"Hmm~" Wang Dong'er groaned as she stretched out her arms, waking up from her long closed-door retreat. Her purplish-blue eyes were clear and bright. A gentle, golden light shone from her body.
Unexpectedly, she had broken through during her seclusion! Reaching rank 40! She just needs to find a suitable soul ring to officially become a Soul Ancestor. Moreover, there doesn't seem to be any side effects.
What was this place to cause such rapid growth in her cultivation? It was the stem of the golden tree. It contained the purest power of light. Those with light-type martial souls would experience the most obvious and greatest increase in soul power here.
However, there was another reason for such quick advancements.
"Phew. That was a really wonderful meditation. To think my path would be like this..."
She frowned, looking down at her hands and slowly closed them. 'Father, what's going on? Why can't you and mother see me right now?'
That's right! When Wang Dong'er entered her closed-door retreat, a golden trident appeared on her forehead and a split divine consciousness awakened—it was her father's!
But she didn't know it was her father's, instead, the split divine consciousness introduced himself as Old Tang; he stated that he couldn't remember his past but said he was an old friend of her parents and he was left in her spiritual sea to help her absorb a powerful inheritance left behind by her father.
He had been sealed deep in her spiritual sea and had only appeared when Wang Dong'er's Light element had reached a certain level, if he hadn't, a certain one-arm boy would've gotten himself into serious trouble when he tried to enter her spiritual sea.
Old Tang didn't specify what kind of inheritance it was, but judging by the clear results of her cultivation advancements, it was clearly powerful!
In her spiritual sea, Old Tang conducted the first trial called—Ignite the Light! It was an extremely tough trial that had her enter a nest filled with 69 insect-type soul beasts that are at least a thousand years old, don't kill any of them until lighting up a fire in the middle, prevent the fire from going out while fighting them, and lastly—there was a couple of ten-thousand year old soul beasts in said nest!
During this trial, Old Tang had sealed her memories of her being in her spiritual sea so the sense of danger felt completely real to Wang Dong'er. Every movement, every attack, and every moment of evasion felt like a life-or-death struggle.
It had felt like months had gone by when she went through her trial. Fortunately, being within her spiritual sea, time flowed differently. However, she hadn't completed it yet and is at the stage of fighting the soul beasts while protecting the fire.
She hadn't completed it yet, and her cultivation had skyrocketed so much! What kind of reward would await her when she completes it and the next trials? Could it support her into becoming a Titled Douluo? Or even...a Limit Douluo?!
Wang Dong'er didn't know that this inheritance would grant her Godhood.
However, she has until 1 year to complete it or the inheritance will disappear forever.
'Just who are my parents? Old Tang said that they're an incredibly strong people, but due to a catastrophic event, they had to leave me behind in the care of my uncles. My Uncles are at the level of Transcendent Douluos! That would make my parents around their level at the very least, so what kind of catastrophe would be so dire that even people as strong as them couldn't avoid it?'
"I have to ask my uncles about my parents when I get back home for my fourth soul ring."
Wang Dong'er's mind raced with questions as she got up, and the golden radiance around her body suddenly soared up like flames. She was filled with a divine aura under the support of the flames.
Her eyes narrowed into a determined glint.
"Finally, I found a way to grow stronger and protect you, Yuhao!"
.....
In another room, a pair of emerald-green eyes opened, their gaze sharp and piercing. The air around her seemed to hum with a sense extreme sharpness; like invisible blades swirling protectively around her, cutting through any impurities in the atmosphere.
Resting on her lap was an incredibly beautiful flute, jade-white in color, adorned with intricate carvings of nine phoenixes. The phoenixes seemed alive, their wings stretched wide as though they might take off at any moment, their majestic forms glowing faintly in the dim light that suffused the area.
This place wasn't just a cultivation room—it was a canyon! Fierce winds howled around her, rushing through the jagged cliffs and echoing with an almost mournful wail.
The sky above was a swirling mix of gray clouds and golden light.
And floating right before Xiao Xiao was her Three Lives Soul Crushing Cauldron!
Flashes of yellow lightning bolts struck the cauldron relentlessly, each bolt emitting a deafening crack as it connected. The immense force caused the cauldron to shake uncontrollably, yet instead of showing any signs of damage, it began to tremble with life, its golden surface shining brighter with each impact.
The lightning bolts burned away the impurities on the cauldron's surface, revealing intricate patterns hidden beneath—mighty dragons with long, serpentine bodies, coiling gracefully across its surface! Unlike the majestic winged dragons commonly depicted on the continent.
The hum from the cauldron grew louder, resonating with the very fabric of the canyon.
Xiao Xiao's eyes widened, her heart thumping in shock. "What is happening to my martial soul?!"
Just as she was hesitant on what to do, the storm clouds above her began to shift. The fierce winds calmed, and the oppressive gray sky gradually lightened.
"....What the hell just happened?" Xiao Xiao blinked. She had just found her path, so what the heck was this all about?!
Unbeknownst to Xiao Xiao, the cultivation room she was in was designed for three purposes: to enhance a soul master's wind affinity, improve their movement techniques, and aid in refining one's physical body!
When Xiao Xiao pulled out both of her martial souls to enter her closed-door retreat, she unknowingly triggered the physique refinement process within the cultivation room.
The Three Lives Soul Crushing Cauldron, her main martial soul, began to undergo an intense transformation, refining and tempering itself to reach its peak potential! Unknowingly obtaining what is known to Body Sect and a select few—a Second Awakening!
The reason why she hadn't woken or felt anything strange, was because she entered a deep meditation. A deep meditation is a rare phenomenon in a soul master's life to reach enlightenment!
In this state, a person's need for food, water, and relief would diminish as their bodily functions slowed down to the bare minimum, entering a state of suspended animation where the soul and body worked in perfect unison to enhance one's abilities.
This state allowed Xiao Xiao to experience profound mental clarity and deep focus, essential for the transformation she was undergoing. In fact, from the undulations of soul power exuding from her, she had achieved a breakthrough!
Which would also explain why she hadn't noticed that she was completely naked this whole time...
"Wait for me, Yuhao. I finally—Achoo! Ugh, why do I feel so cold—aaahh!?"
.....
"Huuu...."
In another room, a pair of large golden eyes snapped opened. Her long eyelashes trembled as her expression set into extreme concentration, she outstretched her right hand and muttered,
"The Seven Treasures revolve to produce a Glazed Pagoda!"
A dazzling seven-colored light emanates from her body. This then caused a seven-colored pagoda that was a foot tall to appear in the middle of her right palm, where the seven-colored light had gathered.
She slightly pushed it off her palm, letting it havor before her.
Ning Tian narrowed her golden eyes and made a hang sign with her hands, exclaiming, "Great Pagoda Art!"
Suddenly, the seven colored pagoda shone brightly as it floated towards her body and entered her chest. The pagoda fused seamlessly with her body, merging with her body. A surge of energy exploded inside her, both her soul power and spiritual power was amplified by several folds.
A large transparent seven-colored pagoda appeared over her like a protective barrier, but she knew it can do more than just protect her.
"1st Layer: Speed!"
Ning Tian vanished from her spot in an instant, her body a blur of motion she appeared several meters away in the blink of an eye. Her speed was comparable to an above average agility-type Soul Elder.
That might not sound much, but Ning Tian is an auxiliary-type soul master! They're typically known go be physically weaker than their cultivation peers, and could even be taken down easily by someone a realm lower than them.
"This...this is my path!" Ning Tian exclaimed, panting excitedly as she came to a stop, stumbling momentarily. But that didn't lessen her excitement.
Ning Tian looked down at her hands, feeling the rush of newfound strength and power coursing through her body.
She couldn't believe what she found in this room—a cultivation technique unlike anything she had ever heard of, and it was extremely suitable for those who have the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! In fact, this was the rightful inheritance to their clan!
Those who have the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda know that they cannot protect themselves and would typically rely on others, as their martial soul could only ever have support-type soul skills.
They were known to be the perfect support-type soul master.
However, what if there was someone who wanted to defy such a fate?
That was the case for someone from a couple of centuries ago, who, out of the simple desire to protect the woman that he loves, went on to defy the heavens and created a secret art to make soul masters with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to be able to fight for themselves!
He was Ning Tian's great-grandfather! Ning Chen, who had changed his name into Mu Chen in order to hide himself from certain people.
Merging one's martial soul and becoming their martial soul, was a deed capable only by Soul Sages. However, Ning Chen had found a way to do it—in a incomplete way and the results were terrifying!
When using the Great Pagoda Art, the practitioner could use their soul skills for themselves and it would be several times more effective than when they apply it to others.
For Ning Tian, her soul skill could only enhance others and herself by 40%(she doesn't really uses it on herself since it would be a waste). But with the Great Pagoda, she could enhance her attributes by at least 80%! Double the usual empowerment she gives to others.
But that wasn't just all, this secret art is separated into five stages: White, Yellow, Purple, Black, Red. And right now, she had just barely achieved the White stage! Imagine what she could do when reaching further stages?
"Now, I can finally have a chance to fight alongside you, Yuhao." Ning Tian softly smiled before turning around and running towards her previous location.
Before her stood a grave; with a mysterious black coffin made out of unknown and strong metal, its surface smooth yet oddly cold to the touch.
The space she was in was modeled after a beautiful cliff, with a perpetual sunset with a cheery tree on each side where the coffin rested peacefully.
With a sad look on her face, Ning Tian slowly walked up to the coffin and kneeled before it, and placed her forehead on the ground.
"I, Ning Tian, pays great respect to great-grandfather!"
On the side of the coffin had words inscribed on it that said:
"Here lies Ning Chen, a great friend, husband, father, and leader. May his soul find peace in the Divine Realm."
The reason why the Great Pagoda Art was stored here, and not on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, was because Ning Chen had asked his long-time friend, Dragon God Douluo Mu En, to do so.
He wanted only worthy descendants, who knew both courage and love for another, to inherit his secret art.
To him, he had lived and loved being a Shrek Academy student more than being someone from the Secen Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Unfortunately however, he didn't manage to breakthrough their curse of seven floors and had died at the age of 90.
But at least, Ning Chen's late wishes came to fruition a century later.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
AN: Bet you didn't expect that storyline didja?
AN2: There might be some confusion in regards to name of Xiao Xiao's Cauldron, well that's because the translation of it is weird—no, I'm not a translator so I don't understand what the raw says. But I am a reader of english translated novels and scroll through wiki for further information:
In the novel app I'm reading it, I read Xiao Xiao's martial soul being—Threelives Soul-Crushing Cauldron
While in the wiki, it says—Three Lives Soul Sealing Cauldron. For simplicity sake, I'm using the latter from now on—until I reveal her newly refined martial soul.
Wanna support my patreon and enjoy certain benefits(like images into the story that gives more clarity): patreon.com/FroztDouluo
2/3 chapters of the week