Chapter 38: Ning Rongrong

However, the problem is that condensing the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of the sun and moon is extremely difficult.

The sun is Yang, the moon is Yin; the powers of Yin and Yang generate and restrain each other. Under normal circumstances, they are mutually opposed. Unless there are very rare, special conditions, the power of the sun and moon's radiance cannot be condensed at all.

At least from what Shi Quan currently understands, there really is no one in the first Douluo series who can absorb the radiance of the sun and moon. However, there are some in the second series; after all, the inherited martial souls of the Sun Moon Empire seem to be the sun and the moon.

If one could find the owners of a sun martial soul and a moon martial soul and have them help the owner of a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul refine their martial soul, it might actually be possible to make the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul evolve.

While thinking about this, Shi Quan suddenly discovered a problem: ordinary people certainly cannot do it, but that does not mean he cannot. Because of the Nine Yang Nine Yin Divine Art, the Internal Energy in his body possesses both Yin and Yang attributes. If he wanted to condense the radiance of the sun and moon or the essence of heaven and earth, he could actually do it. However, he naturally would not bother with such a thankless task.

It can only be said that the power of the essence of heaven and earth and the radiance of the sun and moon is a path that has a chance to help the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda evolve its martial soul. Whether it can be walked or not, one must try it to know; for now, it is just a hypothesis.

"I'll write this idea down first, so if Ning Fengzhi asks about it later, I'll have something to show for it."

Thinking this, Shi Quan took out a book and pen from his Snow Jade Bracelet and began to write. After finishing, he stored it in his Hundred Treasure Bag.

Shi Quan usually keeps unimportant items in the Snow Jade Bracelet, while he keeps important items in the Hundred Treasure Bag. Shi Quan is accustomed to keeping the Hundred Treasure Bag attached to the inside of his clothes; only when changing clothes does he move it to his person.

Once the Hundred Treasure Bag is attached, it becomes one with the object it is stuck to. After it is attached, unless Shi Quan actively tears it off, the Hundred Treasure Bag will not fall off at all. The pocket of the Hundred Treasure Bag is very special; other than getting dirty, it is almost indestructible. Moreover, the Hundred Treasure Bag produced by the system has a very thoughtful master-recognition attribute: except for Shi Quan, if anyone else touches the Hundred Treasure Bag, it is just an ordinary white bag, which is very strange.

……

Ever since Ning Fengzhi's visit.

Shi Quan's life returned to its former tranquility. He went back to doing what he was supposed to do. When he was free, he would think about the evolution of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but he did not dwell on it too much.

What he is waiting for now is the Heaven Dou Team selection after the start of the school term.

After joining the Heaven Dou Team, he will look for an opportunity to connect with Dugu Bo through the line of Dugu Yan, and then go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

If he cannot make that connection, Shi Quan also has a backup plan.

That is to figure out the location of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in advance and, when Dugu Bo is not around, go and steal the Immortal Herbs.

It is just that this backup plan is too dangerous, and Shi Quan himself does not want that. His main goal at present is still to connect with Dugu Bo through Dugu Yan.

Although he has a system, he does not want to miss out on good things like Immortal Herbs.

Just like money, who would complain about having too little?

In this way, more than half a month passed, and the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy finally welcomed the start of the new semester.

Because of his comprehensive knowledge, the Three Great Education Committees specially approved that Shi Quan did not need to attend classes; he could arrange his time at the academy freely.

In Shi Quan's estimation, he only needed to wait patiently for the subsequent Heaven Dou Team selection.

However, contrary to his expectations, on the second day of the semester, Ning Fengzhi came to the academy to visit him again.

This time, Ning Fengzhi did not come alone, but unlike last time, the person accompanying Ning Fengzhi this time was actually Ning Rongrong.

Looking at the well-behaved and cute appearance of Ning Rongrong before him, one could not see the "little witch" persona from the original work at all.

When Ning Fengzhi brought Ning Rongrong, Shi Quan felt that Ning Fengzhi was not just introducing Ning Rongrong to him, and it turned out that Shi Quan's prediction was correct.

When Ning Fengzhi first arrived, he only inquired indirectly about the progress of Shi Quan's research on the evolution method of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul. Shi Quan also revealed some of his thoughts at the right time, and the smile in Ning Fengzhi's eyes became significantly richer after hearing them.

Especially after hearing Shi Quan talk eloquently about his various insights into gemstone-type martial souls, Ning Fengzhi slapped his thigh and directly praised Shi Quan in front of Ning Rongrong. After he had thoroughly praised Shi Quan, he finally revealed his purpose: he wanted Ning Rongrong to follow Shi Quan to practice and learn!

First, he said that Ning Rongrong and Shi Quan were the same age, so they could get to know each other, and peers would have more to talk about.

Then he began to praise Ning Rongrong, saying her Innate Soul Power was as high as level nine, and she was the only genius in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in hundreds of years who had the chance to turn the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into an Eight Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.

Then he said that having Ning Rongrong follow Shi Quan would make it easier for Shi Quan to better research the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, and he also hoped that Shi Quan could lead Ning Rongrong in her cultivation. If he could help Ning Rongrong absorb a Soul Ring beyond her level, that would naturally be the best.

Shi Quan was used to practicing alone and had intended to refuse. However, in order to keep Ning Rongrong with Shi Quan, Ning Fengzhi even declared that he intended for Ning Rongrong to take Shi Quan as her master. Once these words were out, Shi Quan had to quickly agree. If he really took Ning Rongrong as his disciple, he would be truly tied to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and he naturally could not agree to such a thing.

Ning Fengzhi did not fail to provide benefits for letting Ning Rongrong follow Shi Quan to practice; he directly gave Shi Quan 200,000 Gold Soul Coins, allowing him to achieve financial freedom, not to mention providing a large amount of medicinal materials and secret recipes for Medicinal Baths for auxiliary cultivation.

Shi Quan understood the spoiled-miss temperament of Ning Rongrong. Before Ning Fengzhi left, Shi Quan specifically pointed out that if Ning Rongrong were to follow him to practice, she would have to suffer quite a bit, and he hoped they wouldn't regret it later. Ning Fengzhi said directly in front of Ning Rongrong that he should feel free to train her and did not need to treat her as the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Rongrong only felt it was interesting and fun. Even after Ning Fengzhi said that, she still felt the same way; after all, she could only stay in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect on ordinary days and rarely went out.

Once Ning Fengzhi left.

Now Shi Quan and Ning Rongrong were just staring at each other.

Looking at Ning Rongrong before him, Shi Quan felt a headache coming on. He did not know how to handle it. Since she was left here, he could not just ignore her, so he could only ask helplessly: "Did Uncle Ning arrange a place for you to stay at the academy?"

"He arranged for me to stay next to your Dormitory, but I heard from Dad that you usually like to live here?" Ning Rongrong shrugged. Once Ning Fengzhi left, she immediately began to curiously examine the things in the wooden house. After looking around with a picky attitude, she said, "It's so crude here, why do you like living here?"

"Because it's convenient for cultivation."

Shi Quan stood up and walked out of the wooden house, and Ning Rongrong followed him out. "The environment is actually not bad; your taste is quite good."

"Tell me your soul power level so I can arrange a cultivation plan for you."

"This young lady is already level twenty-one, just obtained the Soul Ring a while ago, impressive right?" Ning Rongrong said with her head held high and chest out, very proudly.

"Level twenty-one?" Shi Quan raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly, saying: "Not bad."

"Not bad?" Ning Rongrong had originally expected to see a look of surprise on Shi Quan's face, but upon hearing such an evaluation, she immediately became unconvinced. "What do you mean by 'not bad'? What level are you?"

"Level twenty-two. Didn't Uncle Ning tell you about my situation?" Shi Quan looked at Ning Rongrong with surprise.

"Twenty-two?" Ning Rongrong's expression paused, but she quickly returned to that arrogant look. "Dad only told me he was taking me to see a master of Spirit Theory, saying that person might be able to help the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect find a way to evolve its martial soul. Who knew it would be a little brat like you."

A little brat?

Shi Quan felt his head twitch and retorted: "If I'm a little brat, then what are you?"

Ning Rongrong said haughtily: "You naturally can't compare to this young lady."

Shi Quan said indifferently: "It seems the young miss of the Ning family hasn't figured one thing out yet: you came here to follow me, this 'little brat', to practice. If someone who follows a little brat to practice isn't even a little brat, then what are they?"

"You actually said I'm not even a little brat!" Ning Rongrong shouted. Even though she was a ten-year-old child, the fierce aura on her body made Shi Quan feel as if he were looking at a sixty-year-old auntie from Hua Xing. She put her hands on her hips, pointed at Shi Quan, and said angrily: "Be careful, or I'll have Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo come and beat you up."

"I'm so scared," Shi Quan said, patting his chest.

"You just remember this." That punchable expression made Ning Rongrong's chest heave violently, and she turned and walked outside.

Although Ning Rongrong was arrogant and somewhat condescending, it did not affect her brilliance. She knew she was no match for Shi Quan, and she had no guards from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect by her side to help her vent her anger. Rather than arguing here, it would be better to make him look bad later.

"Stop," Shi Quan shouted sternly, saying: "You are here to follow me for cultivation; you must obey my arrangements in everything. Did I tell you that you could leave?"

"You want me to listen to you? Keep dreaming!" Hearing Shi Quan's voice, Ning Rongrong not only did not slow down, but instead ran quickly toward the outside.

"Trying to run?" Shi Quan smiled faintly. Pale blue light flickered on his right hand, and Internal Energy was instantly injected into his Soul Ring. The Blue Silver Grass in his hand immediately transformed into vines and extended rapidly. In just a breath or two, a large number of Blue Silver Vines extended up along Ning Rongrong's legs.

As a result, she lost her balance and fell down with a thud. Fortunately, the growth speed of the Blue Silver Grass was fast enough that by the time she fell, it had already wrapped her up, leaving only her head exposed.

"Do you think you can get away?" Shi Quan pulled with one hand, slowly dragging Ning Rongrong back from the ground.

"Let go of me quickly, you stinking brat Shi Quan, if you don't let go of me, I'm going to tell on you to my dad when I get back..."

Ning Rongrong is twelve years old and at Twenty-Six Levels; at over ten years old, she was at Twenty-One Levels, an increase of five levels in two years.

This setting references Oscar having Innate Full Spirit Power and reaching Thirty Levels at fourteen years old; Ning Rongrong's talent is slightly worse than Oscar's, so under normal cultivation, even if Ning Rongrong is at Twenty-Six Levels at twelve, she should take until fourteen to reach a Breakthrough to Thirty Levels.

Converted, that is an increase of four levels in two years.

To perfect the setting, I added that twenty to thirty levels is a bottleneck period, with a higher cultivation difficulty than thirty to forty, which was mentioned previously in the book.

(End of chapter)