"Give me your Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch. I need to find some herbs to prepare an antidote for Rongrong."
Su Cheng said helplessly, having forgotten to have the Porcupine Douluo finish the antidote before leaving.
Anyway, it would take some time for her to wake up after the paralyzing toxin was neutralized.
Dugu Bo casually tossed over a blue leather pouch, which Su Cheng caught.
This thing was even better than ordinary soul tools; it could store living things inside.
While rummaging through it for the necessary herbs, he casually said, "Don't you want to ask me something?"
"I would like to, but I'm afraid you won't want to tell me."
"Ask whatever you want to know. I'll tell you what I can. Otherwise, keeping it to yourself will hurt our brotherly relationship."
"You're getting more and more disrespectful." Dugu Bo glared at him.
After a moment's thought, he asked, "Who was that young girl just now? How did you two meet?"
"She's from the Spirit Hall. She's the Xue Qinghe you met before, in disguise. As for how we met, I can't tell you that."
"Xue Qinghe was really someone else in disguise?!" Dugu Bo exclaimed in astonishment. "How did you know that?"
"I can't say either."
Dugu Bo didn't seem to care, and then said thoughtfully, "That young girl seems to have a very high status in the Spirit Hall. She even has a subordinate at the Title Douluo level."
Although he didn't know Qian Renxue's identity, her extraordinary age and cultivation level alone made her seem unusual.
At least he had never seen anyone reach the Soul Emperor realm before the age of twenty.
"That's right, she has a very high status. Even Bibi Dong can't do anything about her." Su Cheng nodded. "Please help keep her situation a secret, senior."
There was no harm in revealing it.
Besides, perhaps after Qian Renxue returned to the Spirit Hall, her existence would gradually be exposed, provided that the Heaven Dou Empire didn't become suspicious.
"Since she's gone, keeping it a secret for you is no problem. But judging from your tone, are you planning to join the Spirit Hall in the future?"
Dugu Bo stroked his chin, recalling the conversation between Su Cheng and Qian Renxue.
"I haven't decided yet, but I'll most likely find an opportunity to join."
He had originally planned to tell Dugu Bo about this, so that the other party could be mentally prepared.
Dugu Bo was a lone Title Douluo, and had no enmity with the Spirit Hall. They kept to themselves and had no vested interests, so letting him know in advance wasn't a bad thing.
There were plenty of Soul Masters in the world who wanted to join the Spirit Hall, and even if Su Cheng really had this idea, he wouldn't hold a grudge.
"You've got some skills, kid." Dugu Bo chuckled, sizing up Su Cheng. "So, what are you planning to do
about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?" "I won't do anything detrimental to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. You should know how strong the Spirit Hall's hidden power is. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has any ambitions towards the Spirit Hall, they're just overthinking it; the two are simply not on the same level."
"You actually know something about the Spirit Hall?" Dugu Bo was somewhat surprised.
He did know a little about the Spirit Hall.
As a lone Title Douluo, Dugu Bo had once received an invitation from the Spirit Hall.
However, he was used to his free and easy lifestyle and didn't join.
This caused a rather unpleasant argument with Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan back then, though there wasn't any real grudge.
But through this opportunity, he learned some of the Spirit Hall's strength.
"You've seen my relationship with Xiaoxue, and you know about the Spirit Hall. Is that strange?"
"I still don't understand. If that's the case, why didn't you just go with me to the Spirit Hall?"
"Xiaoxue does have some influence in the Spirit Hall, but she has a huge conflict with Bibi Dong. She can protect herself, but she can't protect me. It would be very dangerous for me to go with her. The situation is very complicated; it can't be explained in a few words."
Seeing that Dugu Bo was about to ask further, Su Cheng said directly, "Senior, I know you're used to freedom and probably don't have any designs on the Spirit Hall. But that's alright. Even if I go to the Spirit Hall, it won't affect our relationship, will it?" "
That's true." Dugu Bo nodded.
Everyone has their own choices.
Precisely because he had given up many resources for freedom over the years, he understood this better than most.
"But I think you're probably going to the Spirit Hall to cause trouble."
Su Cheng's face darkened upon hearing this. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
"I see you're the type who won't do anything without a profit, but you're not interested in power. I don't know what's attracting you, but there must be something you want in the Spirit Hall."
"Heh, you're pretty good at judging people." Su Cheng didn't deny this. "The most important thing in a transaction is fairness. You have to give to receive. If you want something, you have to pay the corresponding price. That's how it is for me, and it should be the same for the Spirit Hall."
Hearing this, Dugu Bo's eyes twitched, secretly sighing at Su Cheng's audacity.
He had only been testing him casually, but he hadn't expected this kid to actually be after the Spirit Hall.
He believed in Su Cheng's talent.
If he continued to cultivate step by step, he might actually run into the Spirit Hall in the future. After all, the combat power of a high-level Title Douluo was overwhelmingly superior to that of an ordinary Title Douluo; one could even take on more than a dozen.
But judging from the other party's attitude, they clearly didn't intend to wait too long.
Su Cheng hadn't expected Dugu Bo to be so imaginative.
He wasn't in a simulation now; he didn't have a mission to destroy the Spirit Hall. He was just bored and had nothing better to do than cause trouble for the Spirit Hall.
Like he'd said before, it was all about mutual exploitation.
He could make some contributions to the Spirit Hall, but only if they gave him what he wanted.
Dugu Bo couldn't help but criticize, "That young girl earlier, it wasn't very nice of you to use her like that. I thought she was very devoted to you."
"Who said I was going to use her?" Su Cheng gave him a strange look. "Forget it, I can't explain it to you. Anyway, the Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School are just transitional for me. I value people, not so-called sect power. Even if the Spirit Hall is strong, it just has more Title Douluos; they won't get in my way in the future. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is the same."
Dugu Bo's expression shifted, and he gave Su Cheng a deep look, saying nothing more, nor mocking his arrogance.
After spending so much time together, he already knew what kind of person Su Cheng was. I have always been straightforward and never hesitated to admit my shortcomings and weaknesses.
But acknowledging one's weakness is also a form of self-confidence.
How many people in the world dare to face their own shortcomings?
I know I am weak now.
I also know I will be strong in the future.
Dugu Bo finally understood what that peculiar quality he had always seen in Su Cheng was.
It was a confidence that the past would eventually pass away and the future would belong to me.
"It's a pity he's a scumbag," he added softly.
Su Cheng's ears twitched, and he frowned.
"Who are you calling a scumbag?"
"Isn't it?" Dugu Bo retorted confidently. "That little girl might not know, but I know how clingy this girl from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is to you, and the other immortal herb was prepared for her, right?"
"That's two different things."
"Being a scumbag isn't a big deal. If you're so capable, you can go after Yan Yan yourself."
"Senior, you're so old, have some shame when you speak. You want me to call you grandpa? That's impossible." Su Cheng poured the prepared antidote into Ning Rongrong's mouth while complaining, "Besides, what I just said is the truth. I have no interest in little girls."
"Yan Yan isn't little."
"I'm talking about Ning Rongrong. And this has nothing to do with size."
"…"
Ning Rongrong woke up not long after taking the medicine. Opening her eyes and seeing Su Cheng, her first reaction was to grab his hand, asking anxiously, "Brother? Are you alright!"
Then she looked around and found that the Title Douluo and the fierce woman from before had disappeared.
Instead, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was standing not far from them.
Su Cheng used his soul power to examine Ning Rongrong's body and said softly, "Fortunately, Senior Dugu arrived in time, and you are alright now. I'm sorry, this time it was my negligence that caused you to encounter such danger."
Ning Rongrong stared blankly at Su Cheng, her memory still stuck on the moment she was paralyzed and fainted by the Porcupine Douluo.
"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
Just now, when she woke up, Su Cheng had already used his soul skill to heal her minor injuries.
"No." Ning Rongrong lowered her head.
Strands of hair fell down, obscuring the expression on her face.
"That's good. I'll take you back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School later. You can rest there for a few days. I also need to apologize to my teacher and the sect leader for not taking good care of you." "
..." Ning Rongrong remained silent for a long time before suddenly speaking, "Brother, do you know that woman?"
Su Cheng was taken aback by her words, and everything that had happened before flashed through his mind.
Thinking about it carefully, his conversation with Qian Renxue was indeed a bit strange, but it was difficult to prove that the two were connected.
He immediately denied it decisively, "I don't know her. But I've been suspecting Xue Qinghe's identity for a while now. I had Senior Dugu send her a letter before, trying to trick her, but I didn't expect her to follow the clues and find me here."
As he spoke, he subtly winked at Dugu Bo.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo cursed inwardly, but aloud he cooperated, saying, "I probably didn't notice and left some clues. My title is Poison, and some of my personal characteristics are indeed a bit too obvious."
"This isn't Senior Dugu's fault; I was too presumptuous."
Listening to their conversation, Ning Rongrong remained silent, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, before finally nodding silently.
Su Cheng didn't know what she was thinking.
However, he didn't care much; as long as he cleared himself of suspicion, that was enough.
What Ning Rongrong thought was irrelevant to him; the key was to give Ning Fengzhi and the others an explanation, as they were now his main backers.
Dugu Bo's Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch was still in his hands.
With a flash of golden light, the magnificent Qiluo Tulip, with a golden tulip growing at its top, appeared in his hand.
"This rare herb is called the Qiluo Tulip. Its properties are perfectly compatible with your martial soul. After consuming it, you can absorb the essence of heaven and earth, the radiance of the sun and moon. This is the main purpose of our trip. There is only one of this flower in the world; it is a treasure of Senior Dugu, specially prepared for you."
Su Cheng handed it to her. "You must be careful not to swallow it whole. You need to gently inhale the stamens to slowly absorb the essence into your body, and then cultivate your soul power to allow the medicinal effects to spread throughout your body."
Ning Rongrong was stunned for a moment before silently taking it, gazing into Su Cheng's eyes.
She opened her mouth and hesitated for a moment, but ultimately said nothing and took it as Su Cheng instructed.
Immediately afterward, she felt the medicinal power flowing rapidly through her body and quickly closed her eyes to regulate her breathing and slowly guide it.
Su Cheng recalled Ning Rongrong's expression and reaction just now, his face calm.
Time passed slowly.
Three hours later, the effects of the immortal herb began to appear.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul spontaneously appeared before her, its seven-colored halo shimmering. Two spirit rings flickered, accentuated by a rich golden light, radiating dazzling brilliance.
The golden light emanated from Ning Rongrong herself, carrying the rich fragrance of tulips. The flowing light made her appear like a fairy descending to earth.
Each time the golden light intensified, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda before Ning Rongrong appeared even more dazzling.
Several more hours passed, and the sky gradually darkened.
"My spirit power level..."
Ning Rongrong's voice rang out. Her eyes widened, staring at Su Cheng in disbelief.
She had suddenly reached the bottleneck of level 30.
Moreover, she clearly felt that this was not yet her limit; after absorbing the third spirit ring, she could continue to increase by three or four levels.
At this moment, the golden light on Ning Rongrong's body had completely subsided, and she held the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her right hand. Below the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, a faint ring of golden light, like tulip petals, shone.
Su Cheng paid no attention to her level change, his eyes fixed on her martial soul.
Noticing his gaze, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Bo also shifted their attention.
"My martial soul seems to have changed." But she hadn't yet clearly sensed where the change had occurred.
"Nine levels, it's actually nine levels..." Dugu Bo's shocked voice rang out.
He had already been extremely surprised when he discovered Ning Rongrong's rapid increase in soul power, but compared to seeing the changes in her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, that increase in soul power was nothing.
"Nine levels..."
Ning Rongrong's gaze sharpened as she stared at her martial soul.
She felt a surge of excitement, and even her voice trembled slightly.
What did it mean for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to become nine levels?
It meant that her martial soul had become the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda of the sect, the goal her father, Ning Fengzhi, had strived to achieve throughout his life.
Her hand holding the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda trembled slightly as she looked at Su Cheng's calm face.
For several months, although they hadn't spent much time together, Su Cheng's occasional guidance had been of great help to her, and he had even prepared medicine for her to improve her foundation.
In Ning Rongrong's heart, she had long regarded him as an extremely important person.
But all of that was far different from what she felt today.
Thinking back to her doubts about him half a day ago, a faint bitterness suddenly welled up in her heart.
Perhaps it was gratitude and emotion, perhaps it was guilt and self-reproach, or perhaps it was some other complex emotion, but an impulse surged into her heart in an instant.
"Brother!"
Ning Rongrong suddenly lunged forward, about to hug Su Cheng, and at the same time, she wanted to kiss his face.
Su Cheng moved his upper body slightly, and reached out his right hand to place on her shoulder, stopping her movement, and said calmly, "What are you doing?"
Previously, facing Qian Renxue's surprise attack, he was insufficiently strong and suppressed by a Title Douluo, so it was understandable that he couldn't retaliate in time.
But if Ning Rongrong, with her limited cultivation, thought she could launch a sneak attack, then she was clearly underestimating him.
Not far away, Dugu Bo was speechless with astonishment.
It wasn't because of Ning Rongrong's impulsive actions,
but because the transformation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was truly unbelievable to him.
As a top-tier support-type martial soul, the biggest flaw of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda was that it could only be equipped with seven rings.
Now that it had become a nine-story pagoda, the implications were crystal clear.
....
You can get the fully completed English PDF of the fanfiction you're currently reading on my Patreon shop, along with many other books available there.
On the request of some brothers, I've also listed adult-rated BTTH & Douluo novels and pure smut fanfics. Feel free to check them out below and see if any match your taste. Your support means a lot!
Here are titles of uploaded BTTH & Douluo adult fanfics on Patreon:
" BTTH: A Male Succubus Appeared (18+) "
" Douluo: The White Tiger Dominates the World "
" BTTH: Stealing the Beauty of the Six Realms (18+) "
" Douluo: Self-Struggle "
" BTTH: The Legend of the Alluring Empress (18+) "
" Douluo: Tianshui Academy Teacher, After-Class Tutoring (18+) "
" Douluo: The Heavenly Rankings Descend—My Identity Can't Stay Hidden! (18+) "
" Douluo: Transmigrated into the Azure Bull Python, Many Children, Many Blessings! (18+) "
" Douluo: Invincible from the Spirit Hall (18+) "
" In Douluo, Good at Clinging to Powerful Thighs "
" In Douluo, Triggering Treasure Chests "
" Douluo: Second Young Master of the Spirit Hall, Becoming a God Through Reading "
" Douluo: Qian Xunji's Happy Life "
" Douluo: I Take the Benefits, You Bear the Side Effects "
" Douluo: Never Short of Money! "
" BTTH: Han Feng's Revenge (18+) "
" Douluo: Angel Goddess Qian Renxue — The Crown Prince Slowly Drained (18+) "
" BTTH: Desire Sect (18+) "
" Douluo: After Being Resurrected, Ah Yin was Brutally R@ped (18+) "
" BTTH: Endless Fall (18+) "
" BTTH: Starting with Yunlan (18+) "
" BTTH: The Lewd Mission (18+) " Full NTR, Beastiality, Rape "
" BTTH: Xiao Lin's Lewdness of Many Women (18+) " Full Incest, Mother Son Sex "
" BTTH: The Aftermath of Corruption of Black Characters (18+) " Rape and NTR "
" BTTH: I, Yao Chen, Will Steal My Disciple's Wife (18+) Full of Rape and Xiao Yan NTR "
~ Douluo and BTTH Complete Collection (18+) "
~ Douluo: Tang Wulins Harem Journey (18+) ~
~ Douluo Hypnosis: Fall of Gu Yuena (18+) ~
~ Douluo: The Demon Passport (18+) ~
~ Douluo: Soul Control (18+) ~
~ Douluo: Dragon Soul Desires (18+) ~
" BTTH: Adult Continent (18+) "
" BTTH: Rampage of the Lust Sect (18+) "
" Green Light Douluo (18+) Completed Edition "
" Douluo: Twin Lustful Souls (18+)"
" Douluo: Lust Evoulution (18+) "
" Douluo: The Game (18+) "
" Douluo: Tsundere Empress Qian Renxue's Cultivation Plan (18+) "
" Douluo: Hypnotic Martial Soul (18+) "
" The Fall of Douluo's Beauties (18+) "
" Douluo Continent: Pure Flesh Cultivation (18+) "
" Douluo: Journey of Collecting Sex Slaves (18+) "
" Douluo 2: Silkworm Lust (18+) "
" Douluo: Super Slave System (18+) "
" Douluo: Tang San Forbidden Harem (18+) "
many more up to 260+ are available.
Your support means a lot—thanks in advance, legends!
Patreon.com/UIGOD
(End of Chapter)