章 76: Chapter 76: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan
Join my Patreon to be 30 chapters ahead of the webnovel releases:
patreon.com/ZeroMoney
I would appreciate your help if you could join my Patreon and support me because it would keep me motivated.
******
After everyone dispersed, only Wang Li and Dugu Yan remained, strolling leisurely through the academy grounds. It was then that Dugu Yan turned to Wang Li and said,
"Xiao Li, be cautious when meeting the Crown Prince tomorrow. While there's no reason for the Crown Prince to harm you, my grandfather once warned me to avoid too much interaction with the royal family. They may appear gentle on the surface, but their hearts can be frighteningly cold. For power, they are capable of doing anything."
After a brief hesitation, she continued,
"My grandfather also mentioned that the current Crown Prince wasn't the initial choice for the throne. The other princes who could compete for the position all met strange and untimely deaths."
"In short, remain vigilant. Do not get involved in the royal family's power struggles, and certainly don't allow yourself to become someone else's weapon."
Looking at Dugu Yan's worried expression, Wang Li couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth. The affection and concern in her gaze were so deep they were almost palpable. With a gentle smile, he said warmly,
"Don't worry, Yan Yan-jie. From the moment I left the small village where I grew up, I resolved to become a powerful spirit master. I won't be swayed by worldly ambitions."
"As for this Crown Prince, if he represents the Heaven Dou Empire, then as a citizen and spirit master of the Empire, I will certainly show him due respect. But if he approaches for personal gain, I will not allow myself to be used as his weapon!"
Hearing this, Dugu Yan felt reassured. She looked at Wang Li with a mix of surprise and admiration and said,
"Xiao Li, you're so composed and level-headed. With such clarity, I guess I don't need to worry anymore."
She then lifted her chin proudly, revealing her elegant swan-like neck. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with a frosty gleam as she spoke with a touch of defiance,
"Still, your elder sister will protect you. No one can force us to do anything we don't want to do. If it comes to that, Grandpa will handle it!"
Wang Li was momentarily stunned, but his heart warmed immediately. He recalled the first time he met Dugu Bo. Back then, Dugu Yan had also stood firmly by his side, helping him secure more influence in the conversation.
That memory remained vivid in his mind. This "elder sister" role she played wasn't for nothing. She was gentle to those close to her but fiercely protective against outsiders.
Though Wang Li could have responded with sweet words, he felt they would have been too shallow in the moment. Instead, he held Dugu Yan's hand, walking together through the academy, savoring their time alone.
But as the saying goes, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear."
Under the shade of a nearby tree stood a tall figure in a gray robe—it was none other than Dugu Bo.
Dugu Yan, overjoyed, grabbed Wang Li's hand and ran over to him, playfully complaining,
"Grandpa, what brings you here today?"
Dugu Bo affectionately patted her head, then cast a glance at Wang Li and said,
"I came to check on you earlier, but the academy's three elders told me you had gone to the Star Dou Forest to hunt spirit beasts. So, I stayed and waited for your return."
"Did you find the spirit beast you were looking for? Did you acquire the spirit ability you wanted? The Gluttonous Root Demon is a rare creature. It usually hides underground, and while its stems and leaves make it easier to locate, without them, it's nearly impossible to find."
With a broad smile, Wang Li replied,
"We found the Gluttonous Root Demon. A hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape had wandered to the forest's outskirts, scaring away a group of thousand-year spirit beasts, among which was the Gluttonous Root Demon."
"Also, senior, I now have a way to suppress the poison in your body. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well contains immense energy reserves. By channeling that energy through my fourth spirit ability, I can sustain my second ability for extended periods."
"Although the gap between a Spirit Ancestor and a Titled Douluo is immense, I'm confident I can suppress your poison back into your martial soul. Just like Yan Yan-jie, while it won't eliminate the flaws of your martial soul, it will ensure your safety and won't hinder your cultivation. You won't have to suffer anymore."
When Wang Li finished speaking, Dugu Yan's face was filled with joy rather than shock. Wang Li had already shared this news with her quietly during their journey back.
As for Dugu Bo, he was momentarily stunned. A hundred-thousand-year spirit beast, the Titan Giant Ape, scared a Gluttonous Root Demon into running wild? The luck involved was truly unimaginable.
He then turned his gaze to Wang Li, a strange smile creeping onto his face.
"So, you wanted the Gluttonous Root Demon for this reason?"
Wang Li was straightforward and candid in his response:
"That's one reason. The soul skill it absorbs will be of great help to me."
Dugu Bo attempted to pat Wang Li's head, but since Wang Li was 1.84 meters tall, he had to settle for patting his shoulder instead. With a gentle tone, he said,
"There's no rush, no rush. I've been tormented by this poison for many years now; a little longer won't make a difference. You understand how domineering the soul power from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well is—the extreme heat and extreme cold. Even you, with your abilities, might not be able to withstand absorbing them all at once."
Wang Li certainly wasn't foolish enough to absorb large amounts of extreme heat or extreme cold soul power directly. Even though he had the "Vitality" trait and the passive "Resilience," he knew better than to push his limits. However, with the addition of the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot, things were different.
Using the extreme heat and cold soul power he had absorbed over the past three years as a foundation, he planned to draw a large amount of energy from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to activate the medicinal properties of the two heavenly herbs. He was confident that he could absorb all their power at once and achieve a significant boost. Perhaps it wouldn't take long before he could absorb the third herb as well—the plump, dark green bamboo shoot he had longed for ever since he saw it.
That bamboo shoot had to be consumed soon. If it grew into a full bamboo, it could become a spirit beast over a hundred thousand years old, and at that point, it would be uncertain who would devour whom.
With that thought, Wang Li felt his appetite growing, and he smiled lightly as he spoke:
"We'll have to try. After we meet the Crown Prince tomorrow, we'll return to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Senior, I've already absorbed three years' worth of extreme heat and cold soul power. There might be some unexpected results."
Wang Li's determination pleased Dugu Bo, but he still didn't hold out too much hope. His eyes narrowed as he spoke in a serious tone:
"The Crown Prince is likely here by the Emperor's request, but don't let his words fool you into rashly throwing your life away. Internal royal affairs are not something everyone has the right to meddle in."
Wang Li nodded in response, then said quietly,
"Senior, I understand."
The next morning, at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, on the main campus halfway up the mountain:
The three teaching elders once again donned their black-and-gold ceremonial robes, their hair immaculately styled, and their expressions exceptionally solemn—clearly indicating the importance they placed on the day's events.
When Wang Li arrived, Meng Shenji pulled him aside and said,
"Wang Li, there's been a change. It's not just the Crown Prince who's here today—his teacher has come as well. The leader of one of the Seven Great Sects in the spirit master world, the Sect Leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi. A person of your age with such soul power and outstanding talent has truly amazed many."
Wang Li was surprised to hear this but felt no real concern. After all, he knew this day would come eventually.
He had earned all his strength through hard work, and he was ready to face whatever came his way. His accomplishments were genuine, not fabricated. For three years, he had been beaten nearly to death countless times but had always persevered and recovered.
None of this was a lie…
The Eight-Spider Spear is really not suitable for Dugu Yan. Her current martial soul is a snake, and her future martial soul is a dragon. In my personal opinion, adding eight spider legs to that would not be visually appealing.
(End of chapter)
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット