"Deep feelings call for downing it in one gulp! bottoms up, brothers!"
Hearing his disciple say something so inexplicable, Dugu Bo could only stare at him, speechless.
They had just been discussing such a serious topic, and now his disciple was putting on a show for him.
Sometimes, he really didn't know what to say.
As the Whale Rubber was absorbed, Yu Tianshuo's body gradually grew sturdier, and his skin slowly turned red.
Red???
Seeing something was wrong, Dugu Bo prepared to step in and stop his disciple from fooling around.
But Yu Tianshuo merely gestured for him to wait.
A dragon's shadow appeared behind him. It opened its cavernous jaws and began to breathe in and out.
Yu Tianshuo's complexion gradually returned to normal, but his body remained as large as it had become.
"Phew—Master, what do you think? Not bad, huh?"
Dugu Bo was left more than a little dumbfounded by the whole display.
But before he could think it over, his disciple continued.
"Also, Master, that just now pushed me past the level 20 threshold. Take me to find my Second Soul Ring tomorrow."
Before Yu Tianshuo could say more, Dugu Bo cut him off and asked in confusion,
"Weren't you only level 17 yesterday? The Whale Rubber works that well? It can raise your Soul Power by three levels outright?"
Seeing that his master had misunderstood, Yu Tianshuo waved a hand and explained,
"No. I accepted the crown prince's offer and got a Soul Ascension Pill, which raised me by two levels outright. Add the Soul Power I gained from training and the breakthrough from the Whale Rubber, and that's how I reached level 20."
After hearing this, Dugu Bo nodded.
Although he found it absurd that his disciple had taken something given to him by someone else without a second thought, he didn't say anything.
His disciple had far too many secrets.
Whether it was growing stronger every time he got beaten, or the secrets of Whale Rubber and becoming a god, any one of them would rock the entire continent if revealed.
But to his disciple, they were as common as cabbages—so common that Dugu Bo was starting to fear hearing about them.
He was afraid his own greed might get the better of him and make him turn on his beloved disciple.
Alas, I need to cultivate harder. My Soul Power is still too low. If I could reach Super Douluo, I could protect my disciple. No matter what shocking things he said, I'd be able to keep him safe.
Seeing his master staring at his own hand with a deeply troubled expression, Yu Tianshuo couldn't help scratching his head.
What's wrong with Master now? Did I get to him again?
When neither of them said anything, Dugu Yuan scratched his head too and spoke to his father.
"By the way, Dad, I've also advanced to Soul Saint. Take me along on the Soul Hunting trip tomorrow."
Dugu Bo waved a hand to show he'd heard.
Yu Tianshuo suggested that his senior brother eat a piece of Whale Rubber now too, so they could increase their Soul Ring's age during the hunt tomorrow.
But Dugu Yuan waved a hand and said,
"Junior Brother, there are some things you might not know. Once Soul Beasts reach ten thousand years, they develop intelligence."
"When these Soul Beasts are killed, the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings they leave behind all carry a soul shock. The older the Soul Beast, the stronger the shock."
"Over the years, the toxins have ravaged Dad and me. Although they strengthened part of our soul power, they also damaged it."
"If we absorb a Soul Ring that's too powerful, it could damage our souls again. That would be a poor trade."
After saying this, he sighed and gave his junior brother a complicated look.
But the look in his junior brother's eyes—as if asking whether he was stupid—annoyed him, so he asked outright,
"Junior Brother, did you find another treatment method in some ancient book?"
Yu Tianshuo simply shook his head and continued to look at Dugu Yuan with a complicated expression.
Dugu Bo seemed to realize something too and looked at Dugu Yuan as if he were an idiot.
Dugu Yuan couldn't help running a hand through his hair, trying to remember if he'd forgotten something. Not only his junior brother, but even his own father was looking at him that way.
Seeing that his foolish son still hadn't caught on, Dugu Bo could only sigh and say,
"That kid Tianshuo asked the imperial family for the Compendium of Herbs. Most of it covers common herbs, but it also contains records of quite a few Immortal Herbs."
With Dugu Bo having practically spelled it out, Dugu Yuan finally understood.
He tapped his right hand against his left palm, then said with sudden realization,
"Oh, right! Dad, you have an Herb Garden. There should be some Immortal Herbs in there that can repair the soul."
Now that his foolish son had finally remembered, Dugu Bo could only rub his forehead and sigh.
Alas, he was so sharp as a child. How did he get dumber as he grew up?
Hmm, I must not have beaten him enough. From now on, I'll make him train alongside Tianshuo in the mornings.
But the old whip won't cut it anymore. I might as well raise the difficulty for Tianshuo too. I'll use that whip made from a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast's tendon and snake bones.
At that moment, Yu Tianshuo and Dugu Yuan had no idea that their senior brother's foolishness would make their future training far more grueling.
They only shivered, unaware that someone had them in mind.
"All right, Yuan'er. Listen to your junior brother and go get a piece of ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber to absorb first."
"Get one for me too. After we find Soul Rings for you two, if there's still time, I'll have to go find my Ninth Soul Ring as well."
He didn't continue. Instead, he looked at Yu Tianshuo with an expression that asked, Does that ancient book of yours mention any Soul Beasts?
This version of Dugu Bo was rather out of character, but this time he really didn't know what to do.
The only hundred-thousand-year snake Soul Beasts or poisonous Soul Beasts he knew of were the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent in Slaughter City.
To hunt the former, he would have to face two hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts at once. To find the latter, he would have to take the trial on Hell Road in Slaughter City. Not only would that take too long, but Tang Chen was also there, possessed by the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King.
If anything went wrong, it would spell disaster for the whole family.
Thinking of this, Yu Tianshuo was at a loss too. He gave Dugu Bo an expression that said, Looking at me won't help. I can't do anything about this either.
Seeing that even his disciple's all-purpose "ancient books" had no good recommendations, Dugu Bo felt a little disappointed.
But he quickly got his head straight.
He couldn't rely on his disciple like this. He still needed to work hard at cultivation.
After composing himself, Dugu Bo coughed and continued,
"Lastly, my conferral ceremony is set for the end of next month. Star Luo Empire, Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and other factions will come to offer their congratulations."
"I suggested holding a martial arts competition for the young people to liven things up. Tianshuo, make sure to show off your strength when the time comes."
"You don't need to worry about those people in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. You've changed so much that even they won't recognize you."
After that, he simply told Dugu Yuan to see him to his room, then turned and went back himself.
Dugu Yuan went to fetch the things, while Yu Tianshuo wore an excited, ferocious expression.
"Just you wait. At the competition at the end of next month, I'll collect a little interest from you bastards first."
Before you continue