Ning Rongrong had been back in Vast Sea City for several days, and the auction was drawing closer.
Due to the appearance of significant soul tools, Vast Sea City had attracted many Soul Masters, including some Soul Douluo.
After all, soul tools were valuable—useful for oneself or for younger generations.
Especially for support-type Soul Masters, who wouldn't want to both fight and heal?
During this time, Ning Rongrong had been pondering how to convince Ning Fengzhi to hand over Lou Gao.
No matter how you looked at it, a Soul Douluo was far inferior to a Title Douluo.
Ning Rongrong held a high opinion of Lou Gao. If he reached Title Douluo strength, given time, he might create a god-slaying weapon, as seen in later Douluo series.
Better safe than sorry. Who knew if the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would later face off against certain gods from the God Realm?
While the gods were busy reinforcing the Golden Dragon King's seal, it was the perfect time to boost their strength.
"I bet Qian Renxue thinks the same," Ning Rongrong speculated.
Currently, Qian Renxue was either in seclusion at Spirit Hall or in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"I'm still a bit behind Limit Douluo," Ning Rongrong sighed, shaking her head.
In reality, the Peak Realm balanced her strength around level 95.
Her ability to briefly contend with a Limit Douluo was due to her techniques.
To truly match or defeat a Limit Douluo head-on, she'd need to reach the Second Peak Realm.
That would be the second stage of the Four Extremes, which she had briefly entered during her epiphany in the City of Slaughter.
Skill, Power, Qi, Heart.
Her fusion with Tokisaki Kurumi's ring wasn't counted in that state—it was complex and taxing, only a trump card.
"I've decided—I need to reach the Extreme of Heart."
The Extreme of Heart meant a state of no thoughts, no desires—the empty-minded state from her epiphany.
Knock, knock, knock!
A sudden sound pulled Ning Rongrong from her thoughts, her gaze turning to the door.
"Rongrong, is it convenient for me to come in?"
"Big Brother, what's up?" Ning Rongrong's brows furrowed slightly as she glanced outside.
It was already nightfall. What was a lone man doing visiting a woman's room at eleven or twelve at night?
"This afternoon, two people brought items to auction at the auction house, but I couldn't assess their value. The visitors seemed quite extraordinary."
"This…" Ning Rongrong paused.
Ning Yun, aren't you worried I'll undermine you?
As your little sister, I've stayed out of your affairs to avoid misunderstandings.
"Come in. I just finished cultivating, so it's fine."
The door creaked open.
Ning Yun, carrying a storage soul tool, stepped quickly into Ning Rongrong's room.
Ning Rongrong brushed her bangs aside, teasing, "What issue could stump the great manager of our Vast Sea City Nine Treasure Chamber, Ning Yun?"
"Two soul bones," Ning Yun said, unfazed by her tone, plopping down on a nearby chair. "This afternoon, two people brought two soul bones, each over 70,000 years old, for auction."
"At least 70,000-year soul bones?" Ning Rongrong was stunned. "They're not keeping them for themselves but auctioning them?"
This wasn't the Peerless Tang Sect era thousands of years later!
Soul bones were priceless treasures in this era, true gems of blood and rivers.
Sure, Ning Rongrong had encountered many soul bones, but the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the wealthiest sect in the world.
And these were two soul bones over 70,000 years old—not keeping them but selling them?
Even if unusable, they'd be warm to hug while sleeping!
"Uh…"
Hugging them to sleep felt a bit creepy, like clutching an urn.
"What kind of soul bones? Show me."
At Ning Rongrong's request, Ning Yun nodded. His bracelet-shaped soul tool flickered slightly.
Two items, one blue and one white, exuding an artistic aura, appeared on the table.
They lay quietly, emitting faint energy fluctuations.
"These two soul bones are indeed 70,000 years old, but I can't identify their specific attributes or skills."
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had treasure appraisal abilities, but compared to Ning Rongrong's near-game-like identification skill, it was far inferior, only able to roughly judge attribute types.
Since he wasn't confident in his judgment, Ning Yun admitted he couldn't assess them. As a mere Soul King, these soul bones were too high-end for him.
A glint of unusual color flashed in Ning Rongrong's dark brown eyes.
The information about the two soul bones instantly appeared in her mind.
"A 72,000-year Deep Sea Enchantress Right Arm Bone. When used, it transforms the right arm into tentacles, deeply entangling the target, immobilizing them and absorbing their soul power."
Ugh, what a wicked soul beast.
A skill that magical girls would "love," and it absorbs magic too?
What kind of gentleman would sell such a soul bone!
Ning Rongrong dismissed some of the thoughts in her mind and turned to the pale-colored head soul bone.
"A 79,000-year Deep Sea Mirage Demon Skull. Its skill greatly enhances mental control precision and, when active, reduces soul power and mental energy consumption for a time."
"This soul bone…" Ning Rongrong gasped.
It seemed perfect for Ning Fengzhi!
Though it lacked miscellaneous abilities, its mental control and soul power reduction effectively enhanced his multitasking control.
Pry open Ning Fengzhi's head, swap out his Illusion Wisdom Skull for this one?
Ning Rongrong ultimately dismissed the idea.
In truth, with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, a support-type Title Douluo barely consumed soul power or mental energy. It was just icing on the cake, less useful than the Illusion Wisdom Skull.
If Ning Fengzhi didn't need it, she had no use for soul bones either.
Then…
Lou Gao!
Right, crafting soul tools was meticulous work!
Lou Gao, when in work mode, forgot to eat or sleep. This soul bone would be perfect, and a near-80,000-year soul bone could boost his strength.
With that thought, Ning Rongrong reined in her musings.
"Phew—"
Exhaling lightly, Ning Rongrong clasped her hands together and shared the soul bones' ages and skills with Ning Yun.
Silence, a long silence.
"Let's set aside the first soul bone for now—the Deep Sea Mirage Demon Skull," Ning Yun said, tapping the table. "It would have some effect on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"Rongrong, do you need it?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head. "You should know from Father that my cultivation method differs from Soul Masters. I don't need soul bones."
"I recall Father already has a skull bone, right?"
"Yeah, without a skull, he'd be dead," Ning Rongrong nodded cutely.
"I meant a skull soul bone, not an actual skull!"
Black lines crept across Ning Yun's forehead, leaving him speechless.