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Watching Ye Lan gradually walk away, Ning Rongrong's sharp mind began to spin rapidly.
Ye Lan, who had been walking along and thinking about what to eat for dinner, was suddenly tugged from behind.
He turned around to see Ning Rongrong panting slightly, speaking in broken gasps, "Qingdi, I... I saw you carrying your luggage. You don't... don't have money to buy a soul tool, do you?!"
Ye Lan looked at her exhausted expression and rubbed his forehead. "Take a break first. Why don't you work on your physical conditioning more?"
Ning Rongrong's cheeks flushed red. She had always slacked off when cultivating her soul power—let alone physical training.
But she hadn't forgotten the reason she chased him down. After taking a deep breath and steadying herself, she quickly said, "Qingdi, while you're staying in Soto City, can you teach me how to become a qualified soul master? I don't want to lose to the others at the academy—especially not that sleazy uncle!"
"Oh? Why don't you want to lose to him?" Ye Lan asked in return.
"Because he and I are both support-type soul masters, and his talent is even better than mine. I promised my father I'd lead the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to the top. I refuse to lose to him on the path of support!" Ning Rongrong's pride was clear. Dai Mubai and Tang San were battle-type soul masters—though they annoyed her, they weren't in direct competition.
But that sleazy uncle was also a support-type soul master, and he even looked down on her. Ning Rongrong couldn't tolerate that.
She desperately wanted to grow stronger but didn't want to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
If she went back alone, it would look like she was too afraid to compete with the Shrek Academy students—as if she were running away. That would make her seem like a coward.
Ning Rongrong placed her left hand on her storage bracelet, and with a flash of soul light—
A ring appeared in her hand. Extending her right hand, she held it out in front of Ye Lan. "As long as you teach me for a while, this ring is yours! It's called the Nine-Star Radiant Ring, embedded with nine Glimmer Stones. Each gem contains a ten-cubic-meter space—for a total of ninety cubic meters!"
Ye Lan stared at the dazzling Nine-Star Radiant Ring in her palm, each Glimmer Stone sparkling brightly.
Its storage capacity was more than three times that of Tang San's Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night.
While that one was worth tens of thousands of gold soul coins, the Nine-Star Radiant Ring, despite its compact size, had even more space.
This ring was easily worth at least three million gold soul coins!
Ye Lan had been troubled by luggage for a long time and had long coveted a storage soul tool.
Following his heart, he accepted the ring from Ning Rongrong's palm.
"During this period, meet me at the Great Spirit Arena every day. Don't be late." Looking at the girl bowing so earnestly before him, Ye Lan saw Ning Rongrong in a new light.
He hadn't expected her to pinpoint so accurately what he needed most.
Well then, teaching one person or two makes no difference.
"Hehe!" Ning Rongrong was overjoyed that her plan had succeeded. Now she wouldn't have to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan or listen to that four-eyed owl's instructions.
But the happily smiling Ning Rongrong had no idea she was about to begin a hellish training regimen.
Her future training would be hundreds or even thousands of times tougher than her lazy past efforts.
Seeing her radiant smile, the corner of Ye Lan's mouth curled upward.
He knew Ning Rongrong's personality. If she was serious, then he'd have to put in extra effort too. No matter what, he had to live up to the three-million-gold-soul-coin tuition she'd just paid him.
Bidding farewell to Qingdi, a cheerful Ning Rongrong bounced her way back to Shrek Academy.
Oscar, who was selling sausages in the academy, watched the gleeful Rongrong hopping along and was utterly baffled.
Why? Wasn't she supposed to return to the academy with a face full of grievance and resentment? What happened?
Should I still go through with my plan?
Sensing a gaze, Ning Rongrong looked up and saw the sleazy uncle Oscar staring at her.
Seeing his pervy expression, she snapped, "What are you looking at? Go stare at your giant forest instead!"
Oscar, still seeing her acting like a little witch, was stunned. Ning Rongrong was completely different from the fragile image he had hoped for.
What he didn't know was that Ning Rongrong only acted cold and sharp toward people she didn't accept.
To those she recognized as friends or family, Ning Rongrong could be incredibly affectionate and sweet.
Once she acknowledged someone, she would act like the more vulnerable one in the relationship—always protecting and cherishing the bond.
That was the essence of Ning Rongrong's charm. If she didn't like someone, she made it clear. But once she liked someone, she'd devote herself wholeheartedly.
After brushing off Oscar, Ning Rongrong didn't spare him another glance and walked straight toward the girls' dormitory to find Zhu Zhuqing—
So she could share her joy.
"Zhuqing! Zhuqing!" Ning Rongrong burst through the door and threw herself into Zhu Zhuqing's arms.
Seeing her cheerful face, Zhu Zhuqing knew exactly how lively this girl could be.
"What's the matter, Rongrong?" she asked.
"Here, try this! It's candied hawthorn!" Ning Rongrong pulled one out of her storage bracelet and handed it to her.
Zhu Zhuqing took a tentative bite.
Crunch—a sweet and tangy burst filled her mouth.
"It's delicious!" A rare smile appeared on her usually cold face.
"Hehe, I knew you'd like it. It wasn't easy to get!" Ning Rongrong blushed at the memory of how meekly she had begged Ye Lan for it.
As Zhu Zhuqing chewed the tangy treat, she suddenly recalled the time Ye Lan had fed her all kinds of roasted meat.
Maybe... the teacher would like candied hawthorn too?
Ning Rongrong, sharp as ever, noticed the expression on Zhu Zhuqing's face—it was one she'd seen on her aunt's face before.
"Zhuqing, come on—do you like someone? Are you thinking about him right now?" she teased with a gossipy grin.
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks turned faintly pink. She pinched Ning Rongrong's cheek. "Of course not…"
"But you look just like my aunt when she's missing someone! She said she used to miss a man terribly."
"Come on, tell me! What's he like?" Ning Rongrong's curiosity only grew seeing Zhu Zhuqing's shy expression.
"Him? He's like the sun," Zhu Zhuqing murmured, recalling the time Ye Lan had saved her.
"Wow! Looks like my Zhuqing's totally smitten!" Ning Rongrong giggled—and got her cheeks pinched in retaliation.
"Well, in that case, that stinky tiger's completely out of luck."
Thinking back to what Dai Mubai had said to her that afternoon, Ning Rongrong suddenly felt tears welling up.
Seeing her pitiful expression, Zhu Zhuqing asked gently, "What's wrong? Who bullied you?"
"Dai Mubai… after you left, he said awful things to me," she stammered.
Zhu Zhuqing wiped away her tears. In her eyes, Rongrong was like her younger fourth sister—never hiding anything, always speaking her mind.
"Forget about him. I'll defeat him one day. Then I'll help you get your revenge!" Zhu Zhuqing now had one more reason to beat Dai Mubai.
"Mhm! Luckily, I ran into someone this afternoon. If not for him, I'd probably still be crying outside right now," said Ning Rongrong.
"Who was it?" Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously.
"Qingdi—the one who defeated Tang San and Xiao Wu! Can you believe it? He even made this candied hawthorn himself!" Ning Rongrong blurted out, revealing everything she knew about Ye Lan in one breath.
"Teacher…?" Zhu Zhuqing murmured.
"Qingdi is your teacher?" Ning Rongrong was surprised at first, but then things started to make sense. No wonder Zhu Zhuqing was so strong.
She felt a bit lucky now—like she had found herself a truly capable teacher.
"Mhm!" Just thinking about Ye Lan made Zhu Zhuqing's mind wander.
Ning Rongrong immediately noticed Zhu Zhuqing's odd expression and guessed, "Zhuqing, don't tell me the person you like… is Qingdi?"
"N-No!" Zhu Zhuqing didn't want Ning Rongrong to guess who she truly liked.
"Hehe, I knew it! I really am a genius!" Ning Rongrong was now convinced that Zhu Zhuqing liked Ye Lan. Honestly, it made sense—Ye Lan was so handsome. Of course Zhuqing would like him.
Zhu Zhuqing pinched Ning Rongrong's cheek and threatened, "You better not tell anyone—especially not Teacher!"
"As if I would! But oooh, 'Teacher'~ You sound so affectionate when you call him that!" Ning Rongrong giggled like a mischievous little witch.
Annoyed, Zhu Zhuqing pinned Ning Rongrong over her knee and started smacking her backside. Ning Rongrong yelped in pain between laughs.
Looking at the silly troublemaker, Zhu Zhuqing just couldn't stay angry.
"Okay, okay, stop hitting me!" Ning Rongrong begged. "Come to think of it, I'm kind of your junior now, right?"
"Junior?" Zhu Zhuqing repeated softly. Did Teacher take on another student?
"Half a junior," Ning Rongrong explained. "I did pay quite a bit! Qingdi agreed to teach me for about a month."
Relieved that it was only temporary, Zhu Zhuqing relaxed a little.
"Zhuqing, come with me to the Great Spirit Arena tomorrow. I've already arranged to meet with your teacher—you can see the one you've been missing so much!" Ning Rongrong said with a wink, clearly trying to play matchmaker.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement. She hadn't seen her teacher in a long time.
But after agreeing, she felt a bit embarrassed. She hadn't completed the task her teacher gave her and felt guilty about facing him.
Elsewhere, in the office building of Shrek Academy—
"Flender, have you heard of the rising genius they call Qingdi?" asked a rugged, broad-shouldered man with a wild aura.
"Qingdi?" Flender looked irritated. He had spent the afternoon waiting on Ma Hongjun, who dawdled endlessly while they were supposed to be going to the red-light district.
"He just defeated Tang San and Xiao Wu in a two-versus-one fight today. From what I gathered, he's fifteen and only has twenty-three levels of soul power.
I can't figure out how someone at level twenty-three could beat Tang San and Xiao Wu. Don't forget—they're both level twenty-nine, and Tang San is that person's son." Zhao Wuji winced slightly, recalling the pain that person had caused him.
"Let's just consider this a learning experience for Tang San and Xiao Wu. The guy's already fifteen but only at level twenty-three. No matter how strong his combat talent is, his cultivation potential is nearly tapped out," Flender said after thinking it over. In his mind, Qingdi's soul power was just too low. Dai Mubai was already level thirty-seven, after all.
"You're really not going to recruit him into the academy?" Zhao Wuji admired soul masters with strong combat power.
"He's already fifteen. You know Shrek Academy's rule—students must reach the Soul Elder rank by age fifteen. Even if he fights well, he needs to keep cultivating. Soul power is the true foundation. Bringing him in would damage the academy's reputation. The students wouldn't respect him either," Flender said firmly.
Meanwhile, a tall, shadowy figure sat crouched in the back hills of Shrek Academy, quietly sipping from a jug of wine.
The man silently watched over Tang San. When he saw the boy recovering and entering meditation, his tense heart finally eased.
As expected of my son—so quick to pull himself together.
Little San, the hope of avenging the Spirit Hall lies with you. You mustn't be defeated by a few setbacks!
You are the son of the Clear Sky Douluo.
Upon hearing that Tang San had lost to Qingdi, Tang Hao rushed to check on him.
After confirming that he wasn't physically hurt, he let out a long breath of relief.
But Tang San's discouraged state reminded him of his own years of depression.
Just as Tang Hao was struggling with how to help, he was surprised by how fast his son had already bounced back.
As for Qingdi defeating his son—Tang Hao wasn't bothered.
In the Great Spirit Arena, victories and losses are part of the game. This wasn't like the time Zhao Wuji used his Soul Saint strength to bully Tang San.
Both Qingdi and Tang San were Grandmasters. If Tang San lost, it simply meant his skills weren't enough yet.
But Tang Hao had no doubt about his son's future.
With twin spirits, his natural talent far exceeded his own. When the time was right, he'd personally guide Tang San in cultivation.
Back at home after finishing his roast chicken, Ye Lan sat down to organize his upcoming soul theory paper.
He picked up his pen and titled the opening page: "New Core Competitiveness of Martial Souls."
He then began to write while deep in thought:
1. Innate soul power level is linked to talent. Before awakening it, one must ensure proper physical development. Poor health during childhood can prevent a person from reaching their innate potential.
For example, Wang Hu may have had the potential for innate level-3 soul power, but due to malnutrition, he only awakened with level-1 power.
2. Martial souls are divided into three main categories: Beast-type, Tool-type, and Body-type Martial Souls.
Body-type Martial Souls, which involve parts of the human body, are extremely rare. They are not trash martial souls as often assumed, but rather have exceptionally high growth potential.
3. Martial Soul Quality Tiers
Martial souls are ranked, from highest to lowest, as:
God-level Martial Souls (e.g., Six-Winged Angel)
Transcendent-level Martial Souls (e.g., Golden Crocodile King)
Top-level Martial Souls (e.g., Seven-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda)
High-level Martial Souls (e.g., Four-Eyed Owl)
Ordinary Martial Souls (e.g., Scythe)
4. Martial Soul Attributes
Each martial soul carries one or more elemental attributes, which themselves have three grades: Ordinary, Advanced, and Ultimate. At equal soul-power levels, a higher-grade attribute overcomes a lower-grade one.
Ultimate Attributes are roughly equivalent in power to Transcendent-level martial souls; God-level martial souls may possess multiple Ultimate attributes.
An Ultimate attribute represents the pinnacle of a soul's strength in that element and grants immunity to attacks of the same or disadvantaged attributes—up to a soul-power level of 20 (see point 5).
5. Immunity Limits
No martial soul's immunity attribute protects against attacks above level 20. For example, a Soul King (level 20) with Ultimate Fire cannot block Fire attacks from a Soul Lord (level 30). The same cap applies to Fire-immunity, Ice-immunity, Lightning-immunity, Poison-immunity, etc.
6. Soul Ring Absorption Duration
Contrary to rigid numbers like 423 or 764 years, the absorption period for the first and second soul rings falls within a broad range—approximately 400 and 700 years, respectively. The exact upper limit depends on:
Beast's Soul Power Ferocity: Gentler beasts yield soul rings that can absorb for more years.
Soul Master's Physical Constitution: Stronger bodies can absorb a soul ring for longer.
7. "Fang-Nian" Soul Rings
To absorb a Fang-Nian (tens-of-thousands-of-years) soul ring, one must withstand the beast's soul shock. Only those with at least Soul King–level mental strength may attempt it safely.
8. Cross-Attribute Absorption
As long as attributes don't directly conflict, a martial soul may absorb soul rings of any type.
9. Soul Ring Bottleneck vs. Cultivation
Hitting a soul ring bottleneck doesn't block further soul-power accumulation. However, rising in level not only increases the amount and quality of qi gathered during meditation but may also improve one's martial soul grade and physical constitution. For instance, the total and potency of qi gained by a level-10 soul master meditating is incomparable to that of a Soul Lord, making it virtually impossible for a stagnant level-10 soul master—no matter how many decades of cultivation—to leap to the title of "Douluo."
10. Seventh Soul Ring Skill
Any ability gained from a seventh soul ring becomes part of the martial soul's true form. Therefore, ordinary soul masters are advised to choose gentler beasts for that ring—easier to absorb for longer durations.
11. Origin of Tool-type Martial Souls
Many tool-type martial souls (weapons, implements) did not exist in ancient times. On Douluo Continent, latent "martial-soul factors" settled in minerals; when humans forged those minerals into tools and used them extensively, those tools gradually awakened into tool-type martial souls.
12. Combat System Counters
A generalized "rock-paper-scissors" applies:
Brute-Force (Strong-Attack) > Control
Control > Agile-Attack
Agile-Attack > Brute-Force
Specific counters may vary depending on the martial soul and soul skill.
13. Martial Soul Potential
High or low martial soul quality is not destiny—only soul masters who fail to leverage their own souls are truly "trash." Ye Lan's forthcoming theory corrects many common misconceptions among civilian soul masters—such as rigid soul-ring lifespans and the myth that every body can absorb a ring for a fixed number of years.
He plans to publish the correlation between physical fitness and ring-absorption limits (already known among elite circles), but will withhold the most esoteric details—like the exact formula for Whale Glue enhancement—to maintain his edge. Once his weapon-origin thesis goes public, the continent may erupt in a frenzy of armament forging—at which point he can profit handsomely, having no immediate stake in existing smithies.
Finally, his own tests of Fire-immunity and Poison-immunity confirm that every immunity attribute has an upper bound, underscoring the vital balance between offense, defense, and cultivation potential.
It's not like just saying "fire immunity" makes you completely immune to all fire attacks.
If it were really that overpowered, wouldn't that mean you could walk directly on the surface of the sun?
Or does having fire immunity mean you can resist a god-level fire energy attack?
As for the final point, it directly rebuts Yu Xiaogang's famous saying: "There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters."
Martial Souls inherently vary in quality, but every Martial Soul has its unique strengths. Even something like Blue Silver Grass has the advantage of exceptional vitality.
In truth, Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul wasn't weak—even if he didn't understand the evolutionary path of the Golden Sacred Dragon.
If he had raised Luo Sanpao as a combat pet, Yu Xiaogang could've at least become a competent Grand Soul Master.
Yet he managed to train a sentient Luo Sanpao into a pig that only knew how to fart...
As a result, Luo Sanpao couldn't even defeat a 400-year Mandrake Snake—despite Yu Xiaogang being at level 29.
To put that into soul beast terms, Luo Sanpao was equivalent to a 900-year-old soul beast, and yet he was utterly crushed by a lower-tier opponent.
A weak Martial Soul isn't scary. What's scary is a Soul Master who can't harness the strengths of their Martial Soul.
Even something like a Scythe Martial Soul can shine brilliantly in the agricultural field.
Although these theories aren't as rigorous as scientific ones from the previous world, in the theory-starved world of Douluo Dalu, they're nothing short of revolutionary.
Yu Xiaogang became known as the continent's top theorist just because of his so-called "Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls."
Now, Ye Lan's publication of the "New Core Competencies of Martial Souls" is nothing less than a bombshell for the theoretical community of Douluo Dalu.
It has the potential to greatly expand civilian Soul Masters' understanding of Martial Souls and drive Soul Master development across the continent.
Ye Lan isn't worried about being surpassed. After all, the true core advantage of his Martial Soul is the "Soul Skill Customization" trait.
As long as he continues to walk the path of a life-attribute Soul Master, he'll eventually ascend to the pinnacle of Douluo Dalu.
After finalizing the Martial Soul theory, late into the night, Ye Lan headed to the courtyard to begin his Martial Soul mimicry training.
The next morning, at Soto City's Great Soul Arena:
"Zhuqing, how come your teacher isn't here yet? He didn't just trick me, did he!?" Ning Rongrong pouted as she tugged on Zhu Zhuqing's arm.
"He wouldn't! Teacher is someone who keeps his promises. If he said he'd teach you, then he'll definitely make sure you become a proper Soul Master," Zhu Zhuqing replied, recalling the days when Ye Lan had trained her.
"Rongrong, things might get a bit painful for a while, but if you endure, you'll be reborn like a phoenix," Zhu Zhuqing warned.
"I mentally prepared myself yesterday! Once I finish training, I'll make my father see me in a whole new light!" Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled dreamily as she imagined her father praising her to the skies and appointing her as the next sect leader—unaware of the hellish training Ye Lan had in store.
"Zhuqing?!"
A familiar voice rang out. Zhu Zhuqing turned to look—it was her teacher!
"Teacher!" she called out excitedly, immediately running past Ning Rongrong to greet Ye Lan.
Seeing the joy on Zhu Zhuqing's face, Ye Lan was a little surprised.
He hadn't expected her to be so close to Ning Rongrong. It was obvious that Ning Rongrong had told Zhu Zhuqing about their accidental encounter, eventually realizing that the "Green Emperor" was her teacher.
"Teacher, look at this sword—Dark Night!" Zhu Zhuqing drew a dark purple single-edged sword from her waist.
Ye Lan took the sword, examining it carefully. The blade was three feet long, gleaming with a dim purple light—razor-sharp and deadly.
"It suits you well, Zhuqing." Ye Lan nodded and returned the sword to her.
Just then, Ning Rongrong bounced over to Ye Lan's side, hopping up and down in an attempt to catch his attention.
Ye Lan noticed her from the corner of his eye and said helplessly, "Ning Rongrong, what exactly are you doing?"
"You said you'd teach me, but you're only paying attention to my Zhuqing!" Ning Rongrong pouted, dragging Zhu Zhuqing away from Ye Lan.
Zhu Zhuqing blushed and quickly covered Ning Rongrong's mouth.
"Don't talk nonsense—Teacher was looking at my sword, Dark Night."
Of course, Ye Lan wasn't about to admit that he had been admiring more than just the weapon.
Ning Rongrong pushed Zhu Zhuqing's hand away and the two girls started playfully bickering again.
Ning Rongrong had never imagined that Zhu Zhuqing could act so differently in front of the Green Emperor. This version of Zhu Zhuqing—playful and alive—seemed far more real than her usual cold demeanor.
Watching the two girls mess around, Ye Lan sighed and covered his forehead. Then he separated them and got straight to business with Ning Rongrong.
"Ning Rongrong, tell me—what's your understanding of support-type Soul Masters?" Ye Lan asked.
"Support-type Soul Masters, as the name suggests, are Soul Masters who enhance their teammates. When using soul skills, they need to be mindful of soul power consumption and apply the buffs that best complement their teammates' Martial Souls to reduce their own energy usage," Ning Rongrong answered after a brief moment of thought.
Having grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Rongrong had been immersed in these teachings and held a solid understanding of what a support-type Soul Master should be.
Ye Lan nodded. "Not bad. Now, do you know what makes a support-type Soul Master competitive?"
"Competitive advantage? Is it the ability to boost your teammates' power?"
Ye Lan explained patiently, "That's just a trait of support-type Soul Masters. Their competitive edge comes from comparisons with other types. In one-on-one duels, a support-type Soul Master almost never wins against other types of the same level."
"But in a two-on-two scenario, imagine one team has a support and a power attacker, and the other has two power attackers. If both power attackers are equally strong, and the team with the support still can't win, then the support offers no competitive edge—it's like one plus one is less than two."
"If the teams are evenly matched, then the support is considered competent. But if the support-enhanced team can outperform the double power team, then that support-type Soul Master is excellent. A support like that has true competitive advantage and can't be easily replaced by any other type."
After hearing that, Ning Rongrong's face lit up with joy. "Doesn't that mean I'm already an excellent support-type Soul Master? Just yesterday, Zhuqing and I managed to beat the Ironblood Duo, even though they were a higher level!"
Zhu Zhuqing gave a small nod, backing up Ning Rongrong's claim.
Ye Lan sighed and held his forehead again. "Rongrong, that's only because Zhuqing is too strong. Even without your support, her speed-type Martial Soul naturally counters power-type fighters. She could've drained their soul power on her own."
"Let me put it this way: if you had been swapped into the other team during that match and had to support someone else, could you have beaten Zhuqing?"
Ning Rongrong imagined herself fighting against Zhuqing in her mind. She figured that before she could even release a soul skill, she'd already be eliminated by Zhuqing.
Her mood instantly dropped, and she muttered, "I couldn't…"
Seeing Ning Rongrong so dejected, Ye Lan comforted her, "You don't need to be so discouraged. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul becomes increasingly powerful as your soul skills increase. In the later stages, its amplification effects are exceptional."
A soft, shy smile returned to Ning Rongrong's face. But before she could enjoy it for long, Ye Lan continued,
"However, as you are now, you can't be called an outstanding support-type soul master. In team battles, you might not even get the chance to release more than one or two amplification skills before being focused and eliminated. While protecting a support-type soul master is a key responsibility of the team, as a support, you can't always rely on your teammates to outperform the enemy. So, Ning Rongrong, you must improve your survivability."
He paused, then declared:
"The strongest support-type soul masters either stand on the stage victorious—or are the last ones eliminated!"
"Ning Rongrong, do you want to become that kind of support-type soul master?" Ye Lan continued to coax her, knowing that if he wanted her to be proactive, he couldn't just encourage her gently—he had to light a fire under her.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at her teacher with sparkling eyes.
As expected of Teacher—he even understands support-type soul masters so well!
Ning Rongrong looked like she'd just been injected with adrenaline, nodding rapidly like a pecking chick. "I do! I do! I want to become the strongest support-type soul master!"
Seeing her fired-up state, Ye Lan knew he wouldn't need to nag her daily for training anymore. From now on, just mentioning the phrase "strongest support-type soul master" would be enough to keep her going.
"As long as you follow my instructions and complete the tasks I assign each day, you'll be well on your way to becoming the strongest support-type soul master," Ye Lan said, painting an appealing vision of the future.
He planned to first focus on improving Ning Rongrong's survival skills. Once she could stay on the battlefield longer, he'd teach her tactical awareness.
"Yes, Qingdi!" Ning Rongrong responded enthusiastically, showing genuine interest in training for the first time.
"Just call me Ye Lan from now on," he replied.
"You and Zhu Zhuqing will now participate in a two-on-two soul battle. I want to observe your coordination," Ye Lan instructed.
Upon hearing that she would be performing, Ning Rongrong quickly ran to the registration area to sign up the "Seven Treasure Spirit Cat" team.
Once she was out of earshot, Ye Lan leaned closer to Zhu Zhuqing and whispered in her ear.
His sudden approach made Zhu Zhuqing a little nervous. Then she felt his breath next to her ear as he said, "Zhuqing, when the two-on-two match starts, drag the fight out a little. Just hold off one opponent. Let Ning Rongrong fight alone."
Though Zhu Zhuqing didn't fully understand the reason behind this, she nodded and agreed to Ye Lan's request.
After the match, Ning Rongrong showed no signs of joy from victory. Instead, she looked downcast.
Zhu Zhuqing gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder.
Ye Lan, on the other hand, had already anticipated this outcome—it went exactly according to plan.
Even with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's amplification, Zhu Zhuqing intentionally held back and failed to eliminate the enemy's power-attack tool soul master quickly.
The opposing agility-type soul master, recognizing Ning Rongrong as a renowned Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda user, hesitated at first, not wanting to seriously harm such a well-known support.
But in pursuit of victory, he eventually locked onto her as his target.
Despite a brief struggle, Ning Rongrong was quickly pushed off the stage and eliminated.
Once Zhu Zhuqing saw Ning Rongrong had been knocked out, she stopped holding back. She activated her first soul skill and her "Spirit Cat – Speed Form." In a flash, she overwhelmed the enemy power-type soul master.
The final matchup between the enemy agility-type and Zhu Zhuqing was no contest.
Her speed surpassed his. Her agility surpassed his. Her attacks were stronger.
He was completely suppressed.
The opponent's hundred-year soul skill couldn't even land a hit on her. In the end, he couldn't hold out for more than a few seconds, and the Seven Treasure Spirit Cat duo secured the win.
Although their team had won, Ning Rongrong didn't feel involved at all—it was a complete carry by Zhu Zhuqing.
This battle was essentially Zhu Zhuqing's one-against-two victory.
"Ning Rongrong, do you now understand what a support-type soul master should focus on?" Ye Lan asked.
"I do… I need to survive on the battlefield. Only by staying alive can I continue to help Zhuqing," Ning Rongrong replied, her head lowered in reflection.
Ye Lan nodded. "Good. Even though the amplification power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is strong, it still relies on you continuously supplying soul power. Once your energy runs out—or you're knocked out—the amplification stops. In other words, your presence on the field is essential."
"The longer you stay on the field, the longer your teammates benefit from your support."
"That's why I said the strongest support-type soul master must either be the last one standing—or ensure victory while still on the battlefield."
Ning Rongrong nodded seriously, finally and fully understanding what it would take to become the strongest support-type soul master.
"Next, you'll enter a one-on-one soul battle—alone," Ye Lan announced.
"Ah!? Who do I support?!" Ning Rongrong blinked in confusion.
"Idiot," Ye Lan said, "you support yourself."
"Pfft," Zhu Zhuqing giggled, recalling all the times Ye Lan had called her foolish.
"There's never been a support-type soul master in a one-on-one match, Ye Lan! Do you really want me to go toe-to-toe with a battle soul master?" Ning Rongrong's eyes widened as she looked at Ye Lan in complaint.
"Exactly because no support-type soul master has ever done it, I want you to try," Ye Lan replied.
"Nngh…" Ning Rongrong whimpered pitifully, looking to Zhu Zhuqing for help. Zhu Zhuqing gripped her hands tightly but said nothing—she trusted Ye Lan wouldn't truly put Ning Rongrong in danger.
"Don't worry," Ye Lan said with a devilish grin. "I won't send you to brawl with a battle soul master. If you want to walk away unscathed, you must use every soul skill you have to assist yourself—and then run like mad!"
Ning Rongrong trembled and burrowed into Zhu Zhuqing's arms.
"This is the price of becoming the strongest support-type soul master, Ning Rongrong. You don't want to be the best, do you?" Ye Lan prodded.
"I… I do want it! But—could we do it another way?" Ning Rongrong stammered.
"Nope. This is the only way!" Ye Lan's face was immovable. He knew that if he wavered, she'd backpedal again.
Ning Rongrong had never fought alone before. In her sect, she only needed to sit at the back, call out buffs, and never face close-quarters combat. No one dared get close enough to strike her—so she had practically zero melee experience.
During the Seven Treasure Spirit Cat match, she'd offered no real support: she hadn't run decisively until the enemy was nearly on top of her.
Seeing Ye Lan wouldn't relent, she finally nodded reluctantly. "Fine. I'll do it." She raised a trembling fist to steel herself.
Zhu Zhuqing cheered her on from the side.
Before sending her out, Ye Lan explained the purpose of this exercise so Ning Rongrong wouldn't step onto the stage blind. "Ning Rongrong, I won't demand that you defeat your opponent. But you're not going up to be pummeled. The longer you stay on that battlefield, the more time you'll have to support your teammates in future team matches."
"Run, dodge, and stay alive as long as you can."
"All right. I understand: I'm not there to win, but to train my survival time," Ning Rongrong said, unconcerned by the ten gold-soul-coin entry fee but mortified at the thought of embarrassing herself in front of a crowd.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul was famous—there would be plenty of spectators. If she lost badly, rumors of dozens of consecutive defeats would spread through her sect. She'd be mortified!
Yet, for the dream of becoming the strongest support-type soul master, Ning Rongrong steeled herself. With Zhu Zhuqing's speed-type prowess ahead of her and Ye Lan's clear, targeted instruction, she felt ready.
She didn't realize Ye Lan's past-life gaming experience gave him an unparalleled grasp of support tactics. On Douluo Dalu, a misstep could mean death—unlike in video games, where you respawn and learn from your mistakes.
Moments later, Ning Rongrong took the stage for her one-on-one debut. Spectators crowded in, buzzing with curiosity: a support-type soul master in a solo match was a rarity.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lan sat in the stands, watching closely. Ye Lan's heart pounded in anticipation.
At first, it was brutal. Before Ning Rongrong could amplify herself, the battle soul master's speed outpaced her—and his attacks were even more overwhelming.
Fortunately, Ning Rongrong remembered her mission: she resisted using her first soul skill to boost raw power, saving all her energy for her second skill—amplifying her speed. After activation, her speed edged past her opponent's, but her lack of combat experience betrayed her.
She spent the match darting in circles around the ring—too fearful to dodge up close—while her soul power drained away. Finally, with no energy left, she was struck and fell off the stage.
A chorus of boos rained down from the crowd; spectators clamored for refunds.
In the rest area, Ning Rongrong sat with her head bowed, eyes red and brimming with tears. Zhu Zhuqing held her gently and murmured comforting words.
Ye Lan watched the trembling girl, knowing her thin skin would be bruised by today's poor audience. He offered a rare word of praise: "Ning Rongrong, although you lost, you did wonderfully. You stuck to strategy—using all your soul power on your second skill."
"Really, Ye Lan?" Ning Rongrong wiped at her eyes, surprised.
"Of course," Ye Lan said, patting her shoulder. "This is the first step toward becoming a top soul master."
"Rongrong, don't fear failure! Losing isn't the end—remember, you have me. Tomorrow, the Seven Treasure Spirit Cat duo will sweep the arena, and everyone will see what the Pagoda's true power is!" Zhu Zhuqing soothed, dabbing at her tears.
Ning Rongrong felt the warmth of real friendship, and her tears now flowed freely in relief.
Seeing her spirits lift, Ye Lan skipped the usual post-match debrief. Instead, he took both girls out for lunch.
By afternoon, Ning Rongrong was back to her usual sunny self—the joy bringer Zhu Zhuqing knew. After spending the morning together, the three felt as close as lifelong friends.
Ye Lan now understood Ning Rongrong far more deeply: her unique strengths could easily outweigh minor flaws. To honor the three million gold-soul-coin tuition and to fast-track her mastery, he planned to reveal his trump card.
He led them through a side gate into his rented courtyard—too many prying eyes outside. Only those Ye Lan trusted would see the inside of his home.
Ning Rongrong was unfazed by the luxurious surroundings—after all, the Seven Treasure Pagoda was the wealthiest sect; she'd seen it all. But she did do a double-take at a maid tidying the room.
She nudged Zhu Zhuqing's waist with her elbow and gave her "tell her you know" eyes. Zhu Zhuqing pressed her lips shut, feigning ignorance, though inside she was bubbling.
Ye Lan, oblivious to their silent exchange, said, "This place stays so clean thanks to Xiao Xue."
He reached into the Nine-Star Radiant Ring and pulled out fifty silver-soul coins. "Here's your tip, Xiao Xue."
The maid protested, "Sir, I already receive a monthly salary from the steward." But Ye Lan insisted until she accepted the coins.
Ning Rongrong, sensing the shift, beamed at the maid. "Come on—accept it! Lord Ye Lan isn't short of money!"
Once the maid departed to give them privacy, Ning Rongrong glowed with pride. Zhu Zhuqing pinch-poked her cheeks affectionately, amused by her friend's advance.
Ye Lan poured three cups of tea, then closed his eyes to sense for any eavesdroppers with Blue Silver Grass. Satisfied it was just the three of them, he finally spoke.
"Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong—listen closely. I'm about to teach you the secret of my close-combat strength: my foundational, self-devised soul skill that boosts a soul master's basic attributes."
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in disbelief that Ye Lan would share his personal creation. Zhu Zhuqing, by contrast, felt a pang of guilt—she realized she'd never truly repaid her teacher for his kindness.
"Support-type soul masters have the worst base stats," Ye Lan continued. "Your base speed lags behind battle-type Soul Masters, and your raw strength falls short of agile attackers. That leaves you at a disadvantage against speed or power or even balanced control types."
"Though the Pagoda's amplification effects are strong, no support soul master can rely solely on buffs to beat a battle soul master. Your foundational stats simply aren't high enough—and that's natural. You gain support powers at the expense of raw fighting ability."
Seeing Ning Rongrong's crestfallen expression, Ye Lan offered hope: "Don't be discouraged. The soul skill I'm about to teach you could redefine the support-type Soul Master's role. It won't guarantee you defeat battle soul masters, but it will stop you from being steamrolled. You'll be able to hold your own."
Ning Rongrong's face brightened with anticipation, her eyes sparkling.
She knew that at the Pagoda, direct disciples were paired with battle Soul Masters because support types were so weak.
Meeting their eager gazes, Ye Lan said softly, "I developed this when I was six, training in body techniques. You may never reach my level, but the first stage will work for you both. I call it the 'Soul Power Limit Augmentation Method.'"
At this point, Ye Lan's Soul Power Limit Augmentation was perfected—he could use any proportion of soul power flawlessly. Mastering it required intimate knowledge of every meridian in one's body.
And since each person's meridians are as unique as fingerprints, he wouldn't teach anyone beyond his closest allies.
Although Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong may never perfect the Soul Power Limit Augmentation Method, they can still reach its first stage—the "Willful Mastery" level.
At the Willful Mastery level, you can adjust the proportions of your soul power at will, ensuring maximum efficiency in its use. While this isn't as refined as the Perfect level, it remains extraordinarily powerful.
If Willful Mastery grants 100% utilization efficiency, then the Perfect level achieves around 130%. The gap isn't absurdly huge—while a 30% boost saves considerable soul power, it's not an order-of-magnitude difference.
Another key feature of the Limit Augmentation Method is free manipulation of soul-power flow—crucial for higher-stage breakthroughs. I haven't yet reached those stages myself, so this remains my hypothesis. Once I approach the Soul Lord rank, I will begin to test it.
"'Limit Soul Power Augmentation'?" Zhu Zhuqing asked. "Teacher, how different is this from the 'Martial Soul Adaptation Method'?"
"Zhuqing, what exactly is your 'Martial Soul Adaptation Method'?" Ning Rongrong interjected, puzzled by their private discussion.
"Rongrong, that's a cultivation technique I developed specifically for Beast-type Soul Masters," Zhu Zhuqing explained.
"O-oh…" Ning Rongrong, not being a Beast-type, didn't press further about the Adaptation Method. Instead, she looked to Ye Lan, eager for his explanation of Limit Augmentation.
Unhesitating, Ye Lan replied, "I haven't trained both methods simultaneously, but I suspect they can't stack—because their principles are essentially identical. However, adapting your Martial Soul technique with insights from Limit Augmentation could be very helpful."
He continued, "Limit Augmentation arises from how Soul Masters employ soul power. Without soul power, one's physique is merely average; a Soul Master's true strength comes from using soul power to reinforce the body."
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing nodded in understanding.
"When I first trained my physical arts, I didn't focus solely on raw strength. Though my constitution is indeed exceptional—thanks to Ultimate Vitality and Whale Glue—that alone doesn't explain it."
"My emphasis was on soul-power augmentation efficiency. Ordinary Soul Masters instinctively channel soul power to strengthen the body; Beast-type Soul Masters can use Martial Soul manifestation for the same purpose. Fundamentally, both rely on soul power to reinforce the flesh—Beast-types simply have the Martial Soul skill to assist."
"Why prioritize augmentation efficiency? It's just like soul skills: some have weaker power but higher consumption, while legendary Hundred-Thousand-Year skills boast greater power yet lower cost. Why? Because their soul-power utilization efficiency is far higher."
"Exactly!" Ye Lan said, smiling. Ning Rongrong wiggled her legs excitedly.
"In short, Limit Augmentation exists to boost augmentation efficiency. How do you do it? Simple: push your body to its limits, then apply a small amount of soul power."
"When cells reach their physical maximum, they instinctively absorb every bit of soul power you feed them—forcing efficiency to its peak."
Ning Rongrong's eyes glittered—she could hardly believe Ye Lan had devised this method at age six, when she was playing house.
Her cheeks warmed at the thought.
"So, Teacher," Zhu Zhuqing said, "can I apply this same principle? When channeling soul power for Martial Soul manifestation, could I limit the supply to force my soul to use it more efficiently?"
"Precisely, my student!" Ye Lan replied. "You grasped the key immediately. The Martial Soul Adaptation Method already emphasizes soul-power flow and Martial Soul embodiment. Now that you've made progress, you can apply the Limit Augmentation concept to boost efficiency even further."
"Best of all, Beast-type Soul Masters have a higher augmentation ceiling thanks to their Martial Soul manifestation—a human body can never match a soul beast's physique, except perhaps with weaker beasts."
Zhu Zhuqing beamed at Ye Lan's praise. His approval meant everything to her.
"Ning Rongrong, I've shared my close-combat secret with you now—no slacking this afternoon!" Ye Lan declared.
"I'm not slacking—I'm the hardest worker here!" Ning Rongrong retorted with a grin.
"Good. Then as of this afternoon, you and Zhu Zhuqing will begin training."
"Your first-stage goal: run at full speed using no soul power. When your body reaches its limit, then add 10% soul power—keep at it until you've exhausted your reserves!"
"Zhuqing, you lead Rongrong in the run—don't let her slack off!" Ye Lan reminded.
"I won't!" Ning Rongrong pouted.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded solemnly. She would follow every instruction.
"Zhuqing, continue your Martial Soul Adaptation training now, using just enough soul power to augment your body. That way, you can also demo Limit Augmentation without outrunning Rongrong. If you pull too far ahead, stop forcing your body and let her catch up."
"Ning Rongrong, think back to your one-on-one loss today," Ye Lan urged.
Ning Rongrong pictured the crowd's jeers and nodded firmly.
Watching her resolve, Ye Lan measured her ankle and wrist with his hand. Ning Rongrong froze, glancing at Zhu Zhuqing in surprise: "Y-you… Zhuqing's right there!"
Zhu Zhuqing, watching Ye Lan's touch, felt a tumult of emotions—and relief—when he moved on to her own ankle.
"Train hard," Ye Lan said, "while I go to the smithy to have weighted ankle and wrist bands made for you. I have another match this afternoon. I want you both to finish today's run before I return!"
Only then did Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing realize he was arranging weighted gear—and their tension eased.
"Understood!" Zhu Zhuqing said crisply.
Ye Lan trusted her fully. Their training ground lay on the northern hills outside Soto City. Without weights yet, he instructed them to do mountain sprints—to push their bodies to the limit even faster.
(End of Chapter)