Tidal Body Refinement

"Take advantage of the rising tide and use the power of the waves to temper your body."

With that, Huo Yang led her son forward along the beach, with the butler Liu Feng following closely behind.

Before long, the three arrived at a stretch of coast filled with jagged reefs.

It was already evening.

The tide was rising, and surging waves crashed against the reefs, sending white water splashes soaring into the air.

"Crash—"

The deafening roar of waves striking the rocks never ceased.

In the distance, the Setting Sun slowly sank beneath the horizon.

The evening sunlight dyed the clouds at the edge of the sky a brilliant orange-red.

Looking at the magnificent view, Xia Yang could not help feeling a little brighter.

"Take off the turtle shell."

Huo Yang instructed, "Then stand on those reefs and use your body to feel the impact of the waves."

Xia Yang followed her instructions, removing the turtle shell before carefully stepping onto the reef.

The rocks beneath his feet had been worn smooth as mirrors by the waves over countless years, forcing him to tread with particular caution.

Xia Yang carefully maintained his balance, afraid that one moment of carelessness would send him tumbling into the tide.

"Splash."

Sure enough, a wave swept over him. Xia Yang's foot slipped, and his whole body was washed into the sea.

Several parts of his body struck the hard reefs, leaving him bruised all over.

Xia Yang endured the pain and struggled to steady himself in the seawater before inching his way back onto the reef.

"Face the waves. Lower yourself into a horse stance."

Huo Yang guided him from behind.

"Spread your legs and lower your center of gravity!"

"Don't use your chest to withstand the waves head-on. Use the strength of your waist to keep your entire body stable."

"Got it."

Xia Yang gritted his teeth and, following his mother's instructions, firmly settled into his stance.

"Once."

"Twice."

"Three times."

Xia Yang was continuously knocked off the reef by the waves, then continuously climbed back up.

In his battle against the tide, his body was slapped bright red, making him look like a boiled shrimp.

Fortunately, the butler—Liu Feng—occasionally used Healing Soul Skills. Otherwise, this six-year-old child would have suffered Hidden injuries from such grueling training.

When the last afterglow of the Setting Sun vanished from the sky, Xia Yang finally completed all of today's training.

Huo Yang carried her utterly exhausted son on her back and walked home beneath the silver-white moonlight.

Although her son's Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power were both unremarkable, today's training had at least proven one thing: he was absolutely not some worthless child who gave up easily.

The perseverance and determination displayed by this six-year-old boy filled Huo Yang, as his mother, with heartfelt comfort.

As long as his father can verify the effects of the Whale Rubber, Yang'er's Cultivation Path will still have hope.

Huo Yang thought to herself, unconsciously quickening her pace.

She could not wait to get home and see how her husband's verification of the Whale Rubber was progressing.

When Huo Yang carried her son through the front gate, the moonlight overhead had turned the courtyard the color of white jade.

This Residence in East City possessed a tranquility and warmth unique to a home, unlike the Martial Soul Branch Hall in South City.

The moment she stepped into the courtyard, Huo Yang saw her husband, Xia Shi, sitting beside the Stone Table and waiting.

It was clear that Xia Shi had been back for some time.

In the courtyard, the Bowls and Utensils on the Stone Table were neatly arranged, while the fragrance of tea drifted through the air.

"Old Xia, how did the matter I asked you to investigate turn out?"

Huo Yang spoke impatiently, anticipation shining in her eyes.

Xia Shi did not answer immediately. Instead, he first stood up, took his son from his wife's back, and gently set him on the ground.

Only then did Xia Shi say gently, "Let's eat first. We can discuss it after dinner."

He turned to the butler standing nearby and said, "Old Liu, you've been busy all day too. Go get some rest first."

"Yes, Head of the Family."

After respectfully bowing, the butler Liu Feng slowly withdrew from the courtyard.

Tonight's dinner was especially lavish, with the table filled with Fine Dishes prepared from Thousand-Year Spirit Beast Meat.

Xia Shi had specially ordered them from the best Restaurant in the city to replenish his son's nutrition.

Xia Shi kept placing food into his son's bowl.

"Eat more. This Thousand-Year Spirit Beast Meat is much more nutritious than the ten-year and Hundred-Year Spirit Beast Meat you usually eat."

"Come, try this piece of Deep Sea Octopus Meat. It's something you've always liked."

Xia Yang truly was starving. After training all day, he could not be bothered to say much and simply buried his head in the food, eating in huge mouthfuls.

Seeing their son wolfing down his food, the couple looked at each other and smiled, their eyes full of affection.

After dinner, the family of three sat beneath the Date Tree in the courtyard, drinking tea.

Bright moonlight spilled across the Bluestone Slab, casting scattered shadows from the tree.

Mother Huo Yang finally could not hold herself back any longer and asked again, "Can you tell us now? What exactly was the effect of the Whale Rubber?"

Xia Shi set down his Teacup, leaned forward slightly, and said with a serious expression, "Today, I disguised myself and went to several nearby cities to secretly purchase a batch of Whale Rubber."

"To test its effects, I consumed a large piece of high-quality Whale Rubber."

"And?"

Huo Yang pressed anxiously. Even Xia Yang unconsciously held his breath.

"It really works."

Xia Shi nodded firmly. "Whale Rubber can indeed improve a Soul Master's Physical Quality."

"That's wonderful."

Huo Yang's breathing immediately became rapid. Xia Yang clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

Huo Yang's voice trembled with excitement as she said, "Since Whale Rubber truly has this effect, Yang'er will be able to absorb Spirit Rings beyond his level!"

"Then Yang'er's Cultivation Path will finally..."

Before she could finish, she was already choking up, tears glimmering beneath the moonlight.

"Mom..."

Seeing how emotional his mother was, Xia Yang felt a complicated mix of emotions rise within him.

"Yang Mei."

Xia Shi reached out and pulled his wife into his arms, gently patting her back as he comforted her. "Don't get too worked up. The Whale Rubber's effects have been confirmed, and our son's path ahead is clear. That's a good thing. Why are you crying?"

After quite some time, Huo Yang finally calmed down.

She wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes and looked at her son with a relieved smile.

"However, there's still one problem I need to solve."

Xia Shi suddenly said.

"What problem?"

Mother and son asked in unison.

"The problem is that I can't buy Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber."

Xia Shi Sighed.

"How can you not buy it? Is it because we don't have enough money?" Xia Yang asked anxiously.

Whale Rubber was tied to his future Cultivation Path, so this news was undoubtedly a blow.

"Don't panic. Listen while I explain."

Xia Shi reassured them. "Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber can only be obtained by hunting Whale Soul Beasts that are more than Ten Thousand Years old."

"You both know that hunting Sea Soul Beasts at sea is much more difficult than hunting on land. On top of that, Whale Soul Beasts usually move in groups, making them even harder to kill."

"That's why Whale Rubber over Ten Thousand Years old is so scarce."

Xia Shi paused, then continued, "Moreover, because Whale Rubber can enhance bedroom activities, whenever Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber appeared in the past, it would be bought up by the Nobles and some major Forces—either for personal use or to collect and give as gifts."

"So even if others do not know that it can improve a Soul Master's Physical Quality, the amount of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber available on the market is still extremely limited."

"Today, I traveled through three cities around Xiling Harbor. The best piece I found was Eleven Thousand Years old, but I already used it for the experiment."

"Most of what I have on hand now is only Five to Six Thousand Years old. The best piece is only around Eight Thousand Five Hundred Years."

As he spoke, Xia Shi took a Wooden Box from the Storage Soul Tool at his waist and placed it on the Stone Table.