Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

However, this process will be very long and very covert.

Gedo looked at the little girl in front of her, who was meditating with her eyes closed and completely unaware of the terrible changes happening inside her body, and a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.

Since Ning Fengzhi personally handed over his most treasured pearl to her, how could she, Ge Duo, waste this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

Chapter 173 The Absolute Center

One Ning Rongrong might not be enough.

But once the seed is planted, it may influence the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School through her in the future.

That was one of the three most powerful and influential sects on the mainland, possessing wealth comparable to a nation.

The host, Lin Wan, did not impose many restrictions on the actions of these summoned characters. As long as they did not affect his core interests, they had considerable autonomy.

Eva stirs up trouble in the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace, Ursula cultivates faith in the deep sea, so why can't she, Godor, try to experience the taste of power?

While accumulating resources and influence through potion trading is important, the feeling of directly controlling a top-tier sect would surely be even more wonderful.

The patterns of the magical contract slowly traced the depths of Ning Rongrong's soul, spreading silently like the most intricate spider web.

This process requires patience; one cannot rush it.

Ning Rongrong was completely unaware of this; she even felt that this seemingly cold and aloof Her Majesty Godo wasn't so bad after all.

Geduo maintained the output of mental and soul power, her eerie green eyes half-open and half-closed, as if she was also immersed in the study of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

The valley was serene, save for the gurgling sound of the red and blue springs meeting and the rich sound of energy flowing in the air.

……

On the other side, on the road back to Holy Soul Village from Notting City, a slightly old carriage slowly traveled along the bumpy dirt road.

Inside the carriage, Tang San and Cinderella sat side by side.

Compared to when they left Nottingham City for Sky City a few months ago, both of them had undergone slight changes in their demeanor.

The prosperity and complexity of Tiandou City were like a gust of wind; although it failed to change their fundamental nature, it did leave some traces on them.

Tang San remained taciturn, but the boyishness between his brows seemed to have faded a bit, and his eyes were calmer, with an occasional, barely perceptible sharpness flashing across them.

Only when his gaze turned to the girl beside him did that sharpness melt away like ice and snow, turning into a gentle warmth.

Cinderella wore a clean cotton dress, simple in style, yet it couldn't hide her increasingly slender figure and outstanding beauty.

Her long, golden hair was simply tied back, revealing her smooth forehead and slender neck.

Her azure eyes gazed at the fields rushing past the window, her gaze clear, carrying a hint of contemplation.

A few months ago, after Yu Xiaogang successfully obtained his third soul ring and officially became a Soul Master, they followed Yu Xiaogang back to Notting City.

Although Tiandou City was a good place, it was ultimately not a place for Yu Xiaogang to stay for long. There lay a past he didn't want to face, and a psychological gap that even after breaking through to level 30, he could hardly completely erase.

In Yu Xiaogang's own words, Nottingham is quieter and more suitable for laying the foundation.

As for the Soul Ring Absorption Pill that he had secretly planned to use at the right time to make Tang San and Cinderella extremely grateful, it seems that for various reasons or other considerations, it has been temporarily abandoned.

He simply instructed the two not to slack off in their cultivation and to lay a solid foundation.

After returning to Nottingham City, Tang San and Cinderella's lives went back to normal.

Attending classes, practicing martial arts, going to the blacksmith's shop... day after day.

With the annual Martial Soul Awakening Day approaching, Cinderella suggested returning to Holy Soul Village to help.

For the past few years, they have always gone back at this time.

Therefore, the two were currently sitting side by side in the carriage returning to Holy Soul Village. Their purpose in returning was to replace Su Yuntao, the deacon of the Spirit Hall, to help the children of Holy Soul Village awaken their martial spirits.

After all, they are Soul Masters themselves, and it is more than enough for them to preside over the awakening ceremony. They can also take the opportunity to see Old Chief Jack and the other villagers.

This idea was naturally proposed by Cinderella.

In Cinderella's view, before his martial soul awakened, Tang Hao was addicted to drinking and neglected his family. The neighbors and villagers of Holy Soul Village, especially Grandpa Jack, took good care of the two siblings.

Now that they have the ability, it's only right that they give back.

Therefore, in recent years, whenever the day of the Martial Soul Awakening arrives, Cinderella and Tang San would return to Holy Soul Village to help, as long as circumstances allowed.

This would not only help the village but also lighten Su Yuntao's workload, as he is responsible for several villages, including Shenghun Village, and is constantly on the go.

In response, Su Yuntao highly praised Tang San and Cinderella, and even reported their enthusiastic deeds to the Spirit Hall branch.

Therefore, in recent years, the awakening of martial souls in Holy Soul Village has been mainly presided over by Tang San and Cinderella, who have already become soul masters.

Tang Hao was naturally unaware of this matter; otherwise, he would have been furious.

Tang San, of course, would not object to Cinderella's thoughts and actions.

He would support Cinderella in whatever she wanted to do.

Moreover, Holy Soul Village was, after all, the place where he was born and grew up in this life. Although there was nothing worth missing there, Cinderella cared about it, so he would care about it too.

"Sister, are you tired?" Tang San asked softly, looking at Cinderella's hair being blown by the wind outside the window.

Cinderella turned her head and smiled at him. Sunlight streamed through the car window onto her face, making her skin appear almost translucent.

"Not tired. But you, Xiao San, did you stay up all night again last night working on those parts?" Her gaze fell on Tang San's fingers, where there were subtle marks.

Tang San calmly withdrew his hand back into his sleeve, his tone indifferent: "No, just a simple tidying up."

He didn't want his sister to know that he devoted almost all his spare time to creating more powerful and concealed hidden weapons to ensure her safety.

Those cold metal parts gradually transformed in his hands into deadly weapons, so that if anything or anyone might threaten his sister in the future, he would have enough power to instantly eliminate them.

Cinderella saw Tang San's feigned calmness and understood, but she didn't say anything.

She reached out and gently patted Tang San's hand, saying softly, "I know you're the best, Xiao San. But you still need to rest; we're still growing."

The warm, soft touch from his palm made Tang San's body stiffen slightly, then he relaxed, a faint blush creeping up his ears. He let out a soft "hmm."

"I wonder if any children in the village will awaken their soul power this year," Cinderella said, turning her gaze back to the window with a hint of anticipation.

"If we had more Soul Masters, life in the village would be much better."

Tang San didn't reply. He didn't care whether Holy Soul Village could produce Soul Masters; apart from his sister and Old Jack, he didn't have much interaction with the people there.

The only reason he was willing to come back every year to do this troublesome thing was because it was what Cinderella wanted to do.

His world, both past and present, is not that big.

In his past life, within the Tang Clan, the only thing he cared about was hidden weapons.

In this world, Tang San cares about very few people, while Cinderella is undoubtedly the absolute center.

Chapter 174 Returning to Holy Soul Village

Holy Soul Village, this small village, still maintains its consistent tranquility and simplicity.

The low mud-brick houses, the wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys, and the iconic old locust tree at the village entrance—everything was largely unchanged from before.

The carriage stopped at the village entrance. Tang San jumped off first, then carefully helped Cinderella down.

Old Jack, the village chief, and several villagers, who had already received the news, were waiting at the village entrance.

Upon seeing the two, old Jack's face immediately lit up with a smile, and he quickly stepped forward to greet them.

"Little Three, Cindy, you're finally back!" Old Jack's voice was hoarse and warm, typical of an old man. He looked the two of them over carefully, his eyes full of relief.

"Good, good, you've grown taller and more energetic! Studying in Notting City must be tough, right?"

“Grandpa Jack,” Cinderella called sweetly, stepping forward to take old Jack’s arm.

"It's not tiring at all. How are you feeling?"

"Great, great!" Old Jack beamed with joy, his eyes filled with loving affection as he looked at Cinderella.

He then looked at Tang San and patted him on the shoulder, "Little San, you're getting stronger and stronger too."

Tang San nodded to Old Jack as a greeting. Although his expression remained calm, it was much gentler than when he treated outsiders.

He glanced at the villagers behind Old Jack, whose faces held a mixture of curiosity and awe, and nodded slightly.

"Grandpa Jack, is everything ready for the Awakening Ceremony?" Cinderella asked.

“Ready, ready a long time ago! It’s in the Spirit Hall in the village. Oh, it’s that little wooden house,” Old Jack said hurriedly.

"Six children are turning six this year, and they're all waiting for you to come back!"

The so-called Spirit Hall was nothing more than a slightly larger, cleaner wooden house in the village, with a handwritten Spirit Hall sign hanging on the door.

This is a standard feature in almost every village, used for the annual Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony.

Surrounded by old Jack and the villagers, Tang San and Cinderella walked towards the cabin.

Along the way, villagers kept peeking out and whispering among themselves.

"Look, those are the Tang siblings. I heard they're Soul Masters in Notting City!"

"Tsk tsk, she's really grown up! Cindy is getting more and more beautiful."

"That kid Tang San seems quiet, but I've heard he's incredibly capable..."

"Yes, they come back every year to help the children awaken their martial souls. They're so kind-hearted..."

Hearing these whispers, Cinderella maintained a gentle smile and occasionally nodded to the villagers who looked at her.

Tang San kept his eyes straight ahead, as if he hadn't heard anything, and simply followed silently beside Cinderella.

Upon arriving at the cabin, six children, around six years old, were already waiting there with their parents.

The children's faces showed confusion, nervousness, and anticipation, while their parents were filled with more anxiety and hope.

For these villagers who toil in the fields, Soul Masters are an unattainable existence, the only way to change their fate.

Upon seeing Tang San and Cinderella, the adults all showed respectful and even reserved expressions, urging the children to greet them.

"Greetings, Soul Master..."

"Sister Cindy, Brother Tang San..."

The children called out timidly.

Cinderella crouched down, looking at the children at eye level, her smile gentle: "Don't be nervous, everyone. Just relax. Just do as I say later, and maybe one of you will become a little genius who can become a Soul Master."