Swallowing Whale Rubber, Dividing Cells

"If there's nothing else, stay in this room and rest for now."

With that, Kong Deming turned to leave. Before he could go, however, Xu Tiance called out to him.

"Teacher, I once heard an elder at Prince Zihuang's residence say that taking Whale Rubber can strengthen the body and raise the age limit of Soul Rings one can absorb. Should I... take some too, so I can obtain an older Soul Ring?"

Kong Deming's eyes narrowed slightly.

Whale Rubber could raise the age limit for absorbing Soul Rings?

Ancient institutions like Shrek Academy and the Clear Sky Sect knew what Whale Rubber was used for, but that knowledge had never spread widely. Even some major sects in the Three Great Empires did not know its true purpose, let alone the Sun Moon Empire, where the field of Soul Masters was far less developed.

But Kong Deming did not doubt Xu Tiance's words.

Xu Tiance's father, Xu Chengjing, could not hide his secret moves or ambitions from Kong Deming's discerning eyes. Kong Deming had ignored them because he did not care. Given Xu Chengjing's ambitions, it was hardly surprising that he had recruited a few powerful Soul Masters as elders.

What those Soul Masters said... was likely to be credible.

After a brief moment of thought, Kong Deming summoned a Level 7 Soul Engineer and sent him through Mingdu to buy Whale Rubber of every age he could find.

Sending a Level 7 Soul Engineer on an errand to buy nothing but Whale Rubber—and having the man go gladly—was probably something only Kong Deming could do.

With the Sun Moon Empire bordered by sea on three sides, Whale Rubber was not hard to obtain. Most thousand-year Whale Rubber, however, had already been exported to the Three Great Empires, leaving Mingdu with mostly hundred-year Whale Rubber.

But both hundred-year and thousand-year Whale Rubber could improve a Soul Master's physique. The difference lay only in how much.

Having some was better than having none.

Before long, the Level 7 Soul Engineer returned to the Offering Hall with a bag full of hundred-year Whale Rubber.

To be absolutely certain, he had even brought over several students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy to test the claim.

When the students took the Whale Rubber and their physiques truly improved, a sharp gleam flashed in Kong Deming's eyes.

Until now, the Sun Moon Empire had not known Whale Rubber's true use. Despite being bordered by sea on three sides, it had exported such a treasure to the Three Great Empires at a low price. Not only had it lost a great deal of money, it had also strengthened its enemies.

They had even laughed to themselves at the nobles of the Three Great Empires for using Whale Rubber as an aid to pleasure in bed, privately lamenting those nobles' decadence and debauchery.

Looking back, the Sun Moon Empire had been the real fool.

Kong Deming took a deep breath. He had made up his mind.

With Whale Rubber's effects now clear, they could not continue trading it to the Three Great Empires as before. Even if they did sell it, the price could never again be so low.

What was more, Whale Rubber could strengthen the physiques of the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Engineers. Even if they could not catch up with the Soul Masters of the Three Great Empires, they could at least narrow the gap. As for the Sun Moon Empire's Soul Tool technology, the Three Great Empires could not catch up even if given several hundred years.

As one side rose and the other declined, the Sun Moon Empire would naturally benefit.

Kong Deming narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze back to Xu Tiance.

He selected the finest piece among the hundred-year Whale Rubber, held it in his hand, and infused it with Soul Power to heat it.

Before long, the Whale Rubber began to soften.

When it had nearly melted into a warm liquid with a faint fragrance, Kong Deming handed it to Xu Tiance. "Take it. I'll stand guard for you."

Xu Tiance did not hesitate. He tipped back his head and swallowed the Whale Rubber.

The moment it entered his mouth, he felt a warm liquid slide straight down his throat and into his stomach.

Xu Tiance immediately sat cross-legged on the floor, closed his eyes, and focused on the changes in his body. A warm current flowed through his limbs and bones.

The current was not fierce. It was gentle, seeping into his body little by little. Xu Tiance could clearly feel his physique improving. Because this was only hundred-year Whale Rubber, the improvement was modest, but it was real.

As his physique strengthened, every cell in Xu Tiance's body seemed to sigh with pleasure. It was as though every one of them was rejoicing.

Xu Tiance could clearly feel that the cells within him had changed.

His cells were dividing at a speed far beyond the ordinary!

Yet the division... seemed to remain within what Xu Tiance could endure. He felt no pain or discomfort. Instead, it felt pleasant.

As his cells rapidly divided, the strength of Xu Tiance's body seemed to soar. The Whale Rubber alone had brought only a small improvement to his physique, but with this rapid cell division, the change became striking!

More precisely, his bodily strength, speed, and explosive power had all increased tremendously. His muscle, bone, and skin cells had multiplied densely and hardened!

Beyond that, his body seemed to have undergone other subtle changes, though Xu Tiance had yet to notice them.

Throughout the time Xu Tiance sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, Kong Deming watched him intently, silently observing the changes. Astonishment gradually showed in his eyes.

The students from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy who had taken Whale Rubber earlier had also grown stronger, but their improvement had been nowhere near this obvious. There was no comparison.

In Tiance, though, the change was unmistakable!

This was clearly something unique to him.

What set Tiance apart from ordinary people?

The moment the question arose, Kong Deming had his answer.

It was Tiance's awakened Second Martial Soul: the Primordial Cells Martial Soul!

Kong Deming could not help reaching out and gently resting a hand on Xu Tiance. Without disturbing him, he quietly sensed what was happening inside his body.

A moment later, Kong Deming withdrew his hand, his face full of surprise.

The cells in Tiance's body were dividing far faster than those of an ordinary person!

That extraordinary rate of cell division was the true reason Tiance's physique had improved so dramatically!