Su Yu spun Ning Rongrong around in a circle before steadily setting her down, then reached out to ruffle her hair:
"Big brother has prepared another gift for you, but you can only receive it after your Martial Soul awakens!"
"Are all the preparations for the Martial Soul awakening ready? Don't be nervous - I'll be right here with you the whole time."
"Mm!"
Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously, her earlier shyness completely gone as she grabbed Su Yu's hand and pulled him toward the Sect.
"Let's go, let's go! I can't wait any longer!"
Watching the two figures walking away side by side, Ning Fengzhi and the other two exchanged smiles before quickly following after them.
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's plaza—
The bluestone pavement was warmed by the morning sun, with dozens of children of appropriate age standing in neat lines, their small faces filled with tension and anticipation.
Five deacons from the Spirit Hall wore unified black martial attire, with silver Spirit Hall emblems embroidered on their chests.
They were arranging six pitch-black stones and a blue crystal ball for the Martial Soul awakening ceremony.
"Next."
The lead deacon's voice remained steady as he flicked his fingers slightly, causing the six stones to float up and rotate around a little girl with pigtails.
Meanwhile, Su Yu had already brought Ning Rongrong into the main hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
The hall was furnished in an antique style, with intricate cloud patterns carved into the beams and pillars. Light filtered through the stained glass windows, casting colorful spots on the floor.
Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chenxin sat in side seats, their gazes fixed on Ning Rongrong in the center of the hall, filled with expectation and a barely noticeable tension.
Ning Rongrong clutched the corner of her clothes, looking up at Su Yu as she whispered:
"Brother Husband, I'm a little scared."
Su Yu crouched down to meet her at eye level, gently tapping her forehead with his finger:
"Don't be afraid. Rongrong's Martial Soul will definitely be amazing."
He took out six Awakening Stones, his fingertips swirling with gentle Soul Power. "Just relax and follow my guidance."
The six stones floated around Ning Rongrong as Su Yu's Soul Power enveloped her like warm water.
Unlike the standardized awakening process of the Spirit Hall, his Soul Power was much more refined, as if carefully nurturing a budding flower about to bloom.
"Focus your mind and feel the power within your body," Su Yu's voice was gentle yet firm.
Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
As she immersed her consciousness into her body, the Awakening Stones around her glowed increasingly brighter. A stream of multicolored light slowly rose from her palm, hovering in mid-air.
It was a small, exquisite glazed pagoda with a translucent body that flowed with seven colors - red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. A faint golden halo shimmered around the pagoda's spire.
"It's the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!" Ning Fengzhi abruptly stood up, his eyes flashing with ecstatic joy.
"And... this radiance is even more brilliant than an ordinary Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda! Rongrong's Innate Soul Power must be extraordinary!"
Su Yu looked at the floating Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
He withdrew his Soul Power and ruffled Ning Rongrong's hair: "See? Isn't it amazing?"
Ning Rongrong looked at the colorful glazed pagoda in her palm, her small face blossoming into a radiant smile as she nodded vigorously:
"Mm! Thank you, Brother Husband! Brother Husband is truly amazing!"
Su Yu took out the Soul Power Crystal and half-knelt before Ning Rongrong:
"Rongrong, come on, channel your Soul Power into this crystal!"
"Mm!"
Ning Rongrong blinked her big eyes and gently pressed her small hand onto the crystal.
Following the method Su Yu had taught her, she focused her mind and stirred the newly awakened Soul Power within her body. A warm current flowed through her palm into the crystal.
The originally transparent crystal suddenly lit up, first emitting a faint blue glow, then the radiance rapidly intensified.
From light blue to lake blue, then to deep indigo, it finally stabilized with a faint purple halo shimmering within.
"This... this is..." Ning Fengzhi abruptly stood up, unable to conceal the excitement in his voice.
"Innate Soul Power... it's actually close to full Soul Power!"
Chen Xin also stepped forward, watching the purple light swirling within the crystal, his eyes flashing with amazement:
"Ordinary Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Souls typically have at most seventh rank Innate Soul Power as the peak. But this girl Rongrong... actually has ninth rank Innate Soul Power!"
Bone Douluo stroked his beard, looking at the Soul Power Crystal before him with complete astonishment in his eyes:
"Fengzhi, if I remember correctly, your Innate Soul Power was only eighth rank!"
Ning Rongrong withdrew her hand, gazing at the brilliant glow within the crystal before turning to look at Su Yu, her small face filled with a look seeking praise:
"Husband Brother, am I amazing?"
Su Yu smiled and pinched her cheek: "Amazing, our Rongrong is the most amazing."
He stood up and looked toward Ning Fengzhi, "Uncle Ning, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is about to produce an extraordinary genius."
The excitement in Ning Fengzhi's eyes hadn't yet subsided. He stepped forward and gently stroked his daughter's head, his voice trembling slightly:
"Good, very good..."
Ning Rongrong hugged Su Yu's leg, rubbing her small head lightly against his trousers. Her upturned face was full of expectation, her eyes sparkling like they contained starlight:
"Husband Brother, you said before that when Rongrong's Martial Soul awakens, you have a gift for me!"
Su Yu was amused by her expression. He bent down and picked her up from the ground, giving her a little bounce:
"You remember that well?"
Ning Rongrong immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her small face against his shoulder, her voice soft and sweet:
"Of course! Rongrong remembers everything Husband Brother says!"
Su Yu gently pinched Ning Rongrong's little nose, then said with a smile:
"Rongrong! Brother brought Rongrong a gift, shouldn't Rongrong give Brother a little reward?"
After saying this, Su Yu slightly turned his cheek toward her.
Ning Rongrong leaned forward and gave Su Yu's cheek a loud "mwah," leaving a milky-scented imprint.
"Husband Brother! Rongrong likes you the most, please give Rongrong the gift! Please!"
Su Yu wiped his face and set Ning Rongrong down.
"Alright, I'll give Rongrong the gift now!"
Su Yu took out a jade box from his Storage Soul Tool and presented it to her.
"Rongrong, open it and take a look!"
Ning Rongrong's small hands held the jade box. The moment her fingertips lightly lifted the lid, a fresh, sweet yet rich fragrance wafted out.
Like morning dew mixed with flower nectar, it gently diffused throughout the hall, as if even the air had been tinged with a warm, melting sweetness.
She peered inside and saw a golden tulip resting quietly in the jade box, its petals layered upon layers, the edges glowing with a delicate luster.
It looked as if cast from molten gold, yet possessed more warmth and spiritual energy than gold.
Sunlight filtered through the window lattice and fell upon the petals, clearly revealing the crystalline halos flowing within each vein, as if life pulsed gently within.
"Brother husband, what... what kind of flower is this?" Ning Rongrong's voice was filled with awe as she carefully extended her fingertip.
Su Yu gently patted her head and softly explained:
"This is called the Fairy Qi Luo Tulip, a very rare Immortal Herb. After Rongrong eats it, her talent will become even greater!"