After his initial shock, Dugu Bo regained his composure, his tone carrying some displeasure:
"Rongrong, what do you mean by this? Since I, Dugu Bo, have joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, I am a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
"Not to mention that the Qiluo Tulip can evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda, even if it were other herbs, as long as they're useful to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, you can take them all."
What's going on in this kid's head? These children from major sects always overcomplicate things.
I, Dugu Bo, may have a strange temper, but I'm a man of my word.
"Ahem... sorry, Senior Dugu." Ning Rongrong looked apologetic. "The books I've read mention that men die for wealth as birds die for food, and the only reason people don't betray is that the price isn't high enough."
Dugu Bo: "..."
What kind of schemer wrote those books, corrupting young minds? Am I that kind of person?
Ning Rongrong bowed deeply to Dugu Bo in apology.
But inwardly, she sighed in relief.
Just now, she had pushed her perception to its limits.
As her father Ning Fengzhi had said, a person's first reaction often reveals their true nature.
Upon learning the value of the herb garden, Dugu Bo hadn't shown the slightest hint of killing intent—only frustration that the young mistress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was overthinking things.
"Dugu Bo is someone we can trust." Ning Rongrong confirmed this in her heart.
Had Dugu Bo shown even the tiniest trace of killing intent,
Ning Rongrong would have had to consider countermeasures.
This was also why she only mentioned the Qiluo Tulip by name and didn't reveal the other immortal herbs.
Because once revealed, her life might have been in danger.
When Dugu Bo joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Rongrong only taught him how to identify spiritual herbs.
As for the heaven-defying immortal-grade herbs, she only gave vague hints.
How petty of me! Even she thought so.
"The Qiluo Tulip can evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda into the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda?" Dugu Yan's voice broke the tense atmosphere.
"Yes, my Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda feels drawn to that immortal herb." Ning Rongrong nodded. "There's a high chance it can help my spirit break through its limits."
"Does that mean the clan can be renamed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan?" Dugu Yan exclaimed in surprise.
"Well, that's a matter for the future."
"Go absorb the Qiluo Tulip quickly. I'm quite curious to see what the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda looks like." Dugu Bo, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
"Yan'er and I will guard you. Surely you don't still distrust us?"
"Not at all." Ning Rongrong smiled awkwardly. "I was just being slow-witted earlier. I trust Senior Dugu and Sister Yan Yan completely."
Since she had doubted them and then admitted her mistake, she needed to show some humility.
Ning Rongrong approached the Qiluo Tulip.
The Qiluo Tulip emitted a rich fragrance, with intertwining stems and leaves that gave off an overall luxurious impression.
It's such a waste to consume it like this, Ning Rongrong sighed inwardly.
For immortal-grade herbs like this, refining them into medicine would be more effective.
However, with her and Dugu Bo's half-baked alchemy skills—still in the experimental phase—
They were more likely to waste the herb than produce anything useful.
After all, Douluo Continent wasn't a "don't bully the poor youngster" kind of world, and she didn't have an alchemy master to teach her.
Dugu Bo was just an amateur—no, calling him an amateur might be too generous.
First, she analyzed the Qiluo Tulip's medicinal properties, then harvested it using the method described in the original story, absorbing the essence of its stamen. The Qiluo Tulip visibly withered before her eyes.
A refreshing medicinal energy spread throughout her body.
Ning Rongrong sat cross-legged as her spirit, the Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda, materialized and floated around her.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda shimmered with dazzling radiance.
Gradually, both Ning Rongrong's body and the pagoda became enveloped in golden light,
Surrounded by the gentle fragrance of tulips.
"Incredible..." From a short distance away, Dugu Bo's emerald eyes widened in astonishment as he stared fixedly at the three purple soul rings floating around Ning Rongrong.
Though he wasn't entirely certain, he remembered that when he last saw them, Ning Rongrong's three soul rings hadn't been this deep purple—meaning their age had increased.
Ning Rongrong's aura radiated unrestrained, seemingly different from ordinary soul power, yet the pressure she emitted surpassed that of a Soul Elder.
"What's wrong, Grandfather?"
Dugu Yan tugged at Dugu Bo's sleeve, her expression concerned. Dugu Bo looked down at his granddaughter, his lips curling into a bitter smile:
"Yan'er, I need to tell you a truth. Don't be disheartened."
"Huh?"
Dugu Yan's eyes widened, her mouth twitching slightly.
Why would I be disheartened?
But his next words made her freeze.
"Ning Rongrong has already surpassed level 40. Yan'er, we're normal people. Don't compare yourself to freaks—you can't win."
Dugu Yan: "...S-Soul Ancestor?"
This is utterly ridiculous.
"Yes." Dugu Bo said.
Though he didn't understand how her power could increase without absorbing soul rings, the pressure Ning Rongrong emitted was unmistakably that of a Soul Ancestor.
"Once she finishes absorbing the Qiluo Tulip, Rongrong will likely be able to absorb her fourth soul ring."
"Grandfather... is my talent really that poor?" Hearing Dugu Bo's lament, Dugu Yan couldn't help but ask.
"Ah! Don't underestimate yourself. Your talent already surpasses most soul masters on Douluo Continent."
"Many soul masters—especially those with low innate soul power—may never reach level 30 in their lifetime."
"But Rongrong said she has high expectations for my future." Dugu Yan said. "Grandfather, do you think I can break through to Title Douluo?"
Dugu Yan's question left Dugu Bo silent for a long moment, unsure how to respond.
"You can!" Ning Rongrong, who had somehow appeared beside Dugu Yan, held in her palm the fully evolved Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda.
"If you can't even break through to Title Douluo, then we're severely underestimating Senior Dugu's herb garden."
"R-Really?" Dugu Yan feared she had misheard. "Rongrong, you're not lying to me?"
"Of course not. Why would I lie to Sister Yan Yan?" Ning Rongrong smiled gently.
"I've studied Senior Dugu's spirit in detail, combined with the immortal herbs in this garden."
"I'm confident your spirit can undergo mutation—perhaps even evolve into something like Senior Dugu's Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor."
"Even if the evolution isn't perfect, it should still significantly enhance your innate talent."
While Dugu Bo was delighted to hear that Ning Rongrong could help Dugu Yan reach Title Douluo, something else concerned him more.
"Rongrong, your fourth soul ring..."
"Oh, this?" Ning Rongrong pointed to the fourth purple soul ring on her Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda.
"My cultivation method is different from yours. As a Title Douluo, Senior Dugu should have noticed."
"I don't need spirit beasts or spirit bones—I can condense my own soul rings."
"To put it simply, you can think of me as a successor undergoing a god's trial."