Late at night, under the glow of the bright full moon.
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
In Ning Rongrong's palm, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda shone with multicolored radiance.
At the very top of the seventh level of the pagoda, a faint, translucent eighth level had begun to form.
Although that illusionary eighth tier was nearly transparent — so faint it seemed it might dissipate at any moment — it was undeniably real.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, as its name implies, had seven levels — one treasure per level — and could only hold seven soul rings.
Thus, Soul Sage (Level 70) was the highest realm that any user of this martial spirit could reach.
The seven soul skills it granted were fixed:
Strength Boost
Agility Boost
Soul Power Boost
Defense Boost
Attack Boost
Attribute Boost
True Body of the Seven Treasures
Among these, only the fifth skill (Attack Boost), the sixth skill (Attribute Boost), and the seventh skill (True Body) were fixed in order. The first four could be obtained in any order, based on the user's preferences.
While the quality of a soul ring didn't enhance the boost effect of the Seven Treasure Pagoda's soul skills, it did reduce the energy cost. Therefore, each soul ring was chosen with a specific target in mind:
Strength Boost → Titan Ant
Agility Boost → Sharp-Tailed Swallow
Soul Power Boost → Holy Soul Tree
Defense Boost → Black Tortoise Turtle
There were no "best" soul beasts for the fifth and sixth skills, but the higher the soul beast's quality, the better.
Because gemstone-type soul beasts were rare, and those that suited Attack or Attribute Boost even rarer, no one in the clan had ever absorbed a gemstone-type soul ring.
And for that reason, no one in the history of the clan had discovered that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could evolve by absorbing gemstone soul rings.
This time, I truly owe the Lin family a great favor. If that Duke Lin Rong were of my generation… perhaps...
Ning Fengzhi sighed with emotion.
Since the moment he had seen the phantom of an eighth tier on his daughter's pagoda, he had not been able to take his eyes off it.
Although he now knew how the martial spirit could evolve, Ning Fengzhi himself was already Level 79 with all seven soul rings. For him, the method was useless.
If Lin Rong weren't the sole heir of the Lin Clan, then with that innate full soul power… maybe he'd be worthy of Rongrong.
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong immediately recalled the encounter in the mountain valley and snapped back:
"Daddy, what nonsense are you saying? That arrogant maniac could never be worthy of me!"
"Oh, you little rascal." Ning Fengzhi chuckled, then added more seriously:
"Don't worry. You two could never be together anyway."
"As the heir of the clan, your future husband must marry into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"And Lin Rong, as the sole successor of the Lin Clan, must continue his bloodline — there's no way he would agree to marry into another family."
"But that makes things difficult. To find someone who both matches your talent and is willing to marry into our clan... that's like reaching for the stars."
Clan heir?!
Ning Rongrong's heart suddenly sank, a sense of foreboding rising. She hurried to object:
"Daddy, I have so many older brothers — there's no way the title of heir would fall to me, right?"
But to her dismay, Ning Fengzhi slowly shook his head, his smile fading as he spoke with grave seriousness:
"Rongrong, your innate soul power is Level 9 — the highest in our clan's history."
"While gemstone soul rings might catalyze the pagoda's evolution, innate talent is an equally critical factor."
"Take that fellow Yu Xiaogang, for example. His martial spirit should have become a Golden Sacred Dragon after the Golden Iron Triangle performed their fusion skill."
"But because his talent was poor — only half a level of soul power at birth—his spirit never fully evolved, and he ended up with a 'pig-dragon.'"
"Perhaps... a naturally full soul-powered Glazed Pagoda has more than seven layers."
"And your Level 9 talent might be the very limit that allows it to evolve."
"That's why, with just one gemstone soul ring, your martial spirit already shows signs of evolving."
"If you continue to cultivate like this — absorbing gemstone soul rings at each advancement stage — then, with your talent, you have a real chance to evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"And when that time comes, only you will be worthy of becoming the new clan leader — and the clan can finally change its name to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
As he said this, Ning Fengzhi placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders.
His next words felt as heavy as mountains to Ning Rongrong:
"Rongrong, the future of our clan rests on your shoulders. And so do my hopes."
"From this day forward, you are the Clan Heiress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"You must dedicate yourself to reviving the clan — no more wasting time."
"You must train your soul power, master split-attention control, study etiquette, and learn to manage the clan's affairs. Your days of carefree fun are over. Understood?"
"I-I… I don't want this! Daddy, you're the worst!"
Ning Rongrong yanked away from her father, tears streaming down her cheeks as she turned desperately toward an elderly man nearby — his white hair belying his youthful face.
"Grandpa Sword! You love Rongrong the most! Please speak up for me!"
But this time, her once foolproof plea didn't work.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin turned his head away in silence, unwilling to watch her cry.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong turned again, this time to a tall but gaunt old man beside him.
"Grandpa Bone! Rongrong loves you best! I don't want to give up my free time! Please convince Daddy!"
Yet even Bone Douluo Gu Rong shook his head and replied softly:
"My little princess, it's not that Grandpa Bone won't help you, but..."
"You… you all—!"
As the words sank in, Ning Rongrong looked as though she had been struck by lightning. She broke into sobs, tears like scattered blossoms in the rain.
She staggered backward, shouting:
"I hate all of you! Waaaah—!"
With a loud bang, she threw open the door and ran out, weeping into the night.
"Don't chase her!"
Ning Fengzhi stopped the two old men from following. He rubbed his temples, clearly troubled.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, you both spoiled her too much when she was younger. That's how she ended up like this."
"I take responsibility, too. Without my silent approval, her unruly nature wouldn't have gone this far."
"But times have changed."
"Now that Rongrong shows the talent — and her martial spirit shows signs of evolution — she must shoulder this responsibility."
"Let her cry. Let her vent."
"But what comes next… is no longer up to her."