Soul Bone Upgrade

Although the system's voice was always that same flat electronic monotone, Ye Tian's instincts told him it sounded a little guilty.

Forget it. I won't press the issue.

"System, upgrade this left leg bone to thirty thousand years!"

"Roger!"

Thirty thousand Fate Points were deducted. The Soul Bone in his hand began to glow faintly on its own, its might growing heavier by the second. Above it, the silhouette of a giant bear more than ten meters tall took shape. It threw back its head with a roar, then slammed into the Soul Bone below.

The next moment, a soft glow spread over the Soul Bone. Its entire surface slowly shifted from pale white to jade.

"Dong'er, wait until you become a Soul Ancestor before absorbing this Soul Bone. It has already been upgraded to thirty thousand years. Don't let anyone else find out."

"Mm." As Bibi Dong listened to Ye Tian's instructions, a trace of emotion flickered in her eyes.

Ye Tian's methods were miraculous, but she was no longer a six-year-old child. She knew that to accomplish something even a Titled Douluo couldn't, Ye Tian must have paid a heavy price.

She had hoped to use what she'd gained to make up for some of Ye Tian's sacrifice. Instead, she'd discovered that the debt she owed him only kept growing.

Should I just give Spirit Hall to Ye Tian in the future?

As a way of...

Bibi Dong didn't know what she'd thought of, but a faint blush crept across her face.

Ye Tian had no idea Dong'er was lost in her thoughts. Knowing that reaching level thirty was the most important thing for her right now, he returned control of her body and immediately had her gather high-quality Whale Rubber.

"Whale Rubber? Ye Tian, is that some kind of heavenly treasure?" Dong'er quickly recalled what she knew about Whale Rubber.

Her teachers at Spirit Hall had said it was only used in the bedroom, to arouse men.

Is Ye Tian planning to collect some for himself?

Noticing the look in Dong'er's eyes, Ye Tian flicked her forehead with a finger.

"Ow!" Dong'er covered her forehead and stared at him in confusion, as if asking, Why did you hit me for no reason, Ye Tian?

Ye Tian glared at her and said crossly, "Don't think I didn't notice what you were just thinking."

Dong'er giggled and stuck out her tongue playfully.

"Once you extract the impurities from Whale Rubber, swallowing the essence can greatly improve your constitution."

"Has Spirit Hall ever told you the absorption limit for each Soul Ring?"

"They have. My teacher said the number of years a Soul Ring can have depends on a person's constitution and spiritual power."

At last, they'd reached a subject she knew well. Bibi Dong spoke freely and grew more confident with every word.

When she was done, Ye Tian nodded in approval. "Extracted Whale Rubber has mild medicinal properties. It improves your constitution gradually after you swallow it, and it won't cause any side effects."

"Don't let anyone else learn about this. With your current means, Dong'er, you'd never be able to compete with those ancient clans that have been around for thousands of years."

"Mm! I'll remember, Ye Tian."

After chatting with Ye Tian, Bibi Dong waited for her two masters in the living room. As the sky darkened toward dusk, Yue Guan and Gui Mei returned to the residence together.

That's right. Gui Mei had moved into Yue Guan's residence by then.

They were both bachelors, and it was only after they took in a student together that they finally felt a little warmth in their lives. Gui Mei's residence had been empty and cold, with only a few servants coming by each day to clean. Yue Guan had suggested that he move in.

At first, Gui Mei had refused. It took Bibi Dong going over and sweet-talking him several times before he reluctantly agreed.

Of course, now Gui Mei wished he could travel back in time and slap his stubborn former self.

He could see his beloved student every day and live together with her and his old friend. He'd once refused a life this happy!

"Master Yue Guan!"

"Master Gui Mei, you're back!"

Hearing their familiar footsteps, Bibi Dong hurried over to greet them.

"How did your training go today, Dong'er?" Yue Guan asked with a beaming smile, his eyes full of affection for his beloved student.

Gui Mei only nodded, but his fondness for Dong'er was every bit as great as Yue Guan's.

"I finished all of today's training!"

Bibi Dong showed her two masters to their seats. While they waited for dinner, she pretended to ask about something she'd happened to see in an ancient book.

"Master Yue Guan, I saw an ancient text in Spirit Hall's library today. It mentioned a treasure called Whale Rubber. Apparently, someone swallowed it and then broke through the Soul Ring's age limit while absorbing a Soul Ring. Is that true?"

When it came to medicinal plants, no one on the entire continent dared claim to know more than Yue Guan. Even that old poisoner, Dugu Bo, could only surpass him when it came to poisons.

Yue Guan chuckled and explained Whale Rubber's properties in detail.

"Whale Rubber has been used for intimacy between men and women since ancient times. It has little medicinal value."

"Master Yue Guan, have you studied it?"

"No."

"Master Yue Guan, you taught me that practice is the only way to gain true knowledge. What if the rumors are wrong?"

"Isn't that right, Master Gui Mei?"

Bibi Dong seized on a flaw in Yue Guan's argument and retorted with conviction, even drawing Gui Mei into it.

"Right."

Gui Mei opened his mouth, his hoarse voice ringing out.

"Yes, yes, you're right. I wasn't being thorough."

"Master Yue Guan, could you lend me some money? I want to buy some Whale Rubber tomorrow and try it out."

"Little girl, you've revealed your real purpose, haven't you?"

Yue Guan teased his beloved student, then took out a bulging pouch.

There were at least a thousand Gold Soul Coins inside.

"Have the steward go with you tomorrow." Yue Guan handed her the purse and added a reminder.

Dong'er was still very young. Carrying so much money through the streets would be like a child parading around with a priceless treasure. But with the steward there, it wouldn't be a problem.

"All right! Thank you, Master Yue Guan!"

In the dead of night, Bibi Dong hurried to Ye Tian as soon as she returned to her room and told him what had happened at dinner. She wore a smug little smile, as if to say, Ye Tian, wasn't I clever? Hurry up and praise me!

"Dong'er's getting better and better at talking her way through things!"

"Hehe, that was nothing."

Bibi Dong waved a hand as if it were no big deal, but the corners of her mouth kept rising, giving away how pleased she was.

Ye Tian chatted with Dong'er for a while, subtly probing her values.

Afterward, he let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the lessons he'd taught her years ago hadn't been wasted. Dong'er now knew to be grateful, but she hadn't lost her sharpness, either. She was no longer the spoiled child she'd once been.

If Bibi Dong kept growing like this, Yu Xiaogang would meet a very ugly end if he ever tried to deceive her.

At daybreak the next morning, Bibi Dong opened her eyes and immediately went to the Mental Space. She saw Ye Tian meditating at the center, and the suspicion in her eyes quietly faded. A hint of delight appeared at the corners of her lips.