Chapter 171: Ning Rongrong's Nine-Colored Glazed Pagoda, and the Snow Empress's Journey
Two months later, Ning Fengzhi summoned Ning Rongrong home. Under Tang Hao's guidance, her cultivation had progressed quickly. She was now rank 35. Her skin, previously moist and flawless like a gemstone, had gradually turned a healthy wheat color from constant exposure to sunlight and the waterfall's spray, giving her a wild sort of beauty.
In the lavish Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, there were rows upon rows of splendid palaces with no end in sight, artificial mountains, curious rocks, man-made lakes, and countless picturesque scenes—truly a sight to behold.
At the sight of her clan's grounds, Ning Rongrong's brows furrowed without her noticing. Based on her memories, the clan always had many precious minerals and crystals used to produce Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagodas, but now their numbers looked far fewer. Even foot traffic in the clan seemed to have sharply decreased.
This was a direct result of Ning Fengzhi emptying the clan's coffers to purchase the Qiluo Tulip. In addition, he'd sold off much of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's core industry. The clan had to feed thousands of people; every month, a large portion of resources was allocated to cultivate soul masters, which amounted to no small expense. Currently, nearly everyone in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was working to rebuild. Many members of the Ning family and clan disciples traveled across the continent, leveraging the treasure-appraising prowess of their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to find valuables, establish new trade networks, and accumulate capital again.
Entering the Main Hall of the Clan, Ning Rongrong found its interior unchanged, with Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo all present.
"Rongrong, come here!"
"Father, Sword Grandpa, Bone Grandpa, did you call me back for something?"
Ning Rongrong jogged to the foot of the steps and asked. Ning Fengzhi took out a pouch—a storage soul tool capable of holding living things—and produced a plant with a bright golden tulip flower at the top. Its roots and leaves below were vine-like, fine and neatly arranged, releasing an intense floral scent. It gave off a grand, luxurious feeling.
"The Qiluo Tulip!"
Ning Rongrong's beautiful eyes lit up in an instant, filled with excitement. This immortal herb was the same one she'd used in her previous life to break through the limits of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in one go, reaching the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and ultimately becoming the Nine-Colored Douluo.
Ning Fengzhi spoke gravely: "Go ahead and absorb this herb. The Qiluo Tulip must not be swallowed. You have to gently inhale the essence of its stamen, slowly drawing its essence into your body. Then, cultivate your soul power, spreading the medicinal energy throughout your limbs and bones. Only that way can the effects of this immortal herb be maximized.
"Child, Sword Uncle and Bone Uncle will stand guard for you."
Sword Douluo's tone was solemn. "Rongrong, this herb cost your father a fortune to buy from Qian Xunji. You must treasure it well, and in the future lead our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to greatness!"
"I will, Sword Grandpa, Father."
A flicker of anger flashed through Ning Rongrong's eyes. It was all the fault of that rapist Qian Xunji—such wickedness. This Qiluo Tulip originally belonged to her and Third Brother in their last life. In this life, the clan had to spend a fortune to buy it – all because of that betrayer, Qianrenchuan. Once Third Brother attained godhood, she would, just like before, work alongside him and their friends to annihilate that evil Spirit Hall!
"Father, is it possible to get more immortal herbs? My classmates still need them, and so does Brother Gu Chen."
Seeing how she mentioned her classmates first and Gu Chen second, Ning Fengzhi—always meticulous—felt his face shift slightly.
"If I can get more, I'll do my best. For now, absorb the Qiluo Tulip."
After inhaling the flower's nectar, Ning Rongrong sat cross-legged. The Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda floating before her glowed with a halo of yellow, yellow, and purple spirit rings, all wreathed in dense golden light. That golden radiance emanated from within Ning Rongrong, accompanied by the thick tulip fragrance. She glowed with a treasure-like aura, akin to a fairy descending. Each wave of the golden light enhanced the brilliance of the Eight Treasure Pagoda, making it look increasingly dazzling, as though it truly might evolve to Nine Treasures.
Observing this, Ning Fengzhi showed no outward happiness. His gaze rested on Ning Rongrong, whose face bore a resemblance to Bibi Dong. He recalled her earlier comment: "My classmates still need the herbs—and so does Brother Gu Chen." That scene reminded him of how Bibi Dong, after just a few months around Yu Xiaogang, had placed Yu Xiaogang ahead of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
If Ning Rongrong's spirit weren't the Eight Treasure Pagoda—or if part of the Qiluo Tulip's medicinal potency wasn't missing—he would've simply changed his mind at her words, consuming the Qiluo Tulip himself and remarrying to produce an heir capable of inheriting the Nine Treasure Pagoda. For now, though, playing it safe and ensuring the Nine Treasure Pagoda manifested in full, he let Ning Rongrong use the tulip instead.
If a similar situation to Bibi Dong's befell Ning Rongrong, then for the clan's long-term survival, sacrificing his daughter would be a small price. For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's foundation, Ning Fengzhi would give up anything, including himself.
When the golden light finally receded, Ning Rongrong's right hand was lifting her Glazed Tile Pagoda. At the base of the Pagoda flickered a faint golden glow shaped like tulip petals. The aura it radiated was no longer eight-colored but nine—the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Ning Rongrong's spirit power had grown by three levels, reaching rank 38.
Had the Qiluo Tulip been at its full potency, her increase would certainly have been more. In her previous life, not only had the Qiluo Tulip helped her Seven Treasure Pagoda evolve to Nine Treasures, it had also raised her by six ranks.
Elsewhere, deep in a forest, the Snow Empress still journeyed north across mountains and streams, heading for the Extreme North. She no longer wore her long white dress, instead donning simple cloth attire.
"How much farther is the Extreme North?"
Supporting herself against a nearby tree, the Snow Empress exhaled lightly. She had lost track of how many mountains she had crossed or rivers she had waded. Whenever she grew dirty, she washed in a stream. If her clothes became too tattered to wear, she would simply use spiritual power to kill a random woman and claim her clothing.
Killing gave her no guilt whatsoever.
She had thought Qian Xunji was wicked enough, but along the way she had encountered countless people even more vile—leering at her body. Some preyed on spirit variants or beast-morph soul masters, capturing and "training" them before selling them to noble auctions as playthings for the nobles' twisted amusements. Snow Empress's distinctive white hair caught their attention, but she simply slew every ill-intentioned foe with her spiritual power.
Yet what truly made her heart grow dark was a kindly-faced old woman who found the Snow Empress in a filthy and disheveled state and took her in warmly, pitying her plight—only to try forcing her to marry her unmarried son in the end! After all these experiences, the Snow Empress concluded that the word "human" equaled something worse than beasts. In comparison, Qian Xunji seemed almost noble by contrast.
From then on, whenever she spotted a human village, she detoured unless she needed clothes. She would rather avoid contact with these beings she deemed worse than animals. When tired, she climbed a tree to rest, far from the ground. As living ice, her skin temperature remained below freezing, and no insect was willing to approach her.
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