The moment the hundred-thousand-year Evil Spirit Orca King's soul ring appeared,
Its vivid crimson hue dyed the entire room in a misty red glow.
The soul ring hovered quietly around Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Unlike ordinary absorbed soul rings, this one seemed to constantly radiate its aura outward.
"Rongrong, how did you do this?"
After the initial shock, Ning Fengzhi was the first to react. The others also turned their gazes to Ning Rongrong, awaiting her explanation.
"Father, have you forgotten? My cultivation method is different from yours." Ning Rongrong explained, "My spirit is essentially equivalent to a soul tool."
"The only difference is that this soul tool comes with special abilities. I channel zhenqi into the evolved Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to condense soul rings this is only to adapt to this world's rules and allow my spirit to possess soul skills."
"I don't actually need soul rings myself. By sealing the Evil Spirit Orca King's soul ring within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda,"
"And vacuum-packing its energy effectively, I can preserve it temporarily."
"However, it won't last long only seven days." Ning Rongrong paused briefly. "Since we returned from hunting the Evil Spirit Orca King, four days have passed. Only three days remain before the soul ring dissipates."
"Within these three days, we must find someone suitable to absorb it. Otherwise, the hundred-thousand-year soul ring will vanish."
The entire hall fell silent. No one had ever encountered such a situation before.
Using a spirit as a storage soul tool to preserve a soul ring? They hadn't even heard of such a thing.
"Like hundred-thousand-year spirit bones, hundred-thousand-year soul rings are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities!" The Sword Douluo was the first to speak.
"Indeed. If my ninth soul ring had been hundred-thousand-year, I might have broken through to Rank 93 or 94 by now." Dugu Bo sighed deeply.
"Finding a soul master capable of absorbing it within three days? That's too rushed." Ning Fengzhi frowned.
Even with a Title Douluo's speed, carrying someone back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School would take two days at most. That left only one day to locate a Level 90 Soul Douluo.
But this posed a problem...
"Father, does the sect have any Level 90 Soul Douluos who haven't acquired their ninth soul ring yet?" Ning Rongrong asked.
"No." Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Breaking through beyond Level 85 isn't easy, even with ample medicinal resources."
"Aside from me at Level 85, the sect only has one Level 86 Soul Douluo. Reaching Level 90 isn't something that can be done overnight."
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had over a dozen Soul Douluos. But even with medicinal assistance, most had only advanced one or two levels in recent years.
Otherwise, the Lower Three Sects wouldn't be completely devoid of Title Douluos.
The higher one's cultivation, the harder breakthroughs became.
Truthfully, Ning Fengzhi had some confidence in pushing that Level 86 Soul Douluo to Level 90.
But the cost was something he wasn't willing to bear nor would it be fair.
For example, if they poured all the resources from the Evil Spirit Orca King and its pack into that Soul Douluo
The hundred-thousand-year spirit bone, hundred-thousand-year whale glue, and assorted other spirit bones they might barely reach Level 90.
But the distribution had already been decided. There was no justification for reallocating everything to one Soul Douluo. Besides, no sane person would make such a decision.
"Should we return to the sect first?" Dugu Yan suggested. "We can discuss further there. Uncle Ning, if all else fails, we could recruit a Level 90 Soul Douluo externally."
"That might work." After some thought, Ning Fengzhi nodded.
He hadn't immediately absorbed the Evil Spirit Orca King's spirit bone, planning to decide after returning. Compared to the bone, the soul ring was the more urgent matter.
Thus, Ning Fengzhi's group checked out of the Vast Sea Grand Hotel and raced back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School at full speed.
With the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's amplification, the Rank 97 Sword Douluo's strength reached Rank 98 his speed became blisteringly fast.
They returned to the sect in just one day.
Upon arrival, they didn't even pause for water.
They immediately sought out the Bone Douluo and convened a meeting in the main hall.
Ning Fengzhi summarized recent events, emphasizing the Evil Spirit Orca King situation.
After listening, the Bone Douluo remained silent for a long time.
"I have no objections to how you divided the spirit bones and soul rings." He finally said. "Although this sword idiot is often unreliable, he's right a hundred-thousand-year spirit bone likely wouldn't push me to Rank 97."
His gaze then fell on Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, where the crimson soul ring hovered ominously.
Its eerie glow exuded a bloodthirsty aura.
"Rongrong's spirit can even store soul rings? Truly unbelievable." The Bone Douluo marveled.
"Old bone, this isn't the time for admiration!" The Sword Douluo interrupted impatiently. "Think about how to maximize the value of this soul ring. Time is running out."
"We rushed back without even drinking water to discuss this with you."
"Even if you say that, I have no solutions!" The Bone Douluo rolled his eyes.
"You and the sect master know perfectly well the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has no Level 90 Soul Douluos needing a soul ring."
"Given our Soul Douluos' current cultivation speeds, producing a Title Douluo would take at least five years!"
"Should we recruit externally?" Ning Fengzhi hesitated.
Finding Level 90 candidates might be difficult, but Level 89 should be possible. The allure of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring was extraordinary.
"Sect Master, can we trust outsiders?" The Sword Douluo exchanged glances with the Bone Douluo. They understood Ning Fengzhi's concerns.
A Level 89 Soul Douluo, boosted by Dugu Bo's immortal herbs
Could potentially reach Level 90 within two days through medicinal assistance.
External Soul Douluos hadn't undergone the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's medicinal baths. Their talent and constitution hadn't been enhanced like their sect's members.
With proper treatment, advancing one level might not be difficult.
But finding someone trustworthy in such a short time? That was the real challenge.
If they accidentally recruited someone connected to the Spirit Hall, the sect's secrets could be exposed.
Who knew what the Spirit Hall was plotting? A sect-destroying ambush would leave them no room for regret.
Never overestimate factions' moral limits. Even the Upper Three Sects constantly undermined each other let alone the Spirit Hall.
When they'd previously met Qian Renxue, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had been extremely cautious. A Rank 99 Qian Daoliu was simply that formidable.
"Perhaps we shouldn't fixate on Soul Douluos." Ning Rongrong suddenly lifted her head from contemplation. "If suitable Soul Douluos aren't available, what about Level 80 Soul Sages?"
"Soul Sages?"
The ongoing discussion halted abruptly.
"Rongrong, a Level 80 Soul Sage only needs a soul ring to become a Soul Douluo. But a Soul Douluo's physique can't withstand absorbing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring."
Ning Fengzhi didn't understand why Ning Rongrong would suggest this.
"Not necessarily. A Level 80 Soul Sage can absorb a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. Our sect's soul masters have undergone multiple medicinal baths their constitutions far surpass ordinary soul masters."
During The Peerless Tang Sect era, Rank 99 Elder Mu possessed three hundred-thousand-year soul rings.
The Body Sect's leader, Du Bisi, also had two red soul rings.
In theory, Level 80 absorption was feasible but only for those with monumental contributions to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.