In truth, the entire situation could be explained in just a few words.
By the time Tang San reached the reception room, he had already learned about him and, incidentally, the connection between the Tai Tan family and himself. As for Xiao Tianyang, he was left speechless.
He finally understood why Ning Fengzhi had been looking at him with such an odd expression earlier.
At first, he had been slightly worried that Ning Fengzhi had recognized his true identity. After all, he often felt like a money-grubber, eyeing others' wealth. It was natural to assume such a misunderstanding.
However, he later discovered that Ning Rongrong had told her father about him... and that revelation left him feeling utterly miserable.
Although he could cultivate herbs at a relatively low cost, this matter hadn't been discussed openly from the start, so he hadn't paid much attention to it. But now, it seemed there was no escaping the situation.
Thinking this, Xiao Tianyang narrowed his eyes and glanced at Ning Rongrong. His gaze caused her to blush and lower her head in embarrassment.
'Why is he looking at me like that? Is this some kind of meeting-the-parents situation? Should I explain it to him? This is so confusing…'
Xiao Tianyang, unaware of her thoughts, assumed she was simply feeling guilty. However, he didn't press the matter further, as it suddenly occurred to him that this situation had little to do with him. So, he casually made up an excuse and left, appearing carefree and unbothered.
Once he was gone, Ning Rongrong, too embarrassed to stay, decided to leave as well. But when she turned around to catch up with him, Xiao Tianyang had already vanished.
"How annoying!" she exclaimed, stomping her foot in frustration at the crossroads.
Meanwhile, Xiao Tianyang hurried back to his secluded cabin in the forest and immediately locked the door behind him. He even activated the trigger mechanism to prevent anyone from accidentally entering.
After ensuring his privacy, he sat down on the sofa and took out the Dou Zong Pill. His caution wasn't unwarranted—after all, Ma Hongjun's unexpected intrusion last time had nearly exposed some of his secrets.
While those secrets weren't particularly damaging, he didn't want to risk further discoveries. He had too many treasures hidden away in his mind!
The last thing he needed was to draw unnecessary attention.
A simple cookbook had already caused quite a stir in Heaven Dou City. If more of his secrets were revealed, he might be dissected alive by those who sought his treasures.
Thus, it was better to err on the side of caution.
This time, the reward was different. Instead of a single pill, it came in a small, palm-sized sandalwood box. Inside the box were not one, but two pills.
Pill: Dou Zong Pill
Effect: While it cannot directly increase soul power, it enhances martial arts cultivation, allowing the user to reach the master level.
Introduction: Crafted by a tier 7 alchemist of Battle Through the Heaven world.
"This reward is incredible!" Xiao Tianyang's eyes lit up as he read the description.
"Although it doesn't boost soul power, raising the Nine Suns Divine Art to the master level will at least double my cultivation speed! Moreover, the Nine Suns Divine Art is closely linked to my Flame Emperor martial soul. Its improvement could trigger a chain reaction, potentially leading to even greater benefits!"
With this in mind, Xiao Tianyang double-checked his surroundings to ensure his safety. He then took out a futon, sat cross-legged on it, and swallowed the pill.
This might seem overly cautious, but the futon was no ordinary item.
Item: Lanxin Futon
Effect: Calms the mind, enhances comprehension, and repairs hidden injuries.
Introduction: Woven from divine medicinal herbs and fresh vines, this futon is one of a kind, unique in the world.
With such a treasure at his disposal, it would be a waste not to use it.
As the pill dissolved in his throat, Xiao Tianyang began circulating the Nine Suns Divine Art.
At first, there was no noticeable reaction. But soon, he felt his dantian heat up like a furnace, vigorously burning through the soul power in his body. Flame Emperor, too, began to expand and contract repeatedly in this intense environment.
'Is this purifying my soul power again?' Xiao Tianyang wondered, feeling somewhat exasperated.
His soul power was already on par with that of a Soul King. If it improved further, reaching the level of a Soul Emperor, he would truly become a monster for his current level!
While such power would make him nearly invincible among his peers, it also came with a downside: his progress would slow significantly.
Additionally, while having more soul power was advantageous on the Douluo Continent, the number of soul rings was also a critical factor in determining a soul master's strength.
The gap between Xiao Tianyang and soul masters with one or two more soul rings might not be noticeable. However, against a Soul Saint or higher, the difference would be stark.
The seventh soul ring, in particular, brought about a qualitative change with the Spirit Avatar—a power Xiao Tianyang couldn't replicate in advance, no matter how strong he became.
Moreover, the Martial Soul Avatar itself provided at least a 20% boost in power. Thus, Xiao Tianyang had mixed feelings about his current state.
But this time, he was overthinking things. The Nine Suns Divine Art, obtained from the system, initially operated on its own without requiring his input.
After familiarizing himself with it, Xiao Tianyang had begun practicing it independently to better understand its workings. Only then did he realize that the system hadn't yet pushed the Nine Suns Divine Art to its peak.
Now, however, the improvement was immediate.
As he had anticipated, not only did his soul power cultivation speed more than double, but his physical fitness also underwent a comprehensive enhancement.
While the improvement wasn't as dramatic as doubling his strength, reaching such a level of refinement was no small feat.
"Cheats are always a good thing," Xiao Tianyang mused. "I'll have to rely on the system more in the future."
If given the choice, who wouldn't prefer a life with a little less hardship and a little more ease?
Knock, knock, knock!
The sound of someone at the door interrupted his thoughts. "Who is it?" Xiao Tianyang called out, his voice cautious.
"It's me," came a cold voice from outside.
Xiao Tianyang was momentarily stunned. He had expected many people to come looking for him, but Zhu Zhuqing was not one of them.
"Come in," he said, standing up and stowing away the futon.
The door opened, revealing Zhu Zhuqing's proud figure and delicate face. The two exchanged glances, the atmosphere growing slightly awkward.
"Well, do you need something?" Xiao Tianyang asked, breaking the silence.
'This girl isn't exactly the chatty type. Why did she come to me.'
"I heard you were injured," Zhu Zhuqing said, her face flushing slightly as she averted her gaze.
"Who spread that rumor?" Xiao Tianyang raised an eyebrow. "I was just a bit exhausted earlier, but I'm not injured."
"Oh... okay," Zhu Zhuqing replied, seemingly flustered. "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Xiao Tianyang was left speechless. 'That's it? Well, that was... unexpected.'
…
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