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To ensure he didn't miscount, Ning Fengzhi recounted twice. The final result was still nine layers!
"Nine layers, nine colors—the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda! Rongrong, how did you achieve this?" Ning Fengzhi, disregarding his usual composure, grabbed her hand and pressed for answers.
Ning Rongrong quickly pulled her hand away. "Dad, you're hurting me!"
"The evolution of my martial soul is thanks to the immortal herb that Tianchen Brother brought back from Senior Dugu. My soul power level also surged by six levels in a single day after absorbing the herb."
"One day, six levels?" The Sword-Bone Douluo gasped—it was an unimaginable leap in strength.
However, Ning Rongrong showed no signs of malevolent energy, and her soul power was solid. Otherwise, they might have suspected she had used some sinister method to forcibly increase her strength.
Ning Rongrong lifted her head proudly. "Not only me—Tianchen Brother's Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul also evolved into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"*Gasp~*"
Even the well-traveled Sword and Bone Douluo couldn't help but take a sharp breath.
Two Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial souls meant the sect could now be renamed the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect starting today!
Ning Fengzhi turned to Ning Tianchen. "Tianchen, you've truly given me a tremendous surprise. I wonder, do you still have any immortal herbs capable of evolving the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul? The sect is willing to purchase them from you for ten million gold spirit coins."
Ning Tianchen replied calmly, "Uncle Ning, there was only one Beautiful Silk Tulip. Rongrong and I absorbed it simultaneously, which is what caused our martial souls to evolve. As for the seeds of the Beautiful Silk Tulip, I've already planted them, but the next harvest won't be for another hundred years."
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi looked disappointed.
With his current Level 79 cultivation, if his martial soul could evolve, he would be able to absorb a soul ring and break through to become a Soul Douluo. This would hold immense significance for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
But immortal herbs were rare finds—encountering even one was already fortunate. Ning Fengzhi didn't press further.
"Did you get all these from Old Poison?" Chen Xin asked.
Ning Tianchen nodded.
"Fengzhi, let me and Tianchen go retrieve all the immortal herbs and bring them back to the sect immediately," Chen Xin urged.
Ning Tianchen stopped him. "Grandpa, I've already harvested all the immortal herbs. Moreover, I promised Senior Dugu not to reveal the location of his medicinal garden."
As he spoke, he took two immortal herbs from his soul-guiding tool. "Grandpa, this Heavenly Wood Sword Grass is for you to absorb. The sword intent contained within will greatly aid your breakthrough."
It had taken him quite a bit of effort to pluck this herb.
The moment it was revealed, a sudden gust of wind swept through the area. Upon closer inspection, the wind carried a distinct aura of sword intent.
"You should keep it for yourself—it'll benefit you more," Chen Xin said, refusing to take it.
After much explanation, Chen Xin finally accepted it with gratitude.
"Grandpa Bone, this Nine Dark Moon Flower matches your martial soul's attributes. Absorbing it will significantly boost your strength."
Gu Rong wasn't as reserved—he immediately accepted the herb. "Your generosity won't be forgotten, kid. If you ever need anything, just come to Grandpa Bone."
With Ning Fengzhi's permission, the two went into seclusion.
"Tianchen, I don't need anything. Without evolving my martial soul, breaking through to higher soul power levels would be meaningless."
Ning Fengzhi had already come to terms with the situation.
He suspected that Ning Tianchen still had some immortal herbs, but he didn't ask for them.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had no expertise in immortal herbs—if they rewarded the wrong person, it would backfire.
"Dad, didn't you say that if anyone in the sect breaks through their martial soul's limitations, we'd change the sect's name? Why not, starting today, officially rename the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?" Ning Rongrong suggested, blinking innocently.
After careful consideration, Ning Fengzhi rejected her idea.
"There's no rush to change the name. We can wait until you succeed me as sect leader before making the change."
"Huh? Dad—" Ning Rongrong started to protest but was stopped by Ning Tianchen, who shook his head, signaling her to stop.
Ning Fengzhi's senses were incredibly sharp—he must have sensed the undercurrents of tension on the continent, with potential conflicts ready to erupt at any moment. A high-profile name change at this time would place the sect directly in the spotlight.
While other factions' reactions were uncertain, the Spirit Hall undoubtedly knew the power of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul.
Exposing Ning Rongrong's talent too early would hinder her growth. Worse still, the Spirit Hall might send assassins to eliminate her at all costs.
"Tianchen, come with me for a moment. Rongrong, go play for now."
Ning Rongrong muttered something under her breath and left the hall.
Ning Fengzhi led Ning Tianchen to a secret room behind the main hall.
"Uncle Ning, what is so important that you're treating it with such seriousness?"
Ning Fengzhi fell silent for a moment, then slowly began, "It concerns the method to cultivate twin martial souls."
Ning Tianchen wasn't worried about being unable to cultivate twin martial souls.
With his godlike perspective, he could simply copy the answers.
---
Ning Fengzhi continued, "The spies we've planted within the Spirit Hall recently sent word. It's possible that Pope Bibi Dong possesses twin martial souls, and her second martial soul may already have multiple soul rings attached."
All major factions planted spies among each other—this was common knowledge.
The secret of Bibi Dong's twin martial souls was known to only a select few. For the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's spy to obtain this information, they must hold a high position within the Spirit Hall.
Ning Tianchen feigned confusion. "Uncle Ning, even if His Holiness the Pope has twin martial souls, the relationship between our two factions makes it impossible for us to obtain the method to cultivate twin martial souls from her."
"Bibi Dong has a talented disciple. If we offer immortal herbs, she might consider an exchange." Ning Fengzhi shared his idea.
He had known about Bibi Dong's twin martial souls for several years. After witnessing the power of immortal herbs, he came up with this sudden plan.
Ning Tianchen immediately dismissed the idea. "Uncle Ning, it's unlikely to work. I only have two immortal herbs left—one is fire-attribute, the other is for healing. They likely don't match the attributes of His Holiness's disciple."
"Moreover, we've never seen the method to cultivate twin martial souls. If Bibi Dong were to tamper with it, how would we tell?"
"As for the immortal herbs, once they fall into the hands of the Spirit Hall, they'll only aid their tyranny—it's completely out of the question."
He still had many immortal herbs, but to make Ning Fengzhi give up, he had to lie about the numbers.
Ning Fengzhi didn't suspect anything and sighed regretfully. "In that case, let's drop it for now. I'll continue to keep an eye out for the method to cultivate twin martial souls."
"Thank you, Uncle Ning."
"Hehe, the stronger you become, the greater your contribution to the sect."
---
Several hours later.
A clear sword resonance echoed from the rear mountains of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. The overwhelming sword intent, even from a great distance, was enough to send chills down one's spine.
Soon after, a dragon roar resounded, and the massive figure of a bone dragon soared into the sky.
After absorbing the immortal herbs, their soul power levels each rose by one level, reaching Levels 97 and 96 respectively.
"Old Swordsman, let's spar!" Gu Rong's laughter rang out across the entire rear mountain.
"Old Bones, be careful!"
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