Whale Rubber Seeks a Way Out, Apprentices Under Qian Daoliu

Clutching the token in his hand, Lin Huai walked firmly toward the summit of the mountain.

Relying on the token, the patrolling guards along the way did not stop or question him.

Arriving before the gates of the Worship Hall, Lin Huai was just about to ask the guards to relay a message.

The great doors suddenly swung open, and the voice of Qian Daoliu drifted out: "Come in!"

"Little fellow, have you come to find me because you have discovered a way to resolve your Martial Soul defect?"

"Lin Huai pays his respects to all the senior elders."

Lin Huai swept his gaze across the several figures within the hall and quickly bowed.

He then looked toward Qian Daoliu and shook his head slightly.

"Great Elder, I have not found a way to solve my own problem over this past year. I have come here hoping you could help me obtain a Spirit Ring."

"I intend to begin my cultivation."

"Little thing, do you know what you are saying? You actually want the Great Elder of the Martial Soul Hall to help you hunt for a Spirit Ring of mere hundreds of years?"

An elderly man with a rather robust build to the right of Qian Daoliu questioned him sharply.

"Golden Crocodile, let the child finish first." Qian Daoliu restrained the elder.

He stood up and looked at Lin Huai: "Knowing that cultivation will shorten your life, why do you insist on obtaining a Spirit Ring?"

Lin Huai looked intently into Qian Daoliu's eyes.

"This past year, I have tried every theory, yet I still cannot find a way to resolve my Martial Soul defect. Obtaining a Spirit Ring is the only thing I have not yet attempted...

I will not ask the Great Elder to help me for free; I can trade an important piece of information for your assistance."

"Heh! The little fellow has quite a big mouth. Are you certain your information is worth a top-tier Titled Douluo taking action?"

A handsome man with the appearance of a youth of seventeen or eighteen spoke in a mocking tone.

Lin Huai pressed his lips together, looking earnestly at Qian Daoliu, waiting for his response.

"Speak your piece. If the information is truly useful, I will personally take you to hunt for a Spirit Ring. But if I discover you are deceiving me..."

Qian Daoliu released a sliver of his aura, speaking with a stern expression.

Under the pressure of Qian Daoliu, Lin Huai found it difficult to breathe, as if he were carrying a great mountain on his back.

Fortunately, the pressure came and went just as quickly.

After catching his breath, he quickly explained.

"While reading through various biographies, I discovered that some Spirit Masters, despite having no particular opportunities, reached levels of cultivation that should have been impossible given their innate talent."

Lin Huai paused to gather his thoughts.

"And I discovered that these people had one thing in common—

When with the opposite sex, they enjoyed using Whale Rubber to enhance the mood! And they used it in whole blocks, regardless of whether they were men or women."

Lin Huai watched the slightly distracted elders and continued quickly:

"The extent of their improvement was roughly equivalent to breaking through from innate level five spirit power to level six.

I speculate that these people did not know Whale Rubber helps improve talent; they simply mistook the breakthrough of their innate limits for a miracle."

"I believe that with the Great Elder's capabilities, you can immediately test whether what I say is true or false."

The elders looked at one another, falling into deep thought.

The handsome man seated at the first position to Qian Daoliu's left spoke first:

"Big Brother, regardless of whether this matter is true or false, we must take it seriously.

If a six or seven-year-old child can analyze such things, are the scholars conducting relevant research nothing but trash?"

The other elders could not help but nod.

Lin Huai silently apologized to the scholars who were about to be criticized.

In truth, simply analyzing these biographies would rarely lead to the conclusion that Whale Rubber had such an effect.

He had relied on the memories of his past life, working backward from the result to the cause, to reach his conclusion.

"Azure Luan is right. We will discuss this in detail later. Thousand Jun, you go find someone to test whether this claim about Whale Rubber is true."

After Qian Daoliu issued the order, an elder clad in golden robes left the great hall.

He then scrutinized this remarkably intelligent little person.

Qian Daoliu pondered for a moment:

"Are you certain you want to absorb a Spirit Ring? As long as you do not break the law, I can ensure you enjoy the full support of the Martial Soul Hall."

"After all, nine years is enough time for you to travel the continent and experience a portion of life.

But once you absorb a Spirit Ring and begin cultivation, you will not have many years left to live."

Feeling Qian Daoliu's genuine concern.

Lin Huai sighed, 'Truly, he is one of the few upright, good-hearted men in the original work who possesses the spirit of a knight.'

"Many thanks, Great Elder, but I do not wish to live out my days merely clinging to life. Even if there is only a sliver of hope, I must attempt it!"

"I want to see the scenery from the 'heights' with my own eyes!"

Lin Huai looked at Qian Daoliu with unwavering determination.

The hall fell into a deathly silence, the expressions of the several elders freezing in place.

Looking at this child, small in stature yet possessing such imposing spirit, they were suddenly struck by the urge to throw their own juniors into the library.

Qian Daoliu looked at Lin Huai, but what appeared before his eyes was that stubborn, adorable golden-haired girl.

"I will carry out this plan myself; I will prove my capabilities to her!"

A quarter of an hour later, an excited voice shattered the silence of the hall.

"Big Brother!"

Thousand Jun Douluo spoke the moment he stepped through the door.

"Whale Rubber truly can enhance a Soul Master's talent, and the effects are even better than what the brat Lin Huai described.

In the future, the number of Title Douluo in our Martial Soul Hall could potentially double!"

Smiles appeared on the faces of the other elders as well.

Their own descendants now had a chance to inherit their mantle.

Qian Daoliu seemed not to have heard Thousand Jun Douluo, his tone filled with nostalgia:

"I intend to take you as my disciple, and I can mobilize the power of Martial Soul Hall to help you find a cure. Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master?"

Thousand Jun looked at this scene, completely bewildered.

What on earth was happening?

I was only gone for a moment; why is Big Brother suddenly taking on a disciple?

And this child who has only a few years left to live?

Thousand Jun looked toward his younger brother, Falling Devil Douluo, attempting to find an answer.

Falling Devil turned his head away nonchalantly, Don't look at me, I have no idea either.

Lin Huai was surprised, but he quickly regained his composure and bowed in salute:

"Master is above, please accept this disciple's kowtow!"

Qian Daoliu's face lit up with joy: "Not bad. However, from now on, call me 'Teacher'; the term 'Master' is far too formal."

"Thousand Jun, did you bring back the ten-thousand-year-level Whale Rubber? Give it to my disciple to try; let us see how it enhances a genius with Innate Full Soul Power."

The five elders spoke up to offer their congratulations.

"Congratulations to Big Brother for taking on such a talented disciple!"

Thousand Jun Douluo also hurriedly offered his congratulations, handing two pieces of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber to Lin Huai.

"I suggest you cut it into small pieces before consuming it all at once; swallowing the whole block is a bit rough on the throat."

Lin Huai's expression turned strange: "Senior Thousand Jun... did you have the others swallow it whole just now?"

Thousand Jun said with complete sincerity: "Yes. When testing the ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber, I specifically sought out Beast Martial Soul Masters and had them use Martial Soul Possession before consuming it."

Looking at the look in Thousand Jun Douluo's eyes, which seemed to be saying, 'How about that, am I clever or what?'

Lin Huai struggled, remembering that he could only live for nine more years—only nine years of life left.

Suppressing his inner urge, he tried to make excuses for Thousand Jun: "I understand that Senior Thousand Jun likely doesn't need to use Whale Rubber, which is why you weren't aware."

Lin Huai kept a straight face.

"Actually, Whale Rubber can be melted with fire. It is easier to consume once melted, and the effects should be even better."

After a moment of silence, Qian Daoliu issued his command.

"You all are to handle the matter of the Whale Rubber over the next few days."

"Little Huai, I will take you to the cultivation room to consume the Whale Rubber, and afterward, we shall go to obtain your soul ring."

He reached out his right hand to take Lin Huai's, walking toward the cultivation room.

He stopped as he passed the stiff-faced Thousand Jun, patting him on the shoulder.

"While I am away these next few days, read more books."

After Qian Daoliu left with Lin Huai.

A burst of raucous laughter erupted within the Worship Hall.