Rongrong Astonishes the Seven Treasure Sect

Nuoding Academy's morning bell had echoed in Yan Zu's ears for five full years.

Five years were enough for a child to shed his youthful immaturity and grow into a tall, upright youth. Now eleven years old, Yan Zu was tall and slender, his skin glowing with a lustrous sheen from years of cultivating the Nine Yin Manual. His black eyes were as deep as pools, holding a composure far beyond his years.

Little Jade the Qilin lay on his shoulder. Beneath Yan Zu's ordinary appearance lay strength enough to shake the continent: his Soul Power had quietly broken through to the Soul Ancestor level at rank forty-six, though he maintained the disguise of rank thirty-one in public.

For his annual check-in at eleven, Yan Zu had received a very interesting reward: the Flowing Moonlight Reflection Pendant. It was a smooth, oval jade pendant about the size of a thumb, translucent and milky white like a clear spring beneath the moon. A strand of silvery-white light that seemed to flow was embedded in its center. It could be worn around the neck or tucked inside one's clothing, and when held close to the heart, it would naturally resonate with gentle fluctuations of Soul Power.

Its functions were:

Realm of Soul Return: the pendant contained a miniature "secret realm for nurturing souls." It could actively absorb the pure spiritual power scattered between heaven and earth, as well as the power of moonlight, and transform them into the gentlest nourishment for souls.

Condense the Soul and Stabilize the Spirit: it could collect and stabilize remnant souls or shattered soul imprints.

Gradual Awakening of Spiritual Awareness: with long-term nurturing, a remnant soul would gradually recover a faint consciousness.

Upon receiving the Flowing Moonlight Reflection Pendant, Yan Zu knew it was perfectly suited to saving Xiao Wu's mother. In the original story, Xiao Wu's mother had been hunted and killed by Bibi Dong, becoming her Soul Ring. But as a hundred-thousand-year-old transformed Soul Beast, although her body had died, her soul still resided within the Soul Ring.

But Yan Zu still had no idea exactly how to help Xiao Wu's mother come back to life. He could only wait and see what opportunities arose later.

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong had also suddenly reached an important breakthrough in her cultivation: her Soul Power had officially reached rank thirty, the threshold of a Soul Elder, and she needed to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to hunt for her Third Soul Ring.

In the sect master's great hall, Ning Fengzhi was carefully reading a copy of The Legend of King Arthur, the latest hardcover edition released by "Wen Yansheng." Tucked between its pages was a letter from his daughter Rongrong, vividly describing life at Nuoding Academy. Between the lines was her admiration for Yan Zu and her fascination with "Wen Yansheng's" works.

"Sect Master, Miss Rongrong has returned!" A guard's announcement came from outside the hall, carrying a note of urgency and excitement.

Ning Fengzhi put down the book, anticipation flashing in his eyes. "Let her in, quickly."

No sooner had he spoken than a dainty figure swept into the hall like a whirlwind. It was Ning Rongrong. She wore an embroidered light-purple dress, and though her face bore traces of the dusty journey, they could not hide the excitement and pride in her eyes.

"Daddy! I'm back!" Ning Rongrong rushed to Ning Fengzhi's side and affectionately slipped her arm through his. "I've broken through to rank thirty, and I need to hunt for my Third Soul Ring!"

Surprise flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. He reached out to take his daughter's pulse, sending his pure Soul Power into her body. When he sensed the steady, powerful fluctuations of rank-thirty Soul Power, disbelief appeared on his refined face. "Rongrong, you were only rank twenty-four when you left the sect a year ago. You've actually gained six ranks in a single year? That speed... is astonishing!"

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was a leading sect of the Auxiliary System, blessed with exceptional cultivation resources, but the fact remained that cultivation in the Auxiliary System was slow. Even its most gifted disciples were generally fifteen or sixteen before they reached rank thirty. Rongrong's rate of advancement had already broken the sect's hundred-year record.

"Hehe, of course!" Ning Rongrong raised her chin and puffed out her chest proudly. "Just think whose daughter I am! Daddy, you're a rank seventy-nine Soul Saint. I inherited your talent, and I've worked hard at cultivation too. Isn't it only natural that I'd advance quickly?"

Yet she was secretly nervous. Her rapid progress over the past year had been entirely thanks to Yan Zu's guidance, Little Jade's cultivation acceleration, and some pills Yan Zu had given her. She had promised Yan Zu she would never reveal those secrets, or she might cause him trouble and lose his trust.

"Rongrong, you mustn't be careless." A cool voice came from outside the hall as Sword Douluo Chen Xin walked slowly inside, his white robes whiter than snow, an aloof sword intent emanating from him. "Cultivation is harder for Auxiliary System Soul Masters than for Battle Soul Masters to begin with. Your rate of advancement has already exceeded reason. Could you have used some method that pulls up the seedlings to make them grow?"

Bone Douluo Gu Rong followed close behind, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's. "Old Sword is right. Girl, tell us honestly, did you use some method that consumes your potential? Your Innate Soul Power was rank nine. You mustn't let a moment's speed affect your future development."

Ning Rongrong's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her spoiled, willful expression and stamped her foot. "Grandpa Jian, Grandpa Gu, how could you think that of me? I'd never cultivate in a way that harms my foundation!"

She deliberately raised her voice, sounding somewhat aggrieved and dissatisfied. "At Nuoding Academy, I cultivate with Yan Zu and Xiao Wu every day. I get up before dawn to train my body, and I still cultivate my Soul Power at night. I've never slacked off! Besides, my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is already a top-tier support Martial Soul. What's so strange about me advancing quickly? You're just looking down on me!"

As she spoke, she deliberately squeezed out a few tears, looking pitiful.

Ning Fengzhi looked at his daughter, both annoyed and amused. He knew Rongrong's character all too well: she was proud and determined to excel. But he did not believe for a moment that she had gained six ranks in a year through her own efforts alone. There had to be a secret behind such progress for an Auxiliary System Soul Master, but Rongrong was unwilling to speak, and it would not do for him to press her.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin frowned slightly and released a wisp of sword intent to probe Ning Rongrong's meridians. A moment later, he withdrew it, his expression softening somewhat. "Her foundation is solid and her Soul Power is pure. There's no sign of seedlings being pulled up to make them grow."

Bone Douluo also stepped forward to examine her, then smiled. "Interesting. This girl's meridians have widened considerably compared to five years ago, and her Soul Power circulates much more efficiently. It seems she's had a good opportunity."

Ning Rongrong's heart tightened, and she hurriedly said, "What opportunity? Yan Zu and Xiao Wu just work very hard at cultivation, so I trained with them." She deliberately made light of it, afraid that the more she said, the more likely she was to slip up.

A glimmer of understanding flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. Over the past two years, Yan Zu had published Star Dou Night Tales and The Song of Roland under the pen name "Wen Yansheng," and had also worked with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to introduce high-yield grain seeds and Soul Tools suitable for commoners. His remarkable qualities needed no further mention.

Since Rongrong was unwilling to say more, he respected his daughter's secret and merely said gently, "It's good that your foundation is unharmed. The Third Soul Ring is crucial. Daddy will personally take you Soul Hunting, and Uncle Jian and Uncle Gu will come along to protect you."

"Wonderful! Thank you, Daddy, Grandpa Jian, and Grandpa Gu!" Ning Rongrong immediately smiled through her tears, the grievance vanishing from her face and giving way to pure joy. With three top experts accompanying her, she had no need to worry about the dangers of Soul Hunting.

Three days later, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo personally accompanied Ning Rongrong to the Mist Forest, on the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Dou Great Forest. Though the forest was not as dangerous as the Star Dou Great Forest, it had plenty of thousand-year Soul Beasts suitable for Soul Elders. Its relatively safe environment made it a common Soul Hunting ground for disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Mist curled through the Mist Forest, towering ancient trees blotted out the sky and sun, and the air was filled with a rich presence of Soul Power.

"Rongrong, what kind of Third Soul Skill do you want?" Ning Fengzhi asked. "For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's support Soul Skills, amplification abilities take priority. Ideally, it should make up for an existing weakness."

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment, and Yan Zu's figure flashed through her mind. Yan Zu consumed a tremendous amount of Soul Power when he cultivated, and Xiao Wu often faced a shortage of Soul Power in battle. She immediately said, "I want a Soul Skill that amplifies Soul Power. It would be even better if it could speed up Soul Power recovery!"

"All right." Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Then we'll set our sights on a Spirit Rhinoceros Beast over a thousand years old. Its Soul Ring can grant an Auxiliary System Soul Master a powerful ability to amplify Soul Power, which suits your needs perfectly."

Holding the Seven Kill Sword, Sword Douluo moved like a phantom as he cleared the way ahead. Sword Qi split the thick mist, and any low-level Soul Beast that approached was instantly cut down. Bone Douluo brought up the rear, spreading out his spiritual power to survey their surroundings against an ambush by high-level Soul Beasts.

Before long, Bone Douluo's eyes lit up. "There's a Spirit Rhinoceros Beast three li ahead, approximately seventeen hundred years old. It's just right for Rongrong."

The group quickened their pace and soon saw a snow-white Soul Beast shaped like a young deer drinking beside a stream. A single spiral horn grew from the Spirit Rhinoceros Beast's head, and a faint purple halo surrounded its body, the unmistakable sign of a thousand-year Spirit Rhinoceros Beast.

Sword Douluo flashed forward and drew the Seven Kill Sword. A sharp blast of Sword Qi struck the ground beside the Spirit Rhinoceros Beast, sending dust billowing into the air. Startled, the beast turned to flee, only to find its path blocked by a bone shield Bone Douluo had erected in an instant.

"Beast, stay where you are!" Sword Douluo barked. His Seven Kill Sword danced, and Sword Qi formed a ring around the Spirit Rhinoceros Beast, trapping it in the center. He did not strike to kill, instead using the Sword Qi to wound it repeatedly until it fell to the ground, grievously injured.

The Spirit Rhinoceros Beast knew it could not escape, and despair flashed in its eyes. Ning Fengzhi seized the moment. "Rongrong, kill it and prepare to absorb it!"

Ning Rongrong immediately drew a dagger and plunged it into a vital point. The Spirit Rhinoceros Beast died at once, and a purple Soul Ring rose from its body.

Ning Rongrong summoned the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and connected her Soul Power to the Soul Ring. The Thousand-Year Soul Ring's energy was vast yet gentle. It surged into her body along her meridians and fused perfectly with the essence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

She could clearly feel her Soul Power growing rapidly, while the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone ever more brilliantly. Six hours later, she finished absorbing the Soul Ring. Ning Rongrong's Soul Power stabilized at rank thirty-one, and her Third Soul Ring-a pale-purple seventeen-hundred-year Soul Ring-slowly revolved beneath her feet.

"Success!" Ning Rongrong excitedly raised the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and instantly activated her Third Soul Skill. "Seven Treasures Have Names, Third: Soul!"

A halo of amplification fell upon Ning Fengzhi. He immediately felt his Soul Power surge by 30%, and its recovery speed increased as well.

"A fine Soul Skill." Ning Fengzhi's eyes were full of satisfaction. "It can also be stacked with your first two amplification Soul Skills. It's extremely practical."

Sword Douluo nodded in approval as well. "This Soul Skill can not only increase one's own Soul Power, but also sustain teammates. It can play an enormous role in group battles."

Bone Douluo laughed. "Rongrong, now you have what it takes to support that boy Yan Zu at Nuoding Academy."

Ning Rongrong's cheeks turned slightly red. "Grandpa Gu, you're teasing me again!"