The days that followed gradually settled into a routine. With two or three months left before the end of the semester, Tang Qi's soul power finally broke through to level fifty.
Shrek City, Appraisal Pavilion, second floor.
Tang Qi looked into the display case at an inconspicuous, pitch-black, gelatinous crystal. Its plaque read: thousand-year whale rubber, weathered and deteriorated, price: six thousand gold soul coins.
"This is a piece of ten-thousand-year whale glue."
Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Snow Empress's cool voice rang out, carrying a trace of delight at finding a bargain.
Tang Qi could not help smiling faintly.
"Hello, please wrap up this piece of whale rubber."
"...Oh, certainly, sir!"
The white-dressed girl behind the counter had been spacing out, and his call brought her back to her senses.
A faint blush stained her plump, pretty face. She bent down in a fluster to retrieve the whale rubber, nearly knocking her forehead against the cabinet.
Ah, this charm of mine, with nowhere to put it!
Snow Empress: ...Your wealth has overwhelmed me.
A moment later-
"Sir, here's your whale rubber."
"I've also written down the solution for dealing with its side effects."
A slip of paper rested atop an exquisite brocade box. After taking it, Tang Qi instinctively glanced at the note.
An address was written plain as day on the paper, with a thoughtfully drawn little heart after it.
What kind of fucking solution is this?!
Love God, you're unbeatable. The corner of Tang Qi's mouth twitched, but his expression remained unchanged as he put the box and note into his Storage Ring.
He had come to buy this piece of ten-thousand-year whale glue not for himself, but for Haki Ya to refine and absorb.
After all, aside from that stalk of Ink Jade Divine Bamboo