Xu Yang felt utterly dizzy, as if he had just taken a ride on an insanely fast roller coaster. The entire journey was a blur of roaring wind crashing against his face—even rushing into his mouth. His head was spinning so much it went numb.
"Uncle Ning, I'm never letting you carry me like that again!"
This was even faster than when Dugu Bo carried him through the air.
Of course, that wasn't to say Dugu Bo was slower than Ning Haiyan. Rather, when Dugu Bo flew with him, he took Xu Yang's endurance into account and deliberately slowed down to a tolerable speed. Ning Haiyan, on the other hand, had probably rushed ahead at full speed because he heard Xu Yang had something urgent.
"Urgh!"
Bracing himself against the wall, Xu Yang dry-heaved a few times before finally feeling a little better. His mind gradually cleared.
"Young master, are you alright?" Ning Haiyan scratched his head and asked sheepishly when he saw Xu Yang nearly vomit.
"I'm fine." Xu Yang shook his head, then pulled out a purple nine-petal lingzhi mushroom from his Treasure Pouch and placed it into Ning Haiyan's arms. It was a Grade Nine Purple Ganoderma.
"Uncle Ning, eat this once you're back in your room. It might just help you break through to the rank of Soul Douluo—or even one day become a Title Douluo."
With that, Xu Yang didn't even look back and staggered off to find Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Haiyan stared at the Grade Nine Purple Ganoderma in his hands, speechless. With his talent, becoming a Soul Douluo was certainly possible. But as for becoming a Title Douluo—that was a dream he had never dared to entertain. To him, Soul Douluo had always been the limit of his potential.
"Can this purple mushroom really let me reach Title Douluo?"
He was skeptical. To the people of the Douluo Continent, whether it be soul tools or medicinal herbs, relying on external aid was seen as unorthodox. They believed that only soul power cultivated through one's own efforts was truly one's own—only that could be trusted.
Moreover, cultivating through medicine was said to lock one's potential, making future breakthroughs impossible.
In this regard, Xu Yang's views were completely different. Humanity had become the rulers of the continent precisely because they knew how to utilize external forces. When it was appropriate to rely on such things, why not? As long as one didn't damage their foundation, what harm was there in taking a few herbs?
Inside the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—within the Seven Treasure Pavilion:
Ning Fengzhi sat solemnly in the master's seat, awaiting Xu Yang's arrival.
He had received word the moment Xu Yang entered Seven Treasure City. Seeing how urgent he seemed, Ning Fengzhi immediately suspected that something serious had happened.
"Don't worry. Isn't Yang'er back safely?" Madam Ning, cradling little Ning Rongrong beside him, tried to comfort him.
"That's exactly why I'm concerned. Knowing Yang'er, he'd handle small matters on his own. He'd only be this anxious if it was something truly beyond him. Did something happen in Heaven Dou City? Or in the royal family? But how come I haven't heard a thing?" Ning Fengzhi frowned deeply.
"We'll find out once Yang'er comes in," Madam Ning said firmly.
"We have no choice but to wait," Ning Fengzhi nodded.
Before long, Xu Yang came rushing in. The moment he entered, he saw Ning Fengzhi and Madam Ning. Little Ning Rongrong, nestled in her mother's arms, immediately started squirming and yelling, "Brother! Hug!"
Madam Ning had no choice but to set her down, letting her run toward Xu Yang.
Xu Yang scooped her up into his arms and gently pinched her chubby cheeks.
"Yang'er, what happened? Why are you in such a rush?" Ning Fengzhi asked with confusion.
This situation was totally different from what he had imagined. If it were truly something grave, why did Xu Yang seem so relaxed?
Xu Yang waved his hand and summoned five spirit herbs: Beautiful Silk Tulip, Black Jade Divine Bamboo, Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid, and Land Dragon Golden Melon, sending them flying to land before Ning Fengzhi.
"Teacher, I exchanged these herbs with Senior Dugu Bo using information about immortal herbs. The Beautiful Silk Tulip and Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid are for you and Rongrong. They can evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
The Black Jade Divine Bamboo is for Grandpa Sword, the Earth Dragon Golden Melon is for Grandpa Bone, and the Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone is for Madam Teacher.
All their effects are recorded in this notebook."
As he spoke, Xu Yang pulled out his notebook and handed it to Ning Fengzhi.
"What did you just say?!" Ning Fengzhi didn't even take the notebook. He stood up abruptly, staring at Xu Yang in disbelief.
Evolving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had always been the sect's ultimate dream. But for generations, no one had succeeded. Even in the sect's historical records, the most anyone had ever achieved was the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. The Nine Treasure version existed only in legend.
And now—just two herbs could make it happen?
"The Beautiful Silk Tulip and Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid can evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda," Xu Yang repeated calmly.
In the original story, the Beautiful Silk Tulip allowed Ning Rongrong's martial spirit to evolve. As its complementary herb, the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid should possess similar effects—perhaps slightly weaker, but still capable of inducing evolution.
Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi finally took the notebook and began flipping through it quickly.
"Beautiful Silk Tulip: Absorbs the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of sun and moon. Can discern the nature of all spiritual herbs and command them.
Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid: A complementary immortal herb to the Beautiful Silk Tulip. Mild and gentle in nature, easily absorbed—but takes a long time to refine…"
As he read, Ning Fengzhi grew increasingly astonished. The Beautiful Silk Tulip, in particular, if its effects were truly as described, was a perfect match for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Nothing could be more compatible.
"Yang'er, is everything in this notebook true?" Ning Fengzhi still found it hard to believe.
"Of course. Senior Dugu Bo has already confirmed the effects of the Earth Dragon Golden Melon. His martial spirit has evolved from the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor into the Jade Phosphor Horned Dragon. It's now considered a sub-dragon species—on par with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!"
Xu Yang nodded confidently with a smile.
Then his tone shifted. "However, I did make a promise to Senior Dugu Bo not to reveal the source. Teacher, you mustn't tell anyone else either. I even swore on my martial spirit."
"I understand. I won't speak of it. I'll personally go discuss it with Lord Dugu later," Ning Fengzhi replied gravely, then returned to reading the notebook. He had to understand every detail of these immortal herbs.
When he finished, he truly realized how perfectly Xu Yang had chosen each herb. If the key members of the sect absorbed them, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength would rise by leaps and bounds—perhaps even rivaling the former power of the Clear Sky Clan.