"Is that so?"Xue Qinghe's tone carried a trace of mockery. "Or is it because he was the first to publicize the effects of whale glue—and you're simply jealous because you discovered it before him?"
Over the past six years, Xue Qinghe had come to understand Wang Chen's temperament well. Though obedient on the surface, he harbored a subtle but unmistakable arrogance, as if he instinctively looked down on everyone around him.
Normal civilian children—especially those from remote villages—would never behave this way. Even if they possessed innate full soul power, they would be cautious, respectful, even a little insecure.
But Wang Chen was different. He was extremely jealous and competitive. He couldn't stand being outshone. Whenever a peer performed well in a certain area, he would go out of his way to surpass them, just to assert his worth in front of her. His actions were always driven by clear purpose and calculated ambition.
Much like Xue Qinghe herself.
Yet instead of sympathizing with Wang Chen, she remained quietly vigilant.
After all, even villains preferred that those close to them were reliable.
Still, this was one of the reasons she kept Wang Chen at her side. He reminded her of someone familiar. On the surface, he had been "tamed," and he was obedient and useful.
Even if he had hidden motives, he was transparent about them. And, more importantly, once she gave an order, he would never disobey.
Seeing Wang Chen remain silent, Xue Qinghe continued,"Go cultivate. Your soul power is already at level 27. Try to break through to level 30 before your thirteenth birthday. Now that everyone knows the effects of whale glue, you should be able to withstand a three-thousand-year soul ring, right?"
"Young Master," Wang Chen asked respectfully, "could you grant me a piece of ten-thousand-year whale glue? I wish to attempt absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring for my third ring."
Xue Qinghe stared at him and asked coldly,"Do you think you've earned it?"
"The value of whale glue is now common knowledge. Ten-thousand-year whale glue has some effect even on Titled Douluo below level 95. And you? You're merely someone with innate full soul power who hasn't made any notable contributions. What gives you the right to enjoy it?"
Her words left Wang Chen speechless.
"Didn't you say that after taking a piece of thousand-year whale glue, you'd be able to absorb a thousand-year soul ring for your second ring?"
"And what happened?"
"You failed. If not for my angel martial soul—a god-level martial soul—cutting off the soul ring backlash in time, you would be dead. In the end, you were only able to absorb a ring just short of nine hundred years."
Compared to Wang Chen's accidental discovery, Xue Qinghe found Tang San's research far more convincing. Tang San had conducted comprehensive studies—though he didn't mention hundred-year whale glue due to availability, he had clearly categorized the differences between thousand-year, ten-thousand-year, and ordinary whale glue.
He even specified dosage, age suitability, and projected gains.
Wang Chen, in contrast, had only claimed whale glue enhanced physical fitness. He couldn't explain how much should be consumed, what the gains were, or how the effects varied by age or condition.
Tang San's data might have lacked precision, but it provided a foundation for future research and helped soul masters judge their own improvement. It was enough to earn respect.
Wang Chen fell silent.
He realized—he wasn't that important in Qian Renxue's eyes. Perhaps, in her view, his innate full soul power merely meant he might become a Titled Douluo one day. But for someone like her, with Spirit Hall behind her and the potential to become a god, Titled Douluo were resources—not irreplaceable allies.
Other major forces might do anything to win him over. But Qian Renxue had no need to flatter him. Spirit Hall already had plenty of Titled Douluo. One more would just be icing on the cake.
Worse, now that he'd caught Qian Renxue's attention, he couldn't risk betraying her. If he did, he'd have no choice but to vanish.
After Wang Chen left, a middle-aged man appeared behind Xue Qinghe. He handed her a letter and said,"This is the latest report on Tang San from the Grand Priest in Spirit City. His innate soul power was recorded as level six, and his martial soul is Blue Silver Grass. However, his first soul ring was an over-limit absorption—estimated to be a 500-year-old Thousand-Year-Old Cypress. At that time, he likely hadn't consumed whale glue yet. His second soul ring appears to be the over-limit ring he absorbed afterward, post-whale glue. According to Nuoding City's branch hall master, it's a thousand-year ring—possibly close to two thousand years, judging by its color."
Xue Qinghe's pupils contracted. She exhaled slowly."Seven years old. Second ring nearing two thousand years. A Blue Silver Grass martial soul more dazzling than my angel martial soul… That's truly incredible."
She paused, considering."Is there any possibility of bringing someone like him under our control?"
The middle-aged man shook his head."The Pope hasn't ordered him forcibly brought to Spirit City. According to Ma Xiunuo, the boy is very independent. He refuses to be molded by Spirit Hall's system, preferring to remain free."
Xue Qinghe thought for a moment. "It's a little like Wang Chen in the beginning…"
Then she shook her head.
"No. It's different. Wang Chen always kept his discoveries to himself. Even if he verified something, he wouldn't share it. His heart isn't as broad as Tang San's."
"Young Master, one more thing," the man continued. "Our spies in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan reported that one of their external disciples lost to Tang San while accompanying Ning Rongrong on a soul beast hunt. Afterwards, he made a rather arrogant remark to Mu Tian."
"What did he say?" Xue Qinghe asked, intrigued.
"He said: 'Those who lose to me will never be my opponents. I'll give you time to catch up… until you can't even see my back.'"
The man's tone was laced with disbelief, but Xue Qinghe's eyes lit up.
She looked again at the intelligence report and Tang San's portrait, imagining the kind of young man who would say such words.
On the continent, it was common for rogue soul masters to eliminate rivals they defeated in the wild. Tang San's words revealed a different sort of mindset—a level of confidence and pride rarely seen.
She couldn't help but want to meet him.
"Young Master, perhaps he was just bluffing or buying time. There were other Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan members present," the man offered cautiously.
Xue Qinghe smiled."No. That's exactly why I find it interesting. If he still dared to say such things under those circumstances, that only proves his courage and spirit."
In her eyes, Tang San's ability to remain composed and even joke after defeating Mu Tian—while surrounded by nearly thirty elite soul masters—wasn't just confidence. It was charisma.
And that made him all the more worth recruiting.
Tang San…
"You will definitely be mine."
For someone as gifted as Qian Renxue, encountering another extraordinary talent stirred something deeper. It was a mix of admiration, obsession, and longing.
After all, people who lacked love were often the ones most hollow on the inside.