In the main hall of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi was reviewing documents in hand, his expression serious.
"Uncle Gu, based on the tests conducted over the past few days, the results of consuming whale glue are promising. The effects are quite noticeable and align with what Yang Lin and his son described."
Bone Elder nodded. "Indeed, the effects of whale glue surpass our expectations. After having a Soul Sage consume millennium-grade whale glue, they were able to break through their bottleneck and advance by one level. I also noticed significant impurities being expelled from their body, with meridians expanding noticeably. Their cultivation speed has increased significantly, and even their physical constitution has improved. I estimate that consuming whale glue does indeed enhance the absorption potential for higher-year soul rings. If used correctly, whale glue is truly a treasure and greatly beneficial to our sect."
"However, there are two drawbacks to its use. The first consumption yields significant effects, but subsequent uses show diminishing returns, with only twenty to thirty percent of the original impact. Additionally, whale glue has aphrodisiac properties, which can be amplified when consumed as a melted block. This could easily lead to loss of control if not managed carefully."
"I plan to arrange for a few female disciples to test it soon and compare the effects between genders. However, I believe it's best to wait before administering it to key disciples."
Ning Fengzhi remained silent for a moment before responding, "That's prudent. We're not in a rush. We must confirm its effects thoroughly and ensure there are no side effects. In the meantime, we can proceed with purchasing more. Uncle Gu, arrange for Elder Four to send trusted individuals to Hanhai City discreetly. There's a large supply of whale glue there, and the prices are relatively low."
"Understood. I'll make the arrangements immediately."
…
Ning Fengzhi continued flipping through the documents on his desk when one file caught his attention.
It detailed how Yang Xiong, an inner sect disciple, had reached level ten and insisted on choosing a five-hundred-and-forty-year-old Mysterious Turtle as his first soul ring. Given the beast's unique nature and advanced age, approval from the sect leadership was required.
After reading, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but chuckle. "Uncle Gu, this Yang Xiong is quite interesting. I didn't expect him to be so bold."
Upon seeing the information in the file, Bone Elder wore an exasperated expression. "This kid is reckless. His spirit may be unique, but what connection does it have with turtle-type soul beasts? The maximum absorption limit for a first soul ring is 423 years, yet he wants to absorb a 540 year-old ring. It's absurd."
"Besides, while Body Martial Souls may seem lackluster, they aren't as bad as people think. Does this boy intend to pursue a defensive path?"
"And if I recall correctly, the Shi Family from Tian Dou City recently offered to purchase this Mysterious Turtle from us at a high price."
Ning Fengzhi thought deeply. "Uncle Gu, do you think Yang Xiong is foolish? Is he someone without foresight or disregard for his own safety?"
Bone Elder shook his head. "Not at all. Though I've only met Yang Xiong once, he strikes me as sharp-witted. His love for reading proves he's far from foolish. Besides, only someone intelligent could have discovered the secret of whale glue."
A faint smile appeared on Ning Fengzhi's face. "Then let him absorb the soul ring of this Mysterious Turtle. While profit is important, our disciples matter more. Uncle Gu, please oversee the process personally. It's also an opportunity to verify whether whale glue enhances soul ring absorption potential. If any danger arises, do your best to protect him. It's rare for our sect to encounter such an intriguing young talent."
…
At the Yang residence, after Yang Xiong repeatedly reassured his parents, they finally agreed to let him absorb the 540 year-old soul ring.
Two days later, under the personal guidance of Lin Gong, Yang Lin, Sun Yu, and Yang Xiong arrived at the edge of their sect's captive-raised Soul Beast Forest. The turtle Yang Xiong desired had been knocked unconscious and secured. Unbeknownst to them, Bone Elder was secretly observing their every move.
Upon seeing the Mysterious Turtle, Lin Gong immediately grew angry. "This is outrageous! Do the people responsible for capturing and raising soul beasts even understand basic knowledge? They've misidentified the species!"
Yang Xiong, however, was delighted upon seeing the soul beast—it matched his expectations perfectly. This wasn't an ordinary Mysterious Turtle.
Typically, the age of turtle-type soul beasts was determined by the patterns on their shells. While this turtle bore similarities to a standard Mysterious Turtle, it was significantly larger. A typical 530 year-old Mysterious Turtle measured around 1.8 meters in length, but this one stretched to 2.4 meters.
This wasn't a Mysterious Turtle—it was a legendary Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss (Xuan Ming Gui). Known as the pinnacle of turtle-type soul beasts, the Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss boasted astonishing defense, extreme rarity, and highly secretive habitats, making it notoriously difficult to capture. How the sect had managed to obtain this creature was a mystery.
When Yang Xiong reviewed the detailed documentation on Mysterious Turtles, he suspected this one was extraordinary. While similar to a regular Mysterious Turtle, the Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss differed in subtle ways—its tooth patterns and claw shapes were distinct. Without careful observation, these differences were easy to overlook.
The Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss was considered a supreme soul beast, possessing both Water and Earth attributes. Its defense was unparalleled, often described as "impregnable."
What many didn't know was that the Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss was also an exceptionally rare strength-oriented soul beast. Its bite force and limb strength were formidable. Once bitten by this creature, even the strongest soul beasts would lose flesh and blood.
Its slow speed stemmed from its massive shell, which made its limbs appear disproportionately short. However, this slowness was relative—if not for its stubby limbs, this type of turtle soul beast wouldn't be slow at all.
There were also rare records suggesting the Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss possessed a Space attribute. However, due to its scarcity and the rarity of soul masters absorbing such rings, it remained obscure in the soul master world.
From defense to strength, and even its rumored Space attribute, the Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss was nothing short of a miracle in the soul master realm. Legends claimed it carried the bloodline of the divine beast Xuan Wu.
Lin Gong observed Yang Xiong's satisfied expression and couldn't help but ask, "Yang Xiong, did you already know this was a Mysterious Turtle of the Abyss when you reviewed the diagrams and details?"
Yang Xiong smiled. "Teacher, I'd say it's just good fortune. I never expected my first soul ring to come from such an exceptional soul beast."
Lin Gong couldn't help but laugh self-deprecatingly. "I underestimated you. Two years of reading certainly hasn't gone to waste."
------------------------------------------------------
Welcome our new Patrons: Faisal Toffaha and Kraxis93! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to 'Chapter 24: Meeting Ning Fengzhi' 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