Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue and Soul Ascension Pills

The Lan sisters hurried after Dai Youheng. The younger sister, Lan Luoluo, leaned close to her older sister and whispered, "Sis, Brother Youheng really is completely different now... he's become so domineering, so imposing! That was Senior Xu Sanshi, the outer court's strongest defender, and he wasn't afraid of him at all!"

Lan Susu watched Dai Youheng's tall, aloof figure from behind, her eyes sparkling as she nodded lightly. "Yes, and he looked so relaxed when he pushed Senior Xu Sanshi aside. He's much more handsome than before!"

The sisters exchanged a glance, each seeing the same admiration and growing curiosity in the other's eyes.

This Dai Youheng, who seemed to have been reborn into an entirely new person, held a powerful attraction for the two girls, who had already been fond of him.

Dai Youheng did not linger over the dazzling assortment of Soul Tools or the brilliant Soul Bones. His objective was clear and direct. He headed straight toward the area displaying rare medicinal herbs and supplements, his sharp gaze sweeping across the counters.

Soon, his gaze settled on a dark, utterly unremarkable lump that was even rather ugly. It had been casually placed in a corner, looking completely out of place among the other treasures, which were either crystal clear or gave off medicinal fragrances.

"Brother Youheng, what's that? It's so black. Do you want to buy it?" Lan Luoluo followed his gaze, her little face full of confusion. No matter how she looked at it, the thing did not seem like a valuable treasure.

Lan Susu looked over as well. Slightly more knowledgeable than her younger sister, she read the brief label beside it and said hesitantly, "The label says this is whale rubber? I've heard of whale rubber. Apparently, it's a special substance produced in the brains of powerful whale Soul Beasts. It's an excellent supplement for Soul Masters, strengthening their physiques and improving the ability of their muscles, bones, and meridians to withstand strain."

She paused, then pointed at the label and continued, "This one is marked as coming from a Thousand-Year Demon Whale. But I remember reading that thousand-year whale rubber should be golden yellow and worth a fortune. A piece this big would be enough to transform a Soul Master completely. But this one is pitch-black. Brother Youheng, it's very likely that this whale rubber has been stored for too long and has already weathered and deteriorated. It might still have some use, but its quality must have suffered greatly."

Dai Youheng inwardly praised Lan Susu for her knowledge. What she had said was sound, too. But he knew the true nature of this "whale rubber" far better.

Golden yellow was indeed the correct description for genuine thousand-year whale rubber. But how could this piece possibly be a mere thousand-year specimen? It was clearly ten-thousand-year whale glue! Ten-thousand-year whale glue was simply so rare, and its properties so different from the thousand-year variety, that its deep, almost black color had fooled the Treasure Gathering Pavilion's appraiser. Thus, this pearl had been left buried in dust, treated as spoiled goods.

He remembered that in the original story, Huo Yuhao had picked up this incredible bargain under the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's guidance. After consuming this piece of ten-thousand-year whale glue, Huo Yuhao's physique, weakened by childhood malnutrition, had been greatly restored and strengthened, laying a solid foundation for absorbing older Soul Rings later on.

"Poor-quality goods? Brother Youheng, why would we want something that's gone bad?" Lan Luoluo muttered.

"Better than nothing." Dai Youheng's tone was casual, as though he were merely buying some little trinket on a whim. "It's not expensive anyway. Only six thousand Gold Soul Coins."

As he spoke, he unhesitatingly beckoned the person in charge of the area over, pointed at the black whale rubber, and stated outright that he wanted to buy it.

The person in charge was a middle-aged woman. When she saw that Dai Youheng wanted to buy this neglected piece of "spoiled whale rubber," delight immediately spread across her face. She swiftly and deftly completed the transaction, as though afraid he might change his mind.

This piece of "thousand-year whale rubber" had been sitting in storage for ages. Its poor appearance meant that no one had ever shown any interest in it, so selling it was a truly unexpected pleasure.

With the ten-thousand-year whale glue safely in hand, Dai Youheng felt reassured. Next, he went to the medicinal pill counter, where his gaze swept over the display and soon settled on a pale golden pill.

The Soul Ascension Pill.

This was not a pill exclusive to the Netherworld Sect, but a precious pill that all the major top-tier powers could refine.

Dai Huabin and Dai Yueheng had both taken one. Dai Youheng, however, was a concubine's son and had yet to receive his allocation.

Its effect was to directly increase Soul Power, by roughly the amount needed to rise from level thirty to level thirty-one.

With Dai Youheng's current cultivation at level thirty-eight, taking one would not allow him to break straight through to level forty, but it would certainly shorten the process considerably.

Unfortunately, a person could only take one in their lifetime. By the second pill, resistance would develop, rendering it ineffective.

He felt a slight pang of regret. Pills that could directly increase Soul Power always came with all sorts of restrictions.

He bought three outright.

"Brother Youheng, why are you buying so many Soul Ascension Pills? Each person can only take one, right?" Lan Luoluo asked curiously.

Rather than answer, Dai Youheng held out two of the pills, one each to Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo. "These are for you. Thank you for helping me get an invitation and coming here with me."

The sisters froze. Looking at the precious pills before them, which gave off an enticing medicinal fragrance, they were momentarily at a loss.

"This... this is far too valuable!" Lan Susu hurriedly waved her hands. Although Soul Ascension Pills cost far less than Soul Bones, they were by no means cheap. For Soul Masters from minor noble families like them, these were substantial gifts.

"Take them," Dai Youheng said. "They should be useful to you at your current level."

He would not give the sisters Soul Bones that cost millions apiece. Their friendship was not that deep, either. One pill each was just right.

He knew that both sisters were currently level twenty-eight Soul Grandmasters. A Soul Ascension Pill might well help them break straight through to level twenty-nine, or even bring them to the threshold of level thirty.

Seeing how firm Dai Youheng was, the sisters exchanged a glance and finally accepted the pills with delight and gratitude.

They had never imagined that simply running an errand and showing him the way would earn them such generous rewards! Their fondness for Dai Youheng instantly soared another great notch.

Having bought the ten-thousand-year whale glue and Soul Ascension Pills he needed most urgently, Dai Youheng felt much more relaxed. For the rest of their time, he truly did stroll around the Treasure Gathering Pavilion with the sisters, looking at the expensive Soul Tools and Soul Bones simply to broaden their horizons.

He also saw the Golden Earth Dragon King Soul Bone, one of the pavilion's crowning treasures. It shone with dazzling golden light and surged with energy. It was indeed a fine Soul Bone, but its attributes were pure light and strength, which clashed severely with both the evil attribute of his Evil Shadow Demon Tiger and the attributes of the Fate-Reversing Heavenly Demon Pill. Even if someone gave it to him for free, he would certainly take it, but he would never absorb it.

Most likely, he would trade it or sell it, then obtain a treasure better suited to him.