It was a ten-thousand-year-old item.
Although the whale resin wasn't of much direct use to Su Linfeng himself, it would be extremely valuable for Dugu Yan.
Normally, a fourth spirit ring for a Spirit Ancestor (four-ring Soul Master) could only reach around five thousand years in age. Over the past nine years, as Dugu Yan's martial soul had evolved, her endurance had also improved—allowing her to handle up to six thousand years.
With the aid of Su Linfeng's domain, that upper limit could reach seven thousand years.
However, with the whale resin, the situation would be entirely different.
Its most prominent function was to enhance a soul master's physical capacity to endure higher-aged spirit rings.
The age of a spirit ring one could absorb depended mainly on the strength of the body and one's spiritual power. Whale resin worked by strengthening the user's physique, allowing them to bear higher pressure during ring absorption.
A thousand-year-grade whale resin could increase a soul master's endurance by about five hundred years. A ten-thousand-year-old specimen, on the other hand, offered far more dramatic effects.
If Dugu Yan could fully refine this piece, the upper limit for her fourth ring could rise to eight thousand to eighty-five hundred years.
That would more than make up for the little incident where Su Linfeng had unintentionally ruined her grandfather's garden of immortal herbs.
Thinking of that, he couldn't help but smile faintly.
Without showing his thoughts, Su Linfeng casually walked over to the middle-aged vendor's stall, pretending to inspect a high-priced storage-type soul device that caught his eye.
At this point in history, soul tools were extremely rare and costly.
"How much for this ring?" Su Linfeng asked.
"That's no ordinary ring," the vendor replied lazily. "It's a nine-slot soul guide—a must-have for anyone venturing into the Star Dou Great Forest. Five hundred gold soul coins."
"Five hundred?"
Before Su Linfeng could respond, Dugu Yan's expression darkened. "Why don't you just rob us instead?"
To put that in perspective, an average soul master's monthly stipend was only about twenty gold coins. Even saving every coin without eating or drinking, it would take more than two years to afford that.
True, soul tools were expensive, but a basic nine-slot storage ring would usually cost no more than two hundred gold coins.
Asking for five hundred was daylight robbery.
What puzzled Dugu Yan even more was why Su Linfeng seemed so interested in such a trivial item.
After all, he already possessed a sixty-four-slot soul guide ring, the best of its kind, and even a Ruyi Treasure Pouch—a thirty-six-slot space that could store living creatures.
So why on earth would he want a nine-slot ring?
Su Linfeng, of course, knew exactly what he was doing.
To him, five hundred gold coins was a bargain—since he was after the whale resin, which alone was worth over ten thousand gold coins on the open market.
Even a thousand-year-old sample would fetch six thousand. A ten-thousand-year-old one was nearly priceless.
Though the Spirit Hall wasn't short on money, Su Linfeng wasn't one to waste resources unnecessarily.
"Buy it or don't," the vendor said gruffly. "If you won't, someone else will."
"Three hundred gold soul coins," Su Linfeng countered calmly. "I really do need this ring for my expedition. That's the best offer I can give."
The vendor perked up—finally, a bite. He sized up Su Linfeng again, then held up four fingers. "You clearly want it badly. Fine, I'll meet you halfway—four hundred gold coins."
"Three hundred and fifty," Su Linfeng said, still composed. "And I'll also pick out one more item from your stall."
"Uh…"
Dugu Yan blinked, baffled. Spending fifty extra gold coins, she could understand, but another hundred and fifty? And for the privilege of picking more junk from this cluttered stand?
Aside from the ring, most of what the man was selling looked worthless—trinkets barely worth ten gold coins.
"Three hundred and eighty!" the vendor finally declared. "Final price. And I'll throw in one item of your choice from my stall."
Su Linfeng hesitated for a second, then nodded. "Deal."
He pointed to the corner. "That yellow crystal there—I'll take that too."
"Crystal?"
The vendor followed his gaze toward the lump of whale resin and nearly laughed aloud.
That "crystal" was, in his eyes, just a piece of dried beast carapace—barely worth a single gold coin.
He'd just made an extra one hundred and eighty.
"Deal!" he said quickly. "Cash or card?"
"Card," Su Linfeng replied, taking out a black Spirit Hall credit card and handing it over.
The vendor's brow lifted slightly as he processed the transaction, eyeing the balance with thinly veiled greed before returning the card.
Su Linfeng didn't notice—he was too focused on the "bargain" he'd just scored.
As soon as Su Linfeng and Dugu Yan left, the vendor gestured toward a shadowed corner. Several rough-looking men emerged at once.
"That kid's a fat sheep," the vendor said with a wicked grin. "Keep an eye on them. His card balance has to be close to thirty thousand gold coins. Once they leave the town, we strike. One job like that, and we'll live easily for three years."
The group's eyes gleamed with hunger and excitement.
Meanwhile, Su Linfeng remained completely unaware.
"Linfeng," Dugu Yan asked, still puzzled, "why did you spend so much on that ring? Don't tell me it was for that yellow stone. And why did you put it inside the Ruyi Treasure Pouch? It's not even alive."
Smart girl.
Su Linfeng smiled mysteriously. "You're not as clueless as you pretend."
He then explained the true nature and effects of the whale resin.
"What?!"
Dugu Yan almost exclaimed aloud, but quickly covered her mouth and glanced around before whispering, "You're saying something like that actually exists on the continent? I've never heard of it before!"
"That's normal," Su Linfeng said with a faint chuckle. "Even your grandfather Dugu Bo doesn't recognize half the immortal herbs growing in his own garden—so how would anyone else know about this?"
"If you trust me," he continued, "I can help you refine this whale resin. It'll raise your body's endurance and increase the maximum age of your spirit rings."
"M–me? You mean… this whale resin is for me?"
Dugu Yan froze, staring at him in disbelief. "That's far too valuable, Linfeng. You can't just give it to me!"
Su Linfeng only nodded, saying nothing more.
In truth, even he had some concerns.
While whale resin was a powerful tonic, it wasn't without side effects.
It was a potent stimulant—one that could trigger intense heat and restlessness, especially in lower-ranked soul masters.
He just wasn't sure whether Dugu Yan would be able to handle it…