Qian Daoliu wanted to slap himself.
How could Bibi Dong be so thick-skinned?
She was even more thick-skinned than his late son.
They really were master and disciple.
"Second Worship, Third Offering, you only need to return, swallow them, and enter seclusion."
Bai Guyue reminded the two of what they needed to keep in mind when absorbing the Immortal Herbs. There was nothing else that required special attention. Both were seasoned seniors in the Soul Master World, with plenty of experience, so there was no need to worry about anything going wrong.
Golden Crocodile Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo both nodded. They were deeply grateful to Bai Guyue; as for Bibi Dong, she had merely basked in his reflected glory.
Since it had already happened, there was no point in continuing to stand in the way of their marriage. Besides, they had just given their word, and it would not look good to go back on it.
At their age, saving face was important too. After eating someone's food, your mouth grows soft; after taking someone's gift, your hands grow short. That was precisely the principle at work here.
"I accept it."
Whether Qian Daoliu liked it or not, he had to accept it. The facts were before his eyes, and two Immortal Herbs were enough anyway. He could simply spend more time with Bai Guyue in the future.
"Great Enshrined, there is one more thing before we leave."
Bibi Dong still intended to tell Qian Daoliu about the Whale Rubber, then take complete control of Vast Sea City. It would settle the matter once and for all.
"What is it? Say it now."
Qian Daoliu urged her impatiently.
"Naturally, it concerns Xiao Bai's Soul Rings."
Bibi Dong smiled inwardly.
"Soul Rings?"
"Didn't he say before that it was just a chance opportunity? Could there be more to it?"
Qian Daoliu frowned slightly.
"Of course there is a reason. Do you really think someone Spirit Hall forcibly abducted back then would have told you the truth?"
Bibi Dong answered with a question of her own.
Qian Daoliu said nothing. His silence was his answer.
Ji'er had forcibly brought him here in the first place, giving him a particularly bad first impression of Spirit Hall. How could they expect him to tell them the truth?
That was understandable, but it was not too late to learn the truth now. This knowledge would undoubtedly give Spirit Hall a tremendous boost.
"I'll let Xiao Bai explain it himself. I only know a little about it."
Bibi Dong nudged Bai Guyue with her elbow.
Bai Guyue glanced at Bibi Dong:
"Wasn't it because of you that I was abducted in the first place? And now you're playing innocent?"
Bibi Dong patiently explained:
"There was a reason for what happened back then. I had no choice."
Hearing that, Bai Guyue chose to switch off.
Then he began to explain it to Qian Daoliu.
"My First Soul Ring was an eight-hundred-year Soul Ring, and my Second Soul Ring was a thousand-year one. It was mainly thanks to a type of aphrodisiac found on the continent: Whale Rubber."
Qian Daoliu's expression changed. "That's the key to increasing the age of Soul Rings?"
"Of course. Find a six-year-old child now, and I can give him some."
As soon as Bai Guyue finished speaking,
Qian Daoliu sent someone to fetch the most gifted child at Spirit Hall Academy.
Before long, a capable-looking young girl entered the Worship Hall.
"Great Enshrined, this person is called Wu Yue. It has been some time since his Martial Soul awakened, and he had innate Soul Power at rank eight."
The bishop who had brought Wu Yue made the introduction.
"Greetings, Great Enshrined and His Holiness the Pope."
Wu Yue bowed in greeting.
Qian Daoliu nodded, then looked at Bai Guyue, signaling for him to begin his performance.
"Wu Yue, open your mouth!"
Wu Yue opened his mouth. Bai Guyue took some Whale Rubber that had already been boiled at high temperature from his storage Soul Tool and put it straight into Wu Yue's mouth.
Wu Yue chewed it carefully. The fishy smell was so strong that he felt like vomiting, but he forced it down.
Before long, a flush began to spread across his fair little face, and his whole body began to grow hot.
"Sit down and calm your mind to absorb it."
Wu Yue obediently did as instructed, sitting on the ground and beginning to absorb the Whale Rubber's energy. His teachers at Spirit Hall Academy had taught him some basic knowledge in class.
Thus, Wu Yue entered the proper state almost immediately. Meanwhile, Qian Daoliu had noticed something unusual when Bai Guyue took out the Whale Rubber.
The Whale Rubber Bai Guyue had produced was translucent and crystal clear, unlike ordinary Whale Rubber, which was dark, dull, and completely lusterless.
Qian Daoliu did not rush to ask about it. Everyone simply waited in silence.
A short while later.
The flush on Wu Yue's face gradually faded, and his complexion returned to normal. He opened his eyes again and looked at everyone.
"Great Enshrined, take a look at his physique!" Bai Guyue prompted.
Qian Daoliu immediately examined Wu Yue's physique and bones. He found that Wu Yue's physique had become considerably stronger than before, and in its current state, he could absorb a Soul Beast with six hundred to nine hundred years of cultivation.
"G-Great Enshrined, what happened to me?"
Wu Yue was a little nervous.
"It's all right. You've just received a great opportunity. Your bones and physique have improved greatly. For your First Soul Ring, you can absorb a Soul Beast between six hundred and nine hundred years old. For your Second Soul Ring, you can absorb a thousand-year one."
Hearing Qian Daoliu say that, Wu Yue suddenly grew excited.
He then bowed to Bai Guyue. "Thank you, big brother."
"You're welcome. You could be considered the first to benefit from it."
Bai Guyue waved a hand.
The bishop then took Wu Yue away.
"Tell me, what exactly is the reason?"
Qian Daoliu was eager to know the answer.
"People on the continent all treat Whale Rubber as a secret aphrodisiac for the bedchamber, but they don't know that it comes from the bodies of giant demonic whales in the deep sea.
It is a gelatinous substance formed from the condensed essence of a demonic whale's flesh and blood. It contains a vast, rich source of life, mild in nature yet immense in power, making it extremely suitable for young Soul Masters to temper their bodies.
It can thereby improve the bones and physiques of six-year-old children and increase the age of the Soul Rings they can absorb."
Bai Guyue gave a brief explanation.
Thinking of Whale Rubber's violent medicinal power, Qian Daoliu continued to ask:
"How can its violent medicinal power be suppressed? Otherwise, ordinary children won't be able to withstand it."
This was also why the Whale Rubber Bai Guyue had taken out looked completely different from what Qian Daoliu had seen before.
"It's simple. Just roast it over a flame to remove the impurities from the Whale Rubber, and it can be taken safely."
Bai Guyue answered.
"So that's how it is."
Now that Qian Daoliu understood the entire process, he found the matter of Whale Rubber even more incredible.
This knowledge was not widespread at all at present; only Spirit Hall's upper ranks knew about it.
"Great Enshrined, you can first buy up Whale Rubber across the continent in secret to strengthen Spirit Hall. When the day comes that it can no longer be kept hidden, you can make it public. That will not only make Spirit Hall famous throughout the world, but also bring enormous profits."
Bai Guyue laid it all out logically.
Qian Daoliu saw Bai Guyue in a new light and felt that marrying Bibi Dong was simply a mistake.
If the truth be told, Bibi Dong was the one marrying above her station.
If Ji'er were still alive, someone as talented as Bai Guyue could have served as his strategist. Spirit Hall would surely have become even stronger.
"Bai Guyue, your contribution is great. I'll remember it. Whatever reward you want, just name it."