Dai Chengfeng did not immediately answer Hu Liena's question. He walked to the other side of the table, his gaze slowly sweeping over the two beautiful faces before leaning forward slightly, lowering his voice and deliberately adding a mysterious tone:
"First, let me ask you a question…"
"Do you… want to grow stronger? Do you want your strength to become even more powerful?"
The room fell silent for a moment.
Hu Liena paused, then rolled her enchanting eyes at Dai Chengfeng, drawing out her words: "Dai—Cheng—Feng— What do you think?"
"Do you think we're just willing to stagnate and be useless?"
Before her words had even faded, Zhu Zhuqing, sitting across from her, clearly uttered one word through her tightly pressed lips: "Yes!"
"Good! Then I'll lend you a hand!"
Dai Chengfeng smiled as he looked at the two women. Without any further suspense, a faint glow emanated from the black ring soul conductor on his right thumb. Two palm-sized, elegantly crafted red brocade boxes silently appeared in his hands.
The surface of the boxes was smooth, carrying a faint woody fragrance. Though devoid of intricate decorations, they exuded an understated sense of preciousness.
At this moment, Dai Chengfeng's expression turned solemn, his entire demeanor shifting. The earlier warmth completely vanished, replaced by an undeniable air of authority and seriousness.
"Remember, what happens today must not be revealed to anyone—not your parents, teachers, or even your closest confidants."
"Do you understand?"
Seeing Dai Chengfeng so serious, the expressions on Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing changed. They were no longer curious or teasing but were genuinely intrigued.
At the same time, neither hesitated. "I, Zhu Zhuqing, swear that without Dai Chengfeng's permission, I will never speak of today's events."
"I, Hu Liena…"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled, shaking his head at their solemnity. "Enough, there's no need to swear. I'm only asking you not to say anything because I want to avoid trouble."
In truth, given Dai Chengfeng's current status—especially after securing the support of Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue—even if the matter of his immortal herbs were to leak, he would remain unscathed.
After all, neither Bibi Dong nor Qian Daoliu would dare to make things difficult for him.
Who else on the entire Douluo Continent would dare to openly challenge him? He truly just wanted to avoid trouble.
With that, Dai Chengfeng pushed the two brocade boxes toward the two women. "Alright, open them and take a look!"
Upon hearing this, the two women almost simultaneously reached for the red brocade boxes in front of them.
Click~
The lids of the boxes were gently opened at the same time.
Inside each box lay a gelatinous substance about the size of a baby's fist, deep yellow and semi-transparent, resting quietly within.
"This… is?"
Hu Liena extended her slender, fair fingers, hovering her fingertips above the gelatinous mass. Her enchanting fox-like eyes filled with astonishment and curiosity. "It feels like… a thick piece of gum?"
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly. "Dai Chengfeng, what is this?"
For a moment, the two pairs of eyes, brimming with curiosity and a thirst for answers, turned to Dai Chengfeng, who sat across from them with a playful smirk, waiting for his response.
"Whale Jelly!"
Dai Chengfeng possessed immortal herbs, but he hadn't yet decided which ones to give to Hu Liena. Moreover, after giving away so many Great Rejuvenation Pills, he only had one left.
Although Qiu'er had given him a few more stalks of Blue Mystic Grass, Dai Chengfeng hadn't had the time to refine them.
Thus, he planned to wait until the Great Rejuvenation Pills were ready, then give both the immortal herbs and the pills to Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing at the same time.
Otherwise, deciding who to give the Great Rejuvenation Pills or immortal herbs to first…
Such matters were tricky. If he didn't handle it carefully, it could escalate from the two women's usual rivalry into a full-blown conflict where both turned against him!
Therefore, Dai Chengfeng decided to first have the two women consume Whale Jelly.
"Whale Jelly?"
Upon hearing Dai Chengfeng's answer, Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuqing simultaneously furrowed their brows, confusion and contemplation etched on their faces.
"I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before…"
Soon, Hu Liena seemed to recall first. Her enchanting fox-like eyes widened abruptly, and she fixed Dai Chengfeng with a gaze mixed with disbelief, embarrassment, and wariness.
Even her hands instinctively moved to shield her chest as she leaned back slightly. "Dai—Cheng—Feng—!"
"What… what are you scheming?!"
Zhu Zhuqing still didn't know what Whale Jelly was. Seeing Hu Liena's extreme reaction, she became utterly baffled and couldn't help but frown. "Do you know what this is?"
Hu Liena took a deep breath, nodded, and cautiously watched Dai Chengfeng while carefully pulling her chair closer to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Let me tell you quietly…"
Zhu Zhuqing gave Hu Liena a strange look but nodded anyway.
She was now extremely curious about what Whale Jelly could possibly be to elicit such a strong reaction from the usually composed Hu Liena.
Soon, Hu Liena leaned close to Zhu Zhuqing's ear and whispered softly.
"Whale Jelly… is an essence found only in rare sea spirit beasts. I've heard… it's mainly used by some old men with damaged foundations or certain special nobles… for… for aphrodisiac purposes!"
"Aphro…disiac?!"
Despite Zhu Zhuqing's usual aloofness, upon hearing the effects of Whale Jelly, she couldn't help but gasp softly. A rare blush spread across her snow-white cheeks, traveling from her ears down to her neck.
"Really or fake?"
"Why would I lie to you?!"
After receiving Hu Liena's confirmation, Zhu Zhuqing also looked at Dai Chengfeng with a mix of suspicion and wariness.
For a moment, the two women found rare solidarity.
"Dai Chengfeng, what exactly do you mean? Are you trying to say you have some kind of dual cultivation method, and that… that… being with you can increase our strength?"
Dai Chengfeng looked at the two beauties, who now regarded him as if he were a dangerous enemy. Far from being angry, the playful smile on his lips deepened, as if saying, "I knew you'd think this way."
However, he really did have similar effects in mind—but only for Bibi Dong, who had inherited the Demon God's powers. It wouldn't work on these two.
Dai Chengfeng leisurely picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then spoke under their wary gazes:
"Don't jump to conclusions just yet."
"You only know half the story."
As he spoke, Dai Chengfeng set down his teacup, his casual demeanor fading slightly, replaced by a tone of explanation. "The effects of Whale Jelly go far beyond its reputation for those specific uses."
"Its true value lies in its ability to significantly enhance one's physical constitution!"
"Physical enhancement?"
Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously, her eyes losing some of their wariness and gaining a spark of inquiry.
Hu Liena also frowned, eyeing him suspiciously.
"That's right!"
As he spoke, four soul rings beneath Dai Chengfeng's feet—yellow, purple, purple, black—lit up one after another.
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