Reporting to the Worship Hall, the Effects of Whale Rubber

Now that Ban Shu had obtained a Soul Ring, the four of them headed back.

By late afternoon, they had returned to Spirit City.

"Xiao Ban, Dong'er, wait a moment. I have something for you."

Qian Xunji called out to the two who were about to leave. He took out two rings, one large and one small, and handed them over.

"Consider these gifts from your teacher. They're Storage Soul Tools. Each ring has over ten cubic meters of space, which should be more than enough for you."

Ban Shu and Bibi Dong accepted the rings and put them on, then thanked him in unison. "Thank you, Teacher!"

The technology for Soul Tools had long since been lost in this era. Most of the Soul Tools still around had been unearthed from ancient ruins, making them exceptionally rare.

Storage Soul Tools were rarer still, especially ones with such a vast amount of space.

Bibi Dong eagerly slipped the ring onto her finger, then showed it off to Ban Shu. "Xiao Ban, does it look good?"

"It looks great. Everything looks good on you, Sister Dong'er."

As Ban Shu spoke, he slipped the ring onto his thumb. Well, he was still too small to keep it on any of his other fingers.

"Hehe."

Bibi Dong smiled happily.

"All right, you've both worked hard. Go on and get some rest today. We'll continue your lessons tomorrow."

Seeing how happy his two disciples were, Qian Xunji smiled as well. He patted them on the head and spoke gently.

"Yes, goodbye, Teacher."

The two nodded, took each other by the hand, and left.

After they were gone, the Pope Palace fell silent once more. But suddenly, Qian Xunji felt that the place seemed a little empty.

It seemed that, despite knowing them for only a few short days, he had already grown used to having the two little ones around.

"Phew..."

He let out a quiet breath, gathered his thoughts, and stood up. It was time to report recent events to his father, the true pillar of Spirit Hall—Qian Daoliu.

The Worship Hall stood between the Pope Palace and Douluo Hall. It was the very heart of Spirit Hall.

Everyone who lived there was a Super Douluo with Soul Power of at least level 95. At their head stood the Level 99 Limit Douluo, the Angel God's high priest, Qian Daoliu.

At the far end of the great hall stood a towering statue of the Angel God. It was the object of Spirit Hall's faith.

"Uncles."

Qian Xunji first greeted his elders, then stepped behind Qian Daoliu and bowed respectfully. "Father."

Qian Daoliu did not rise. Instead, he spoke slowly. "Ji'er, you're not in the Pope Palace. What brings you here?"

"Father, I wouldn't dare hide the truth. Recently, I discovered another peerless genius at the orphanage—one who is no less talented than Bibi Dong, and may even surpass her."

"Oh?"

Only then did Qian Daoliu slowly lift his head and stand.

Though he was nearly a hundred years old, he looked to be only in his forties or fifties.

And thanks to the Angel clan's bloodline, he was handsome and possessed an extraordinary bearing.

"Tell me about him."

Qian Xunji had already reported Bibi Dong's situation: Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls. She was a genius among geniuses.

Since Qian Xunji had come again and praised this child so highly, he must be exceptional too.

Qian Xunji promptly told them about Ban Shu. "The child is called Ban Shu. His Martial Soul is a long-handled weapon called a Painted Halberd."

"I was there in person when Ban Shu underwent his Martial Soul Awakening. The spectacle was immense. The light even pierced through the clouds, and even my Angel Spirit trembled faintly."

His words prompted several of the Worshippers nearby to start discussing.

"Could the crimson beam of light I saw shooting into the sky a few days ago have been caused by that child's Martial Soul Awakening?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo stroked his beard, looking quite astonished.

"That's right."

Qian Xunji nodded. "And that's not all. The child's potential hasn't even been fully realized. The First Soul Ring he absorbed this time was a full seven hundred years old!"

His words sent shockwaves through the hall. Even these Titled Douluo, who stood at the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent, couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath at the mention of a seven-hundred-year First Soul Ring.

"Ji'er, don't joke with your uncles."

Azure Luan Douluo was clearly unconvinced. "The optimal age for a First Soul Ring is around four hundred years. That's a fact acknowledged by Spirit Hall. It can't be any higher, or the body will collapse."

"Uncle Azure Luan, I'm not joking."

Qian Xunji knew it sounded too shocking to be true, but it was what had happened. "I saw it with my own eyes. There's no mistake."

"If that's the case, the child called Ban Shu will have limitless potential."

Qian Daoliu spoke slowly. After all, even their inherited Martial Soul, the Six-Winged Angel, could not break through the limits on Soul Ring absorption.

"As for the Painted Halberd, I've never heard of anyone possessing such a Martial Soul."

A thoughtful look flickered through Qian Daoliu's eyes. He had never heard of this weapon. Could it have been bestowed by a god, since it had made the Angel Spirit tremble?

"Ji'er, whatever the case, you must teach this child well. He will surely become another formidable warrior for Spirit Hall."

"Understood, Father."

Qian Xunji nodded, then suddenly remembered what Ban Shu had said about Whale Rubber.

"There's one more thing, Father. According to Xiao Ban, he once received a page from an ancient text from an old man. It described a method for increasing the age limit of Soul Ring absorption."

"Increasing the age limit for Soul Ring absorption?"

Qian Daoliu was slightly taken aback. Just how many mysteries did Ban Shu hold?

"According to him, heating Whale Rubber over a high flame and then consuming it can strengthen a Soul Master's physique and raise the age limit for Soul Ring absorption."

"Whale Rubber?"

The Worshippers present wore strange expressions. They were no children; naturally, they knew what it was used for.

But everyone knew what that stuff was for. No one had ever used it to strengthen their body or increase the age limit for Soul Rings.

Golden Crocodile rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "Could he have surpassed the Soul Ring absorption limit because he consumed Whale Rubber?"

"That's not it."

Qian Xunji shook his head. "Xiao Ban grew up in an orphanage. He couldn't have had the means or money to buy something like that. He was able to absorb a Soul Ring beyond the limit thanks to his talent."

"My guess is that some reclusive expert recognized his talent and gave him a bit of guidance."

"Hmm, that makes sense."

Mighty Lion Douluo, who had not spoken until now, nodded. "There aren't many Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent, but there aren't few either. It's not impossible that one or two reclusive experts are out there."

"Whatever the case, we can verify it with a simple test."

Qian Daoliu thought for a few seconds, then spoke slowly. "Ji'er, send someone at once to verify whether Whale Rubber really has this effect. Make no mistakes."

"Yes! I'll do it at once."

Qian Xunji bowed in acknowledgment, then turned and left the Worship Hall.