What Yu Yuanzhen hadn't expected was that Yu Luomian would take this matter so seriously. In less than half a day, he'd found a suitable disciple.
After privately confirming that there was nothing wrong with the disciple, Yu Yuanzhen had him start taking Whale Rubber.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
The disciple Yu Luomian had brought back took Whale Rubber for two straight months, then successfully absorbed a nearly nine-hundred-year Soul Ring at level twenty, proving that Whale Rubber could increase the age of the Soul Ring one could absorb.
From then on, Yu Yuanzhen secretly sent people to buy up more of the Whale Rubber on the market. But since it was scarce and had relatively specialized uses, its price was soon driven up, suddenly multiplying several times over.
Naturally, Yu Hengqing, who had barely ever left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, knew nothing about any of this.
With Yu Yuanzhen sparing no expense to train him and Leiyi constantly replenishing his energy, Yu Hengqing needed only a little over five months to break through to level ten.
However, during that time, Yu Hengqing had come to deeply understand just how tortoise-slow his cultivation speed was.
If an ordinary Soul Master could cultivate a wisp of Soul Power in an hour of meditation, Yu Hengqing needed ten hours to cultivate the same amount.
So every time he finished cultivating, Yu Hengqing would sigh to himself.
I wonder how much longer it'll be before Leiyi lets up on suppressing my Soul Power!
As usual, Yu Hengqing went to the little house behind the mountain early in the morning, waiting for Yu Yuanzhen to take him into the cultivation chamber.
Yu Yuanzhen pushed the door open, patted Yu Hengqing on the head, and said softly, "Xiao Qing, we won't be cultivating in the chamber today. I'm going to test your physical strength. If you meet the requirements, we'll set off for the Star Dou Forest!"
When Yu Hengqing heard that Yu Yuanzhen was going to test his physical strength, his eyes lit up. He'd been eager to do this for ages.
Outside the house, Yu Yuanzhen stood with his hands behind his back and motioned for Yu Hengqing to attack.
Yu Hengqing knew Yu Yuanzhen wanted to test how strong he was, so he didn't hold back. He attacked Yu Yuanzhen with his fists, legs, and elbows.
Facing Yu Hengqing's "fierce" assault, Yu Yuanzhen remained where he stood, raising his hands to block each blow.
Half an hour later, Yu Hengqing was drenched in sweat. He panted heavily and dropped onto the ground.
"Your physical strength and fighting skills both meet the requirements. Go wash up, then pack your things. We'll set off for the Star Dou Forest this afternoon to hunt a Thunder Python."
As he spoke, Yu Yuanzhen took a jade pendant from his waist and tossed it into Yu Hengqing's arms. Yu Hengqing caught it and poured his Soul Power into it.
My dad really doesn't hold back when it comes to gifts. This Storage Soul Tool must be twenty cubic meters or so! It's even got food and drinking water in it!
"Thanks, Dad! You're the best!"
Yu Hengqing stood up, brushed the dirt off his backside, and grinned as he gave Yu Yuanzhen a thumbs-up.
Watching the buildings and people slide past outside the window, Yu Hengqing was especially excited. It was his first time leaving the royal capital.
"I looked at the clan's map of Soul Beast distributions in the Star Dou Forest. If we want to find Thunder Pythons, Thunder Valley is our best bet. They're most concentrated there, so we might find one whose age is suitable."
Yu Yuanzhen took out a map of the Star Dou Forest, found Thunder Valley, and pointed it out to Yu Hengqing.
Following Yu Yuanzhen's finger, Yu Hengqing spotted Thunder Valley marked on the map.
Yu Hengqing was curious and asked Yu Yuanzhen about it. Places like that always gave him the feeling that some great opportunity was waiting to be found.
"Thunder Valley? Is that the valley from the books, the one that's covered in lightning all year round? Dad, do you think there might be treasure there?"
At that, Yu Yuanzhen laughed heartily and ruffled Yu Hengqing's hair.
"Hahaha! People have explored Thunder Valley all year round, and I've never heard of anyone finding treasure there! Besides, even if there were some, you couldn't take it at your current level."
"True. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks there might be treasure there. I'd better stick close to you and focus on getting my Soul Ring!"
Yu Hengqing looked away from Thunder Valley. The carriage had already left the city, and the scenery outside was quite nice.
Three days later, Yu Hengqing followed Yu Yuanzhen to the outskirts of Thunder Valley.
They could have arrived a day earlier, but Yu Yuanzhen had thought this was a rare opportunity, so he'd taken Yu Hengqing wandering around the outer reaches of the Star Dou Forest to introduce him to some Soul Beasts.
Since it was struck by lightning year-round, little grass grew on the ground in Thunder Valley. Most of the trees there could absorb lightning, and many stood over ten meters tall.
By all rights, the environment wasn't very suitable for a carnivorous Soul Beast like the Thunder Python. But a small river happened to run through Thunder Valley, forming a little lake. Herbivorous Soul Beasts flocked there to drink.
"Stay close, Xiao Qing. In a place like this, both carnivorous and herbivorous Soul Beasts are dangerous. The former will see you as food, and the latter will see you as an enemy."
As Yu Yuanzhen spoke, walking ahead of Yu Hengqing, his arms underwent Dragon Transformation.
Yu Yuanzhen couldn't reveal his aura right now. If the Thunder Pythons sensed the aura of a Titled Douluo, they would certainly flee.
Perhaps the weather was especially nice today, because Yu Hengqing saw plenty of herbivorous Soul Beasts along the way.
There were Lightning Rabbits and Rock-Armored Goats. They even came across a Purple Lightning Thick-Armored Rhino, but unfortunately, it had already grown a second horn, which meant it was over a thousand years old.
As they walked, Yu Yuanzhen suddenly stopped and led Yu Hengqing behind a large tree.
Seeing Yu Hengqing's puzzled expression, Yu Yuanzhen gestured for him to stay quiet, then shifted aside to give him a better view.
Several Thunder Pythons, each thicker than a barrel, came into view. At once, Yu Hengqing felt that the trees beside them weren't so thick after all.
Even though he'd read about Thunder Pythons in several books, seeing the real thing still left Yu Hengqing stunned.
Yu Yuanzhen lowered his voice and quietly explained the Thunder Pythons in the distance.
"Before a Thunder Python reaches a thousand years old, the only way to tell its age is by the thickness of its body. The thicker it is, the older it is."
"Once a Thunder Python reaches a thousand years old, it grows another lightning mark on its forehead for every additional thousand years."
As Yu Yuanzhen explained, Yu Hengqing stretched his neck from behind the tree, trying to get a good look at the Thunder Pythons.
After studying them for a long time, he realized every one of the Thunder Pythons in the distance was barrel-thick, their ages nearing a thousand years. He even saw one with a lightning mark on its head.
Yu Hengqing pulled his head back and lowered his voice as much as he could. "Dad, it doesn't look like any of those Thunder Pythons over there meet my requirements!"
"It's all right. We'll wait a little longer. According to the season, the Thunder Pythons' laying period just ended, so some of them might still be out hunting."
Yu Yuanzhen patted Yu Hengqing on the shoulder, signaling him to be patient, then led him to another spot to keep waiting.
About an hour later, just as Yu Yuanzhen was starting to think about leaving, he suddenly heard the sound of scales scraping across the ground in the distance.
It's finally here! If it doesn't show up soon, I'll have to take Xiao Qing and leave Thunder Valley.
Both of them stared intently in the direction of the sound. If this Thunder Python didn't meet the requirements, they could only leave Thunder Valley and search somewhere else.
Not even a quarter of an hour later, a gigantic snakehead entered their view.
Yu Hengqing silently prayed to himself.
Please, don't have a lightning mark!
Before you continue