Chapter 87: Level 5 Soul Tool

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

The auction house in the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire had just sold three Breakthrough to Master Pills and one Breakthrough to Elder Pill.

These four pills were purchased by Heaven Dou nobles. According to reports from spies, the noble who obtained the Breakthrough to Elder Pill consumed it immediately and successfully broke through to level 30.

News that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's pills could break through bottlenecks spread rapidly throughout the capital. Before long, not only the Heaven Dou Empire but even Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would learn of this.

Before the rumors could spread further, Ning Rongrong had already discussed various possibilities with Ning Fengzhi. Now, all they had to do was wait for the seeds they had planted to take root and sprout.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan arrived at the Soul Tool Pavilion where Lou Gao resided.

Compared to before absorbing the 100,000-year soul ring, Lou Gao now appeared energetic and vigorous. The hammer in his hand exuded a stronger aura, and his entire body radiated power.

As soon as the two stepped through the door, they saw a tall, lanky young man standing by the entrance.

The young man's face was bruised, his clothes disheveled and covered in dust. His lips, stained with dirt, muttered something under his breath, while his swollen eyes held a look of utter despair.

"Excuse me… who are you?" Ning Rongrong examined the battered figure. Though his injuries were superficial, he looked miserable. His build seemed somewhat familiar.

"Si Long, come here and try again! This time, your teacher is confident of success!" Before the young man could respond, Lou Gao's voice rang out from where he was hammering at the forging table.

The bruised young man reflexively dashed to the door, squeezing himself behind Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan, his face full of fear.

"This is the fifty-second time! Teacher, please spare me! A few more falls, and even my Martial Soul True Body won't be able to save me!"

Dugu Yan: "..."

Ning Rongrong: "..."

So this black-eyed "panda" was Lou Gao's disciple, the Soul Sage Si Long?

"Nonsense! Get over here! A few falls, and you're already acting like you're dying? What kind of attitude is that?"

"Teacher, the Young Mistress is here! You should take a break!" Si Long trembled, terrified of continuing to test Lou Gao's soul tools and losing his life in the process.

"Oh, the Young Mistress!" Lou Gao set down his hammer, wiped his sweat with a towel by the furnace, and turned to look.

A happy expression appeared on Lou Gao's round face as he hurried over to the soul tool storage shelves, retrieving two bracelets.

"Young Mistress, Miss Dugu Yan, you've come at the perfect time. I've just finished crafting two level 5 long-range soul tools. Both the design and practicality suit your current needs."

Lou Gao placed the bracelets in Ning Rongrong's hands.

"Level 5 soul tools? Elder Lou Gao's craftsmanship is truly unmatched." Ning Rongrong marveled at the lightweight bracelets.

It hadn't been long since he was merely repairing level 5 fixed soul tools now, he had advanced to creating them!

"You flatter me!" Lou Gao waved his hand. "Thanks to the Young Mistress, absorbing the 100,000-year soul ring completely eliminated my martial soul's negative effects. Otherwise, reaching true level 5 soul tool mastery would've taken much longer."

"Here, try them out first!" Lou Gao explained. "The blue one is ice-attribute, and the red one is fire-attribute."

"I referenced the Dragon Abyss Boat's structure to add a function that allows them to expand and shrink. To activate, just channel soul power into the soul tool and silently command it to start."

"Impressive!" Ning Rongrong turned to Dugu Yan, who looked eager to try. "Sister Yan Yan, which one do you want?"

"I think the fire attribute suits me better." Dugu Yan picked up the red bracelet and fastened it around her right wrist. "Elder Lou Gao, will using a soul tool interfere with my martial soul?"

"No." Lou Gao shook his head. "A soul tool is like an extra piece of clothing it won't conflict with your martial soul at all."

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Divided Mind Control technique gave them a natural advantage. Unlike ordinary soul masters, they wouldn't fumble when using both simultaneously.

"Come on, Rongrong, let's go test them!"

Dugu Yan pulled Ning Rongrong outside to the training grounds.

"Teacher, I should also " Si Long tried to follow.

"You're not going anywhere! I still need help testing my soul tools. You're tough, and you have Martial Soul True Body you won't break from a few falls. What's there to fear?"

"At worst, I'll swallow my pride and ask the sect's healing soul masters to treat you later."

"Hurry up, don't waste time!"

Si Long: "..."

You're not the one falling from the sky or getting beaten black and blue. Of course, you don't care!

Fifty-two falls in one day even an ironclad Martial Soul True Body can't take this!

While Si Long was detained, Dugu Yan and Ning Rongrong had already reached the training field.

Rows of distant targets stood ready for soul tool practice.

"Activate!"

Dugu Yan silently commanded, channeling soul power into the bracelet.

In an instant, a long-barreled weapon resembling a cannon appeared in her hands. The intricate red flame engravings made it look exquisite, and Dugu Yan immediately took a liking to it.

She aimed at a target and poured soul power into the soul tool.

"Boom!"

A deafening blast echoed as the distant target shattered into pieces, the air filling with the scent of burning.

"Huh? A level 5 soul tool is this weak? It's much less powerful than a fixed soul tool." Dugu Yan remembered the fixed soul tools she had used before being far stronger.

"The soul tool is level 5, but you only have four rings. Fixed soul tools of the same level consume much less soul power than standard long-range soul tools."

"Eh? Really?"

Dugu Yan's eyes widened as she turned to Ning Rongrong, who had walked up beside her.

Ning Rongrong activated the soul tool on her right hand as well. The design and engravings were similar, but hers was blue and white.

With another "Boom!", an icy mist sprayed from the barrel.

A freezing soul power projectile struck a distant target, instantly encasing it in ice before it exploded.

"CRACK!"

Wooden shards flew everywhere, coated in layers of frost that drifted down like snowflakes.

"So it really is because my soul power is too weak…" Dugu Yan couldn't help but grumble internally. The same level 5 soul tool, yet the difference between her and me is like night and day.

Admittedly, this soul tool would be great for Ning Rongrong's self-defense, but for her? It felt stiff and awkward compared to using her martial soul.

Just as Dugu Yan was about to ask Ning Rongrong's opinion

"AAAH OOOWW!"

A pained scream drew their attention upward.

A black dot in the sky rapidly grew larger, descending at an angle directly toward the training field.

Its speed was terrifying.

Instinctively, Dugu Yan raised her right hand and fired a flame bullet from her soul tool.

"Wait !"

Before Ning Rongrong could stop her, the projectile had already shot into the sky.

"BOOM!"

A violent explosion rang out as assorted debris rained down from above.

Then, a pitch-black figure crashed into the ground, forming a perfect "大" shape as it embedded itself into the dirt, lying flush with the surface an utterly ridiculous sight.