Tang Hao: "Your ring detonation technique is too crude."
Hearing Tang Hao's assessment, Tang Lan grinned sheepishly.
His method of detonating spirit rings was indeed rough—completely reliant on the destructive nature of the Power of Ruin. Otherwise, even with all his soul power, he wouldn't be able to infuse it into the Thunderflame Clear Sky Hammer.
He pulled out a handful of ten-thousand-year-old Fire Lingzhi and handed them to Tang Hao.
"Father, fire-attribute medicinal herbs can accelerate the cultivation of the Nine Yang Divine Skill."
Tang Hao nodded as he accepted them, feeling deeply gratified.
His son had grown up!
He could now even take care of his old father in return.
Not bad, not bad!
Just as he was basking in happiness—
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Tang San standing up, having finished absorbing the juvenile Nine-Rank Purple Lingzhi.
At once, Tang Hao wiped the smile off his face.
But Tang San, being sharp-eyed, caught the fleeting expression.
His eyes flickered—his father seemed to be in a good mood?
Maybe...
He should go over and see if he could get some benefits?
—After all, he was still Tang Hao's son. No matter how angry his father was, he wouldn't outright disown him, right?
Tang San put on his best smile and approached cheerfully—
"Father, I was wrong before."
"I've already taken in a disciple, and I fully intend to pass down my skills."
"Please don't be mad at me anymore."
Tang Hao let out a cold snort, turned his back, and ignored him completely.
Then, without another word, he flew away.
—If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he might hammer this brat to death!
Tang San's mouth twitched.
He had already come to apologize—couldn't his father be a little more forgiving?
Seeing that he had failed to reap any benefits, Tang San turned to look at Tang Lan, eyes full of grievance.
"Brother, does Father really have to be this mad?"
Oh?
Now you feel wronged?
Tang Lan covered his face, looking exhausted.
But he still reassured him—
"Don't worry, little San. Father is just angry for now. I'll talk to him later."
His tone perfectly embodied the mix of helplessness and indulgence one would have for a selfish younger brother.
Tang San wasn't stupid.
He knew that what he had done had, indeed, wronged his older brother to some extent.
So, he didn't push the subject further.
"Brother, about the Eight Treasure Wishful Soft Armor, how did your talk with the Crown Prince go?"
Tang Lan shook his head regretfully.
"I originally planned to use your eight-thousand-year-old Nine-Rank Purple Lingzhi to trade with Qinghe."
"But now…"
Tang San's face turned green!
If he had known that the juvenile Nine-Rank Purple Lingzhi was meant for this,
he would rather not have absorbed it!
"Then what do we do?" Tang San asked anxiously. "Brother, you must have another way, right? You—"
Suddenly, a thought struck him!
His eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "Brother, you've been handing out so many rare herbs—did you find a herbal treasure trove?"
This guy finally caught on.
Tang Lan glanced at Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong meaningfully.
Then, he said pointedly—
"Little San!"
"All these herbs are treasures Father painstakingly collected over the years."
"Some of them were also acquired through exchanges with Poison Douluo."
"As for some so-called herbal treasure trove—that doesn't exist."
Despite his words—
Who would believe that?
After all—
Tang Lan had just handed Tang Hao a Nine-Rank Purple Lingzhi and a pile of ten-thousand-year Fire Lingzhi.
—If they were truly Tang Hao's own collection, would Tang Lan need to give them to him?
But Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong tacitly chose not to expose anything.
In fact, they even caught the hidden message in Tang Lan's words—
"There's nothing here, and you saw nothing."
Since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Clear Sky Sect shared close ties, and Tang Lan had the backing of Clear Sky Douluo and even the Clear Sky Sect itself,
Ning Fengzhi was naturally happy to cooperate.
He smiled and said, "I've long heard that His Excellency Clear Sky enjoys collecting rare herbs. It seems that today, we are the ones benefiting from it."
Tang San blinked in confusion.
Huh?
Was that really the case?
Tang Lan swiftly changed the subject—
"Little San, how much did your strength improve?"
At this—
Tang San suddenly looked a little dejected.
The Nine-Rank Purple Lingzhi was primarily for nurturing and stabilizing one's foundation, and the one he had was not yet fully matured.
So…
"I only gained one level of soul power," Tang San said helplessly. "Brother, do you have any other—"
"Hahaha—Everyone's Awake!"
Oscar's excited cheer cut off Tang San's question.
"I'm at level 38 now!"
"I've gained a full six levels of soul power!"
"I'm almost catching up to Boss Dai!"
"And I can feel it—"
"I've only absorbed less than one-tenth of the medicinal power of the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid!"
"The rest is still hidden in my body, continuously accelerating my cultivation over the long term!"
"Hahaha—"
Oscar was so overjoyed that he stood with his hands on his hips, laughing up at the sky.
"You're about to be disappointed."
Dai Mubai, draping a coat over his shoulders, spoke slowly—
"I broke through level 39 on the way here."
"I'm now at level 40."
"As for the exact level, I'll need to absorb a soul ring to know."
"But at the very least, I'll be at level 43. This immortal herb is a perfect match for the Nine Yang Divine Skill!"
Oscar, however, wasn't discouraged and continued to grin happily.
"I'm a food-type soul master, and I'm a year younger than you. Being a few levels behind is normal, right?"
"Besides, you've absorbed most of your medicinal power already, while mine will keep providing long-term acceleration!"
"For all we know, I might become a Title Douluo before you!"
Dai Mubai laughed as well, his mood equally light.
Even now, everything still felt like a dream.
It was all too surreal!
The two of them reminisced for a moment.
Then, they noticed that no one was responding.
Scanning the scene—
They saw Ning Rongrong holding up her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, while Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong stared at her martial soul with flushed faces, visibly excited!
Oscar glanced over and vaguely felt that something was off—
"Huh? Nine layers?"
Dai Mubai's eyes widened. "Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?!"
His words acted like a trigger, instantly igniting the entire scene!
"It really evolved?! I thought I was seeing things!" Zhao Wuji scratched his head in astonishment.
"My god! Martial soul evolution!" Shui Yue'er's eyes were filled with envy.
"The Sect Master was right! He really knows how to evolve martial souls!" Shui Bing'er said with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong kept glancing toward Tang Lan.
Even though the Beautiful Silk Tulip had been obtained through a trade—
Could their values really be considered equal?
It wasn't even half-sold, half-gifted—it was a straight-up giveaway at a ridiculous discount!
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!
The inherent flaw of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was now completely resolved in her!
It was hard to even imagine—
What kind of overpowered support effects would a Title Douluo-level Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda have?
"R-Rongrong." Ning Fengzhi's voice trembled. "Uncle Bone has prepared a soul beast for you. Try absorbing a soul ring and see."
Gu Rong raised his hand.
The Bone Prison reappeared, this time containing a Rampaging Earth Bear.
With just one glance, Tang Lan immediately estimated its age—3,400 years.
Ning Rongrong had taken whale gelatin, increasing her limit by 1,200 years.
Adding her natural limit, her extreme soul ring absorption threshold was around 2,900 years.
This extra 500 years was a cautious estimate, considering Tang Lan was present.
But—
Times have changed. That's way too conservative!
"That's a bit low," Tang Lan commented. "Ning Rongrong's physical limit is 4,400 years."
By physical limit, Tang Lan meant—the maximum a body could withstand before being instantly overwhelmed by soul power and exploding.
As long as she didn't die instantly—
Tang Lan could devour with his Life Soul Blue Silver Emperor in his left hand and heal with his Life Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone in his right.
Dying was practically impossible.
"Then we'll have to trouble you, Brother Lan, to personally assist."
Ning Fengzhi smiled and said—
"There's no need for thanks between us."
"From now on, Rongrong is in your hands, Brother Lan."
…That sounded a bit ambiguous!
Did he mean training?
Or did he mean—
Ning Rongrong's face flushed red, and she looked away uncomfortably.
But—she didn't object.
Silence is consent.
Now, this is interesting!
(End of Chapter)