The three arrived at the shop. The smithy was named "A Thousand Hammerings and a Hundred Refinements." Its storefront was small, yet it exuded a weighty presence. The owner was a burly, bare-chested man, swinging a hammer weighing over a hundred jin to forge a glowing red iron billet.
Seeing the three enter, the burly man did not even raise his head. "Custom weapon? Be clear about the design, materials, and specifications."
Tang Feng wasted no words either. He drew out a sheet of parchment and, using Soul Power as ink, let his strokes dance like dragons and snakes.
Moments later, a long staff sprang to life on the page. It was about two meters long and dark throughout, with a golden band embedded at each end. The bands were covered in intricate soul-guidance patterns; star-like markings covered the shaft, with five large characters in the center: Ruyi Jingu Bang.
Tang Feng had drawn this sample design based on the appearance of the "Ruyi Jingu Bang" in his memories of his previous life.
As for why he had chosen a staff, first, staffs and hammers were both blunt weapons, with extremely similar techniques for exerting force. Second, who did not dream of becoming the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven"?
Tang Feng had also considered buying materials and forging it himself, but learning to forge took time and effort, and his time was currently limited.
Tang Feng handed over his finished drawing and said in a low voice, "Thousand Refinement black iron for the core, gold for the bands. Two cun in diameter and six chi long."
The owner finally looked up, a trace of something unusual flashing in his eyes. "With those materials and dimensions, it'll probably weigh three hundred jin. Are you certain you want it, honored customer?"
Hearing this, Tang Feng understood that the owner doubted whether he could truly handle that weight. He picked up the largest forging hammer beside him, weighing over two hundred jin, and casually swung it a few times. "I'm certain. Just make it according to my requirements."
The owner's pupils contracted at the sight, and his attitude changed immediately. "All right! Two hundred Gold Soul Coins total, a hundred as the deposit. Pick it up in three days."
Hearing the price, Tang Feng immediately gaped, his expression turning somewhat awkward. Two hundred Gold Soul Coins? That was equivalent to two million in his previous life. What kind of stick cost two million? Even if a little gold had been added.
Even a hero could be brought low by a single penny!
Tang Feng instinctively reached for his storage ring, and his expression froze. His entire fortune consisted of the hundred Gold Soul Coins his grandfather had given him. He slowly turned his head, blinking up through his mask at Dugu Bo, his deep-pocketed sucker.
Dugu Bo froze at first, then burst out laughing and tossed over an amethyst card. "There are ten thousand Gold Soul Coins on this. Take it! Don't embarrass this old man in public again..."
Before he had finished speaking, Tang Feng had already snatched the gold card like a starving tiger pouncing on its prey, afraid that Old Monster would change his mind. After paying the deposit, Tang Feng put away the pickup receipt and only then left in satisfaction.
The three wandered around for a while longer. The sun sank westward, its lingering glow dyeing Heaven Dou Imperial City gold and red. Dugu Bo led the two straight to the entrance of Moonlight Pavilion on the western side of the imperial city. The pavilion was elegant and serene inside. Upon seeing Dugu Bo, the royal knights stationed at the entrance immediately saluted and let them through.
They stepped into Moonlight Pavilion, where sandalwood incense curled through the air and zither music drifted melodiously. An attendant led the three to a reception room on the second floor, served fragrant tea, and went to announce their arrival. Before long, quick, light footsteps sounded, and a silver-haired woman in court dress hurried inside.
She was Tang Yuehua, younger sister of Clear Sky Sect's sect master, Tang Xiao, and mistress of Moonlight Pavilion. Tang Yuehua was stunningly beautiful, her bearing as graceful as an orchid, every movement revealing nobility and elegance.
Tang Feng slowly removed his mask and bowed. "Your nephew greets you, Aunt."
Mist immediately welled in Tang Yuehua's eyes. She hurried forward and clasped Tang Feng's hands, her fingertips trembling slightly. "Little Feng! The sect sent word that you had perished in the poisonous miasma and asked me to use every means possible to seek news of you. It's been over a year now, and you've finally returned safely!"
Warmth filled Tang Feng's heart at her words. He took a letter from inside his robes. "Please pass this letter to Grandfather, Aunt. Senior Dugu saved me, and I happened upon an opportunity. After some time, I'll return to the sect to beg Grandfather's forgiveness."
Naturally, Tang Feng had concealed the information about the Immortal Herbs.
After reading the letter, Tang Yuehua let out a long breath and gently stroked the top of Tang Feng's head. "Don't worry. I'll use my channels to send the letter back to our ancestral grounds. It will arrive within three days. What do you plan to do next?"
Tang Feng fell silent for a moment, a complicated look flashing in his eyes. "I want to visit the Breaking Clan and see my maternal grandfather. That great battle back then... he bore the burden of his displaced clansmen alone, yet I haven't fulfilled even the slightest part of my filial duty."
At his words, Tang Yuehua's eyes dimmed, and she sighed. "Your grandfather Yang Wudi truly hasn't had it easy these past years. Go. Give him my regards."
Tang Yuehua then turned to Dugu Bo and inclined her head slightly. "Senior Poison Douluo, Little Feng is mischievous. Thank you for all the care you have given him, Your Eminence."
Dugu Bo waved a hand, revealing a rare trace of gentleness. "This boy suits my temperament. Looking after him is no loss to me."
After Tang Yuehua gave him another round of reminders, the heavy stone in Tang Feng's heart finally settled. He put on his mask and left Moonlight Pavilion with Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.
Night deepened and splendid lanterns began to glow, yet Heaven Dou City only grew more bustling. Tang Feng looked back at Moonlight Pavilion's silhouette. The road ahead stretched far.
Upon returning to Dugu Manor, Tang Feng went straight to his guest room and began studying the Whale Rubber.
People now regarded Whale Rubber only as an aid for "boosting virility and arousing desire," but Tang Feng thought otherwise.
Whale Rubber was a congealed essence of the Deep Sea Demon Whale's bloodline, known as "marrow oil." It could temper bones and widen meridians. An aphrodisiac? That was merely the most superficial side effect of boiling blood and Qi.
It was simply difficult to control the dosage. A small amount could only "heighten pleasure," while an excessive dose could cause the blood and Qi to boil until the blood burst forth, resulting in death. Cold Qi was needed to restrain it.
Early the next morning, just as the sky began to brighten, Tang Feng slipped into the grove on the hill behind the manor. Soft Bone Rabbits overran the hill; he could catch them by the handful. Tang Feng caught five and returned to the courtyard, arranging them by size and numbering them one through five.
First, he set a small iron bowl over a simple stove, adjusted the flames to a blue-green color, and controlled the temperature so it was just hot enough to melt the Whale Rubber.
He cut off a rice-grain-sized piece and dropped it into the iron bowl. With a sizzle, the Whale Rubber melted into a drop of black-gold liquid, tiny red sparks rising on its surface.
"Rabbit Number One."
Tang Feng pried open the rabbit's mouth, let the drop fall down its throat, and immediately tossed it into the bucket of ice water he had prepared.
The rabbit's ears first stood bolt upright. Three breaths later, the bones throughout its body began cracking in succession, as though someone were snapping broad beans inside it.
Tang Feng watched the rabbit's changes without blinking. A quarter of an hour later, it remained unharmed.
"It held out. Didn't split." Tang Feng breathed a sigh of relief.
Rabbit Number Two received twice the dose and held out; Rabbit Number Three received triple and barely held out; Rabbit Number Four received quadruple and burst apart; Rabbit Number Five received five times the dose and burst apart.
Tang Feng squeezed Rabbit Number Three's leg. Its hardness was comparable to that of a Ten-Year Soul Beast. He nodded in satisfaction. "The safety limit: three grains of rice."
Comparing the rabbits' physical strength with his own, Tang Feng calculated the dose he needed. It was roughly the size of a child's fist.
He put his plan into action at once, dragging a bathing tub into his guest room, dumping in two bags of ice, then adding half a tub of cold water.
Tang Feng did not risk taking the maximum dose right away, choosing instead to increase it gradually. He took a deep breath and brought out a piece of Whale Rubber he had cut to half the size of a fist.
He melted it in the iron bowl, the black-gold liquid rolling into one large pill, then tilted his head back and swallowed it.
It was like swallowing a red-hot iron ball. A line of fire cleaved down his esophagus into his dantian, and his ocean of Soul Power instantly boiled.
But Tang Feng felt he could still bear it and was not uncomfortable, so he increased the dose. Only after swallowing a total of a fist-sized piece of Whale Rubber did the heat in his body finally become unbearable. His vision turned scarlet, and every pore in his skin vented hot air.
Tang Feng immediately jumped into the ice-filled tub and circulated his Soul Power to begin refining it.
An hour later, Tang Feng's body expelled black, oily impurities that smelled of rust. A greasy black sheen spread across the bathwater, the pungent stench of the sea mingling with the smell of rust.
Tiny black beads seeped from his skin, the impurities slipping through his pores into the water. Dark red rust stains even formed along the walls of the tub.
Tang Feng opened his eyes and clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking explosively. As he raised his arm, he felt his muscles swell, blood vessels winding and pulsing beneath his skin, as though he possessed inexhaustible strength.
Tang Feng hurriedly called Dugu Bo over to examine his body. Dugu Bo placed a palm on Tang Feng's shoulder and sent in Soul Power to investigate.
A moment later, Dugu Bo said in delighted surprise, "Your muscle density has increased by ten percent, your blood and Qi are thirty percent more vigorous, and at least half the impurities in your body have been expelled. Your Soul Power Level hasn't risen, but your Soul Power has grown more substantial! Whale Rubber really does have miraculous effects!"
The two immediately reviewed their findings, and Dugu Bo concluded, "Little Monster, taking Whale Rubber truly can greatly improve a Soul Master's constitution and cultivation potential. A direct result of improving a Soul Master's constitution is an increase in the age limit of the Soul Rings they can absorb."
Tang Feng nodded. "That's right, but the dosage needs to be strictly controlled. An overdose can easily cause the body to burst, resulting in death."
With that, the two exchanged a smile, feeling they had discovered a great treasure.
Naturally, Dugu Bo also prepared for Dugu Yan to take it. But since Dugu Yan was a female Soul Master, he would start with thousand-year Whale Rubber to be safe.
A few days earlier, after taking the Dragon Snake Fruit, Dugu Yan's Martial Soul had likewise evolved into the Jade Qilin Poison Dragon, and her Soul Power had risen straight from level thirty-two to level thirty-seven. If she took Whale Rubber to improve her constitution, Dugu Yan would definitely be able to absorb a Fourth Soul Ring beyond the normal age limit.