The discussion with Shi Nian went much more smoothly than expected.
A man who never forgot a slight and possessed a ruthless temperament, Shi Nian had a poor reputation and an admittedly terrible public image. However, this time, he had come specifically because he was impressed by Zhao Liuyun's talent and wished to take him as a disciple.
Someone willing to take high risks to hunt down Tang San for the sake of Canghui Academy's advancement would naturally not be overly harsh toward his own people.
Another key factor was that the Ye family possessed a Spirit Douluo!
Ye Wenxi stated with a solemn tone that Canghui Academy was merely a temporary stop for Zhao Liuyun. While he could represent the academy in the Continental Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, he was, fundamentally, a member of the Ye family.
Under the pretext that spirit-type Spirit Masters have weak physical bodies and required the Ye family's assistance for enhancement, Zhao Liuyun secured a significant amount of free time for himself. This would be the time he used to visit Heaven Dou City and spend time with Ye Lingling. Similarly, it would be his chance to try and make contact with Dugu Yan.
Shi Nian was leading a team for a spirit ring hunt and did not stay long in the shop. Meanwhile, having earned Ye Wenxi's recognition, Zhao Liuyun finally stepped into the core circle of the Ye family.
Two months was a short time, but his background was clear and traceable, and his lineage was authentic and credible. He was young, came from a humble background, and most importantly, possessed the noble character of wanting to repay kindness. Because of this, the Ye family felt they should integrate him into the clan as early as possible to truly make him one of their own. Only with the guidance of a high-level Spirit Master and an ample supply of resources could he avoid wasting his innate talent.
Canghui Academy was located in Fasinuo City, the capital of the Fasinuo Province. While the Ye family was not as powerful as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, they still maintained branch forces in the provincial capitals. Ye Wenxi made it clear that the local branch would continue to provide Zhao Liuyun with medicinal baths to assist his cultivation.
In addition, he asked, "Is there anything else you require?"
"Whale gel," Zhao Liuyun replied calmly.
"What?" Ye Wenxi was utterly bewildered.
He was naturally aware of this aphrodisiac drug commonly circulated in coastal areas. It was relatively rare inland, though the Ye family did sell it.
Zhao Liuyun further elaborated in detail: "Grandpa Ye, I need whale gel—large quantities of it. Thousand-year grade is acceptable, but ten-thousand-year grade is best."
Ye Wenxi did not think Zhao Liuyun had suddenly lost his mind; he merely said in a deep voice, "Give me a reason."
Zhao Liuyun replied, "As you know, I once chanced upon an ancient text and have done some minor research into the Way of Poison."
The poison chapters he had obtained from Tang San were perfect for fabricating this lie.
Ye Wenxi's eyes shifted slightly as he recalled what Huang Xin had mentioned: "You want to concoct some kind of poison?"
Medicine and poison were two sides of the same coin. The Ye family might not match the Breaking Clan in the art of poison, and they certainly couldn't reach the level of the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo, but they could easily rank third.
Zhao Liuyun denied this: "No. The text records that whale gel is a natural, gentle, and precious medicine for body tempering. Especially ten-thousand-year whale gel; rumors say that after consumption, it can directly increase the age limit of the spirit rings one can withstand by five hundred to a thousand years. The effect is hundreds of times better than ordinary medicinal baths!"
Ye Wenxi instantly perked up. They had sold this item in their shops before, but most people used it for lewd purposes. Who would have thought it possessed such profound body-tempering effects?
"How credible is this?" He still found it hard to believe.
"Extremely," Zhao Liuyun said with a certain tone.
The "Child of Destiny" from ten thousand years in the future, Huo Yuhao, had tested it personally; combined with the Ice and Fire tempering, it increased his tolerance by a thousand years. The daughter of the Great God-King Tang also ate thousand-year grade gel since she was a child, allowing her to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring as her second ring. The effects were undeniably real.
According to Zhao Liuyun's deduction, once he reached the Well of Ice and Fire, the medicinal power of the Immortal Herbs would overshadow everything else; normal medicinal baths would likely cease to be effective. Now was the best time to use whale gel to enhance his constitution.
"I shall write a letter immediately to ask the Clan Head to mobilize resources and acquire whale gel with all our strength," Ye Wenxi said, his eyes burning with fervor.
"Grandpa Ye, please remember to keep this confidential," Zhao Liuyun reminded him in a low voice.
"I've lived for many years; I naturally understand the stakes," Ye Wenxi tapped his finger lightly on the table. "If word gets out and we are targeted by the Spirit Hall or other major powers, it won't be our turn anymore..."
Zhao Liuyun did not give up on going to the blacksmith shop to forge. However, Huo Zhen was just an ordinary blacksmith with limited skills to pass on. After several attempts at probing, Zhao Liuyun learned that the legend of "Spiritual Forging" did exist in the blacksmithing trade, but spiritual materials were things one could only hope for, not seek out.
Forging ordinary metal into something spiritual? Old man Huo quite admired his thinking. It was indeed a direction for development, one that could even completely change the status of blacksmiths. However, he hadn't heard of anyone actually figuring it out. Long-term practice, injecting soul power to increase the metal's spirituality, and even constructing life—Zhao Liuyun knew that knowing the Spiritual Forging method was useless.
Because Old Man Huo knew it too, but he was held back by the lack of spiritual materials!
The eras were simply different. Tang Hao, the god who replaced the plane's consciousness, was the true key to opening the path for forging.
For now, Zhao Liuyun gave up the idea of delving deeper into the Way of the Blacksmith. After bidding farewell to Huo Zhen, he began to combine his own training to grope for an efficient body-tempering technique unique to himself. Whale gel had its limits, and Immortal Herbs were not omnipotent. In the future, the enhancement of his constitution would likely rely on his self-created body-tempering methods or the physical traits bestowed by various professions.
Spirit bones...
Of the hundred-thousand-year grade, only the Blue Silver Empress Right Leg Bone might be obtainable. A skull spirit bone was unnecessary. Even the fifty-thousand-year skull bone from Spirit Hall, which was incredibly precious to ordinary people, would be nothing more than a burden to Zhao Liuyun. If a genius Spirit Master whose mental power was growing rapidly were to fuse with it, it would be akin to setting up their own shackles and inviting trouble.
If he couldn't get a sacrifice from an Imperial Auspicious Beast like Huo Yuhao, then he would stick to hundred-thousand-year ones. Where would other hundred-thousand-year spirit bones come from? He didn't know yet. Or, once he had enough experience, he could upgrade them himself. Where could he get enough experience? Zhao Liuyun had no clue for the moment.
There was no point in thinking too far ahead. He would cultivate one step at a time. There would always be a way.
The day of parting came sooner than expected. For a Spirit Saint to be dispatched, the spirit ring being hunted must be at least at the thousand-year level. Shi Nian had taken seven people, and they actually returned in less than a week. It didn't look like the pure spirit-type "Gem Team," or at least, not entirely. Canghui was an advanced Spirit Master academy; it should have all kinds of martial souls.
Shi Nian appeared once again at the Ye family's pharmacy. Seeing Zhao Liuyun's curious gaze toward the group, he invited with a smile, "It is time to go, Liuyun, my disciple."
"Teacher," Zhao Liuyun bowed respectfully. Shi Nian's assassination abilities were no joke; he truly had unique insights into mental power. That alone was worth learning. And then there was the Seven Fiends Illusion Formation... even if it was broken by Tang San, one could not deny the ingenuity within it.
"However, please wait a moment, Teacher." Zhao Liuyun looked back into the shop. "Grandpa Ye, Sister Meng, little sister Lingsi." He bid farewell to the three with a solemn expression. "This parting is nothing to be sad about; there will surely be a day we meet again."
These words were mainly for the young girl, Ye Lingsi.
"Brother Liuyun..." The young girl's eyes were full of reluctance. Her eyes were already red, and tears finally rolled down uncontrollably. She had been moved by his presence when they first met, and after the previous sudden incident, her admiration had deepened; she had long regarded him as a hero. Now that her hero was going far away, she naturally could not hide her sorrow.
"Grandpa Ye, please take care of your health."
"Cultivate well," Ye Wenxi said concisely. His gaze was deep, as if he was still pondering the matter of the whale gel.
"Persevere and do not forget your original intention," Meng Yuan exhorted softly, though a hint of unhidden regret flickered in the depths of her eyes. She couldn't overcome her father's persistence and had watched a perfect son-in-law slip through her fingers. She only lamented that Shi Nian had come at the wrong time.
Zhao Liuyun nodded, as if making a promise or speaking to himself: "I shall guard my heart, remain firm in my beliefs, and continue to forge ahead."
He had to emphasize this as a preemptive measure, lest Shi Nian's bad reputation tarnish his own.
"Once I reach Heaven Dou City, I will surely obtain the Clan Head's recognition and will not fail everyone's expectations."
All the matters he needed to entrust had been communicated. The whale gel would also be secretly sent to Fasinuo City. The gold soul coins and the new poisons concocted using the Ye family's abundant resources were all inside his spirit tool ring.
Without a shred of lingering attachment, he turned and followed Shi Nian onto the carriage.
Ye Lingsi's eyes were blurred with tears as she cried out, "Brother Liuyun, remember to come and find Lingsi to play in the future!"
Hearing her voice, Zhao Liuyun looked back. A shallow smile spread across his lips as he raised his hand and waved. His figure then disappeared from the three people's sight.
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