Yang Xing then led Ning Rongrong through a winding maze of alleys in Suotuo City.
The lanes of Suotuo City grew narrower and narrower.
Ning Rongrong held up the hem of her skirt as she followed behind Yang Xing, passing through one unfamiliar alley after another, her expression growing increasingly unpleasant.
“Where exactly are you taking me?”
Ning Rongrong maintained a safe distance of five or six meters behind Yang Xing.
The numerous bags she carried had long become cumbersome, making her want to simply toss them aside.
But the belongings of the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could not be discarded.
Yang Xing walked ahead, his pace neither hurried nor slow.
“Taking you to where I live,” Yang Xing replied without turning his head, his tone utterly matter-of-fact.
“Fewer people, easier to talk.”
Ning Rongrong’s footsteps halted.
Completely halted.
The look in her eyes toward Yang Xing changed in that instant, as if she were looking at a piece of roadside filth.
“You—”
Her voice rose a full octave.
“You’re not actually thinking of doing something improper to me just because I’m naturally beautiful and clever, are you?”
Ning Rongrong placed one hand on her hip while using the other, still holding a bag, to point accusingly at the back of Yang Xing’s head.
The disdain in her eyes was so thick it could drip out.
“Are you dreaming?”
Yang Xing’s footsteps did not stop.
Hearing the outrageous words from behind him, a thought flashed through his mind—it was exactly like what was written in the novels before he crossed over.
Despite being only twelve years old, Ning Rongrong’s verbal boldness surpassed that of many adults.
Who knows who she learned it from.
Did the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s etiquette lessons include this?
“Miss Ning,” Yang Xing said calmly, still not turning around.
“Since we’ve met, you’ve uttered no less than seven or eight inappropriate remarks, haven’t you?”
He raised a finger and wagged it in the air.
“I haven’t said a single one.”
“If we’re talking about impropriety—shouldn’t that be you, Miss Ning Rongrong?”
Ning Rongrong’s lips moved, but the words on the tip of her tongue were stifled.
A flicker of speechlessness crossed her face, but she quickly regained her haughty expression, letting out a cold snort through her nose.
“That’s because I’m forthright,” she declared, lifting her chin.
“Who knows if you’re one of those sneaky types who hides their true intentions beneath a calm surface.”
After saying this, she watched Yang Xing’s back as he continued forward without the slightest intention of stopping.
She paced in place a couple of steps before gritting her teeth and following him again.
As the two ventured deeper into the city, the surroundings began to change.
From bustling main streets to secluded alleyways, from neat stone bricks to potholed dirt paths.
The buildings on either side grew increasingly dilapidated, with peeling walls and slanted eaves.
Occasionally, a few stray cats could be seen darting through the ruins.
Ning Rongrong’s steps became cautious.
She tiptoed as if stepping on something unclean, her delicate face scrunched up, her thumb and forefinger pinching her nose.
“What kind of awful place do you live in?” she asked, her voice heavily nasal.
“Why haven’t we arrived after walking so far?”
“Almost there.”
Yang Xing’s voice came from ahead, as perfunctory as could be.
“Just seven or eight more turns.”
“Seven or eight more turns?!”
Ning Rongrong nearly tripped over a protruding stone on the ground, so angry she wanted to hurl the bags in her hand at him.
But what she didn’t know was that Yang Xing, walking ahead, had long since shifted his focus away from the path.
All his attention was focused on the system panel floating in his vision—visible only to him.
Time waited for no one.
He had chosen to claim his reward in this rundown alley for two reasons.
First, Ning Rongrong might have hidden guards around her. The source of this chapter is novelping.com.
He needed to secure his power before reaching the house; otherwise, if those guards decided to attack, he wouldn’t even have the ability to fight back.
Second, once inside, he would need leverage to convince Ning Rongrong.
He had been spinning empty promises for so long.
Without showing something real, he probably wouldn’t be able to persuade her.
He needed power.
Immediately, right now.
With a thought, Yang Xing summoned the system backpack.
Inside lay a glowing orb, floating with a line of golden characters: [99-Level Limit Titled Douluo Cultivation Base Set].
He tapped to claim it.
Ding!
Use now?
Yes.
In the next moment, a translucent blue options screen appeared before his eyes.
A line of text was clearly written on it: *[Please first customize your Soul Skill before proceeding with Cultivation Base infusion.]
Yang Xing’s thoughts stirred slightly.
“I can define this Soul Skill however I want?”
Ding!
Yes, host.
You may customize any form of Soul Skill, including but not limited to any ability system, anime skills, or self-designed abilities from your previous life.
The system will perform adaptive conversion.
Yang Xing couldn’t help but quip.
“System, why are you still here?
Didn’t you say you’d disappear once I completed the mission?”
He remembered clearly—the system intelligence had said it would vanish after he accepted his first disciple and completed the initial mission.
Ning Rongrong had already signed the contract, so why was this thing still hanging around?
Ding!
Host, I will only completely fulfill my purpose and disappear after assisting you in fully using the mission reward for the first time.
This is the final service.
The final time.
Yang Xing’s mind fell silent for a moment.
After a brief pause.
“Was the system recommendation slot your doing?”
Yes, host!
This was my only recommendation opportunity.
Then, he hypocritically conjured up an expression of utter grief in his mind.
“Ah, hearing you say that, I really am a bit reluctant to let you go.
After all, you’ve been with me for ten years.
Leaving just like that feels a bit heartless.”
Ding!
Thank you very much for your reluctance, host.
I have also been very happy during these ten years accompanying you.
I believe you will grow stronger and stronger in the future, reaching the peak of life!
Yang Xing mentally scoffed, but ended with a sigh.
“Getting sentimental at the last moment… Thank you…”
But after saying it, an indescribable sense of melancholy did rise from the depths of his heart.
Ten years.
Although this system intelligence was foolish and loved to boast, it was truly the only existence in this world that knew his entire past.
His transmigration, his previous life, all those thoughts he couldn’t share with anyone—only this system had heard them.
And this damn intelligence had even recommended him.
Otherwise, he might not have been able to complete this mission.
From now on, he would truly be alone.
Ten years of hardship had tempered his character, making him much more resilient.
Since the facts were already set in stone, wallowing in sentimentality was useless.
Power was everything.
He pulled back his emotions and continued pushing forward with his thoughts.
“What is my Soul Ring configuration?”
[Ding!
Host’s Soul Rings are the most perfect standard configuration: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red.
Nine rings in total.
Respectively—First Soul Ring 999 years, Second Soul Ring 999 years, Third Soul Ring 9,999 years, Fourth Soul Ring 9,999 years, Fifth Soul Ring 99,999 years, Sixth Soul Ring 99,999 years, Seventh Soul Ring 99,999 years, Eighth Soul Ring 99,999 years, Ninth Soul Ring 199,999 years.
All are the maximum year limits for their corresponding colors.]
Yang Xing looked at this set of data.
To be honest, compared to the protagonists in those novels he had read, where the first Soul Ring was often a hundred-thousand-year one, followed by several hundred-thousand-year or even million-year rings, this indeed wasn’t exaggerated.
But it was enough.
This was a freebie.
Pure profit with zero investment.
Moreover, he clearly remembered that in the world of Douluo Continent, there were opportunities to improve the quality of Soul Rings.
He, Yang Xing, had the foresight.
He could take it slow.
Most importantly, this Soul Ring configuration, placed in the current Douluo Continent, was absolutely in a league of its own.
Without equal.
“What about my Martial Soul?
Is it still that little wooden stick?”
This was the question Yang Xing cared about most.
As the future youngest Titled Douluo on the continent, if his Martial Soul was still that little wooden stick when he showed it to others, wouldn’t he lose all face?
[Ding!
The Martial Soul will undergo adaptive enhancement after the Cultivation Base infusion.
At that time, its form will automatically adjust based on the Soul Skill system chosen by the host.]
Adaptive enhancement.
Alright.
At least it won’t be a little wooden stick.
[Ding!
Reminder to host: Because each Soul Ring’s Soul Skill is a system-adaptive, customized Soul Skill, the construction of each Soul Skill utilizes one hundred percent of the entire Soul Ring’s space to achieve the most perfect desired Soul Skill effect.
Therefore, although the Ninth Soul Ring is a hundred-thousand-year or higher Soul Ring, the host can only choose one Soul Skill when selecting Soul Skills later.]
“Is that so?
It’s fine, I’m already satisfied!”
Yang Xing shook his head, completely unconcerned.
Whether the Ninth Soul Ring had one Soul Skill or two, he wasn’t picky.
Since it could be customized, he just needed to choose a powerful one.
Sometimes, having more Soul Skills doesn’t mean they’re stronger.
Specialization is also an excellent direction for development.
Setting his mind at ease, he began to seriously consider the selection of Soul Skills.
This was of utmost importance.
Among the nine Soul Rings, the seventh was the Martial Soul True Form, fixed and not requiring a choice.
The remaining eight Soul Rings corresponded to eight Soul Skills.
He had to choose a system of abilities most suitable for himself.
A series of powerful skills from his past life memories flashed through his mind.
The Eight Wonders?
The Twelve Talismans?
Devil Fruits?
Various overpowered abilities from domestic and Japanese anime?
Yang Xing struggled for a few seconds, finally locking his gaze on two options.
Yi Ren Zhi Xia — The Eight Wonders.
Jackie Chan Adventures — The Twelve Talismans.