The zu zong smiled and said, "Xiao Wu, you've become much prettier."
"Really?" Xiao Wu asked doubtfully.
Ning Rongrong's eyes also lit up, and she handed the mirror in her hand to Xiao Wu. "Wow, Xiao Wu, I feel like you've grown up."
Looking at herself in the mirror, Xiao Wu blushed and smiled. She was indeed much prettier, and—that part of her had also gotten a little bigger.
"Where's Zhu Qing?" The zu zong looked at Zhu Zhu Qing.
Zhu Zhu Qing was also very happy. "My soul power broke through to level 30 on the way out of Soto City, but I didn't have time to acquire a soul ring, so I don't know how much it can improve."
The zu zong said, "It's okay. You're the youngest among us. The Narcissus Jade Bone Energy is still accumulating in your body. After you acquire your third soul ring, improving by six or seven levels won't be a problem."
"I also broke through from level 29 to level 30." Ning Rongrong's voice rang out from the side.
zu zong smiled mysteriously and said, "Miss Ning, why don't you summon your martial soul? You might be pleasantly surprised!"
Ning Rongrong was somewhat confused, but she still summoned her martial soul. She held her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her right hand. No, to be precise, it was now the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, with a faint ring of golden light, like tulip petals, emanating from its base.
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine." Under Ning Rongrong's gaze, the clan elder counted on his fingers on her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
"Nine layers, nine colors, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!" Ning Rongrong felt a surge of excitement welling up inside her; even her voice trembled slightly. What did it mean that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had become nine layers? It meant that
it was no longer just the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, but the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the lifelong goal of her father, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Master Ning Fengzhi. And she had actually achieved it.
Ning Rongrong kissed the zu zong forcefully, and under the strange gazes of Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, she said to him,
"zuzong , thank you, thank you so much. My martial soul has become the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and I no longer need to be restricted by the clan's inheritance."
The zu zong touched his cheek, still faintly scented by Ning Rongrong's kiss, the scent of a virgin. "You are Zhuqing's friend, so you are also my friend. You were willing to ask the clan for help for me last time, so you don't owe me anything."
"Friend? I'm very greedy," Ning Rongrong murmured, of course, she didn't say the last part aloud.
Finally, everyone looked at Ye Lingling, who was the kind of person who was taciturn and aloof. If the clan leader didn't ask, she wouldn't speak on her own initiative. The
clan leader walked up to Ye Lingling and asked, "Lingling, what about you?"
Ye Lingling said, "I've leveled up four times, reaching level forty."
To be honest, although she was very happy that she could level up to forty so quickly. The zuzong had even said that the Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma might be able to compensate for the fatal flaw of her Nine-Heart Begonia—only two Nine-Heart Begonia Soul Masters could survive at the same time.
However, she was also afraid; she feared she still hadn't achieved anything. From disappointment to hope, if hope were shattered, it wouldn't just be disappointment anymore, but despair.
Glancing at the zuzong before her, Ye Lingling bit her lower lip and released her Martial Soul.
The Nine-Heart Begonia in her hand had grown from nine petals to ten. In other words, she had broken free of the curse.
Ye Lingling cried, tears streaming down her face, not from heartbreak, but from overwhelming joy.
Everyone fell silent, their gazes fixed on Ye Lingling, a hint of pity in their eyes, even Ning Rongrong, who considered the Nine-Heart Begonia a rival.
From then on, nourished by the immortal herbs, the strength of the clan elder, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and Ning Rongrong had all changed somewhat.
Clan leader, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Emperor, Level 46.
Xiao Wu, Martial Soul: Soft Bone Charming Rabbit, Level 40.
Zhu Zhuqing, Martial Soul: Netherworld Spirit Cat, Level 30.
Ning Rongrong, Martial Soul: Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, Level 30.
Ye Lingling, Martial Soul: Ten Heart Begonia (we'll call her that from now on; feel free to suggest a better name), Level 40.
A moment later, the five walked outside.
Liu Erlong was sitting at the stone table in the courtyard, sipping her tea.
Liu Erlong took a sip of tea, gave the clan leader a meaningful look, and said, "It seems you've all improved quite a bit! Get ready; I'll take you to Sunset Forest to hunt for Soul Rings tomorrow."
The zuzong didn't refuse. Although he could roam freely in Sunset Forest, it wasn't certain he could with Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu by his side. With Liu Erlong, a Soul Saint, by his side, it would be much safer.
"Then I'll leave it to Aunt Erlong," the zuzong said, his lips twitching slightly. This time, he felt truly betrayed. Who was it that, decades ago, impersonated him and cheated on Liu Erlong?
As evening approached, zu zong and Zhu Zhuqing strolled hand in hand through Shrek Academy.
Perhaps it was fate, but just like in the original story, Xiao Wu and Liu Erlong hit it off immediately, becoming inseparable best friends. Zuzong , tired of women's banter, suggested Zhu Zhuqing show him around Shrek Academy, hoping to cultivate their relationship.
As for Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling, they had recently been picked up by their respective sects, presumably eager to share the good news of their martial souls breaking free of their shackles with their families.
"Zhuqing, where's Master?" Zuzong asked Zhu Zhuqing. He clearly remembered how he had tricked Yu Xiaogang into getting pregnant.
Zhu Zhuqing's face paled. She didn't know what to say, because Yu Xiaogang's behavior these past few months had been exactly like that of a pregnant woman—no, a pregnant man. Even coming to Tiandou City, it was Dai Mubai who volunteered to accompany him and hire a carriage.
Even she herself hadn't seen Yu Xiaogang for quite some time.
Zhu Zhuqing tried to be tactful, saying, "Master seems to be unwell these past few months, mostly staying at home."
"Is he sick?" the zu zong feigned ignorance. Inwardly, however, she was secretly laughing; calculating the days, he was already three months pregnant.
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, "He can eat and sleep well, his health is quite good, but he gets tired easily and is always nauseous and gagging—"
Meanwhile, at Shrek Academy, in the residence of a senior teacher.
Yu Xiaogang, under Dai Mubai's careful care, had just finished a hot bath and was quietly half-lying on the bed. Inside the room, Shrek Dean Flander sat upright, his brows furrowed.
Flander said sternly, "Xiaogang, are you still unwilling to tell me the truth?"