"Mom—"
The moment Ning Tian saw her mother, her intense longing could no longer be suppressed. Completely ignoring her old father who had opened his arms to her, she flew straight into Yang Zihan's embrace.
"Quick, let me see, have you gotten thinner?"
Yang Zihan's eyes likewise shimmered with tears. Just as she asked the question, even before fully reaching Ning Tian, her lips were already trembling, talking to herself, "You've gotten thinner, thinner... but it's good that you're back. You were gone for four years, you must have suffered."
No matter how big the child or how strong the expert, in a mother's eyes, they were ultimately just a child returning home. What Title Douluo or Young Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was there to speak of?
However, this was agonizing for Ning Bowen beside them. He could only watch helplessly as his daughter directly skipped past him and threw herself into his wife's embrace. So, he could only give an awkward yet dignified dry cough, maintaining his fatherly composure in front of his daughter.
Coincidentally, Ning Bowen's cough transmitted clearly and "smoothly" into the ears of Chen Junting, who had just finished greeting his master.
Ye Xuanji, who also noticed this scene, couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile. After quickly restraining it, he gave a slight chin-nod toward Chen Junting. Seeing this, Chen Junting naturally understood immediately.
So, he walked directly in front of Ning Bowen.
"Dad."
As an engaged couple, using an address like "Uncle Ning" was no longer appropriate for Chen Junting. It would seem a bit distant. Plus, since this was in private and not a public occasion, there was no need to address him as "Sect Master." Simply calling him "Dad" would do.
And right now, Chen Junting's call immediately alleviated Ning Bowen's slightly awkward situation. Secretly letting out a breath of relief, he began conversing with Chen Junting with a proud smile.
"Little Chen, you guys..."
As they spoke, the mother-daughter confiding between Ning Tian and Yang Zihan also slowly came to an end. Chen Junting seized the right moment to make way for Ning Tian, letting this father-daughter pair resolve their longing.
As for himself, he went before Aunt Yang, or rather, his mother-in-law/"Mom," and engaged in a conversation with her.
Naturally, Ye Xuanji also joined in.
For a time, within the room, there were no titles like Sect Master, Sect Master's wife, or Grand Elder. There was only a family.
Until finally...
"Xiao Tian, you've truly grown up!"
Suddenly, Ning Bowen let out such a sigh of emotion.
But that was indeed true.
His daughter had not only become a Level 95 Super Douluo in her twenties, but she was also valued by a deity who bestowed trials upon her. Up to this point, she had even obtained a divine weapon.
If one carefully calculated it, Ning Tian's current achievements had already surpassed those of her ancestor Ning Rongrong during the same period. As long as she smoothly became a god in the future, her accomplishments would absolutely surpass their ancestor's.
How could this not make a father excited?
"Dad..."
Looking at her father who was proud of her, Ning Tian opened her mouth to speak. Just as she wanted to say something, Ning Bowen's next words caught her completely off guard. But thinking carefully, she felt that this matter was within reason and shouldn't be a surprise.
"Xiao Tian, it's time for you to inherit the position of Sect Master."
As soon as these words came out, Ning Bowen's face was incredibly solemn.
Almost everyone present turned their gaze toward Ning Bowen's eyes. But regardless of who it was, from the eyes of Sect Master Ning Bowen, they could all see a color of proud openness.
Besides that, Yang Zihan and Ye Xuanji also remained silent. This made Chen Junting beside them realize that this matter had likely already been discussed privately, and they were just waiting for Ning Tian's word.
In Ning Bowen's eyes, Ning Tian and the others were the sect's future. With her here, with Chen Junting and these high-spirited youths here, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would absolutely continue to prosper! Even according to the teachings left by the sect, they would maintain that "apprentice's heart" while surpassing Shrek Academy.
But in Chen Junting's view, they were probably going to be disappointed.
And the facts were exactly as he had predicted.
Ning Tian was momentarily stunned, subconsciously looking at Chen Junting.
But the moment she turned her head back, the stun had vanished, replaced by a slow and firm refusal.
Subsequently, Ning Tian's gaze swept over the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Master and the two Grand Elders, and she said sternly:
"Father, I don't plan to inherit the position of Sect Master."
Her tone carried resolve, yet also a trace of regret.
But thinking carefully, this was equally normal.
Because the education Ning Tian had received from childhood to adulthood, the cultivation in handling affairs, and the concepts her parents instilled in her were all for the sake of inheriting the Sect Master position and leading the sect to greatness.
Becoming the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Master was her dream.
Perhaps this dream was no longer the only one now.
But ultimately, she refused.
For a greater interest! A greater goal!
However, upon hearing Ning Tian's decision, Ning Bowen couldn't help but frown. "Xiao Tian, compared to me, you are young, energetic, and strong. You are also the successor I've meticulously cultivated. Coupled with being one of only two possessors of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, you are the unreserved choice for this Sect Master position." Saying this, he didn't give Ning Tian a chance to refute, but continued, "If you want to say that you're refusing because of inheriting a divine throne, in my opinion, there's no need for that. Didn't you say it yourself? You still have a long time. You can stay in this Sect Master position for twenty or thirty years. When you and Little Chen have a child who inherits your Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, just let him or her take this Sect Master position."
"No, Dad. Listen to me."
Ning Tian hurriedly interrupted Ning Bowen's words. "The matter of divine inheritance isn't as simple as you think. Although in principle it could be as you said, in reality, I have to seize the time to break through."
Hearing this, Chen Junting naturally knew what Ning Tian was thinking.
Some things truly couldn't be stated explicitly.
For example, that their future enemy would be Tang San, the Shrek Seven Devils from ten thousand years ago, and even those two ancestors.
Although Chen Junting previously thought they had ample time, overall, there was absolutely no such thing as twenty or thirty years.
At the very most, it was about a dozen years or so.
Unless within these dozen years, Ning Tian had already successfully become a god.
Therefore, everything had to make way for becoming a god.
"This..."
At this, Ning Bowen fell into a dilemma.
Although his daughter could become a god, perfectly fine, but his successor was gone just like that. If that was the case, then how could the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul be developed and glorified? They couldn't just rely solely on the immortal herbs, could they?
Actually, having this kind of thought was quite normal. After all, one couldn't escape human nature. Humans always wanted more once they had something.
To put it nicely, as the head of a sect, Ning Bowen had to think of danger in times of peace. In the present, he had to plan for his descendants.
He wanted to thoroughly and completely stabilize the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Although immortal herbs like the Beautiful Silk Tulip could turn a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda into a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, it was ultimately an external object. Moreover, its growth cycle was particularly long, only available once every six or seven generations of Sect Masters.
Six or seven generations—there were too many variables.
One careless move and the sect would weaken. If the situation got more serious and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was exposed, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might not necessarily be able to defend it against those with wolfish ambitions.
By then, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda would be severed.
Therefore, it was still more reliable to fix the martial soul within the bloodline.
Or else, should they let Xiao Tian and the others have a child first?
Seemingly noticing the reason for her father's dilemma, Ning Tian's teasing gaze fell upon him. "Dad, did you forget that besides me, you also have the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul? Although it's not quite up to mine, it has definitely reached the level of our ancestor back then. How about you and Mom have another child?"
"Nonsense!" ×2
As soon as Ning Tian's words came out, she was met with reproachful gazes from both of them. The girl had grown up, actually daring to tease her parents.
"How old are your mother and I? When we had you back then, we already decided you would be our last child. If we really had another one, the age gap between you would be over twenty years. At that age, you could be their child!"
But Ning Tian smiled and said:
"Actually, I wouldn't mind."
Hearing this, Ning Bowen and Yang Zihan both gave her a disparaging glance, but then fell into silence, as if thinking. Beside them, Ye Xuanji gently stroked his beard, seeing through their actual concerns.
Were they really worried about having a child at this age?
Of course not.
It was that if they really did have one, how many children would they need to have for that child to successfully inherit the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul? One had to know, at their age, they didn't have that much time.
If it were Xiao Tian and the others, there would be plenty of opportunities.
And so,
...Bowen and the others' concern lies here.
In the silent atmosphere, facing the couple who found it hard to speak, Ye Xuanji conveyed their true inner thoughts to Chen Junting and Ning Tian through sound compression.
So that was how it was.
Chen Junting and Ning Tian almost simultaneously turned their heads, looking at each other.
"Actually, I do have an idea to completely stabilize the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, so it no longer has to rely on the Beautiful Silk Tulip."
As soon as these words came out, it immediately attracted everyone's attention.
Ning Bowen looked excited. "You have a way!?"
"I have an idea."
Regarding this, Chen Junting emphasized once again.
An idea didn't equal a method.
He only had a conjecture, and didn't yet know if it could be put into practice. As for the principle behind this idea, it stemmed from bloodline power. Because although a martial soul was influenced by a person's soul and body, more importantly, it came from the bloodline within the body.
As long as the genes within the bloodline could be stimulated, then as long as the direct descendants of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had an ancestor who possessed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, they would all have a chance at a secondary awakening.
As for how to make it succeed...
The same old method, borrowing the power of formations.
"...How about this idea of mine?"
"Good idea!"
Ning Bowen nodded without a second thought.
Clearly, he had great faith in Chen Junting.
Yang Zihan also snapped back to her senses, murmuring, "I keep feeling like this method is very familiar, as if I've seen it somewhere before."
"It's self-condensing soul rings." ×2
The identical answers blurted out simultaneously from Ning Tian and Ye Xuanji's mouths. And as someone who had personally experienced it, Ning Tian between the two had even more feeling about it.
Because one of the soul skills in her eighth soul ring came from this. However, as a secondary awakening of a martial soul, it would definitely be more complex than the birth of a soul skill.
"This formation wouldn't just work on the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul. It should also work on extreme martial souls. Right?"
Ning Bowen's expression was solemn as he asked Chen Junting.
Chen Junting gave a slight nod. "Theoretically speaking, yes."
Upon receiving this confirmation, not only Ning Bowen, but everyone present who cared about the sect's future was excited.
Thinking back, Shrek Academy also had students with extreme attributes who grew up to become elders. But the descendants they left behind didn't have a single martial soul with extreme attributes. So the same martial soul could be inherited, but the extreme attributes contained within couldn't.
But once Chen Junting truly developed that formation for a bloodline-based secondary awakening of martial souls, what this would mean for the future of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, everyone was very clear in their hearts.
Just think about it—
Ultimate Gold—Seven Kill Sword;
Ultimate Fire—Crimson Flame Dragon King;
Ultimate Ice—Ice Jade Scorpion Empress;
Ultimate Poison—Ten-Headed Jade Phosphor Serpent King...
These extreme martial souls, plus the Six-Winged Angel, Bone Dragon, Rouge Dragon... would all become the sect's absolute foundation.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would forever be great!
Thinking of this, Ning Bowen's eyes focused.
"Little Chen, can it succeed?"
Chen Junting's tone was quite confident. "Wait until I become a god!"
"Good."
Receiving a definite answer, Ning Bowen wasn't anxious anymore this time. He no longer urged Ning Tian to inherit the Sect Master position, but instead thought about focusing on having children with his wife over the next few years.
Have a few more, strengthen the descendants for the benefit of the sect.
When it came to noon, Chen Junting and Ning Tian still remained here, sharing a reunion meal with their elders.
It wasn't until the afternoon that they bid farewell and left.
"Mom and Dad are really something, they're way too anxious."
Being led by the hand, Ning Tian rarely muttered. Chen Junting only smiled and explained on their behalf, "It's also for the sect."
"I know."
Suddenly, Ning Tian stopped in her tracks.
Although he didn't understand why she stopped, when Chen Junting looked at her gently, he saw Ning Tian open her palm, continuously moving it toward the top of her head, aligning her palm with the sun.
Then she grasped, as if pinching the sun in her hand.
"Brother Junting."
"I'm here."
A call, met with a timely response.
The dappled sunlight seemed to fall on Ning Tian's pretty face, but she only stared blankly at the back of her hand, and then a smile suddenly overflowed from the corners of her mouth. "Although my dream was to become the Sect Master and strengthen the sect, looking at it now, the sect has already thoroughly grown strong and doesn't need me to strive for it. So when I decided to lay down the dream and responsibility of being Sect Master, I suddenly felt so light and relaxed!"
Saying this, she spun around abruptly, her gem-like eyes staring straight at Chen Junting. "From now on, let's strive together to become gods, and be a carefree, immortal couple."
This change in mindset caused a flash of spiritual light to appear in Ning Tian's eyes. Something akin to an epiphany made her spiritual power rise another level.
Noticing this, Chen Junting smiled.
"Then for the rest of our lives, never parting, please look after me."
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