Chapter 45: Advancement To Level 30 Spirit PowerAt this moment… He was developing Mystic Water Pills. But he wasn't just making one. He was making nine. Three for himself, three for Ning Rongrong, and three for Zhu Zhuqing. It was an audacious, exhausting task. Each pill required perfect control, a flawless execution of dozens of steps.
After the Mystic Water Pills, shimmering like captured pieces of the sky, were carefully stored in jade boxes, he moved on. The Spirit Ascension Pills were simpler, a recipe he could almost produce in his sleep now. He created a batch of two dozen, their gentle milky-white glow promising a clean, effortless boost in power.
When the last pill was sealed away, a profound silence fell over the laboratory. The bubbling ceased, the forge cooled. Zhang Tian stood amidst his creations, a deep sense of satisfaction washing over him. The tools were ready.
He tidied his workbench, stripped off his work-stained robes, and walked to his personal quarters, a spacious suite connected to the lab. He felt the bone-deep weariness of his month-long endeavor, but it was overshadowed by a keen anticipation.
He summoned a passing sect disciple with a quiet word. "Please find Young Miss Ning and Miss Zhu. Tell them I request their presence in my rooms. It is a matter of some importance."
The disciple, accustomed to the strange requests of the sect's new resident genius, bowed and hurried away.
Zhang Tian waited. He didn't have to wait long. A light, excited knock echoed, followed by the door swinging open. Ning Rongrong practically bounced into the room, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Zhu Zhuqing followed a step behind, her usual cool composure betraying a hint of questioning in her gaze.
"Zhang Tian! You're finally out of that stuffy lab!" Ning Rongrong chirped, her eyes scanning his suite. "We were starting to think you'd turned into a mushroom in there!"
Zhu Zhuqing offered a small, soft smile. "It is good to see you."
"It's good to see you both," Zhang Tian replied, his own voice warmer than it had been in weeks. He gestured for them to sit. "I've been busy. I have something for you."
He placed three small, exquisite jade boxes before each of them. Then, he added a larger pouch containing the Spirit Ascension Pills.
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. "Presents? For us?" She eagerly opened one of the small boxes. Inside, nestled on a bed of silk, was the translucent, water-blue pill. A gentle, pure light seemed to pulse from within it.
"What is this?" she breathed, mesmerized.
"It's called a Mystic Water Pill," Zhang Tian explained, his tone calm but his eyes fixed on their reactions. "It has two primary effects. First, it will cleanse your body of impurities and expand your meridians, making future cultivation faster. Second, and more importantly, it will permanently enhance your innate talent."
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Each pill will raise your innate spirit power by one full level. And most importantly… below the Thirtieth level, it can allow your Spirit Power to rise by one level."
The room fell silent. Ning Rongrong stared at the pill, then at him, her mouth slightly agape. Even Zhu Zhuqing's composure cracked, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief.
"One… one full level?" Zhu Zhuqing whispered, her voice barely audible.
"It is," Zhang Tian confirmed. "But it's only effective for the first three pills and so I've made three for each of us. You should consume one each day for the next three days. The first pill will have the most dramatic effect on cleansing your body. The subsequent two will have a diminished, but still significant, impact on your talent."
He then pushed the pouches towards them. "These are Spirit Ascension Pills. They are milder which makes their medicinal energy easier to absorb, and they will provide a direct boost to your spirit power."
He explained, "Even after you reach Level 30, the energy from the Spirit Ascension Pills won't be wasted. It will accumulate in your body, giving you a significant head start once you acquire your third spirit ring."
Ning Rongrong looked from the miraculous pills to Zhang Tian, her heart swelling with an emotion she couldn't name. It was more than gratitude. It was a profound sense of being cared for, of being cherished.
"Zhang Tian… You are too… much of a genius," she said softly.
"I am," He replied simply. "Take the first Mystic Water Pill now. The process will take a few hours. We can do it together."
With a shared look of determination, the three of them each took one of the water-blue pills. They placed it on their tongues and swallowed.
The pill dissolved instantly, a cool, refreshing stream that flowed down their throats and spread throughout their bodies. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a gentle warmth began to build from within, a comfortable, soothing heat that permeated every cell.
They sat in silent meditation, allowing the pill's miraculous energy to work its magic. Hours passed. The initial warmth slowly intensified, becoming a persistent, deep-seated heat. It was not painful, but it was pervasive, as if a gentle fire was burning away unseen dross within them.
The process continued for nearly three hours. The room was silent, save for the sound of their soft breathing. Then, a new scent began to permeate the air. It was a faint, sour odor at first, but it quickly grew stronger, becoming a thick, unpleasant stench.
Ning Rongrong's nose twitched, and her eyes fluttered open. She wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Ugh, what is that smell?" She sniffed her own arm and her face turned a deep shade of red. "It's... it's me!"
A thin, grey-black film of grime was being expelled from the pores of her skin, carrying with it all the impurities that had been hidden deep within her body.
Zhu Zhuqing also opened her eyes, her expression one of faint distaste as she noticed the same phenomenon happening to her. Even Zhang Tian, to a much lesser degree, had a slight sheen of this filth on his skin.
"It is the impurities being cleansed from your body," Zhang Tian explained calmly, though he too was aware of the rather pungent aroma that now filled his luxurious suite. "It is a sign that the pill is working perfectly."
Ning Rongrong stood up, looking mortified. "We stink! We need to wash, right now!" Her eyes darted around the room, and a mischievous glint appeared in them, overriding her embarrassment. Her gaze landed on a door at the far end of the room.
She turned back to them, a brilliant blush coloring her cheeks, yet her voice was surprisingly bold. "Zhang Tian... your bathroom is the biggest one in this wing. The tub is enormous..." She trailed off, biting her lip. "I think... I think we should all bathe together. To save time!"
Zhang Tian was momentarily taken aback by the suggestion. He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, who had a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips. They had bathed together many times in private, and this was hardly the most intimate situation they had been in.
Zhu Zhuqing's agreement was swift and smooth. "That is a very practical idea, Rongrong. It would be inefficient to wait for each other."
Zhang Tian maintained an innocent expression, though a warmth spread through his chest that had nothing to do with the pill. "If you both insist," he said, his voice even. "It is, as you say, the most efficient solution."
Soon, the three of them were standing in the opulent, steam-filled bathroom. The tub was a massive, sunken creation of polished white marble, easily large enough to be a small pool.
The girls, with a shared, unspoken understanding, turned their backs to him to undress, a gesture of decorum that was immediately undermined by the playful glances they shot over their shoulders. Zhang Tian did the same, and soon they were slipping into the hot, steaming water.
The atmosphere was charged, a mixture of shyness and burgeoning intimacy.
"Alright, this was my idea," Ning Rongrong declared, taking charge with a bubbly confidence that masked a hint of nervousness. "It's only fair we help wash all this gross stuff off. Zhang Tian, why don't you sit in the middle?"
He complied, settling between them in the enormous tub. The moment he did, both girls moved in, their intentions clear. They were going to 'serve' him.
Ning Rongrong, armed with a soft cloth and fragrant soap, began to gently scrub his back, her touch light and careful. Zhu Zhuqing, however, was far bolder. She moved to his side, her own cloth in hand, and began to wash his chest and shoulders.
'She's not even trying to be subtle,' Zhang Tian thought, a smile playing on his lips as he felt the soft, heavy pressure of Zhu Zhuqing's large breasts pressing against his arm under the guise of reaching across his chest. She moved with a liquid grace, her body brushing against his with a deliberate slowness that sent shivers down his spine.
He closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation, the feeling of being cared for by these two incredible women. He reached out, his hands finding their waists, pulling them closer into a gentle hug in the warm water.
"Let me," he murmured, taking the cloths from their hands. "It's only fair I help you both as well."
He began with Zhu Zhuqing, his hands moving with a tender reverence as he washed the grime from her flawless skin. She leaned into his touch, her head resting on his shoulder, a low, contented purr-like sound vibrating in her throat. When he moved to wash her back, she shifted, sitting directly in front of him, her impossibly curvy buttocks pressing intimately against his groin. A jolt went through him, and his body responded instantly, his erection hardening against her soft flesh.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't flinch. Instead, a small, triumphant smile touched her lips, a silent acknowledgment of her effect on him.
Ning Rongrong watched this exchange, her eyes wide. Her gaze drifted down into the water, and for the first time, she saw the clear, hard evidence of his arousal. A deep crimson blush flooded her face, but it was mixed with a spark of competitiveness. She wasn't going to be outdone by Zhu Zhuqing.
'Her chest is so big…' Ning Rongrong thought with a pang of envy, glancing down at her own more modest, though still perfect, budding curves. 'But I can't lose!'
She moved closer, pressing against his other side. While Zhu Zhuqing was bold and direct with her body, Ning Rongrong used her hands. Her touch was soft, inquisitive, as she took over washing his front. Her small, gentle hands lathered his chest, his stomach, and then, with a shy hesitation that quickly melted into determination, her fingers brushed against his rigid length under the water.
Zhang Tian's breath hitched. He looked at Ning Rongrong, whose face was flushed but whose eyes were filled with a playful, teasing light. He was caught between two fires, one cool and seductive, the other bright and mischievous.
He felt no desire to take advantage, only an overwhelming sense of affection and a romantic, thrilling excitement. He hugged them both tighter, burying his face in their fragrant, clean hair. The dirt was gone, replaced by a deep, profound connection.
The next two days followed a similar pattern. Each day, they would consume another Mystic Water Pill. The physical cleansing effect was far less dramatic, but they could feel the change on a deeper, more fundamental level. It was like their very souls were being polished, their connection to the world's spirit energy becoming clearer, sharper.
By the end of the third day, the transformation was complete. Their skin glowed with a healthy, vibrant light, and their eyes seemed brighter. More importantly, they could feel the change in their cultivation. The spirit energy they absorbed flowed more smoothly, more quickly through their newly expanded meridians. Their innate talent had been forcibly elevated by three full levels.
Their spirit power had also surged. Zhang Tian and Zhu Zhuqing, who were both at Level 28, felt their power skyrocket. After the first pill, they both reached Level 29. After the second and third pills, they officially broke through the bottleneck, reaching the thirtieth rank. They could feel their power solidifying, compressing, building up behind the dam.
Ning Rongrong, who had been at Level 27, also advanced rapidly. The first pill pushed her to Level 28, and the second to Level 29. After taking her third and final pill, she felt the push bring her right to the edge, but not quite over.
"I'm still not quite there," she said, a little pout on her lips after their morning meditation.
Zhang Tian smiled and produced one of the Spirit Ascension Pills. "This should take care of that."
She took it without hesitation. The pill's energy was much milder, a gentle wave that washed through her. It was the final push she needed. A soft golden light enveloped her, and the aura of her spirit power shifted, solidifying as she officially broke through to the thirtieth rank.
"I did it!" she cheered, jumping to her feet.
Zhang Tian and Zhu Zhuqing also took a Spirit Ascension Pill. For them, there was no breakthrough, but they could feel the potent energy settling within them, a reservoir of power waiting to be unleashed.
'With this accumulation,' Zhang Tian calculated, 'once we get our third rings, we should jump directly to Level 32, maybe even 33. This is a massive advantage.'
A week after their seclusion began, a summons came. Bone Douluo wished to see them.
They found him in one of the main courtyards, standing like a withered tree. Gu Rong was a truly terrifying sight. His face was a death mask, his skin stretched taut over his skull, his eye sockets like deep, dark caves. What little hair he had was a few sparse wisps of grey on an immense cranium. He stood nearly two and a half meters tall, a skeletal giant whose mere presence was suffocating.
When he spoke, his voice was a dry, hoarse rasp that scraped the air. "Little Rongrong. You didn't come to see your grandpa in this week at all."
His sunken eyes scanned them, and a flicker of surprise, a minuscule shift in his features, was the only sign of his shock.
"Your spirit power…" he rasped. "You've all reached the thirtieth rank. It has been barely a month. How?"
Ning Rongrong beamed, unable to contain her pride. "It was Zhang Tian! He made us some miracle pills!"
Zhang Tian stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Grandpa Bone. I was fortunate to combine some principles from different alchemy traditions, including that of the Breaking Clan. I managed to create two new types of pills."
He proceeded to explain the Mystic Water Pill and the Spirit Ascension Pill, detailing their effects on innate talent and spirit power accumulation.
"I intend to provide the formulas to the sect," Zhang Tian concluded. "They are most effective for Spirit Masters under the thirtieth rank, but they could significantly accelerate the growth of the sect's younger generation and strengthen their foundation."
For a long moment, Bone Douluo was silent, his skeletal form unmoving. Then, a dry, rattling sound escaped him. It was a laugh, a sound of pure, unadulterated joy.
"Good! Very good!" he rasped, placing a heavy, bony hand on Zhang Tian's shoulder. "Fengzhi will be ecstatic. This is a gift beyond measure. It will change the future of our sect."
He looked at the three of them, a strange light in his deep-set eyes. "Once Fengzhi and that old sword return, we will take you to hunt for your third spirit rings. With your current foundation, you deserve the best."
As they walked away, Zhang Tian's mind was already racing ahead. 'The rings are the next step. But to get the best rings, they need stronger bodies. Especially for their fourth ring. I want them to have ten-thousand-year rings, but their bodies can't handle that through normal means.'
His thoughts drifted to a peculiar commodity he knew of from his past life's knowledge, an item misunderstood in this era.
'Whale Gum. In this age, the nobles use it as a high-end aphrodisiac, completely ignorant of its true purpose. When prepared correctly, it tempers the physical body, making it resilient enough to absorb spirit rings far beyond normal limits.'
He knew he had to acquire it. But asking the sect to buy up massive quantities of a known aphrodisiac for him, a young boy who was near his teenage years, would be… awkward.
'No,' he decided firmly. 'This is a discussion for Uncle Ning. It would be inappropriate to ask anyone else. I'll wait until he returns.'
Three days later, a powerful, twin aura descended upon the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect. Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo had returned.
When Zhang Tian and the others were summoned to the main hall, they found Ning Fengzhi radiating a power that was fundamentally different from before. His Eighth Spirit Ring, a brilliant, flashing black, circled him quietly. But it was the defensive aura it projected that was truly astonishing.
A translucent, eight-colored shield of light shimmered around him. This was the Eight Treasure Light Protection, an ability so potent it could withstand a full-power attack from a Spirit Sage's Spirit Avatar. It was a qualitative leap in his defensive capabilities.
Bone Douluo was already there, informing a shocked Ning Fengzhi and a stoic Sword Douluo of the trio's sudden advancement.
"...and he is offering the formulas to the sect, Fengzhi. Without wanting anything in return," Bone Douluo finished, his hoarse voice filled with pride.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze fell upon Zhang Tian, and it was filled with a complex mixture of shock, gratitude, and profound admiration. "Zhang Tian," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Zhang Tian stepped forward and bowed. "Congratulations on your breakthrough, Uncle Ning. You becoming a Spirit Douluo is a historic achievement for the sect."
Ning Fengzhi waved a hand dismissively, though his smile was wide. "This achievement is as much yours as it is mine. Without your ideas and assistance, I would have remained trapped at Level 79 for the rest of my life."
His eyes softened. "And now, you offer us another priceless gift. These new pill formulas… I cannot thank you enough. Please, tell me if there is anything, anything, the sect can provide for you."
Zhang Tian met his gaze. The time was right. "For now, Uncle Ning, I have all I need. However, there is one thing I would like the sect to procure for me."
"Name it," Ning Fengzhi said without hesitation.
"I need Whale Gum," Zhang Tian said, his voice steady. "Specifically, thousand-year-old and ten-thousand-year-old Whale Gum. I would like the sect to buy as much as possible, from every available market, without causing too much of a stir."
The atmosphere in the hall shifted. Ning Rongrong blushed, while Ning Fengzhi and the two Titled Douluos exchanged confused, slightly uncomfortable glances. Whale Gum was not something discussed openly.
Before anyone could form the wrong conclusion, Zhang Tian continued, his tone turning serious and clinical.
"The world misunderstands the true purpose of Whale Gum. Yes, it has a great aphrodisiac effect, but that is merely a surface-level property, a waste of its true potential."
He looked at each of them, ensuring he had their full attention. "Its real function is to temper the physical body. When the gum is heated until soft and then consumed, it dramatically strengthens a Spirit Master's physique, increasing their resilience and endurance. This allows them to safely absorb spirit rings of a much higher age than they normally could."
The hall fell into a stunned silence. The implications of his words began to dawn on them. It wasn't just a matter of faster cultivation; this was a method to fundamentally increase the quality and power of a Spirit Master from their earliest stages.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes, always sharp, now blazed with understanding. "You mean… we could give our disciples stronger rings? From the very beginning?"
"Precisely," Zhang Tian confirmed. "It's most effective for those below the fortieth rank. With it, I am confident Rongrong and Zhuqing can acquire third spirit rings of at least three thousand years, and a ten-thousand-year ring for their fourth is not an impossibility."
The collective gasp was audible. A ten-thousand-year fourth ring was the stuff of legends, a feat only the most monstrous geniuses from the Spirit Hall were said to achieve.
Ning Fengzhi's expression was one of absolute seriousness. The awkwardness was gone, replaced by the sharp focus of a Sect Master who had just been handed a key to ultimate power.
"I understand," he said, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "I will dispatch agents immediately. We will use our affiliated clans, our merchant networks… we will quietly buy every last piece of thousand-year and ten-thousand-year Whale Gum available for sale in the world. I will hand you all if you need it."
Zhang Tian held up a hand. "It is not all for me, Uncle Ning. I only need enough for the three of us. The rest… the rest should be a new strategic resource for the sect. Use it to cultivate your most promising young talents. This is how the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect will truly become unshakable."
Ning Fengzhi looked at the young man before him, no longer seeing a boy, but a visionary whose wisdom and generosity were as terrifying as his talent. He bowed his head slightly, a gesture of profound respect. "The sect is in your debt, Zhang Tian."
Chapter 46: Tempering Body And Future Spirit RingsThe command, once given by Ning Fengzhi, was executed with the terrifying efficiency that only a sect with the wealth of a small empire could muster. The quiet, polite inquiry for an obscure, if scandalous, material rippled outwards from the grand palace of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect, becoming a tidal wave of commercial force that washed over the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
Sect disciples, their faces masks of professional impassivity, appeared in the most exclusive auction houses of Heaven Dou City. Their bids were silent, decisive, and backed by a seemingly bottomless purse. The lots of "Thousand-Year Golden Whale Gum," usually a novelty item that drew a few snickers and high bids from aging, lecherous nobles, were suddenly being swept up without negotiation.
In the dimly lit, labyrinthine stalls of the city's black markets, shadowy figures who traded in secrets and forbidden goods found themselves fielding unusually direct offers from men with seven-storied pagodas embroidered on their sleeves. The price was always too good to refuse. There was no haggling, only the swift, silent exchange of gold spirit coins for dark yellow crystals.
The most delicate operations were conducted in the opulent drawing rooms of the empire's great noble families. A subordinate of the sect, a man of high standing and impeccable manners, would arrive with a gift of fine wine or a rare spirit ore. The conversation would be light, filled with pleasantries, before the true purpose was revealed.
"Lord Marquis," the sect representative would say with a polite, almost conspiratorial smile, "Our Sect Master has recently developed an interest in certain… rejuvenating tonics. He would be most grateful if you would be willing to part with any excess Whale Gum your esteemed house may have in its treasury. A small token of friendship between our houses, you understand."
The nobles understood perfectly. The great Ning Fengzhi, a man of profound power and wisdom, was seeking to recapture the vigor of his youth for his many beautiful wives. The thought was scandalous, amusing, and most importantly, it was an opportunity. To curry favor with the number one sect in the world over something as trivial as an aphrodisiac? It wasn't a choice; it was a blessing. Vaults were opened, and precious, long-forgotten treasures were handed over with beaming smiles and promises of eternal friendship.
Within five short days, a treasure trove of the rare material had been amassed in a secure vault within the sect. Piles of shimmering, golden crystals, the thousand-year-old gum, lay beside a smaller but far more potent collection of dark, amber-yellow crystals that pulsed with a deep, ancient energy. The ten-thousand-year-old Whale Gum.
Zhang Tian was summoned. He stood before the glittering hoard, his expression calm but his mind racing with the possibilities. He selected a substantial portion of the dark yellow, ten-thousand-year-old gum, a chunk roughly the size of a large winter melon. "This will be sufficient for the three of us," he declared.
Ning Fengzhi looked at the remaining mountain of golden and yellow crystals. "The rest is yours to manage, Uncle Ning," Zhang Tian said, a respectful nod in his direction. "Use it to cultivate a new generation of geniuses for the sect. This will be the foundation of your future."
Ning Fengzhi's heart swelled with a gratitude so profound it was almost painful.
The process of consumption began in a specially prepared, high-temperature forging chamber, deep within the sect's workshops. The air was dry and intensely hot, shimmering with the latent power of the man who stood at its center. He was Elder Huo, a Level 82 Spirit Douluo whose Martial Spirit was the fearsome 'Crimson Flame Lion'. He was a man of few words, his face a mask of stern duty, but a flicker of deep, scandalous curiosity burned in his eyes.
'To be summoned by the Sect Master himself, for such a task…' he thought, as Ning Fengzhi personally oversaw the procedure. 'To melt down the sect's entire, newly acquired stock of Whale Gum. Is the Sect Master planning an orgy of epic proportions?' He kept his thoughts to himself, of course, and focused on the task at hand.
"Crimson Flame Lion, Possess!"
With a roar, his body was wreathed in brilliant, crimson flames. He opened his mouth and spewed a controlled, concentrated jet of fire onto the large chunk of dark yellow crystal that Zhang Tian had set aside. The ten-thousand-year-old gum, hard as diamond, began to soften under the intense heat, slowly melting into a thick, viscous, golden-amber liquid that smelled faintly of the deep ocean and something else… something primal and musky.
The trio received their portion in three large jade bowls. They looked at the steaming, gelatinous substance, their expressions a mixture of determination and trepidation.
"It must be consumed while it is still warm and in its liquid state," Zhang Tian instructed, his voice echoing slightly in the hot, stone chamber. "The taste will be… unpleasant. And the side effects will be potent. Your body will be flooded with heat, and you will experience… strong, distracting urges. You must suppress them. Focus your mind, circulate your spirit power, and endure. This is a battle of will."
He was the first to act. He lifted the heavy bowl, and without a moment's hesitation, he began to drink the thick, horrible liquid.
The taste was indescribable. It was a vile combination of salty, bitter, and a strange, cloying sweetness that coated his tongue and throat. It was like drinking lukewarm, melted rubber mixed with seawater. He forced it down, his stomach churning in protest.
The two girls, seeing his resolve, followed his lead. Ning Rongrong pinched her nose, her face wrinkled in a grimace of pure disgust as she choked down the first mouthful. Zhu Zhuqing was more stoic, but even her iron composure cracked slightly, a flicker of revulsion in her dark eyes as she swallowed the foul-tasting concoction.
The effect was almost instantaneous. A fire ignited in the pit of his stomach, a raging inferno that spread with terrifying speed through his veins, into his muscles, deep into the marrow of his bones. It was not a burning pain, but an intense, overwhelming heat that made his skin flush and his blood sing.
And with the heat came the lust.
It was a primal, powerful surge of pure, unadulterated desire that bypassed all rational thought. His mind was flooded with images, flashes of Zhu Zhuqing's naked body in the shower, the feeling of Ning Rongrong's soft hands on his skin, the memory of Ah Yin's seductive, crimson form. His dick hardened instantly, painfully, straining against his trousers.
'Control,' he commanded himself, his mind a fortress against the hormonal onslaught. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead as he forced his spirit power to circulate, channeling the immense energy of the Whale Gum not into his groin, but into his physical structure, tempering his body in the fire of his own desire.
The two girls were fighting their own, equally difficult battles. Ning Rongrong's face was a deep, beautiful shade of crimson. She could feel a strange, tingling heat spreading between her legs, a sensation she had never experienced before. Her mind, usually so sharp and clear, was a fuzzy, confusing haze of warmth and strange, new feelings. 'What is this… my body feels so… weird… I want… I want Zhang Tian to hold me…'
Zhu Zhuqing's struggle was even more intense. She was no stranger to desire, but this was different. This was a raw, chemical firestorm. Her body, already so intimately familiar with Zhang Tian's touch, was screaming for it. Her nipples were pebble-hard, her pussy was slick and throbbing, and the image of his hard, thick cock was branded onto the inside of her eyelids. She bit her lip, drawing blood, using the sharp pain to anchor her sanity as she fought to control the raging inferno within.
For three days, this was their life. They would consume the horrible, melted gum, endure the fire and the lust, and through sheer force of will, they would cultivate, forcing the miraculous energy to temper their bodies.
When the final drop of their allotted Whale Gum was consumed, a profound change had taken place. They felt… different. Stronger. Their bodies hummed with a new, vibrant energy, a deep-seated resilience that was more than just muscle.
To quantify this change, they were summoned to a private training hall. Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood waiting, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.
"So, the little rascal's aphrodisiac training is complete, is it?" Gu Rong rasped, his sunken eyes fixing on Zhang Tian. "Let's see if there's any substance to your strange theories."
Chen Xin stepped forward first, his gaze falling on Ning Rongrong. "Little Rongrong, stand still. I will not harm you. I will simply apply a measure of my sword intent to your body to gauge its resilience."
A faint, silver light, as sharp and fine as a needle, emanated from his fingertip. It was a sliver of his Titled Douluo's power, a force that could shred steel. He gently touched her shoulder with it.
Ning Rongrong felt a sharp, piercing pressure, but no pain. The sword intent, which should have easily bypassed her skin and muscle, met a surprising, stubborn resistance. It was like trying to push a needle through thick, cured leather.
Chen Xin's eyes widened. He slowly increased the pressure. Still, her body held. It was only when he had applied a level of force equivalent to the full-strength attack of a four-ringed Spirit Ancestor that her skin finally began to show a faint red mark. He withdrew his hand, a look of profound shock on his sharp face.
"Unbelievable," he breathed.
Gu Rong then tested Zhu Zhuqing and Zhang Tian, using a gentle application of his spatial pressure. The results were even more astonishing. Their bodies could withstand a force equivalent to that of a Level 43 Spirit Ancestor before showing any signs of strain.
"The effect is real," Gu Rong declared, his hoarse voice filled with awe. "Their physical bodies are now far beyond the level of a normal Spirit Grandmaster. They are as tough as Spirit Ancestors."
Chen Xin nodded, his mind racing with the implications. "This changes everything. With bodies this resilient… the limits of what they can absorb for their third spirit rings are… significantly higher."
He looked at the trio, his sharp gaze assessing. "Little Rongrong, your body, while greatly enhanced, is still inherently that of a support master. I would estimate you can now safely absorb a spirit ring from a beast between three thousand five hundred and four thousand three hundred years old."
His gaze shifted to Zhang Tian. "You, boy. Your physique is more balanced. Four thousand six hundred to five thousand years should be your limit."
Finally, he looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "And you. Your Beast Martial Spirit has synergized with the Whale Gum's energy. Your physical enhancement is the greatest of the three. You could withstand a ring from a beast of up to six thousand years. Perhaps even slightly more."
The numbers hung in the air, a testament to a revolutionary breakthrough in cultivation.
In Ning Fengzhi's private study, the strategic council reconvened. The atmosphere was electric with excitement.
"My plan for Rongrong's ring remains," Ning Fengzhi said, unrolling a map of the Sunset Forest. "We have already located a colony of Three-Eyed Jade Lions. They are light-attribute beasts, and their spirit rings grant an ability that amplifies spirit power recovery and output. A perfect fit for our sect. We have confirmed a specimen in the colony that is approximately four thousand one hundred years old. It will be an easy hunt with Uncle Gu and myself."
He then turned to the other two. "Now, for you, young friend Zhang Tian. And you, Miss Zhuqing. Your paths are your own. Have you given thought to what you desire for your third rings?"
Zhang Tian stepped forward, his expression calm and prepared. "I have, Uncle Ning. There is a specific plant-type spirit beast I seek. It is called the Jade Weaver Banyan. Its primary ability is to weave its vines into semi-autonomous constructs, even mimicking the form of other spirit beasts. I believe this ability will synergize perfectly with my Blood Silver Grass's control attributes. I would require a specimen of at least four thousand eight hundred years."
Ning Fengzhi and the two Douluos exchanged a look of surprise. It was another specific, well-researched, and highly ambitious choice.
"An interesting and powerful spirit," Gu Rong rasped. "But they are rare. Finding one of that specific age will be difficult."
"I believe your sect's vast information network will be up to the task, Grandpa Bone," Zhang Tian replied with a confident smile.
He then turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "As for Zhuqing," he said, taking the lead as they had discussed, "her Hell Civet is an agility-type spirit with a dark attribute. To maximize her potential, I would recommend a spirit ring that enhances her core strengths while pushing her spirit towards a more powerful evolution. A dark-attribute tiger or lion-type spirit beast would be ideal. Its ring should provide a powerful, direct offensive ability, as well as a secondary strength amplification."
He looked at Zhuqing, who nodded in agreement. "We should aim for a beast as close to her six-thousand-year limit as possible. The greater the pressure, the greater the potential for a beneficial mutation in her own spirit and greater the strength of her physical body and spirit ability."
The plan was audacious, logical, and filled with a potential that made the very air in the room hum.
Ning Fengzhi slammed his hand down on the table, a broad, excited grin on his face. "Excellent! A perfect plan! The hunt will be a challenge, but the rewards will be immeasurable! We will begin making preparations at once! Our agents in the Sunset Forest will begin the search immediately!"
He looked at the three young geniuses before him, his heart swelling with a pride that was almost paternal. "Uncle Gu, you will accompany me and the children on this hunt. Uncle Chen, I will have to trouble you to remain and guard the sect in our absence."
Sword Douluo Chen Xin just gave a sharp, accepting nod. The decision was made.
The next few days were a flurry of activity as the sect prepared for the expedition. Scouts were dispatched, supply lines were established, and the trio spent their time in deep meditation, consolidating their newfound physical strength and preparing their minds for the trials to come. The hunt for their third spirit rings was about to begin.