Before Yu Yuanzhen could speak, Yu Hengqing hurriedly explained what had just happened.
"So the Thunder God chose you as the inheritor?"
Yu Yuanzhen swallowed, took hold of Yu Hengqing's hand, and asked in a slightly trembling voice.
Under Yu Yuanzhen's gaze, Yu Hengqing nodded firmly.
"Wonderful! My son isn't a good-for-nothing! Hahahaha, my son isn't a good-for-nothing!"
Yu Yuanzhen released Yu Hengqing's hands and threw his head back, laughing.
It took a long while for Yu Yuanzhen to calm down.
"So that means the God Trial reward of three levels of Soul Power is real, too!"
"Yes, but I have to hunt a lightning-attribute Soul Beast that's at least seven hundred years old for my First Soul Ring."
Yu Hengqing's words poured a basin of cold water over the excitement that had just begun to rise in Yu Yuanzhen's heart.
Finding a seven-hundred-year-old lightning-attribute Soul Beast would be no trouble for Yu Yuanzhen, a Titled Douluo. He could easily bring one back for Yu Hengqing.
The hard part was having Yu Hengqing absorb a seven-hundred-year Soul Ring beyond his limits!
Yu Hengqing's body simply couldn't withstand the Soul Power contained in a seven-hundred-year Soul Ring.
"Xiao Qing, is there a time limit for your God Trial?"
Yu Yuanzhen couldn't think of a solution yet, so he first asked whether Yu Hengqing's God Trial had a time limit.
"No. As long as I don't absorb my First Soul Ring, I can complete it whenever I want."
After Yu Hengqing answered, the two fell silent.
The task was simple, but completing it would be difficult. Yu Hengqing's body was an obstacle he couldn't get around.
They could only rack their brains for something in Douluo Continent that could raise the age limit of a Soul Ring a Soul Master could absorb.
There was no hope of Yu Yuanzhen finding a solution on his own. If such a thing existed, the disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect would have used it long ago.
Yu Hengqing could only try to recall his past-life memories and see if there was some way to raise Soul Ring age limits in the tens of thousands of years to come.
Just as Yu Hengqing struggled to recall his past-life memories, Yu Yuanzhen suddenly thought of a solution.
"In the early stages of a Soul Master's cultivation, spending the same amount of time cultivating Soul Power improves the body far more than physical training. So people think physical training at that stage is a complete waste of time and cultivation talent."
"But Xiao Qing, your situation is special. We'll first try to see whether physical training helps. If it doesn't, we'll come up with something else!"
"At the same time, I'll send people to look for rare treasures that can strengthen the body."
They could pursue both approaches at once. Yu Yuanzhen refused to believe that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, couldn't handle this "little matter"!
If we really do this, won't I waste a lot of time that I could spend cultivating? Spirit Hall won't wait until I become a Titled Douluo before attacking the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
Too bad Yu Hengqing wasn't at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. If he were, would he still need Immortal Herbs to strengthen his body?
Fortunately, his mental power had improved, and he could now recall most of the original story.
If only there were some rare treasure that was easy to get.
As he recalled the original story, he suddenly remembered a rare treasure that could strengthen the body—Whale Rubber!
In Douluo II, Tang Wutong had eaten thousand-year Whale Rubber since childhood at the Clear Sky Sect. Her body was extraordinary, and even her Second Soul Ring was a thousand years old.
In the same way, Yu Hengqing could use Whale Rubber to save time on physical training and obtain a seven-hundred-year First Soul Ring!
As for how to explain knowing that Whale Rubber strengthened the body, naturally, he'd blame the "all-knowing" Thunder God!
"Dad, I just asked the Thunder God what could strengthen my body. She said I could use Whale Rubber."
When Yu Yuanzhen learned that Whale Rubber could strengthen the body, his expression turned strange.
"What?! You're saying that Whale Rubber can strengthen the body?"
Yu Yuanzhen was the father of three children, so of course he knew about Whale Rubber's special use. But he'd never heard that it could strengthen the body, too.
No! Maybe no one had ever paid attention to that aspect.
Most people treated Whale Rubber as a tonic or an aphrodisiac. Those who used it wouldn't care whether their bodies grew stronger.
Yu Yuanzhen was silent for quite a while. He tried to think it through and realized Whale Rubber might really strengthen the body.
After all, everyone who had used it said that afterward, their backs didn't ache, their legs didn't feel sore, and they could go another round.
"Then, Xiao Qing, did the Thunder God explain how to use Whale Rubber?"
Yu Yuanzhen certainly wouldn't pass up the chance if Whale Rubber could really strengthen the body. It was currently the approach most likely to work.
"She only told me to use fire. She didn't say anything else."
Yu Hengqing tried his best to remember, but all he could recall was that fire had to be used.
Hearing that fire was needed, Yu Yuanzhen relaxed. He'd thought it might require some special method.
"It's fine. We'll try the usual method first: soften it with a flame made from Soul Power."
Yu Yuanzhen changed tack. "But Whale Rubber alone won't do. It's an aphrodisiac and far too potent. Your body definitely won't be able to handle it."
"Ah? Then what should I do, Dad?"
After Yu Yuanzhen said that, Yu Hengqing realized it, too. Whale Rubber really was a powerful tonic, or it wouldn't be used as an aphrodisiac.
"Use the Cold Jade Bed. Its chill can suppress the flow of your blood and Qi, minimizing the effects of the Whale Rubber on you."
Having settled on a preliminary plan to strengthen Yu Hengqing's body, Yu Yuanzhen turned to Yu Hengqing's choice of First Soul Ring.
"Since your Martial Soul isn't the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, there's no need to deliberately hunt a Soul Beast with dragon blood for your First Soul Ring. You only need to focus on the strength of its lightning attribute."
"My current plan is to find you a Purple Lightning Thick-Armored Rhino for your First Soul Ring. This Soul Beast not only has a powerful lightning attribute but also a strong body."
"If you can hunt one for your First Soul Ring, you'll most likely get a Soul Skill that boosts your physical strength, making up for your body's weakness."
Yu Hengqing didn't quite understand why Yu Yuanzhen was so eager to make up for his weak body.
"Dad, there isn't much difference in physical strength between a one-ring and a two-ring Soul Master, right? Besides, I'm going to use Whale Rubber to strengthen my body."
"I think an offensive Soul Skill would be better, like the Thunder Python. A hundred-year-old Thunder Python can attack with lightning balls. That Soul Skill can be used to attack or defend."
Yu Yuanzhen lowered his head in thought and realized Yu Hengqing was right. Since he was already going to use Whale Rubber to strengthen his body, choosing a Soul Skill that boosted his physical strength for his First Soul Ring would indeed be redundant.
"I didn't think it through. You can have your own ideas, too. Once your body is strong enough, we'll set out to hunt a Thunder Python."
"But be sure to think of a backup plan. Thunder Pythons are extremely rare in the Star Dou Forest, so finding one of a suitable age won't be easy!"
As he spoke, Yu Yuanzhen got up and tucked Yu Hengqing into bed. They'd been at it all day; it was time to rest.
"Mm. I'll think of something."
"Good. Get some rest."
Star Dou Forest, Life Lake.
"Bi Ji, are you sure you want to take on this task?"
"Human Soul Masters aren't a threat to you at present, but the spies left behind by those gods are still out there. Let me carry out this task instead!"
The black dragon Di Tian, awakened by the Silver Dragon King, spoke to Bi Ji with some concern.
In his eyes, Bi Ji was a healing-type Soul Beast, and it wasn't safe for her to go out and carry out a task like this.
"It's fine. Your most pressing task is to grow stronger."
Bi Ji, who had taken human form, smiled faintly at Di Tian, then turned and walked out through the barrier around Life Lake, leaving only her voice to echo within it.
"After all, they and I will be counting on you to protect us!"
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