Chapter 25: A Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Vice—The Gambler!

"Based on my first successful use of this soul skill yesterday, I infer that I can currently use it twice a week. Exceeding this frequency might cause fundamental damage to my body, and it is best to rest for two days before using it a second time.

"Furthermore, before reaching the three-ring level, I can barely maintain clear thought after detonating my first soul ring. Without timely feedback, many things are impossible to deduce."

Ning Wuque’s final words naturally referred to the peculiar soul ring that had appeared at the time. According to his theoretical predictions, he would be able to clear the first 'gate' without injury upon reaching the three-ring level, and by extension, the second gate at four rings, and the third at five rings.

However, whether the fourth soul ring could be detonated without injury remained an unknown variable. Much like the Eight Inner Gates, there is both a safe range and a dangerous range for ring detonation. In Ning Wuque’s projections, the fourth soul ring and beyond fell into the dangerous category.

Of course, these were merely theoretical predictions; the actual situation would depend on the quality of his future soul rings. In reality, if Ning Wuque’s first soul ring had only been around a hundred years in age, given his current physical fitness, he could have remained combat-ready even after the soul power granted by the detonation was exhausted, though he would have had to sacrifice a portion of the enhancements.

But he was a pioneer. A pioneer is destined not to settle for the second best; once one takes a step back, the possibility of moving forward again becomes minuscule.

He had only just crossed the threshold of this self-created soul skill, and there were many more functions waiting to be unearthed and developed. For instance, Ning Wuque was currently planning two directions for expansion:

First, the possibility of using ring detonation to promote soul power level growth.
Second, the possibility of gathering all the soul power within his body at once to unleash an "ultimate move."

Fortunately, Ning Tian had brought him support worth a full ten million gold soul coins. These funds were enough for him to purchase many things to advance his physical conditioning, shortening effective training time and leaving more room to delve into these developments.

It could be said that women might affect your drawing speed, but a wealthy woman will not; she will only pay for you to customize a blade tailored specifically to you.

"Truly... a genius! Wuque, may I entrust you with a task?"

After listening to Ning Wuque’s explanation, Ning Tian only sighed in admiration and said nothing more, as these matters were far beyond her reach. Meanwhile, the personal guards arranged by her father would record everything, so there was no need for her to waste effort memorizing it. It would be better to take this time to discuss something with Ning Wuque.

She turned her head slightly to look at Wufeng, who had suddenly lowered her head. Ning Wuque saw it all. He didn't even need to think to know that Ning Tian was speaking on Wufeng's behalf, but since she was his benefactor, he nodded and replied:

"Speak. I will do my best."

"Well, I want you to take Wind Sister along for your training. Of course, all her expenses will be covered by her father, Wu Yan."

With that, Ning Tian reached out and took both Ning Wuque’s and Wufeng’s hands, pressing them together. The truth of the matter was simple: a certain middle-aged man had seen how capable Ning Wuque was and intended for his own lazy daughter to learn from him. After all, a hundred-year second ring was simply too mediocre.

She needed to build up her physical fitness now so that she could go straight for a thousand-year second ring! As for who to train with? Ning Wuque could now confidently say he was the number one physical training master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

You ask if the cabbage might be stolen by a pig? Unless Ning Wuque could win over Ning Tian, that was impossible. Wu Yan’s stance was: given Ning Wuque’s current situation, if he could woo Ning Tian, he would be a hero (thumbs up), but if Ning Fengxiao agreed to it, he would be the one to give him a thumbs down!

"Train, just train with him!"

"Is that so? Hey, little red dragon, what do you mean by this?"

"What do you mean 'what do I mean'?" Wufeng asked, her face flushing red. Being forced to train with her old nemesis of nearly three years—her father was really making things difficult for her! It was no better than a weasel wishing a chicken a Happy New Year—it was a disaster!

"I mean, can you keep up? My training is very arduous and strict. If you can't keep up, don't say you learned it from me; I can't afford to lose face like that."

Having said that, Ning Wuque looked at Wufeng with a hint of disdain. There was no other reason; whenever the two of them came during his training, Ning Tian would at least practice wholeheartedly, moving on to the distraction control method when she grew tired of soul power cultivation—she was truly diligent.

But Wufeng? This little lazy dragon only had a three-minute attention span. After training for a short while, she would trot over to Ning Tian’s side and quietly stare at her. Therefore, Ning Wuque deeply doubted this little red dragon's willpower. He would not go easy on her because of her gender or age. Wufeng could find opportunities to slack off, but he could not fail to be diligent and responsible!

"I... I..." Wufeng’s cheeks puffed up like a balloon. Her face was burning red from shame and the crushing weight of self-awareness. She stuttered, barely managing to say, "I will work hard..."

"I understand. Starting tomorrow, is that okay? For now, we can go to either your place or mine. I need to conduct a comprehensive test of your body to tailor a training plan for you."

As he spoke, Ning Wuque channeled his soul power to increase the intensity of the soul-guided training device he wore. He usually maintained this state when not training, but the results were not as good as actual exercise, and it was easy to stunt his growth.

He was currently a few centimeters shorter than Ning Tian. *Sigh... the price of power!*

"That's great! I knew you would agree, Wuque. Let’s go to my place. It’s quite spacious. If you’re tired, don't hesitate to just take a rest there~"

Feeling double the happiness, Ning Tian wore a warm smile. She took each of them by the hand, pulled them up, put away the soul-nourishing jade, and led them toward her home. As a girl who had been independent for a long time, Ning Tian had a residence on the sect's main peak, with two courtyards, a pond, and three floors, though she usually preferred to rest with Wufeng for more company.

...

"So that’s how it is. This child, Wuque, is a genius. Perhaps... he really does have a way to help Tian'er’s martial soul advance further?"

Just as Ning Tian and Ning Wuque had suspected, someone was indeed watching everything that transpired between them from the shadows. However, it was not a guard, but Ning Fengxiao himself! Standing beside him was the mysterious, unrecognizable old man Ning Wuque had seen the day before.

"Fengxiao, I believe this is still slightly inappropriate. After all, Tian'er is the only one in our sect in five hundred years with innate full soul power..."

"Bone Grandpa, no matter how rare innate full soul power is, over the years, a few will always emerge. But a genius like Ning Wuque may not be encountered in ten thousand years!"

Ning Fengxiao shook his head. Contrary to what Ning Wuque had guessed, he actually did not oppose what might happen between him and Ning Tian in the future. At first, he had certainly been against it—given Ning Wuque's situation, marrying him to a direct descendant was already a sign of the sect's immense regard for him—but everything that happened yesterday had made him determined!

The reason was simple: Ning Wuque might be able to help Ning Tian, and perhaps even allow their Seven Treasures Glazed Tile lineage to stably give birth to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul! From then on, the name of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would be truly justified!

Does that sound unrealistic? Yes, it is unrealistic!

But Ning Fengxiao saw hope in Ning Wuque. Miracles are, by definition, unrealistic before they happen. What he wanted was to wager his own daughter on this sliver of a miracle!

"Ancestors, let the second gamble of our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile lineage begin with me, Ning Fengxiao. Whether it leads to having nothing at all, or... having everything!"