Chapter 17 – Whale Rubber
After giving Lin Beiya a thorough beating, Qian Renxue finally released the pent-up frustration she'd been harboring for days.
A radiant smile bloomed across her beautiful face; her mood visibly lifted.
"Beiya, Grandpa gave me a day off tomorrow. I don't need to train in swordsmanship."
"After your morning classes, come with me to Spirit City for a little walk, okay?"
Lin Beiya rubbed his swollen cheek, inwardly grumbling.
'Seriously? You beat me up, and now you want me to carry your shopping bags? Not a chance! Absolutely not!'
But when he met her angelic yet commanding gaze, his resistance melted faster than snow under the sun.
"Alright then. After my morning class, I'll meet you in the garden."
Seeing him give in so quickly, Qian Renxue's smile deepened. She waved cheerfully and hopped away from the training field, her long golden hair swaying behind her.
Dusting himself off, Lin Beiya limped toward his dorm, muttering under his breath.
That night's meditation session revealed something new about his Gold Saint Cloth—when he wore it while cultivating, his soul power circulated faster, and his injuries healed significantly quicker.
By the time dawn broke, the swelling on his face had completely disappeared. The melancholic pretty boy had made a full recovery.
After breakfast, Lin Beiya arrived at the academy right on time.
A month of intense training had paid off—Fatty Shi Nuo had finally raised his soul power to rank 9. Another month or so, and he'd reach rank 10, ready to obtain his first soul ring.
In the first-year Elite Class, aside from Lin Beiya, only a few could rival that kind of progress.
The class's entry requirement was innate soul power of rank 7 or above, making it the most selective group in the academy.
Even with a few transfer students from remote regions, there were barely twenty students in total.
Since Shi Nuo had spread word about the duel Lin Beiya fought earlier—and others had recognized Feng De, the orphanage-born fourth-year senior—Lin Beiya's name had quickly spread through the class.
After hearing Shi Nuo's vivid retelling, everyone realized just how terrifying Lin Beiya's strength truly was.
From then on, his classmates' gossip and snide remarks vanished without a trace, replaced with a healthy dose of respect—and a hint of fear.
After all, the strong are respected everywhere.
(Unless your name happens to be Tang San.)
---
The Elite Class curriculum was quite different from that of the ordinary classes.
Since most students were approaching the rank 10 bottleneck, the teachers had begun explaining the characteristics of various hundred-year soul beasts—which ones were suitable for absorption, and what kinds of soul skills one might expect from them.
Among the beasts listed was the Blackstone Giant Ox, the very one Fatty had once talked about. That instantly reignited Shi Nuo's enthusiasm—his eyes gleamed as he confirmed that his choice had indeed been the right one.
Of course, all this had little to do with Lin Beiya. Having already obtained his first soul ring, the second one was still far off on the horizon—no need to rush.
After finishing his morning lessons and lunch, Lin Beiya hurried toward the central garden of Spirit Hall. There was no way he'd dare stand up against the little angel. If he did, who knew how she'd torment him next time?
Seeing him arrive on time, Qian Renxue nodded in satisfaction.
"Not bad. You're not late today."
"Come on, give me some credit. I'm a punctual, trustworthy person."
"Tch."
The little angel gave him a look of pure disdain, her expression clearly saying, 'You? Trustworthy? Sure, tell me another.'
Lin Beiya scratched his head awkwardly. 'So I overslept a few times, big deal…'
Without further arguing, he simply followed Qian Renxue as they made their way out of Spirit Hall.
As for safety, Lin Beiya wasn't worried in the slightest. He was certain Qian Daoliu would have people secretly guarding her from the shadows.
Along the way, Qian Renxue bounced happily beside him, her lively energy contagious. Her cheerful smile spoke volumes about her mood.
Spirit City was vast. Having grown up in the northern district's orphanage, Lin Beiya had never ventured deep into the central area.
Qian Renxue, naturally, took on the role of his personal tour guide, enthusiastically pointing out various buildings and landmarks.
"That's Wan Hun Shun, the largest restaurant in Spirit City. Their food's really good—we'll stop by later and I'll treat you."
"Sounds great."
"And over there is Shou Xi Lai, the biggest mall in Spirit City. Let's check it out first!"
"Sure thing."
In his previous life, Lin Beiya had heard a saying — accompanying a woman while shopping is one of life's greatest torments.
Now, even though the "woman" beside him was just a golden-haired little girl, he found himself fully agreeing with that statement.
The two of them had left the gates of Spirit Hall at noon, and by the time the sun began to set, Qian Renxue was still full of energy—dragging Lin Beiya along, insisting they end the day with a good meal.
Lin Beiya's legs felt like they were filled with molten lead. When they finally stopped, he let out a long sigh of relief, silently swearing that he'd find a way to politely refuse any future shopping invitations.
---
Inside the grand restaurant, a dazzling array of dishes soon filled their table.
Qian Renxue glanced at Lin Beiya, who was devouring food like a starving wolf, and gave him a look of pure disdain.
"Slow down, will you? No one's fighting you for the food!"
"Can't help it. I'm starving," he mumbled between bites.
"Hmph. After we eat, let's swing by Spirit City's auction house."
"Huh? What for?"
The little angel gave him a graceful side-eye while elegantly picking at her food.
"They always have interesting stuff there. It's my one day off—I'm not wasting it by going home early."
Lin Beiya shrugged. "Alright, suit yourself."
After all, since they were already out, he might as well let her have her fun.
When the meal was over, the two made their way toward the Spirit City Auction House.
Whether it was luck or some behind-the-scenes arrangement from her secret bodyguards, the moment they arrived, an attendant immediately stepped forward to greet them. Without asking any questions, he led the pair directly to the finest VIP room.
Qian Renxue plopped down onto the soft couch and glanced around with satisfaction.
"Mm, not bad. Still as good as I remember."
She motioned for Lin Beiya to sit beside her. Moments later, a servant entered with fresh tea and fruit and respectfully handed a catalog to Qian Renxue.
Taking it with practiced ease, she waved a hand dismissively, signaling the servant to stand quietly in the corner.
Lin Beiya raised an eyebrow, watching the scene unfold. So, she's been here before… quite a few times, it seems.
"You come here often, huh?"
"Of course," Qian Renxue replied casually. "I used to come here a lot with my third grandpa's granddaughter. But she's been in closed-door cultivation lately, working on her family's inherited soul skill."
As she flipped open the catalog on her lap, Lin Beiya leaned over out of curiosity. Their two small heads drew close together, the sight oddly harmonious.
"So this list shows all the items being auctioned today?"
"Yup. Everyone looks through the catalog first, picks out what they want, and plans their bids accordingly. That way they don't blow all their gold before the good stuff shows up."
"I see."
It was Lin Beiya's first time seeing this kind of organized trading event, and he found it surprisingly interesting.
But as his eyes skimmed the catalog, something on the third line suddenly caught his attention.
Whale Rubber!
His heart skipped a beat. He kept his expression neutral, but his mind was racing.
Whale Rubber—a rare alchemical material known for enhancing one's physique. In the later "Huo Yuhao" era, it would become widely recognized for its strengthening effects. But right now, in this time period, people barely understand its true potential. Its only known use was… well, far less impressive.
As he silently calculated how to persuade the little angel to help him bid on it, Lin Beiya completely lost interest in the rest of the catalog.
He was so deep in thought that it took several calls to snap him back to reality.
"Beiya… Beiya!"
"Huh? What's up?"
"You're spacing out again. What are you thinking about?"
"Come on, take a look at this necklace. Isn't it pretty?"
—
(End of Chapter)