The command, once given by Ning Fengzhi, was executed with the terrifying efficiency that only a sect with the wealth of a small empire could muster. The quiet, polite inquiry for an obscure, if scandalous, material rippled outwards from the grand palace of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Sect, becoming a tidal wave of commercial force that washed over the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
Sect disciples, their faces masks of professional impassivity, appeared in the most exclusive auction houses of Heaven Dou City. Their bids were silent, decisive, and backed by a seemingly bottomless purse. The lots of "Thousand-Year Golden Whale Gum," usually a novelty item that drew a few snickers and high bids from aging, lecherous nobles, were suddenly being swept up without negotiation.
In the dimly lit, labyrinthine stalls of the city's black markets, shadowy figures who traded in secrets and forbidden goods found themselves fielding unusually direct offers from men with seven-storied pagodas embroidered on their sleeves. The price was always too good to refuse. There was no haggling, only the swift, silent exchange of gold spirit coins for dark yellow crystals.
The most delicate operations were conducted in the opulent drawing rooms of the empire's great noble families. A subordinate of the sect, a man of high standing and impeccable manners, would arrive with a gift of fine wine or a rare spirit ore. The conversation would be light, filled with pleasantries, before the true purpose was revealed.
"Lord Marquis," the sect representative would say with a polite, almost conspiratorial smile, "Our Sect Master has recently developed an interest in certain… rejuvenating tonics. He would be most grateful if you would be willing to part with any excess Whale Gum your esteemed house may have in its treasury. A small token of friendship between our houses, you understand."
The nobles understood perfectly. The great Ning Fengzhi, a man of profound power and wisdom, was seeking to recapture the vigor of his youth for his many beautiful wives. The thought was scandalous, amusing, and most importantly, it was an opportunity. To curry favor with the number one sect in the world over something as trivial as an aphrodisiac? It wasn't a choice; it was a blessing. Vaults were opened, and precious, long-forgotten treasures were handed over with beaming smiles and promises of eternal friendship.
Within five short days, a treasure trove of the rare material had been amassed in a secure vault within the sect. Piles of shimmering, golden crystals, the thousand-year-old gum, lay beside a smaller but far more potent collection of dark, amber-yellow crystals that pulsed with a deep, ancient energy. The ten-thousand-year-old Whale Gum.
Zhang Tian was summoned. He stood before the glittering hoard, his expression calm but his mind racing with the possibilities. He selected a substantial portion of the dark yellow, ten-thousand-year-old gum, a chunk roughly the size of a large winter melon. "This will be sufficient for the three of us," he declared.
Ning Fengzhi looked at the remaining mountain of golden and yellow crystals. "The rest is yours to manage, Uncle Ning," Zhang Tian said, a respectful nod in his direction. "Use it to cultivate a new generation of geniuses for the sect. This will be the foundation of your future."
Ning Fengzhi's heart swelled with a gratitude so profound it was almost painful.
The process of consumption began in a specially prepared, high-temperature forging chamber, deep within the sect's workshops. The air was dry and intensely hot, shimmering with the latent power of the man who stood at its center. He was Elder Huo, a Level 82 Spirit Douluo whose Martial Spirit was the fearsome 'Crimson Flame Lion'. He was a man of few words, his face a mask of stern duty, but a flicker of deep, scandalous curiosity burned in his eyes.
'To be summoned by the Sect Master himself, for such a task…' he thought, as Ning Fengzhi personally oversaw the procedure. 'To melt down the sect's entire, newly acquired stock of Whale Gum. Is the Sect Master planning an orgy of epic proportions?' He kept his thoughts to himself, of course, and focused on the task at hand.
"Crimson Flame Lion, Possess!"
With a roar, his body was wreathed in brilliant, crimson flames. He opened his mouth and spewed a controlled, concentrated jet of fire onto the large chunk of dark yellow crystal that Zhang Tian had set aside. The ten-thousand-year-old gum, hard as diamond, began to soften under the intense heat, slowly melting into a thick, viscous, golden-amber liquid that smelled faintly of the deep ocean and something else… something primal and musky.
The trio received their portion in three large jade bowls. They looked at the steaming, gelatinous substance, their expressions a mixture of determination and trepidation.
"It must be consumed while it is still warm and in its liquid state," Zhang Tian instructed, his voice echoing slightly in the hot, stone chamber. "The taste will be… unpleasant. And the side effects will be potent. Your body will be flooded with heat, and you will experience… strong, distracting urges. You must suppress them. Focus your mind, circulate your spirit power, and endure. This is a battle of will."
He was the first to act. He lifted the heavy bowl, and without a moment's hesitation, he began to drink the thick, horrible liquid.
The taste was indescribable. It was a vile combination of salty, bitter, and a strange, cloying sweetness that coated his tongue and throat. It was like drinking lukewarm, melted rubber mixed with seawater. He forced it down, his stomach churning in protest.
The two girls, seeing his resolve, followed his lead. Ning Rongrong pinched her nose, her face wrinkled in a grimace of pure disgust as she choked down the first mouthful. Zhu Zhuqing was more stoic, but even her iron composure cracked slightly, a flicker of revulsion in her dark eyes as she swallowed the foul-tasting concoction.
The effect was almost instantaneous. A fire ignited in the pit of his stomach, a raging inferno that spread with terrifying speed through his veins, into his muscles, deep into the marrow of his bones. It was not a burning pain, but an intense, overwhelming heat that made his skin flush and his blood sing.
And with the heat came the lust.
It was a primal, powerful surge of pure, unadulterated desire that bypassed all rational thought. His mind was flooded with images, flashes of Zhu Zhuqing's naked body in the shower, the feeling of Ning Rongrong's soft hands on his skin, the memory of Ah Yin's seductive, crimson form. His dick hardened instantly, painfully, straining against his trousers.
'Control,' he commanded himself, his mind a fortress against the hormonal onslaught. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead as he forced his spirit power to circulate, channeling the immense energy of the Whale Gum not into his groin, but into his physical structure, tempering his body in the fire of his own desire.
The two girls were fighting their own, equally difficult battles. Ning Rongrong's face was a deep, beautiful shade of crimson. She could feel a strange, tingling heat spreading between her legs, a sensation she had never experienced before. Her mind, usually so sharp and clear, was a fuzzy, confusing haze of warmth and strange, new feelings. 'What is this… my body feels so… weird… I want… I want Zhang Tian to hold me…'
Zhu Zhuqing's struggle was even more intense. She was no stranger to desire, but this was different. This was a raw, chemical firestorm. Her body, already so intimately familiar with Zhang Tian's touch, was screaming for it. Her nipples were pebble-hard, her pussy was slick and throbbing, and the image of his hard, thick cock was branded onto the inside of her eyelids. She bit her lip, drawing blood, using the sharp pain to anchor her sanity as she fought to control the raging inferno within.
For three days, this was their life. They would consume the horrible, melted gum, endure the fire and the lust, and through sheer force of will, they would cultivate, forcing the miraculous energy to temper their bodies.
When the final drop of their allotted Whale Gum was consumed, a profound change had taken place. They felt… different. Stronger. Their bodies hummed with a new, vibrant energy, a deep-seated resilience that was more than just muscle.
To quantify this change, they were summoned to a private training hall. Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong stood waiting, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and skepticism.
"So, the little rascal's aphrodisiac training is complete, is it?" Gu Rong rasped, his sunken eyes fixing on Zhang Tian. "Let's see if there's any substance to your strange theories."
Chen Xin stepped forward first, his gaze falling on Ning Rongrong. "Little Rongrong, stand still. I will not harm you. I will simply apply a measure of my sword intent to your body to gauge its resilience."
A faint, silver light, as sharp and fine as a needle, emanated from his fingertip. It was a sliver of his Titled Douluo's power, a force that could shred steel. He gently touched her shoulder with it.
Ning Rongrong felt a sharp, piercing pressure, but no pain. The sword intent, which should have easily bypassed her skin and muscle, met a surprising, stubborn resistance. It was like trying to push a needle through thick, cured leather.
Chen Xin's eyes widened. He slowly increased the pressure. Still, her body held. It was only when he had applied a level of force equivalent to the full-strength attack of a four-ringed Spirit Ancestor that her skin finally began to show a faint red mark. He withdrew his hand, a look of profound shock on his sharp face.
"Unbelievable," he breathed.
Gu Rong then tested Zhu Zhuqing and Zhang Tian, using a gentle application of his spatial pressure. The results were even more astonishing. Their bodies could withstand a force equivalent to that of a Level 43 Spirit Ancestor before showing any signs of strain.
"The effect is real," Gu Rong declared, his hoarse voice filled with awe. "Their physical bodies are now far beyond the level of a normal Spirit Grandmaster. They are as tough as Spirit Ancestors."
Chen Xin nodded, his mind racing with the implications. "This changes everything. With bodies this resilient… the limits of what they can absorb for their third spirit rings are… significantly higher."
He looked at the trio, his sharp gaze assessing. "Little Rongrong, your body, while greatly enhanced, is still inherently that of a support master. I would estimate you can now safely absorb a spirit ring from a beast between three thousand five hundred and four thousand three hundred years old."
His gaze shifted to Zhang Tian. "You, boy. Your physique is more balanced. Four thousand six hundred to five thousand years should be your limit."
Finally, he looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "And you. Your Beast Martial Spirit has synergized with the Whale Gum's energy. Your physical enhancement is the greatest of the three. You could withstand a ring from a beast of up to six thousand years. Perhaps even slightly more."
The numbers hung in the air, a testament to a revolutionary breakthrough in cultivation.
In Ning Fengzhi's private study, the strategic council reconvened. The atmosphere was electric with excitement.
"My plan for Rongrong's ring remains," Ning Fengzhi said, unrolling a map of the Sunset Forest. "We have already located a colony of Three-Eyed Jade Lions. They are light-attribute beasts, and their spirit rings grant an ability that amplifies spirit power recovery and output. A perfect fit for our sect. We have confirmed a specimen in the colony that is approximately four thousand one hundred years old. It will be an easy hunt with Uncle Gu and myself."
He then turned to the other two. "Now, for you, young friend Zhang Tian. And you, Miss Zhuqing. Your paths are your own. Have you given thought to what you desire for your third rings?"
Zhang Tian stepped forward, his expression calm and prepared. "I have, Uncle Ning. There is a specific plant-type spirit beast I seek. It is called the Jade Weaver Banyan. Its primary ability is to weave its vines into semi-autonomous constructs, even mimicking the form of other spirit beasts. I believe this ability will synergize perfectly with my Blood Silver Grass's control attributes. I would require a specimen of at least four thousand eight hundred years."
Ning Fengzhi and the two Douluos exchanged a look of surprise. It was another specific, well-researched, and highly ambitious choice.
"An interesting and powerful spirit," Gu Rong rasped. "But they are rare. Finding one of that specific age will be difficult."
"I believe your sect's vast information network will be up to the task, Grandpa Bone," Zhang Tian replied with a confident smile.
He then turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "As for Zhuqing," he said, taking the lead as they had discussed, "her Hell Civet is an agility-type spirit with a dark attribute. To maximize her potential, I would recommend a spirit ring that enhances her core strengths while pushing her spirit towards a more powerful evolution. A dark-attribute tiger or lion-type spirit beast would be ideal. Its ring should provide a powerful, direct offensive ability, as well as a secondary strength amplification."
He looked at Zhuqing, who nodded in agreement. "We should aim for a beast as close to her six-thousand-year limit as possible. The greater the pressure, the greater the potential for a beneficial mutation in her own spirit and greater the strength of her physical body and spirit ability."
The plan was audacious, logical, and filled with a potential that made the very air in the room hum.
Ning Fengzhi slammed his hand down on the table, a broad, excited grin on his face. "Excellent! A perfect plan! The hunt will be a challenge, but the rewards will be immeasurable! We will begin making preparations at once! Our agents in the Sunset Forest will begin the search immediately!"
He looked at the three young geniuses before him, his heart swelling with a pride that was almost paternal. "Uncle Gu, you will accompany me and the children on this hunt. Uncle Chen, I will have to trouble you to remain and guard the sect in our absence."
Sword Douluo Chen Xin just gave a sharp, accepting nod. The decision was made.
The next few days were a flurry of activity as the sect prepared for the expedition. Scouts were dispatched, supply lines were established, and the trio spent their time in deep meditation, consolidating their newfound physical strength and preparing their minds for the trials to come. The hunt for their third spirit rings was about to begin.
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A/N: Check out my other novels like "Harem Master: Seduction System" and the "Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist" and I hope you like this story and those stories as well.
Check out more chapters on my P.atreon. The P.atreon will have 20+ Chapters ahead for this story. I hope you like it.
The link of p.atreon is: bit.ly/evildragon