Su Li: Swallow It, Don't Waste It

The next day.

At the Soul Arena.

Ning Rongrong stood stylishly behind Su Li, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda in her hand nearly smoking from all the buffs.

"We surrender, we surrender! Junior Brother Su Li, we surrender!"

"Waaah~ Five of us couldn't beat two of you. This is ridiculous..."

After watching herself and Su Li defeat another team, Ning Rongrong hummed a little tune as she slowly walked to his side and lightly bumped his hand.

"Let's go~"

"I was amazing today!"

"Didn't you see the reverent looks in those people's eyes? It felt incredible!"

Su Li nodded. "Yeah, badass as hell."

"Ew." Ning Rongrong gave him a somewhat disdainful glance and waved her hand. "How crude."

"You're going to be my... Ahem! Anyway, be more civilized!"

Watching her walk away in her princess shoes, Su Li wondered what he was going to be.

A child husband?

What a shame.

He liked himself too. If Ning Rongrong liked him as well, did that make them love rivals?

That was a question worth considering.

Not long after.

When Ning Fengzhi saw the two of them approaching, a gentle smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Rongrong, Xiao Li, this should be your first time fighting together, right?"

"How did it feel?"

Ning Rongrong glanced at him, pursed her lips, and turned her head away. "It was... fine!"

"Nothing special."

Su Li said expressionlessly, "The buffs were crucial. You're not dumb, and you know to hide in the back."

The girl's cheeks reddened as she glared viciously at him. "What do you mean, I'm not dumb?! Is hiding in the back something I should be praised for?!"

Su Li tilted his head, puzzled. "Isn't it?"

"Argh! I'm ignoring you!"

Fuming, Ning Rongrong walked up to Ning Fengzhi, hooked her arm around his, poked out half her head, and stared darkly at the boy before her.

Like a little tiger, she seemed eager to use her soft baby teeth to scratch him.

"Hahaha! That's right. As an auxiliary-type Soul Master, it's fine if you can't win, but you must protect yourself and be ready to run at any time."

Ning Fengzhi rubbed his precious daughter's head, as though soothing a restless little beast.

But the moment he touched her.

Ning Rongrong instinctively dodged away as if some sort of warning had been triggered.

Ning Fengzhi: "???"

This wasn't right, was it?

She was angry at Su Li, so why wouldn't she let her father touch her head?

His daughter didn't seem to have been like this before...

"Dad! I've grown up. I'm not a child anymore."

"A girl's head isn't for just anyone to touch!"

The smile on Ning Fengzhi's face froze, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

It felt as if something inside him had shattered into seven or eight pieces.

"Ahem..." Ning Fengzhi composed himself and sternly looked at his eccentric daughter. "How have you grown up?"

"Besides, I saw Su Li touch your head just a few days ago. Why didn't you say anything then?"

The tips of Ning Rongrong's ears turned red in panic. She shyly glanced at Su Li, clutched Ning Fengzhi's clothes tightly, and said softly, "Dad! He's different!"

"Honestly! How could you spy on us?"

"You're not allowed to do that again! Otherwise, I'll ignore you!"

Ning Fengzhi: "Six six six. You just said you were ignoring that brat, and now it's my turn?"

A grown daughter couldn't be kept at home...

Sigh~

She was still so young, yet she already knew how to side with outsiders?

Ning Fengzhi suddenly felt much older.

But when he thought of Su Li, the corners of his mouth could not help but rise again.

Wasn't this the candidate he was most satisfied with?

He had grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, possessed outstanding talent, had a steady temperament, and his daughter liked him too...

If necessary, perhaps they should arrange an engagement?

That would keep him from being snatched away by girls from other forces. Otherwise, Ning Fengzhi would truly weep.

He remembered that something like this had happened around Pope Qian Xunji.

Before long.

Ning Fengzhi watched the two walk away, lowering his head as he pondered something.

Half a month later.

Chen Xin returned from Vast Sea City.

He carried a pile of Whale Rubber and tossed it in front of Su Li.

"My trip went rather well."

"I killed several ten-thousand-year whale beasts and traded for some from local merchants as well."

"I also bought quite a bit of the hundred-year and thousand-year varieties. Take a look and decide how they should be consumed."

Su Li's eyes lit up at the boxes piled into a small mountain before him, and he hurriedly went over to inspect them.

"Grandpa Sword, you're incredible!"

Chen Xin smiled faintly, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked to Su Li's side. "It's not worth mentioning. What interests me most now is the effect of this Whale Rubber."

"Though you described it well, I'm not at ease letting you consume it."

"We'll find a few people to try it first."

Su Li nodded, his gaze resting on the Whale Rubber.

He planned to start with the thousand-year variety.

Then, once he had adapted to it, he would eat the ten-thousand-year variety.

In any case, there was still plenty of time before he absorbed his second Soul Ring. It was enough.

Not long after.

The people Chen Xin had brought over roasted the Whale Rubber and swallowed it without hesitation.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it truly strengthens the physique. I feel that my body has become much tougher."

Chen Xin gripped the man's arm, delight flashing through his eyes. He said evenly, "You may leave."

"Yes!"

After the man left.

Chen Xin hesitated briefly before personally eating a piece.

When he felt that energy surge through his body, he finally confirmed Su Li's claim.

"Good! It truly has this effect!"

"Xiao Li, you and Rongrong should eat this Whale Rubber together. I'll go tell Fengzhi and the others this good news."

With that said.

Chen Xin used Yu Jian and departed.

Ning Rongrong, who had been secretly peeping from nearby, could not help walking over.

"Um... what were you eating just now?"

"It smelled pretty good."

The girl curiously leaned close to him and sniffed.

Su Li pressed a hand against her head when she tried to lean closer, saying calmly, "Whale Rubber."

"What is that?"

"It can make your body stronger, so you can absorb Soul Rings beyond your age limit."

Ning Rongrong's eyes instantly lit up upon hearing that.

She had long known that Su Li's first Soul Ring was six hundred years old, already breaking the theory of the Soul Master world!

But hers was only four hundred years old.

He was a full two hundred years ahead of her!

How could she allow that?

Now that they had this, could their progress be brought back to the same starting line?

"Quick, quick, quick! I want some!"

"Su Li! Don't you dare hide good stuff from me!"

Ning Rongrong grabbed his arm and gently swayed her body, looking rather cute and coquettish.

Su Li was nearly shaken dizzy. Helplessly, he took out a roasted piece of thousand-year Whale Rubber.

"Here. Open your mouth."

"Ah~"

"Put it in."

"Mmph..."

Ning Rongrong chewed lightly, and her expression immediately turned awful. She even wanted to spit it out.

"It tastes awful..."

Su Li tapped her head and said sternly, "Swallow it. Don't waste it."

"This is good stuff. It can improve your physique."

Tears glistened in Ning Rongrong's eyes as she mumbled indistinctly, "I know, I know..."