Chapter 300: Regret and Revelation
A hundred-thousand-year soul, given away just like that?
After Nan Shuishui called Nan Qiuqiu over and successfully fused the hundred-thousand-year soul, the Sect Master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—who had arrived late, after Xiao Lan killed the God of Death Douluo—found it hard to believe.
His daughter, Ning Tian, had previously informed him about Xiao Qiang and the Soul Palace. As someone whose sect desperately needed high-level soul spirits, Ning Fengyun was well aware of Xiao Qiang's efforts in establishing the Soul Palace. He assumed that whoever assisted Xiao Qiang first during his time of crisis would be rewarded handsomely.
But he never expected that the reward would be something as priceless as a hundred-thousand-year soul.
Ning Fengyun hadn't arrived during the first wave of reinforcements—nor the second. He had his reasons. Beyond the terrifying power of the Holy Spirit Church, he also understood his own sect's limitations.
Although Ning Fengyun possessed excellent auxiliary abilities, the flaw of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was glaring: its users could only cultivate to rank 79. While this made them excellent support for Soul Douluos and even Titled Douluos, the moment they tried to boost someone above rank 97, it became suicidal.
Sure, the boost remained an impressive 80%, but against high-tier enemies, such boosts could lead to deadly backlash. That was why, despite this powerful enhancement, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had become somewhat marginalized.
Shrek, for instance, had a rank 98 powerhouse. If he could enjoy an 80% boost anytime, he would dominate the battlefield. Yet even Shrek didn't bring a Seven Treasures Soul Saint into such life-and-death conflicts—because everyone knew they wouldn't survive the backlash.
Whether it was Xuan Zi or Du Bu Si, neither sought aid from the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Everyone understood—they simply couldn't compete at the top level anymore.
So, when Ning Fengyun considered the risk, he concluded: even if he did act, he wouldn't be rewarded with anything beyond a seventy-thousand-year soul. After all, capturing a 70,000-year soul beast alive was already a feat that required a Titled Douluo, and such a soul—merged at the sixth ring—could raise a person's future potential to Super Douluo.
Letting a Soul Douluo risk death for that return? Worth it. Even if the fighter died, the reward outweighed the loss.
But for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, things were different. Their financial capacity was still strong. They could buy a seventy-thousand-year soul if they truly needed it. The price was steep—seventy million, more than thirty times that of a 20,000-year soul—and even higher for non-Sun Moon Empire buyers, who needed to pay an extra twenty million just to queue up.
Yet despite the cost, they could manage. And because of that, Ning Fengyun never imagined he'd have to risk his life over something he could simply purchase.
What he didn't expect, however, was for Xiao Qiang to give every helper a seventy-thousand-year soul ring. Nan Shuishui—who hadn't played a decisive role—received a hundred-thousand-year soul. That completely shattered Ning Fengyun's expectations.
That was a hundred-thousand-year soul! Something that could fundamentally change a person's fate! Even within the Soul Palace, only Nana—thanks to her exceptional talent and loyalty to Xiao Qiang—had one.
And now Xiao Qiang just gave one away?
If I'd known a hundred-thousand-year soul was on the line, I would've fought to the death! Ning Fengyun cursed bitterly in his heart.
"Is that so?" he muttered aloud, nursing his regret.
Beside him, Ning Tian only sighed, not seeming surprised.
"Tian'er, you don't look surprised."
"Father," Ning Tian said calmly, "the man who supported Xiao Qiang in the beginning was stuck at level 41 seven years ago. He was a nobody, with no hope of ever reaching the five-ring Soul King. But now? When I saw him again, he felt like an eight-ring Soul Douluo. I don't believe he got there without the help of a hundred-thousand-year soul."
Ning Fengyun stood in silence. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. Loneliness and regret clouded his eyes.
Seeing his father's defeated expression, Ning Tian couldn't bring herself to blame him. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Father, this isn't the end. The hundred-thousand-year soul spirit may not be sold publicly, but we can still buy the seventy-thousand-year ring. Besides, it's not just about how powerful a soul is—our martial spirit has its own limitations. Even a hundred-thousand-year soul might not help us overcome the Seven Treasures barrier. We'll follow the normal path. It may cost more now, but we still have time."
Ning Fengyun glanced between his daughter and Nan Qiuqiu—who was still absorbing the red soul ring. The fusion of the hundred-thousand-year soul had pushed Nan Qiuqiu's power to level sixty-six. Her soul ring configuration had changed dramatically: two yellow, two purple, one black… to five black and one red.
Yet, her martial soul remained the Rouge Dragon. The soul hadn't evolved her martial spirit—it had merely boosted her power.
"You're right," he finally said. "The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has always needed something more than a powerful ring. Even a hundred-thousand-year soul might not break our martial spirit's limits. This time…"
He trailed off. The weight of reality silenced him. Deep down, he knew his earlier decision had been wrong. Even if the soul hadn't evolved the martial spirit, it could have given them a rare, top-tier genius. And he had let that chance slip away.
Before he could say more, a nearby voice broke the silence.
Ye Ningguang had awakened.