Prophet, Knifed

As Zhu Yaqin held Dai Weisi, another trace of heartache appeared on her face. She said gently, "Son, you mustn't take such risks again. Absorbing a Soul Ring beyond your level could make you explode and die!"

When she learned that Dai Weisi had absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring beyond his level, Zhu Yaqin's heart had leapt into her throat, terrified that something might happen to her precious eldest son.

Only after hearing from Lin Qiuyang that Dai Weisi was safe and sound did she finally breathe a sigh of relief. Even so, lingering fear remained in her heart, and she hurriedly warned him.

"Don't worry, Mom! I wouldn't do anything unless I was sure of it."

"Mm, that's good. Your foolish little brother knows not where he's run off to. Your mother doesn't want to lose you too."

"Hehe, I won't leave you! But Mom, could you let go of me first? I'm already this old. Men and women shouldn't be so intimate."

"Oh my, men and women shouldn't be so intimate? Is there anywhere on your body your mother hasn't seen?" Zhu Yaqin said sarcastically, her voice even carrying a strong undertone of jealousy.

"I see, now that you have that little girl Zhu Zhuyun, you've started finding your mother a nuisance, haven't you?"

"How could that be? How could I possibly find you a nuisance, Mom?"

Well then! They weren't even married yet, and the conflict between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law had already arrived!

"Alright, alright, you two should stop arguing!" Dai Pojun cut in at the right moment, interrupting them before asking, "Weisi, I heard from Dean Lin that you went to Gengxin City. What did you go there for?

"Also, rumors have been flying all over Star Luo City lately. Someone bought up all the Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber in the city, and there were even rumors that my kidneys weren't working and I needed Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber to strengthen my virility!

"I was furious, so I ordered an investigation into which weakling had bought up all the Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber. And when I looked into it, it turned out to be you! What exactly are you up to?

"Son, I'm warning you. This is the time when you should be working hard on cultivation. You can't get distracted by frivolous things and waste your talent."

"What? You bought Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber?!" Zhu Yaqin glared angrily at Dai Weisi. She grabbed him by the neck as though she were about to strangle him to death, her face filled with disappointment. "What did you buy that stuff for? How old are you? Your kidneys are already failing?

"Besides, aren't you already engaged to Zhu Zhuyun? Zhu Zhuyun is so beautiful—could she possibly not satisfy you? Even if she can't, tell your mother. I'll marry that girl Zhu Qing to you too. Your little brother has run away anyway!"

Actually, that could work! Dai Weisi thought, grateful for his mother's assist.

"You're still trying to be glib with me? Tell me right now—what exactly did you buy so much Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber for? I hope your answer satisfies me. Otherwise, your mother will treat you to your favorite meal: slaps and Bamboo Slab Fried Meat!"

"Cough, cough, Mom, let go of me first!" After breaking free from Zhu Yaqin's grasp, Dai Weisi explained the effects of Ten Thousand Year Whale Rubber.

After hearing him out, the husband and wife both breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Dai Weisi wasn't visiting brothels, it was fine. Still, Zhu Yaqin remained somewhat doubtful and stared into her son's eyes.

"Son, is everything you said true? Does that stuff really have such great benefits?"

"Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, ask Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Qing. They ate it too. Zhu Qing's Soul Power has already broken through to level sixteen, and after all this time, Zhu Zhuyun should have reached level thirty-four as well."

"That's one thing you didn't get wrong." Zhu Yaqin nodded. Zhu Zhuyun had reached level thirty-four a week ago.

"Then what did you go to Gengxin City for?" As if remembering something, Zhu Yaqin suddenly widened her eyes. "Don't tell me you went to Gengxin City to visit brothels because you were afraid Zhu Zhuyun would find out?"

Dai Weisi was speechless. "Mom, do I look like that kind of person?"

"Then tell me already. What did you go to Gengxin City for?"

"Speaking of that, Emperor, there's something I'd like to show you!"

"Oh? What is it?"

"It's not suitable to demonstrate here. Let's go to the rear garden."

Dai Pojun and Zhu Yaqin exchanged glances, then followed him to the rear garden. It was a lush Royal Garden, complete with bamboo groves, small hills, and streams.

Dai Pojun had built it for Zhu Yaqin. The couple usually dated here and took the opportunity to be intimate. Staying in bed all the time was far too boring; changing locations once in a while was what made it romantic.

Mm... it was said that Dai Mubai had been accidentally conceived here.

Dai Weisi smiled. "Emperor, Mom, don't be too frightened in a moment!"

With that, Dai Weisi suddenly took out a Hand Grenade. After pulling the fuse, he hurled it straight ahead. The Hand Grenade flew into the bamboo grove and exploded with a bang, blasting a huge crater into the ground. The surrounding bamboo snapped apart, and countless bamboo leaves fluttered to the earth.

"Ah! You little brat, are you looking to get beaten? Your Emperor built this Royal Garden for me!" Zhu Yaqin's heart ached terribly. "Do you know how much it'll cost to repair this now?!"

But Dai Pojun's eyes lit up. As emperor, he saw the value of the Hand Grenade at a glance and hurriedly asked, "Weisi, what is this? How can it possess such tremendous power?"

Dai Weisi quickly replied, "Reporting to the Emperor, this is a Hand Grenade. Master Lou Gao and I developed it together while I was in Gengxin City. It has enough power to kill a Spirit Emperor and injure a Soul Sage! If there were enough of them, even a Soul Douluo might be blown to death!"

"What?! This is Master Lou Gao's work?" Dai Pojun suddenly grew tense and quickly asked, "How much does this weapon cost to make? Can it be mass-produced?"

"The cost of one is no more than five Gold Soul Coins. It can absolutely be mass-produced."

Dai Weisi truthfully reported that gunpowder and White Sugar themselves were not expensive. The truly costly part was the iron fragments, which were made from a special alloy unique to the Blacksmiths' Association. To increase its power, Lou Gao had also added sheet metal to them.

That was also why he had wanted to bring the Blacksmiths' Association under his command. Without those metals, it would be impossible to manufacture high-powered Firearms.

"The cost is actually so low!" Dai Pojun asked, "Weisi, you've only just returned from Gengxin City. Do you know how many Hand Grenades Master Lou Gao has made?"

"Is the Emperor worried that Master Lou Gao might raise an army in rebellion?"

Dai Weisi's question struck directly at the heart of the matter. Dai Pojun nodded helplessly. "That's right. Hand Grenades are so powerful and so cheap to make. If they are mass-produced, they will pose an enormous threat."

"Please rest assured, Emperor!" Dai Weisi smiled. "Without the Black Powder I provide, Master Lou Gao cannot make Hand Grenades."

"What?" Dai Pojun was startled. "You mean that without you, Master Lou Gao cannot produce such weapons?"

"That's right. More precisely, I invented the Hand Grenade in the first place. I simply don't know how to forge, so I had Master Lou Gao do it for me." As he spoke, Dai Weisi explained how he had improved Black Powder, sought Master Lou Gao's help, and brought the Blacksmiths' Association under his command.

After hearing this, Dai Pojun and Zhu Yaqin were both dumbfounded, their mouths wide enough to fit two large duck eggs.

Not only had their son absorbed the Ten-Thousand-Year Fourth Ring, but he had also created such a powerful weapon and quietly brought the Blacksmiths' Association under his command.

Dai Pojun could not help but wonder whether the person standing before him was truly still his son. Could some old monster have taken over his body?

If Dai Weisi could read minds, he would definitely say: Prophet, knifed! That guess is way too accurate!