[Divine Power Crystal (small), price: 10,000 Gold Soul Coins] [999-year whale rubber, price: 9,999 Gold Soul Coins]
The effects of whale rubber needed no introduction. It could strengthen a Soul Master's body, increasing the age of Soul Ring they could withstand.
What truly caught his attention was the Divine Power Crystal listed before it.
According to the product description, this thing could actually increase the age of a Soul Ring he had already absorbed!
The one before him was a Divine Power Crystal of the lowest grade and could only add a hundred years.
Ten thousand Gold Soul Coins for a hundred-year increase hardly seemed worthwhile at first glance.
But this also meant the ages of his future Soul Rings were not set in stone.
As long as he bought enough Divine Power Crystals, wouldn't he have a chance to push all nine Soul Rings to a hundred thousand years?
Or even a million years?
"Raising one Soul Ring to a million years would cost... a hundred million?"
"Then wouldn't nine Soul Rings cost nine hundred million?"
After a quick calculation, Gao Shang's head began to ache. Forget him-even Spirit Hall might not be able to produce that many Gold Soul Coins.
And that was just for Soul Rings. If he wanted to buy immortal herbs, Soul Bones, and the like, he would probably have to spend more than ten billion.
Even all the sects on the Douluo Continent combined would most likely be unable to come up with that sum.
"Ah, I'm suddenly starting to miss that economically developed era from my previous life..."
Gao Shang held his forehead with one hand. After a moment of silence, he abruptly sat up straight.
"If I could make this world's economy develop rapidly too, would I have a chance of affording it?"
Unfortunately, this goal was something he could only dream about.
At least for now, it was far too distant for him. Choosing a Soul Ring first was more practical.
After repeated comparisons, Gao Shang finally settled on the thousand-year Tyrant Dragon origin fossil.
This ancient behemoth followed the path of pure physical prowess.
In Douluo Dalu III: The Legend of the Dragon King, it was even hailed as the king of lesser dragons, with a trace of golden dragon king bloodline in its body.
Even a Titan Giant Ape of the same level had to rely on its Gravity Domain to gain a slight edge.
Using it as his First Soul Ring would most likely give him a Soul Skill that strengthened his body, and might even improve his physical constitution. That could count as indirectly strengthening his vitality.
However, Gao Shang did not rush to buy it.
Suitable though it was, his current body could not withstand the impact of a Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
Before buying the Tyrant Dragon fossil, he first had to obtain some whale rubber.
Although the system shop also sold whale rubber, its price was too high.
Even if he used a 90%-off card to bring it down to around a thousand, the money he had would only let him choose between the whale rubber and the Tyrant Dragon fossil.
If he really wanted both, he would have to look for a bargain at a medicine shop.
Gao Shang had previously kept an eye out for whale rubber in Nuoding City's medicine shops. Even thousand-year specimens were only priced at four or five hundred Gold Soul Coins.
As far as he knew, a piece of thousand-year whale rubber could raise the maximum Soul Ring age a Soul Master could withstand by roughly three to four hundred years.
If he ate two pieces, a thousand-year first ring would be within reach.
The problem was that his entire fortune currently amounted to just 1,080 Gold Soul Coins.
The Tyrant Dragon fossil cost ten thousand, or one thousand after using a 90%-off card.
The money left over would not buy even half a piece of whale rubber, let alone two.
But if he bought the whale rubber first, he would not have enough left for the fossil.
"Forget it. I'll check the prices first. If it really doesn't work out, I'll use a Hundred-Year Soul Ring for now. I can upgrade it later anyway."
By the time Gao Shang finished checking the prices of the hundred-year products as well, the sky had already darkened.
A wooden closed sign hung at the entrance to the milk tea shop's front room. Sun Meng stood by the stove, concentrating on simmering the ingredients for the milk tea.
Gao Shang did not disturb her. He pushed the door open and left the milk tea shop, casually bought two steamed buns by the roadside, and headed toward the medicine shop as he ate.
Before long, he walked into a medicine shop with a quaint, old-fashioned air.
The shopkeeper, Zhao Gang, immediately greeted him with a smile when he saw him.
"Little Gao, you're here. Didn't you just have a checkup half a month ago? What, did you hurt yourself training again?"
Over the past few years, Gao Shang had never neglected his exercise.
He could not say for certain how useful such training was before Martial Soul Awakening, but whether there were dates on the tree or not, it was worth taking a swing with a pole. His body was his own; more exercise certainly wouldn't hurt.
Still, bumps and strains were inevitable during exercise. Afraid of leaving behind some ailment that might affect his later cultivation, he usually visited the medicine shop for a checkup once a month.
Knowing that he was close to Su Yuntao, Zhao Gang took particular care with his examinations. After enough visits, the two had become familiar with each other.
"Uncle Zhao, I'm not hurt. I'm here to buy medicine today."
"Medicine? Where do you feel unwell?"
Zhao Gang looked him over. He was full of vigor and seemed even sturdier than half a month ago, hardly looking like someone who needed medicine.
There was no one else in the medicine shop, so Gao Shang did not beat around the bush. Lowering his voice slightly, he said:
"Uncle Zhao, I want whale rubber. Thousand-year whale rubber."
At the name, Zhao Gang's expression shifted slightly, and his brow furrowed.
"Whale rubber? And thousand-year at that?"
He looked Gao Shang up and down.
"How old are you? What do you want that stuff for? No. I absolutely won't sell it to you."
Gao Shang's face darkened. He knew what Zhao Gang was worried about, but he certainly could not reveal whale rubber's true use.
Fortunately, he had anticipated this before coming. Brother Tao would just have to suffer a little injustice first.
"Uncle Zhao, hear me out."
"Fine, go on. If you can't explain yourself properly, I'll invite Grandmaster Su Yuntao to pay you a visit tonight."
Zhao Gang folded his arms, looking ready to see what story he would spin.
Gao Shang remained composed and spoke earnestly.
"Uncle Zhao, Brother Tao and Sister Sisi officially got together recently."
"Ahem..."
At Gao Shang's words, Zhao Gang nearly choked on his own saliva. He turned to glance at the entrance before asking in a lowered voice:
"You mean you're buying it for Grandmaster Su Yuntao?"
"I didn't say anything. Uncle Zhao, just tell me whether you'll sell it."
Gao Shang immediately waved his hands repeatedly, but his unwillingness to say more only made Zhao Gang more convinced he had guessed correctly.
He truly would never have imagined that Grandmaster Su Yuntao, a man in his prime and a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster to boot, actually had difficulties in that department.
And he had asked for thousand-year whale rubber right off the bat...
This was no minor problem!
Still, Zhao Gang remained somewhat uneasy.
"Little Gao, are you sure you're not lying to me?"
"Every word I said is true. If you don't believe me, you can check with Brother Tao."
Gao Shang said it without the slightest guilty conscience. He really had not lied.
Over the years, to thank Su Yuntao for his help, he had always given him a share of the milk tea shop's profits.
Su Yuntao was now much better off than in the original story, and his pursuit of Sisi had gone much more smoothly. The two had indeed officially gotten together a little while ago.
As for whom the whale rubber was for...
He had never said.
Zhao Gang opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed his words.
Check with him?
How was he supposed to ask him about something like this to his face?
Still, since Gao Shang was running an errand for Grandmaster Su Yuntao, he could hardly keep stopping him.
"All right. I have three pieces of thousand-year whale rubber here. Two are a little over a thousand years old, and the other is over three thousand. Which one do you want?"
"Over three thousand?" Gao Shang's eyes lit up. "Uncle Zhao, how much are they?"
Zhao Gang took three boxes out of the medicine cabinet and opened them one by one.
"These two over a thousand years old, I'll let you have for four hundred each. The one over three thousand is four hundred and fifty."
"The one over three thousand only costs fifty more?"
"Ahem... when this stuff gets too old, ordinary people can't withstand it."
Zhao Gang explained somewhat awkwardly. If he had not thought Gao Shang was running an errand for someone else, he really would not have wanted to discuss such things with a child.
Gao Shang did the sums in his head.
Spending four hundred and fifty on whale rubber would leave him with six hundred and thirty. The six-hundred-year Tyrant Dragon fossil in the shop would cost exactly six hundred after using the 90%-off card.
He could buy both and still have thirty Gold Soul Coins left.
Admittedly, having a hundred-year first ring as a transmigrator was a little underwhelming.
But the Soul Ring's type was assured, and its age could be increased later. There was no need to rush things.
"All right, I'll take the one over three thousand years old."
Gao Shang paid and picked up the pale yellow whale rubber from the box. But just as it reached his hand, something suddenly occurred to him.
Since the system sold goods, could it buy them too?