With Wang Xiao's powerful soul power assisting him, Xu Zihuang spent about half an hour refining and consuming three jade bottles of ten-thousand-year whale fat.
He could clearly feel warmth coursing through his entire body, his limbs and bones filled with that heat.
Coming out of cultivation, he moved slightly, and the bones of his body crackled like beans popping, bringing indescribable comfort. The ten-thousand-year whale fat had transformed his physique in every aspect—not only were his meridians and bones far more resilient, but his physical strength was already no weaker than that of strength-type soul masters at the same level.
Yaoyang carefully observed Xu Zihuang's condition and realized that his earlier expectations had been too conservative.
When he himself had reached Soul Ancestor level, his body had been no stronger than this.
"Gifted" was no longer enough to describe Xu Zihuang—his constitution was truly extraordinary.
Wang Xiao cast a silent glance at Yaoyang. He had not told him about Xu Zihuang's successful fusion with the soul bone earlier—not because he didn't trust him, but because he hadn't decided whether to involve him in that matter.
If Xu Zihuang truly pursued that path, his enemy would be the entire Sun Moon Empire.
The two exchanged a brief look, each with their own thoughts.
Just as Xu Zihuang was about to walk down the iron walkway to the frozen surface, he turned back and said to Meng Lang, who had been standing respectfully nearby:
"Meng Lang, I remember your martial soul is the Black-Patterned Narwhal. Your soul power has just reached rank forty, and you haven't acquired a soul ring yet, right? There happen to be two three-thousand-year Evil Demon Killer Whales. The other one's ring will be yours."
"Yes, young master!" Meng Lang froze for a moment, then quickly realized, his face flushing red with excitement.
He hadn't expected Xu Zihuang to remember his situation. Such an honor left him overwhelmed.
It was the ring of an Evil Demon Killer Whale.
The three thousand-year-old whales had already been subdued, unlike the two powerful ten-thousand-year whales that had posed the threat of self-destruction. With their life force, transporting them alive to the Yuenan Archipelago could easily fetch tens of thousands of gold soul coins.
Seeing Meng Lang's expression, Xu Zihuang chuckled lightly and walked onto the icy surface. He was never stingy with his own people.
And he intended to cultivate Meng Lang.
The boy had decent talent and was only seventeen. A fitting member for his own faction.
The ice radiated bitter cold, but Xu Zihuang, with his blood energy surging from his external soul bone, the Huanglong Claw, and his first soul ring, strode forward without discomfort.
Meng Lang followed behind, brimming with excitement.
"Young master." Among the soldiers guarding the three thousand-year whales was Meng Lang's father, Meng Cang.
Xu Zihuang smiled and nodded at Meng Lang, then said casually: "Elder Meng, no need to keep that other three-thousand-year whale restrained. It'll suit Meng Lang for his soul ring."
Hearing this, Meng Lang glanced nervously at his father, who looked increasingly grim, making him lower his head in unease.
Meng Cang took a deep breath but said nothing.
On one hand, he could not oppose Xu Zihuang's will. On the other, he had his own selfish thoughts. The whale's soul ring perfectly matched their family's Black-Patterned Narwhal martial soul. But as an officer, he could not request it openly. And with the regiment in dire need of funds, he didn't want to cause losses of tens of thousands of gold coins for his son.
Now, with Xu Zihuang offering it himself, it struck directly at his heart's desire.
Guilt welled up, but so did greater respect for Xu Zihuang.
After all, who wouldn't admire a master who was both generous and caring toward his subordinates?
Xu Zihuang approached the massive head of one whale. It was frozen solid in thick ice, only the blowhole exposed to keep it breathing.
One soldier knowingly handed him a barbed soul tool spear, similar to those used by the northern Sun Moon Empire whalers.
"Young master, strike through the blowhole to quickly end its life."
Xu Zihuang did not hesitate. The whale's hide was iron-hard; only its blowhole was a true weakness.
Driving the spear deep, he twisted it calmly.
He had never minded killing humans—why would he hesitate with a soul beast, natural enemy of mankind?
Buzz, buzz, buzz— The three-thousand-year whale let out a shrill cry, but within moments, it fell silent.
Rippling red light rose from its corpse, while dense violet radiance condensed into a majestic purple soul ring.
Xu Zihuang's expression remained calm, but his eyes betrayed a trace of intoxication. He loved this feeling of steadily gaining strength.
Let's hope the soul skill won't disappoint me.
Sitting cross-legged on the ice, he raised his left hand and summoned the whale's soul ring.
The purple light surged as if it had been waiting, flooding toward him like rivers into the sea.
A vast heat flow entered his body at once. Before he could react, it burned through him like searing flames.
Unlike the painless fusion with the Silver-Scaled White Whale, this time Xu Zihuang's brows knit tightly, his body trembling.
His meridians felt as if they would burst. Without his firm will, he might have collapsed instantly.
As expected of an Evil Demon Killer Whale's ring—so domineering.
Xu Zihuang praised inwardly, swiftly adjusting his state.
This was actually his first conventional soul ring absorption. It wasn't that he couldn't handle the whale's energy, but simply that he needed time to adapt.
Soon, his breathing steadied again, easing the soldiers watching nearby.
As expected, the young master was fine.
They had witnessed too many of Xu Zihuang's miracles already. Without realizing it, their trust in him had become blind faith.