NOVEL NEXT Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Girls Always Side with Outsiders
Chapter 88: Girls Always Side with Outsiders
"What's this? Aren't you going to introduce the person you brought home?"
After the initial joy of their reunion, Ning Fengzhi turned to Su Mo and teasingly asked Ning Rongrong.
At the same time, Ning Fengzhi began to carefully examine Su Mo.
The young man was exceptionally handsome and exuded a calm demeanor. Carrying a long spear on his back, he radiated a sense of quiet pressure.
With sharp features and a resolute look in his eyes, his tall and straight posture made him seem like a finely honed weapon.
Ning Fengzhi's first impression of Su Mo was one of approval, though a hint of annoyance lingered at the thought of this boy stealing away his beloved daughter.
"Humph, Dad, you already know who he is!"
"This is Su Mo, my boyfriend!"
Ning Rongrong declared boldly, with no trace of embarrassment.
"Lord Ning, Sword Grandpa, Bone Grandpa."
After Ning Rongrong spoke, Su Mo stepped forward and respectfully greeted the three elders.
"Hmm, not bad. You've improved a lot!"
The first to respond was Sword Douluo, who, with a brief scan, sensed that Su Mo's soul power had not only grown but grown significantly.
In fact, Sword Douluo suspected Su Mo's soul power now surpassed Ning Rongrong's, though he kept that thought to himself.
"Yes, Uncle Jian is right. You're indeed an outstanding young man," Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly in approval.
"Humph! The two of them may approve of you, but I haven't yet!"
Unlike the smiling Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi, Bone Douluo's expression was cold as he snorted at Su Mo.
In truth, Bone Douluo was far from satisfied.
He had only learned about Ning Rongrong's boyfriend after Su Mo and Ning Rongrong arrived in Seven Treasure City.
What's more, upon discovering that Su Mo's innate soul power was only level 2, he grew even more displeased. Although Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi had approved of Su Mo, Bone Douluo suspected there was something he didn't know.
The fact that Su Mo could perform a martial soul fusion technique with Ning Rongrong wasn't enough to sway him.
Still, since Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi insisted that all would become clear once Su Mo arrived, Bone Douluo decided to assess Su Mo's abilities for himself.
"How strong are you now?"
Bone Douluo ignored Ning Rongrong's dissatisfaction and approached Su Mo directly.
"Lord Bone Douluo, my current soul power is level 28," Su Mo replied calmly.
Though he wasn't sure why Bone Douluo's attitude differed from the others, Su Mo wasn't intimidated and stated his true soul power level.
At Shrek Academy, Su Mo had chosen to hide certain secrets, but here, among the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he saw no need for concealment. After all, he had already shared his Weapon Fusion Soul Technique with Sword Douluo.
Moreover, he was close to reaching level 30 and would soon need to acquire his third soul ring. Hiding his progress was pointless.
In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the more exceptional he appeared, the more he would gain Ning Fengzhi and the others' approval.
"What?"
"Level 28?"
"How is that possible?"
Su Mo's revelation left everyone, including Ning Rongrong, stunned.
Even Ning Rongrong hadn't realized Su Mo's soul power had surpassed hers.
"When you entered Shrek Academy, your soul power was at level 22, correct?" Bone Douluo asked, still in disbelief.
"Yes," Su Mo nodded.
"Then how did you advance so much in just half a year?" Bone Douluo pressed, voicing the curiosity shared by everyone present.
"That's because I obtained this during my time in the Star Dou Forest," Su Mo said.
Pupupupu!
As he spoke, eight sharp spider legs unfurled from his back, appearing in public for the first time.
"Ah… What is that?"
Ning Rongrong gasped, staring at Su Mo with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"This is…"
Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo's eyes lit up in astonishment as they stared at the Eight Spider Lances on Su Mo's back.
"An external spirit bone?"
Bone Douluo exclaimed, utterly shocked.
"Yes, this is an external spirit bone," Su Mo confirmed.
"I obtained it in the Star Dou Forest. After absorbing the Eight Spider Lances, my soul power increased by four levels. To avoid drawing attention, I claimed only a one-level increase.
"Without an accurate test using a soul crystal, others only knew I had advanced but not by how much.
"Since then, I gained another level through training and another after a recent epiphany. That's why my current soul power is at level 28," Su Mo explained.
Of course, Su Mo had slightly tweaked the truth, attributing four levels of increase to the Eight Spider Lances instead of the actual three.
Bone Douluo, Sword Douluo, and Ning Fengzhi exchanged astonished glances, their earlier skepticism replaced with newfound respect and curiosity.
"Because of the Eight Spider Lances' ability to absorb and refine energy, I think it's best to keep that hidden for now," Su Mo thought to himself.
After all, that method resembled the cultivation techniques of evil soul masters.
Once he reached level 30, he planned to stop relying on the Eight Spider Lances' absorption ability for shortcuts.
"Oh my goodness, it's actually the legendary external spirit bone!"
Ning Rongrong covered her mouth in astonishment, her eyes filled with shock and excitement as she stared at the Eight Spider Lances behind Su Mo.
"So that's why I always felt your soul power was unusually abundant. You've been hiding your true level all along!" Sword Douluo nodded with a smile.
"Smart move. It's wise not to reveal such a treasure like an external spirit bone while at Shrek Academy," Ning Fengzhi added approvingly.
He was clearly satisfied not only with Su Mo's prudence at Shrek Academy but also with his willingness to be honest about such a secret in front of them.
From the moment Su Mo shared the secret of Weapon Fusion Soul Technique, and now with the revelation of the Eight Spider Lances, Ning Fengzhi could see that Su Mo genuinely cared for his daughter.
That sincerity was what Ning Fengzhi valued most.
Moreover, Ning Fengzhi also knew Su Mo had prepared a special gift for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Although he didn't know the specifics, he was aware it was some kind of innovative weapon.
"Not bad, but this just shows you have good luck," Bone Douluo commented.
"But luck alone isn't enough to earn my approval!"
His words immediately clarified why his attitude differed from the others.
Su Mo quickly realized that Bone Douluo wasn't yet aware of his full capabilities.
"Bone Grandpa, don't tell me you still don't know about Su Mo's ability to evolve martial souls?"
Ning Rongrong chimed in, her tone teasing as she smiled at Bone Douluo.
"What? Martial soul evolution?"
"You can evolve your martial soul?"
Bone Douluo looked at Su Mo in disbelief.
"Yes, Bone Douluo," Su Mo confirmed.
He then patiently explained his self-created techniques, Weapon Fusion Soul Technique and Weapon Refinement Soul Integration.
Su Mo sighed inwardly, realizing that Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo had likely kept this secret from Bone Douluo on purpose to make him prove himself.
"Now I understand…"
Bone Douluo's expression shifted to one of astonishment as he digested the information.
"Bone Grandpa, I saw it with my own eyes!" Ning Rongrong added eagerly. "When Su Mo refined the Profound Iron Spear, I witnessed his martial soul evolve firsthand!"
Hearing this, Sword Douluo and Ning Fengzhi's eyes sparkled with confirmation.
This proved beyond doubt that Su Mo's ability to evolve martial souls was real.
Bone Douluo, on the other hand, felt a twinge of embarrassment.
He now understood why Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo had already recognized Su Mo.
"See, Bone Grandpa? Isn't Su Mo amazing?" Ning Rongrong teased, her smile radiant as she leaned closer to Bone Douluo.
Bone Douluo wanted to deny it just to save face but couldn't bear to disappoint Ning Rongrong.
"Fine, fine. This little rascal Su Mo is indeed outstanding," he said with a reluctant smile.
"Su Mo, aren't you going to thank Bone Grandpa?" Ning Rongrong quickly urged, glancing at Su Mo with a playful look.
"Thank you for your acknowledgment, Bone Grandpa," Su Mo replied with a small smile.
"What's this? You call that old Sword guy 'Grandpa,' but call me 'Senior'?" Bone Douluo grumbled in dissatisfaction.
"Thank you, Bone Grandpa!" Su Mo corrected himself seamlessly.
"Hmph, that's more like it!" Bone Douluo nodded, finally looking pleased.
Yet despite his approval, a hint of bitterness lingered in his heart.
Watching Ning Rongrong's happiness, he felt both joy for her and a pang of sourness. For the first time, he truly understood the phrase, girls always side with outsiders.
"Rongrong, Su Mo is indeed remarkable, but what about you? Have you made any progress over the past six months?"
"I heard you've transitioned into a battle soul master. Why don't we spar? Show me what you've got!"
"Use your martial soul fusion technique with Su Mo, but Su Mo can't take the lead. Let's see how much you've improved."
Bone Douluo's interest shifted, and he decided to test Ning Rongrong while also wanting to see the fusion technique for himself.
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