After walking for a while, the three finally arrived at Illustrious Virtue Hall.
When they pushed open the door to Jing Hongchen's office, they were surprised to find that, aside from Jing Hongchen, there was also an elderly man in spotless white chef's attire standing inside with a stern expression.
The moment he saw Ye Chenxing enter, Jing Hongchen's plump face broke into an exceptionally brilliant smile, the fat on his cheeks trembling with delight. "Chenxing, you're here!"
"Grandpa!" Meng Hongchen pouted unhappily. "You only ever see Chenxing. Have you forgotten your precious granddaughter?"
Jing Hongchen laughed helplessly and reached out to rub Meng Hongchen's hair. "You silly girl, how could Grandpa forget you and Xiao?"
Ye Chenxing watched the scene with a smile, then naturally turned his gaze toward the elderly man in white. "Hall Master, who is this?"
"Perfect timing." Jing Hongchen beckoned with a chuckle. "This is my personal chef, Old Mushroom. All the food delivered to your villa these past few days was his handiwork. Very few people are fortunate enough to eat his cooking."
Ye Chenxing suddenly understood. The meals specially delivered over the past few days had not only been delicious, but had also left his Soul Power circulating smoothly afterward. So they had come from this man.
Now he knew why Jing Hongchen and Lin Jiayi had failed so miserably at managing their figures.
(Jing Hongchen: You don't understand anything about losing weight.)
Although he was thinking something rather disrespectful about the Hall Master, Ye Chenxing did not neglect his manners. He clasped his hands in salute.
"Thank you, Senior. Your cooking is truly unparalleled."
Old Mushroom kept a stern face and looked exceedingly serious as he gave only a brief reply. "Your Highness is too kind."
Yet the slight upward curl of his mustache gave away his delight.
"Alright, I called you here today because I have something good for you."
Jing Hongchen walked to the desk and took out three portions of gel-like substance that gleamed with dark golden light. "This is Premium Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue that has undergone special purification. School starts soon, so absorb it now and properly temper your bodies."
Ye Chenxing carefully examined this natural treasure, which had only begun to be used during the Peerless era.
Unlike the piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue that Huo Yuhao had gotten as a bargain in Shrek City in the original story, which had looked pitch-black and utterly unremarkable, this piece was completely different in quality. It was translucent golden-yellow throughout, and under sunlight, one could even see its fine internal texture.
Old Mushroom's skill truly lived up to his reputation. Even Whale Glue meant for cultivation had been made pleasing in color, aroma, and appearance.
It just looked a little like... stewed jelly...
The three thanked him in unison. After each swallowed their Whale Glue, they sat cross-legged on the spot, closed their eyes, and began cultivating to absorb its medicinal power.
Seeing that the three had entered their cultivation states, Jing Hongchen waved a hand and left the office with Old Mushroom.
In the corridor, Lin Jiayi approached them and could not help asking, "Hall Master, is this arrangement really alright?"
Jing Hongchen glared at him. "Elder Kong is the pillar holding up our Sun Moon Empire, and he still has to research the most cutting-edge technology. Even if Chenxing is the empire's hope for the future, we cannot have Elder Kong teaching him full-time forever."
"That is why this old man decided to establish a small class and select the truly outstanding students. Once school begins, every Rank Nine Soul Engineer in Illustrious Virtue Hall will take turns teaching this class. Heh heh, this year's first-years are quite fortunate."
Jing Hongchen did not have enough influence to ask Soul Engineers of his own rank to impart everything they knew for Ye Chenxing's sake. Within the empire, only Elder Kong possessed that kind of influence.
Lin Jiayi listened from the side and grumbled inwardly, What do you mean the first-years are fortunate? You're clearly so happy because Young Master Xiao and Miss Meng will benefit too and receive this top-tier treatment, aren't you?
Naturally, Lin Jiayi only dared to complain in his heart. Out loud, he repeatedly agreed.
The office fell into brief silence, leaving only the steady breathing of the three.
About a quarter of an hour later, Meng Hongchen was the first to open her eyes. A trace of satisfaction flashed through them. She moved her slender wrist, feeling the warm medicinal power within her slowly merging into her limbs and bones, and the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted.
"As expected of the premium Whale Glue Grandpa had stored away. Its effects are much better than that last piece." She murmured softly, turning to look at her brother beside her.
Xiao Hongchen had also finished absorbing his portion and was about to say something when his gaze suddenly froze on Ye Chenxing across from him.
"He... hasn't finished absorbing it yet?"
Meng Hongchen followed her brother's gaze and was immediately stunned as well.
Ye Chenxing still sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. A faint layer of pale golden light surrounded him, while his breathing remained long and steady. The medicinal power of the Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue seemed to be drawn by some force within him, constantly merging into his meridians and bones with astonishing efficiency.
"How is this possible..." Xiao Hongchen muttered, his eyes full of disbelief. "His physical constitution is clearly stronger than mine. I thought he had long since absorbed higher-quality Whale Glue. But judging by this... this is actually his first time?"
Meng Hongchen was equally astonished. She remembered clearly that her grandfather had said that no natural treasure could be absorbed without limit. Each absorption would create resistance, greatly reducing the effect.
Ye Chenxing's current condition clearly showed that this was his first time absorbing Whale Glue.
"He achieved such physical strength without relying on any external aid... What a monster." Xiao Hongchen shook his head with a wry smile, but his desire to defeat Ye Chenxing only grew stronger.
Nearly half an hour later, the light around Ye Chenxing finally began to recede. He slowly exhaled a long breath of turbid air and opened his eyes.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Ye Chenxing rolled his shoulders, feeling the surging heat flowing through his body, and nodded in satisfaction. "This Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue truly lives up to its reputation. It feels as though every part of my body has been tempered anew."
He clenched his fist and could clearly feel that the strength of his body had risen another level.
Moreover, perhaps Old Mushroom had used some special technique while preparing it, because Ye Chenxing did not feel even the slightest trace of the embarrassing side effect Huo Yuhao had experienced when absorbing Whale Glue in the original story.
Though objectively speaking, perhaps the side effect on Ma Xiaotao would have been even greater?
Good stuff.
Ye Chenxing silently praised it in his heart while his mind began rapidly calculating. Jing Hongchen had deliberately chosen this moment before the start of school to give him Whale Glue. He was probably not merely trying to temper Ye Chenxing's body.
This was a signal that he was about to take him to obtain his second soul ring.
At that thought, Ye Chenxing's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Sun Moon Empire had endured for ten thousand years, and the imperial house's research into the Sun Martial Soul had long formed an exceptionally mature system. They had detailed records of which soul beast best suited each soul ring, what age provided the optimal effect, and what soul skills it could grant. Under normal circumstances, following that path step by step would absolutely be the safest choice.
But there was one problem—
He was not actually a Sun Martial Soul!
His Martial Soul was the Hall of Heroes. The Ultimate Sun was merely simulated through Qian Renxue's Angel Skull soul skill. He could not possibly hunt soul rings according to the Sun Moon Imperial House's "Sun Martial Soul-exclusive plan."
Thinking of this, Ye Chenxing could not help sighing inwardly. When summoning Heroic Spirits, as long as he chose the correct catalyst, he could successfully summon them even if the soul rings were incompatible. But if the soul rings themselves also provided some connection, both the summoning compatibility and the Heroic Spirit's strength would rise to another level.
Just as he was struggling with the matter, a sudden flash of inspiration struck his mind.
Wait.
I have a Dual-Ultimate Solar Martial Soul! Ultimate Fire plus Ultimate Light—this had never appeared even once in the Sun Moon Empire's ten-thousand-year history. The experience accumulated by those predecessors had all been aimed at ordinary Sun Martial Souls. But who had ever seen a Dual Ultimate Sun Martial Soul?
No one, right?
Since there was no precedent, then what soul rings I hunt is entirely up to me, isn't it?
Before you continue