20+ Advance chapters on Patreon
Zhu Qing wore a dark red soul master suit, her hair tied up high. Her face had light makeup, and her slim legs peeked out from her skirt, showing off her small feet. But her chest stood out most of all, fuller than even Zhu Zhuqing's.
When Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling saw her, they froze. No one expected Ning Tian's teacher to be such a stunning, mature beauty.
"Teacher!" Ning Tian said, his voice soft. Seeing Qing again made him feel something strong, a urge to pull her close and hold her tight. It wasn't new, but this time, it hit harder.
He held back and just greeted her.
Zhu Qing's face lit up. She stood up fast and walked over. "Little Tian, weren't you at Shrek Academy? How did you find time to come here? And with some little wives too?"
She glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling, her eyes teasing.
Ye Lingling stayed cool, but Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong turned red.
Ning Tian smiled. "I'm not that lucky. This is Ye Lingling, heir of the Nine Heart Flowering Apple Clan. This is Ning Rongrong, young miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. And this is Zhu Zhuqing, my girlfriend. Lingling and Rongrong are friends, they came with me."
Zhu Qing looked surprised. She could see Ning Rongrong liked Ning Tian, and Zhu Zhuqing was clearly in love. She didn't expect big names like the Nine Heart Flowering Apple and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to show up.
Ning Tian went on, "Zhuqing, Rongrong, Lingling, this is my teacher, Zhu Qing."
"Hello, Master Qing," the three girls said, bowing politely.
Zhu Qing laughed. "I'm no master, just a regular teacher at a beginner soul master academy. Call me sister. And don't let Little Tian's calm face trick you, at six, he dared to touch a girl's bottom."
Yes, after becoming her student, Ning Tian admitted he'd done it. Qing didn't mind, but she teased him about it now and then.
The girls stared at Ning Tian, shocked. They never imagined their perfect Ning Tian had a side like that.
Ning Tian coughed awkwardly. "Teacher, can we find a quiet place? I have something for you."
Zhu Qing said, "Nuodig Academy is too busy. Let's go to my family's place. My father misses you too."
"Perfect, I have a gift for him as well," Ning Tian said, smiling. It was time to pay back the Dark Fragrance Sword Clan for everything.
...…
The Dark Fragrance Sword Clan lived in a hidden spot, three hundred miles south of Nuodig City, on Ten Thousand Blade Peak.
By evening, they arrived and used a special basket to reach the peak.
Ning Tian led Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling to Qing's house while Qing went to get her father.
Soon, her father's voice boomed before he even appeared.
"Ning Tian, you're back! Let's see if your sword skills have slipped."
Zhu Qing's father, Zhu Jiansheng, sounded strict, but he was a cheerful old man. Over eighty, his soul power had been stuck at level eighty-nine for years. Without a miracle, he'd stay there, like his father before him.
Zhu Qing said, "Father, we have guests."
She introduced Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling.
When he heard Ning Tian had a girlfriend, Jiansheng looked sad. He knew his daughter cared for Ning Tian and had hoped he'd marry her someday. That dream was gone now.
But he perked up fast and grabbed Ning Tian's shoulder. "My daughter says you brought me a gift. Show me!"
Ning Tian smiled and pulled out the Nine-Grade Purple Mushroom from his storage bag.
"What's this? A mushroom?" Jiansheng asked, curious.
"It's the Nine-Grade Purple Mushroom," Ning Tian explained. "It strengthens your foundation and can help you reach level ninety."
"What? Really?" Jiansheng's voice trembled with excitement.
It made sense. Most Dark Fragrance Sword Clan leaders got stuck in the eighties. Level eighty-nine was rare, and ninety was a dream. Breaking through meant becoming a Titled Douluo and living longer.
"If you'd just hit level eighty-nine, it might not work," Ning Tian said. "But you've been stuck for years, building energy. With this, you've got a solid chance."
Jiansheng took the mushroom carefully and looked at Ning Tian. "Ning Tian, I won't forget this. Doesn't matter if it works or not, you are my benefactor."
"Don't say that," Ning Tian replied. "Without you and Teacher, I wouldn't be here."
Jiansheng said nothing more. He asked how to use it, ate the mushroom, and sat to refine it. He'd waited too long for this.
"Teacher, this is for you," Ning Tian said, pulling out the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng King.
Qing stared at the glowing herb but didn't take it. "If I take this, what about you and Zhuqing?"
"I've already used mine," Ning Tian said. "And I have herbs for Zhuqing and the others. This Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng King is for you. Your talent isn't the best, but with this, you'll train easily. You could even become a Titled Douluo. And Teacher, you don't want to be old and weak when I'm a famous Titled Douluo, right?"
He teased her, but his eyes showed care.
"Pfft, you little rascal, always talking nonsense," Qing said, her eyes watering. She took the herb and turned away to hide her tears. She knew her talent was average. In over five years, Ning Tian had become a Spirit Elder, while she'd only hit level forty-five three years ago. Without this, she'd stop at Spirit Saint, never reaching Spirit Douluo.
Now, Ning Tian gave her hope. She was touched beyond words.
"Zhuqing, this is the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone for you," Ning Tian said, handing it over.
"Rongrong, this is the Silk Gauze Tulip for you."
After Qing started refining her herb, Ning Tian gave Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong theirs.
Both girls were excited. They sat down and began absorbing the herbs as Ning Tian had shown them.
Then Ning Tian turned to Ye Lingling. "Lingling, this is for you."
He pulled out the Fragrant Silk Immortal Herb.
"Me too?" Ye Lingling looked surprised.
"Yes, we're teammates, right?" Ning Tian said, tugging at her heart.
Ye Lingling paused. She knew these herbs were rare.
"We are teammates," she said quietly. "But this herb is so valuable. Are you sure?"
"Of course," Ning Tian said, smiling. "Well…I've got a small selfish reason."
"What reason?" Ye Lingling asked.
"Well, your Nine Heart Flowering Apple heals so well. With you, Zhuqing and I can train hard without worrying about injuries. Plus, you're a beautiful girl, who doesn't like beauty? Maybe this herb will improve your martial soul, breaking some limits. I heard a story: if a man helps a woman, if he's ugly, she repays him next life; if he's handsome, she marries him. I think I'm decent-looking."
He joked, but he meant it. He had his sights on Ye Lingling, just like Ning Rongrong, Qing, and even the prince in Heaven Dou City. But he knew to take it slow.
Ye Lingling thought he was kidding. She laughed, her cold face warming up. "Alright, if this herb fixes my martial soul's issue, I'll marry you."
Her martial soul's curse meant only two Nine Heart Flowering Apple soul masters could live at once. When she awakened it, a relative died. That's why she was so distant.
"Good, take it. I'll watch over you all," Ning Tian said, handing her the herb.
Ye Lingling took it carefully. She didn't expect much, but she'd keep her word if it worked.
In the small wooden house, only Ning Tian stayed awake, guarding them.
Time crawled by.
Three hours later, the herbs kicked in.
Jiansheng's aura grew, nearing level ninety. It'd take days or weeks to break through as Breaking through to Titled Douluo was tough, even with help.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong changed too. Zhu Zhuqing glowed faintly like, standing with hands clasped like in prayer, absorbing the energy. Ning Rongrong shone gold, surrounded by a tulip scent, looking like a fairy.
Zhu Qing and Ye Lingling sat still, faint mist around them, pink for Zhu Qing, gold for Ye Lingling.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━━━━━━
patreon.com/DUKE3500 for advance chapters for all the novels i translate for 2$