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The increase in the duration of Ning Rongrong's soul rings left even Feng Xiaotian and the others astonished. In their understanding, there had rarely been any precedent on the continent for a soul ring's duration to be enhanced after cultivation.
Of course, such occurrences were not unheard of on the continent, but aside from the Spirit Hall, other factions had no records of it.
Ning Rongrong smiled faintly and offered no further explanation.
The sparring began. Feng Xiaotian and Chen Huayu took the lead, while Yu Die and Cai Die provided support behind them.
Overall, the team's tactical coordination was identical to what they had displayed during the Soul Master Tournament, and they hadn't forgotten some of their earlier teamwork.
The control-type soul master among the three headmasters activated his Eastern Sun Branch martial soul, creating a thorny bramble patch beneath Feng Xiaotian and Chen Huayu's feet, slowing their advance.
"Third soul skill, Gale Wings!" Feng Xiaotian ascended into the air, avoiding the entanglement below.
Chen Huayu, lacking flight capability, was passively trapped within the brambles. However, in the next moment, Zhu Zhuqing's figure appeared like a ghost beside him, and Oscar handed him a flying mushroom sausage. With its help, he too soared into the air.
However, they seemed to have underestimated the control capabilities of the Eastern Sun Branch.
The headmaster chuckled and said, "When facing a control-type soul master, don't blindly take to the skies."
"Sixth soul skill, Eastern Sun!"
He pointed his right finger skyward, and the sunlight grew blindingly bright. Under its rays, everyone's bodies became unbearably heavy, their wings unable to support their weight, causing them all to plummet to the ground.
Yu Die gritted her teeth and said gravely, "Use long-range attacks to break his control."
The gravity-like control effect rendered them immobile. If the opponent attacked now, they would surely be eliminated.
The other two headmasters warned, "Be careful."
The two stepped forward simultaneously, intending to eliminate several of them.
From behind, a red glint flashed in Ning Tianchen's eyes. A chilling killing intent radiated from his body, rapidly enveloping the entire stage.
After all, the Eastern Sun Branch's soul skill wasn't a true domain. When confronted with the God of Slaughter Domain, its control effects were instantly shattered. Moreover, those within the domain, such as Feng Xiaotian and the others, experienced a nearly twenty percent boost in strength.
Ning Rongrong immediately followed up.
"Spiritual Condensation Skull Skill—Spirit Link."
"Nine Treasures Emanating From Glazed Tile. Nine Treasures renowned, sixth said: enhancement!"
Everyone's spiritual power connected, allowing them to share each other's thoughts and the targets visible in each other's fields of vision.
"So strong," everyone thought inwardly with a chuckle.
With this soul skill, the cohesion of their group reached unprecedented levels. The likelihood of making mistakes during battle was also minimized.
"A domain? Such a powerful killing intent!" The three headmasters were deeply surprised.
As teachers, they were well aware of the might of domains.
Moreover, soul masters who possessed domains were almost one step away from being considered true powerhouses.
Below the stage, Ke Jie couldn't help but laugh. "You three old fellows need to bring out your real skills. If you get beaten by these youngsters, it won't look good at all."
…
"Is that Senior Ning Tianchen? He's so strong—he actually possesses a domain mentioned in textbooks."
All the watching students were filled with admiration.
Once the domain appeared, the situation on the field had already reversed.
Coupled with Ning Rongrong's soul skill enhancements, the three headmasters were showing signs of losing, even without activating their true martial souls.
Most importantly, this was only the result of four people working together. Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Tianchen, and Oscar hadn't yet joined the fray.
Seeing that they couldn't hold out, the three headmasters exchanged glances, and the seventh soul rings beneath their feet lit up simultaneously.
The True Form of their martial souls caused a qualitative leap in their abilities, their auras surging significantly. Their soul pressure alone was enough to force Feng Xiaotian and the others back.
"You guys are truly impressive. You've forced us three old fellows to use our seventh soul skills," one of the headmasters said with a smile.
Ning Tianchen and the others were graduates of the academy, and their current strength proved, to some extent, the academy's teaching capabilities.
As headmasters, they naturally deserved credit.
The sparring continued.
The three headmasters activating their True Forms already carried a hint of bullying their juniors, so they didn't attack proactively. Instead, they passively defended against Feng Xiaotian and the others' assaults while offering timely guidance.
While commanding the team, Ning Tianchen caught sight of Huang Wu in the crowd out of the corner of his eye.
Huang Wu, missing his right arm, stood out conspicuously in the crowd.
Ning Tianchen turned slightly and said to Ning Rongrong and Oscar, "Huang Wu is back. Shall we go over and ask about his situation?"
Their gazes followed the direction of his finger, and both nodded simultaneously.
Without hesitation, the three immediately stepped off the stage and walked toward Huang Wu.
Noticing their movements, the few remaining on the stage stopped sparring.
Ke Jie announced, "Alright, since everyone now knows the seniors' strength, let's end it here for today. Everyone, disperse."
Before leaving, the three headmasters praised Feng Xiaotian and the others' strength with satisfaction.
Leaving the stage area, the three organized the students to return to their respective classes to avoid gathering again and causing trouble for Ning Tianchen and the others.
"You've finally returned," Oscar said with a smile, patting Huang Wu's shoulder.
Ning Tianchen asked, "Where's Bao Zhen?"
Huang Wu explained, "We've just returned. As for Bao Zhen, you should know her condition. She's not in a state to go out, so we've temporarily settled her in the sect's sanatorium."
Feng Xiaotian and the others approached, asking, "Huang Wu, who injured you like this?"
"This isn't the place to talk," Ke Jie interrupted. "Let's go to the lounge—you can chat there."
…
In the lounge, after hearing Huang Wu's explanation, everyone was enraged.
Feng Xiaotian exclaimed furiously, "Damn those evil soul masters! Why doesn't the Spirit Hall do anything!"
Ning Tianchen sighed. "We don't know the Spirit Hall's situation, but according to Huang Wu, their strongest member seems to be at the Soul Sage level. If that's the case, we have a chance to avenge them. We can also explore that secret realm."
Huang Wu shook his head. "We appreciate your goodwill, but it's far too dangerous there. Entering that secret realm is easy, but almost impossible to leave alive. With your talents, you're destined to become peak powerhouses. Don't throw your lives away there."
Ning Tianchen didn't comment further and instead said, "Let's discuss this matter later. First, let's return to the sect and see Bao Zhen. While training in the Extreme North Ice Plains, I obtained a rare medicinal herb that might cure her eyes."
"And Huang Wu, your arm has a chance of recovery too."
Huang Wu was overwhelmed with gratitude.
No one with a disability wouldn't want to recover. He wanted to refuse Ning Tianchen's kindness, but the words wouldn't come out.
Arriving at the sect's sanatorium, everyone saw Bao Zhen lying in bed.
Over the years, neither Bao Zhen nor Huang Wu had given up hope despite their disabilities. Perhaps because they focused solely on cultivation, their strengths had steadily increased.
They hadn't absorbed any immortal grasses, yet after five years, both had advanced fifteen levels, reaching the high-level Soul King rank.
After chatting for a while, the healing-type soul master Ning Tianchen had summoned arrived at the sanatorium.
This healing-type soul master was the only Soul Sage healer in the sect—Qin Yue.
Aside from Ning Fengzhi and the sect's three Great Elder Guardians, almost no one could summon him.
Qin Yue spoke indifferently, "Ning Tianchen, you said you had something good to show me. What is it? If you're playing games with me, don't blame me for going to the sect leader for an explanation."
Ning Tianchen chuckled and retrieved the leg of the ten-thousand-year ninth-rank Ginseng King from his soul-guiding device.
Bao Zhen and Huang Wu's recovery process required the assistance of a powerful healing-type soul master, which was why Ning Tianchen had specifically called Qin Yue.
The ginseng rootlets of the ten-thousand-year ninth-rank Ginseng King had been removed, leaving only the leg, which resembled a thick, long stick.
From its appearance, no one could tell what it was.
As expected, Qin Yue's expression turned grim, and his tone grew sharper. "Ning Tianchen, I'll personally go to the sect leader later—you'd better give me a reasonable explanation."
Ning Tianchen calmly replied, "If you wish to leave, I won't stop you. But the cost will be that you'll never obtain this item in your lifetime."
"This shape—it looks like a ginseng leg, right?" Zhu Zhuqing asked uncertainly. "But isn't it a bit too big?"
Ginseng!
At the mention of the word, a spark of clarity flashed in Qin Yue's otherwise dim eyes.
He leaned closer, sniffed it, and used a small knife to scrape off a tiny piece, which he placed in his mouth.
Instantly, his expression changed drastically, and he burst into laughter. "Hahaha! This is the legendary ten-thousand-year ninth-rank Ginseng King I've spent my entire life searching for!"
"Ten-thousand-year ninth-grade Ginseng King!" Everyone's gaze turned to Ning Tianchen.
Though they might not have heard of other immortal herbs, the ten-thousand-year ninth-rank Ginseng King, known for its ability to revive the dead and regenerate flesh, was recorded by all major factions. It was an invaluable treasure.
Qin Yue hurriedly said, "Quick, let me see the main body of the ginseng. The body of the ten-thousand-year ninth-rank Ginseng King contains an incredibly rich vitality. Even a dying Super Douluo could recover fully in a short time after consuming it."
Ning Tianchen shrugged. "That's all there is. Elder Qin, you should know that the ten-thousand-year ninth-grade Ginseng King possesses intelligence. When faced with danger, it can run incredibly fast, especially in an icy environment. My strength wasn't enough to catch it."
"This leg was obtained by sheer luck. Don't let greed cloud your judgment."
Qin Yue replied, "Even just this leg is impressive. Though its vitality isn't as potent as the main body, it's more than sufficient for healing soul masters."
"But," he added, "you didn't bring me here just to show it to me, did you?"
He was growing anxious.
The leg of a ten-thousand-year ninth-rank Ginseng King was still an invaluable treasure. For someone like him who loved collecting medicinal herbs, it was something he absolutely couldn't pass up.
Ning Tianchen gestured toward Bao Zhen. "Elder Qin, calculate the dosage carefully and use it to restore Bao Zhen's eyesight. Whatever's left afterward can be yours."
After all, Ning Tianchen had plenty of other healing herbs in his possession. Giving away this ginseng leg as a gesture of goodwill wouldn't hurt.
"No, this is far too valuable," Bao Zhen shook her head firmly.
From the earlier conversation, she understood perfectly well the worth of the ginseng leg. Even a Soul Sage-level healer like Qin Yue treasured it immensely—she felt unworthy of using it.
Ning Tianchen explained, "Bao Zhen, objects themselves have no inherent value—it's people who assign them value. There are no other ginseng legs on the continent; I possess the only one, so I decide its worth. If I say it's only worth one copper spirit coin, then it's worth one copper spirit coin. If you feel uneasy, just pay me one copper spirit coin, and we'll call it even."
Qin Yue stood silently by, internally grumbling: The leg of a ten-thousand-year ninth-grade Ginseng King was priceless—a single copper spirit coin wouldn't even grant someone the privilege of seeing it.
But since the item belonged to Ning Tianchen, it was ultimately his decision how to use it.
After much persuasion, Bao Zhen finally relented.
Next, Qin Yue examined her body, his expression shifting between light and dark. "If we also include the young man's arm, this ginseng leg will be completely used up."
His implication was clear—he wouldn't gain any benefit from this and didn't want to proceed.
Ning Tianchen shook his head and retrieved a thirty-thousand-year soul bone from his soul-guiding device.
This soul bone was what he had earned by participating in the Hell Arena during his time in the Killing God City. The soul skill it provided was "Rage Amplification." While the skill itself was mediocre, it was still a soul bone.
Qin Yue was astonished. "You plan to use the power of the soul bone to reconstruct his arm?"
"Is it feasible?" Ning Tianchen asked.
Sensing the soul power fluctuations emanating from the soul bone, Qin Yue's lips twitched as he hesitated. "A thirty-thousand-year soul bone is more than enough to help a soul master below the rank of Soul Douluo regenerate a limb. But… it's far too extravagant."
Huang Wu quickly tried to decline. "My arm isn't important—keep the soul bone for yourselves."
Ning Tianchen responded, "The soul skill this bone provides is Rage Amplification, which I obtained from a despicable opponent. Don't feel burdened. You contributed greatly during the Soul Master Tournament, so consider this bone a reward. Besides, you two are getting married soon, and we haven't given you a wedding gift yet. If you don't mind, consider this our collective present."
Ning Rongrong chimed in, "Take it. Tianchen doesn't lack soul bones."
Qin Yue said, "If that's the case, absorb the soul bone first. I'll assist you with my soul skills during the process to ensure the limb regeneration isn't too painful."
Having secured half of the ten-thousand-year ninth-grade Ginseng King leg as payment, he naturally intended to give it his best effort.
The absorption process was lengthy, so Ning Tianchen and the others moved to a nearby room to discuss matters.
"You're truly extravagant," Yu Die remarked with a faint smile.
Ning Tianchen replied, "Huang Wu found us an excellent training site. Consider the soul bone his reward."
Feng Xiaotian countered, "Are you referring to that secret realm? The sect hasn't sent anyone else to investigate. Won't proceeding like this be too reckless?"
Ning Tianchen shook his head. "If it's a natural secret realm, it could greatly enhance our strength. If it's an ancient ruin set in a perilous location, there must be valuable treasures inside. This journey isn't just about avenging Huang Wu and Bao Zhen—it's ultimately about exploring that dangerous place."
Oscar spoke gravely, "Based on what Bao Zhen said, those evil soul masters include a spirit-type soul master. None of us have strong mental defenses aside from me and Rongrong, who possess head soul bones. The rest of you might face trouble."
Ning Tianchen couldn't help but laugh. "They aren't Title Douluo-level spirit masters—why fear them? Ordinary spirit-type soul masters have extremely limited ranges for their mental abilities. At that point, we can simply snipe them from a distance."
Oscar was about to mention that they lacked long-range attack capabilities when he suddenly remembered the firearms training area they had passed earlier.
"You mean firearms? Their range is sufficient, but their power is limited. They might not be able to kill soul masters above the Soul King rank."
Ning Tianchen chuckled. "The power of firearms increases with caliber, and the bullet casings can be filled with other materials. You've seen the effects of white phosphorus, right? If we conceal white phosphorus inside the bullet, it will shatter upon impact, exposing the phosphorus to the air and burning the target's head clean off."
After all, when dealing with evil soul masters, there was no need for mercy.
Upon hearing this, the group couldn't help but imagine the gruesome fate awaiting the evil soul master.
After some thought, they decided, "Let's wait until the ammunition is ready before setting out. In the meantime, we'll train with high-level soul masters within the sect to prepare ourselves for the upcoming battles."
…
After roughly three hours, Bao Zhen and Huang Wu were fully restored thanks to the treasures.
Huang Wu's arm had been reconstructed using the soul bone. If it were severed again and the soul bone lost, his arm would likely never recover.
Qin Yue, visibly fatigued, said, "They're both fine now. I'll take the remaining ginseng leg with me. Haha, if you ever need me again, feel free to call. Half a ginseng leg is worth enough for me to assist you several times."
Before leaving, he reminded them, "Don't walk straight out of the sanatorium. Among the people recovering here, only your injuries have healed completely. If others see this, they'll inevitably think the sect is being unfair."
It wasn't the sect that had healed them—it was Ning Tianchen's personal resources. But others wouldn't see it that way. They'd assume that Bao Zhen and Huang Wu had exploited their connections with Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong to plunder treasures from the sect's vaults.
"Thank you for the reminder, Elder," Huang Wu and Bao Zhen bowed gratefully.
After Qin Yue left, Ning Tianchen smiled and asked, "What are your plans moving forward?"
Huang Wu replied, "The sect has invested a lot in us, and it's time we gave back. In a few days, we'll resume carrying out missions for the sect."
"Be careful," Ning Tianchen advised. "It's already late. Disguise yourselves properly and leave the sanatorium with us without drawing attention."
Feng Xiaotian suddenly said, "I keep feeling like something big is going to happen tonight. I'm not sure if it's just my imagination."
Ning Tianchen knew he wasn't mistaken.
Tonight was the night the Spirit Hall planned to carry out their "Soul Hunt" operation.
Yesterday, he had confirmed with Xue Qinghe that the Spirit Hall had targeted the Hao Tian Sect, meaning the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had escaped the crisis that befell them in the original timeline.
Ning Rongrong laughed. "Then you must be imagining things. We're staying within the sect tonight—it's very safe."
…
On the other side, several powerful figures from the Offering Hall secretly entered the Crown Prince's residence to meet with Xue Qinghe.
This time, aside from Qian Daoliu, the entire Offering Hall had mobilized.
"Grandfathers, which sect have you been assigned to attack?"
Xue Qinghe's question seemed casual, but his true intention was to find out whether Bibi Dong would target the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
After witnessing Ning Tianchen's wisdom and talent, he had no desire to become his enemy.
Qing Luan Douluo couldn't help but ask, "Where have I been assigned?"
Jin E Douluo replied, "Third Brother, you, Snake Spear, and Porcupinefish all have assignments. Just listen."
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