Ning Fengzhi thought it was very likely. Whale rubber's effects certainly could not be that important to Lin Changgeng, or he would never have told him about them. Lin Changgeng surely had something even more important that he simply did not want to reveal yet.
Meanwhile, at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Lin Changgeng was sitting beside the spring, studying soul tool blueprints, when he heard the news Dugu Yan had brought back from outside-word was spreading across the continent that whale rubber could improve physical fitness and spiritual power, and even increase the age of soul rings one could absorb. Its price had already been driven sky-high.
"Ning Fengzhi moves fast." Lin Changgeng put down the blueprints and chuckled.
He did not need to think to know that Ning Fengzhi had released the information. With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's financial resources, they had probably bought up plenty of whale rubber over the past month. Now that the news was out, Ning Fengzhi was likely raking in enough profit to fill every pot and bowl.
"I bet Ning Fengzhi is pretty grateful to me right now," Lin Changgeng murmured to himself.
Dugu Yan, who was beside him, looked up at him when she heard that. "You knew this would happen?"
"I guessed." Lin Changgeng offered no further explanation and lowered his head to study the blueprints again.
"Why?" Dugu Yan was puzzled. "Why give the whale rubber business to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect instead of handling it ourselves?"
"For this, of course." Lin Changgeng waved the blueprints in his hand. "I'm going to develop soul tools on a large scale. Only he and Spirit Hall can handle that volume. Whale rubber is just an appetizer. I believe Ning Fengzhi will be even more interested in soul tools than whale rubber."
"So that's it." Dugu Yan looked thoughtful. She had wondered why Lin Changgeng had told Ning Fengzhi about whale rubber's value. She had never expected him to be laying the groundwork for this.
The Pope's Hall,
The Pope's Hall.
Bibi Dong sat in the seat of honor, holding a report on whale rubber, her gaze narrowing slightly.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo." She set down the report and looked at Yue Guan below. "Are whale rubber's effects genuine?"
Yue Guan bowed, his tone respectful. "Your Holiness, I have already sent people to verify them. They are exactly as the report describes-it strengthens the body and spiritual power, and increases the age of soul rings one can absorb. Thousand-year whale rubber is particularly effective for soul masters below Soul King."
Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment before saying, "Buy whale rubber. Buy as much as you can."
"As you command." Yue Guan accepted the order, turned, and left the Pope's Hall.
Xiaogang, is it you? Ripples stirred in Bibi Dong's heart as she watched Chrysanthemum Douluo leave. She and Yu Xiaogang had once loved each other so deeply, yet Qian Xunji had insisted on tearing them apart. Worse still, Qian Xunji had forcibly taken her, and she had borne an accursed child. At that thought, resentment flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes.
"Xiaogang, wait just a little longer. Soon, I'll be with you forever."
Meanwhile, somewhere on the continent.
Dugu Bo had been wandering outside for a month.
He had passed through cities, crossed mountains and rivers, walked through forests, and traversed plains.
His soul power remained stuck at the peak of level ninety-four, without the slightest sign of a breakthrough. The farther Dugu Bo traveled, the more frustrated he became. He kept feeling that something was missing.
"Just wandering around probably won't do." He stopped on a mountaintop and narrowed his eyes at the distance. "I need a fight."
After thinking it over, the only Titled Douluos around his level who could put up a fight were Sword and Bone of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and those old fellows in Spirit Hall. He had no grudge against Sword or Bone, so fighting them would be dull. Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum Douluo, however, was something of an old nemesis, and their strengths were similar. He was the perfect choice.
"He'll do." Having made up his mind, Dugu Bo changed direction and headed toward Spirit City.
Three days later.
In the forest outside Spirit City, Yue Guan had just finished his task of purchasing whale rubber and was carrying it back.
He suddenly shuddered as an inexplicable chill raced up his spine.
"Hm?" Yue Guan stopped and scanned his surroundings warily.
Before he could react, a jade-green figure shot out of the woods, wrapped in a foul-smelling wind, and hurtled straight toward his face.
"Chrysanthemum Guan! Long time no see!"
Yue Guan's pupils contracted. He dodged sideways, and the attack skimmed past his shoulder, corroding broad, charred scars into the trees behind him.
"Old Poison?!" Yue Guan's expression darkened when he recognized the newcomer. "Have you lost your mind?"
Dugu Bo did not answer. He activated Martial Soul Possession, and the phantom of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor appeared behind him. Dark green poisonous mist instantly spread around him.
"I just want a fight with you. Enough talk-take this!"
"Old Poison, I think you're itching for a beating."
As Yue Guan spoke, the aura of a level ninety-five Super Douluo erupted from him. He still thought Dugu Bo was the disgrace among Titled Douluos, unaware that Dugu Bo was no longer the man he had been.
"Hmph, Chrysanthemum Guan! I was just thinking of going to Spirit Hall to find you, and here you are, delivering yourself to my doorstep. Today, I'll turn that chrysanthemum of yours into a rotten flower!" Dugu Bo snapped coldly.
"Pah! Don't call me Chrysanthemum Guan! Old Poison, you're courting death!" Chrysanthemum Douluo exploded into action. Nothing infuriated him more than being called Chrysanthemum Guan, except when Old Ghost did it.
"Fifth soul skill, Gathering of Cold Blossoms!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo condensed the petals of the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum into a sharp blade in his hand and slashed at Dugu Bo.
"Hmph! All smoke and mirrors! Fifth soul skill, Golden-Scaled Azure Flood Dragon Shield!" Dugu Bo summoned his Golden-Scaled Azure Flood Dragon, which coiled its body to form an energy shield, blocking the massive plant blade.
"What?! Old Poison, when did you reach level ninety-four?!" Chrysanthemum Douluo could not believe it. He had clashed with Old Poison two years earlier, pursuing him into the Heaven Dou Empire alongside Ghost Douluo. During the chase, Dugu Bo's poison had unexpectedly flared up. Had that useless Prince Xue Xing not happened to pass by, and had their young lord's mission not made it inconvenient to push matters too far, Dugu Bo might well have been finished.
"Hmph, none of your damn business!" Dugu Bo charged straight in to fight Chrysanthemum Douluo at close range. Although his martial soul evolution had not turned it into a dragon, the Golden-Scaled Azure Flood Dragon's physical strength now far surpassed what it had once been.
He drove out a punch wreathed in dark green poisonous mist, the wind of his fist howling.
Chrysanthemum Douluo dodged sideways and shook the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum in his hand. Petals scattered, turning into countless sharp blades that shot toward Dugu Bo.
"Old Poison, what happened to you? Weren't you deeply poisoned? How did you resolve that hidden danger, mutate your martial soul so drastically, and even become so young?" The longer Chrysanthemum Douluo fought, the more alarmed he became. Dugu Bo's martial soul had clearly changed. It was no longer the old Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, but an azure flood dragon covered in golden scales. Its aura was much stronger than before, and most importantly, his appearance had changed considerably as well.
"Naturally, I stumbled upon a little good fortune." Dugu Bo gave no quarter with either his tongue or his hands, clawing at Chrysanthemum Douluo's face.
Chrysanthemum Douluo retreated two steps and carefully examined the martial soul phantom surrounding Dugu Bo.
The Golden-Scaled Azure Flood Dragon was covered in golden scales, with horns growing atop its head. Although it had no claws beneath its belly, its tail had already become a dragon's tail, and a faint draconic aura radiated from its body.
"An immortal herb," Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly said with certainty. "You consumed an immortal herb-the earth dragon golden melon, the best one for dragon species."
Dugu Bo froze for a moment. He had not expected Chrysanthemum Douluo to recognize it.
"So what if I did?" Dugu Bo did not deny it.
"Do you have any other immortal herbs?" Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes lit up.
"No. I only found it by chance." Dugu Bo shook his head.
The light in Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes dimmed.
He had spent half his life searching for a singular velvet sky chrysanthemum without finding a trace. Seeing the tremendous change in Dugu Bo's martial soul, he had thought Dugu Bo might have other immortal herbs, and perhaps he could find a lead.
But it was only an earth dragon golden melon.
Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed, asked no more questions, and stopped fighting.
Before you continue