Chapter 66: Death is approaching without knowing it
Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both nodded secretly.
Even Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai were no exception, while Xiao Wu began to cheer excitedly.
At this point, Flender's plan was declared bankrupt; no one ate the Sausage except Oscar himself, so today's class couldn't continue.
After all, if everyone refused to eat, was he going to force-feed them?
Subsequently, an embarrassed Flender hastily left the training ground.
"Sigh~, my Sausage, when will it finally gain everyone's approval?"
Oscar looked at everyone with a mournful gaze and sighed.
"Haha, Little Ao, don't worry about it. Once you can make Sausage without chanting, everyone won't be so resistant."
Ye Chen patted Oscar's shoulder, comforting him.
"Brother Chen, is what you're saying reliable? I've been practicing for a year, and I still can't do it."
Oscar was a bit frustrated.
"It should be possible, right? Just because you can't do it now doesn't mean you won't be able to in the future. I believe that as long as you work hard, you'll definitely succeed!"
Ye Chen wasn't sure when Oscar would be able to create Sausage without chanting, as he hadn't experienced such a thing himself.
"Oh, right, Little Ao, how do you train your spirit power?"
Ye Chen remembered a crucial point; if he didn't find the right training method, his efforts would be in vain.
"Isn't it just repeatedly releasing Spirit Ability?"
Oscar was a bit confused.
"..."
Ye Chen was speechless; what kind of spirit power control training was this?
"Ahem, Oscar, your training method isn't quite right."
"Uh, then what should I do?"
Oscar looked bewildered.
"Xiao Wu, I'm going to guide Oscar for a bit. Oscar, come with me."
Ye Chen turned to Xiao Wu, said a word, and then left with Oscar.
...
Not long after, Ye Chen and Oscar arrived at a small forest next to Shrek Academy.
"Oscar, training your spirit power control is actually very simple. For example, like this."
Saying this, Ye Chen extended his right hand, and a small ball of spirit power materialized.
Oscar watched as Ye Chen began to control the ball of spirit power in his right hand, splitting it into two, then four, then eight, and so on, until the original ball of spirit power in Ye Chen's hand was broken down into countless tiny specks of spirit power.
"Is it that amazing?"
Oscar exclaimed in shock, watching Ye Chen's showy operation.
"This is training by splitting spirit power. If you can reach this step, I believe you won't need to chant when making Sausage."
"That sounds really hard. Is there anything simpler?"
"Uh, Oscar, there are no shortcuts in cultivation. However, there are other training methods."
"Tell me quickly!"
"Then watch closely."
Saying this, Ye Chen found a large tree nearby.
Then Oscar saw Ye Chen, with his hands behind his back, walk up to the treetop as if on flat ground, relying only on his feet, and hang upside down from a branch.
"Brother Chen, how did you do that?"
Oscar's eyes widened.
"Attach your spirit power to the soles of your feet, firmly adhering to the tree trunk. With enough practice, it's not difficult to achieve.
Oh, besides climbing trees, you can also train by walking on water. Keep it up, Oscar! I believe in you."
Ye Chen leaped down, landed steadily on the ground, and then patted Oscar's shoulder.
In his previous life, Ye Chen had read many anime and novels, so he had this kind of creative thinking.
"Mm-hmm."
Oscar nodded repeatedly, eager to try it out.
Unfortunately, putting one foot on was fine, but as soon as he put his other foot on, Oscar immediately lost his balance and fell flat on his bottom.
"Ouch~! Brother Chen, your method isn't working. If I fall from the top of the tree, I could easily get hurt."
Clutching his bottom, Oscar complained.
"Don't you have Big Recovery Sausage? This height won't kill you."
Ye Chen rolled his eyes at Oscar.
Actually, for tree climbing training, soft mats could be placed at the bottom of the tree to prevent injuries.
However, using soft mats wouldn't achieve the best effect, because only by feeling the pain of falling would one realize the importance of not making mistakes, which helps in better training.
"Alright, you play by yourself. I'm leaving."
Having given Oscar the method, Ye Chen didn't linger and left the small forest directly.
...
Upon returning to Shrek Academy, Ye Chen was about to go back to his room to cultivate when he saw Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing arguing on the training ground.
"Dai Mubai, I've made it very clear. From now on, we go our separate ways. I have nothing to do with you."
Zhu Zhuqing said with a look of disgust.
"Zhuqing, I was wrong before, please forgive me!"
"Dai Mubai, do you still have the nerve to say such things now? Your actions disgust me!"
"Hmph~, Zhu Zhuqing, the engagement between the royal family and your Zhu family is not something you get to decide."
Seeing that gentle persuasion wouldn't work, Dai Mubai decided to take a harder approach.
"So what? At most, it's just death!"
Zhu Zhuqing said with a determined expression.
"Oh, oh, oh~, what's all this talk about death?"
Just then, Ye Chen appeared.
"Ye Chen, this is a private matter between Zhuqing and me. It has nothing to do with you!"
Seeing Ye Chen arrive, Dai Mubai said impatiently.
"Little Tiger, haven't I warned you? Are you still a toad dreaming of eating swan meat?"
What do you mean it has nothing to do with me? If I say it does, then it does. Even if it doesn't, it must!
"Ye Chen, don't think that just because you're a Spirit Ancestor, you can provoke my Star Luo Empire."
"Tsk tsk~, Dai Mubai, you're right. Right now, I can't provoke the Star Luo Empire, but can you represent the entire Star Luo Empire?
Yes, I can't provoke the Star Luo Empire, but as for you, even if ten of you came, I wouldn't bat an eye!"
Ye Chen said disdainfully to Dai Mubai.
"Damn it! Ye Chen, don't think I don't know you're interested in Zhuqing. Let me tell you, Zhuqing belongs to my Star Luo Empire in life, and she'll be a ghost of my Star Luo Empire in death!"
"Tch~, you're oblivious to your impending doom. It's not even certain if the Star Luo Empire will still exist in a dozen years!"
The trajectory of the original story has changed, but the general trend has not.
If Ye Chen didn't stop it, or was unable to stop it, Bibi Dong would still establish the Spirit Empire and still launch the continental unification war.
At that time, wouldn't the Star Luo Empire be completely finished?
In the original story, the Two Great Empires of Star Luo and Heaven Dou were able to survive thanks to the deified Little San; otherwise, how could the Two Great Empires resist the deified Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong?Chapter 67 A good hand of cards played badly
The current Little San did not apprentice under Yu Xiaogang, nor did he come to Shrek Academy. In the future, Ye Chen will also not let him obtain the Immortal Herb from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Without the transformation brought by the Immortal Herb, whether Little San can still be favored by the Sea God and Asura God and become a God Position successor is uncertain.
"Hmph~, my Star Luo Empire has stood on the continent for countless years, how could it just disappear?"
Dai Mubai simply didn't believe that the Star Luo Empire would vanish in a little over ten years.
"If you don't believe it, then don't. Go somewhere cool and stay there, don't be an eyesore here. If you keep babbling, be careful or I'll beat you up."
Ye Chen raised his fist, signaling Dai Mubai to get lost.
"You~, hmph!"
Dai Mubai snorted coldly and left directly.
He knew that Ye Chen found him very displeasing, and if he stayed there any longer, a good beating would be unavoidable.
After Dai Mubai left, Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ye Chen with a complicated expression. This Ye Chen actually liked her?
"Will the Star Luo Empire really perish in a little over ten years?"
After thinking for a moment, Zhu Zhuqing asked.
If the Star Luo Empire truly ceased to exist, wouldn't she be free from her fate?
"That's for sure. Perhaps it won't even take a little over ten years; within ten years, the Star Luo Empire might be gone."
A little over ten years later, it would be the Spirit Hall—no, the Spirit Empire—that made the move. But within ten years, it would be Ye Chen himself making the move.
Ye Chen felt that in ten years, he would be 22 years old. With the assistance of his own son, he would definitely have become a Titled Douluo by then.
Moreover, Ye Chen, this Titled Douluo, would not be one of those ordinary Titled Douluo; he would be a super Titled Douluo with all red spirit rings as a starting point, possessing seven Spirit Bones of over one hundred thousand years.
At this moment, Ye Chen already had the one hundred thousand-year external Spirit Bone: Creation Green Lotus. Even if all his spirit rings and the other six Spirit Bones in normal positions started from scratch, reaching one hundred thousand years in age would only cost a little over a billion gold coins.
A little over a billion gold coins seems like a lot, but Ye Chen, at his current Spirit Ancestor rank, can earn two and a half small targets of gold coins from his son's filial piety each year.
Saving a dozen small targets in ten years is simply not an issue.
Furthermore, as Ye Chen continues to raise his rank, the efficiency of accumulating gold coins will only increase.
And with all spirit rings red and all Spirit Bones over one hundred thousand years, even if his spirit power rank isn't high, Ye Chen believes he would be absolutely invincible throughout the world.
Destroying a Star Luo Empire would be effortless, wouldn't it?
He wouldn't even need to commit a massacre; he would just need to eliminate all the Titled Douluo and Spirit Douluo of the Star Luo Empire, and the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall would certainly take advantage of the situation.
Saying ten years was Ye Chen being conservative; it's not impossible for it to happen a few years earlier.
"Why?"
Zhu Zhuqing was a little confused. Why was Ye Chen so certain?
"Zhuqing, do you know anything about Spirit Hall?"
"You mean Spirit Hall will launch a war against the Star Luo Empire in the future?"
"Why not?"
"That can't be. Spirit Hall is just a Spirit Master organization; it's not a country."
"Then do you think, with Spirit Hall's strength, is there any difficulty in establishing a country?"
"I don't know, but the Two Great Empires probably wouldn't agree."
Spirit Hall was already the strongest Spirit Master organization on the continent. If it became an Empire, what then? The Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires would be the first to disagree.
"Two Great Empires? Zhuqing, do you know how many powerhouses Spirit Hall has?"
Before Zhu Zhuqing could answer, Ye Chen continued.
"Currently, Spirit Hall alone has over twenty Titled Douluo-level experts.
Have you heard of the Hall of Offerings in Spirit City? Only powerhouses whose spirit power rank reaches 95 or above are qualified to become an offering of Spirit Hall. Their current number is as many as seven."
"Spirit Hall has so many Titled Douluo?"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened. Titled Douluo were not cabbages. Among all forces on the entire continent, those openly known were only about twenty. Spirit Hall was hiding very deeply!
"Do you think these twenty-plus Titled Douluo are Spirit Hall's greatest trump card?"
"Isn't it?"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't have a true concept of the specific strength of a Titled Douluo, only knowing that they were very strong, able to move freely against an army of one hundred thousand elite soldiers, let alone twenty-plus of them.
"Spirit Hall's true trump card is not these twenty-plus Titled Douluo, but I cannot reveal it. I can only say that some people cannot be resisted by Titled Douluo, no matter how many there are."
Spirit Hall's greatest trump card was Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong, who would become Divinities a little over ten years later.
"Since Spirit Hall is so strong, why don't they act now?"
In Zhu Zhuqing's opinion, if Spirit Hall's strength was truly as strong as Ye Chen said, shouldn't the Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires have long since fallen?
"I cannot tell you the specific reason. I can only tell you that they are waiting for an opportune moment, a moment that can minimize war casualties."
Actually, Ye Chen felt that with Spirit Hall's strength at this time, if they were united and worked together to launch a war of unification, it should not be difficult.
Unfortunately, due to the 'good deeds' done by 'Secret Chamber Douluo' Qian Xunji, Spirit Hall is now divided into two major factions.
One faction is the Supreme Pontiff Palace faction led by Bibi Dong, and the other faction is the Hall of Offerings faction led by Qian Daoliu.
Because the two major factions are at odds, if the Hall of Offerings does not exert its strength, the power of the Supreme Pontiff Palace alone cannot suppress the entire continent, so Bibi Dong is still waiting for the right time.
The reason the Hall of Offerings does not exert its strength is naturally because Qian Daoliu is paving the way for his granddaughter, Qian Renxue.
If Spirit Hall unified the continent under Bibi Dong's leadership, wouldn't Bibi Dong have complete control over Spirit Hall in the future? Where would the Angel Family stand?
For Qian Daoliu, the ancestral foundation could not completely fall into the hands of an outsider like Bibi Dong.
So the Hall of Offerings faction was all waiting for Qian Renxue, this unprecedented genius, to inherit the Angel Godhood.
Once a Divinity appears, Spirit Masters who have not become Divinities are simply no match, no matter how many there are, it is meaningless. Crushing the entire continent would be effortless, wouldn't it?
It's just that Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu's calculations were very clever, but they overlooked Little San, playing a good hand poorly, and in the end, Spirit Hall was completely annihilated.
"An opportune moment?"
Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat puzzled, but since Ye Chen wouldn't say, she wouldn't ask.
"Zhuqing, do you want to become stronger faster?"
"Do you have a way?"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up.
"Indeed."
Ye Chen nodded.
"There won't be any side effects, will there? I heard that some Spirit Masters, in order to quickly increase their strength in a short period, consume external substances, which leads to an unstable foundation and prevents further progress in the future."
Although Zhu Zhuqing wanted to become stronger quickly, she would not use external substances for a temporary increase in strength.Chapter 68 You are my 'good' friend!
"Don't worry, there are absolutely no side effects."
Just kidding, Da Mao Mi was already in his bowl. Ye Chen wouldn't just focus on the present; he still had to become a god in the future! He couldn't be shortsighted.
"Please teach me!"
Saying that, Zhu Zhuqing bowed deeply to Ye Chen.
"Follow me!"
Afterward, Ye Chen led Zhu Zhuqing away from the training ground and to a secluded spot.
"Next, I will teach you a special Cultivation Method. This Cultivation Method is much more effective than ordinary Cultivation Methods. It can not only improve the efficiency of spirit power cultivation but also enhance the quality of spirit power."
In fact, Ye Chen had many ways to quickly boost Zhu Zhuqing's strength in a short time, but teaching a Cultivation Method was the slowest.
For example, using a spirit ring year boosting card to increase the age of her spirit rings. If Zhu Zhuqing's spirit ring configuration was raised to two purple, it could probably raise her from a level 27 Spirit Grandmaster to level 29, or even close to level 30.
Another example: Ye Chen's small vault had accumulated another small target of gold coins a while ago, which could be used to buy an Immortal Herb suitable for Zhu Zhuqing, greatly increasing her spirit power while also enhancing her talent.
However, it was still a bit early. The two had only just met. The matter of conquering Da Mao Mi had to be taken step by step, not rushed.
A Cultivation Method, however, was different. Resources were one-time consumables, but a Cultivation Method could be copied countless times without additional cost to Ye Chen.
"Is there a difference in Cultivation Methods?"
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned.
It was well known that every Spirit Master on the continent cultivated with the same set of Cultivation Methods; everyone used the same one.
The speed of a Spirit Master's cultivation depended on innate spirit power, Spirit, resources, and diligence. She had never heard of any Cultivation Method with unusual effects.
"Of course. This Cultivation Method of mine is an heirloom of my Ye family!"
"An heirloom? Wouldn't it be inappropriate for you to teach it to me?"
Zhu Zhuqing looked hesitant and conflicted.
On the Douluo Continent, sectarian views existed, and generally, self-created Spirit Abilities passed down through families would not be taught to outsiders.
For example, the Dragon Transformation Secret Technique of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had a rule that only family disciples could cultivate it.
Although the Dragon Transformation Secret Technique was quite demanding to cultivate, being most suitable for Spirit Masters who awakened the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit, other dragon-type Spirit families on the continent could also cultivate it.
However, if others obtained it through some means, they wouldn't dare to cultivate it, or at least not openly use it, otherwise, they would definitely be hunted down by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Another example: the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes and Great Sumeru Hammer of the Clear Sky Sect were also forbidden from being passed on to outsiders.
Even the Great Sumeru Hammer skill was only for the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect and the next successor to the Sect; others were not qualified to cultivate it.
The special Cultivation Method Ye Chen mentioned should be similar.
"It's fine. You are my good friend, it's no problem!"
Of course, this "good friend" needed to lose the "small" prefix, otherwise, Ye Chen wouldn't have taught it to an outsider.
Currently, besides Ye Chen, only Xiao Wu had cultivated the Creation Meditation Method.
However, given that he had only recently met Da Mao Mi, Ye Chen found it awkward to directly say that this Cultivation Method could only be cultivated by Ye family members.
"Then thank you very much!"
Zhu Zhuqing, unaware of the hidden meaning, immediately expressed her gratitude.
"What are you being polite for? We're good friends!"
Ye Chen acted as if they were good friends and there was no need for politeness.
'Good friends? When did we become good friends?'
Zhu Zhuqing felt a bit speechless at Ye Chen's overly familiar demeanor.
Afterward, Ye Chen personally taught the Creation Meditation Method to Zhu Zhuqing.
Hmm, don't misunderstand, Ye Chen was not a coach from some evil novel; he wouldn't 'take advantage of someone's vulnerability.'
Under Ye Chen's hands-on guidance, Zhu Zhuqing quickly learned the Creation Meditation Method.
Upon activating the Cultivation Method, Zhu Zhuqing discovered that after switching to the Cultivation Method taught by Ye Chen, her spirit power cultivation speed had indeed increased significantly.
As for the quality of her spirit power, due to the short time, she couldn't tell yet.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Tomorrow morning, at the same place, I'll teach you something else. Don't go to the Great Spirit Arena for now; just practice with me."
Ye Chen said to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Okay."
...
After parting ways with Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Chen remembered that Ning Rongrong hadn't given him today's 'housing loan,' so he went to Ning Rongrong's colorful villa.
Unfortunately, he didn't find Ning Rongrong there.
Since no one was home, Ye Chen didn't wait and prepared to go home to cultivate.
However, upon returning to his own residence, Ye Chen found Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong lying on the living room sofa, watching "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf."
The Douluo Continent didn't have wireless internet, but no wireless internet didn't necessarily mean they couldn't watch TV. Well, it should be a VCD; that didn't require wireless internet.
"Xiao Wu, this Big Big Wolf is so stupid! As a wolf, he can't catch sheep, but he goes and catches frogs to eat."
Watching Big Big Wolf, after failing again in the Sheep Village and catching a frog to take home, Ning Rongrong complained to Xiao Wu.
"Rongrong, Big Big Wolf isn't stupid at all; he's very smart and can invent many interesting things. It's just that he can't catch sheep."
Xiao Wu, however, had a different opinion of Big Big Wolf.
"..."
Listening to their conversation, Ye Chen was speechless, but it seemed that 12-year-old Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong watching "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" wasn't too out of place?
"Ning Rongrong, you're here too. Perfect, I have something to talk to you about!"
Ye Chen wanted to remind Ning Rongrong, lest she forget about the 'housing loan.'
"What is it? Hurry up and tell me, don't interrupt me watching this cartoon."
Someone interrupting her cartoon made Ning Rongrong a bit displeased.
'Damn it, you really don't treat yourself as an outsider!'
"Ahem, you didn't forget that you still owe me money, did you?"
"Tsk, isn't it just those copper coins? Today is the first day, one copper coin, right? I'll give it to you now."
Saying that, Ning Rongrong began to rummage through her storage spirit tool.
However, Ning Rongrong discovered that she was a rich person, not a miser.
Inside her storage spirit tool, there were only gold coins and silver coins, not a single copper coin. So, Ning Rongrong generously pulled out a silver coin and gave it to Ye Chen.
"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll give you a silver coin. No need for change, consider the extra a tip!"
Ning Rongrong looked very generous. In her eyes, there was no difference between a copper coin and a silver coin.
"Oh, the Young Miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School only gives a tip of nine copper coins? Are you even serious?"
Ye Chen complained, 'Who are you looking down on?! Do I lack your nine copper coins?'
"Too little? Then give me my change!"
Ning Rongrong immediately became annoyed. 'I kindly gave you a tip, and you're still unhappy?'Chapter 69 Shocked Ning Rongrong
"Tsk tsk~, Ning Rongrong, you're still the Eldest Miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, yet you're taking back a nine-copper-coin tip. Don't you think this is bringing shame to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
Ye Chen said with a shocked expression.
"Pfft~"
Xiao Wu couldn't help but laugh. After Ye Chen's words, Ning Rongrong was made to look bad no matter what.
"Damn it, what did you say?!"
Ning Rongrong exploded. If she gave a tip, he complained it was too little. If she didn't give a tip, he complained she was stingy. What did he mean by this?
"Ahem, I won't tease you anymore. I thank Eldest Miss Ning for the tip!"
Seeing signs of Ning Rongrong about to explode, Ye Chen didn't continue to joke.
"Hmm, that's more like it. In that case, I still have some gold coins, so I'll just pay it all off at once."
Ning Rongrong nodded in satisfaction, then thought about paying off the housing loan first, to avoid being hounded by Ye Chen for debt every day in the future.
"Are you sure you want to pay it off all at once?"
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm, this Miss isn't short of these few copper coins."
Ning Rongrong nodded, completely unaware that what she needed to pay back was a huge sum.
"Alright then, Eldest Miss Ning, if you pay it off all at once, you need to pay me 1,073,741,824 copper coins.
Over a billion copper coins is equivalent to over ten million gold coins. Since you're paying it off all at once, I'll round it down for you; let's say ten million gold coins."
Ye Chen was very generous, directly rounding down the odd amount for Ning Rongrong.
"!!! Over ten million gold coins? Why don't you just rob me?!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened. Was Ye Chen treating her like a fat lamb to be slaughtered?
"You can't say that. If you say I'm robbing you, I'll have to sue you for defamation! Besides, robbery isn't that fast~!
We already discussed the price back then, and you even signed an IOU in black and white."
Ye Chen said with a serious expression.
"But why is it so much?"
In Ning Rongrong's opinion, wasn't the first day just one copper coin? How did it turn into tens of millions of gold coins? This was too outrageous, wasn't it?
"Ning Rongrong, doesn't it clearly state on this that the first day is one copper coin, and it doubles every day for thirty days?"
Ye Chen took out the housing loan IOU from his spirit tool and waved it at Ning Rongrong.
"That's right, I signed this, but you can't extort me! Otherwise, I'll go back and tell my two Grandpas!"
Ning Rongrong decided that if Ye Chen dared to bully her by relying on his strength, she would definitely go back and call her parents.
"I'm not extorting you. Let me calculate this for you.
The first day is 1 copper coin… The fifth day is 32 copper coins… The tenth day is 1024 copper coins, which is over 10 gold coins… The fifteenth day is a little over 327 gold coins… The twentieth day is over ten thousand gold coins… The twenty-fifth day is over three hundred thousand gold coins… And finally, the thirtieth day is over five million gold coins!
Adding it all up, isn't it over ten million gold coins?"
Ye Chen didn't use two to the power of thirty to calculate it, but instead listed a figure for the debt each day, so that Ning Rongrong, a math illiterate, wouldn't get confused.
"How can it be so much?!"
Ning Rongrong's face turned pale with fright when she saw the figures Ye Chen listed.
Although for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, tens of millions of gold coins were just a small sum.
But Ning Rongrong couldn't represent the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School; she wasn't as rich as Ning Fengzhi, and this time she had run away from home, so she hadn't brought that much gold coin. Otherwise, when Ye Chen had quoted two hundred thousand gold coins, she would have bought it directly.
"Hmm? Eldest Miss Ning, you're not planning to default on the debt, are you?"
Ye Chen looked at Ning Rongrong suspiciously, though he also knew that Ning Rongrong, at present, most likely couldn't produce the money.
"I don't have money~"
For the first time in her life, Ning Rongrong spoke so meekly.
"No money? That's not up to you. Debts must be paid, it's only right and proper!
Also, I must remind you, not paying on time will result in interest compounding. If the debt is owed for too long, even if the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is packaged and sold, it still won't be enough to pay it off!"
"..."
It was the first time Ning Rongrong had heard someone say that a debt couldn't be paid off even if the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was packaged and sold.
"Hmph~, if you have the ability, go ask my father for it. Anyway, I don't have money."
Having made up her mind, Ning Rongrong had no intention of paying. Are you kidding? How could she possibly come up with so many gold coins?
Even if she could, she wouldn't let Ye Chen, this big cunning merchant, benefit. If Ye Chen had the ability, he should go ask her father, Ning Fengzhi, for it.
If Ye Chen dared to come to her house to collect the debt, her two Grandpas might just directly take care of Ye Chen. After all, as the saying goes, 'debts die with the person'~. If there's no creditor, who would she pay the money to? She wouldn't have to pay at all.
"Alright then, after I become a Titled Douluo and become invincible, I'll go to your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to collect the debt! By then, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School won't be surnamed Ning anymore, but Ye!"
"Tsk~, you talk big, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue? By then, I'll have Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Gu beat you until you're looking for your teeth all over the ground!
Oh, right, isn't there a way to not have to pay? Hehe, if Xiao Wu doesn't mind, I don't mind either!"
With a roll of her eyes, Ning Rongrong thought of a way to avoid paying and prepared to dig a pit for Ye Chen. She refused to believe that Xiao Wu wouldn't be jealous.
"Oh? You want to sell yourself to pay off the debt? That's not impossible. If you can't pay back the money by then, you can serve us tea, pour water, and wash clothes!"
Ye Chen wouldn't step into such an obvious pit, otherwise, Xiao Wu, who was beside him, would inevitably get jealous.
"Xiao Wu, listen, this bastard actually wants me to sell myself to pay off the debt. Aren't you going to say something?"
Serving tea, pouring water, washing clothes? How could she, Eldest Miss Ning, do such a thing? Absolutely impossible!
"Rongrong, my brother is right. Sister Xiao Wu also needs someone to serve her. I'm thirsty, why don't you go quickly and pour me a glass of water?"
With that, Xiao Wu immediately put on the air of a mistress.
"Damn it! You two are ganging up to bully me!"
Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth in hatred. What was wrong with Xiao Wu? Wasn't she jealous at all?
"Did you hear that, Eldest Miss Ning? Either pay the money or sell yourself. You choose one."
"I don't want that dilapidated house anymore! Give me back the IOU!"
Ning Rongrong declared that she couldn't afford such an expensive house.
"Don't want it anymore? Where in the world is there such a good thing?!
Let me tell you, whether you want the thing or not, you still have to pay the money. It's clearly written on this IOU.
From now on, you either pay the money or sell yourself to pay off the debt. There's no third option!"
Ye Chen said sternly.
"Hmph~, I don't care. Anyway, I won't pay. Let's see what you can do to me!"
Ning Rongrong snorted coldly and turned her head away. If she couldn't pay in the future, would Ye Chen really dare to use force?Chapter 70 Ye Chen's 'good' friends
"Alright, Big Bro, stop teasing Rongrong now."
Sister Xiao Wu spoke from the side.
"Fine, I'll let you off for now. Anyway, a monk can run, but his temple can't."
Ye Chen nodded, deciding to drop the matter for the time being.
In his plan, it was necessary to foster a good relationship with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Ye Chen and Ning Rongrong were classmates, and he also possessed something Ning Fengzhi yearned for, so establishing a good relationship with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School wouldn't be difficult.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's strength was not weak. Before he and Xiao Wu grew stronger, a good relationship could provide some support, preventing them from being assassinated by other forces.
Although this might not necessarily happen, Ye Chen would still make preparations beforehand.
Didn't Ning Fengzhi dream of his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Spirit evolving into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Spirit?
As long as there were enough gold coins, Ye Chen had as many Qiluo Tulips—Immortal Herbs that could evolve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Spirit—as he wanted.
However, talking about money seemed crude. They were 'good' friends, and in the future, they would be family. How could they talk about money? Wouldn't that hurt their feelings?
Hmm, Ye Chen swore he definitely wasn't eyeing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's gold coins.
...
The next day.
Ye Chen met up with Zhu Zhuqing to begin her guided training.
The two first engaged in actual combat. Ye Chen found that Zhu Zhuqing performed quite well in combat. While not exceptionally strong, it was still good.
In Ye Chen's view, the extent of one's strength or the richness of combat experience did not account for a high proportion.
Just like himself, when it came to actual combat skills among those of the same rank, he could only be described as decent, not top-tier.
However, Ye Chen relied on his powerful Spirit, exceptionally high spirit ring configuration, high-grade Spirit Bone, and the boost from his Cultivation Methods, making it no problem for him to challenge those above his rank.
The Spirit Master system had a so-called golden cultivation period. During adolescence, the most important thing was to diligently raise one's spirit power level, but if there was spare time, one could learn some techniques.
"Zhuqing, next, I will teach you a Cultivation Method. This method is different from a Cultivation Method; it doesn't increase spirit power, but rather is a body tempering method."
"Body tempering method?"
Zhu Zhuqing was a little confused. Was there really a Cultivation Method specifically for physical training?
"That's right. After cultivating it, it can greatly enhance your physical fitness. Once your physical fitness improves, you'll be able to attach higher-grade spirit rings in the future."
"Really? Your spirit rings also have the optimal configuration, don't they?"
Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat puzzled. If Ye Chen also cultivated a body tempering method, why were his spirit rings still two yellow and two purple? Or did this method not work very well?
"Although my and Xiao Wu's spirit rings appear to be two yellow and two purple on the surface, they actually aren't. They are all disguised by special spirit tools."
As he spoke, the four spirit rings on Ye Chen, two yellow and two purple, all turned red.
"Hundred-thousand-year spirit rings?"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened.
"Cough, cough, I just said they could be disguised. How could I possibly have hundred-thousand-year spirit rings?"
To possess a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring as a Four-Ring Spirit Ancestor, besides a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Beast actively sacrificing itself, Ye Chen estimated one would need a set of million-year Spirit Bones. Otherwise, a Four-Ring Spirit Ancestor's body couldn't withstand the pressure from a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring.
"Then what is the grade of your spirit rings?"
"I can't tell you that, unless we both…"
Ye Chen didn't elaborate.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing uncharacteristically blushed.
"Alright, I'll teach you the body tempering method. If you don't get a Spirit Bone, your third spirit ring's grade would only be around a thousand years. But after cultivating the body tempering method, you might be able to attach a three-thousand-year spirit ring.
It's not impossible for your fourth spirit ring to reach ten thousand years in the future."
Of course, to absorb a ten-thousand-year spirit ring, merely having sufficient physical fitness isn't enough; mental force also needs to keep up.
"A black ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring?"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up.
It is well known that the higher the grade of a spirit ring, the greater the boost after promotion, and the stronger the Spirit Ability.
However, throughout the entire Douluo Continent, those who could absorb spirit rings beyond the limit grade were few and far between. In fact, every year, many Spirit Masters, greedy for higher-grade spirit rings, would explode and die.
Moreover, those who encountered such situations were often talented Spirit Masters.
After all, for ordinary Spirit Masters, achieving the optimal spirit ring configuration was something they'd wake up smiling about in their dreams. Why would they even think about absorbing spirit rings beyond the limit grade?
"Yes, my and Xiao Wu's fourth spirit rings are currently both ten thousand years old.
However, to absorb a ten-thousand-year spirit ring, not only must physical fitness meet the requirements, but mental force must also keep up. I'll teach you that tomorrow. For now, I'll teach you the body tempering method.
By the way, Zhuqing, cultivating the Creation Body Tempering Art isn't something that yields results overnight. It requires your diligent effort every day."
The Creation Body Tempering Art was not a quick-fix method. It required a significant amount of time daily to temper the body with spirit power. One or two days wouldn't show much effect, but after prolonged practice, the results would be very obvious.
For example, the current Ye Chen, even without using Spirit Bones and Spirit Abilities, could reach the threshold of a Four-Ring Spirit Ancestor with his raw strength.
"Mhm, mhm."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
Subsequently, Ye Chen personally taught Zhu Zhuqing the Creation Body Tempering Art.
Another day later, Ye Chen again taught Zhu Zhuqing the Creation Soul Forging Art.
It could be said that after cultivating the Creation Meditation Method, the Creation Body Tempering Art, and the Creation Soul Forging Art, Zhu Zhuqing would now possess the capital to challenge those above her rank.
After all, spirit power, physical fitness, and mental force were the three most crucial elements for a Spirit Master.
"Ye Chen, thank you!"
Suddenly, Zhu Zhuqing said to Ye Chen with a serious expression.
"Haha, you're my 'good' friend, no need to say such things~"
Ye Chen emphasized the word 'good'.
'If you really want to thank me, then give yourself to me!'
Of course, Ye Chen didn't say this aloud.
Ye Chen knew that while Zhu Zhuqing had a good impression of him, it hadn't reached the point of giving herself to him.
"Yes, we are good friends!"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. She didn't know Ye Chen's little thoughts—no, she probably had some suspicions but didn't voice them directly.
...
Time flew by, and four months later.
Early that morning, Xiao Wu was cultivating in her bedroom.
Suddenly, a surge of spirit power erupted from Xiao Wu's body. Her spirit power level broke through a bottleneck, advancing to level 50, a quasi-Five-Ring Soul King.
"As expected of my Xiao Wu, to be able to become a Five-Ring Soul King so quickly."
Ye Chen, who was beside her, saw Xiao Wu break through and immediately stepped forward to congratulate her.
"Of course, who do you think Sister Xiao Wu is?"
Xiao Wu happily accepted Ye Chen's praise, proudly puffing out her budding chest.