"Zhuqing, how many years is your third spirit ring?" Ning Rongrong asked. "Mine is 11,112 years. If I'd known, I would've held out just one year less."
Typical behavior—complaining despite getting a great deal.
"14,100 years," Zhu Zhuqing answered with satisfaction.
"Third spirit skill—Nether Mark!"
"Upon contact with a target, the Nether Mark is applied. All damage, movement speed, and attack speed against that target are boosted by 50%."
She stopped there, watching the two of them.
Diyi Hong and Ning Rongrong exchanged puzzled looks.
Even Dai Mubai's third ring was just over 1,000 years, and that gave a 100% boost!
["God of Speed": Her expression's off—she's holding back.]
["Nine-Colored Goddess": Huh? Her expression changed?]
["Phoenix God": There's probably more to it. Otherwise, that 10,000-year spirit ring would be way too underwhelming.]
"Go on," Diyi Hong chuckled. "You're in a good mood, huh? Even keeping secrets now?"
Zhu Zhuqing smiled faintly— she's caught in the act?
It's true, the spirit skill's effect didn't quite match the ring's age.
"There's a second phase," she said, unable to suppress her grin.
"Reactivating the Nether Mark allows instant teleportation to the target's location. All enhancements double again. After 1.4 seconds, the Nether Mark shatters."
"Teleportation?!" Ning Rongrong's eyes went wide. "You're kidding, right? That puts so much pressure on me as a support!"
"It's not that bad," Diyi Hong analyzed calmly. "The Nether Mark requires direct contact to apply. Since you're usually at the backline buffing, you won't be the first target."
Ning Rongrong breathed a sigh of relief.
"Zhuqing, can this third skill be used on only living things, or objects too?"
Zhu Zhuqing froze, then pulled out a gold soul coin. Her third ring lit up in black light.
A purple dagger floated above the coin—obviously, the Nether Mark.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes went wide.
She flung the coin into the air, vanished in a flicker, and slashed it midair with her claws.
But it didn't end there.
She pulled out a stack of gold soul coins. With a flash of her spirit ring, each coin emitted a purple dagger.
What kind of monster skill is this?!
Even Ning Rongrong got chills.
This was basically the same as teleporting wherever she wanted!
Diyi Hong nodded inwardly.
He had his Universal Pull, and now she had a Flying Thunder God.
Might as well give Ning Rongrong Kamui at this rate.
"Tomorrow I'll ask Tang San to craft you some throwing knives," Diyi Hong said. "Practice hidden weapon techniques—you can use this skill for precision teleportation later."
"Hidden weapon techniques?" Zhu Zhuqing frowned. "But I already chose Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. Tang San might not teach me more…"
A book landed in her hands.
Four bold characters on the cover: Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record!
"Besides the Mysterious Heaven Skill, you can learn whatever you want. Need a specific hidden weapon? Ask Tang San to make it. If you don't understand something, come ask me."
His commanding tone made Zhu Zhuqing's eyes light up.
This was the man she'd been waiting for—her true soulmate!
The one who could lead her out of darkness.
Although her heart surged with emotion, she said nothing and quietly put away the manual.
But the way she stayed close to Diyi Hong spoke volumes.
"So lucky…" Ning Rongrong muttered enviously. "Unlike me—my third spirit skill is just a 40% attack boost."
Even Diyi Hong raised a brow.
Standard support-type spirit masters usually only managed 5%–10%. Even a 15% boost was considered top-tier.
That was nearly half a DPS's output!
And don't forget—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's boosts ignored level gaps, fixed at (spirit ring count + 1) × 10%.
Sure, spirit power consumption multiplied and duration shrank.
To high-level spirit masters, a single second was enough to determine the outcome of a battle.
That's precisely why this support martial soul was worthy of being one of the top three clans.
["Nine-Colored Goddess": Since there's time, why not let them stay in the Divine Realm Fragment to train Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track?]
["God of Speed": Definitely. That footwork is useful for both agility-types and support-types.]
["Phoenix God": Back then, Tang San kept saying Mysterious Heaven Skill required dispersing spirit power to relearn. But never said a word about Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track or Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon!]
["Rakshasa God": Those are his personal secrets. Of course he wouldn't teach them—sharing would weaken his edge.]
["God of Emotions": Yet he founded a whole sect and even ascended as a god. And the secret arts he passed down were still incomplete!]
["Rakshasa God": That's just pure selfishness.]
"Alright," he said. "The night is long—let's do something fun."
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing.
But Ning Rongrong's expression shifted—she took a wary step back.
Diyi Hong flashed a devilish smile and wrapped an arm around Zhu Zhuqing.
She visibly trembled—
So… she was okay with it?
But Ning Rongrong looked increasingly alarmed.
"And I admit, after spending time together these past two days, I do have a bit of a crush!"
"But this is too soon—we still need time to understand each other!"
"How about… just Zhuqing tonight?"
She rambled on in a panic—
—until she caught Diyi Hong's teasing gaze.
Only then did she realize—
"I—I panicked, didn't I…" she muttered, flustered.
Diyi Hong laughed. "I just meant we'd train Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track. What's all this about feelings?"
Ning Rongrong realized she'd been thoroughly trolled.
"You did that on purpose?!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Diyi Hong said innocently. "A full night in the Divine Realm Fragment is worth three months of training time."
Ning Rongrong was both furious and embarrassed!
But once he opened the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record and began explaining Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track…
She had no choice but to scoot closer.
It was too good a learning opportunity to pass up.
Diyi Hong woke up and instinctively reached for his phone.
He glanced at the Divine Realm Fragment. He'd left after finishing the lesson last night.
Zhu Zhuqing was still grinding away—using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track while tossing throwing knives.
Looked like a madwoman. Her hair is a mess, staring into space.
Not everyone could just "go into seclusion for half a year" on a whim.
He had set them both to "retain training experience only" when leaving the Divine Realm Fragment.
Zhu Zhuqing showed little outward change.
Her fatigue vanished instantly. Her eyes sparkled with sudden clarity.
Then both girls lit up in shock and joy!
All that "sudden" training experience had given them a massive boost.
Like winning the cultivation lottery.
"This is insane!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed. "I already grasped the basics of Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track?! How?"
Zhu Zhuqing was also surprised.
She herself had already reached minor mastery…
And gained hidden weapon skills, Controlling Crane, Capturing Dragon at minor mastery, and even some experience in Purple Demon Eye training.
Diyi Hong had secretly given her extra help.
Her gaze toward him grew even softer.
Which made Diyi Hong want to laugh.
That was all just them grinding it out themselves.
He stood up and stretched.
"I'll get someone to bring you hot water. Clean up and meet outside."
Only then did the two girls realize—
Like they'd been shut in for a month.
They clearly remembered only training for a little while in there.
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