"Hm? It's pretty tough."
Before long, Ma Xiaotao discovered that this piece of whale rubber was much tougher than any she had seen before. Only after she kept channeling her Phoenix Flame did it gradually show signs of melting, rather than melting immediately.
Gradually, a peculiar fragrance wafted from the whale rubber. It was rich but did not disperse, lingering only within a roughly one-meter-wide area above Ma Xiaotao's hand.
The pitch-black lump of whale rubber also slowly changed color. A faint golden radiance began to shine from within it, turning it a strange shade of dark gold.
As the heat intensified, it began to soften into a gelatinous substance.
"It smells wonderful! This piece of whale rubber must be really high quality!" Ma Xiaotao exclaimed in surprise.
As an Inner Court disciple and the personal disciple of the Martial Soul Department's dean, she had seen plenty of fine things. Anything that drew such involuntary praise from her had to be exceptional.
"How are you planning to eat it? It's pretty hot." Ma Xiaotao brought the whale rubber before Gu Qingnian.
Gu Qingnian looked at the soft, dark-gold gelatinous lump and frowned slightly. He had never eaten this stuff before, and he found it a little hard to bring himself to take a bite.
His gaze unconsciously flicked toward Ma Xiaotao's lips, and he lightly pressed his own together. Ma Xiaotao forced herself to look composed, but her thoughts ran wild.
*He isn't thinking of doing it again, is he? Does he want me to feed him? Should I? Judging by that expression, it really looks like he does. If I refuse, will he force himself on me again... That might not be so bad... No, no, absolutely not! But... it's already happened once. A second time wouldn't be out