Chapter 301: The Price of Advancement
"Hmm… What happened?"
When Ye Ningguang regained consciousness, she found herself soaking in a special liquid. She couldn't tell what kind of water it was, but she could feel an overwhelming surge of vitality coursing through her body. This vitality was rapidly replenishing the life force she had depleted during her leapfrog advancement.
Although Ye Ningguang wasn't a life-type soul master, even she could feel her vitality significantly enhanced. In terms of life span, she might now rival an average Title Douluo—yet she was still only at the Soul Emperor level.
"Miss Ye, you're awake."
As Ye Ningguang stirred, Nana approached her.
"Saintess!"
Ye Ningguang instinctively stood up and saluted. As the Saintess of the Soul Palace, Nana not only possessed the strength of an eight-ring Soul Douluo, but also held great status within the organization.
Additionally, to help Xiao Lan gain experience and appear more credible in her temporary role in the Saint Maiden Hall, Xiao Qiang had delegated the management of this All-Continental High-Level Soul Master Competition to that temporary branch.
Of course, those women with merely decent appearances, who only had innate soul power of two or three and had reached over rank fifty through artificial means like drugs or devoured souls, could never become true Saint Maidens. However, they could still act as subordinates—decorative facades—within the Saint Maiden Hall.
Thus, regardless of their origins, all the Soul Palace beauties who joined this tournament were under the jurisdiction of the Saint Maiden Hall. They weren't Saint Maidens, but they were the direct subordinates of those who were.
Seeing her superior, Ye Ningguang saluted without hesitation—but her action was gently stopped by Nana.
"Miss Ye, it's fine. You've recovered. Let me help you change."
As she spoke, four black and four red soul rings emerged around Nana. As her second soul ring lit up, six clones appeared. Originally, this second soul skill had been a century-level illusion technique—just afterimages. But after evolving into a thousand-year skill, the images became tangible clones, and upon reaching ten-thousand-year quality, their number doubled.
Together with Nana's main body, the six clones moved swiftly. Before Ye Ningguang could react, they had already bathed and clothed her.
"Saintess, this… isn't proper!"
Changing someone's clothes at lightning speed was one thing. But Nana, the revered Saintess of the Soul Palace, had done everything—including putting high heels on her! Who was serving whom?
It felt as though their roles had been reversed.
"Miss Ye, the master instructed me to bring you to him once you woke up."
"I understand."
Hearing Nana refer to "the master," Ye Ningguang immediately understood. The only one Nana would refer to as master was none other than the head of the Soul Hall. His summons were certainly urgent.
"Recovered quickly."
Xiao Qiang commented as he saw Ye Ningguang walk out of the Soul Hall's recovery chamber, looking well-rested and unharmed.
Although he had anticipated that her injuries wouldn't be serious—thanks to the Blade of the Living Guardian and the Lake of Life—he was still surprised by the speed of her recovery, especially compared to Nan Qiuqiu, who had just finished absorbing a soul.
"Master, you asked for me?"
"You did well. You acted without fear at the critical moment. It was one of the key actions that contributed to our success."
"Master, compared to me, Senior Nan and the eldest young lady accomplished more. I don't deserve the credit."
"Nan Qiuqiu will receive her due reward. As for Xiaolan… she doesn't lack a hundred-thousand-year soul."
What?! A hundred-thousand-year soul, just like that?
Was that how abundant these souls were now? Were they being distributed for merit—even without risking one's life?
Everyone who had been playing it safe—especially those who arrived after the Soul Palace had already crushed the Holy Spirit Church—felt an ache in their hearts. They truly regretted their hesitation.
"Seven-colored gemstones… Hundred-thousand-year soul… this may all end up being wasted."
Ning Fengyun frowned. Beside him, Ning Tian observed his father in silence.
Could the addition of a hundred-thousand-year soul allow the Seven-Colored Gem martial soul to evolve into a Nine-Colored Gem with amplification capabilities rivaling the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda?
It was difficult to say. But everyone knew that the hundred-thousand-year threshold often brought about a qualitative transformation.
In truth, Ning Fengyun's frustration stemmed from missed opportunity. Xiao Qiang had bestowed a hundred-thousand-year soul upon another—and not him.
The advance absorption of a 100,000-year soul ring was the only way auxiliary martial souls like the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda or Seven-Colored Gem could undergo true evolution without the legendary Qiluo Tulip.
Put bluntly, Ning Fengyun was simply bitter.
But what else could he do, if not comfort himself with excuses? His mistake had cost the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect their best shot at revival in ten thousand years. How could anyone stomach that?
Ning Tian turned to a Soul King behind him. "Go find a healing-type soul master."
"Yes, Young Master."
"No need." Ning Fengyun stopped them. "I'm still a Soul Sage. I've led the sect for over a decade. I won't break down over one setback."
Even so, as a veteran Soul Sage, he knew how difficult it was to push further with top-tier auxiliary spirits like his. He wasn't too afraid of Ye Ningguang surpassing him, but…
"Palace Master, it would be a waste to give me a 100,000-year soul. While my Seven-Colored Gemstone has decent amplification, I'll be lucky to reach rank seventy-nine in my life. I can support soul masters under rank ninety-seven, but above that… it backfires after one use. I cannot accept this."
"Don't worry. I anticipated this. The soul I prepared for you is a 100,000-year-old Qiluo Tulip."
"A 100,000-year Qiluo Tulip?!"
"Yes. The same immortal herb that elevated the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda to the Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda ten thousand years ago."
"—Pfft!"
"Father!"
"Sect Master!"
"Quick, call a healing soul master! The Sect Master is coughing blood!"