Gu Rong solemnly stored the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum into his soul tool. Gu Xuan then produced another brocade box.
However, he was in no hurry to explain which Immortal Herb lay within. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Dugu Bo.
Gu Xuan spoke slowly. "Grandpa Dugu, what I am about to say concerns the deepest secrets of the clan. To me, you are now my grandfather and part of our family, but I still hope you can make a formal stance. Can you promise that no third party will ever know what is said here today?"
As soon as Gu Xuan spoke, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong's eyes lit up. These words were a direct move to tie Dugu Bo firmly to the great ship of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Dugu Bo, on the other hand, didn't sense any hidden schemes in Gu Xuan's words. After all, in his eyes, what kind of complex motives could a child have? To him, this sounded like a gesture of absolute trust that merely required a verbal confirmation. If Gu Xuan didn't trust him, he could have simply remained silent and waited for him to leave before discussing things with Ning Fengzhi.
Dugu Bo nodded with great sincerity and replied. "Rest assured. Yan Yan is already going to be engaged to you; this old man naturally won't let his 'elbow turn outward' against his own family."
Hearing this, Gu Xuan gave a cheeky grin, while Dugu Yan secretly pinched Dugu Bo. Sensing his granddaughter's bashfulness, Dugu Bo couldn't help but sigh inwardly that it was good to be young.
Having received Dugu Bo's affirmative answer, Gu Xuan turned back to Ning Fengzhi. "Uncle, the Immortal Herb in this box is called the Beautiful Silk Tulip. It is elegant and magnificent."
"If consumed, it can absorb the essence of the world and the radiance of the sun and moon. Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is a treasure-type Martial Soul. With the help of this Beautiful Silk Tulip, you can achieve a complementary effect, and it is even possible for your pagoda to undergo an evolution."
Ning Fengzhi, who had still been dwelling on Dugu Bo's previous answer, suddenly snapped to attention. Evolution for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? Did that mean he could break the restriction of seven soul rings?
To Ning Fengzhi, this news was even more exhilarating than Dugu Bo joining the clan. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was named as such because their pagoda only had seven stories. A Soul Master with this Martial Soul could only absorb seven soul rings and remained unable to break through to the Soul Douluo rank for their entire life.
Yet, even with that limitation, the pagoda was considered the number one tool Martial Soul in the world, bringing the clan to its position as one of the Upper Three Sects. This alone proved how terrifying the pagoda truly was.
Now Gu Xuan was saying there was a chance to improve it? Did that mean the clan might finally produce a Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda? This was a miracle that had only occurred once with the clan's first ancestor. Ning Fengzhi had searched for a lead his entire life without success, and now he was hearing it from Gu Xuan's mouth?
With Gu Xuan's own transformation as a precedent, Ning Fengzhi had no reason to doubt him. Gu Xuan had absolutely no reason to deceive him.
Before Ning Fengzhi could finish his celebration, Gu Xuan's voice rang out again. "However, there is a catch. There is only one Beautiful Silk Tulip, which means only one person can consume it. Therefore, Uncle, you need to consider carefully: will you take it yourself, or will you give it to Rongrong?"
Ning Fengzhi quickly calmed down. He was already forty-two years old, and though his soul power had reached Rank 79—the pinnacle for a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—his innate talent was not equal to Ning Rongrong's.
He immediately began to weigh the options. If this herb were guaranteed to evolve the pagoda, where would the benefit be greatest? Ning Fengzhi was talented, but he believed that even after evolution, he might not necessarily reach the Titled Douluo realm.
As an Auxiliary Type Soul Master, cultivation becomes increasingly difficult in the later stages. Reaching Rank 79 at forty-two was due to his talent and the massive resources the clan provided; he even possessed three soul bones, the lowest of which was at the 30,000-year level. Those bones perfectly matched his pagoda, allowing him to reach the limit at his age.
Finding out there was only one tulip made Ning Fengzhi feel somewhat helpless. The possibility of reaching the Titled Douluo realm wasn't zero for him, just uncertain; that was the root of his hesitation.
After much thought, Ning Fengzhi looked at Gu Xuan and asked. "Xiao Xuan, since you understand these Immortal Herbs so well, who do you think should consume this Beautiful Silk Tulip?"
Gu Xuan pondered for a moment before saying. "Give it to Rongrong."
"She is only eleven. Aside from its special effects, this Immortal Herb has the ability to cleanse the marrow and refine the body. Rongrong's innate soul power reached Rank 9; after taking this, she will surely advance further."
With that answer, Ning Fengzhi stopped agonizing. No matter who took it, an evolved pagoda in his direct line meant the family's status would never be shaken.
As Gu Xuan finished, he realized that usually, whenever he appeared, Ning Rongrong would show up immediately. Why wasn't she here? The little girl wasn't clinging to Ning Fengzhi? Even Grandpa Chen Xin was absent. Usually, when they were at the clan, Chen Xin and his own grandfather would be bickering; today, it was strangely quiet.
"By the way, Uncle, where are Rongrong and Grandpa Chen Xin? Why haven't I seen them? Did he take her out?" Gu Xuan asked.
Before Ning Fengzhi could answer, Gu Rong replied with a glowing face. "Rongrong is about to break through to Rank 27 and is currently in closed-door cultivation! Since you left, that girl has been working harder than ever."
Gu Xuan nodded thoughtfully, quite pleased with Ning Rongrong's current behavior. Not only was she not acting like the "little witch" from the original story, but she was also taking the initiative to cultivate. Gu Xuan was quite proud of his "nurturing" skills.
"And Grandpa Chen Xin? If he isn't with Rongrong, the old man wouldn't just go wandering out alone, right?" Gu Xuan asked.
"This time is a double blessing. Rongrong made progress, and Old Sword has gained a new insight," Gu Rong sighed.
Gu Rong glanced at Dugu Bo, his eyes darting back and forth. Gu Xuan noticed his grandfather's hesitation and said directly. "Grandpa Dugu is one of our own now. You can speak freely!"
Gu Rong stopped hiding and said. "Old Sword and I each consumed a 50,000-year-old piece of Whale Glue previously. I broke through ahead of him, and now he has gained insight as well. It's likely that when he finishes this session, he will break through to Rank 97."
Gu Xuan was happy to hear this, but not entirely surprised. When he was studying under Yang Wudi, he had refined some pills for the two elders, though their effects were minimal for Titled Douluos. However, Whale Glue was an excellent treasure, especially for the first time it was consumed. His grandfather, Gu Rong, had been stuck at Rank 95 for nearly ten years, yet broke through to Rank 96 six months after taking it.
Chen Xin had already been at the peak of Rank 96; while the Whale Glue didn't cause an immediate breakthrough, it provided immense benefits. In the original story, Chen Xin eventually reached Rank 97, but only after losing an arm. Now, with his body intact and a breakthrough occurring, Gu Xuan was overjoyed.
After all, he had also prepared an Immortal Herb for Chen Xin. Making further breakthroughs in the future would not be impossible.
(End of Chapter)
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