Capítulo 327: Chapter 327: Su Ming's Suggestion: Breakthrough by Facing Life and Death!
Bone Douluo (Gu Rong) sighed, "Su Ming, my personality's too stubborn. How am I supposed to find inner peace like that old guy, Sword Douluo? It looks like I'll never reach level 96."
Ning Rongrong asked in a low voice, "Brother Su Ming, is there really no hope?"
Su Ming shook his head. Apart from rare herbs, there was indeed an extreme method he hadn't mentioned—it was too dangerous, though. Sword Douluo's recent breakthrough had been a stroke of luck.
Su Ming sighed, "Bone Grandpa, you're known as the best defensive soul master on the continent, but do you have a true, unwavering commitment to protect?"
Gu Rong was curious. "Commitment? What do you mean?"
Su Ming's eyes focused, "I mean the type of commitment where you would give your life to protect someone, even a whole sect."
In the original story, during the massacre of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, why was it only Sword Douluo who advanced? Su Ming believed it was because Sword Douluo, facing a hopeless situation, fought without fear, determined to kill enemy Titled Douluos and protect his sect leader and fellow clansmen.
As for Gu Rong, his job was simply to escort Ning Fengzhi to safety. The stress they faced was entirely different.
Sword Douluo had been pushed to the brink of life and death, while Gu Rong, with his skills, had an easy time getting Ning Fengzhi to safety.
Gu Rong glanced at Ning Fengzhi and replied naturally, "Of course! Fengzhi and the sect are my purpose to protect. Isn't that obvious?"
Su Ming shook his head. "It's not enough. You have the heart to protect, but not the pressure."
"You and Sword Grandpa are the sect's guardians, symbolizing offense and defense. But when there's a powerful enemy, I'm guessing it's usually Sword Grandpa who takes the lead in battle while you protect Uncle Ning. This has led to a discrepancy: Sword Grandpa faces more pressure, fights more, and gains more insights from it."
"You can't make progress through quiet introspection alone. You need intense pressure, the kind that ignites an extreme desire to protect!"
Ning Fengzhi, hearing this, was silent. He hadn't expected Su Ming to analyze things this way. Clearly, Sword Douluo's breakthrough wasn't mere luck; Su Ming's perspective was truly insightful, and Ning Fengzhi couldn't match it.
In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Sword Douluo had indeed faced higher risks than Bone Douluo, as he had to defeat enemies rather than just defend against them.
"Su Ming, is there an extreme method to help Bone Uncle break through?" Ning Fengzhi asked earnestly.
If Bone Douluo could also reach level 96, with Sword Douluo at level 97 and Ning Fengzhi's supportive boosts, their sect would stand a chance at surpassing the Clear Sky Clan!
Su Ming responded, "There is a way, but it's extremely dangerous. Are you sure, Uncle Ning?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded, "Tell us, Su Ming. We can't afford to waste a rare chance for Bone Uncle to advance."
Su Ming continued, "Well, as I said before, it's a 'breakthrough through adversity' method. To succeed, Uncle Ning, you and Bone Grandpa would need to put yourselves at great risk."
"Essentially, you'd need a high-level attack-type soul master, someone on par with Sword Grandpa, to launch a fierce attack on Uncle Ning. This time, Bone Grandpa wouldn't be allowed to use his spatial skills to dodge; he'd have to defend on the spot with all he has."
Turning to Gu Rong, Su Ming added, "Bone Grandpa, your martial spirit would be ideal if all your spirit rings had spatial attributes. But since those spirit beasts are hard to come by, you focused on defense. This creates a drawback: instead of tanking attacks, you often dodge with spatial skills. To break through, you'll need to confront this!"
Gu Rong sighed, "Kid, what you're saying is true. It looks like I'm stuck at level 95. I wouldn't risk Fengzhi's life. Neither I nor that old sword freak would ever want that!"
Su Ming raised his hand in concession, "Then it's settled. It is extreme, and it's best avoided unless necessary. If Sword Grandpa's attacks break through your defense, Ning Rongrong would lose her father, and that's the last thing I want."
Gu Rong was speechless. Su Ming wasn't pulling any punches, but he was right; Sword Douluo's level 97 abilities would likely overwhelm his defense without spatial skills to help. The two-level gap wasn't easily bridged.
Ning Fengzhi, however, was deep in thought. Su Ming's suggestion held potential for immense gains, but the risks were equally great. Should he consider it?
Finally, he said, "Thank you for your advice, Su Ming. I'll give it some thought."
Gu Rong protested, "Fengzhi, this plan isn't worth considering! If I fail to protect you, we'd both feel guilty, and the sect, and Rongrong—what would become of them?"
"Bone Uncle, calm down. I'm only considering it. We don't need to go that far now. Just hearing Su Ming's advice has given you something to ponder. As a defensive soul master, what's the right approach? Is it to endure all attacks or to use spatial skills to evade?"
Gu Rong reluctantly nodded, "Understood. I'll reflect on it carefully once we return."
After a while, the auction finally began.
Su Ming glanced over the initial items and quickly lost interest, as they were of no use to him.
Soon, the auction reached its final item.
So far, he'd only purchased three nice accessories for Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing. If he remembered correctly, this last auction item should be the beautiful cat-girl. With the spirit bone gone, she would be the main attraction.
As the staff wheeled out an iron cage covered with a red cloth, Xiao Wu furrowed her brows, sensing a familiar presence—a fellow soul beast!
"Brother, do you feel that…?" Xiao Wu whispered.
Su Ming nodded, replying telepathically, "I do. There's a cat-girl in the cage. Her martial spirit likely mutated, giving her a partial soul beast form—a kindred spirit of sorts."
Reassured, Xiao Wu grew anxious. "Brother, could you bid on her?"
Su Ming considered it. The money wasn't an issue, but once he had her, how would he arrange for her care?
He decided to sort it out later. If worst came to worst, he could arrange for her training at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, just like in the original story.
In the end, after a series of bids, Su Ming won the cat-girl for 180,000 gold soul coins, though he incurred the ire of Prince Xue Xing in the process. Fortunately, Ning Fengzhi's presence allowed him to avoid any immediate retaliation.
Ning Fengzhi and the others were surprised by his bid. Did Su Ming have an interest in this cat-girl?
Bone Douluo quipped, "Su Ming, don't tell me you actually…?"
Su Ming shook his head with a smile, "Bone Grandpa, what are you thinking? I'm not interested in her like that. I just didn't like seeing people treated like objects. This cat-girl still has a soul, unlike those attendants. She doesn't deserve to be someone's plaything. Besides, most of that money was given to me by Uncle Ning!"
Ning Fengzhi appreciated Su Ming's stance. He had also planned to buy the cat-girl, both to rescue her and bring her into the sect as a resourceful member.
Ning Fengzhi laughed. "Money aside, what you've done is admirable. But here's a question—what will you do with her? She can't go to the academy with you."
Ning Rongrong offered, "Father, can't she just stay at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? We can see if she has a knack for cultivation. If she does, the sect can teach her. How about that?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled and turned to Su Ming. "Does that align with your plan?"
Su Ming, slightly embarrassed, replied, "If you can shelter her for now, that would be perfect. My mental scan showed her soul power is low because no one's taught her, but I believe her aptitude isn't bad."
Satisfied, Ning Fengzhi agreed, "Consider it done. But you bought her; you should handle her onboarding. After all, 180,000 gold soul coins is no small amount!"
For Su Ming, the cost was trivial. Beyond Xiao Wu's request, he wanted to challenge this unjust society. Someday, he hoped to dismantle the slave system entirely.
He also had a longer-term idea: once the cat-girl was trained and stable, he could have her stay at Holy Soul Village with Grandfather Jack as a companion and village guardian.
With the auction concluded, Su Ming's cat-girl awaited in a private room.
He turned to Xiao Wu and instructed, "Xiao Wu, go and talk with her. She's your kin in a way, so she shouldn't feel scared around you."
Xiao Wu nodded and led the cat-girl to clean up and prepare for her new life.
Soon after, they returned, and the cat-girl approached Su Ming, gratitude shining in her eyes. "Thank you, master."
Su Ming replied gently, "No need to be nervous. We won't harm you. Do you have a name?"
The cat-girl shook her head, still a little shy. "Could you give me one, master?"
Su Ming hesitated. Naming wasn't his strong suit, but after some thought, he glanced at her purple outfit.
"Let's call you Zi Ling, and you can take my family name, Su Zi Ling."
Xiao Wu and the others beamed with approval—Su Zi Ling was a lovely name, fitting her well.
The cat-girl, pleased, repeated, "Thank you, Master. My name is Su Zi Ling now!"
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