"Whale rubber? Isn't that an aphrodisiac?"
"But judging by the Pride of Heaven Ranking, whale rubber is actually something on par with Soul Bones. How is that possible?"
Shrek Academy.
"Xiaogang, you've seen so much and know so much. Do you know what whale rubber is used for?"
Yu Xiaogang had never heard of whale rubber at all, but looking at the expectant eyes of everyone at Shrek Academy, the words on the tip of his tongue became, "Whale rubber? Of course I know. It's a divine treasure that can increase Soul Power and speed up cultivation."
"That's Xiaogang for you-so knowledgeable and well-informed. We can't compare."
Yet Zhu Zhuqing, standing to one side, had eyes full of confusion.
Born into a noble family, she knew that whale rubber was something nobles used as an aphrodisiac, though she found it shameful.
Her family had even trained her to recognize its smell to avoid consuming it by mistake.
But why would whale rubber, which was only used as an aphrodisiac, appear among the Pride of Heaven Ranking's rewards? Could it really be as Grandmaster Yu said, that whale rubber could increase Soul Power?
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Ning Rongrong looked at Wang Qiye with admiration. "Master, did you already know what whale rubber does? Otherwise, you wouldn't have had me buy up so much of it on the market."
Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo also looked over expectantly.
Wang Qiye nodded slightly. "Rongrong, you've taken quite a bit of whale rubber before. Tell us what it does."
Recalling how she had felt when eating whale rubber, Ning Rongrong immediately blushed scarlet. She twisted her hands together, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "In front of everyone? H-how am I supposed to say it? It has that effect."
Ning Fengzhi was still puzzled. "What effect?"
Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and stamped her foot in frustration, turning her back on them. "That effect... an aphrodisiac."
The final word was almost inaudible; at least, the disciples down in the hall had not heard it clearly. But Ning Fengzhi and the others were at least Soul Saints. How could they not hear what Ning Rongrong was saying?
"Huh?"
A huge question mark immediately appeared over Ning Fengzhi's head.
"Qiye, you went to all that trouble and gave Rongrong so much whale rubber just for that? You could have told me outright. I have absolutely no objections. All that whale rubber cost a lot of money."
Sword Douluo, standing nearby, had also thought of that possibility, amusement and teasing glinting in his eyes.
As for Bone Douluo beside him, he wore a doting grin. He had absolutely no objections to the two of them; he would even raise both feet in approval.
Wang Qiye ignored the three of them and shot Ning Rongrong a fierce glare.
"You ate all that whale rubber, and all you noticed were the side effects?"
"Side effects?"
Wang Qiye continued, "Haven't you noticed your constitution steadily improving? Your skin can now even withstand blades. Even without applying Soul Power, you can take a slash from an ordinary blade without a scratch."
Ning Rongrong immediately calmed down. "Huh? But isn't that because of the martial arts I practice?"
"With your aptitude alone, it would take at least ten years of practicing martial arts to achieve that effect."
Ning Rongrong immediately lowered her head in embarrassment.
At Spirit Hall, Hu Liena also looked at Bibi Dong curiously. "Teacher, what exactly does this whale rubber do? It even has an age classification like Soul Bones."
Bibi Dong pondered for a long time before finally shaking her head. "I don't know either."
At Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Dugu Yan also posed the question curiously. Facing her was Dugu Bo, who had just arrived. "Grandpa, do you know what this whale rubber does?"
Dugu Bo shook his head. "I once heard coastal fishermen mention something called whale rubber, but that stuff couldn't possibly compare to Soul Bones. They probably aren't the same thing, are they?"
It was not just those two places. Everywhere across the Douluo Continent, people were asking what whale rubber did, yet no one could truly explain it.
As though sensing their confusion, the Pride of Heaven Rankings directly displayed an explanation of whale rubber's effects, even thoughtfully including projections of its various forms.
[Whale rubber can improve one's constitution and increase the maximum age of Soul Rings one can absorb. The older the whale rubber, the greater its effect on improving one's constitution. Hundred-thousand-year whale glue and million-year whale glue each have their own special effects.]
Shrek Academy.
Everyone's gazes toward Yu Xiaogang immediately grew somewhat strange.
Although Yu Xiaogang had seen the information in the sky, he still put on a brave front and spoke grandly. "This Heaven Ranking knows only half the story. Whale rubber does indeed improve one's constitution, but its effect on increasing the speed of Soul Power cultivation is also significant."
Everyone was skeptical, but a line of large, blood-red words suddenly appeared before Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
[Fabricating rumors and slandering the Heaven Ranking. This is a minor punishment to serve as a stern warning. Dare to offend again, and you will be put to death outright!]
A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking Yu Xiaogang and leaving him smoking.
"Xiaogang, why did you suddenly change your look?"
Flender had not even noticed the lightning strike, as though everything had merely been Yu Xiaogang's own hallucination.
"It's nothing, just..."
Yu Xiaogang was about to keep talking, but when he saw the red words "put to death outright," he ultimately chose to shut his mouth.
The imperial palace in Heaven Dou City.
"What? Whale rubber is actually that useful!"
"I've only ever used it as a virility tonic!" Xue Ye excitedly issued orders to those beside him. "Someone, buy up all the whale rubber currently on the market at once! Send the Imperial Guards to those coastal villages to seize it from those lowborn peasants, too. I want every bit of whale rubber within Heaven Dou's borders put to my use!"
But a minister beside him immediately reported some bad news. "Your Majesty, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect began buying up whale rubber in vast quantities three years ago. They have already bought practically all the whale rubber on the market within our Heaven Dou Empire."
Xue Ye was immediately shocked. "What? Something like that actually happened?"
Beside him, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's eyes were downcast, his thoughts unknown.
Elsewhere, Spirit Hall, the emperor of the Star Luo Empire, the Clear Sky Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and even Sea God Island, the Sea Soul Master faction blessed with exceptional natural advantages, all issued orders to purchase whale rubber.
What puzzled them was that whale rubber, usually found everywhere, had vanished without a trace now that they actually wanted to buy it. Even when some could be found, it was all stock that had not even reached a thousand years of age.
As the factions investigated one by one, they discovered that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had already begun secretly purchasing whale rubber three years earlier. With the sect's wealth, coupled with whale rubber's low price back then, in just three short years, the whale rubber across the entire continent had been bought up by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
"Damn it! What happened to the Upper Three Sects breathing as one and standing together like branches of the same tree?" Yu Yuanzhen slammed the table, making the entire Sect Master's Hall shudder three times as formless lightning flashed through the air.
The elder beside him delivered his report with his back bent, his head practically lowered beneath his crotch.
The hall was utterly still, with only Yu Yuanzhen's silence remaining, while the pressure in the air grew increasingly oppressive.
Suddenly, Yu Yuanzhen laughed instead of raging. "Hahaha! Elder Ye, look at you, you're practically crawling under the table. Am I that frightening?"
Elder Ye could only reply shakily, "Sect Master, your divine might is unrivaled. Truly unrivaled."
Yu Yuanzhen snorted coldly. "Since they know my divine might is unrivaled, why does the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect still dare to eat it all alone? Could they intend to collect the whale rubber in advance and keep it safe for me? That must be it!"
At that, Yu Yuanzhen swept his hand. "Someone, summon every elder at Soul Douluo rank or above. Come with me to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and demand the return of the whale rubber that belongs to us!"
Elder Ye hurried out of the hall to notify the other elders, while the other factions across the Douluo Continent made much the same decision.
Go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and make them spit back out the whale rubber they had swallowed!
Just as they were about to depart, the Pride of Heaven Ranking in the sky changed again.
[The Pride of Heaven Ranking will now be announced. Tenth place...]
Before you continue