After breakfast, Bai Shu led Xiao Wu, who was following close behind him and still sulking, to find Dugu Bo, who was teaching Dugu Yan how to cultivate in the courtyard.
"Senior Dugu." Bai Shu stepped forward.
"Young Master!" Seeing Bai Shu arrive, Dugu Bo immediately stopped what he was doing and came forward with a smile. "You're up so early. Do you have any orders?"
"It's not anything urgent." Bai Shu smiled. "I just came to ask how the Whale Rubber I asked you to collect is coming along."
Dugu Bo suddenly understood and promptly took an antique wooden box from his Storage Soul Tool.
"Young Master, the Heaven Dou Auction House and several major apothecaries are currently collecting it with all their strength. However, most high-year Whale Rubber has been privately hoarded by great nobles. Even when I invoke my name, it will still take some time to acquire it."
He paused and handed over the wooden box.
"However, I have some reserve stock from the Auction House. They prepared it in case they lacked high-grade auction items, and all of it is premium Whale Rubber over ten thousand years old. Young Master, please see whether it can be used."
"Oh?" Bai Shu accepted Dugu Bo's wooden box and opened it for a look. From the outside, these pieces of Whale Rubber seemed nothing special. They were pitch-black, with no sign of their worth.
Yet Bai Shu could sense the energy concealed within. It was very similar to the life energy he knew well, only far more violent.
"I imagine the Heaven Dou Auction House wouldn't dare pass off inferior goods to you." Bai Shu nodded in satisfaction and returned the box to Dugu Bo. "Use Soul Power to melt them down, then let Sister Yanzi and Xiao Wu take them."
As for himself, he had already consumed Whale Rubber once, and due to his martial soul, even eating another piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber would bring limited improvement. His third ring certainly would not reach ten thousand years.
"Ah? Give it to Yanyan... now?" Joy instantly flooded Dugu Bo's aged face.
He had long wanted Dugu Yan to consume such a supreme treasure, but he had never known the exact method. Moreover, without Bai Shu's permission, he had not dared use it on his own.
Now that he had been granted permission, he was even more excited than if his Soul Power had risen by a level.
Nothing unexpected occurred during the process of consuming the Whale Rubber.
Although the medicinal power of the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber was immense and violent, under the personal protection and guidance of Dugu Bo, a Title Douluo who spared no expenditure of Soul Power, that violent energy was suppressed until it became as docile as a lamb, slowly merging into Dugu Yan and Xiao Wu's limbs and bones.
A faint blush appeared on both their skin, while their auras steadily continued to rise. Clearly, they had gained enormous benefits.
About two hours later, Xiao Wu was the first to open her eyes. Feeling the obvious improvement in her physique, her delicate face scrunched up as she looked resentfully at Bai Shu.
"Bai Shu, this stuff works well, but the taste is way too strong! It's like mud boiled from stinking fish and rotten shrimp! You didn't even warn me beforehand."
Dugu Yan soon woke as well. Though she said nothing, her lifeless expression conveyed exactly the same sentiment.
Bai Shu pretended not to notice and said with a smile, "Good medicine tastes bitter. As long as it works, that's what matters. Go get used to your new strength first. Senior Dugu and I still have serious matters to discuss."
Seeing Bai Shu's solemn expression, the two women knew it was important and did not press the matter. They left together, preparing to have a "spar" in the rear courtyard.
After they left, the smile on Bai Shu's face faded. He looked at Dugu Bo again and asked, "Senior Dugu, what is your evaluation of the three education committee members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy—Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin?"
Dugu Bo froze, not expecting Bai Shu to suddenly ask about them. Still, after giving it serious thought, he answered.
"I have dealt with all three of them. In terms of temperament and character, they truly have no faults to speak of. Unfortunately... they are too old, and their talent has long been exhausted. I fear they have no chance of stepping into the realm of a Title Douluo in this lifetime."
Bai Shu fell into thought after hearing this. He had originally intended to recruit a Soul Douluo of dependable character, then use the Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to forcibly create a Title Douluo.
After all, the system only required a certain number of Title Douluos under his command. It never said he could not cultivate one himself.
But after hearing Dugu Bo say this, he hesitated. Using a precious Immortal Herb in exchange for a Title Douluo with limited potential did not seem particularly worthwhile.
Seeing Bai Shu deep in thought, Dugu Bo asked tentatively, "Does Young Master wish to recruit them?"
Bai Shu did not conceal it and nodded. "Yes. As you know, there is more than one Ninth-Grade Purple Ganoderma at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. I want to recruit a suitable candidate and add a Title Douluo-level combatant to our side."
After hearing Bai Shu's plan, Dugu Bo hurriedly advised, "Young Master, if you wish to recruit someone, those three may not be suitable."
"Oh? Why are you so certain?"
Dugu Bo explained, "They have served the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family for decades. Their families, connections, honor—everything they have is already deeply bound to the Heaven Dou Empire. Even if you recruit them, they would only be guest retainers in name. Once something conflicts with the interests of the Heaven Dou Empire, they would most likely choose to stand by and do nothing!"
"Is that so..." Bai Shu rubbed his brow in frustration. Loyalty truly came first.
"Then do you have anyone to recommend? My requirements are not high. The closer their Soul Power is to level eighty-nine, the better. They should have a clean background and not be too deeply entangled with the major factions."
"This..." Dugu Bo could not help but sink into thought as well.
Although there were far more Soul Douluos on the continent than Title Douluos, most of them were deeply tied to the major factions. There truly were not many unaffiliated Soul Douluos.
Seeing that Dugu Bo could not think of anyone right away, Bai Shu decided not to dwell on it.
"Forget it, there's no need to rush this. Go investigate first and see whether there are any suitable candidates. If there really are none, contact Meng Shenji and ask about his intentions. It never hurts to have another option."
"Yes, I'll go at once." Dugu Bo turned to leave as he spoke.
"Oh, right." Bai Shu called after him. "Also, get a Storage Soul Tool for Xiao Wu and me, one each. Make sure they're good quality."
"Yes!" Dugu Bo agreed immediately. Storage Soul Tools were precious, but for a Title Douluo like him, all he needed to do was spread the word, and plenty of people would rush to offer them up.
After finishing his conversation with Dugu Bo, Bai Shu went outside to find Xiao Wu, who was sparring with Dugu Yan. Despite the gap in Soul Power, Xiao Wu had completely seized the upper hand.
Her movements were unpredictable, and she always evaded the emerald-green poisonous mist Dugu Yan unleashed by the narrowest margin. Whenever she found an opening to close in, a series of soft skill combos would leave Dugu Yan flustered and scrambling. Dugu Yan could only barely hold on with Soul Power and had no ability to fight back.
This left Dugu Yan somewhat dejected. Xiao Wu was a full five years younger than her and was even fighting above her level, yet Dugu Yan was being suppressed so miserably.
As their sparring gradually drew to a close, Bai Shu spoke up to stop Xiao Wu, who still wanted to continue.
"Xiao Wu, stop for a moment. Come back to the room with me."
Xiao Wu withdrew her stance and skipped over. But upon hearing Bai Shu's words, she blinked slyly and deliberately glanced at the nearby Dugu Yan, who had just climbed to her feet with a depressed expression. Somewhat bashfully, she said, "Huh? Bai Shu, it's still so early in the morning. Going back to the room... isn't that inappropriate?"
The moment Dugu Yan heard this, all her disappointment vanished, replaced by a face full of shock and gossip. Her eyes seemed to say: Well, well, I never expected you two to be that kind of people!
A black line dropped across Bai Shu's forehead. He shot Xiao Wu a vicious glare, then looked at Dugu Yan's gossiping expression and said word by word:
"Shut your mouth. Do you not want your Second Spirit Ring anymore?"
Before you continue