The teams were divided into thirty groups, each led by a Spirit Master responsible for overseeing the Martial Soul Awakening.
The first to step into the Awakening Array was Ning Rongrong. As she entered the formation, a brilliant seven-colored radiance burst from the center of her right palm. A Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda floated lightly above her hand — her Martial Soul had awakened.
Next came the test of innate spirit power, which was the true focus of the ceremony.
As long as Ning Rongrong's innate soul power exceeded level 7, she would become the next heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. If not, either Ning Fengzhi would try for another child with better potential, or pick the most exceptional among the less gifted.
Everyone's eyes were locked on Ning Rongrong, their expressions solemn. Only she, still a child, had no understanding of the tension, simply placing her hand on the Spirit Power Crystal Ball.
A pure blue light instantly filled the entire sphere, leaving only a small section at the top unlit. The light reflected onto Ning Rongrong's face, casting it a glowing blue.
"Innate Soul Power: Level 9!"
In the distance, Ning Fengzhi's tense expression eased. He finally let out a deep breath. With innate level 9 talent, and once she consumed the Beautiful Silk Tulip, Ning Rongrong's path to becoming a Titled Douluo was practically secured. Her future as Clan Leader was now beyond question.
"Daddy, I became a Soul Master! Can I fly like Sister Yan now?!"
Rongrong dismissed her Martial Soul and excitedly ran up to Ning Fengzhi, joyfully lifting her Wind Chime Wings in both hands.
"Of course you can. But your soul power is still low. If you want to fly like your sister, you'll have to train hard!"
"Mhm! I'll definitely work hard!"
Feeling the warmth of Ning Fengzhi's hand, Ning Rongrong smiled and agreed — not for glory or status, but simply for the joy of flying through the skies.
The Awakening Ceremony of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan didn't take long — just about two hours in total. Unfortunately, not many true prodigies emerged. The five with the highest talent only had innate soul power at level 7. While they had the potential to become Spirit Douluo, the leap to Titled Douluo would be very difficult.
This wasn't ten thousand years later, where breakthroughs to Titled Douluo were systematically researched. Right now, major powers still evaluated talent primarily by innate potential.
"Thankfully, Yang'er didn't let us down."
Looking down at the registry in his hand, Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly. In recent years, the number of outstanding talents born within the clan had been worryingly low. His intelligence showed that Spirit Hall had recruited many Spirit Masters with innate power above level 8, each with real hope of becoming a Titled Douluo.
The competition between great powers always came down to one thing — how many Titled Douluo they had. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan retained its position as one of the Upper Three Clans thanks only to their two Titled Douluo. Without them, no one would respect their standing.
"Let Uncle Bone (Gu Bo) accompany Yang'er on this soul beast hunt. As for the Beautiful Silk Tulip, don't give it to Rongrong yet. We've spoiled her too much — her temperament still needs sharpening. Once she proves herself, we'll reconsider."
"Agreed."
Hearing his wife's suggestion, Ning Fengzhi nodded. He hadn't intended to give the immortal herb to Rongrong right away anyway. At the very least, she would have to reach the Spirit Ancestor realm on her own. Otherwise, giving her too much too fast would only make her more arrogant and unrestrained.
After spending three days in the clan and enjoying time with Ning Rongrong, Xu Yang, Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo, and Ning Haiyan set out for the Star Dou Forest.
Xu Yang's target this time was the Three-Tailed Fire Crow King, a spirit beast with at least 23,000 years of cultivation.
The Three-Tailed Fire Crow, bearing the Golden Crow bloodline, was a rare high-grade fire-attribute spirit beast. Its most distinctive trait was the three slender tails entwined with burning orange-red flames. Though it was a fire-type beast, its deadliest attack was a crimson-gold beam launched from its mouth. The beam had terrifying piercing power, extremely high density, and devastating heat, explosive force, and vibration.
It was vastly superior to the Explosive Flame Tree he had initially considered.
However, this kind of spirit beast resided close to the inner region of the Star Dou Forest, making it much harder to locate. Xu Yang had already prepared for a prolonged search. Thankfully, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had collected considerable intelligence on the area where the Fire Crows were active. They just had to search according to the gathered intel.
"Brat, this forest isn't like the Sunset Forest — the danger level here is several times higher. You and Yan stick close to me," warned Dugu Bo, his expression grim as soon as they entered the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Understood!"
"Got it, Grandpa!"
Xu Yang and Dugu Yan exchanged a look and followed tightly behind Dugu Bo.
Ning Haiyan brought up the rear, his face serious and vigilant, his eyes sweeping constantly through the surrounding vegetation, alert for potential ambushes.
Sha… sha… sha…
The surroundings were unnaturally quiet. Occasionally, the sound of poisonous insects and snakes slithering through the underbrush could be heard — nothing unusual for the Star Dou Forest.
Suddenly, Dugu Bo, leading at the front, raised his right hand. His face tensed as he stared alertly toward a tree to the front-left.
Xu Yang and Dugu Yan instantly stopped in their tracks, following Dugu Bo's gaze — but they couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.
Behind them, Ning Haiyan had already summoned his Blazing Flame Blade. His soul ring configuration — yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black — flashed dazzlingly. With a flicker, he appeared at Xu Yang and Dugu Yan's side and slashed sharply to the right.
"Eighth Spirit Ability: Furious Flame Lion Roar!"
With a thunderous roar, the Blazing Flame Blade cleaved forward.
"ROAR!!"
A massive lion formed entirely of blazing red flame energy erupted forth, its terrifying roar flattening every tree within a hundred meters like dry grass in a storm.
Simultaneously, waves of shrill screams echoed, along with the sound of piercing air — whoosh, whoosh — as black shadows scattered in panic.
This was Ning Haiyan's eighth spirit ability, derived from a 70,000-year-old Flame Lion King. The lion's roar was merely a side effect — the true force lay in the energy attack itself. The ten-meter-tall flaming lion streaked forward like a meteor.
The black-cloaked figures that had been trying to flee were instantly paralyzed, forced to watch in horror as the blazing lion charged at them.
"Seventh Spirit Ability: Martial Soul Avatar!"
"Sixth Spirit Ability: Vajra Shield!"
"Fifth Spirit Ability…"
Shouts echoed through the woods. Martial Soul Avatars and Tool Soul Avatars activated one after another. Defense-type Spirit Masters scrambled to cast their strongest defensive abilities.
"Fools!" Ning Haiyan sneered. "My spirit ability not only has overwhelming mental suppression, but the heat it carries isn't something you can endure!"
As his fourth and fifth spirit rings flared beneath his feet, the flame lion turned into a streak of burning light and shot forward.
"AHHH!!"
Several Spirit Masters, who had tried to escape with speed, were engulfed in flames the moment the light passed them. Amidst their screams, they were reduced to nothing but ashes.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin