One Year, Soul King

Dugu Bo's surprise didn't bother Ning Bei. He had seen that kind of expression far too many times already.

"Grandfather Dugu, once Yanzi reaches level 35, she can take these three pills directly and reach level 40. But remember, after taking the pills, she needs to consolidate her cultivation for a while before going to obtain a Spirit Ring, so her Soul Power doesn't become unstable."

After hearing that, Dugu Bo nodded in deep agreement. His own Soul Power had been cultivated one level at a time, yet these two little brats had their Soul Power soaring in front of him every day, to the point that his heart could barely take it anymore.

After giving Dugu Bo his reminder, Ning Bei looked again at the Slender Figure beside him.

"Yanzi, I probably won't be going to school after this. If you want to find me, come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

Dugu Yan was stunned when she heard that.

"Huh? You're not going to school anymore? Why?"

Ning Bei summoned the Pill Pagoda and gestured with his mouth toward the black Spirit Ring.

The Dugu grandfather and granddaughter cried out in shock again after seeing it.

"Heavens."

"Kid, do you have a death wish? Your Fourth Spirit Ring is already ten thousand years old?"

Ning Bei didn't get annoyed and explained to them, "Grandfather Dugu, do you still remember the two stalks of medicinal herbs I ate the first time? Those two stalks were called the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot. Taken alone, either one would be poison, but when taken together with the power of the Ice and Fire Spring, they could temper the human body. Although I'm only a Soul Ancestor, my physical strength is already comparable to that of a high-level Soul King, and—"

Before Ning Bei could finish, Dugu Bo waved his hand and cut him off.

"Enough, enough. Didn't I tell you not to mention the effects of those herbs in front of me? As long as you're fine, that's all that matters."

Ning Bei scratched his head awkwardly.

"Sorry, Grandfather Dugu. I forgot."

At the side, Dugu Yan looked at her grandfather's pained expression and covered her mouth as she giggled, which only made Dugu Bo even angrier when he saw it.

It was bad enough that he had dug up my Immortal Herbs, but he had even dug away my little cabbage too. He was simply inhuman.

Fortunately, this fellow wasn't exactly stingy. Whenever he had something good, he always thought to give Yanyan a share.

"If I go to school now, I'll stand out too much, so I won't go."

The grandfather and granddaughter both nodded in agreement.

"Then it's settled. Yanzi, if you need anything, or if you miss me, come to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to find me."

As he spoke, he took Dugu Yan's small hand, took out a Seven Treasure Token, and placed it in her palm.

"This is the Seven Treasure Token belonging to a direct disciple of the Sect. The character Bei on it represents me. When you arrive at the Sect, just show it directly to the guards."

"I understand, A Bei. If you have time, you can come here to see me too. If I can reach level 40 this year, I might not go to school either."

"Really? Not going would be fine too. Being under eleven years old with cultivation over level 40 is indeed a little shocking. If someone had bad intentions, it would still be rather dangerous."

"Mm."

As they spoke, the two of them began exchanging affectionate glances again, making Dugu Bo beside them cough repeatedly.

In his heart, he shouted that Youngster had no martial virtue, bullying an elderly single dog like him.

After bidding farewell to the grandfather and granddaughter, Ning Bei returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and resumed a regular life.

Some time later, Rongrong's second birthday banquet arrived. At her first birthday banquet, Ning Bei had given her a custom-made set of A Bao figurines, making her so happy that she couldn't stop smiling. This time, Ning Bei planned to give her that Red Cloud Elk. It could be considered the first Soul Beast Ning Bei had raised, and by now, it had 800 years of cultivation.

As a common food source for carnivorous Soul Beasts, the Red Cloud Elk's bloodline was truly limited. After reaching 800 years, even while staying inside the Pill Pagoda, its cultivation no longer increased.

This was its own limitation and had nothing to do with whether Ning Bei had put effort into it or not. Now, giving it to Ning Rongrong as a pet was quite good too, and could be considered making the best use of it.

After all, A Bao was a battle pet Ning Bei had carefully raised and was not suitable to play with her. Fortunately, children always liked fresh things, and she hugged the Red Cloud Elk's neck without letting go.

After that, she accepted everyone else's gifts very perfunctorily, her mind entirely on the little deer. This made Sword, Bone, and Ning Fengzhi wildly jealous, and they stared at Ning Bei with unfriendly eyes.

It was as if they were saying, Kid, you really do have a way with women.

Ning Bei curled his lips and stopped looking at them.

In his heart, he thought, among you three, one is old, one is ugly, and one is so busy no one can even see him. Do I even need to compete?

The birthday banquet passed in a harmonious atmosphere. Ning Bei calculated in his heart that Little Rascal would begin cultivating that Mysterious Heaven Skill before long.

As for preserving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Bei could currently only think of two methods. One was becoming a god before then, but a little over ten years was far too tight. When the time came, if he had no fortuitous encounters, being able to have Soul Douluo cultivation would already be worth burning incense over.

The other was to reveal enough potential and then lay his cards on the table with Qian Renxue, completely defecting to Spirit Hall's side. At that point, I've already joined Qian Renxue, so surely you wouldn't still go so far as to kill me, right?

However, other variables might still appear during this period, so Ning Bei was not in a hurry. Laying his cards on the table was only the last resort.

A year quietly passed. Ning Rongrong grew another year older, and what remained unchanged was her dependence on Ning Bei. The adults were all very busy, and because other children her age were afraid of her status, they did not like staying with her much.

Only Ning Bei could take time to play with her. Countless Soul Beast pets enriched her childhood. With Ning Bei and the beast pets accompanying her, Ning Rongrong no longer felt lonely and did not spend her days playing pranks on others. The title of Little Witch had yet to be placed upon her head. Other than the Red Cloud Elk, Ning Bei also successively gave her some low-level Soul Beasts like Soft Bone Rabbits and Flower Parrots. These were all hopeless cases even the Pill Pagoda could not prop up, making them perfect to play with Ning Rongrong.

Ning Bei couldn't help suspecting just how Xiao Wu, as a Soft Bone Rabbit, had managed to cultivate to a hundred thousand years of cultivation. It was simply absurd. The Soft Bone Rabbits he raised at home had difficulty even breaking through a hundred years, and most of them were made into Spicy Rabbit Head at around ten years.

For the first half of this year, Ning Bei had been consolidating his cultivation. Only in the latter half did he truly begin cultivating. A few days ago, he had finally reached level 46, and Ning Bei could no longer wait to take the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pill and Purple Heart Obstacle Breaking Pill to raise his cultivation.

Before this, Core Disciples of the Sect had already tested them. The pills were indeed as Ning Bei had expected: most of them raised Soul Power by four levels, while disciples at the Soul Elder level rose by five levels.

After shaking off Rongrong's pestering, Ning Bei came alone to the cultivation room. He sat cross-legged, took out the three-flowered pill, and directly stuffed it into his mouth.

Feeling the bottleneck in his Soul Power loosen, Ning Bei was delighted and began refining the medicinal power with all his strength.

After half a day passed, his level reached 48. Without stopping, Ning Bei spent another half a day and swallowed two Purple Heart Obstacle Breaking Pills at once. His Soul Power successfully reached level 50.

He went to the Sect's Council Hall and found Ning Fengzhi, who was handling affairs, then told him the news.

It made him so happy he clapped his hands.

"Wonderful! An eleven-year-old Soul King—unheard of, unprecedented. You'll become the pride of the Sect."

Ning Bei was very happy to hear the praise as well. The two agreed that once Ning Bei had consolidated his cultivation a little, they would have Sword and Bone Douluo, the two Titled Douluo, take Ning Bei to obtain his spirit ring together.

The scale of things last time had already left Bone Douluo somewhat overwhelmed. This time, the Soul Beasts drawn over by the absorption of the Fifth Spirit Ring would only be stronger and more numerous. To be safe, the two Douluo decided to go together and help Ning Bei with his Soul Hunting.

Thanks to the adorable big boss Little Zhu Peiqi for the tip!