The light in the reception room on the top floor of the Nine Treasures Pavilion was bright yet soft, filtered through the surrounding amethyst floor-to-ceiling windows.
Ning Tian had no intention of hiding anything. Sitting on the soft sofa, she affectionately held onto Xu Zihuang's arm. Under the old man's gaze, a hint of shyness appeared in her beautiful eyes, but it was overshadowed by a sense of openness and determination.
There was no blood relation between the old man and Ning Tian. In terms of age, he was even older than Elder Mu, truly a living fossil in the current soul master world.
Due to matters of seniority, Ning Tian referred to him as Great-Grandfather.
His bloodline descended from the Bone Douluo lineage, which had been guarding the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect for generations since ten thousand years.
He had inherited his ancestor's surname.
When he awakened his martial soul in his youth, it underwent a benign mutation, transforming into the Bone Dragon King, a top-tier dragon-type martial soul.
The Bone Dragon martial soul was a broad concept with more specific distinctions. Not all Bone Dragon martial souls were classified as evil martial souls. For instance, Wu Feng's Red Dragon martial soul and the Crimson Dragon martial soul passed down in the Heavenly Dragon Sect were both broadly categorized as Fire Dragon martial souls, meaning dragon-type martial souls with fire attributes.
This ancient Bone Dragon King martial soul, strictly speaking, belonged to the darkness attribute dragon clan. It was on the same level as Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao's Dark Holy Dragon martial soul, though their emphases differed slightly.
Relying on the immense power of his martial soul and his outstanding talent, his soul power cultivation ultimately peaked at level ninety-eight, making him one of the top powerhouses of the era.
His soul power cultivation stopped there, not because his Bone Dragon King martial soul lacked the foundation to break through to the Ultimate Douluo level, but because he lacked that critical opportunity and turning point.
It could be said that the birth of every Ultimate Douluo was accompanied by great fortune.
Dragon God Douluo Mu En was like this, as were Dragon Emperor Douluo Long Xiaoyao and Death God Douluo Ye Xishui.
One of the reasons Elder Mu valued Xu Zihuang so highly was that Xu Zihuang possessed an even more astonishing fortune than they did.
The old man gazed at Ning Tian with a smile, then shifted his attention to Xu Zihuang, chuckling lightly.
"Let me introduce myself first. My surname is Gu. If you're willing to call me Great-Grandfather along with Tian'er, I wouldn't mind."
"Great-Grandfather—" Ning Tian couldn't help but call out with a hint of playful reproach. Even when she was with Xu Zihuang, she rarely showed this side of herself. The old man's words were simply too direct. However, amidst her playful chiding, her peripheral vision unconsciously glanced at Xu Zihuang beside her.
The old man maintained his genial smile, observing Xu Zihuang.
During their earlier exchange of blows between fist and palm, he had already formed an answer in his mind.
With his cultivation, he naturally sensed Xu Zihuang's exact soul power level.
At only fourteen years old, his soul power had reached an astonishing level of fifty-three. Moreover, his soul power was incredibly solid, with a depth of foundation that even left the old man in awe.
Coupled with his twin martial souls, an ultimate martial soul, and the astonishing soul ring configuration of three purple and two black rings, it was enough to prove Xu Zihuang's extraordinary talent.
Later, Xu Zihuang displayed his self-created technique, Sovereign's Descent, which fused physical attacks, ultimate lightning soul power, and mental strength into one, showcasing his world-shaking comprehension.
Xu Zihuang's talent and comprehension were unparalleled in the history of soul masters.
Furthermore, being valued by Elder Mu and taught the Sovereign's Descent technique meant his character and disposition were undoubtedly impeccable.
Finally, through the earlier test, Xu Zihuang's instinctive move to protect Ning Tian filled the old man with immense satisfaction.
Xu Zihuang's talent, comprehension, character, personality, appearance, and demeanor were all top-notch, and his affection and care for Ning Tian did not seem feigned. What more could the old man ask for?
In his heart, he was nothing but pleased with Xu Zihuang.
"To earn the recognition of a Senior is this junior's fortune," Xu Zihuang responded with a gentle smile, neither servile nor overbearing.
How could the old man not understand the meaning behind Xu Zihuang's words? Yet, far from being annoyed, he grew even more appreciative of him.
If it were someone else, they would likely have eagerly changed their address already. After all, it wasn't just a simple title—it represented his support, and even that of the entire Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Not everyone could remain so composed.
However, he did not pursue the topic further, nor did he mention his earlier intention to invite Xu Zihuang to join the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect at all costs. Instead, he took out a lustrous jade box that appeared to be of extraordinary quality from his soul tool.
The jade box was semi-transparent, clearly revealing a piece of whale glue the size of a fist inside.
Yes, whale glue. But unlike the ten-thousand-year whale glue Xu Zihuang had consumed before, this piece was a pure, radiant gold, resembling semi-melted gold and highly alluring. It even shimmered with a golden glow, exceptionally divine.
The old man gave a faint smile.
"This is a piece of whale glue I obtained by chance in my youth, from a whale-type soul beast with over a hundred thousand years of cultivation. Since you call me Senior, I naturally recognize you as a junior. Consider this whale glue a meeting gift."
"Your Sovereign's Descent, inherited from Mu En and improved by you, has become a fusion of physical attacks, soul power energy, and mental strength. While it has grown more powerful, the difficulty of mastering it to perfection has also greatly increased. In the future, you must balance the connection between physical strength, soul power, and mental strength, ensuring no disconnection among the three. As a mental attribute soul master, your mental strength is already at an extremely high level, so that's not a concern. Advancing your soul power cultivation is also not an issue. However, for some time, if you don't continue to fuse soul bones focused on enhancing physical strength, your physical power may lag. This whale glue should help you somewhat."
Xu Zihuang's gaze sharpened.
Some time ago, Elder Mu had told him the same thing.
Although his absorption of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's Golden Dragon bloodline had elevated his physical constitution to a level comparable to an ordinary Soul Douluo, there was still a gap compared to his current mental strength.
As his soul power cultivation was bound to improve in the future, just as Elder Mu and the old man had said, his physical strength would indeed fall behind.
Moreover, he had extremely high standards for the soul bones he would fuse in the future, so this piece of hundred-thousand-year whale glue could indeed alleviate some of the pressure.
"Thank you for your kindness, Senior. This junior won't refuse," Xu Zihuang said candidly, accepting the jade box and storing it in his storage soul tool.
Watching their interaction, Ning Tian, who had come to a realization, felt her emotions settle back into calm.
Xu Zihuang's excellence brought her immense pressure to the point of making her feel somewhat insecure.
Rather than hoping to tie Xu Zihuang down with such methods, she would focus on improving herself.
As the pride of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she believed she was no less than anyone. Moreover, the solid bond she shared with Xu Zihuang was her advantage.
The old man greatly admired Xu Zihuang's candor, and his attitude toward him grew even warmer. Because of his connection with Ning Tian, he truly regarded him as a close junior.
In terms of cultivation, he also shared some highly valuable experiences with Xu Zihuang. After all, both were wielders of top-tier dragon-type martial souls.
The three conversed harmoniously, the atmosphere warm and cordial, until night fell.
After dining at the Nine Treasures Pavilion that evening, the old man personally saw the two off as they left.
During this time, Ning Tian mentioned to the old man that she had agreed with Tang Ya to go to the Star Dou Forest to hunt a soul beast for her fourth soul ring, accompanied by Xu Zihuang and Beibei.
The old man, understanding the situation, stated that he would discreetly follow them to ensure their safety without making them feel constrained.
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