Although Ning Rongrong kept her radiant smile for Xiao Tian, deep down her heart twisted with conflicted feelings.
She had always harbored a fondness for him, a quiet admiration she refused to voice. But now—now he had handed her the immortal herb that changed her fate itself, transforming her martial spirit into the Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda, a miracle her clan believed impossible.
The gratitude swelled beyond her control. That heat had driven her to that impulsive kiss earlier, one she could not take back.
Rongrong sighed inwardly. I… I can't harbor thoughts like these. Xiao Tian already belongs to Xiao Wu. He loves her. Unless Xiao Wu herself didn't mind… The thought made her chest throb painfully. She shook her head, forcing the errant desire back.
Time ticked on.
Five minutes later, the still air shook again. Waves of power surged outward, rolling like shockwaves across the academy's training room. Both Xiao Tian and Rongrong turned sharply—sensing Zhu Zhuqing's breakthrough.
The icy girl's aura swelled explosively. When the light finally dimmed, she opened her eyes slowly. Profound calm coated her expression, but her gaze flashed with restrained satisfaction.
Rongrong ran over impatiently. "Zhuqing, your power… it's even more than mine, isn't it?"
Zhu Zhuqing offered the faintest smile. "I've advanced seven levels. I'm now level 40."
Rongrong froze, then let out a shriek of surprise mixed with faux jealousy. "Seven!? You gained more than me! You're already level 40—that's Soul Elder to Soul Ancestor crossing straight into completion! Aren't you taking things too far?"
But joy filled her words. Perhaps some envy, yes, but her heart was also warmed.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, wasn't done. Quietly, she added, "I gained a special ability too. It's called Night Chaser. When I'm in darkness, moonlight, or shadowed terrain, my strength rises dramatically. My speed, my attack—I become sharper. More importantly, I can sense soul power fluctuations in the field. Even if an enemy is cloaked, invisible, or hiding, I'll feel exactly where they are."
Her voice carried confidence, but her brows also furrowed faintly. "And yet… I sense this isn't all. There's something else in me. Another layer, but I can't quite identify it."
The words pulled Xiao Tian's gaze sharply. His mind worked quickly, piecing together memories of plants and myths, checking the known records of Dark Night Soul-Chasing Grass. Slowly, his eyes lit with realization.
He turned toward her. "Zhuqing. Tell me something honestly. What direction do you want your fourth ring to take? Don't filter your answer. Your heart knows."
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip. Without thinking, the word slipped out. "…Clone."
Ning Rongrong blinked, confused. "Clone? But I thought Xiao Tian said you're best focusing on speed and offense? Isn't a clone soul skill redundant or even weak?"
Zhuqing shook her head slightly, her tone uncertain. "I don't know why. It's just instinct. My skills now already boost speed and minor offense. What I lack… is a decisive strike. Something flexible. Something that overwhelms."
Her words fell into silence.
Then Xiao Tian laughed softly—understanding at last broke across his face.
"Hah. I almost missed it. I thought the Dark Night Grass' specialty was just to amplify your stealth and perception. But I forgot—it has another power: 'soul chasing.'"
Zhu Zhuqing blinked.
Xiao Tian's voice leveled, confident. "The grass enhances everything tied to pursuit—clones included. If I recall correctly, the fourth ring skill from the Ghost Tiger is usually Nether Shadow Clone. But those clones are weak—barely half your strength, hard to maintain, and not very useful in real combat.
He smiled. "But with Night Chaser strengthening you, that weakness might vanish. Your clones won't just be illusions with half power—they'll carry near full strength, last longer, and draw far less energy. Combine that with your invisibility… tell me, who can survive against a pack of unseen assassins?"
Ning Rongrong gasped, covering her mouth. She suddenly envisioned a battlefield with multiple invisible Zhu Zhuqings darting with razor claws from every direction. Her spine prickled. Even if she weren't the target, she felt dread just imagining it.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened slightly, her calm shell cracking. "You mean… my clones could be—strong?"
Xiao Tian's grin only deepened. "Strong enough to kill without mercy. And that's only the start. I suspect your clones may soon evolve into a survival art. If my guess is right, as long as even one clone exists, you cannot die—your identity could shift freely between body and clone, moving like shadows. The enemy would never know who the real one is."
Zhu Zhuqing's pupils trembled. Life-saving skills were rarer than gold. For Xiao Tian to say she might gain one—no assassin would hesitate.
She clenched her fists. "Then… I'll gamble on it."
The resolution shone like steel in her eyes. Even her cool, detached voice carried heat. If it worked, her path as an assassin would rise to the heavens.
Xiao Tian smirked. "Then let's bet, Zhuqing. Trust me—when the time comes, your clone ability won't just confuse the enemy. It will kill them."
For the first time, Zhu Zhuqing let a hint of a smile curl across her lips.
At that moment, power shifted again.
Light enveloped Xiao Wu as the Acacia Heartbroken Red fully sank into her bloodline. Her rabbit ears twitched and her body shimmered with faint red haze.
Her aura surged upward like a tide.
"Brother!" She gasped as her eyes shot open, scarlet light flashing. Starlight danced across her skin as if the herb itself clothed her. "I… I've broken through! I've reached level 40!"
Her voice trembled with sheer joy. "And… and I feel this isn't my limit. When I gain my fourth ring—I might rise even higher. Maybe stronger than ever before!"
The excitement made her throw herself into Xiao Tian's arms again, clinging tightly, her eyes damp with happiness.
Ning Rongrong inhaled sharply. Her lips pressed tight, her heart thumping faster. A mix of admiration, envy, and longing swirled within her. She had kissed him by impulse earlier because of pure emotion. Zhu Zhuqing now gained abilities terrifying enough to create legends. And Xiao Wu—his Xiao Wu—had accepted the continent's greatest herb and claimed a victory unique even among soul beasts.
Though Rongrong smiled, she sighed once more in silence. Ah, Xiao Tian… This must be what it feels like when the heart has no place to anchor. Because no matter how much I want to, I cannot take you from her. Xiao Wu will always be the one closest to your heart.
She told herself this firmly. But in her chest, she knew the embers of affection would not extinguish so easily.
For Zhu Zhuqing, possibilities of a terrifying clone arsenal glittered before her.
For Xiao Wu, her body merged with the Acacia Heartbroken Red, pulling her closer to her true limit.
For Ning Rongrong, her pagoda evolved beyond her sect's history itself.
And as Xiao Tian watched, smiling faintly, he thought to himself—
The day will come when these girls will shine brighter than their original fates ever allowed. That is my promise—to change everything.
--
Loving the story? Read 200+ extra chapters on my Patreon — link's in the description! 🚀
Loved this fic? 🔥 Then you'll absolutely binge my other hits — "Douluo Dalu: The Godly Drunkard System" & "Douluo Dalu: My Harem System is Bugged!" — don't miss out!