After Ning Rongrong's explanation, everyone roughly understood the situation.
Wang Quan Fugui and Zi Zhenzhu exchanged a glance. Zi Zhenzhu pointed at herself with a finger.
"So, we're just test subjects?" Zi Zhenzhu's eyelids twitched. "I think it'd be better if you said the Sect Leader saw potential in us and specifically sent you to boost our strength."
"Uh… I did think about that." Ning Rongrong gave a small laugh. As expected, Zi Zhenzhu was straightforward and dared to say anything!
"A single lie often requires many more to maintain it. I think you all deserve to know the truth."
Ning Rongrong sighed and said, "I'm seventy to eighty percent confident I can help Senior Lou Gao break through several levels, directly reaching Title Douluo!"
"But my father absolutely refused."
"Besides the extreme pain, he's worried Senior Lou Gao wouldn't be able to endure it."
"Young Sect Leader, I, Lou Gao, am tough as nails. How could I not endure it?" Lou Gao rolled his eyes in protest.
"Yes, yes, Senior Lou Gao is as sturdy as copper coins and iron bones."
After calming Lou Gao, Ning Rongrong continued, "Senior Lou Gao's work crafting soul tools is delicate. This method of breakthrough has no side effects, but there might be aftereffects that linger for one or two years, or even longer."
"Under normal circumstances, it's not a problem, but for Senior Lou Gao, who works in the Soul Tool Pavilion crafting soul tools, it could cause some trouble."
"It's because of mental strength," Ning Yun interjected. "I don't know exactly how Rongrong does it, but the extreme pain might cause mental strength to become less precise, taking a long time to fully recover."
"Exactly," Ning Rongrong nodded. "That's roughly the case. For ordinary combat Soul Masters, it's fine, but for a soul engineer like Senior Lou Gao, who engraves array patterns, it's a significant issue."
"In short, we're the test subjects," Zi Zhenzhu sighed helplessly. "You chose others to practice on because of the success rate and the aftereffects, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
Zi Zhenzhu: "…"
Wang Quan Fugui: "…"
Young Sect Leader, you're so honest!
Aren't you afraid of being sold out and still helping count the money?
Ning Rongrong continued, "If the meridian unblocking fails, it's not a big deal. At most, mental strength will take a few years to fully recover. Under normal circumstances, it shouldn't affect combat."
On the Douluo Continent, mental attacks against Soul Masters are rare; most battles are straightforward and direct.
That's why Ning Rongrong wasn't too worried.
"Honestly, even if we're test subjects…" Zi Zhenzhu let out a long sigh. "It's hard for Wang Quan Fugui and me to refuse!"
"Can you tell us your specific method? That shouldn't be a secret, right?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head and said, "It involves my abilities, so it's confidential. If you want to proceed, swear an oath that you won't reveal anything about today, including the details of your breakthrough, to outsiders."
"This…" Zi Zhenzhu and Wang Quan Fugui looked at each other.
In the end, both swore an oath on their Martial Souls.
A Martial Soul oath is a significant vow for Soul Masters.
Breaking it would leave a scar on their heart, greatly affecting their cultivation.
Especially when breaking through bottlenecks, it could lead to fatal consequences.
"Alright." Seeing they had sworn, Ning Rongrong clapped her hands, drawing their attention back. "Since you've sworn, I'll explain my method and ability."
"I have an ability called Time Reversal. As long as you're below Title Douluo, I can ensure that even if your meridians break or other issues arise, I can revert them to their original state…"
After hearing Ning Rongrong's explanation, Zi Zhenzhu and Wang Quan Fugui's mouths twitched.
Good grief, so you're saying you'll make us reach Xiantian full soul power by repeatedly trying and failing to unblock our meridians!
As long as we don't die, you can pull us back and keep going.
Young Sect Leader, I advise you to be kind.
No wonder the mental aftereffects take years to fully recover. With this kind of repeated torment, it's a miracle if the mind doesn't collapse.
"Um…" Zi Zhenzhu's eyes twitched. "Can I ask something?"
"When Her Majesty Shui Cangyue went through this, how many times was she… whipped back to life?"
Zi Zhenzhu emphasized the words "whipped back."
"Not many, about a dozen times!"
"It took roughly a day and a night. Just grit your teeth, and it'll pass."
Zi Zhenzhu: "…"
"Did Her Majesty Shui Cangyue say anything afterward to express her gratitude?"
Even the fearless Zi Zhenzhu found a dozen times in a day and night utterly absurd.
"Well, she said she'd rather die than try it again."
Zi Zhenzhu: "…"
That's even more terrifying, isn't it?
"I'll give you two days to think it over. This is just my personal idea and has nothing to do with my… ahem, my wise and valiant father."
"Senior Lou Gao, Sister Yan, let's go!"
In Vast Sea City, Ning Rongrong and her group were still outsiders.
It was best to let them discuss among themselves.
The three walked out the door, and Ning Rongrong gently closed it behind them.
"Rongrong, you might as well have said it was the Sect Leader's idea! Using a secret method to boost their strength, they might even be grateful," Dugu Yan said, unable to understand why Ning Rongrong revealed the truth.
"No need. They're our own people," Ning Rongrong shook her head. "Even if they don't agree, contributing to Senior Lou Gao's breakthrough to Title Douluo would only delay things by a year or two until Kurumi wakes up."
"This approach is just practice. Whether it succeeds or fails, it's no big deal."
"Young Sect Leader, thank you for going to such lengths for this old man," Lou Gao said with some guilt.
Ning Rongrong was practicing on others for his breakthrough, which genuinely touched him.
Back in Blacksmith City, that old gorilla only tried to recruit him to the Clear Sky Sect, offering no benefits and expecting free labor.
"Senior Lou Gao, you're too polite," Ning Rongrong waved her hand. "You've been working for the sect all these years, and sometimes I feel a bit guilty."
Lou Gao, aside from forging and crafting soul tools, had no particular hobbies, unlike Ning Fengzhi, who liked going to Heaven Dou City to buy catgirls for his peculiar tastes.
As long as it helped Lou Gao research soul tools more effectively, it was worth the investment.
Lou Gao was getting on in years, and he could guess some of Ning Rongrong's intentions.
Guessing was one thing, but it still filled him with emotion.
Both were among the Upper Three Sects, but compare his days under the Clear Sky Sect to those with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The Clear Sky Sect was a scam.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, on the other hand, provided ample resources as long as you worked hard!
And the Young Sect Leader personally helped improve your strength.
Who else could offer such treatment?
Which sect could match this?
Time passed, and a few days later, everyone gathered in the same room again.
"Young Sect Leader, Wang Quan Fugui and I have discussed it, and we've decided to try," Zi Zhenzhu said solemnly, with Wang Quan Fugui nodding in agreement.
"Have you taken the spirit medicine I gave you to stabilize your mental strength?" Ning Rongrong asked.
"Yes, we've been taking it these past two days," Zi Zhenzhu and Wang Quan Fugui exchanged a glance and nodded.
It required consuming a lot of mental strength to avoid mental collapse.
The best approach was to eat well, sleep well, and replenish energy.
Clearly, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacked neither money nor medicinal resources.
"Then, let's begin!"
Ning Rongrong looked at Zi Zhenzhu. "Title Douluo might be a bit tricky, so it's simpler to start with Miss Zi Zhenzhu. It'll also let Wang Quan Fugui observe clearly."
"Alright," Zi Zhenzhu responded.
However, before Ning Rongrong could act, her brows suddenly furrowed.
"What's wrong?" Dugu Yan noticed the change in Ning Rongrong's expression.
"Someone's causing trouble," Ning Rongrong sighed. "Why now, of all times?"
"Senior Lou Gao, the intruder is a Soul Douluo, accompanied by Tang San and a Title Douluo."
Seeing Lou Gao start to move, Ning Rongrong quickly stopped him. "Senior Lou Gao, don't go out yet."
"Ning Tian, you go check it out. Wang Quan Fugui and I will protect you in the shadows."
With that, Ning Rongrong opened a spatial rift, teleporting herself, Ning Tian, and Wang Quan Fugui to the hall.
"Tang San, looks like you couldn't wait any longer!"