Absorbing Whale Rubber, a Surge in Strength!

Jiang Hao stood up and stretched. His bones crackled all over.

"How do you feel?"

A clear voice came from behind him.

Jiang Hao turned and saw that Xiao Wu had woken up at some point. She was leaning over the edge of the bed, watching him.

"When did you wake up?"

"Just now. With all that noise you made, how could I not?"

Xiao Wu pursed her lips, hopped off the bed, and padded over barefoot. She looked him up and down. "Were you eating stinky tofu? Why do you smell so bad?"

Jiang Hao rolled his eyes at her. "I ate Whale Rubber."

"Whale Rubber?"

Xiao Wu blinked. "The stuff you bought this afternoon? It makes you stink after you eat it?"

"It's a medicine that tempers the body. It strengthens your bones and muscles."

After that brief explanation, Jiang Hao glanced at the grime on his body in disgust and headed for the bathroom.

"I'm going to take a shower. Go to sleep."

Xiao Wu immediately hurried after him. "I'm coming too!"

"You're a girl. You want to shower with a boy?"

"Who said I wanted to shower with you? I meant I'd wait outside!"

"..."

Jiang Hao ignored her, walked straight into the bathroom, and shut the door behind him.

Xiao Wu stood outside, pouting. "Stingy," she muttered.

She went back to the bed, sat down, and propped her chin in her hands.

After Jiang Hao absorbed the Whale Rubber, the aura of fortune around him had grown even stronger.

If she cultivated beside him, she would progress even faster than before!

"Hehe..."

Xiao Wu couldn't help laughing. She quickly covered her mouth and stole a glance toward the bathroom.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jiang Hao stood beneath the cold water and let it wash the grime from his body.

He could clearly feel that his body had undergone a transformation.

His skin was tougher, his muscles more defined, and his bones far denser. Even his five senses had sharpened considerably.

"Five-thousand-year-old Whale Rubber really is potent."

Jiang Hao clenched his fist, feeling the strength in his hand.

He had yet to acquire a Soul Ring, but with his physical strength alone, he could probably hold his own against an ordinary Soul Grandmaster.

At this rate, I should be able to absorb a first Soul Ring that's at least a thousand years old.

A faint smile touched Jiang Hao's lips.

An ordinary soul master could absorb a first Soul Ring just over four hundred years old at most. Anything older would cause their body to burst.

But Jiang Hao had the Auspicious Beast Body of the Five Elements Qilin, and the Whale Rubber had tempered his physique. Absorbing a thousand-year Soul Ring shouldn't be a problem.

After his shower, Jiang Hao changed into clean clothes and came out.

Xiao Wu was back in bed, but she was still awake, watching him with wide eyes.

"Done showering?"

"Yeah."

Jiang Hao got into bed.

"Jiang Hao."

"Hmm?"

"Are you going to hunt a soul beast for your Soul Ring tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Take me with you!"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I'm not obligated to bring a burden along."

"..."

Then Jiang Hao changed the subject. "Right, don't you need a Soul Ring too?"

"Uh, well..."

Xiao Wu's eyes darted away. "I'm not in a hurry."

She wanted to spend more time cultivating beside Jiang Hao, raising the Soul Power within her to nourish her body.

That way, when she condensed her Soul Ring later, she could push its age as high as possible.

"If you're not in a hurry, you can eat that piece of Whale Rubber."

As Jiang Hao spoke, he handed Xiao Wu the Whale Rubber he had prepared earlier.

Xiao Wu froze. "Didn't you already eat the Whale Rubber?"

"I ate a different piece. This is the one I bought this afternoon."

"I..."

Xiao Wu's eyes widened, her lips parting.

It was worth three hundred Gold Soul Coins. Jiang Hao was just giving it to her, no strings attached?

Xiao Wu took the Whale Rubber and stared at it for a long while.

"You're... really giving this to me?"

Jiang Hao waved a hand and lay back down. "I said it's yours. Take it and stop fussing."

Cradling the Whale Rubber like a rare treasure, Xiao Wu gazed down at it for a while. Then she grinned, rolled over, and bounced onto Jiang Hao's side of the bed.

Jiang Hao felt a weight settle on him. He opened his eyes to find Xiao Wu's delicate face inches from his, her large eyes curved into crescents.

"What are you doing?"

"Classmate Jiang Hao, you're so good to me. Do you like me?"

"Like you? In your dreams. Get off."

"Hehe. Nope."

Instead of getting off, Xiao Wu leaned even closer, until her nose nearly touched his.

Expressionless, Jiang Hao pressed a hand against her face and pushed her away.

"Stop messing around. Go to sleep."

"Okay."

Xiao Wu obediently climbed off him, hugged the Whale Rubber, and returned to her half of the bed.

Jiang Hao breathed a sigh of relief and closed his eyes again.

Then he felt something soft and warm touch his cheek.

Mwah.

It was light and quick, barely a peck.

Jiang Hao's eyes flew open. Xiao Wu had already retreated under her blanket. Only her bright eyes showed, and a telltale blush colored her cheeks.

"You..."

"That was a thank-you!"

Jiang Hao stared for two seconds, then touched the cheek she had kissed. He didn't know whether to laugh or be annoyed.

"Three hundred Gold Soul Coins for a kiss on the cheek? I got a terrible deal."

The next morning dawned clear and pleasant.

At the gates of Notting Academy, Xiao Wu released Jiang Hao's arm and carefully smoothed the wrinkles in his clothes.

"Be careful. Come back as soon as you can."

"I know. Remember to eat the Whale Rubber later."

Jiang Hao waved and headed out of the city.

Xiao Wu stood at the gate, watching him walk away until he disappeared into the morning mist. Only then did she turn back toward the academy.

"That's strange. Why does it feel like someone's watching me?"

Muttering to herself, Xiao Wu looked back. She saw nothing, shook her head, and skipped away.

In the shadows beneath an old locust tree, a tall figure wearing a battered bamboo hat stood motionless, his eyes fixed on Xiao Wu as she left.

It was Tang Hao.

He had only managed to stabilize his injuries the night before and had rushed straight to Notting Academy.

He hadn't expected to see this the moment he arrived.

"That girl is definitely a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who's taken human form to cultivate again!"

Tang Hao narrowed his eyes, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.

There was no mistaking it.

That aura was exactly the same as Ah Yin's had been!

"Well, well. How fortunate."

A cold smile curled Tang Hao's lips.

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form, right here at a little academy?

It was an opportunity beyond measure!

A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast meant not only a powerful soul skill, but also a precious Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!

If his son could obtain them, there would be no limit to what he could achieve!

He might even surpass their ancestor!

When that day came, Jiang Hao and that White-Clad Guardian would both die!

"But..."

Tang Hao suppressed his excitement and calmed himself.

For now, this soul beast seemed close to Jiang Hao. It might be difficult for his son to make a move.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, a piercing aura locked onto Tang Hao.

"You dare harbor ill intentions toward someone close to the young master? You're courting death!"