Chapter 3 Everything is Ready
The next morning, the sun rose slowly.
The first rays of dawn bathed the earth.
However, for those who were deep in their dreams, the light that should have been warm and peaceful was now so dazzling and unbearable.
The boy who lay unconscious in the ruins all night was one of them.
"Yawn... It's dawn."
Ning Huan slowly opened his sleepy eyes, which constantly revealed his fatigue and drowsiness.
His disheveled clothes were completely soaked by the morning dew and clung tightly to his body.
The sticky sensation was extremely uncomfortable, but the pain emanating from all parts of his body made him want to continue lying flat and unwilling to move an inch.
There was no other way; although his soul power and spiritual power had been fully restored, and he even showed signs of a breakthrough.
However, the memories of being tormented by the Seven Kill Sword Qi for tens of minutes before falling into a coma still haunted his subconscious.
The pain in his body also made him completely lose his motivation.
"This is the first time I've suffered so much from contracting a Spirit, but thankfully the results are gratifying!"
As he spoke, Ning Huan calmed his mind and carefully sensed the Seven Kill Sword Imprint etched in his spiritual sea.
Then a slight smile appeared on his lips, making him look very happy.
"Now that Sword Douluo is vouching for us, no one will dare to bring up the words 'concealing talent' during this sect assessment!"
"As for more resources and attention..."
"There are gains and losses. It's always better to have someone teach you than to hide on the border and reinvent the wheel."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Huan could no longer bear the unbearable feeling of his clothes being damp.
He then forced himself to lift his left arm despite the pain and controlled his slightly trembling fingers to form a Dao seal.
"The rainbow's radiance shines again, nourishing my body!"
With a soft sigh, a Spirit deer with seven-colored light shimmering around its body leaped out from the void.
Upon closer inspection, even though the Spirit was illusory, its posture remained as noble and beautiful as a sculpture.
"Yo~"
The Spirit deer landed lightly beside Ning Huan, its unique cry carrying a hint of anxiety.
In an instant, a rainbow-like seven-colored glow suddenly burst forth.
Transforming into rainbow-colored particles, they floated in mid-air, dazzling and colorful under the rising sun.
A moment later, just as the seven-colored deer's Spirit was becoming illusory and about to dissipate, the particles finally filled the space within a three-meter radius.
Finally, countless particles converged into a torrent.
It all rushed into Ning Huan's body, rapidly healing his aching limbs.
"Yo~"
Having done all this, the seven-colored Spirit deer finally put aside its worries and let out a joyful cry once more.
Then it lowered its head and gently nuzzled its owner's shoulder.
"Hmm, so good."
Ning Huan smiled and patted the deer's head, his opinion of Jinbao rising even higher.
It should be noted that most of the Spirits he could contract with were found with its help.
Antlers from the Seven-Colored Deer, potent poison extracted from the stinger of the Human-Faced Demon Spider, and the mane of the Hundred-Year-Old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear...
Such rare materials, which are difficult for ordinary people to identify, all owe a debt to it.
With this in mind, Ning Huan made up his mind that he must not reveal its existence under any circumstances.
This is because the Treasure-Hunting Mouse is exceptionally gifted and renowned.
Its bloodline abilities are enough to attract royalty, nobility, and powerful sects.
After being hunted for thousands of years, they are now completely extinct.
If outsiders were to learn that the Treasure-Hunting Rat still exists on the mainland, it would be a disaster he could not handle.
"I really don't know how strong Jinbao's talent will be when he becomes a 100,000-year-old Spirit."
"It could probably dig up a golden tree..."
The sudden fantasy made Ning Huan shake his head and chuckle.
However, he had a strong premonition deep down.
Who knows, my beloved golden retriever might just give me a huge surprise someday.
...
Tianluo City is located right next to the border between the Heavenly Soul Empire and the Star Luo Empire.
However, because it is located on the grassland, with a wide field of vision and no natural defenses within a hundred miles, it is easy to attack but difficult to defend.
Furthermore, with the Sun Moon Empire eyeing them from the other side, the Star Luo Empire would not risk the wrath of the world by launching a campaign against them.
Therefore, the Heavenly Soul Royal Family has never regarded it as a strategic location for thousands of years.
Even though there are many merchants coming and going, most of them only regard it as a temporary resting place.
As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect establishing businesses here, they also did not have the intention of making money.
It's simply to ensure that intelligence flows in a timely manner, so as not to be blind.
However, due to the threat from the Sun and Moon Empire, the three empires had no choice but to work together.
This has resulted in a stable situation on the mainland with few conflicts.
Therefore, over the centuries, very little useful intelligence has been transmitted from Tianluo City.
If the information in the sect's register were not constantly recorded and updated.
Otherwise, the sect disciples stationed here would be no different from those exiled to Ningguta.
This shows just how transparent Ning Huan was, whose martial spirit was initially deemed 'useless'.
However, sects that can be reborn from destruction and continue to stand on the continent for thousands of years must have their own unique way of survival.
Especially the story of a loser turning the tables, although it happens very rarely in thousands of years, it will eventually happen unexpectedly.
Therefore, having learned from past mistakes, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect organizes a Soul Battle every few years.
While assessing the progress of the headquarters disciples, they also took the opportunity to screen the disciples who were sent out due to insufficient innate soul power when their martial spirits awakened.
Wasting money is certainly a pity.
But once the great waves sift through the sand and gold emerges, that will be the sect's greatest gain.
After all, sometimes it's a good choice between mountains of gold and silver treasures and Soul Masters who can become the backbone of the sect in the future.
Especially in special sects like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, where direct disciples serve as auxiliary martial spirits.
...
"What?! You, with your 'useless' martial spirit, still want to go back to the sect to participate in the Soul Battle! And you're asking me for a car and money?!"
"Are you kidding me!"
A roar, a mixture of shock, anger, and disdain, echoed through the building, drawing the attention of passersby who stopped and stared at it.
Upon discovering that the source was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's headquarters, they quickly withdrew their gaze and hurriedly left the spot.
Even a starved camel is bigger than a horse.
Even though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has lost its former glory, it is still a powerful force with one Super Douluo and two Title Douluos.
They are not people from small, insignificant families who can afford to offend them.
Meanwhile, in a spacious room in the attic of the camp, a short, shifty-looking middle-aged man was glaring angrily, his words full of sarcasm.
"I may not know what the others are like, but you, hmph, with a mere 'useless' martial spirit, what right do you have to return to the sect… for the… competition."
Suddenly, the deacon seemed to have seen a demon, and his voice grew softer and softer.
The initial disdain in his tone was instantly replaced by panic.
"Go on, what's wrong with my useless martial spirit?"
Ning Huan sat leisurely on the sofa, his hands forming a Dao finger, legs crossed, with four spirit rings of yellow and purple pulsating beside him.
On the other hand, the deacon dared not move, fearing that the ferocious-looking human-faced spider might accidentally scratch him with its legs.
"Well? Am I, a mere twelve-year-old Soul Sect disciple, qualified to return to the sect, Deacon Ning Zhen?"
Glug...
The middle-aged deacon swallowed hard, then nodded frantically and cautiously.
"Yes, yes, yes! My little ancestor, you are a magnanimous person, please stop your supernatural powers! I... I have a congenital heart condition and can't take a fright."
"Hmph, considering you haven't made things difficult for me in the past six years, I'll let it go this time."
"Remember to prepare the carriage and travel expenses for me; it'll be a favor to you."
After saying that, Ning Huan withdrew his Spirit body and soul ring, and leisurely walked out of the room, leaving the steward slumped on the spot, drenched in sweat.
[end of the chapter ]