Chapter Nine: Two and a Half Years, Level Ten, and Whale Glue

Before awakening his martial soul, Chen Ming was the most treasured child of the Chen family. After awakening it, he instantly became the family's sole lifeline. Nearly all the clan’s resources were unconditionally funneled toward him.

However, the pharmacology of the Douluo Continent in this era was not outstanding. Medicines like the Mystic Water Pill or Soul Ascension Pill, which could directly enhance talent and soul power, had yet to appear. Therefore, the method of nourishment remained reliant on medicinal baths and herbal cuisine for gradual improvement.

Though blessed with innate fifth-grade soul power and access to top-tier training grounds and resources, the congenital flaw in the origin of his Jade Scorpion martial soul somewhat hindered Chen Ming’s cultivation speed before acquiring soul rings.

From fifth to tenth grade soul power, he spent two and a half years—a span neither long nor short. On the Douluo Continent, this was a fairly typical progression, arguably a bit above average, but still far from the level of a true prodigy.

Upon reaching tenth-grade soul power, Chen Ming did not immediately seek to obtain soul rings. Instead, he continued exploring various ways to strengthen his body.

After tentatively mentioning to his family that he had learned somewhere that whale gelatin could enhance physical fitness and extend the absorption period of soul rings, Chen Ming’s grandfather, Chen Shijie, wasted no time. He acquired several types of whale gelatin from different whale-type soul beasts through various channels.

These included gelatin from common whale soul beasts as well as from rare varieties. The priciest was a piece from a twenty-thousand-year-old Evil Demon Orca, said to have been obtained years ago by a Soul Saint from the Martial Soul Hall during a hunt for seventh soul rings in the coastal city—a true gem among whale gelatins.

The basketball-sized piece alone cost a staggering three million gold soul coins, excluding communication fees and favors.

For an average minor clan, this single piece could bring them to tears, but the Chen family was not short of money.

As a noble family elevated to the rank of Earl, the Chen clan had established itself in Azure City for five centuries, holding the largest share of the city’s wealth. They enjoyed various tax revenues and dominated the trade of soul beast materials in Azure City, bringing in tens of thousands of gold soul coins annually.

Moreover, renowned for their expertise in poisons, the Chen family also operated several pharmacies and clinics. Though modest in scale, they still generated considerable income yearly. Behind the scenes, they secretly trafficked poisons and highly toxic mixtures, which proved extremely lucrative.

When the clan noticed a decline in the number of awakened soul power heirs, they sought allies and patrons. Over hundreds of years, they invested in merchants and soul masters. Though most failed, some succeeded, expanding their network and adding affiliated guilds under their name.

The largest investment was made two centuries ago.

At that time, disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect began mining near Azure City. The sect was temporarily weakened due to unforeseen circumstances. The city lord of Azure City, acting under orders from rival factions, attempted to cause trouble for the sect, but the Chen family intervened and resolved the issue.

This incident led the Chen family to acquire shares in several mines owned by the sect, earning them annual dividends.

Some of this income was converted into real estate, used to reinforce the Chen Mansion and add facilities; some was invested in cultivation; some covered daily expenses. The largest portion was kept with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect itself. Although a storage fee was paid annually, it was safer there than holding it directly.

Chen Shijie told Chen Ming the family had about 45 million gold soul coins stored with the sect, with around 10 million in liquid cash. Including real estate and other assets scattered elsewhere, the Chen family’s total wealth likely exceeded 100 million gold soul coins—quite impressive for an Earl-ranked family.

If not for soul bones—priceless and perilous, often leading to violent theft—the Chen family might have stockpiled some as foundational assets.

After taking numerous nourishing herbs, Chen Ming also tried eating whale gelatin, but the effects fell short of expectations.

Pieces aged about a hundred years primarily acted as aphrodisiacs. Their nourishing benefits for the body paled in comparison to the energy they consumed afterward. Though Chen Ming was not yet of age, he still felt uncomfortable and saw no obvious improvement in his physique.

Thousand-year-old gelatin showed better physical enhancement but intensified aphrodisiac effects. After some time, Chen Ming felt prematurely developed, with signs of early maturation. To avoid future complications, he adjusted the dosage and intervals and used milder methods to counteract the aphrodisiac effects.

As for the twenty-thousand-year-old whale gelatin from the top-tier Evil Demon Orca...

The Chen family cut a piece the size of a fingernail, then melted it over a blast furnace fire for an hour using wood sourced from soul beasts.

The servants tending the fire were rotated three times. A few impatient ones nearly got into passionate quarrels inside the room, requiring several buckets of cold water outside to cool down before they could return home.

Chen Shijie personally delivered the gelatin fragment, wearing a head covering, thick clothes, and a robe, placing it inside a storage soul conduit device.

The tiny piece emitted a viscous sheen and a strange fragrance that left Chen Ming dazed upon smelling it, stirring impulses unnatural for his age.

He carefully sliced about a quarter of the piece and consumed it. After sitting cross-legged for three minutes, restlessness crept in. Two minutes later, he had to stand and rush to bathe. Finding the shower insufficient, he plunged headfirst into a water tub to soak.

He did not sense a stronger physique, but the near loss of control was unmistakable. For some time afterward, he even felt awkward consuming the hundred- and thousand-year-old gelatin.

The remaining roughly three-quarters of the fingernail-sized piece was reportedly taken by Chen Ming’s second uncle. Three or four months later, Chen Ming learned from him that both of his second uncle’s concubines were pregnant.

Chen Tianyun was forty years old, married at twenty-one, and had taken three concubines over nineteen years. Yet he had never fathered a child, not even a daughter.

He had repeatedly sought examinations from soul masters specializing in fertility. After no issues were found, he tried various methods, including taking hundred- and thousand-year-old whale gelatin. Ultimately, he resigned himself to the belief that he was destined never to have children.

Unexpectedly, through such an unorthodox and baffling means, his wish was fulfilled.

Later, the Chen family in the inland region learned that Evil Demon Orca gelatin was the finest among whale gelatins—not only because of the soul beast’s exceptional quality but due to the gelatin’s potent medicinal properties. It was the uppermost grade, precious and exceedingly rare, with no established market price.

Though the Chen family paid three million gold soul coins for their piece, it could have fetched twice that price in the hands of someone in need. With careful handling and marketing, doubling the price was not impossible.

If sold to high-ranking nobles, it might even earn a favor.

Simply put, the money was well spent—worth every coin.