Douluo: Seven Treasure Pagoda? I'm Actually a Summoner!

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A year and a half later.

Inside the Main Hall of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Jiang Bai sat in the seat of honor, gazing at the two young women standing before him; a flicker of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

Shui Bing’er stood on the left, clad in a long, water-blue gown, exuding a spirited and heroic aura.

Her spiritual presence was immeasurably stronger than it had been a year and a half ago; she now resembled a sharp sword drawn from its sheath—its cutting edge fully exposed.

Ye Lingling stood on the right, still wearing her signature long black gown and black veil.

Yet, her spiritual presence, too, had grown far more profound than it was a year and a half prior. That faint, ethereal aura of life she radiated made those around her feel as though they were basking in a gentle spring breeze.

"Excellent."

Jiang Bai nodded. "I have witnessed the progress you two have made over this past year and a half."

He turned his gaze toward Shui Bing’er. "Bing’er, you have successfully broken through to the rank of Soul King."

Shui Bing’er curtsied slightly. "I am deeply grateful for the Sect Master’s guidance and cultivation."

Jiang Bai waved his hand dismissively. "It is the result of your own hard work."

He then looked toward Ye Lingling. "Lingling, you, too, have broken through to the rank of Soul Sect."

Ye Lingling gave a silent nod.

Jiang Bai rose to his feet. "Come, let me take you to acquire your Soul Rings."

...

The Blue Silver Forest.

Jiang Bai led Ye Lingling as they made their way through the depths of the forest.

Before long, they discovered a Blue Silver Grass plant that was five thousand years old.

Jiang Bai pointed at the plant. "This is the one. It shall be your fourth Soul Ring."

Jiang Bai unleashed a powerful punch, severing the Blue Silver Grass at its base; simultaneously, he released an overwhelming aura of pressure, rendering the surrounding Blue Silver Grass plants immobile with fear.

Ye Lingling nodded.

She stepped forward, drew her short sword to deliver the final, killing blow to the Blue Silver Grass, and then sat down cross-legged.

Her Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul blossomed within her palm, radiating a soft, gentle glow.

Ye Lingling closed her eyes and began the process of absorption.

...

An hour later.

Ye Lingling opened her eyes.

Her spiritual presence was now significantly stronger than it had been moments before.

Level 41.

She had successfully achieved her breakthrough.

...

The Frozen Forest.

A place perpetually blanketed in ice and snow. The temperatures were frigid and the biting wind cut to the bone; ordinary Soul Masters wouldn’t dare to even approach this place.

Yet, for ice-attribute Soul Beasts, this was a veritable paradise.

Jiang Bai led Shui Bing’er as they traversed the forest.

Amidst the snow and ice, a petite white figure took the lead.

The Ice Empress.

She retained her diminutive appearance, yet in this snowy terrain, she moved with the effortless grace of a fish in water.

"Found it."

The Ice Empress halted her steps, pointing toward an ice-tree in the distance.

Perched upon that tree was a massive azure bird.

The bird was azure from head to tail, its feathers shimmering like jade; its beak was curved like a hook, and its talons resembled steel claws. With a wingspan exceeding ten meters, it radiated an intense, biting cold.

A Frost-beaked Azure Phoenix.

A Soul Beast with sixteen thousand years of cultivation.

Gazing at the bird, the Ice Empress spoke in a cool, detached tone: "Its bloodline is decent—barely worthy of your Martial Soul. This is the one."

Shui Bing’er nodded.

Once the Ice Empress had incapacitated the bird, Shui Bing’er stepped forward to deliver the final blow, watching as a black Soul Ring slowly ascended into the air.

She took a deep breath and began the absorption process.

...

One hour later.

Shui Bing’er opened her eyes.

Her spiritual aura had surged dramatically.

Level 51.

She had successfully achieved a breakthrough.

Standing nearby, Jiang Bai observed Shui Bing’er, a flicker of satisfaction glinting in his eyes.

Subsequently, Jiang Bai asked the Ice Empress to help him locate a few more high-quality avian Soul Beasts within the Frozen Forest—specifically those "willing to offer themselves in sacrifice."

In the end, the Ice Empress identified four such Soul Beasts—all of them old, weak, or infirm—with cultivation levels ranging from one thousand to ten thousand years.

They were indeed the old, the weak, and the infirm; some had sustained grievous injuries, while others were simply nearing the end of their natural lifespans.

Jiang Bai gathered them up and brought them into his tower.

He paid no mind to their current cultivation levels.

As long as their innate quality was high and they were capable of continued cultivation, that was all that mattered.

Once inside his tower, he could slowly nurture them until they evolved into 100,000-year-level Soul Beasts.

By then, the subsequent Soul Rings Shui Bing’er acquired could also be of the 100,000-year tier.

Of course, he did not mention any of this to Shui Bing’er.

Some matters were best left unsaid—at least for the time being. ...

Jiang Bai teleported back to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, bringing the others along with him.

Inside the main hall...

Jiang Bai looked at Shui Bing’er and Ye Lingling, then slowly began to speak: "From now on, your training will become even more arduous."

His voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority: "For in three years’ time, the Seven Great Sects Tournament will commence."

Shui Bing’er raised her head, a flicker of astonishment flashing through her eyes.

The Seven Great Sects Tournament—of course she knew of this event.

The ranking of the Upper Three Sects and the Lower Four Sects depended entirely on each sect’s performance in this competition.

It was the universally recognized hierarchy of power within the Soul Master world—a stage of glory that every sect dreamed of attaining.

"Sect Master, are you planning to take us to participate?"

Her voice held a note of disbelief.

Jiang Bai nodded: "Indeed. As the very first batch of disciples of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, it is only natural that you participate in this tournament."

He turned his gaze toward Shui Bing’er: "Bing’er, when the time comes, you will serve as the sect’s primary damage dealer among the disciples."

Shui Bing’er parted her lips, intending to say something, but found herself unable to utter a single word.

Among all the disciples in the entire sect... am I the only Power Attack-type Soul Master?

She mused silently to herself.

Jiang Bai seemed to read her thoughts; the corners of his lips curled upward slightly: "What? Are you afraid?"

Shui Bing’er took a deep breath and straightened her back: "I am not afraid!"

Jiang Bai nodded with satisfaction, then turned his attention to Ye Lingling: "Lingling, you are the sect’s premier Support-type Soul Master—our primary healer."

Ye Lingling: "..."

She offered no verbal reply, simply giving a firm nod.

Jiang Bai looked at the two of them, a glint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes: "Are you ready?"

Shui Bing’er took another deep breath and declared solemnly: "We are ready!"

Ye Lingling, too, nodded vigorously. Jiang Bai rose to his feet, standing with his hands clasped behind his back as his gaze swept over the two young women: "Excellent—you are full of spirit!"

His voice held a note of gratification: "Over this coming period, I will arrange even more rigorous training for you. Bing Di and Bi Ji will also continue to guide you. When the day of the tournament arrives, I want the entire continent to witness exactly what kind of existence the disciples of my Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect truly are!"

Shui Bing’er and Ye Lingling exchanged glances, then bowed in unison: "Understood!"

...

Meanwhile, over the course of this past year and a half, news of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect’s establishment—and its intention to participate in the upcoming Sect Hegemony Tournament—had spread across the entire continent.

The news seemed to take flight on wings of its own, soaring into the council halls of every sect and reaching the ears of every faction leader.

The various sects buzzed with speculation.

Some were shocked; others were perplexed; still others fell into deep contemplation.

Most sects were pondering the very same question: what exactly was the relationship between this "Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect" and the "Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect"?

Their names were so strikingly similar—could this be a newly established branch?

Or had some internal upheaval occurred within the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect itself?

Factions from all sides dispatched agents to investigate.

Their findings confirmed the truth.

This was not merely a case of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect changing its name; rather, a genuinely new sect had been established—one that had constructed its headquarters within the mountainous terrain northwest of Spirit City.

At present, the only concrete information they possessed was the name of this new sect: the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Its Sect Master was named Jiang Bai.

Yes... that Jiang Bai—the Judgment Elder of the Spirit Hall.

When they laid eyes on this piece of intelligence, everyone was left dumbfounded once again.

Wasn’t Jiang Bai an Elder of the Spirit Hall? How could he have broken away to establish his own independent sect?

The high-ranking officials of the various sects sank into deep, pensive silence.

...

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—Council Hall.

Yu Yuanzhen sat at the head of the table, clad in a long black robe; his countenance was stern and austere, exuding an aura of authority that commanded respect without the need for anger. Spread out before him lay a report that had just been delivered.

Seated below him, several Elders were arranged along the flanks of the hall.

Yu Luomian occupied the seat of honor on the right-hand side, his eyelids lowered as he appeared lost in thought.

Yu Yuanzhen lifted his gaze from the intelligence report, sweeping his eyes over the assembled group, and spoke slowly: "Tell me—what exactly is this Jiang Bai up to?"

His voice was deep and resonant, like distant thunder: "Has he truly struck out on his own to establish a new sect, or is this merely a maneuver orchestrated by the Spirit Hall?"

The elders exchanged glances, none of them rushing to be the first to speak.

Yu Luomian pondered for a moment before being the first to offer his thoughts: "Clan Master, regardless of which scenario is true, the crucial point is that during the upcoming Sect Hegemony Tournament, our Blue Lightning Clan must secure its place as one of the ’Upper Three Sects.’"

He paused briefly, then continued his analysis: "Judging by the current situation, our Blue Lightning Clan possesses one Title Douluo—you, Clan Master. As for Jiang Bai’s sect, it should, at the very least, have one guaranteed Title Douluo. And regarding the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect..."

He paused again, his voice dropping slightly: "I wonder if any of you have noticed that the Bone Douluo hasn’t made an appearance in quite some time?"

Upon hearing this, the elders all furrowed their brows.

They thought back carefully, and indeed—it was true.

During the most recent public events, the only person accompanying Ning Fengzhi had been Chen Xin; Gu Rong had been conspicuously absent.

The Bone Douluo, Gu Rong—the other pillar of strength supporting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—was a Level 95 Title Douluo. In the past, he would invariably appear alongside Chen Xin at every significant occasion.

But now...

Yu Yuanzhen frowned and asked: "Are you suggesting...?"