the interest.
She merely asked calmly, "When are you going?"
"If you're going soul hunting for a month."
"Who will we learn from during that time? We'll fall far behind in our studies."
Lu Ning rubbed his chin, clearly sinking into thought.
In the past.
He would have simply picked up his sword and gone to Sunset Forest to hunt soul beasts alone.
But now...
He was no longer a wanderer.
He had two young disciples with him.
Hunting soul beasts wasn't difficult. Finding them was the real difficulty.
With bad luck, even a month of searching Sunset Forest might not turn up a suitable soul beast.
That was also why Shrek Academy tried to wait until it had two students with similar soul power levels before going soul beast hunting. For one thing, it conserved teaching resources.
For another, it saved time.
"How about I discuss it with Dean Flender?"
Lu Ning left the two of them behind.
And headed toward the dean's office.
Sunset Forest could be considered one of the relatively safe soul beast forests nearby.
It wasn't as challenging as the Star Dou Great Forest.
With luck, one could encounter soul beasts just over ten thousand years old, and even beasts tens of thousands of years old had appeared there.
However, it was usually the first choice for Soul Masters below level 40.
After Lu Ning briefly explained the situation to the dean.
Flender looked every bit as stunned as Ning Rongrong, likewise staring at Lu Ning as though he were a monster. If he hadn't raised him from childhood and even helped awaken his martial soul.
He really would have suspected that the Lu Ning before him was a soul beast cultivating anew in human form.
If this wasn't a monster, what was?
Although those students were often called Little Monsters.
Compared with Lu Ning...
They couldn't count as Shreks. At most, they were slimes.
"We're not going to Sunset Forest."
"I'll personally take you to the Star Dou Great Forest!"
Flender spoke with ironclad resolve.
A trace of fervor surfaced in his eyes.
He also wanted to see just how old a soul ring Lu Ning would add this time!
Lu Ning wasn't particularly fussy about which forest they went to.
He had only planned to visit Sunset Forest because it was closer, most of its soul beasts were thousand-year beasts, and it was relatively safe. The key issue was...
"What about Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing?"
"What happens to those two after I leave the academy?"
"Let them study on their own?"
Lu Ning spread his hands.
Having the two study on their own meant making them give up the Wine Gourd's enhancement.
If Lu Ning's soul hunting took too long.
The two of them really might not be able to surpass Tang San and Xiao Wu three years later!
"You want to bring them?"
"Then bring them along."
"Let me tell you, that little girl Ning Rongrong has several guardians following her. If you... I'll help you draw them away when the time comes!"
"If you manage to climb the great tree that is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I'll be counting on you to support me in my old age."
A crooked merchant's smile appeared on Flender's face.
He was scheming even at his own disciple's expense.
Lu Ning looked utterly speechless.
Could that crooked merchant's smile stop appearing all the time?
No wonder Xiao Ao and Fatty both looked a little sleazy.
He, Lu Ning, was different.
He was righteousness through and through.
"Then let's bring them, Teacher."
"Remember to draw them away when the time comes, or Chen Xin could cleave me in two with one stroke."
The four of them headed toward the Star Dou Great Forest in grand procession.
Dai Mubai watched their departing figures.
He felt rather conflicted.
He was the oldest of Shrek's students.
But his soul power wasn't the highest.
Before, he could at least comfort himself by saying they were all Soul Elders.
But now...
The next time he saw Lu Ning, the latter would be a distinguished Soul Ancestor. Want to speak as equals?
Immortals and mortals belonged to separate worlds! Don't act so familiar!
"...A twelve-year-old Soul Ancestor?"
Yu Xiaogang felt equally conflicted.
He had thought the gap between Tang San and Lu Ning wouldn't be too great.
With his theories to rely on in the future.
Tang San would still have a chance to turn things around.
But looking at things now...
At almost the same age, Lu Ning's soul power level could actually be ten levels higher than Tang San's!
A gap like this...
As long as Lu Ning didn't die.
How could Tang San possibly catch up?!
Tang San also felt somewhat powerless. He prided himself on having talent inferior to no one's, but now... he could barely even see Lu Ning's back anymore.
"Teacher."
"Hm?" Yu Xiaogang looked at the disciple before him with a complicated expression.
Tang San steadied his emotions, then spoke to Yu Xiaogang with determination in his eyes. "Starting today, increase my training load!"
"I... will surpass Lu Ning completely!"
"To prove you right, Teacher!"
Before you continue