"Yang'er, what do you think about Teacher absorbing the Eight-petal Celestial Orchid?!" After reading the notes, Ning Fengzhi looked at Xu Yang, who was playfully teasing Ning Rongrong.
"Why not absorb the Qirong Tulip instead?! Although the Eight-petal Celestial Orchid has gentle and mellow medicinal properties, making it easy to absorb and capable of solidifying one's foundation and expelling impurities from the body, it takes a long time to fully benefit from it. It's more suitable for Rongrong, who hasn't fully awakened her martial spirit yet!" Xu Yang expressed his confusion.
Ning Fengzhi had been stuck at level seventy-nine for several years, accumulating enough power but unable to progress further. Although the Eight-petal Celestial Orchid could help evolve a martial spirit, it required too much time and wasn't suitable for him. It would be better for Rongrong, who could potentially evolve her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda within four years, even if she couldn't fully absorb it.
"I just want to reserve the Qirong Tulip for Rongrong! After all, according to your notes, the Eight-petal Celestial Orchid is more about enhancing cultivation aptitude and cannot guarantee a martial spirit evolution," Ning Fengzhi shook his head and explained. "And I have enough accumulation; using the medicinal power of the Eight-petal Celestial Orchid might help me break through the limitations of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and reach the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda. This is merely a precaution."
"Since I've already given the celestial herbs to you, how you handle them is up to you!"
Although Xu Yang didn't fully understand, he respected Ning Fengzhi's choice.
Next came the process of refining. For this, they called in Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. Sword Douluo first refined the Ink Jade Bamboo, taking less than half an hour. Although his soul power didn't increase, the sharpness of his Seven Killing Sword became even stronger, revealing greater potential.
"I feel that with a bit more training, I can reach level ninety-seven!"
Cheng Xin tightly gripped his Seven Killing Sword and spoke softly. The Ink Jade Bamboo didn't increase soul power but enhanced the martial spirit itself—especially its sharpness and resilience—boosting the potential of the soul master.
Cheng Xin had been stuck at level ninety-six for many years without a breakthrough because after his father was killed by Qian Daoliu, he took a wrong path. His mindset had some issues; he believed that soul power was fundamental and lacked absolute confidence in swordsmanship.
Now though his mindset hadn't changed completely, the Ink Jade Bamboo enhanced his potential, giving him a chance for further progress.
"I'll go next!"
Seeing Cheng Xin had finished absorbing his herb, Gu Rong eagerly sat down cross-legged and swallowed the Earth Dragon Golden Melon in two bites. This herb contained dragon energy and had absorbed a trace of dragon energy from the Ice Fire Twin Dragons during its growth.
For Gu Rong, this was a tremendous boost. His martial spirit was already a top-tier 'Bone Dragon' capable of traversing space; absorbing this dragon energy would enhance his martial spirit's quality even if it couldn't evolve. Most importantly, it had effects that could increase soul power.
"Hahaha! Old Sword Master! I'm at level ninety-six now; soon you'll see how powerful I am!"
After absorbing the Earth Dragon Golden Melon, Gu Rong laughed heartily and began to provoke Cheng Xin, who remained expressionless.
Although Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo were close friends, they had also fought against each other their entire lives without yielding to one another. In previous encounters due to their differences in soul power levels and Cheng Xin's Seven Killing Sword, Gu Rong had hardly ever won.
But now things were different; both were at similar levels, and his martial spirit had advanced further. He didn't believe he couldn't defeat Cheng Xin now.
He felt incredibly strong at this moment.
"You can try!"
Cheng Xin looked at Gu Rong with fighting spirit in his eyes as he held his Seven Killing Sword in hand.
"Uncle Sword! Uncle Bone! Let's focus on absorbing our celestial herbs first; you two will have plenty of time to spar afterward. Besides, Rongrong still needs both of you to take care of her!"
Seeing his two uncles ready to clash swords, Ning Fengzhi quickly stepped forward to mediate.
Upon hearing "Rongrong," both elders immediately softened their battle intents and revealed affectionate smiles as they approached Xu Yang with outstretched hands.
"Rongrong! Come here to Grandpa Sword!"
"Old Sword Master! Go away! Rongrong won't pay attention to you!"
"..."
The two elders began bickering in front of Xu Yang.
"No! I want Brother to hold me!"
Ning Rongrong shook her head vigorously and buried her face into Xu Yang's embrace while ignoring her two elders.
Cheng Xin and Gu Rong stood frozen in place as if their souls had left them. They never expected that after accompanying Rongrong for so long, they would still be outdone by a little brat who only occasionally accompanied her.
Xu Yang smiled wryly as he gently patted Ning Rongrong's back and coaxed her: "Rongrong, Brother has things to do; you should spend some time with your two grandpas!"
"Okay then!"
Reluctantly complying with Xu Yang's words, Ning Rongrong stepped out of his embrace but kept glancing back at him as she walked toward her two grandpas.
Xu Yang offered an apologetic smile before slowly moving aside. Ignoring the dirt on the ground, he sat cross-legged directly on it and took out the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower to begin absorbing it.
The absorption process for Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was different from other celestial herbs; he needed to concentrate his soul power to guide its medicinal properties into his body. The process would be quite painful; if he gave up midway, most of its medicinal effects would be lost.
As his soul power enveloped the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and drew its medicinal properties into his body, Xu Yang felt an unprecedented intense heat spread throughout him as if he were being roasted over an open flame. His clothes instantly turned to ash, revealing a physique that was extremely muscular. His skin turned bright red under this intense heat like a boiled lobster.
Not only that but layers of fine black sweat began pouring out from every part of him—his skin, cheeks, even hair were covered in it. With each layer of black sweat expelled, his physique became more streamlined and perfect.
His originally dark hair also changed; under sunlight exposure, it shimmered with a faint dark red hue.
Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi and Madam Ning also swallowed their Eight-petal Celestial Orchid and Shuidian Yujin Bone celestial herbs. A thick white mist began radiating from Ning Fengzhi's body that enveloped him; as he breathed in deeply through his mouth and nose, this white mist flowed into his body.
Madam Ning's absorption of Shuidian Yujin Bone didn't produce much extraordinary effect; her skin became smoother and more supple—like exquisite white jade—making her beauty even more striking.
On another side, after some psychological struggle, Ning Haiyan finally decided to eat this peculiar purple ganoderma for one reason: he trusted that Xu Yang wouldn't harm him.
As he finished consuming the ganoderma and sat cross-legged to refine its medicinal properties with soul power radiating purple light around him, fine black beads of sweat continuously poured out from various parts of his body—filling the entire room with an unusual scent.
Ning Fengzhi refined medicinal properties fastest—not only because of his high cultivation but also because Eight-petal Celestial Orchid was very easy to absorb; most of its medicinal properties would lie dormant within him until gradually merging into himself over time.
(End of Chapter)