Whale Rubber and the Eve of Hunting Soul Beasts

A month passed quickly. Zhu Zhuqing, despite making such a bold move, showed little change on the surface.

Her clothing and mannerisms remained the same, but beneath that tranquil exterior, something seemed to be quietly changing.

After that day, she and Ling Qianyue spoke more often, and her smiles gradually increased. The two of them became closer.

After leaving Old Jason a package filled with Gold Soul Coins, the two set off on the road back to Star Luo City.

Old Jason initially refused, but after Ling Qianyue took out several thousand Gold Soul Coins and laid them on the table, he finally agreed.

However, he only accepted 100 Gold Soul Coins. If Ling Qianyue tried to give him any more, he said he would get angry.

Ling Qianyue did not insist. After all, a single Gold Soul Coin was enough for an ordinary family of three on Douluo Continent to live on for several months. To Old Jason, these Gold Soul Coins were already no small fortune.

Star Luo City, Illusory Artifacts and Treasures Shop.

Ling Qianyue held Zhu Zhuqing's hand as they arrived outside the shop.

"Qianyao, what are you here to buy?"

Zhu Zhuqing's face reddened slightly. This was one of the Zhu Family's businesses. As one of the larger shops in Star Luo City, Illusory Artifacts and Treasures Shop mainly sold all kinds of fantastical artifacts, accessories, antiques, and rare materials.

There were even items among them worthy of being sent to auction.

However, another reason the shop was rather well-known among nobles was that it often sold Whale Rubber, this "great tonic."

Whale Rubber was a special substance produced in the brains of whale-type Soul Beasts and came from coastal regions.

Because Sea Soul Beasts rarely approached the mainland, especially whale-type Soul Beasts, Whale Rubber was quite expensive. Even two-thousand-year Whale Rubber cost one or two thousand Gold Soul Coins, and the larger the piece, the higher the price.

Ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber was even rarer, and selling prices of tens or even hundreds of thousands of Gold Soul Coins were perfectly normal.

At this point in time, Douluo Continent had yet to discover Whale Rubber's true use. Most nobles used it for bedroom matters, valuing only its aphrodisiac effects.

"I'm buying Whale Rubber."

"Oh, buying Whale Rubber... Huh?" Zhu Zhuqing froze for a moment, then her cheeks flushed as she said softly, "Qianyao, you're buying Whale Rubber for... for..."

Naturally, her thoughts went astray. Although Star Luo's nobles were not as extravagant and indulgent as Heaven Dou's nobles, crows were black all over. In certain aspects, they were quite alike.

Duang~

Ling Qianyue flicked her forehead irritably. "What nonsense is going through that little head of yours? I'm not buying Whale Rubber for those worldly uses."

Besides, he could not do that yet anyway.

"I'll tell you later. Stop guessing for now. Once we're back, I'll slowly explain Whale Rubber's real use to you."

Upon hearing that, the confusion in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes gradually faded. She nodded, but kept looking around at the passersby. Only after confirming that there was no one she knew did she finally relax.

After putting on a veil, she followed Ling Qianyue as the two entered Illusory Artifacts and Treasures Shop hand in hand.

"Boss, bring out the best Whale Rubber you have," Ling Qianyue said bluntly.

"Huh?"

The shopkeeper was stunned as he looked at the young man and woman before him. "Young master, are you serious?" What family did these young master and young lady come from? Were they really this bold?

"Oh, I'm buying it for my older brother. He's getting married soon, so it's a gift."

"You... this..." The shopkeeper was speechless. Was this really an appropriate gift?

Still, with the principle that only fools turned down money, he went into the back room and took out a jade box. "Two-thousand-year Whale Rubber. It's the best in our shop. Even in Star Luo City, there aren't many pieces that can surpass its quality."

Ling Qianyue lifted the jade box and looked at the yellow Whale Rubber. Zhanxing activated silently. After confirming that it was an auspicious sign, he nodded.

Under the shopkeeper's strange gaze, Ling Qianyue spent 1,800 Gold Soul Coins to buy the Whale Rubber.

After the two left Illusory Artifacts and Treasures Shop, the shopkeeper was happily looking at the Gold Soul Coins he had just received when a cold voice suddenly sounded from behind the counter.

"Get over here."

Zhu Zhuyun took back the Gold Soul Coins the shopkeeper had just received. "You never met those two today, and nothing involving Whale Rubber ever happened. Understand?"

"Understood." The shopkeeper wept bitter tears.

Zhu Zhuyun put the Gold Soul Coins into her storage bracelet. She stared dangerously at Ling Qianyue's retreating figure and secretly ground her teeth.

"You brat, you'd better give me a reasonable explanation later. Otherwise, I'll make you regret it. You're still so young."

After returning to the academy, Ling Qianyue went straight to find the dean and arranged to Hunt Soul Beasts in two days to obtain his First Soul Ring.

After bidding farewell to his classmates from Dormitory Nine, Ling Qianyue moved into the single dormitory the dean had promised him last time with a clear conscience.

He pulled Zhu Zhuqing into the dormitory. The moment they entered, Ling Qianyue placed the jade box on the table, then turned to Zhu Zhuqing, excitement gleaming in his eyes.

"Gulp." Zhu Zhuqing spoke weakly. "So, Qianyao, you still intend to use it yourself?"

Ling Qianyue could not help laughing. Seeing the lingering confusion and slight shyness on Zhu Zhuqing's face, he shook his head.

"Whale Rubber actually has another use. This great tonic of utmost hardness and Supreme Yang can strengthen a Soul Master's physique after consumption and slightly, very slightly, increase their Soul Power.

"The age limit of a Soul Ring depends on a Soul Master's physique and Spiritual Power. Zhu Qing, do you understand what this Whale Rubber means now?"

"Huh?" Zhu Zhuqing was stunned for a moment.

Ling Qianyue continued, "The timing of its appearance is crucial. For Soul Masters, ahem, by the time it might be needed, an increase of just a few hundred years to the Soul Ring limit would no longer have much effect.

"But if it is consumed soon after a Soul Master awakens, while they are still young, then the age limits of the First Soul Ring and Second Soul Ring can be significantly increased."

"You mean, a purple Second Soul Ring?!" Zhu Zhuqing's pupils contracted. She did not care why Ling Qianyue knew Whale Rubber's use.

Beyond Star Acupoints and the Dual Star Cultivation Method, there were already many special things about Ling Qianyue that left her both curious and admiring.

The secret of Whale Rubber could not remain hidden forever, and he had to use it before obtaining his Soul Ring. He might as well reveal it outright. Besides, he had already prepared forged records.

"Zhu Zhuyun should have received the news by now. I wonder whether she's currently rushing here on horseback."

Whale Rubber could only be consumed after being roasted and softened with intense flames. Ling Qianyue had no way to do that right now, so he chose to draw Zhu Zhuyun's attention and wait for her to come knocking to solve the problem.

The Zhanxing in the shop earlier had not been used to predict whether the Whale Rubber was genuine or whether it would bring him fortune or misfortune. Rather, it had predicted whether asking Zhu Zhuyun for help would bring fortune or misfortune.

Taking her younger sister to buy Whale Rubber—given her personality, she would definitely come to get to the bottom of it.