Shi Mo scratched his head. "Tianming, I trust you. Shall we try it now?"
"Wait."
Yu Tianming stopped him. "After taking it, you need to meditate quietly to absorb it..."
Before he could finish, Shi Mo had already softened the whale rubber with Soul Power and swallowed it in one gulp. His eyes lit up. "It's true!"
"My whole body feels warm!"
Seeing that Shi Mo was unharmed, the others took their whale rubber one after another.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling hesitated, deciding to wait until they returned to their dormitory that evening. After all, the stuff boosted virility and had aphrodisiac effects...
Shi Mo and the other boys did not mind, but Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling could not do the same.
After absorbing the whale rubber, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Osler, and Yu Feng had all strengthened their physiques by sixty to seventy percent, with results similar to Yu Tianheng's.
They had all taken thousand-year whale rubber, a treasure that would be worth a considerable sum even ten thousand years later.
Ordinary whale rubber would have a much weaker effect.
As for ten-thousand-year whale glue, whether ten thousand years later or in the present era, it was something one could only encounter by chance, not seek out.
"Tianming, don't worry. We won't tell our families what whale rubber is really used for!"
Shi Mo suddenly spoke up.
After absorbing the thousand-year whale rubber, they all understood its value.
They were already satisfied that the brothers Yu Tianming and Yu Tianheng were willing to share it with them. They would not take a mile when given an inch.
Hearing this,
Yu Tianming and Yu Tianheng exchanged a glance.
The latter said, "We've already sent word back to our clan. Once the clan buys up a batch of whale rubber, you can tell your families."
Yu Tianming picked up where he left off, sweeping his gaze over everyone. "Until then, I hope everyone can keep this secret. After all, there's only a limited amount of high-quality whale rubber circulating on the market right now..."
"Of course, you can buy whale rubber for your own use."
"Hmph, what kind of people do you take us for?"
Dugu Yan gave a light snort and leaned close to Yu Tianming, a dangerous gleam flickering in her emerald eyes. "How about I poison you right now and let you see your big sister's sincerity?"
"Ahem, there's really no need." Yu Tianming coughed dryly.
His body was powerful, and he had the reinforcement of Dragon Energy, so he was not particularly afraid of Jade Phosphor Serpent venom. Still, he had no inclination toward self-torture.
Ye Lingling also spoke, her voice soft but firm. "I won't say anything."
Shi Mo and Shi Mo even thumped their chests in assurance. "Our Black Tortoise clan values promises above all!"
Osler and Yu Feng nodded repeatedly as well.
Night fell over the girls' dormitory.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling sat facing each other on their respective beds, with two exquisite jade boxes on the small table between them.
Moonlight spilled through the window onto the boxes, illuminating the dark golden whale rubber inside.
"Are we sure we want to take it now?"
Ye Lingling bit her lip, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes. "I heard those... side effects are very pronounced..."
"Yes."
Dugu Yan's cheeks flushed slightly, but her gaze was resolute. "Since Shi Mo and the others absorbed it safely, it should be fine."
She took the whale rubber from its jade box, a faint glow of Soul Power rising around her slender fingers.
As she poured Soul Power into it, the hard whale rubber gradually softened into a mass of flowing golden liquid.
Ye Lingling took a deep breath and followed suit.
Once the whale rubber had completely softened, the two exchanged a glance and tipped the golden liquid into their mouths at the same time.
"Mmph..."
Almost instantly, Dugu Yan felt a hot current rush straight down her throat before spreading throughout her body.
A rosy flush quickly spread across her skin, and fine beads of sweat seeped from her forehead.
"So hot..."
She instinctively tugged at her collar, revealing her delicate collarbones.
Ye Lingling was not faring much better.
The girl who was usually as cold as frost now had crimson cheeks and rapid breaths, her slender fingers clutching the bedsheet tightly.
"Cir... circulate your Soul Power..."
Dugu Yan said, "Like Tianming said... guide the energy..."
Enduring the hot currents churning inside them, the two sat cross-legged and began meditating.
As their Soul Power circulated, the burning heat was gradually guided into their limbs and throughout their bodies, beginning to strengthen every inch of sinew, bone, flesh, and blood.
Dugu Yan was the first to adjust.
"Lingling, how do you feel?" she asked softly.
Ye Lingling slowly opened her eyes. Her normally clear eyes now held a hazy look. "Very... strange. My body really is being strengthened."
Just then,
a sudden knock came at the dormitory door.
"Is this Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling's room?" a female voice called.
"Yes, is something the matter?"
Looking puzzled, Dugu Yan hurriedly straightened her disheveled clothes, cleared her throat, and asked.
"Yu Tianming asked me to bring you some Ice Spirit spring water. I've left it at the door." The girl outside left after speaking.
Listening to the footsteps recede, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling exchanged a smile.
A moment later, Dugu Yan retrieved the water jug from outside the door. It was filled with a pale blue liquid that gave off a chill.
"That kid's pretty thoughtful." Dugu Yan poured two cups and handed one to Ye Lingling.
"Mm."
Ye Lingling accepted the Ice Spirit spring water, a trace of a smile appearing on her cool face as her fondness for Yu Tianming grew a little more.
The icy liquid slid down their throats, immediately neutralizing the lingering heat inside them.
The two let out long breaths and continued concentrating on absorbing the whale rubber's energy.
Early morning.
Dugu Yan woke from meditation and moved her arms, surprised to discover that her muscles had become firmer and stronger.
Ye Lingling also opened her eyes. "My physical fitness has improved noticeably too."
After washing up, the two headed straight to the dining hall.
Along the way, they could clearly feel that their bodies had become lighter and stronger.
Inside the dining hall, Yu Tianming and the others were already seated around a long table.
Seeing the two girls enter, Yu Tianheng immediately waved. "Yanzi, Lingling, over here!"
Dugu Yan walked over briskly, first smiling and winking at Yu Tianming, then saying excitedly, "Guess what..."
Her words abruptly stopped,
because she caught a familiar figure approaching from the dining hall entrance out of the corner of her eye, tall, with white hair and green eyes.
It was none other than her grandfather, Dugu Bo!
"Yanyan, Grandpa's here to see you!"
Dugu Bo's voice rang out as he walked straight toward their table.
Dugu Yan's expression changed, and she instinctively touched her cheeks, afraid that some flush from taking the whale rubber last night still remained.
"Grandpa... what brings you here?"
She stood up, feigning composure, but her voice was an octave higher than usual.
Seeing this, Dugu Bo swept his gaze over his granddaughter and frowned slightly. "What, can't Grandpa come visit you?"
His gaze shifted to the others at the table. "What are you all chatting about so happily?"
Something was wrong.
On a scale of ten, this was twelve points of wrong!
Dugu Bo could tell at a glance that his precious granddaughter was not acting normally. Something was definitely wrong.
Yu Tianming and the others were just about to speak.
"N-nothing!"
Dugu Yan darted in front of her grandfather, trying to change the subject. "We were just discussing today's training plan..."
Dugu Bo narrowed his eyes and suddenly reached out to seize his granddaughter's wrist.
Dugu Yan's heart jolted. She tried to pull her hand back, but it would not budge.
"Your physical strength has increased by nearly seventy percent..." Dugu Bo murmured, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes. "Your meridians have widened a little too."
"Yanyan, what did you eat?"