The next day, the four of them returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The first thing Ning Fengzhi did upon returning was verify whether whale rubber really had the ability Ning Wen had described—to increase a soul master’s tolerance for soul rings.
As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, verifying something like this was effortless.
After all, the one thing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect never lacked was soul masters.
Finding a few willing volunteers was hardly difficult.
Besides, whale rubber itself posed no real danger.
As for the method of using it, they could simply try each method and see which worked.
Ning Fengzhi did not announce the matter.
Instead, he secretly summoned several soul masters.
All of them were about to hunt soul beasts and obtain their own soul rings.
Their ages and cultivation levels varied considerably.
However, they shared one common trait: their families had served the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for generations.
They were absolutely loyal and could be trusted.
Most importantly, there was no need to purchase whale rubber.
Ning Fengzhi already had quite a substantial stockpile.
In this era, whale rubber was hardly a rare commodity.
It could often be found in auction houses and medicinal shops throughout the major cities of the continent.
Most aristocratic families kept whale rubber on hand for its traditional use as an aphrodisiac and to enhance their intimate lives.
Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, in a secluded courtyard where no one else was present, Ning Fengzhi dismissed all the servants and attendants, leaving only the four direct-lineage soul masters he had summoned.
The four varied greatly in cultivation.
One was a rank 10 Soul Master who was about to absorb his first soul ring.
Another was a Soul Elder stuck at the rank 30 bottleneck and preparing to break through and obtain his third soul ring.
Without exception, however, all of them had passed through layers of screening within the sect.
Their families had served the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for generations, making them unwavering loyalists.
They were discreet and composed and would never reveal the sect’s secrets.
If even these people were to betray the sect, then the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would probably be on the verge of destruction.
“Everything that happens today is strictly confidential.
You are forbidden from revealing even the slightest detail to anyone outside this courtyard.
Violators will be dealt with according to the sect’s rules.” Ning Fengzhi stood in the center of the courtyard.
His bearing was gentle and refined, yet he possessed the natural authority of a superior.
His voice remained calm, but his words carried unquestionable weight.
“Understood!” The four soul masters bowed in unison, their expressions solemn.
Nearby, Chen Xin and Gu Rong stood quietly, their faces filled with curiosity.
They were very interested in whether the whale rubber that had always been used as an aphrodisiac truly possessed the ability to increase the age limit of soul rings a soul master could absorb.
If Ning Wen’s claim were true, it would cause a huge sensation throughout the entire soul master world and directly affect the future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Whether for personal or practical reasons, the two of them naturally had to be present and witness the entire process.
Ning Fengzhi nodded and took out the five pieces of whale rubber.
Under the sunlight, the whale rubber shimmered with a delicate, warm, translucent luster.
A faint fishy scent from the deep sea slowly spread through the air.
“Begin.” At Ning Fengzhi’s signal, one of the soul masters stepped forward.
Soul power quietly surged through his fingertips, and a soft, warm, pale-red flame rose from his palm.
Under the heat of the flames, the five pieces of whale rubber gradually softened, eventually transforming into five lumps of crystalline, viscous, milky-white liquid.
Without needing Ning Fengzhi to say anything else, the four soul masters swallowed the warm liquid one after another without the slightest hesitation.
The instant the whale rubber entered their bodies, a gentle, soothing warmth spread throughout them, flowing through their limbs and meridians and permeating their bones.
In less than the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, noticeable changes appeared on the faces of all four men.
Their eyes were filled with astonishment.
“Sect Master!
I feel much more relaxed!” “My soul power seems to be circulating a little faster?!” One after another, they spoke, their voices filled with disbelief.
Ning Fengzhi’s eyes lit up when he heard this.
He hadn’t expected their luck to be this good.
The very first method had succeeded.
At the same time, Chen Xin and Gu Rong released their spiritual power, carefully sensing the changes taking place within their bodies.
After a long while, a sharp glint flashed through their eyes.
It worked.
The physical constitutions of all four soul masters had genuinely improved to varying degrees!
The changes weren’t particularly great, but they were unquestionably real.
This meant that every word Ning Wen had said was true!
Ning Fengzhi immediately made his decision.
He mobilized every commercial channel and covert trade network under the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and began secretly purchasing whale rubber on a massive scale, regardless of cost.
Fortunately, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of the wealthiest powers in the world, with merchant networks spread throughout the various regions of the continent.
By stockpiling large quantities of whale rubber, they could conceal their actions for the time being and avoid immediately alerting the Upper Three Sects, Spirit Hall, and other major powers.
However, Ning Fengzhi understood clearly that this secret would eventually be exposed.
For now, all they could do was conceal it for as long as possible.
And the most the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could do was seize the initiative while they still had the chance.
…
At noon, the sun shone brightly.
Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Rongrong sat at the dining table with her cheeks puffed out and her head lowered, refusing to say a word.
The table was covered with all kinds of delicious dishes, their aromas filling the room.
Yet she showed no intention of eating.
Her face was full of stubbornness as she silently protested.
Whenever she thought about the strict etiquette lessons she would have to endure day after day in the future, how she would have to stand properly, sit properly, and have every word and action constantly regulated, Ning Rongrong felt stifled.
Make her obediently attend etiquette classes?
No way!
Absolutely not!
Ning Rongrong was determined to fight this to the very end.
Since Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone refused to help her, she would go on a hunger strike in protest.
“Rongrong, you haven’t eaten anything for an entire day!” Looking at Ning Rongrong, Gu Rong couldn’t help but feel distressed.
“How can you do this?
You’re still growing!” “Rongrong, listen to me and eat something.
Your health comes first.” Chen Xin also tried to persuade her.
“…” Ning Rongrong remained unmoved.
She simply raised her watery eyes and looked toward Ning Fengzhi, who was seated at the head of the table.
The meaning behind her gaze couldn’t have been clearer.
Unless the etiquette classes were canceled, she absolutely would not eat.
Seeing this, Chen Xin and Gu Rong were both terribly distressed, but there was nothing they could do.
In the past, no matter how willful or troublesome Ning Rongrong became, Ning Fengzhi would at most lecture her a few times.
He had never truly been willing to punish her.
But this time, Ning Fengzhi’s mind was made up.
Rongrong was spoiled, willful, arrogant, and selfish.
Whenever something displeased her, she would throw a tantrum.
With him, Uncle Sword, and Uncle Bone protecting her, there was nothing wrong with that for now.
But the road ahead was long.
The human heart was treacherous, and the world was complicated.
If she continued behaving recklessly, sooner or later she would suffer a devastating loss.
Especially after what had happened with Ning Wen.
Even now, Ning Fengzhi had not given up on bringing the two of them together.
Before that could happen, however, all of Ning Rongrong’s bad habits had to be corrected.
Otherwise, she would only end up harming both herself and others.
“What?
You’re refusing to eat because you want to use this to force me to give in?” Ning Fengzhi’s expression remained calm as his gaze fell upon his daughter’s stubborn face.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of wavering in his eyes.
Ning Rongrong’s delicate body trembled slightly.
She bit her soft lips but said nothing.
“Rongrong, I’ll say this one last time.” “The matter is settled.
Nothing is going to change.” Ning Fengzhi’s voice turned cold.
“The etiquette teacher I hired for you should be arriving today.
So you’d better give up on that idea.”