Ten thousand horses thundered through Jun Yi's mind. Fuck! I really have become a child groom?!
Outwardly, however, he still replied politely, "Let fate decide. If Rongrong really likes me, being a live-in son-in-law would be pretty nice."
Bone Douluo asked in confusion, "What's a live-in son-in-law?"
"It means marrying into our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Hearing this, Bone Douluo laughed and scolded him. "You wish, brat. If you can't carve out a career for yourself and end up having to marry into the family, you'll have to listen to Rongrong in everything from then on, understand? Haha."
"That would be pretty nice too. The doctor said I have a weak stomach, so I'm suited to eating soft rice," Jun Yi said with a smile.
"Stop being a smart-mouth, brat. Get ready. I'll take you Soul Hunting."
With that, Bone Douluo was about to turn and leave, but Jun Yi stopped him.
"Grandpa Bone, wait a moment. Look at this."
Jun Yi summoned his Soul Ring. The deep yellow ring looked particularly dazzling inside the room.
"A Soul Ring? When did that coward help you attach it?" Bone Douluo asked in astonishment. He assumed Sword Douluo had taken Jun Yi to attach it.
"Grandpa Bone, you've misunderstood. This Soul Ring appeared on me by itself. Grandpa Sword didn't take me to attach it." Jun Yi offered the excuse he had prepared long ago.
"It appeared by itself?" Bone Douluo was shocked once again. A Soul Ring that appeared by itself? He had lived for more than half a lifetime and had never heard of Soul Rings appearing on their own.
"Yes. I don't know why either. While I was cultivating yesterday, I felt a mass of power constantly gathering inside my body. Once I finished absorbing it, this Soul Ring suddenly appeared, and my Soul Power reached rank fourteen."
As he spoke, Jun Yi released his Soul Power fluctuations for Bone Douluo to sense. After examining him carefully, Bone Douluo discovered that Jun Yi's Soul Power had indeed broken through to rank fourteen.
Bone Douluo rubbed his chin in puzzlement, then said to Jun Yi, "I've never seen anything like this before. Come see Fengzhi with me. He's done some research into Martial Souls."
"All right."
Jun Yi followed Bone Douluo to the imperial study of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The once-empty desk was now piled with books and bamboo slips. Ning Fengzhi seemed to be searching for something. He flipped through the books, but ultimately found nothing.
He sighed softly and sat back down in his chair.
Seeing this, Bone Douluo stepped forward and said, "Fengzhi, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has been passed down for a thousand years, and its flaw has always existed. Even our predecessors never found a solution. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
Hearing Bone Douluo's comforting words, Ning Fengzhi's weary face showed a faint smile. "Rongrong's Innate Soul Power reached rank nine. She's also the only person in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to reach rank nine in a thousand years. I don't want her to be bound by her Martial Soul's flaw."
"Rongrong is still young. You have plenty of time. Don't put too much pressure on yourself," Bone Douluo consoled him.
"As parents, don't we all just want our children to have a better future than we did?" Ning Fengzhi said with a bitter smile.
"Stop putting pressure on yourself. Come, think about something else. Kid Jun, come here."
Bone Douluo had Jun Yi come to Ning Fengzhi's side.
Ning Fengzhi asked curiously, "Did something happen?"
Bone Douluo gave Jun Yi a look. Understanding, Jun Yi summoned his first Soul Ring.
Looking at the Soul Ring Jun Yi had summoned, Ning Fengzhi murmured, "The ring is deep yellow. Only Soul Rings over seven hundred years old can display that color. And beneath the deep yellow of Xiao Yi's first Soul Ring, there's a faint trace of purple. This Soul Ring must be close to nine hundred years old."
Ning Fengzhi drained the tea on his desk, then said, "I never imagined Xiao Yi's physique was so good that he could withstand a Soul Ring over nine hundred years old. Uncle Gu, letting Xiao Yi absorb a Soul Ring of this age shows how much confidence you have in his talent!"
Bone Douluo chuckled. "Naturally. This brat Jun Yi's talent has even reached a monstrous level."
Bone Douluo continued, "Fengzhi, do you know where this Soul Ring of his came from?"
"Didn't you take him to attach it?" Ning Fengzhi said, taking it for granted.
Bone Douluo shook his head.
"This Soul Ring appeared on Jun Yi by itself."
"What? It appeared by itself?" Ning Fengzhi
rose from his chair in shock and came over to Jun Yi. Crouching down halfway, he looked into Jun Yi's eyes and said, "Xiao Yi, I'd like to examine your body with my Soul Power. May I?"
"Yes." Jun Yi nodded.
With that, Ning Fengzhi released his Soul Power into Jun Yi's body and carefully examined him.
"Huh? How strange..." After a moment, Ning Fengzhi frowned.
"What is it?" Bone Douluo asked.
"There isn't any lingering trace of a Soul Beast in this Soul Ring. It seems to have been condensed from nothing but a mass of power," Ning Fengzhi said pensively.
"What's going on?" Bone Douluo asked in confusion.
Ning Fengzhi thought for a moment, then raised his hand and patted Jun Yi. A strand of gentle Soul Power entered Jun Yi's body, and Ning Fengzhi closed his eyes in contemplation.
Jun Yi did not dare disturb him and waited quietly and patiently.
Several minutes later, Ning Fengzhi opened his eyes and sighed softly. "I don't know what's going on either," he said helplessly. "Xiao Yi, where did you get this Soul Ring?"
"It formed automatically inside my Martial Soul."
"It formed inside your Martial Soul?"
After another few seconds of silence, Ning Fengzhi said, "Perhaps it really is because of his Martial Soul. After all, Xiao Yi isn't a Soul Beast. He couldn't possibly produce a Soul Ring himself."
Ning Fengzhi could only attribute it to Jun Yi's Martial Soul. He and the two Titled Douluo had met Jun Yi when he was very young. If Jun Yi really were a Soul Beast, the two Titled Douluo would have recognized him long ago.
"Perhaps. My Martial Soul really is a little unusual, after all. During my awakening, there was a voice in my heart telling me to swallow it, and afterward, I gained the abilities I have now," Jun Yi added.
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "That's a good thing too. It saves a great deal of time and effort. Xiao Yi, what effect does your first Soul Skill have?"
Jun Yi scratched his head and said awkwardly, "It doesn't seem to have produced a Soul Skill."
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly. "No Soul Skill? How is that possible? Judging by the tremendous power contained in your first Soul Ring, your first Soul Skill should be extremely powerful. How could no Soul Skill have appeared?"
Jun Yi put on a sorrowful look. "There really isn't a Soul Skill. Perhaps that's the drawback."
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi comforted Jun Yi. "Xiao Yi, don't lose heart. Even without a Soul Skill, you can create your own. We'll give you the best guidance. Xiao Yi, I believe you can become a powerful Soul Master in the future."
(End of chapter)