At Your Age, What Do You Need Whale Jelly For?

At Lin Ya's nod, the Devouring Demon Spider suddenly flickered, appearing before the two-hundred-year Phoenix-Tail Cockscomb Snake almost as if it had teleported.

Before everyone's eyes, it opened its tooth-filled maw and, utterly unbothered by its surroundings, began gnawing on the yellow hundred-year soul ring.

As the soul ring was gradually devoured and digested, Lin Ya could clearly sense that the quality of the first soul ring beneath his feet was rising at a visible, frenzied pace!

400 years!

450 years!

500 years!

A surging sense of strength flooded his limbs and bones. A sharp glint flashed through Lin Ya's eyes as he blurted out, "It can devour one more!"

Before his words had even faded, the Soul Emperor guard beside him understood at once. With a raised hand, he unleashed a fierce soul skill and cleanly struck down the two-hundred-year Ghost Vine nearby.

The Soul-Devouring Demon Spider did not stand on ceremony. It scuttled forward on its spider legs and continued taking huge bites out of the newly dropped soul ring.

550 years!

600 years!

When the final trace of the soul ring's aura had been completely devoured, the age of Lin Ya's first soul ring settled firmly at six hundred years!

The ferocious aura around the Devouring Demon Spider grew increasingly intense. Its scarlet compound eyes swept over the remaining trapped soul beasts, its spider legs twitching restlessly in an insatiably greedy display.

However...

"That's enough, Uncle. Release the other soul beasts."

Lin Ya suddenly raised a hand, stopping the Soul-Devouring Demon Spider from continuing its slaughter.

It was not because he had suddenly developed compassion. Rather, as his first soul ring surged to six hundred years, waves of taut, swelling pain had begun to come from his meridians—his body was nearing its limit.

By common knowledge on the continent, an ordinary soul master who had not consumed heavenly treasures or received the support of soul bones could only endure a first soul ring of up to three hundred and fifty years. Lin Ya had managed to withstand the pressure of a six-hundred-year soul ring solely because he had secretly consumed hundred-year whale glue before. Otherwise, the overwhelming power of the soul ring would have burst his meridians long ago.

Whale glue really is good stuff. I need to stock up on more of it.

Lin Ya mused inwardly, then signaled for Prince Xue Xing's men to let go.

Hundred-year soul beasts were already scarce in the Soul Hunting Forest. If they exterminated them all today, finding more later to raise his soul rings would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Lin Ya had always been frugal. He would even finish every grain of rice in his bowl, so naturally, he would not do something as foolish as killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.

"My nephew is kind-hearted and unwilling to slaughter innocents indiscriminately." Prince Xue Xing nodded along and waved for the soul masters to lift their suppression.

The freed soul beasts scattered into the depths of the forest as though they had received a pardon, vanishing without a trace within moments.

Lin Ya's gaze returned to the Soul-Devouring Demon Spider soul spirit before him. He had long noticed that this demon spider still possessed intelligence, though its cultivation was too shallow for it to speak.

He slowly stepped forward, his voice calm yet carrying undeniable authority. "I know you resent me for refining you into a soul ring. But if you submit obediently, I will help you continue advancing in the future—one thousand years, ten thousand years, one hundred thousand years, and even... godhood."

Lin Ya's words were not empty promises.

In the memories of his previous life, after Tang San became a god, he revived Da Ming and Er Ming and helped them ascend to godhood. If Tang San could do it, there was no reason Lin Ya could not.

Before awakening his martial soul, his goal might have been merely to reach the rank of Titled Douluo. But now, godhood was his bare minimum.

Tang San had been able to inherit the Sea God's divine position largely because of the Heaven Dou imperial family's secret treasure, the Vast Sea Universe Cover. And Lin Ya was a genuine member of the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial bloodline. As long as he asked, Emperor Xue Ye would never begrudge him a single treasure.

The Soul-Devouring Demon Spider seemed to understand Lin Ya's words. Its scarlet compound eyes trembled slightly, and after a moment, its eight spider legs slowly bent as it prostrated itself on the ground in an absolute gesture of submission.

A six-hundred-year soul beast already possessed considerable intelligence, enough to understand human language and intent.

Seeing that it knew what was good for it, Lin Ya nodded in satisfaction. With a thought, he recalled the Soul-Devouring Demon Spider into his body, where it transformed back into a deep, shadowy soul ring that quietly floated at his feet.

He could have used Spirit Binding and General Summoning to forcibly control the soul spirit, but that would require him to divide his attention during battle to control it.

Using one mind for two purposes was naturally possible now, but as he acquired more and more soul rings in the future, could he use one mind for three purposes? Four? Even ten?

Therefore, having soul spirits willingly submit was far more reliable than forcibly controlling them.

I must be even more cautious when choosing soul beasts in the future, Lin Ya pondered.

It would be wonderful if every soul ring could merge as perfectly as a sacrifice, but unfortunately, not every soul beast was as love-addled as Xiao Wu. Sacrifice was something that could only be encountered by chance, not sought after.

Seeing Lin Ya put away the soul spirit, Prince Xue Xing hurried forward, his tone full of concern. "Xiao Ya, how do you feel? The soul ring didn't backlash, did it?"

Lin Ya shook his head, a relaxed smile appearing on his face. "Don't worry, Uncle. I'm perfectly fine."

He stretched his limbs, his aura steady and powerful. "My soul ring can continue to improve, but my body can't endure it for now. It would be better if my physique were stronger."

Seeing Lin Ya looking energetic and completely unharmed, Prince Xue Xing finally let out the breath he had been holding.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. A six-hundred-year first soul ring—if it continued to grow, might it truly one day reach... one hundred thousand years?

That was a supreme soul ring which even he, a prince, had never seen with his own eyes!

"By the way, Uncle," Lin Ya suddenly said, "please help me gather some whale glue. I have a great use for it."

"Whale glue?!" Prince Xue Xing's expression abruptly changed. His gaze immediately turned extremely strange, and his tone grew nervous. "What do you need that stuff for?"

Its origin and effects were common knowledge among the nobility—taken from the brains of whale-type soul beasts, it was an intensely yang tonic, and in private, it was regarded as a rare treasure for enhancing male vigor.

As a Soul Emperor with a robust physique, Xue Xing naturally had no use for such things. But Lin Ya was only six years old!

Prince Xue Xing looked at his delicate, jade-carved little nephew, the corner of his mouth twitching hard. His eyes were full of, "What on earth are you thinking at such a young age?"

The moment Lin Ya saw that expression, he understood that the man had gotten the wrong idea. He immediately pressed a hand to his forehead in helplessness:

"Uncle, don't let your imagination run wild! I need whale glue for something important!"

"I know, I know. Carrying on the family line is naturally important, but Lin Ya, you're only six..." Prince Xue Xing looked utterly heartbroken and was about to continue his earnest advice.

Lin Ya immediately rolled his eyes and snapped, "I want whale glue to strengthen my body so I can bear soul rings of higher age! What kind of nonsense is going through your head?!"

"Whale glue... can strengthen one's physical condition?" Prince Xue Xing's face was full of question marks. In all his decades of life, he had never heard such a claim.

But seeing the serious look on his nephew's face, with not the slightest sign of deceit, he ultimately could not bear to refuse. They were only a few pieces of whale glue, weren't they? Once they returned to Heaven Dou City, he would have someone test it first. If it truly had such effects, what was the harm in preparing some for his nephew?

With that thought, Prince Xue Xing patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry, Lin Ya! Leave the whale glue to Uncle!"

In the vast sea, sea soul beasts were countless. Gathering a few pieces of whale glue would be as easy as pie.

As long as whale glue truly had the effect of strengthening the body, Prince Xue Xing would make sure his nephew ate so much of it he threw up!