Meng Yiran's Alluring Temptation! Whale Rubber, Women!

Tang Chen nodded.

"I promise you."

Only then did Zhu Zhuqing lower her arms.

She stepped back half a pace, a faint flush appearing on her fair cheeks.

Tang Yuan stood nearby.

The old man looked at the collapsed courtyard wall, then at the two who had just embraced.

"The courtyard can be rebuilt."

"Grandpa didn't see anything just now."

Zhu Zhuqing's ears turned even redder.

She turned and walked toward the training ground.

"I'll continue cultivating."

Tang Chen followed her.

"The Soul Power fluctuations were too intense just now. Rest for today."

"I'm not injured."

Zhu Zhuqing stopped.

"Besides, you're already level forty."

"I can't fall too far behind."

Seeing the seriousness in her expression, Tang Chen did not try to stop her again.

"Then I'll practice footwork with you."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded softly.

"Alright."

The two arrived at the still-intact half of the training ground.

Zhu Zhuqing removed her outer black robe, revealing the fitted training clothes underneath that allowed easy movement.

The fabric cinched neatly around her waist.

Her long legs stretched out with her first step.

She lightly tapped the bluestone with her toes and swiftly darted toward Tang Chen.

The Nether Civet Martial Soul appeared behind her.

Cat ears and sharp claws emerged at the same time.

As Zhu Zhuqing approached, her right hand reached for Tang Chen's shoulder.

Tang Chen sidestepped.

He raised a hand to catch her wrist, pulling her smoothly before him.

Zhu Zhuqing lost her balance at the waist.

She lifted her left hand and pressed it against Tang Chen's chest.

Their bodies came to a halt in the middle of the training ground.

Tang Chen held her wrist with one hand and supported her waist with the other.

Zhu Zhuqing's long legs had just touched down, the tip of her shoe still resting against his foot.

"Your speed has improved."

"Still can't touch you."

Zhu Zhuqing tried to step away.

Tang Chen did not release her immediately.

"You turned too sharply just now, and your center of gravity shifted to the left."

"If an opponent seized that opening, you'd lose your position to continue attacking."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes to the hand at her waist.

"And how long are you planning to hold me?"

Tang Chen let go.

"Now."

Zhu Zhuqing steadied herself.

She reached down to straighten the fabric at her waist, the faint blush on her face yet to fade.

"One more time."

Tang Chen retreated a few steps.

"Don't rush to use your first Soul Skill this time."

Zhu Zhuqing assumed her starting stance again.

Just as she was about to dash forward, footsteps suddenly sounded beyond the courtyard.

A purple figure walked in through the collapsed courtyard gate.

Meng Yiran carried a Serpent Cane on her back, her long hair tied into a high ponytail.

She wore a purple short top, cinched at the waist with a silver belt, along with a short skirt and long boots suited for movement.

Her slender legs stepped over the rubble of the courtyard wall, and she quickly arrived beside the training ground.

Meng Yiran first glanced at the ruined courtyard wall.

"I was gone for a while, and you two tore down your own home?"

Tang Chen said, "The Clear Sky Sect sent people here."

"Where are they?"

"They're already dead."

Meng Yiran nodded and did not ask further.

Her attention quickly shifted to the two on the training ground.

Zhu Zhuqing was still in an attacking stance.

Tang Chen stood opposite her.

There was little distance between them.

Meng Yiran crossed the edge of the training ground and walked directly between them.

"Perfect. I need to practice too."

Zhu Zhuqing withdrew her Nether Civet Martial Soul.

"There are already people here."

"I can see that."

Meng Yiran turned to face Tang Chen.

She set her Serpent Cane aside, her purple skirt swaying lightly with the movement.

"Tang Chen, I need to talk to you about something."

Zhu Zhuqing walked to Tang Chen's side.

"Every time you come, you say you have something to discuss."

Meng Yiran looked at her.

"This time, I really do."

Zhu Zhuqing looked displeased.

"Last time, you said your Soul Power circulation wasn't smooth."

"The time before that, you said there was a problem with your Serpent Cane Martial Soul."

"But after Tang Chen checked, there was nothing wrong at all."

Meng Yiran lifted her chin.

"Problems with cultivation need to be confirmed more than once."

"What's wrong with asking Tang Chen for guidance?"

Tang Chen looked at Meng Yiran standing before him and had already guessed the outcome.

Ever since he had saved Meng Yiran in the Star Dou Great Forest, she had often come looking for him.

After the Unrivaled Dragon Snake had taken her away to finish her training, Meng Yiran began appearing every few days.

Sometimes she asked about Soul Skills.

Sometimes she discussed Soul Beasts.

And on several occasions, she merely brought some fruit and stayed in the courtyard until dusk before leaving.

Tang Chen had long since grown used to it.

"What is it this time?"

Meng Yiran immediately said, "I've encountered difficulties in cultivation lately."

"When Soul Power circulates through my meridians, it's always limited by my body's strength."

"I want you to help me take a look."

Tang Chen walked over to her.

He raised his hand and placed it on Meng Yiran's wrist.

The power of life slowly flowed along her meridians.

Meng Yiran's body stiffened slightly.

She looked at Tang Chen standing so close before her, and her cheeks gradually flushed.

Tang Chen quickly withdrew his hand.

"There's nothing wrong with your meridians."

"Your body has no hidden injuries either."

Zhu Zhuqing stood nearby.

"I knew it."

Meng Yiran immediately explained.

"But when I cultivate, I really do feel that my body isn't strong enough."

"After my Soul Power improves, the pressure my meridians endure keeps increasing."

"That can't be fake."

Tang Chen did not expose her.

Although Meng Yiran was still making excuses this time, the problem she mentioned did indeed exist.

A Soul Master's physical strength directly affected the age limit of the Soul Rings they could endure and their cultivation efficiency.

Tang Chen had recently been preparing to try a new cultivation method.

Whale Rubber could strengthen a Soul Master's physique.

After special processing, its effects could be enhanced even further.

If it were combined with the power of the Life Ancient Tree, perhaps the energy within the Whale Rubber could be fully absorbed.

"Perfect. I've recently been preparing to try a method for tempering the body."

Tang Chen looked at Meng Yiran.

"You can join me."

Delight immediately appeared in Meng Yiran's eyes.

"Really?"

"Mm."

She quickly moved to Tang Chen's side.

"Then let's start now."

Zhu Zhuqing followed.

"I'm going too."

Meng Yiran turned back to look at her.

"I asked Tang Chen to guide me alone."

"Tempering the body isn't something that can only be taught to one person."

Zhu Zhuqing moved to Tang Chen's other side.

"I also need to improve my physical strength lately."

Meng Yiran still wanted to speak.

But Tang Chen had already walked toward the courtyard gate.

"Let's go into the city first."

The two could only end their argument and follow together.

Heaven Dou City.

Commercial street.

Numerous shops lined both sides of the street.

Soul Beast materials, medicinal herbs, and Soul Tools filled the counters.

Tang Chen stopped before a shop that sold materials from Sea Soul Beasts.

Quite a few bones and hides from whale-type Soul Beasts were displayed inside.

A merchant immediately came out to greet them.

"What do you need, sir?"

"Whale Rubber."

The merchant froze for a moment.

"What age range do you need?"

"Over ten thousand years."

"The older, the better."

The merchant hurried toward the warehouse in the back.

Meng Yiran stood beside Tang Chen, her cheeks suddenly flushing red.

She tugged on Tang Chen's sleeve.

"Why are you buying Whale Rubber?"

Tang Chen looked at her.

"For cultivation."

Meng Yiran's face reddened even more.

"Isn't Whale Rubber that kind of thing?"

Zhu Zhuqing turned her head as well.

She clearly knew the common use of Whale Rubber in Heaven Dou City.

Tang Chen's expression did not change.

"Whale Rubber contains immense vital energy."

"After refining it, it can strengthen the body and broaden the meridians."

"I'm only buying it this time for cultivation."