Finding Whale Rubber

"Going to Heaven Dou City to study?"

"This... isn't that a bit too risky?"

Cheng Yao naturally opposed Huangfu Ji's plan. There had never been a precedent of a duke's son going to Heaven Dou City to study, much less now that Huangfu Ji was the Grand Duke of Qingyang.

Huangfu Ji waved a hand. "It's not that risky. I may be the grand duke, but I ultimately have no real authority."

"Besides, I'm only a twelve-year-old boy. Would the Empire really make a move against me?"

As he said this, a confident smile appeared on his face. Although the Empire was dissatisfied with its vassal states, it still had to keep up appearances. It could not possibly fall out completely with one of them.

If it really did, the Star Luo Emperor would be laughing in his dreams, while Qian Xunji of Spirit Hall would be furious to death.

If the Heaven Dou Empire split apart, it would mean the balance had been broken. Xue Ye was not that stupid.

Cheng Yao walked to the side and sat down, frowning as he thought it over. Put that way, he truly felt that Huangfu Ji would actually be safer leaving the Qingyang Duchy for Heaven Dou City.

No matter what, Huangfu Ji was still the Grand Duke of Qingyang. Even without authority, he was still the Grand Duke of Qingyang. The Empire truly would not make a move against him.

If it did, what would the other Four Great Kingdoms think?

The reason Cheng Yao had not wanted Huangfu Ji to go to Heaven Dou City was, first, because he was the Grand Duke of Qingyang and the one they of the Loyalty Faction supported; second, because he feared Yuan Hao would make a move along the way. If Yuan Hao could not kill him in Heaven Dou City, what about outside Heaven Dou City?

That was what worried him.

Ever since that assassination attempt several years ago, they had known that Yuan Hao no longer wanted Huangfu Ji alive.

"Once you leave, Grand Duke, when will you return?" Cheng Yao asked.

Huangfu Ji thought for a moment. "I'll naturally return when it is time to return."

Huangfu Ji walked to the window and looked in the direction of the Duke's Mansion, his gaze deep.

"When I return, Qingyang will belong to the Huangfu Family once more."

"What should we do?" Cheng Yao stood and asked again.

Huangfu Ji turned back to look at him.

"Defect to Yuan Hao."

"What!?" Cheng Yao's eyes widened in disbelief, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit a whole egg inside.

He even wondered whether he had misheard. Defect to Yuan Hao? What kind of plan was that?

"Grand Duke, you misspoke, didn't you? How can we defect to Yuan Hao?"

The corner of Huangfu Ji's mouth curled upward.

"I didn't misspeak. I mean for you to defect to Yuan Hao while I'm away."

He then explained, "Yuan Hao has always wanted to usurp the Duchy. Once I leave, he will certainly strike at you without restraint."

"I heard that over the past few years, he has been bribing and lobbying the Empire's nobles and ministers. He has even reached Xue Xing."

Although he had focused on cultivation these past few years, he had still heard about certain matters. Cheng Yao had not told him, but Zhao Yuan had told him some things.

"Yes, but it hasn't gone smoothly," Cheng Yao nodded.

Huangfu Ji gave a cold snort.

"Of course it hasn't gone smoothly. But that is only temporary. As long as Yuan Hao persists, he will eventually persuade them."

"I'm having you pretend to defect to Yuan Hao so you can avoid his attacks while secretly building up your strength. When I return, we'll strike from within and without and wipe him out in one blow."

Cheng Yao still had his concerns.

"Grand Duke, aren't you afraid that someone might truly betray you?"

In his view, people's hearts could change. Once Huangfu Ji was no longer in the Duchy and the situation changed drastically, some among them might truly side with Yuan Hao.

"Those who are loyal will remain loyal no matter when."

Huangfu Ji did not care in the slightest. If anyone truly betrayed him, he could simply clean them out along with Yuan Hao when the time came. Only real gold remained after the tide washed away the sand.

Right now, he could not give the Loyalty Faction any promises. But once he reclaimed power in the future, he certainly would not mistreat anyone who remained loyal to him during his most difficult days.

Everything was mutual. While others remained loyal to him, he also had to reward those loyal to him.

These years away would also be a good opportunity to filter the Loyalty Faction and recruit some talents elsewhere.

Of course, he believed that those who still remained by his side were truly loyal. Those who were not loyal had long since left.

"Uncle Cheng, you trust me, so I naturally will not betray that trust."

"Any promise made now is meaningless. Let time bear witness."

Cheng Yao met Huangfu Ji's resolute gaze. For some reason, he simply believed that Huangfu Ji would lead them to glory in the future. He had never felt this way from Huangfu Yunhe.

Without saying anything more, Cheng Yao merely nodded.

Suddenly, he remembered something.

"Right, Grand Duke, there's news about the Whale Rubber."

"Oh?" Huangfu Ji was somewhat surprised. They had failed to find it for so many years, yet now they had actually found it.

Cheng Yao said, "Yuan Hao has a piece of Thousand-Year Whale Rubber. I just don't know if we can get it."

"Go ask him for it directly. Tell him I want it." Huangfu Ji did not say much else and simply had Cheng Yao ask for the whale rubber. He believed Yuan Hao would certainly give it to them.

The effects of whale rubber had yet to be discovered in this era. It was merely regarded as an aphrodisiac or a collectible. He was certain Yuan Hao did not know its true use either.

Huangfu Ji knew that piece of whale rubber was the one that had once been in the Qingyang Treasury.

"Will he really give it to us?" Cheng Yao felt it was unlikely.

Thousand-Year Whale Rubber had considerable collectible value as well. At the very least, it was worth several thousand Gold Soul Coins.

"He definitely will." Huangfu Ji was extremely confident.

He continued, "At present, whale rubber is only considered something that boosts virility. Even Yuan Hao is no exception."

"Go ask him for it directly, and he will surely think I've become a lecherous man."

"If I become lustful, wouldn't that be a good thing for him?"

"Whale rubber is an aphrodisiac. How could he bear to withhold it?"

Cheng Yao nodded in realization.

"That's right."

He suddenly laughed. Other than Huangfu Ji, he was the only one who knew that whale rubber could strengthen a Soul Master's physique. Yet he had not told anyone else, nor had he ever obtained whale rubber for his own son.

Thousand-Year and Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber were difficult to find. Besides, while he knew this thing could improve one's constitution, he did not know how it should be taken—whether it should be consumed in the usual manner or used some other way.

After discussing the whale rubber, Huangfu Ji continued on to the matter of studying in Heaven Dou City. There was certainly no need to attend an Intermediate Soul Master Academy anymore. Given his status, if he were to study in Heaven Dou City, he would naturally attend the Royal Academy.

Cheng Yao and the others still needed to handle this matter. The Empire would certainly agree.

When he returned to the dormitory, Zhao Yuan was lying on his bed with one leg crossed over the other, flipping through a book in his hand. Liu Erlong was there as well, sitting on his bed and waiting boredly.

The moment Huangfu Ji returned, Zhao Yuan sprang up from the bed.

"Grand Duke, what did Dean Cheng want with you?"

Liu Erlong also looked over curiously.

Huangfu Ji sat down and slowly said, "I'm planning to go study in Heaven Dou City."

"Go to Heaven Dou City?!" Liu Erlong and Zhao Yuan stared at Huangfu Ji in shock.

Zhao Yuan asked in surprise, "Grand Duke, why?"

Liu Erlong nodded. That was what she wanted to ask as well.

Huangfu Ji said calmly, "Leaving is for the sake of returning better."

"By studying in Heaven Dou City, I'll be able to see much more of the world there."