Lou Gao's spirit was the Sacred Forging Brush its black-tipped, goose-feather-like design carried a fatal flaw. Each use consumed fragments of his lifespan, making him reluctant to summon it.
Yet despite this, his bare hands had still earned him the Divine Craftsman title.
After joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Bo had retrieved an immortal herb from the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well for him.
Even this celestial remedy only mitigated not eliminated the brush's life-draining effect.
Three years of experimentation yielded no permanent solution. The Sacred Forging Brush remained a double-edged weapon.
"Can a hundred-thousand-year soul ring truly purify his spirit?"
Ning Rongrong's brow furrowed as she observed Lou Gao's stout form.
Seven soul rings yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black orbited him.
The eighth ring, enlarged by his soul power, was gradually being absorbed amidst crimson light flooding the hall with the Evil Spirit Orca King's resentment.
Beads of sweat dotted Lou Gao's forehead, veins bulging as his shirt clung to his drenched back.
"Prepare for intervention, Sect Master." The Sword Douluo's voice was grave.
"Will he fail?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
Failure would require the Title Douluos to forcibly expel the soul ring's energy from Lou Gao's body.
"The odds are high. The Evil Spirit Orca King's will is overwhelming Lou Gao's soul power." The Bone Douluo sighed. "A hundred-thousand-year ring is simply too demanding."
At Level 90, Lou Gao might have succeeded. But amplified to Level 86? The challenge was immense.
"Sect Master, while regrettable..." Dugu Bo trailed off.
"A hundred-thousand-year ring can be reclaimed. Lou Gao's value far surpasses it."
This risky attempt stemmed from his and Ning Rongrong's insistence they owed Lou Gao a safe retrieval.
Ning Fengzhi now grasped the core issue: Lou Gao's soul couldn't withstand the Soul Tremors!
The Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda enhanced all attributes except spiritual fortitude.
"Relax." Ning Rongrong's calm voice cut through the tension. "I've prepared contingencies for Lou Gao's absorption. The ring's quality may diminish slightly, but its hundred-thousand-year essence will remain."
Her declaration drew stunned gazes.
"What do you mean?" Dugu Yan spoke first as others focused on Ning Rongrong.
Approaching Lou Gao, Ning Rongrong extended her jade-like hand.
The Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda materialized, its five purple rings drifting serenely.
"What's she doing?" Dugu Yan looked to Ning Fengzhi for answers.
"I don't know." He shook his head. "I've never interfered with Rongrong's cultivation. Her methods are beyond my counsel."
A year prior, Ning Rongrong had mastered the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Split Control seventh layer Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart a feat he'd only achieved near Level 79.
Frankly, the sect had nothing left to teach her.
His own eighth layer remained experimental at best.
"Uncle Ning, aren't you worried?"
Dugu Yan often found Ning Fengzhi's laissez-faire parenting baffling.
Your daughter's cultivating mysterious techniques to assist hundred-thousand-year soul ring absorptions without consulting you?
What kind of father are you?
Why did she guard her methods so closely even from him?
"Let's observe quietly. That's all we can do." Ning Fengzhi paused, struck by déjà vu.
When had he said this before?
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong's pagoda expanded beside Lou Gao's struggling form.
Delicate hand seals flashed as she intoned:
"Extract."
The crimson ring trembled as torrents of bloody resentment flowed into the pagoda like converging streams.
Through their linked soul power, Ning Rongrong's voice echoed in Lou Gao's mind:
"Senior Lou, I'll isolate the will hindering your absorption. Focus solely on assimilating the energy."
"Young... Mistress?" Lou Gao marveled amidst his struggle.
"Don't resist. Leave the Evil Spirit Orca King to me."
"Sever!"
The monstrous orca's consciousness ravaging his mental space recoiled against an irresistible force, retreating from his psyche.
Lou Gao wasted no time pondering this miracle with the hostile will gone, the ring's energy halved in intensity.
Though weakened, he now stood a chance.
Simultaneously, Ning Rongrong channeled the extracted will into her pagoda.
"Seal!"
More hand signs stabilized the pagoda as it shrank back to her palm.
Observing Lou Gao's now-smoother absorption, she murmured:
"Confirmed. But the king took more energy than anticipated."
The eighth ring had lost its bloodthirsty aura, the hall's crimson hue fading substantially.
Returning to Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong announced:
"Senior Lou will awaken within half a day."
"Rongrong, what exactly " The observers had clearly sensed the soul ring's energy diminish after her intervention.
"It's handled." She smiled. "I'll meditate in the side chamber. Please monitor him."
With that, Ning Rongrong departed the main hall.