Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue. "Great Master, you're truly impressive. What you said is almost identical to what my father told me. He also said that in order to truly unleash the power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, I must diligently train Split Mind Control. But the training method for Split Mind Control is incredibly grueling, and so monotonous. That's why I…"
The Great Master gave Ning Rongrong a measured look. "You're about to say that you haven't even fully mastered Three Apertures Control Heart, aren't you?"
Ning Rongrong's cheeks flushed red, but she nodded anyway, too embarrassed to meet his gaze.
The Great Master let out a soft sigh. "Rongrong, as a direct descendant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, you possess conditions that others simply do not have. If you don't cherish a Martial Soul this exceptional, you will certainly regret it later. Split Mind Control is an essential technique you must train. Otherwise, even if you become a Titled Douluo in the future, you will never be a proper support-type Soul Master. Do you understand your teacher's concern?"
His voice was gentle, but that very gentleness made Ning Rongrong feel even more ashamed. She nodded firmly. "Great Master, don't worry. Starting now, I'll work hard on training Split Mind Control. I'll strive to reach Four Apertures Constant Heart as soon as possible."
A faint smile appeared on the Great Master's face. "Although I don't know the training method for Split Mind Control myself, I can teach you an approach. Remember this: from now on, whenever you provide skill support, you must make yourself the most miserly Soul Master possible. Even the tiniest drop of Soul Power should be conserved. Make every instance of support exactly right — not a fraction too much, not a fraction too little. If you can achieve this, then your support ability will be on the right track."
Ning Rongrong committed the Great Master's words to memory. Though she hadn't fully grasped everything yet, his earlier words had given her a thorough understanding of the importance of Split Mind Control.
The Great Master sighed softly, his gaze drifting to Tang San nearby. "I called Little San here for selfish reasons. Split Mind Control is useless to ordinary Soul Masters, but for him, it's a different matter. He's a Control Type Soul Master, and a Twin Martial Soul user at that. The soul skills he recently acquired don't consume much Soul Power when properly controlled. If he can also master Split Mind Control, then on the battlefield his control ability will become far more formidable. Especially once he obtains soul skills for his second Martial Soul, the effect will become even more apparent. Rongrong, I don't know what the rules of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan are, but if there's no explicit prohibition, would you allow Little San to train alongside you?"
"Teacher." Tang San turned to the Great Master, somewhat urgently. "That's not right. Split Mind Control is a unique secret technique of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. How could I learn it?"
He came from the era of the Tang Sect, and he understood their sectarian mentality all too well. A sect's most profound techniques were always closely guarded — forget teaching them to outsiders, even if someone merely coveted them, the Tang Sect would retaliate without hesitation.
"Why can't you learn it? Third Brother, just train with me. It's really not a big deal. The Great Master is right — Split Mind Control was never exclusively ours to begin with. It's simply that it happens to be useful for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, so it was passed down. Besides, you've done our clan a great favor. Even if Father were here, he would certainly agree."
"But…" Tang San hesitated, still wanting to refuse, but Ning Rongrong cut him off.
"But what? Third Brother, did I say anything when you gave me that immortal-grade tulip? Did I refuse? I didn't, because I truly see you as a brother. When a brother gives something to his sister, why should I refuse? Even back then I didn't know how precious that immortal herb was — and even if I had, I would have accepted it. It's the same now. We Shrek Seven Devils are all one family, and you've always been selfless toward everyone. This is just a small skill. If you refuse again, you're telling me you don't regard me as a sister."
Listening to Ning Rongrong's rapid-fire questioning, Tang San found himself at a loss for words. He certainly wanted to learn Split Mind Control, but it was still the secret technique of another clan.
"Why don't we do this — let me ask Uncle Ning first. If Uncle Ning says I can learn it, then I'll train with you. How does that sound?"
Ning Rongrong pouted in dissatisfaction. "Hmph, don't you trust me? Father will definitely agree. Since you insist, I'll go find him right now."
"Don't go just yet. You don't even know where Uncle Ning is." Tang San reached out to stop her.
"Don't worry, I can find him. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan certainly has ways to stay in contact. Great Master, I'll be going."
With that, Ning Rongrong dashed off into the trees.
The Great Master chuckled. "That girl really is an impulsive one. Little San, rest assured. Since I brought this up, I naturally already predicted that Ning Fengzhi wouldn't refuse. Split Mind Control is important to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, but it's not a secret that absolutely cannot be shared. If my guess is correct, Ning Fengzhi would actually be delighted for you to learn it. That way, you'd owe the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan a favor. As the clan master, Ning Fengzhi is far-sighted — both you and your father are people he holds in high regard. While Rongrong goes to find her father, tell me — what did Ning Fengzhi say to you earlier?"
Hearing the Great Master's words, Tang San felt a weight lift from his mind. He then recounted in detail his earlier encounter with Xue Qinghe and everything the three of them had discussed.
After listening to Tang San's account, the Great Master pondered for a moment before speaking. "This Crown Prince's intelligence should be entirely accurate. The fact that he was able to gather so much is already quite remarkable. Spirit Hall has completely sealed off information about that matter."
"Teacher, do you know anything about it?" Tang San asked eagerly. In front of the Great Master, he had no need to conceal his emotions.
The Great Master shook his head. "I don't know either. But theoretically, the Crown Prince's information checks out. The key question is what that item actually is — why Spirit Hall was willing to mobilize their entire force for it, yet returned empty-handed and may even have lost a Papal Hall in the process."
Tang San's eyes suddenly lit up. "Teacher, could it be a Spirit Bone? For Soul Masters, the most valuable things are undoubtedly Soul Rings and Spirit Bones. Soul Rings are bound to their owner and cannot be taken away, but Spirit Bones can."
The Great Master shook his head. "No, I don't think so. If it were a Spirit Bone, Spirit Hall would never have failed to obtain it. Your father, even as a Titled Douluo, could not have stood against Spirit Hall. Remember, Spirit Hall has at least three other Titled Douluos besides the Papal Hall. No matter how strong your father was alone, he couldn't have handled that many powerhouses. If my guess is correct, Spirit Hall stopped pursuing that item not because it was destroyed, but because it had already lost its original function. Could it be a Soul Beast? But what Soul Beast would have any connection to your father? Setting aside the question of how high-level a Soul Beast would have to be to attract Spirit Hall's attention, the irreconcilable conflict between Soul Beasts and humans means it wouldn't associate with your father. And your father would never abandon his clan and offend Spirit Hall over a Soul Beast."
The Great Master's analytical ability was undeniably formidable, but after hearing his analysis, Tang San felt even more confused. What on earth could that item be? It seemed he would only learn the truth once he met his father again.
Ning Rongrong was gone for a relatively short time. Half an hour later, she came rushing back in high spirits, a letter in her hand.
"Third Brother, look! I told you — Father would definitely agree."
The handwriting on the note was simple. Tang San had seen Ning Fengzhi's penmanship before. It read:
*Little San, Split Mind Control is no secret technique. If it is useful to you, you are welcome to practice it together with Rongrong. The help you have given the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan — how could this small skill possibly compare? — Ning Fengzhi.*
Though it was just a single brief sentence, and though Tang San knew full well that Ning Fengzhi's words carried an element of courtship, his heart still felt warm, flooded with a nameless comfort. Regardless, Ning Fengzhi was the master of an entire clan and a magnanimous elder.
And so, starting that afternoon, Tang San and Ning Rongrong began training the technique together.
The training method for Split Mind Control was not complex, and different Soul Masters practiced it in different ways. Ning Rongrong's approach involved continuously releasing her different skills, varying the speed and duration of each release while striving for precision and full control. At this moment, she was simultaneously releasing three skills — beginning her training in the most fundamental Three Apertures Control Heart.