Dugu Bo was no fool.
From Lin Xiao's few words and his insistence, he had a vague suspicion that this "whale resin" must be something special. Yet no matter how he racked his brain, he just couldn't figure it out.
A prized aphrodisiac among the nobility? Could such a thing truly hold world-shaking value? And Lin Xiao had been determined to get it.
"Brat, what's so special about this whale resin?" Dugu Bo asked, his emerald-green eyes brimming with curiosity.
Lin Xiao, having successfully won the auction, was in high spirits.
He organized his thoughts, then began to explain as simply as possible:
"A soul master's ability to absorb higher-year soul rings depends on three main factors: physical strength, spiritual force, and martial soul quality. Among these, physical strength is often the key that determines the limit."
"Whale resin improves the body constitution. If taken from a young age, a soul master could absorb a thousand-year soul ring as early as their second one. And a thousand-year ring provides far more physical reinforcement than a hundred-year ring—creating a compounding effect."
"It's like a snowball rolling downhill—the further it goes, the greater the gap between those who took whale resin and those who didn't."
"Over time, the difference in growth and potential becomes enormous."
Hearing this, Dugu Bo's expression changed.
If what Lin Xiao said was true, then the value of whale resin was easily ten times what they'd paid—perhaps even priceless.
Dugu Bo frowned.
"But if it's meant to be taken from a young age, isn't it a little late now?"
Lin Xiao shook his head.
"Late? There's no such thing."
"And what we bought today is ten-thousand-year whale resin—far superior to the common kind. Its effects are leagues beyond century-old or even millennium-grade resin."
"Let's take it to Auntie Ye. Once she studies its properties, I'm sure she'll find a way to maximize its effect."
Always trust Ye Qingxian.
She had an inexplicable quality about her. Though she was a woman, and a support-type soul master at that, her presence always brought reassurance.
This was the true meaning of: 'Women hold up half the sky.'
Dugu Bo nodded, reassured.
He sighed. "Even poisons can be medicine."
"Lady Ye's wisdom proves itself again. The soul master world dismissed whale resin as a vulgar indulgence of the aristocracy… who would've thought it was a hidden treasure?"
Then he paused and gave Lin Xiao a curious look.
"But how did you even know about its effects?"
Lin Xiao brushed it off casually.
"Ancient texts. The records are there if you look closely."
Just then, someone knocked on the box door.
A staff member entered, carrying a red-cloth-covered chest.
Neither Lin Xiao nor Dugu Bo flinched.
"It's fine. Just leave it. I'll handle the payment shortly," Dugu Bo said, waving the staffer away.
After they left, Dugu Bo eagerly approached the chest. He opened it slowly—inside was a golden crystal, as translucent as ice, glowing softly with purity and power.
He didn't dare touch it recklessly.
"Pfft—" Lin Xiao couldn't help but laugh.
"Senior Dugu, weren't you the one who said this was just a lustful trinket? Now you're cradling it like glass, afraid to breathe on it."
Dugu Bo glared.
"I have no use for it! I'm only being careful for your sake—and Yan Yan's."
Fair enough. As a Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo certainly didn't need it.
After examining the whale resin, they paid and left for the Ye residence.
In the back courtyard of the Ye household:
"Lingling! Lower your stance! Your horse stance is too high!"
"Yan Yan's form is much better!"
"No rest until you complete ten sets!"
Ye Qingxian stood with arms crossed, a small herbal stove simmering beside her. While watching the medicine brew, she was also supervising Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan's practice of the Eight Brocade Exercises.
The two girls hadn't yet grasped the essence of the technique.
And unlike Lin Xiao, they lacked discipline.
Practicing sporadically—three days on, two days off—what progress could they make?
Ye Qingxian had been training daily and discovered that the Eight Brocade Exercises contained deep mysteries: gentle overcoming strong, enhancing vitality, even improving cultivation potential.
Such a treasure, and Lin Xiao had shared it freely.
That sincerity touched her deeply.
How could she betray his trust?
So now, whenever she had time, she supervised Lingling and Yan Yan's training. Once they began to feel the benefits, they'd be more eager to practice.
Just then, Lin Xiao's voice called out from the front courtyard:
"Auntie Ye, I brought something I'd like your help with!"
She glanced at the herbal pot—just about ready—then stood and walked to the front, where she met Lin Xiao and Dugu Bo.
Lin Xiao got straight to the point, explaining everything he knew about the whale resin and handing her the ten-thousand-year sample.
Ye Qingxian reached out with a fair hand and took the resin.
Her elegant eyes focused sharply as she studied it.
"Fascinating. I've heard of ten-thousand-year whale resin before—but only as a noble's indulgence. I never gave it serious attention."
"Let me study it for a few days. Once I understand its properties, I'll formulate a medicinal plan. The three of you should take it morning and night for nourishment."
Lin Xiao's eyes narrowed playfully.
"And what about you, Auntie Ye?"
Ye Qingxian blinked, caught off guard.
"I'm already a Soul Sage. I only have two spirit ring slots left. Using it would be wasteful. Besides, I don't like ingesting strange substances. You three take it."
Lin Xiao chuckled.
"If it's something strange and useless, then why give it to us?"
"If you're not eating it, neither am I."
At that moment, Lingling and Yan Yan came running over.
"Exactly!" said Lingling. "Mom, if you won't eat it, how can I trust it? What if you mess up the recipe and make me sick, while you're perfectly fine?"
"Yeah, Auntie Ye," said Dugu Yan, "if you're not taking it, we don't want it either!"
Ye Qingxian stared at the three "rebels" before her.
Frustrated… but touched.
Still, she didn't show it. She waved them off impatiently and rolled her eyes.
"Fine, I'll eat it!"
"I'm only doing it because I'm lazy—not because I was trying to leave it all to you!"
"Don't flatter yourselves!"
Lin Xiao smiled softly.
Huh… she's kind of cute like this. How did I never notice?
Does Auntie Ye… have a bit of a tsundere streak?
"Yay!"
Lingling and Yan Yan high-fived like they'd just won a major battle.
Ye Qingxian gave them a sharp look, then changed the subject.
"You two done with your sets?"
"We still owe two more—we paused when you left!"
"Then go do three more to make up for the interruption!"
"Whaaat?" Yan Yan and Lingling groaned in unison.
Their faces fell, miserable and pale.
Tyranny. This was tyranny!