Ning Bei quietly sensed the soul power circulating through his body. After successfully absorbing his first soul ring, his level had reached Rank 12. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his martial soul and activated his first soul skill. The faint yellow ring on his Soul Pillar lit up instantly, releasing a wave of fragrant medicinal scent. In the next moment, three pills—red, green, and blue—materialized in his hand.
Staring at the three distinct pills, Ning Bei's heart filled with joy.
"It looks like I really can produce multiple effects from a single ring. All tier-one medicinal pills can be refined through the Pill Tower!"
He turned to Dustheart. "Sword Grandpa, these are the three pills produced by my first soul skill. One restores soul power, one heals injuries, and the last temporarily boosts strength."
Dustheart marveled at the explanation.
"Incredible, Bei'er. Your martial soul truly is remarkable. Most people's first soul skill only has a single function. Yet, your Pill Tower can produce pills with multiple distinct effects."
Saying that, he picked up the green pill and used his soul power to make a shallow cut on his finger. Blood began to drip out. He then swallowed the healing pill.
The two of them observed the wound carefully. Slowly but surely, it began to close.
"Hmm. The recovery effect is quite decent," Dustheart nodded in approval.
He went on to test the other two pills. The blue one increased soul power regeneration by 20%, and the red one boosted physical strength by the same amount.
"Bei'er, with your martial soul, it's as if you've gained two auxiliary abilities for free—just like those of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. How much soul power does it take to make these pills?"
Still buzzing with excitement, Dustheart finally inquired about the soul power cost.
Ning Bei closed his eyes briefly to evaluate, then replied, "At my current level, I can create around 10 pills total. The three just now used up about 30% of my soul power. But if I factor in the regenerative effect of the blue pill, I might be able to make around 12 pills in total."
"That's amazing. You've only just become a soul master, and you're already this efficient. Once your cultivation grows, you should be able to mass-produce these. The future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is looking even brighter because of you."
Ning Bei scratched his head, a bit embarrassed by the praise.
"Not at all, Sword Grandpa. You're the true pillar of our sect. We all have a bright future ahead."
As the two exchanged compliments, the nearby forest suddenly rustled with a soft shhh shhh. Three wolf-type soul beasts emerged from the trees.
Just as Dustheart was about to release his aura to scare them off, another bear-type beast pushed its way out from a different patch of underbrush.
More followed. Leopard-type, boar-type, and monkey-type soul beasts came pouring in, like a wave surging from all directions. Some of them had even reached the thousand-year level.
"Sword Grandpa, what's going on? Did we accidentally stir up a beast den? No, that can't be right… There are herbivores here too. Wolves and deer living together? That doesn't make sense!"
As more and more soul beasts appeared, Ning Bei instinctively stepped closer to Dustheart.
"Something's not right. I've never seen anything like this in all my years…" Dustheart muttered, glancing toward the glowing Pill Tower in Ning Bei's hand. A suspicion began to take shape in his mind.
"Bei'er, try putting away your martial soul."
Ning Bei's eyes lit up. He seemed to understand what Dustheart was thinking. With a flick of his hand, the Pill Tower vanished.
As soon as it disappeared, the surrounding soul beasts grew noticeably agitated. Their eyes turned blood-red, and they began snarling and pacing, as if ready to pounce at any moment.
"This is bad. Let's go!"
Dustheart grabbed Ning Bei by the shoulder, summoned his Seven Kill Sword, and shot out of the Star Dou Forest like a streak of lightning.
Behind them, hundreds of soul beasts roared in frustration, as if they had just lost something vitally important.
A few minutes later, the two landed in a remote mountain range. Dustheart set Ning Bei down.
"Bei'er, I think your martial soul has some hidden qualities we haven't uncovered yet."
Ning Bei thought back to how the soul beasts had reacted after he put the Pill Tower away.
"It seems my Pill Tower has an unusual attraction to soul beasts. But what it actually offers them… I'm not sure yet."
Dustheart stroked his chin and nodded.
"You're right. Judging by their behavior, it seems that way. Let's head back and discuss this with Fengzhi. Worst case, I'll make another trip and bring back a soul beast to test things more thoroughly."
"Alright, Sword Grandpa. Let's go home."
Without further delay, Dustheart picked up speed. After a few hours of rapid flight, the familiar architecture of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect came into view.
Once they arrived at the council hall, they found Ning Fengzhi managing sect affairs.
He looked up in surprise as the two entered.
"You're back already? How did it go, Uncle Dustheart? Everything smooth?"
Dustheart recounted everything that had happened in the forest, from the soul skill's effects to the bizarre gathering of beasts. Ning Fengzhi was astonished.
After a moment of thought, he looked at Ning Bei.
"So, Bei'er's martial soul falls into the category of super auxiliary martial souls. Not only does it allow multiple effects with one ring, but it seems to have a unique secondary ability as well."
He turned to Dustheart. "Uncle, I'll send someone to the Star Dou Forest to capture a hundred-year soul beast. We'll test the Pill Tower more precisely."
But Dustheart waved a hand.
"No need. I'll go myself. I want to understand the Pill Tower's abilities too."
With that, he vanished in a flash.
Truly a man as swift as the wind.
Left behind, father and son stared at each other, their eyes silently speaking volumes.
"What are you looking at?"
"You, obviously. Got a problem?"
"Wanna try that again?"
"I'm your father. Can't I look at my own kid?"
"…Fair enough. Look all you want."
Soon, Ning Fengzhi summoned Ning Bei's mother and Elder Gu Rong to the council hall. Upon hearing about Ning Bei's soul skill and the Pill Tower's strange effect, both were delighted, expressing great hopes for the sect's future—and plenty of curiosity about the tower's deeper powers.
After Ning Bei's mother arrived, he immediately returned to his "VIP seat"—her lap. Ever since awakening his Pill Tower with full innate soul power, he'd enjoyed not just doting affection, but even massage service from time to time. Truly, life as the treasured child was something special.
As everyone chatted enthusiastically about the sect's future, Dustheart returned, having already completed another round trip to the Star Dou Forest. A hundred-year-old red-cloud elk stood before them, trembling under the pressure of two Titled Douluo.
"This is a Red Cloud Elk—very gentle by nature. It usually runs at the sight of humans. It's perfect for testing, and it won't pose any danger to Bei'er."
Everyone nodded in agreement and turned to Ning Bei, who was still enjoying his place in his mother's arms.
"Alright, you're up!"
Ning Bei frowned. "Could you not say it like that? It sounds like I'm about to do something to the elk. You're all elders—maybe be a little more mindful with your words?"
Still, he reluctantly climbed down and approached the elk.
With a lift of his right hand, the Pill Tower emerged once again.