The moment the five-thousand-year-old whale gum melted in his stomach, Gu Han felt a tide of power surge through his meridians. The energy was pure, vast, and relentless, nourishing his internal organs and reinforcing every channel in his body.
As if guided by some unseen hand, the energy followed a perfect path through his body, completing a grand Zhoutian circulation before sinking into his lower dantian. There, the raw force refined itself into attributeless soul power, before condensing further into a biting, bone-deep cold.
Within his qi sea, the mass of soul power grew denser, and the space itself swelled slightly. The flood was unstoppable — his suppressed cultivation snapped free, leaping from the late twenty-third rank, through the bottleneck, and slamming into the peak of the twenty-sixth. One more push, and he would reach level twenty-seven.
This is indeed the power of a five-thousand-year whale gum… Gu Han marveled inwardly. The difference between this and a mere hundred-year tonic is like night and day.
He stood, feeling the doubled strength in his body. Before he could test it, an excited voice chimed beside him.
"Teacher! Brother! I've reached level thirty!"
Bibi Dong bounced to her feet, joy written all over her young face. She too had refined whale gum — only two pieces — and yet she had vaulted from level twenty-eight straight to the fabled thirtieth rank. Her innate talent was already at the peak; this only made it shine brighter.
Of course, the threshold at every ten levels meant she could not immediately advance further, but the excess energy would be stored, waiting to explode the moment she broke through.
Qian Xunji's lips curved into a rare smile. Placing his hand lightly on Bibi Dong's wrist, he sent his soul power into her meridians, examining her condition.
"Dong'er," he said warmly, "your constitution is now on par with a Soul Sect. For your third soul ring, you could attempt a six- to nine-thousand-year beast. But, to be safe, refine the remaining whale gums first."
Gu Han added from the side, "Yes, Senior Sister. Your twin martial souls demand more from your body than most. Refining all the whale gum will not only make absorbing a higher-age third ring safer, but will also lay the foundation for a stronger second martial soul in the future."
Bibi Dong nodded obediently. Suppressing her excitement, she sat cross-legged and began refining the rest.
Gu Han's gaze lingered on her still slightly round cheeks. A thought struck him. Even if her body can handle it, what about her mental strength? If she takes a ten-thousand-year soul ring for her fourth, she'll need to endure its spiritual impact…
"Teacher," he said slowly, "if her third ring is around nine thousand years, then the fourth could reach ten thousand. But to withstand that, perhaps we should prepare a spiritual-type soul beast… or a spiritual head soul bone."
Qian Xunji's eyes lit with interest. "You're right. Dong'er's future path should be adjusted now. As for a soul bone…" He paused, a glint in his eyes. "The Martial Soul Hall treasury holds a seventy-thousand-year psychoimmune skull. It's been untouched for decades. Even I have not dared absorb it. But for Dong'er… it may be time."
Gu Han was stunned. A seventy-thousand-year head soul bone — even a Title Douluo would covet such a treasure. Yet Qian Xunji intended to give it to a level-thirty Soul Elder.
Then again… this was Bibi Dong. Saint of the Martial Soul Hall. Twin martial souls. Peerless talent. Backed by the Pope himself.
Still… Gu Han admitted to himself, I'm jealous.
Qian Xunji's voice broke his thoughts. "Gu Han, no need to be envious. I've heard Guangling Douluo recently obtained a sixty-thousand-year mental skull. I'll keep it for you. When you reach level thirty, it's yours."
Gu Han froze. Had he been that obvious? He was sure he hadn't shown a flicker of emotion — yet the Pope had read him anyway.
Still, his heart surged with gratitude. This was why joining the Martial Soul Hall was the right choice. Women might slow his sword, but a rich and generous patron? Never.
Without hesitation, he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Teacher. I will train diligently and never let you down."
Watching Bibi Dong cultivate and feeling the Pope's unwavering support, Gu Han's opinion of Qian Xunji shifted. No matter what the history books might say, the man before him valued his disciples sincerely.
In the back of his mind, a new thought bloomed. If I can find the immortal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well… perhaps I can help raise Teacher's talent as well.
As for Qian Renxue… she had yet to be born. And with divine-level talent, she would have no need of such things.
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