"Boss Chu, thank you so much this time!"
Oscar said gratefully.
"Don't be so dramatic! Alright, I still have to cultivate. You two can go hang out somewhere else, just don't disturb me."
Waving them off, Chu Chengzhou started shooing them away.
The changes in the two after taking the immortal herbs were within his expectations. Nothing particularly surprising.
Ma Hongjun: "…"
Oscar: "…"
The two flipped him off and prepared to leave.
"Hey, Fatty, I've got something to tell you."
Suddenly, Chu Chengzhou called out to Ma Hongjun.
"Boss Chu, just say it! If there's anything you need, I'll definitely get it done!"
Ma Hongjun thumped his chest confidently.
"Good! Fatty, Dai Mubai used to look down on your Phoenix martial spirit, but now that your spirit has evolved, once you break through to three spirit rings and become a Spirit Elder, go challenge him a few times. Let him see what 'three days apart, and you see someone in a new light' really means!"
Patting Ma Hongjun on the shoulder, Chu Chengzhou grinned.
Even though part of his spirit power hadn't manifested yet, once Ma Hongjun became a Spirit Elder, he would still be weaker in raw spirit power than Dai Mubai, who was already at level 38. But Dai Mubai wouldn't be able to deal with Ma Hongjun.
Because Ma Hongjun's Lava Fire Phoenix was both an assault-type and flying-type martial spirit.
As long as his third ring gave him a flying ability, he could stay airborne, breathe fire from afar, avoid Dai Mubai's second skill White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, and basically be untouchable.
Unable to deal with a former classmate he used to ridicule—especially as the gap narrowed and he was about to be overtaken—Dai Mubai was in for a bad time.
Hearing this, Ma Hongjun paused, sized up Chu Chengzhou, then suddenly looked enlightened.
"No problem, Boss Chu. I'll definitely show Dai Mubai what I'm made of!"
"Good, go on~!"
Satisfied, Chu Chengzhou returned to his room.
"Fatty, what do you think Boss Chu meant by that?"
Oscar asked Ma Hongjun.
"What do you mean?"
Ma Hongjun gave a sly grin. "Little Ao, you've probably noticed—Boss Chu and Dai Mubai don't get along."
"Yeah."
Oscar nodded. That much was obvious without saying.
"But I bet you didn't notice—Boss Chu is into Zhuqing!"
Ma Hongjun glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then whispered.
"For real?"
Oscar's eyes widened.
"Of course! Little Ao, imagine someone stealing your girl—wouldn't you be pissed?"
"Yeah, I'd be furious."
"Besides Rongrong and Zhuqing, has Boss Chu ever helped anyone else with cultivation?"
"No, I guess not."
"Zhuqing's figure is so hot—what guy wouldn't be into her?"
"Can't argue with that."
"So there you go. Boss Chu doesn't like Dai Mubai, Zhuqing is a bombshell, and she's Dai Mubai's so-called fiancée. If you were Boss Chu, wouldn't you want to make a move?"
Ma Hongjun wore a smug, lewd grin.
Suddenly, Oscar had an epiphany.
So that's why Boss Chu wanted Fatty to beat up Dai Mubai—pure mind games!
But Oscar didn't mind Chu Chengzhou using Ma Hongjun to mess with Dai Mubai. In fact, he was all for it.
Even though Dai Mubai entered Shrek Academy earlier than Chu Chengzhou and had been classmates with Oscar and Fatty for longer, the relationship between the trio and Dai Mubai wasn't that great—borderline bad, even.
Why? Because Oscar's soul skill chants were "pervy sausage," and Ma Hongjun had Evil Fire. Dai Mubai, as a prideful noble, always looked down on them.
But Chu Chengzhou was different. He didn't mix with them much, mostly focusing on cultivating and chasing girls—but when he helped, it was real.
He taught Oscar how to make sausages without saying the creepy chant, took both of them to get rich at the Soul Arena, and now even gifted them immortal-grade herbs.
Compared to Dai Mubai, wasn't Boss Chu a thousand times better?
Three days later.
Early that morning, Chu Chengzhou took Xiao Wu and, riding the Fire Phoenix Spirit Beast Xiao Hong, set off back to Nuoding City to visit his grandparents.
Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun—who had just broken through to level 30—and Zhu Zhuqing were taken to the Sunset Forest by Flender to get their third soul rings.
As for Ning Rongrong, she requested leave from Liu Erlong and returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Before she left, Chu Chengzhou gave her a Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma to deliver to her future father-in-law.
"Brother, we've been away for more than a year. Do you think Grandpa and Grandma miss us?"
High above, flying toward Nuoding City, Xiao Wu leaned in Chu Chengzhou's arms and asked.
"Of course they do!"
Chu Chengzhou rubbed her shoulders.
"Hmph, I bet Grandma misses me more than she misses you."
Thinking of their kind grandmother, Xiao Wu smiled brightly.
"Uh-huh~ you're dreaming. Grandma only dotes on you because you're my betrothed."
Chu Chengzhou teased.
"That's nonsense!"
Xiao Wu pinched his waist, spun 180 degrees, and pouted angrily.
"Okay, okay, you win. Just let go already."
"Hmph~ You're so thick-skinned. As if I could even hurt you with a pinch."
"Pinch all you want, Xiao Wu. Whatever you do, I'll see it as your deep, deep love for me."
Chu Chengzhou dropped a cheesy pick-up line.
"You're the worst!"
Her face flushing red, Xiao Wu socked him.
"Hey, don't mess around! We're in midair! Fall from here and it's game over!"
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Inside the sect hall, Ning Fengzhi was busy handling sect affairs.
Suddenly, a disciple rushed in.
"What is it?" Ning Fengzhi asked without looking up.
"Sect Master, the young lady has returned."
"The little hellion is back?" he asked, startled, looking up in surprise.
"She hasn't reached the sect yet—just left Blue Tyrant Academy."
"Any idea why she's coming back?"
Ning Fengzhi was confused. Wasn't she on a "runaway from home" adventure? Why would she come back?
"I don't know, but she seemed in a good mood when she left the academy—not like she was bullied."
"Bullied? Ha! She's more likely to bully others. Who'd dare mess with her?"
Ning Fengzhi snorted. His daughter was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess—a total troublemaker. Who would dare bully her?
What he forgot, though, is that bullying doesn't only come from violence...
Unbeknownst to him, his beloved daughter had nearly been thoroughly devoured—without him even knowing.
An hour later, a pretty figure stepped into the hall.
"Well, well! Isn't this our little runaway? Finally willing to come home?"
Seeing that his daughter had grown taller, Ning Fengzhi teased.
At his words, Ning Rongrong's bright smile vanished instantly.
"Hmph! I'm not here to see you! I'm here to see Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone!"
Angrily, she turned her nose up.
"Haha, alright, alright, Daddy's sorry. You've been gone for half a year—I missed you so much!"
Ning Fengzhi stepped forward to hug her.
But Ning Rongrong spun away cleverly.
"Missed me? Please, you probably wish I'd never come back!"
She puffed her cheeks in indignation.
"How could that be? You're my little princess—how could I not dote on you?"
He patted her head affectionately.
"I don't believe you—unless you give me a gift!"
Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Sure, anything! Just name it, and I'll get it!"
"What if you can't?"
"If I've seen it before, I'll get it for you no matter what!"
Ning Fengzhi set the terms, fearing she'd ask for a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
"Really?"
"As real as it gets!"
"Then I want a Qiluo Tulip!"
She didn't believe for a second he could deliver an immortal herb.
"Qiluo Tulip? What's that, a kind of tulip?"
Ning Fengzhi was baffled.
"Uncultured!"
She smugly rolled her eyes.
Though she didn't know what a Qiluo Tulip was either before, the info gap was enough to show off in front of Dad.
Just then, two elders entered the hall.
One looked plain and old-fashioned, with white hair and beard but baby-smooth skin; the other had a square face, strong build, and towering frame—both radiating immense strength.
"Grandpa Sword! Grandpa Bone! I missed you so much!"
Ning Rongrong ran over and hugged the two doting elders.
"My dear, you're finally back! Grandpa Sword missed you terribly."
"Really?"
"Of course! Ask Grandpa Bone if you don't believe me."
"Your Grandpa Sword's right—but I missed you the most!"
"Bull! I missed her more!"
"Liar! Rongrong, don't believe him—I love you most!"
The two bickered like children.
Ning Rongrong beamed.
"By the way, Rongrong, what were you saying about someone being uncultured?"
"Daddy, of course! I asked for a Qiluo Tulip, and he didn't even know what it was!"
"A Qiluo Tulip?"
Both elders looked at each other, confused.
"Rongrong, tell Daddy what that is—I'll buy it for you right away!"
"I bet you can't!"
"Why not?"
"Because I already ate the only one in existence!"
Ning Rongrong declared proudly.
Ning Fengzhi froze.
Guess his money couldn't buy everything.
"HAHAHA~"
The two elders burst out laughing.
"Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, guess my current spirit power level!"
"You were level 26 when you left… you must be 28 now?"
"Bone Grandpa?"
"I say 29!"
"Wrong! I'm level 30 now! And most importantly—"
"WHAT?!"
All three blurted out in sync—two shocked, one curious.
"Da-da-da-da~ Take a good look at my martial spirit!"
Brilliant nine-colored radiance blossomed as Ning Rongrong raised the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her hand.
"Isn't that just the Seven Treasure Glaz... uh~ Nine layers, nine colors, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?!"
Ning Fengzhi, who had originally been somewhat indifferent, immediately widened his eyes when he saw the nine-layered, nine-colored Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul in Ning Rongrong's hand.
Unbelieving and suspecting he was seeing things, Ning Fengzhi rubbed his eyes and looked again.
But what entered his vision was still the nine-layered, nine-colored Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!
Once he confirmed it wasn't a mistake, Ning Fengzhi was instantly overwhelmed with excitement.
He never imagined that the dream of his entire life had already been realized through his precious daughter. This happiness came so suddenly!
He wasn't the only one excited—both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo were just as exhilarated. The two stared at the pagoda in Ning Rongrong's hand, speechless for a moment.
They knew very well what the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda meant.
A Martial Soul's evolution could boost a Soul Master's innate talent. The transformation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, combined with Rongrong's innate level 9 soul power, now meant her cultivation potential was no less than someone born with full innate soul power.
And full innate soul power, barring any premature death and without Martial Soul limitations, guaranteed one thing—reaching the level of Titled Douluo. There had never been an exception.
In other words, their precious granddaughter would no longer be limited to Soul Sage at level 79. She could now cultivate all the way to the Nine-Ring Titled Douluo realm!
"Daddy, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, aren't I awesome?!"
The treasure-like light faded as Ning Rongrong withdrew her Martial Soul, looking proudly smug.
"Rongrong, quickly tell Daddy, how did your Martial Soul become the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"
Forcing down his excitement, Ning Fengzhi quickly asked.
"That's because... I ate the one and only Qiluo Tulip in the world!"
Ning Rongrong replied with a cheerful grin.
The three of them stared at one another in stunned silence.
"What exactly is this Qiluo Tulip?"
At that moment, Ning Fengzhi's curiosity was at an all-time high.
"The Qiluo Tulip is just... the Qiluo Tulip. Senior Chu gave it to me,"
Ning Rongrong said, her face tinged with shyness.
That scumbag Chu told her that the Qiluo Tulip was part of his betrothal gift in advance!
"Senior Chu? Is that your classmate, Chu Chengzhou?"
Seeing his daughter's expression, Ning Fengzhi immediately felt something was off and quickly asked.
Based on the intelligence he'd gathered, this classmate named Chu Chengzhou already had a girlfriend.
As the noble young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, she absolutely couldn't be a third party.
Thinking this, Ning Fengzhi raised his guard even more.
"Huh? Daddy, how did you know?"
Ning Rongrong looked at him, puzzled.
"My precious girl, your whereabouts have always been under Daddy's watchful eye!"
Gu Rong said with a chuckle.
"Hmph~ Daddy, you're the worst!"
Realizing that even though she'd run away from home, her father had still kept tabs on her the entire time, Ning Rongrong pouted in displeasure.
"Haha, my little princess, you went out alone—how could your father not worry?"
Chen Xin smiled as he gently patted her head.
"Even so, it's still not okay. But I'll let it slide this time! I came back because I have something important to do!"
Rolling her eyes at her father, Ning Rongrong's expression turned serious.
"Oh? Something important?"
"Mhm! I came back not only to tell you all about my Martial Soul's evolution and that I've added a third soul ring—what's most important is this!"
As she spoke, a silver light flashed across her body, and the Silverlight Cloud Armor appeared out of thin air.
"!!!"
One second she was still dressed like a pampered princess, the next she had transformed into a valiant war goddess. The visual shift was so sudden that the three men were left wide-eyed, practically popping their eyeballs out.
"Rongrong, where did you get this soul device from?"
Ning Fengzhi curiously asked as he lightly tapped the Silverlight Cloud Armor.
"Daddy, this isn't a soul device—it's called the Silverlight Cloud Armor, and it was also a gift from Senior Chu!"
Ning Rongrong shook her head proudly.
She looked exactly like a girl in love, showing off her beloved to her elders.
Again with this Chu Chengzhou?
Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow and felt his vigilance rise once more.
"Rongrong, you're saying this isn't a soul device?"
Chen Xin inspected the Silverlight Cloud Armor and asked.
"Mhm. This armor is similar to ordinary armor, just made of different materials and a different design."
"Different materials? Fengzhi, can you tell what kind of metal it's made of?"
Clicking his tongue, Chen Xin turned to Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "I can't tell, but our clan's mines definitely don't have it.
Besides, this armor doesn't have any soul-guidance arrays. Even if it were made from rare metals, armor like this shouldn't be able to appear instantly like that."
"Daddy, you're wrong again. My Silverlight Cloud Armor is made from a rare metal called Cloud Titanium, and I got the materials from the Seven Treasure Business Guild in Soto City!"
Ning Rongrong said with a grin.
Once again, her usually sharp-witted father had been caught off guard. The mischievous little daughter secretly rejoiced.
"What? Cloud Titanium?!"
Ning Fengzhi's eyes went wide.
The mining industry was undoubtedly the most important economic pillar under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Since his Martial Soul limited his cultivation, Ning Fengzhi had plenty of free time and was very familiar with the clan's assets—he even had some understanding of Cloud Titanium.
As far as he remembered, Cloud Titanium, while light and durable—an excellent material for armor—did not have any kind of instant-wear capability.
Could something made of Cloud Titanium really be as extraordinary as the armor he saw before him?
Ning Fengzhi: Impossible, absolutely impossible!