"That really is frustrating."
There was nothing Lin Xing could help with either. Fighting was his forte; handling sect affairs was another matter.
"But Xiao Xing, weren't you sparring with Uncle Jian?"
"Yes, I've pretty much finished training. I was planning to leave the sect today to gain some experience outside. I just came to engrave a domain on Rongrong's Soul Ring before leaving, so she'll have the means to protect herself if something really happens."
"So you already have a second chance."
Ning Fengzhi looked thoughtful.
"Yes, but as a support-type Soul Master, Rongrong doesn't normally have any experience with combat."
"So after the engraving, Uncle Ning, I'd suggest having her learn from Teacher or Senior Gu."
"After all, the domain is very powerful. With Rongrong's temperament, if she fails to control it and drains all her Soul Power and mental power in one go, that wouldn't be good."
"Yes, don't worry."
Ning Fengzhi nodded and buried his head in the work before him again.
Soon, Chen Xin brought Ning Rongrong over.
On the way, Chen Xin had already told her everything he could.
But Ning Rongrong was still a little unhappy.
"Um... Brother Lin, you're leaving, right?"
Lin Xing's eyelid twitched. Ning Rongrong didn't normally call him Brother Lin. Usually, when she called him that, she definitely wanted a favor.
"If you have something to say, say it."
"It's just..."
Ning Rongrong grew a little bashful.
"Could you leave Sister Furina here...? Or, or you could take me with you."
"I see..."
Lin Xing looked thoughtful. Seeing Ning Rongrong's expectant little face, he suddenly felt a spark of interest.
"Since you've put it that way, Rongrong, then of course your Brother Lin..."
"Won't agree."
The expectant look on Ning Rongrong's face instantly wilted when those last words fell.
"All right, Rongrong, stop making a fuss."
"Your Brother Lin is going out to gain experience, not to play. Naturally, he can't take you along."
"As for your Sister Furina... naturally, she can't stay either. After all, she's Xiao Xing's Martial Soul. Maintaining her for a long time consumes power."
It had to be Ning Fengzhi. He still had some authority, at least, and once he finished speaking, Ning Rongrong could only obediently listen.
"All right, it's not as if I'm never coming back. Don't look like that. After I leave, you should cultivate properly. Perhaps your Sister Furina will be very happy to see you when she comes back next time."
Lin Xing offered a few words of comfort too.
"Fine, fine."
With things having come to this, she had no chance, however unwilling she was.
"Then let's begin."
With that, Lin Xing formed a seal with one hand and promptly unfurled the Court of Surging Conviction, drawing Ning Rongrong inside.
After a round of precise work, the Clear Abyss of the Azure Stream was engraved on Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as well.
Unlike Gu Rong's case, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was a tool Martial Soul, so the domain could be engraved directly onto the Martial Soul. Lin Xing had only discovered this after the previous engraving.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda didn't look much different from before. If he had to name a difference, it was the faint layer of blue air currents now surrounding the pagoda.
Under the Martial Soul's own radiance, however, those currents were extremely faint, practically invisible without a close look.
The domain dispersed, and the two figures reappeared.
Ning Rongrong looked curiously at her Martial Soul. Even after staring at it for quite a while, she couldn't find anything different.
"Strange... why isn't my Soul Ring like Grandpa Bone's?"
Ning Rongrong looked at her Soul Ring in disappointment. She had thought hers would have all sorts of colors like Gu Rong's.
But her Soul Ring hadn't changed in the slightest. It was still yellow.
"That's normal. Because you have a tool Martial Soul, I engraved the domain onto your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Try sensing it carefully now. You should feel that you've gained another skill."
"It seems... there really is a faint connection."
"That's right, then. The more you use it, the more familiar you'll naturally become with this domain."
"When the time comes, you can have the old geezer train you properly. After all, all you've learned before is support-type knowledge."
As he spoke, Lin Xing looked at Chen Xin.
"Old geezer, remember to train Rongrong in using the domain and controlling her power. And be careful. This time, I engraved the complete Clear Abyss of the Azure Stream, at full power. Don't let her hurt you."
"You little brat, no respect for your elders."
"Don't worry. I've already broken through to Level 97. A mere domain might not even be able to hurt me with you controlling it yourself."
"Who knows?"
Lin Xing merely shrugged casually. Over the years, he had mostly just sparred normally with Chen Xin to hone his basic combat instincts.
As for his domain, he hadn't used it in a long time.
"Then, Uncle Ning, old geezer, I'll be off. Remember to let Senior Gu know I'm safe."
Rising from his seat, Lin Xing summoned the Seven Kill Sword beneath his feet, then flew off with a whoosh.
He was already getting a little impatient. His Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale thirsted for blood!
Lin Xing decided to make Sunset Forest the first stop on this trip for now.
If he was lucky, he might run into that fellow Dugu Bo.
He still very much wanted to visit the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The heavenly treasures there were definitely not limited to those shown in Tang San's original storyline.
The most precious things in the entire Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well were actually not those Immortal Herbs, but the two sets of skeletal remains at its bottom.
For now, though, Lin Xing had no interest in them. He simply wanted to visit the place and see what the greatest treasure basin of the Douluo I era actually looked like.
Watching Lin Xing leave, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help shaking his head.
"It seems Xiao Xing has really been cooped up for too long."
"Perhaps."
Chen Xin shook his head.
"Come along, Rongrong. Grandpa Sword will help you get familiar with it."
Riding the Seven Kill Sword, Lin Xing flew straight out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's territory like a gust of wind.
"Fufu, want to come out for some fresh air?"
Lin Xing called out, but Fufu didn't answer.
Seeing this, Lin Xing didn't keep calling. If she didn't answer, she was most likely asleep.
After glancing at the map to confirm his direction, Lin Xing put it away. He didn't plan to stop in Heaven Dou City or anywhere else. His only destination was Sunset Forest.
After a year of consolidation, although his Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale remained the same, his control over his own power and his manipulation of Intent had both reached an astounding level.
Riding the Seven Kill Sword and competing on pure speed alone, he could probably now manage a thirty-seventy split against Chen Xin.