Little Silver panicked when it saw this and lunged at the other piece of Whale Rubber, too. But its teeth didn't seem as strong as Little Gold's. After gnawing away for ages, it had left only a few shallow tooth marks, and it cried "Roro" in agitation.
Yu Tianlong found the sight amusing, but felt a little sorry for it, too. He tried to help it break the piece apart, but it still wouldn't budge.
"Looks like this Whale Rubber really is useful to you two, but it seems to suit Little Gold's strength attribute better?"
Yu Tianlong pondered. He remembered that, in the original story, Whale Rubber mainly improved physical constitution, especially resilience. Perhaps Little Gold, as the representative of the strength route, could absorb it more smoothly.
Little Gold quickly devoured the entire piece of Whale Rubber, then licked its lips, still hungry, and gazed longingly at the box.
Yu Tianlong could clearly feel a strange, warm, weighty energy carrying the scent of the ocean. Through his connection with Little Gold, it surged into every part of his body.
It didn't feel like his Soul Power was growing. Instead, his muscles, bones, fascia, and even skin were slowly being steeped in and strengthened by this energy. A solid sense of power welled up within him.
"It really works!" Yu Tianlong was overjoyed. Without further hesitation, he took several pieces of Whale Rubber from the box and split them in half.
"Here, Little Gold, Little Silver. These are all for you! But Little Silver, try using your elemental abilities and see if you can soften or break it down."
Little Gold gave a cheer and pounced on the pieces, chomping away happily.
Little Silver tilted its head, seemingly mulling over its master's words. A moment later, silver light flowed around its body, and it opened its mouth to breathe out a wisp of pale blue flame, so fine it was almost transparent.
It had gained this ability after swallowing the stove fire earlier. Its temperature seemed higher than ordinary flames.
The flame scorched the Whale Rubber, and the hard lump softened and melted at a visible pace, eventually turning into a small puddle of viscous, faintly glowing golden liquid.
Little Silver's eyes lit up. It flicked out its tongue and lapped up the liquid. The next moment, specks of golden starlight appeared on its silvery fur. Its body seemed to grow a little more solid, and its control over the elements subtly improved.
"Haha, excellent! Clever little thing!" Yu Tianlong laughed and clapped his hands. It seemed Little Gold could directly devour the energy in Whale Rubber and use it to strengthen its physical power.
Little Silver, meanwhile, had to convert it with elemental power to absorb its essence, improving its elemental affinity and control. Their approaches were different, but they led to the same destination!
"Eat! Go ahead and eat! There's plenty!" Yu Tianlong declared, brimming with enthusiasm, and carried the whole box of Whale Rubber into the courtyard. The two little fellows cheered and plunged into the box, feasting.
Little Gold was a pure "crusher," devouring anything put in front of it, while Little Silver became an "alchemist," processing the Whale Rubber with various combinations of elements it had experimented with. Its pace was surprisingly brisk, too.
Yu Tianlong stood to the side, feeling the steady stream of strengthening energy surge through his body, interwoven like ice and fire. The smile on his lips grew broader and broader.
Those five thousand Gold Soul Coins had been worth every one! This wasn't Whale Rubber—it was an "experience pack" tailor-made for Little Gold and Little Silver!
At dawn the next morning, the sky was just beginning to brighten.
Yu Tianlong opened the courtyard gate, feeling refreshed and invigorated. The night-long "feast" of Whale Rubber had not only made Little Gold and Little Silver noticeably stronger.
Little Gold had grown a size larger, while the elemental glow around Little Silver had become more nimble.
His own physical constitution had improved by at least thirty percent, and he felt strength coursing through him with every movement.
More importantly, he felt his Soul Power was now more closely and smoothly connected to the two Luo Sanpao, as if they had truly become extensions of his own limbs.
"It's time to set out." He took a deep breath of the cool morning air, his eyes full of anticipation.
He had just finished packing when someone knocked on the courtyard gate. When he opened it, the visitor wasn't the family steward or a guard he'd expected, but Yu Yuanzhen, dressed in a simple gray robe and radiating the imposing presence of a mountain.
A Titled Douluo had come to invite him in person. Yu Tianlong was a little surprised by the treatment.
"Tianlong, if you're ready, let's go."
Yu Yuanzhen was brief and to the point. His gaze swept over Yu Tianlong, and a flicker of surprise, too subtle to notice, passed through his eyes. They hadn't seen each other for a night, yet the boy seemed more vigorous, his eyes clearer, too.
"Yes, Clan Chief." Yu Tianlong bowed, then shouldered the small bundle he had prepared, containing some dry food, drinking water, and emergency medicine.
"Outside, just call me Uncle. Your father and I got along well back then. It's a pity..."
Yu Yuanzhen smiled kindly.
Yu Tianlong didn't dwell on what to call him.
"Uncle!"
Just as he was about to leave with Yu Yuanzhen, a figure slowly emerged from behind a nearby corridor pillar.
Yu Xiaogang.
He had changed into coarse clothes suitable for travel and carried a small bundle, but he still looked haggard, with dark circles under his eyes. Clearly, he hadn't slept all night.
He kept his head down, afraid to look at Yu Yuanzhen, and even more afraid to look at Yu Tianlong. He bit his lip hard, his fingers twisting the hem of his clothes.
Yu Yuanzhen looked at him, a complicated look in his eyes, then explained to Yu Tianlong:
"Though Xiao Gang isn't yet at the stage where he needs to obtain a Soul Ring, his Martial Soul shares the same origin as yours. Traveling with us to observe might benefit his cultivation in the future. You two can talk more along the way."
Yu Tianlong understood. In the end, Yu Yuanzhen was Yu Xiaogang's father. No matter how disappointed he was, how could he truly give up on him completely?
Taking him along would give him a chance to see the world and perhaps gain some insight. Yu Yuanzhen likely also hoped that Yu Tianlong, his cousin who was "in the same boat," might look after and guide him a little.
But in Yu Xiaogang's current, extreme state of mind, this paternal love would probably seem like another form of "favoritism" and "humiliation."
Sure enough, Yu Xiaogang suddenly raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse and sharp.
"I don't need to talk with him! I've been studying Luo Sanpao these past few days. I know how it should be cultivated! It should take the defensive route, or the support route! As for the offensive route? I understand Luo Sanpao better than he does!"
Yu Yuanzhen furrowed his brow, a harsh glint flashing in his eyes. "Insolent! You're stubborn and beyond reason!"
"Forget it, Uncle." Yu Tianlong waved a hand, his tone calm.
"If Xiao Gang has his own ideas, then let him follow them. We each walk our own path. Time will prove whether he's right or wrong."
He couldn't be bothered to argue with Yu Xiaogang in his current state. There was no point talking to a child who had backed himself into a corner.
Yu Tianlong's dismissive attitude, as if he couldn't be bothered to argue, made Yu Xiaogang's chest tighten. He wanted to say more.
But Yu Yuanzhen shot him a cold glare, and he could only shut his mouth in resentment. Like a defeated rooster, he trailed behind the two of them, his eyes full of bitterness and resentment.
"Let's go!"
Star Dou Forest lay in the southern part of the Heaven Dou Empire. Vast and boundless, it was the largest gathering place for Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent and one of the most important hunting grounds for Soul Masters seeking Soul Rings.
When the seemingly endless stretch of dark green forest appeared in their view, reaching as if it joined the heavens and earth, even Yu Tianlong, who had been prepared for it, couldn't help but be awed by nature's grandeur.
"Release your Martial Souls," Yu Yuanzhen ordered. They might encounter danger at any moment after entering Star Dou Forest, so their Martial Souls had to be ready at all times.
Yu Tianlong focused his mind, and golden and silver light flashed as Little Gold and Little Silver appeared.
After two days of nourishing themselves on Whale Rubber, they were more vigorous than ever. Little Gold held its head high and chest out, its dark golden eyes radiating a hint of menace as it surveyed its surroundings. Its four paws were planted on the ground, and it carried an air of solemn composure.
Little Silver, meanwhile, nimbly sprang onto Yu Tianlong's shoulder. Its glassy eyes curiously surveyed the vast forest, while tiny specks of elemental light drifted around it like fireflies.
Yu Xiaogang also summoned his Luo Sanpao. The chubby, pale golden dog appeared, but looked timid and cowered close against Yu Xiaogang's leg.
It kept its head down and made anxious "whimpering" sounds in its throat. Especially when Little Gold's steady, imposing gaze passed over it, it shuddered with fright, almost shrinking back into Yu Xiaogang's body.
With the three Luo Sanpao together, the difference between them was clear. Both Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Tianlong had a strange look in their eyes.
Yu Tianlong's Luo Sanpao were utterly different from Yu Xiaogang's, whether in their spirit or in the aura they faintly gave off. This couldn't be explained by "Innate Full Soul Power" alone.
Yu Yuanzhen asked, "Tianlong, your External Beast Martial Soul is quite special. Even I have never seen one like it. What are your thoughts on the First Soul Ring? What kind of Soul Beast do you need?"
Yu Tianlong was about to answer, but Yu Xiaogang beside him spoke first, his tone brimming with the urgency of someone thinking, "I've studied this, so I know what I'm talking about":
"I know! This kind of Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao, has almost no attack power. It's slow, and its defense is fragile! But it does have one characteristic: it can release a gas with a paralyzing effect!
"So for its First Soul Ring, it would be best to choose a defensive Soul Beast to improve its survivability, or one with control attributes like paralysis or sluggishness to strengthen its control abilities! Taking the defensive or support route is the proper path!"
He spoke very quickly, seemingly eager to prove the results of his "research" over the past few days. His eyes shone as he looked at his father, hoping to win his approval.