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"You really took too great a risk."
After absorbing the soul core, Chen Junting had entered deep meditation, reflecting on the experience of forging and fusing it.
Beyond everything else, the spatial insights he gained during core formation alone significantly refined his control over one of his sixth soul skill.
But after two days of integration, when he finally opened his eyes again—it was Ning Tian's face that greeted him.
Her first words were a reprimand, though the worry in her voice was impossible to hide.
"I won't do it again."
"You'd better not even think about a 'next time'!" Ning Tian scolded, her eyes flashing with anger—only for her expression to soften instantly. "From now on, think things through before acting. Don't let carelessness cost you your life."
In that moment, she looked nothing like the elegant, poised heir of the Nine Treasure Glazed Sect—more like a vulnerable girl terrified of losing the one she loved.
Chen Junting, moved by her concern, pulled her into his arms, wrapping his hands around her waist and holding her close.
Ning Tian leaned against his chest, listening to his heartbeat, absorbing the quiet promise in his embrace.
"Don't worry. I'll never leave you."
Their eyes met—hers lifting shyly, his gazing down tenderly.
For a long moment, the world vanished. Only they existed.
Then, as the mood deepened—
Chen Junting slowly leaned down, his lips drawing closer to hers.
"Brother Junting…"
Ning Tian's eyes shimmered with love as she watched him approach.
They sank deeper into the tender, breathless atmosphere—
—and kissed.
Time seemed to freeze.
Until—
"Brother Junting, once you finish meditating, we can—uh…?"
The door swung open.
Wang Dong'er stood frozen in the doorway, blinking in stunned silence at the scene before her.
At the sound, the two sprang apart.
Chen Junting remained composed—after all, it was just a kiss—but Ning Tian's cheeks flushed crimson. Seeing Wang Dong'er's eyes widen into comical dots, she shot her a rare, playful glare of reproach.
Wang Dong'er, for once, showed unexpected brilliance.
"Huh? Nobody here? But Second Dad said they'd be done by now! Could Brother Junting have already finished and gone to find Senior Sister Xiao Tian? Well, I'd better go look for them—the whole family's waiting to eat together!"
Pretending she'd seen and heard nothing, she babbled her fabricated reasoning aloud while swiftly backing out—and even thoughtfully shut the door behind her.
Phew—
The moment the door clicked shut, Wang Dong'er slumped against it, face burning, heart pounding.
She'd only come to call them for dinner—who knew she'd walk in on that? She was almost as embarrassed as the couple themselves!
"Come to think of it…"
Lost in thought, she replayed the image in her mind.
"What would it feel like… if Yuhao and I kissed?"
Distracted, she wandered back to the dining hall—her dazed expression instantly drawing everyone's attention.
After she sat down between Huo Yuhao and Niu Tian, Huo Yuhao leaned in and whispered, "Dong'er… something happen? You look out of it."
"Nothing! Nothing at all…" she stammered.
Niu Tian and Tai Tan watched her closely. They could tell their little Xiao Dong was preoccupied—but from her expression, they guessed it wasn't anything serious.
Just then, Chen Junting and Ning Tian finally arrived.
After offering apologies, Chen Junting voluntarily downed six cups of wine as penance.
Tai Tan immediately beckoned them to sit, and the feast officially began. Though the dishes weren't extravagantly ornate, the meal was filled with warmth and laughter—truly a joyous gathering.
Once everyone was comfortably full, serious talk began.
"How did forging the soul core feel?" Gu Tianchen asked, watching as Chen Junting swapped his wine for juice—an odd sight that struck him as strangely amusing.
"Dangerous," was Chen Junting's only reply.
Though his attempt had gone smoothly, the process itself was undeniably perilous. But recognizing it was Gu Tianchen who asked, he added after a pause, "But if you meet certain conditions, you should be fine."
Gu Tianchen raised an eyebrow. "That confident in me?"
"Of course I am," Chen Junting said, rolling his eyes. "Soul core formation is deeply tied to spatial energy—and your martial soul and soul skills give you a massive edge there. As long as your spiritual power, physical strength, and soul power all meet the threshold, it's doable."
"My physique's decent," Gu Tianchen mused, mentally assessing himself: Body strong enough for a 100,000-year soul ring; soul power and spiritual strength roughly at Soul Douluo level.
"I'll aim to forge one at Soul Douluo rank, then."
"Not impossible."
Hearing this "temptation," Gu Tianchen felt a flicker of excitement—until he learned the details.
Nope! I'm declining—right now!
—
Once the meal truly ended, Niu Tian had servants clear the table—but the evening wasn't over.
Thanks to their recent breakthroughs, Ning Tian and the others had all advanced:
- Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao were stuck at Level 59.
- Ning Tian had reached Level 60.
- Gu Tianchen had leapt to Level 70.
All they needed now was a soul ring to break through.
And that was precisely why Niu Tian had kept them—he'd promised Xiao Dong, after all. They couldn't disappoint her.
A few Divine Bestowed Soul Rings were nothing.
But first, rules had to be laid down.
"The place I'm taking you now," Niu Tian said gravely, exchanging a stern look with Tai Tan, "is Hao Tian Sect's most sacred site. No outsiders may enter."
The phrase "outsiders" instantly irked Wang Dong'er—but under her First Dad's sharp gaze and the gravity of the occasion, she bit back her protest.
Niu Tian sighed inwardly, then emphasized the Ascension Pavilion's secrecy: whatever they witnessed inside must never be spoken of.
Chen Junting immediately vouched for everyone.
He was eager—desperate, even—to see a Divine Bestowed Soul Ring. He had a strong feeling: this was the final piece of the puzzle.
Soon, Niu Tian and Tai Tan led them to a chamber. The moment they stepped inside, space twisted violently—but only those unfamiliar with spatial teleportation felt disoriented.
The Ascension Pavilion existed within a hidden pocket dimension inside Hao Tian Fortress—
essentially, a concealed fourth floor.
The space held only one object: a conical stone pillar at its center, etched with countless intricate patterns.
At a glance, Chen Junting recognized them—similar to the natural patterns he'd observed while traveling across mountains and rivers. And from the pillar radiated an invisible, mysterious energy.
"This is the Ascension Pavilion!" Before Niu Tian or Tai Tan could speak, Wang Dong'er eagerly explained, bouncing like a child with a new toy. "All my soul rings came from here! No need to hunt soul beasts or contract soul spirits. The soul skills you receive are perfectly tailored to you—and the rings aren't as violent as beast-derived ones. Outside, if you can withstand a hunted 800-year ring, you might be able to reach a 1,000 year soul ring here. And as long as you can absorb it, the age limit doesn't matter—go as high as you dare!"
"Whoa! That's insane!" Wu Feng, ever the perfect comedic foil, played along instantly.
"Told you!" Wang Dong'er lifted her chin smugly. "By my eighth soul ring, I'll have a 100,000-year one—while yours might not even hit 100,000 by your ninth!"
"That's impossible!" Wu Feng inwardly retorted. I'll become a Title Douluo and show up with four 100,000-year rings—scare you to death!
But she kept it to herself, instead launching into their usual bickering.
Niu Tian and Tai Tan exchanged helpless looks. Our little troublemaker just spilled all our secrets like it's nothing!
Thankfully, Chen Junting quickly interjected:
"Sect Masters, rest assured—we'll never reveal a word of this."
The others, still awed, echoed their solemn promises—finally easing the two elders' furrowed brows.
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