Last night, Yang Xiong sat alone in his room, carefully examining the piece of century-grade whale glue before him.
This piece of whale glue appeared to be over five hundred years old, making it one of the better specimens among century-grade whale glue.
Initially, Yang Xiong had considered looking for millennium-grade whale glue. However, according to the original story, millennium-grade whale glue could increase a soul master's ability to absorb soul rings by up to five hundred years. Since the typical first soul ring for an ordinary soul master was capped at four hundred years, if the effect were real, wouldn't that more than double his physical capabilities? Such a result would defy common sense and likely overwhelm his body.
In terms of physical fitness, Yang Xiong already ranked highest in Class One, Grade One. Whether it was strength, speed, or physique, he surpassed everyone—even those with Beast Martial Souls.
While other soul masters focused solely on meditation, Yang Xiong spent significant time honing his physical conditioning.
After much deliberation, Yang Xiong ultimately decided to test the whale glue to see if it lived up to its legendary effects. To minimize risks, he deliberately chose century-grade whale glue instead of the more potent millennium-grade variety.
Typically, using whale glue required melting it at high temperatures.
Yang Xiong didn't bother with such formalities. He simply set up a stove and copper bowl in the kitchen, placing the whale glue inside the bowl.
Since this was only century-grade whale glue, it wasn't as difficult to melt as the legends suggested, nor did it require the assistance of a Fire-attribute soul master.
As the temperature rose, the copper bowl gradually turned red-hot, and the whale glue began to melt, releasing a strange, almost intoxicating aroma into the room.
Ignoring the intense heat and peculiar scent, Yang Xiong used tongs to transfer the molten whale glue into a regular bowl. Then, without hesitation, he swallowed it all in one gulp.
The moment the scalding liquid entered his mouth, it felt as though a boiling iron block had been shoved down his throat. The searing pain forced Yang Xiong to let out a sharp cry.
However, as time passed, the whale glue gradually made its way into his abdomen. The heat spread rapidly throughout his body, making him feel as though he were being roasted alive. His skin, muscles, and even bones seemed to writhe in agony, the pain penetrating deep into his marrow.
Gritting his teeth, Yang Xiong leaped into a prepared bucket of cold water. The sudden shift between extreme heat and cold made his body feel as though it might split apart.
Eventually, the overwhelming pain caused Yang Xiong to pass out in the bucket.
When Yang Xiong regained consciousness, an entire night had passed. The once-clear water in the bucket had turned pitch black, and his throat and mouth still felt scorched, leaving his voice hoarse.
After cleaning himself thoroughly, Yang Xiong noticed that his strength had significantly increased. During his morning workout, the barbell in his hands felt noticeably lighter. Based on his estimation, his physical capabilities had improved by at least thirty percent, if not more.
Now, Yang Xiong faced a dilemma: should he reveal the secret of the whale glue? If his parents, with their physical conditioning, were to use millennium-grade whale glue, they might gain an entire level of soul power and even enhance their future prospects.
However, being part of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect came with a significant drawback: any secret to rapid advancement would be hard to conceal.
As a large sect, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect provided comprehensive support for its key disciples, especially when obtaining soul rings, which involved specialized assistance. Yang Xiong's first soul ring would need to be at least five hundred years old, and his second might approach a thousand years. How would he explain such advancements to others?
Moreover, as a disciple of the sect, he enjoyed its resources and benefits, which carried the expectation of loyalty. Betraying the sect without extraordinary circumstances would earn disdain from the entire soul master community.
Take, for example, the single-attribute Four Families of the outer Hao Tian Sect. Had they not been abandoned by the Hao Tian Sect, they would never have had the chance to leave. No sect would invest heavily in training individuals only to let them go freely.
Over the years, Yang Xiong had come to deeply understand this reality. Even his parents had unconsciously accepted that they were lifelong members of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, making the idea of leaving or betraying the sect inconceivable. The sect's system was deeply ingrained in this world.
Even Yang Xiong himself had unknowingly come to view the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect as his home.
After much contemplation, Yang Xiong muttered to himself, "Oh well, whale glue isn't exactly a major secret. Others will discover it sooner or later. Perhaps I can use this knowledge to negotiate some benefits from the sect."
With that thought in mind, Yang Xiong quickly sought out his parents. His older brother, Yang Wei, was still away at the academy and hadn't returned.
Yang Lin and Sun Yu looked puzzled. "Xiao Xiong, why are you here so early today? Don't you usually exercise on your own in the mornings?"
Judging by their appearance, they had likely spent the night meditating before resting briefly.
Yang Xiong replied, "Mom, Dad, I've broken through to level ten."
Yang Lin nodded approvingly. "Good job, Xiao Xiong. But why does your voice sound hoarse?"
Ignoring his father's concern, Yang Xiong continued, "Dad, I've read a lot of books recently and discovered a significant secret that could greatly benefit our family."
Yang Lin frowned. "What kind of secret could you possibly find in books? Xiao Xiong, you should focus more on meditation."
Yang Xiong responded, "Father, take a closer look at my soul power."
Yang Lin examined Yang Xiong's body carefully, particularly sensing his soul power. The energy felt exceptionally dense, far beyond what one would expect from someone who had just broken through.
"When did you break through to level ten?" Yang Lin asked.
Yang Xiong answered, "I broke through just two days ago. But I consumed a piece of whale glue, and I feel like my soul power has improved significantly. My physical condition has also improved greatly."
Yang Lin grew stern. "What nonsense is this? What business does an eight-year-old have consuming whale glue? Do you even know what it's supposed to be used for?"
Yang Xiong quickly defended himself. "Father, I didn't consume it for that purpose. I discovered that melting the entire piece of whale glue and swallowing it all at once not only enhances physical strength and soul power but also purges impurities from the body. It might even improve one's potential to absorb higher-year soul rings."
Hearing this, Yang Lin and Sun Yu grew serious. If whale glue truly had such remarkable effects, it could not only boost their family's strength but also contribute significantly to the sect. According to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's merit-based reward system, they could potentially gain substantial benefits from the sect.
------------------------------------------------------
Welcome our new Patron: Ceyhun Cagirici! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to 'Chapter 16: The Little Devil Girl' on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
Double Daily Chapters Until We Are 40 Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow