Douluo: The Glory of the Peerless Angel

Chapter 65 Soul Guidance Devices, Ning Tian's Choice (Part 2)

As night fell, darkness enveloped the earth, and the night seemed particularly desolate. A half-moon hung obliquely in the sky, and scattered stars emitted a faint light.

Shrek Academy, Freshman Assessment Area.

The freshman assessment has come to a successful conclusion. The competitions have had a tremendous psychological impact on these eleven- or twelve-year-old boys, showing them the diversity of the world and that there is always someone better.

In order to catch up with their stronger peers, the freshmen rushed back to their dormitories to train, afraid of wasting a single minute. At this moment, the arena was deserted and silent.

"Da, da, da!"

Heavy footsteps and heavy breathing suddenly resounded as a crimson figure burst into the assessment area. He leaned against a pillar for a couple of seconds to catch his breath, then looked up at the audience, his voice hoarse, uttering each word slowly and deliberately:

Ling Bai, you're really something!

Ning Tian has disappeared, and you still have the nerve to sit there like a dead turtle, motionless!

Wu Feng's face was a mixture of frustration and anxiety. His white school uniform was already soaked with sweat, and if he wrung it out, water would come out.

Ning Tian vanished as soon as he left the assessment area. Wu Feng searched almost the entire outer courtyard of Shrek Academy but couldn't find a trace of him.

"Are you really stupid or just pretending?" Ling Bai looked down at Wu Feng, who was glaring at him angrily, and felt sorry for his lack of ambition.

"Ning Tian is obviously hiding from us, finding a place to lick her wounds alone. Why do you have to deprive her of even the last bit of her privacy?"

"I...I'm worried she'll do something foolish..."

Wu Feng unconsciously bit her red lips, her trembling teeth betraying the tangled mess in her heart.

They grew up together since childhood. Wu Feng believed that no one in the world understood Ning Tian better than herself. Ning Tian was the little princess of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, as noble as the bright moonlight in the sky. Now that the moon had fallen, what if Ning Tian had a moment of despair? Wu Feng didn't even dare to continue thinking about it!

"Ning Tian won't."

Ling Bai's tone was very calm, yet filled with unparalleled certainty: "She should be a little calmer now. You go back to your dorm and rest. I promise to give you a freshman named Ning Tian tomorrow."

"Freshmen? What do you mean? We're Shrek freshmen! Hey! Hey!"

Ignoring the idiot's shouts, a pair of golden angel wings unfurled, and Ling Bai soared into the sky, transforming into a golden streak of light and flying towards the outside of Shrek Academy.

"Bang!"

After a barely perceptible collision, Ling Bai landed slowly, facing a dimly lit alley near the west gate of Shrek City.

The alley was pitch black and gloomy, with only the light from the stars and moon barely illuminating the way ahead.

Ling Bai walked forward along the alley entrance. As he went deeper, he heard a sad and suppressed low sobbing sound. A pitiful girl curled up in a ball came into view.

"who!"

Ling Bai did not deliberately lighten his pace. Ning Tian became alert the moment he noticed the stranger's arrival, picked up a stone at his feet and threw it at Ling Bai. The infusion of his level 30+ soul power made the stone appear like a phantom.

Ling Bai caught the stone steadily and smiled, "Xiao Tian, ​​it's me."

"Brother Bai?"

Hearing the familiar voice, Ning Tian subconsciously looked over, and after confirming that it was indeed Ling Bai, he immediately buried his head in his knees and shrieked:

"Don't look at me! Please, Brother Bai, let's go!"

She screamed until she was hoarse, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably, desperately trying to hold back her tears, but her eyes revealed an overwhelming sorrow.

The first defeat in her life was a blow to Ning Tian that was almost unbearable. It was not that she could not accept failure. If she lost to the two Soul Venerables, Baihu Dai Huabin and Pipi Xiang Xie Huanyue, she would at most feel disappointed and regretful. She would then work hard to cultivate and make up for it in the future.

But... he just had to lose to Huo Yuhao, a one-ring Soul Master with poor talent, a weak background, who relied on the Tang Sect to get into the sect, and who broke the rules at will!

Ling Bai, who was neither home early nor late, happened to witness her at her most destitute moment!

The glory of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School, the pride of the sect's little princess, and the opinions of the person she admired—all these things Ning Tian cherished were destroyed in a freshman assessment competition. Her mentality shattered like a broken mirror, and she dared not look directly at Ling Bai, fearing to see him show disdain and disappointment.

Suddenly, Ning Tian felt her body enveloped in warmth, as if someone was embracing her. After an unknown amount of time, a warm voice slowly entered her ears.

"Xiao Tian, ​​have you heard a story? Everyone's heart rate is different. If you hug each other for more than 30 seconds, your heart rates will become the same. So when you're sad, hugging someone tightly can calm you down."

Ning Tian couldn't tell the difference between reality and illusion; he only knew that Ling Bai's warmth, voice, and breath were like a sweet stream, nourishing his anxious and wounded heart.

With her hands tightly gripping Ling Bai's shoulders, Ning Tian tilted her head back, her eyes bloodshot in the darkness, and a few tear streaks on her beautiful face, making the girl look incredibly pitiful and moving.

The fresh scent of the girl's long, platinum-blonde hair filled his nostrils. Ling Bai gently patted Ning Tian's back and asked, "Xiao Tian, ​​are you feeling better?"

"Losing to them is hard for me to accept, and it's humiliating... Brother Bai, please don't laugh at me. There was a moment before when I really wanted to go back to the sect and never set foot in Shrek Academy again..."

After saying that, Ning Tian took the initiative to release Ling Bai and looked down at the tips of her shoes. Ling Bai inexplicably felt that two ears had grown out of the back of her head and drooped down pitifully.

"It's just a loss, no big deal." Ling Bai grabbed Ning Tian's hand without further ado. "Come with me for a walk outside the city."

"Where to?" Ning Tian asked hurriedly.

"Mountain climbing."

Fifty miles northeast of Shrek City lies Chunming Mountain. Ling Bai released a six-winged angel and flew with Ning Tian to the foot of the mountain.

"My senior sister said that the sunrise at Chunming Mountain is magnificent, so we went hiking to relax and see for ourselves."

"Um."

Ning Tian nodded. She needed to do something to distract herself and get over the humiliation of her defeat.

The two stepped onto the first step, officially beginning their mountain climbing journey. They both gave up using their soul power and relied solely on their physical strength and endurance to experience the process of climbing.

With the support of two super martial souls, Ling Bai's physical strength rivaled that of a Soul Emperor. His long legs allowed him to move with incredible speed. Ning Tian, ​​being a support-type Soul Master, was not as physically strong as some second-ring Soul Masters. He struggled to keep up with Ling Bai and soon became drenched in sweat, panting, "Brother Bai, I'm a little tired..."

"It's alright, sit down and rest for a while."

A long silence fell between the two until Ning Tian regained his strength and continued on his way.

Ling Bai did not slow down, and Ning Tian gritted her teeth and kept up. She would only rest for a moment when she was exhausted. At this time, Ling Bai would also stop and look at her meaningfully with his golden eyes.

"Huff...huff..."

Ning Tian, ​​supporting his aching thighs, finally saw the top of the mountain; victory was within reach.

The wind blows through the lush forests of Chunming Mountain. The trees, bathed in the morning light, look like an ocean from afar—a sea of ​​emerald green. Thousands upon thousands of treetops sway in the wind, forming layers upon layers of waves.

"Do you think my senior sister is lying to me?" Ling Bai asked with a smile.

"No, it's really beautiful..."

As dawn surged into Ning Tian's vision like a tidal wave, the enormous sun touched the horizon, and the ancient river below the mountain rippled slowly at her feet, its waters crashing against the black cliffs and shattering into white sprays.

Exhausted, Ning Tian reached the summit and swore that this was the most beautiful dawn she had ever seen.

"Xiao Tian, ​​was the hike tiring?"

"I'm tired, but seeing such a beautiful view makes it all worth it."

"Xiao Tian, ​​I don't really like to reason with people, because it's too long-winded and unnecessary. I'm willing to respect other people's fates, whether good or bad, it has nothing to do with me." Ling Bai's voice was very soft, so soft that it blended into the morning breeze on the mountaintop. "But for the first time, I'm conflicted about you."

Ning Tian clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned blue, and her delicate body swayed slightly as she said, "Brother Bai, I don't understand what you mean."

"Xiao Tian, ​​the night before we left for Shrek Academy, the Sect Master secretly sneaked into your room. Do you need me to remind you of what happened next?"

"Need not……"

Ning Tian's pretty face immediately flushed red, and she clenched her small hands together.

Ling Bai continued, "I can understand what the sect leader said that night. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda does not have combat power, so non-family battle spirit masters have naturally become an important part of the sect, second only to the direct disciples. In order to win over battle spirit masters, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has followed the ancient teachings of choosing relatives by marriage for ten thousand years."

Husband and wife are of one mind and heart, and I think there's nothing wrong with the marriage alliance. But Xiao Tian, ​​you've tasted the bitterness of failure. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's lack of combat power was fully exposed in the competition. After using up its soul skills, the support type is just a spectator on the field.

You have the number one support-type weapon spirit in the world, giving Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun'er a 40% boost, so what? Victory and fate are still in the hands of battle spirit masters whose talent is one level below yours.

Xiao Tian, ​​are you satisfied with this?

"Of course I'm not willing to accept this!"

A glint suddenly flashed in Ning Tian's eyes. If she replaced the Three-Ring Seven-Treasure Glazed Pagoda with a Three-Ring Red Dragon, she would definitely be able to defeat Huo Yuhao and the other two!

"My martial spirit is not something I can choose..."

As she said this, the light in her eyes suddenly went out.

"Times have changed. Support systems are no longer purely support systems, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda no longer needs to cling to and rely on battle spirit masters like a parasitic flower." Ling Bai stood on the mountaintop, a sudden gust of wind causing his clothes to flutter loudly.

"Xiao Tian, ​​go to the mountains, and look down on the mediocre valleys from the top of the peaks."

The mountain breeze carried a damp chill, and strands of platinum blonde hair clung to his fair forehead. Ning Tian's eyes shone with pure light, reflecting his entire figure atop the mountain. Suddenly, a fire raged within him, carrying the courage to burn everything away.

She slowly stepped forward and stood beside Ling Bai: "Brother Bai, what should I do?"

"By cultivating soul tools and seizing the opportunities of the times, I will pave a new path for you and for the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School!"

"Okay, I'll go!"

Ning Tian did not hesitate at all. In the Douluo Continent, which was originally part of the Three Kingdoms, the stronger the martial soul, the more resistant it is to soul tools. Almost all soul masters have trash martial souls. But she was fed up with the powerlessness of handing her fate over to others!

"However, there is one problem." Ning Tian changed the subject, "Shrek Academy's Martial Soul Department and Soul Guidance Department are clearly separated, and it is not allowed to study both."

"With someone protecting me, I can just quietly continue my studies."

Ling Bai didn't take it seriously. Huo Yuhao was studying alongside the head of the Soul Guidance Department, Fan Yu, so he decided to find a powerful figure for Ning Tian.

Coincidentally, there was a colleague in Shrek Academy who was extremely willing to dedicate himself to Ning Tian, ​​so Ling Bai decided to ask him to pull some strings.

An hour later, the door to the office of the Dean of Students of the Martial Soul Department of the Outer Court was knocked on.

"Little Tianlingbai?"

Du Weilun was finalizing the list of core disciples for this year's first-year students when he saw Ning Tian and Ling Bai. He paused for a moment, then asked in surprise, "What brings you two here?"

"Director Du, I beg you for a favor!" Ning Tian adopted a weak and submissive posture, her voice soft and gentle.

"What kind of help?"

Director Du has been taking exceptionally good care of Ning Tian for the past three months, harboring some secret motives that he cannot reveal to outsiders.

"I would like to study soul tools as a secondary skill. Could you please recommend a teacher for me?"

"Soul Guidance Device???"

As if triggering a keyword, Du Weilin sprang up and started firing away like a machine gun.

"Why are you neglecting your perfectly good top-tier martial soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and instead trying to learn that nonsense!"

"No, no, absolutely not!"

"Helping you would only harm you! Xiao Tian, ​​quickly give up these thoughts, study step by step, and you will definitely be able to take over your mother's responsibilities and become the next sect master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School!"

"Director..." Ning Tian's gaze narrowed slightly.

Okay, okay, you're forcing me to use my ultimate move, huh!

"Director, actually my father died in an accident ten years ago. My mother has had a hard time these past few years. The Body Sect has been causing us trouble everywhere, which has made Soul Masters afraid to join the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School. That's why I thought of cultivating Soul Tools to add to the sect's fighting strength..."

"Please accept my condolences... um?"

Du Weilen first sighed, then suddenly realized what was happening.

Wait, something's up!

"Your parents and I entered the school in the same year, but I was slightly less capable and failed to be selected as one of the Shrek Seven Devils like your parents."

Du Weilun is still not entirely convinced. When he graduated, he chose to teach at Shrek Academy, while Ning Tian's father married into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School in order to pursue Ning Tian's mother. If he had also given up Shrek and bravely pursued love, the question of who Ning Tian's father really was might not have been definitively answered!

"Brother Changqing, oh Brother Changqing, why did you leave so soon..."

The love and hate entanglements of twenty years ago are all in the past!

I will take care of your wife and children myself, so you don't need to worry!

Director Du looked directly to the future!

Du Weilun looked at Ning Tian, ​​stood up, and said, "That's understandable. Although cultivating soul tools is difficult, it's still worth a try. Qian Duoduo from the Soul Tool Department is always complaining to Dean Yan about needing more people. I'll bring him a top genius right away!"

He led Ning Tianchao towards the Soul Guidance Department, rubbing his hands together like flies, "Little Tian... um... actually, from your mother's perspective, you should call me Uncle Du."

"Um, Uncle Du..."

"Hey! Uncle will take you to the Soul Guidance Department!"

Ling Bai followed behind the two, shaking his head in embarrassment at being associated with Du Weilun.

As expected, if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will also be crooked!

From Moon to Du Weiren to Huo Yuhao, Shrek Academy is a place teeming with talented people and full of sycophants!

Looking at Du Weilun's humble appearance, Ling Bai realized that even the sect leader's third marriage wouldn't be his turn!

(End of this chapter)