"Ninth or tenth-level soul tools?" Lou Gao chuckled wryly at Ning Rongrong's words. Soul tool crafting proved far more challenging than imagined.
Though the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School provided unlimited resources, he hadn't expected its young mistress to be even more ambitious than himself.
From Ning Rongrong's classification system, ninth-level soul tools corresponded to Title Douluo in power.
Fixed-mounted soul tools were exponentially more complex and devastating than standard variants.
A ninth-level fixed-mounted soul tool might rival tenth-level ordinary ones potentially even threatening deities.
These were theoretical projections, of course. Reality might differ.
Currently, his restored Frost Soul Ballista only reached fifth-level fixed-mounted standards yet could already menace Soul Emperors.
"Young Mistress, your expectations of me soar too high!"
"Does Senior Lou Gao lack such ambition?" Ning Rongrong blinked innocently.
"Those hammer-wielding Clear Sky Sect members merely exploit their spirit's innate advantages alongside secret techniques. But you're different your forging skills and relentless passion transcend their crude methods."
"If Elder Dugu's alchemy stands peerless, your craftsmanship should likewise dominate, not merely share the 'Three Divine Craftsmen' title but reign supreme alone." Her tone brooked no argument.
Beside the Sword Douluo, Dugu Bo maintained a stoic face while internally marveling:
Damn, this girl could sell ice to a snowman!
No wonder she recruited us both.
Though his alchemy had improved, "peerless" remained distant he couldn't yet match high-level support-type healers, merely producing quantity over quality.
Truly a sect heir her persuasion tactics flowed seamlessly.
Still... the flattery felt nice.
"Indeed! My alchemy shall one day dominate the Douluo Continent, immortalized for generations to admire!"
Wait did I just walk into her trap?
As Dugu Bo mentally facepalmed, Ning Rongrong continued her impassioned speech, lavishing praise upon both him and Lou Gao.
Lou Gao swelled with pride. Blacksmiths traditionally held low status even as a Divine Craftsman, he'd received scant respect.
But at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School? Unlimited forging resources. Soul tool knowledge. Genuine esteem.
Yet decades of experience quickly tempered his excitement.
"Young Mistress, spare this old man your flattery." He waved a calloused hand. "I'll absorb the soul ring, alright? No need for such... extravagant claims."
The girl had practically declared he could slaughter demigods with a tenth-level soul tool while dominating all beneath Rank 99 with a ninth-level one.
"Wonderful!"
Ning Rongrong gulped water straight from a bottle, abandoning all ladylike pretense.
Success!
Truthfully, bringing back the Evil Spirit Orca King's soul ring had always aimed for Lou Gao.
She knew Ning Fengzhi couldn't quickly find a suitable Soul Douluo but Lou Gao had just reached Level 80. Given his status and contributions, absorbing the soul ring was logical.
Provided they ensured his survival.
Losing Lou Gao over a mere soul ring would be catastrophic.
No hundred-thousand-year soul ring could compare to his value.
After her silver-tongued persuasion, Lou Gao agreed to attempt absorption after two days of preparation.
With matters settled, Ning Rongrong turned to the azure ballista.
"Senior Lou Gao, may I test your soul tool?"
"Certainly, though it requires five-minute cooldowns between shots..."
Overwhelmed by her enthusiasm, Lou Gao explained the operating procedures.
"Come, Sister Yan! Let's examine Senior Lou Gao's masterpiece!"
Dragging a reluctant Dugu Yan to the Frost Soul Ballista, Ning Rongrong marveled at its crystalline-blue frame.
So the core uses that damaged formation array I retrieved from Heaven Dou's treasury?
Replicated this quickly and as a fixed-mounted ranged soul tool, no less!
"Here, Sister Yan you try first."
Ning Rongrong stepped back, offering the controls.
Dugu Yan: "..."
That retreat wasn't subtle.
Lou Gao had explicitly mentioned safety hazards during testing.
"Relax." Ning Rongrong whispered conspiratorially, "If Senior Lou Gao let us operate it, the worst outcome is getting dust-covered."
"Besides, I'm standing right beside you!"
Dugu Yan: "..."
Why does she keep saying bizarre things?
"Begin by channeling soul power inside."
"Understood." Dugu Yan rolled her eyes.
Ning Rongrong alternated between childishness and razor-sharp intellect like some split personality...
Wait, that's unfair.
Taking a deep breath, Dugu Yan placed her jade-like hands on the soul tool. Surging soul power flooded into the device.
Upon pressing the activation rune
WHOOSH!
An azure energy bolt streaked across the training ground, piercing the distant target with glacial fury.
Temperatures plummeted as the projectile detonated, carving a ten-meter-wide crater glazed with frost.
"Incredible!" Dugu Yan gaped at the devastation.
"Mm! Sister Yan was amazing!" Ning Rongrong cheered, earning another eye-roll.
Nearby, Ning Fengzhi's group observed the test.
Comparing this result to the earlier tremor at the main hall, Ning Fengzhi frowned. "The power seems diminished."
"Sect Master, the output scales with input soul power. Dugu Yan didn't reach maximum capacity."
"I see." Ning Fengzhi nodded thoughtfully.
As he considered requesting a full-power test, Dugu Yan stepped aside
and Ning Rongrong approached the ballista.
She waited precisely five minutes before placing her hands on the controls.
"Can Rongrong really operate it?" Ning Fengzhi wondered aloud.
His daughter cultivated zhenqi, not soul power yet wielded the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, sealed soul rings, and now attempted to activate soul tools.
How peculiar.