patreon.com/StarMoon10
for Advance Chapter
A massive sense of shame and confusion filled her mind. Mo Bai's image became incredibly complex and terrifying in her heart. He was powerful, mysterious, and held inconceivable strength. But he was also... evil, degenerate, and in a way she couldn't understand, he thoroughly dominated those girls.
And what terrified her most was that after witnessing all this and having that shameful physical reaction, deep in her heart—besides disgust and fear—she actually felt a sliver of... indescribable curiosity and wavering toward that "shortcut" to easily obtain great power.
"No... it's not like that... that's wrong..." Ning Rongrong held her head and whispered to herself, trying to dispel the flashes of imagery and the residual sensation in her body. But Mo Bai's final glance toward the glass—that look that seemed to see through everything—was deeply imprinted in her mind.
She knew that her peaceful academy life might have been completely changed from the moment she stepped into this academy, from the moment she heard the name "Soulforger Douluo."
The next day, Ning Rongrong, sporting faint dark circles under her eyes, arrived near Mo Bai's private training ground again, accompanied by her father Ning Fengzhi and the Bone Douluo, Gu Rong. This time, however, they went directly to the entrance of the training ground rather than the observation area.
Ning Fengzhi was still elegant, with a warm smile on his face, but his eyes held scrutiny. Gu Rong kept a stiff face, his gaunt features expressionless, but his sharp gaze scanned the surroundings.
Mo Bai seemed to have anticipated their arrival; the training ground door was wide open. He stood alone in the center of the empty field with his hands behind his back, still in the same simple black clothing, as if the protagonist of last night's debauched scene wasn't him.
"Sect Master Ning, Bone Douluo, Miss Rongrong, good morning." Mo Bai nodded slightly as a greeting; his attitude wasn't warm, nor was it intentionally cold—just a level of equal detachment.
"Lord Soulforger, we apologize for the intrusion." Ning Fengzhi cupped his hands with a smile, his gaze sweeping the training ground. "After returning yesterday, Rongrong was full of praise for the Lord's teaching methods and admiration for the strength of those students. I am being presumptuous, but I brought her here today to formally pay respects to the Lord, hoping she might stay by your side and receive your instruction."
Ning Rongrong stood behind her father, head bowed, not daring to look into Mo Bai's eyes. The images from last night were still swirling in her head, making her heart a mess. Facing Mo Bai up close now, she could feel the calm yet unfathomable aura about him, and those eyes that seemed to see through a person's heart.
"Sect Master Ning is too kind." Mo Bai turned his gaze to Ning Rongrong, calmly appraising her. "The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, the number one support-type tool martial soul under heaven—it truly lives up to its reputation. For Miss Rongrong to reach Rank 27 at such a young age, her talent is indeed top-tier."
Hearing Mo Bai praise her martial soul and rank, Ning Rongrong felt a slight relief and instinctively lifted her chin a bit, her pride as a young lady returning. However, Mo Bai's next words made her freeze instantly.
"However," Mo Bai changed his tone, which remained flat, "her soul power is hollow, her foundation unstable, and her understanding of soul skills is superficial. As for the potential development of her own martial soul, she hasn't even touched the threshold. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, after all, is just 'Seven Treasures'."
"You!" Ning Rongrong looked up sharply, her pretty face flushing red. Since she was a child, who had ever dared to evaluate her like this? Hadn't everyone praised her as a genius, the once-in-a-century talent of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect? This Mo Bai actually said her foundation was unstable and she hadn't even touched the threshold? And he said the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was "just Seven Treasures"? This was blatant contempt!
"The Lord's words..." Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly but did not get angry; instead, a look of contemplation appeared. Gu Rong snorted coldly, clearly dissatisfied with Mo Bai's evaluation.
Mo Bai, acting as if he didn't see Ning Rongrong's anger or Gu Rong's dissatisfaction, continued: "The support capability of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda depends on the soul master's own soul power purity and control. Miss Rongrong's soul power is built up using medicine and sect resources; while the rank appears high, it is actually like a castle built on sand—flashy but insubstantial. Her application of skills is limited to the strength and range of enhancement, never considering fine-tuned control or how to make the subtlest and most timely adjustments based on different teammates and battle situations. As for the martial soul itself..." He paused, looking at Ning Rongrong, "Have you ever felt the deeper rhythm of your martial soul? Have you ever wondered why it has seven layers? Are the eighth and ninth layers truly just legends?"
Ning Rongrong was stunned. Mo Bai's words were like needles stabbing into her proudest and most secret places. Hollow soul power? She indeed felt that her soul power circulation wasn't as smooth as she imagined, but everyone said that was a common trait among support soul masters! Crude skill control? She always thought support was just about simple, brute-force buffing! As for the depths of the martial soul... eighth and ninth layers? Wasn't that the legendary Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda? Did it really exist?
Ning Fengzhi's gaze became incredibly serious. These words from Mo Bai seemed belittling, yet every sentence hit the mark! The support of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was indeed powerful, but it was also limited by the martial soul itself and the method of cultivation. Among the past sect masters, who didn't crave breaking through the seven-layer limit? Mo Bai could see Rongrong's flaws at a glance and even hint at the possibility of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda... this man was truly unfathomable!