Douluo: Martial Soul of Lightning

Lin Jie was astonished by the changes within his body. That red light from the Yearning Heartbroken Red—could it really be this powerful?

After some time, Lin Jie and Zhu Zhuqing lay side by side, still clothed, on the soft bedding. Lin Jie glanced at her flushed cheeks—the cool detachment that used to define her was now completely gone. "Zhuqing, can you feel the changes inside you?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded softly. "Mm. And after... doing that with you just now, my body feels even stronger—just like when you helped me temper it with lightning."

"Same here," Lin Jie said with surprise. "This Yearning Heartbroken Red really lives up to its name as the supreme immortal herb. Its effects are insane." He turned to her with a mischievous grin. "Zhuqing, looks like we'll have to train like this together more often."

Zhu Zhuqing's face turned even redder. "But… if we do it too often, isn't that… kind of embarrassing? What if Rongrong or the others find out? They'd never let me live it down."

Lin Jie chuckled. "Don't worry. We'll keep it our little secret."

After tidying themselves up, the two quietly left Liu Erlong's secluded courtyard.

—

Meanwhile, within the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan...

Ning Rongrong sat cross-legged on a sofa in the clan's main hall, swinging her pale, slender legs beneath her robes. Her lips were pursed in a little pout, clearly sulking—but adorably so.

Across from her sat a frail-looking elder sipping tea slowly from a delicate porcelain cup.

Though the old man's face was gaunt and his figure appeared skeletal, his frame was surprisingly robust. What was most striking was the exaggerated size of his bones, almost unnaturally large. His skin clung tightly to the contours of his face, sunken eyes half-hidden in deep sockets. If it weren't broad daylight, he might've been mistaken for a walking skeleton. Still, his presence was anything but feeble.

He glanced at the pouting Ning Rongrong, setting down his teacup with a wry smile. "My little princess, don't be so upset. I'm sure your father's back by now."

His voice was raspy, like dry leaves rustling in the autumn wind.

Ning Rongrong jumped down from the sofa and stomped over to him, shaking his snowy white hair in mock frustration. "I don't care, Grandpa Bones! I've been gone so long, and now that I'm finally back, Dad's not even here to greet me. He's definitely avoiding me. I just know it!"

The old man's sunken cheeks twitched in bemused exasperation. "Aiyo, my little princess, please spare Grandpa Bones' last few hairs. If Sword knows you've been pulling at me again, he'll have another excuse to mock me."

Then, as if trying to change the subject, he added slyly, "Or maybe… someone's been bullying our little Rongrong? Tell Grandpa Bones who it is—I'll handle it for you."

Ning Rongrong paused, thinking. Then shook her head. "No, no one bullied me." She turned and climbed back onto the sofa with a huff.

This skeletal elder was none other than Bone Douluo Gu Rong—one of the two guardian pillars of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. A Rank 95 Title Douluo, famed as one of the most unpredictable offensive powerhouses on the continent. Though he rarely fought, those who faced him seldom emerged victorious.

As he gazed at Ning Rongrong—whom he had watched grow up from infancy—his eyes softened with warmth and affection. He knew her all too well: spoiled, spirited, and a touch unruly. But that was the doing of him and Sword, pampering her relentlessly.

Just then, a hearty voice rang out from the entrance: "I heard our little princess is back? Where is she? Rongrong, come let Daddy see you!"

Ning Rongrong instinctively perked up at the sound, but quickly remembered she was still mad and turned her back with a huff.

Bone Douluo chuckled to himself on the side.

A handsome, refined middle-aged man entered the hall, followed closely by a white-robed, silver-haired elder.

This refined man was none other than Ning Fengzhi, Clan Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the continent's foremost support-type Spirit Master. Beside him was Sword Douluo Chen Xin, the other guardian of the clan and one of the most powerful offensive Title Douluo alive.

Ning Fengzhi strode forward with open arms. "My precious girl, what's wrong? Why won't you look at me? I haven't seen you in nearly a year—I've missed you so much!"

Still sulking, Ning Rongrong turned her head sharply. "Hmph. Miss me? Yeah, right. You were probably hoping I'd stay away even longer."

Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but laugh. He was filled with both amusement and guilt. It had indeed been nearly a year since he last saw his beloved daughter, and he didn't know how well she'd been faring outside. He sat down beside her, reaching out to pull her into a hug—but she ducked away with unexpected agility.

He blinked in surprise. While Ning Fengzhi was a support-type Spirit Master, his Spirit Power was over Rank 70. That came with physical strength and speed far beyond ordinary people. Even if he hadn't used much force, the fact that she dodged so easily surprised him.

Unaware of her father's shock, Ning Rongrong darted toward Sword Douluo and threw herself into his arms. "Grandpa Sword, I missed you so much!"

Chen Xin gently embraced her, heart aching at the tears in her voice. "You're finally back, my little treasure. Grandpa missed you too."

"Really?" she sniffled, wiping her eyes as she looked up at him.

"Of course," he said with exaggerated seriousness. "Way more than that old skeleton over there."

"But Grandpa Bones said he missed me more than you did," she said, blinking innocently.

"He's full of nonsense!" Chen Xin immediately barked, giving Gu Rong zero face.

Gu Rong sprang to his feet. "What did you say, you old sword stick?!"

The two started bickering immediately, neither willing to back down.

Ning Fengzhi sighed as the verbal sparring began again. "Alright, alright, Uncle Bone, Uncle Sword—Rongrong just got home. Can we save the sparring for later?"

Both old men huffed at the same time and glared at each other before turning back to Ning Rongrong.

She, however, blinked her big eyes and said sweetly, "Actually, I have an idea for how to prove which of you missed me more."

Ning Fengzhi immediately brought a hand to his forehead. Here we go again… She hasn't changed one bit.

"Our family's in for chaos now," he muttered under his breath.

Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue at him. "You don't count—you didn't even come greet me. Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bones clearly care about me more!"

She turned to the two elders. "So here's the plan—each of you gives me a gift. Whoever gives me the better one, that means they missed me more!"

"Ugh…" Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo exchanged helpless glances. Not this trick again.

Ning Fengzhi watched the scene with suppressed laughter. "Alright, alright. Who says your father didn't prepare a gift too? If you don't behave, I'll just keep it to myself."

"A gift? Really? What is it? Where is it?" Rongrong's eyes lit up with curiosity, her sulking forgotten as she skipped to her father's side.

Ning Fengzhi tried to hug her again—but once more, she dodged with practiced ease.