Whale Rubber Exposed? Qian Renxue

Papal Palace.

Inside the grand hall.

A cold, murderous aura filled the air.

"Bang—!"

A muffled crash shattered the silence.

A black figure flew backward like a kite with its string cut, slamming heavily into the wall of the hall.

"Useless!"

Bibi Dong's face was grim, her voice filled with barely suppressed fury.

"It has been a month! A whole month! And you still haven't figured it out!"

That black figure was Ghost Douluo Ghostly, Spirit Hall's Punishment Elder and a Level Ninety-Five Super Douluo.

Together with Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, he was known as Pope Bibi Dong's Heng Ha Two Generals.

Bibi Dong had originally ordered him to investigate why that little brat Ji Xuan could absorb Soul Rings beyond his level.

This matter was of great importance, yet a month had passed and Ghostly had found nothing!

In her fury, Bibi Dong had just sent him flying with a palm strike.

"Please calm your anger, Your Holiness the Pope."

Ghost Douluo did not dare show the slightest negligence. Suppressing the churning blood and qi within him, he quickly climbed to his feet and dropped to one knee.

He hurriedly explained,

"Ji Xuan has always had powerful experts protecting him, and his guard is extremely tight. This subordinate tried several times to sneak into his room under cover of night, but... every time, before I could even get close, a powerful aura locked onto me."

Ghostly paused, lingering fear in his heart as he continued,

"That aura was terrifying—at least a Level Ninety-Five Super Douluo. This subordinate... had no choice but to retreat immediately."

Within Spirit Hall, the only ones with such strength could be those Venerable Elders.

Just what kind of background did that kid Ji Xuan have?

Hearing this, Bibi Dong's expression darkened further. Her grip on the Papal Scepter tightened until her knuckles turned white, veins faintly bulging on the back of her hand.

Those Old Undeads!

Bibi Dong cursed inwardly.

Ji Xuan was Qian Daoliu's disciple, and his talent was exceptional. Naturally, someone would protect him.

But she had not expected Qian Daoliu to value that kid Ji Xuan so highly, even dispatching Venerable Elders to protect him and shielding him so thoroughly that there was practically no opening.

In that case, if she wanted to make a move against that kid in secret, would it not be as difficult as reaching the heavens...

Damn it!

She was currently in the midst of the Rakshasa God Trial. This was absolutely not the time to completely fall out with Great Worship Qian Daoliu.

Moreover, constrained by the God Trial, she could not exert her full strength. If they truly came to blows, she would not be Qian Daoliu's match either.

That feeling of being controlled by others made the fury in her heart burn even hotter.

"However, Your Holiness the Pope, although this subordinate was unable to find a breakthrough through Ji Xuan, I uncovered another matter in secret."

At that moment, Ghostly's voice sounded again.

"Speak!" Bibi Dong pulled herself from her thoughts and looked at Ghostly.

"Over the past two years, Great Worship has secretly dispatched people to the major coastal cities to purchase Whale Rubber in large quantities."

After finding no way to proceed with Ji Xuan, he had changed the direction of his investigation and only then discovered this matter.

"Whale Rubber?"

Bibi Dong furrowed her brows tightly.

Was that not... usually used for that sort of purpose?

Wait... no!

That old guy Qian Daoliu would never purchase such a thing on such a massive scale for no reason!

There had to be some secret behind this. Perhaps it was connected to Ji Xuan's abnormal Soul Rings!

As her thoughts shifted, Bibi Dong had already made her decision.

"Ghostly, there is no need to start with Ji Xuan anymore. Focus all your efforts on thoroughly investigating this Whale Rubber matter for me! There must be tricks involved!"

"Yes! This subordinate accepts the order!"

Ghostly secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment, then clutched his chest and swiftly left the oppressive Papal Palace.

Sigh, His Holiness the Pope's temper has truly become more and more unpredictable in recent years...

"Oh my~ Old Ghost! Are you all right?"

Outside the hall doors, a figure with an effeminate aura had been waiting for a long time.

It was none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan.

The moment he saw Ghostly emerge with traces of unwashed blood still at the corner of his mouth, he immediately hurried over, his eyes full of concern.

He quickly took out a Silk Scarf Handkerchief from his Soul Tool. It was soft in texture and embroidered with exquisite golden chrysanthemum patterns.

"Old Ghost, come here. Let me wipe that for you."

Holding his fingers in an orchid gesture, Chrysanthemum Douluo carefully and gently wiped away the bloodstains at the corner of Ghostly's mouth with the handkerchief...

Their gazes met, eyes locked...

Heaven Dou City

The imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire sat in the northeastern-central region of the empire and served as the core of power and politics for the entire nation.

It was also one of the largest cities on Douluo Continent. In terms of scale and grandeur, only the imperial capital of the Star Luo Empire could rival it.

The Heaven Dou Imperial Palace was resplendent in gold and jade, with strict guards everywhere.

Within the Council Hall of the imperial palace.

"Father Emperor, while cultivating recently, this son has felt his Soul Power bottleneck loosen. I need to enter seclusion for two months and devote myself to breaking through to the Level Forty Soul Ancestor realm."

First Prince Xue Qinghe stood in the hall and respectfully addressed Xue Ye, who sat upon the dragon throne.

Xue Ye nodded slightly, a trace of gratification appearing on his face.

"I grant it."

He had originally had four sons. Yet within only a few years, the Second Prince and Third Prince had both died mysteriously.

Now, only his capable eldest son Xue Qinghe remained, along with that unruly wastrel, his Fourth Son Xue Beng, who knew only how to eat, drink, and amuse himself.

Xue Ye had long since given up all hope for Xue Beng.

Fortunately, although his eldest son Xue Qinghe had been unremarkable in his early years, he had grown at an astonishing pace in recent years. Whether in his ability to handle state affairs or in his composed temperament, he had become increasingly satisfying to Xue Ye.

"Thank you, Father Emperor. This son shall take his leave."

Xue Qinghe bowed once more, then slowly withdrew from the Council Hall.

Inside a hidden secret chamber within the Crown Prince's residence.

"For the next two months, remain here and deal with any unexpected situations that may arise."

Xue Qinghe calmly instructed a man whose appearance was extremely similar to his own.

The man immediately bowed and replied respectfully, "Yes, Young Master. This subordinate accepts the order."

Xue Qinghe nodded and said no more.

He stepped out of the secret chamber and raised a hand to gently brush across his cheek.

A flash of golden light passed by, and the slightly effeminate male face that had belonged to Xue Qinghe instantly vanished.

In its place was a woman of breathtaking beauty.

She had soft Golden Long Hair that fell to her waist, exquisite features, and sapphire-blue pupils like gemstones.

This woman was none other than Spirit Hall's Young Master, Great Worship Qian Daoliu's granddaughter, Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue gestured with her hand.

In an instant, two middle-aged men appeared silently before her like ghosts.

Porcupinefish Douluo, an Elder of Spirit Hall and a Level Ninety-Two Title Douluo.

Snake Lance Douluo, an Elder of Spirit Hall and a Level Ninety-Two Title Douluo.

"Elder Pufferfish, Elder Snake Lance, depart with me and return to Spirit Hall."

Qian Renxue gave the order, her voice cool and carrying unquestionable authority.

"Yes, Young Master!"

The two Elders bowed together and answered respectfully.

The corners of Qian Renxue's lips curved into a meaningful smile. A flash of curiosity and scrutiny passed through her sapphire-like eyes.

Ji Xuan...

I want to see for myself just what makes you so extraordinary that my grandfather took you as his disciple.

Two years ago, her grandfather Qian Daoliu had informed her through a Secret Letter that he had accepted a disciple with Innate Full Soul Power named Ji Xuan.

In the letter, Qian Daoliu mentioned Ji Xuan's discovery concerning Whale Rubber.

Her own Fifth Soul Ring had only been successfully raised by more than five thousand years after she consumed a piece of Ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber, allowing her to ultimately absorb a Soul Ring that was as old as eighteen thousand years.

From that moment onward, she had grown curious about this Ji Xuan whom she had never met.

Now, she had finally found a suitable opportunity to return to Spirit City and personally meet this mysterious Little Brother.