Lu Yu walked briskly toward the Seven Treasure Chamber of Commerce, a grilled sausage in one hand.
Oscar's Food-type Soul Skill was far more effective than ordinary healing medicine. A warm current flowed through Lu Yu's body, smoothing away all the muscle soreness and Soul Power depletion left by his Soul Fight against a higher-level opponent. Even the hidden bruise on his chest faded by more than half.
A top-tier Food-type Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power truly lived up to its reputation.
Lu Yu silently counted himself lucky that he had met Oscar before his character had fully formed.
Ever since awakening his Martial Soul, Lu Yu had thrown himself into cultivation and been unable to pull himself away. All he thought about all day was making money and buying cultivation resources, and he had completely forgotten about the characters from the original story.
Actually, he had never remembered them in the first place! I don't need to say much about the memory of today's post-2000s generation. You can all see for yourselves!
Oscar had not yet developed the glib personality he would have later. Right now, he was shy and short of money, making him easy to recruit.
Compared to waiting until Shrek led him completely astray, this was simply the perfect time to make a move.
A moment later, the gilded plaque of the Seven Treasure Chamber of Commerce came into view.
Lu Yu walked into the hall with practiced ease. The manager had long since memorized the young man who had repeatedly purchased rare materials, and hurried forward to bow respectfully.
"Young Master Lu, do you need thousand-year Whale Rubber again today?"
"Two pieces of Whale Rubber over three thousand years old, the best quality you have," Lu Yu said calmly.
The manager dared not delay. He quickly brought out two pieces of Whale Rubber, milky white throughout and warm and smooth to the touch. One look was enough to tell they were top-grade.
After paying the Soul Coins, Lu Yu put away the Whale Rubber and headed back.
When he returned to the residence, the room was silent. Lin Tian had already reached the critical point of breaking through to the next level and was completely defenseless against the outside world.
At that moment, the Soul Power around Lin Tian fluctuated chaotically, and his meridians trembled faintly. These were the signs that he was stuck at the peak of level twenty-nine and was about to break through to level thirty, becoming a prospective Soul Elder.
The pressure of the grueling fight against a higher-level opponent had drawn out every bit of Lin Tian's potential. All he needed was one final opportunity to break through the bottleneck.
Lu Yu did not disturb him. He sat quietly to one side and waited.
Late that night.
Hum-
A powerful wave of Soul Power suddenly burst from Lin Tian, breaking through the level-thirty barrier once and for all! His Soul Power settled and stabilized, and his presence instantly grew several times more substantial.
Lin Tian's eyes snapped open, a brilliant light shining in them as uncontrollable delight swept across his face.
"I broke through! I'm level thirty! Hahaha..."
Lin Tian stood and clenched his fists, feeling the Soul Power within him, now several times more abundant. His whole body felt clear and comfortable, and the fatigue from the earlier battle was swept away.
"Thank you, Lu Yu," Lin Tian said sincerely.
"If you hadn't insisted on training against a higher-level opponent, I would have needed at least another half a month to break through."
Lu Yu waved a hand and smiled as he took a piece of Whale Rubber from his Storage Soul Tool and held it out to Lin Tian. "Don't celebrate too soon. What comes next is the key."
Lin Tian took it from Lu Yu and examined it from top to bottom, but he couldn't tell what it was. Puzzled, he asked.
"What is this?"
"This is a piece of Whale Rubber about four thousand years old," Lu Yu said in a calm voice.
On learning that he was holding something as filthy as Whale Rubber, Lin Tian threw it onto the table with a look of disgust, then wiped his hands on his pants.
He looked at Lu Yu strangely, his gaze finally settling on Lu Yu's lower body.
"Come on, Lu Yu, you're still so young. You can't go losing yourself in beautiful women!"
"Pah! I'd like to, but I'd have to be capable of it first! I'm only seven. What are you thinking!?" Lu Yu shot back immediately.
Come to think of it, what could a seven-year-old brat do? Lin Tian grew even more puzzled. "Then why did you buy Whale Rubber? Isn't that just a waste of money?"
"I know what you're thinking, but there's far more to Whale Rubber than meets the eye!" Lu Yu waved his hand, signaling Lin Tian not to rush and to listen while he explained.
"I read in an ancient book that Whale Rubber's original purpose was to strengthen the body and raise the age limit of the Soul Rings one could absorb. Its aphrodisiac effect was only an incidental side effect."
Lin Tian's pupils contracted sharply, and his face filled with shock. He had never expected something as filthy as Whale Rubber to have an effect so defiant of the heavens.
"Is that true!?"
Lu Yu said nothing. He merely nodded slightly, giving Lin Tian time to digest the information.
After a long while, Lin Tian looked at Lu Yu with a mixture of delight and complicated feelings on his face.
Lu Yu had told him the secret that Whale Rubber could strengthen the body and raise the age limit of the Soul Rings one could absorb, just like that. Even the top powers would go mad over this secret.
Lin Tian had not expected Lu Yu to trust him so much that he would share even a secret like this with him.
"Lu Yu, from this day on, unless I die, I'll..."
Before Lin Tian could finish, Lu Yu stood up and interrupted him.
"We're brothers with different fathers and mothers now. There's no need to stand on ceremony." Lu Yu's expression was open and composed.
"Let's refine these two pieces of Whale Rubber before we go Soul Hunting. Also, I've picked out a few types of Soul Beasts. See if you're happy with them."
Lin Tian nodded firmly, warmth surging in his heart. He secretly made up his mind that, no matter what happened in the future, he would follow Lu Yu unto death.
The night passed in the blink of an eye.
Early the next morning.
Lin Tian finished refining the Whale Rubber and felt that his body had grown he didn't know how many times stronger than before. His eyes were full of astonishment.
Looking at Lu Yu, who was fast asleep, Lin Tian clenched both fists. His determination to follow him unto death grew even stronger.
The two quickly got ready and prepared to head to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for Lin Tian's third Soul Ring.
As they passed the intersection from yesterday, Lu Yu had a sudden impulse to check the spot where Oscar had set up his stall, to see whether Oscar had come today. As soon as they turned the corner into the alley, a small, thin figure came into view once more.
It was the same simple sausage stall. Oscar, with his comical little mustache, was squatting in front of it, fiddling listlessly with the grilled sausages.
When he caught sight of Lu Yu approaching, Oscar's eyes lit up. He hurriedly stood and waved, his youthful face full of awkward goodwill.
Lu Yu paused briefly, a decision settling in his mind.
He had to get the priceless treasure that was Oscar firmly in his grasp ahead of time.
Lu Yu walked straight up to him and spoke gently. "Little boss, how's business today?"
Oscar scratched his head and said shyly, "N-not very good. There aren't many people buying."
Food-type Soul Masters were in the most awkward position early on. They had no combat power, no one valued them, and they could only make a living by running a stall, enduring constant neglect.
Of course! This situation would only occur in Shrek. In any other faction, a Food-type Martial Soul with Innate Full Soul Power would be cherished like a treasure!
Lu Yu took the opportunity to speak, his voice gentle but sincere. "I ate your grilled sausage yesterday and found that it could heal injuries. The two of us take part in Soul Fights and get injured every day."
"Rather than running a stall here for a few meager Copper Soul Coins, why not come with me? You provide us with grilled sausages to heal our injuries, and I'll provide you with cultivation resources. You won't have to worry about food or clothing, or run a stall while watching other people's expressions anymore. What do you say?"
Oscar froze on the spot and jerked his head up to look at Lu Yu, his eyes full of shock and alarm.
Though Lin Tian, standing beside them, didn't know what Lu Yu had in mind, he didn't ask. He simply watched.
Looking at the stunned expression on Oscar's face, Lu Yu's lips curved into a confident smile.
The first step to poaching someone: lure them with rich rewards!
As long as Oscar couldn't resist the temptation and agreed, Lu Yu was fully confident that, given time together, he could pry Oscar away.