A few seconds later, Ning Rongrong opened her eyes and saw that the Strength Bear's corpse had been parted from its head. A yellow Soul Ring floated above its body.
Looking at the yellow Soul Ring and thinking of how she was about to become a Soul Master, Ning Rongrong's joy overwhelmed her fear.
Sword Douluo instructed her, "Rongrong, mobilize your Soul Power and guide the Soul Ring into your body."
Ning Rongrong nodded, then sat cross-legged. She adjusted her breathing as Sword Douluo had instructed and began trying to absorb the Soul Ring.
As Ning Rongrong began guiding the Soul Ring, a vast surge of pure Soul Power washed into her body, drawing a moan of pleasure from her.
Jun Yi watched quietly from a distance. He could clearly see the changes in the Soul Ring. As Soul Power poured into her, Ning Rongrong's face gradually flushed red, and beads of sweat the size of beans seeped from her forehead. Clearly, her body was somewhat frail and struggled to withstand such immense Soul Power.
But Ning Rongrong did not give up. She kept persevering.
Beside her, Sword Douluo watched Ning Rongrong intently with worry, afraid she might not hold out. If anything went wrong, he would intervene and interrupt her absorption to prevent a backlash.
Finally, an hour later, a pulse suddenly emanated from Ning Rongrong's body. A pale yellow Soul Ring spread outward with her at its center and circled around her.
Seeing that Ning Rongrong was in good condition, Sword Douluo finally breathed a sigh of relief. He slowly walked over to her, gently stroked her head, and said tenderly, "Congratulations to our Rongrong on officially becoming a Soul Master. From now on, you'll have to work hard at cultivating!"
"Mhm~~" Ning Rongrong nodded obediently, looking perfectly well-behaved.
Watching this harmonious scene, Jun Yi fell into a slight daze. It was as though he saw himself as a child in his previous life, showing off his good grades to his grandfather. For a moment, he felt a little melancholy too.
I wonder how Mom is doing. Does she miss her son? Jun Yi murmured inwardly, his expression turning somewhat unnatural.
Not far away, Ning Rongrong noticed Jun Yi's slightly sorrowful expression and guessed that he must be missing his family. She skipped over to him and said playfully, "What's this? I've already become a Soul Master. Aren't you going to congratulate me?"
Jun Yi forced a smile and replied, "Congratulations, congratulations."
"Little Yizi, you'll be staying at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for a long time, so just think of this place as your home. From now on, I'm your family. Come on, let me hear you call me Big Sister Rongrong."
Ning Rongrong spoke with a beaming smile. Her playful manner really was adorable.
Hearing Ning Rongrong's words, Jun Yi froze briefly. He had not expected her to be so observant that she could even tell he was homesick. Warmth filled his heart.
Then the corners of Jun Yi's lips curved upward, and he replied, "If anyone's calling anyone that, you should be calling me Big Brother Jun Yi. Me calling you big sister? Don't even dream of it."
"Hmph, I don't care! I'm a rank-eleven Soul Master now, and you're only rank ten. My rank is higher, so you have to call me big sister!" Ning Rongrong said, planting both hands on her little waist.
"I'm getting my Soul Ring tomorrow. When that happens, my Soul Power will definitely be higher than yours. Just wait until you have to call me big brother," Jun Yi retorted.
"Hmph, let's make a bet. From now on, whoever has higher Soul Power gets to be the elder!" Ning Rongrong said.
Jun Yi shrugged indifferently and said, "Sure. Then from now on, you'll only be calling me Big Brother Jun Yi."
The two bickered back and forth, and much of Jun Yi's sadness was washed away in the process. At the same time, he began reflecting on whether he had been viewing the people around him too much as caricatures.
Take Ning Rongrong, for example. Jun Yi had thought she was a lawless Little Demoness, a spoiled brat who had been pampered to the skies. Though she was the esteemed young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she was full of aristocratic airs, unable to endure hardship, and so on.
But after truly interacting with her, Jun Yi discovered that although Ning Rongrong was occasionally mischievous and unreasonable, she was nowhere near that lawless.
Moreover, Ning Rongrong was extremely perceptive. She could always read other people's emotions well and respond in the most endearing way. It was precisely because of this that she could make two Titled Douluos care so much about her and indulge her endlessly.
Perhaps I should look at this world in a different way, Jun Yi murmured inwardly.
Previously, he had always viewed the Douluo Continent from an outsider's perspective and judged certain people by the personalities described in the original work.
But when Ning Rongrong displayed behaviors that the book had never described, Jun Yi realized he had been wrong. This world was not as lacking in merit as it was in the book. There were many beautiful things here. Everyone was a living, breathing being with their own way of thinking. Each person had their own unique charm, and even if some of it had never been described in the book, it truly existed.
At this thought, Jun Yi's state of mind suddenly cleared, and his gaze softened a little as he looked at Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong also thought her comforting words had worked. Smiling, she took Jun Yi's arm with practiced ease and said, "Come on, let's go home!"
For once, Sword Douluo did not lose his temper. Perhaps he, too, had noticed Jun Yi's sadness. He summoned the Seven Kill Sword and said to the two of them, "Come on. Let's go home."
The three stepped onto the Seven Kill Sword and flew all the way back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Night fell. In his room at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Jun Yi sat cross-legged on his bed, his eyes lightly closed. About an hour later, he opened his eyes and gazed at the bright moon outside his window. Sorrow welled up once more.
"This moon is not my homeland's moon, these people not my homeland's people. Time slips swiftly past in haste; what year is it this very night?"
Looking every bit the literary youth, Jun Yi recited these lines, unsure whether they counted as a poem or a lyric.
Just as Jun Yi was about to sink further into emo mode, the system's voice suddenly reached his ears.
"Once the host possesses great strength, the system can also take the host back to his original world."
"Really, System?" Jun Yi's heart gave a jolt, and he hurriedly asked.
"The system never lies."
"If I really travel back to my hometown, can I still return to the Douluo Continent?"
"As long as the host possesses great strength, the sea is vast enough for fish to leap freely. Where couldn't you go?" the system asked in return.
"Good. From now on, I'll work hard to grow stronger-strong enough to go home soon and bring Mom over here. Then she won't have to keep running herself ragged to make a living."
The system's comforting words immediately filled Jun Yi with confidence. Not only did he possess the power of the most expensive Op-Op Fruit in Pirate King and start with Innate Full Soul Power, but he also had the technology to manufacture Soul Tools, and even an all-knowing system.
With so many buffs stacked together, if Jun Yi still could not grow stronger, he might as well find a rope and hang himself!
"Phew~"
After taking a few deep breaths, Jun Yi composed his chaotic feelings. Since he had already made his decision, he should devote himself fully to improving his Soul Power and spiritual power, striving to see his mother again as soon as possible...
(End of chapter)