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As she embraced Dai Weisi, Zhu Yaqin's face showed a trace of heartache. She spoke gently, "Son, you absolutely must not take such risks again. Absorbing a soul ring beyond your level can cause your body to explode!"
When she first heard that Dai Weisi had absorbed a ten-thousand-year soul ring beyond his rank, Zhu Yaqin's heart jumped into her throat, terrified that something might have happened to her precious son.
It wasn't until Principal Lin assured her that Dai Weisi was safe that she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Even so, fear still lingered in her heart, and she hurried to remind him.
"Don't worry, Mom! I would never do something unless I was sure I could handle it."
"Mhm, that's good. Your foolish little brother ran off somewhere—I don't want to lose you too."
"Hehe, I'll never leave you! Also, Mom, could you maybe let go of me now? I'm not a kid anymore—boys and girls shouldn't be too touchy-feely."
"Oh please, talking about propriety now? Is there a part of your body I haven't seen?" Zhu Yaqin replied sarcastically, her tone laced with mock jealousy.
"I see what this is—you've got that little girl Zhuyun now, so you're starting to look down on your own mother, aren't you?"
"How could I? I would never look down on you, Mom!"
Great! They're not even married yet and the mother-in-law drama is already starting!
"Alright, alright, the two of you stop bickering already," Dai Pojun interjected at just the right moment, cutting them off. He then turned to ask, "Weisi, I heard from Principal Lin that you went to Gengxin City. What were you doing there?
"Also, lately there've been all kinds of rumors flying around Star Luo City. Someone bought up all the ten-thousand-year whale glue, and there are even rumors that it was for me—that my kidneys were failing and I needed it to boost my virility!
"I was so furious I ordered an investigation to find out who the weakling was that bought it all. And guess what? It turned out to be you! What exactly are you up to?
"Son, let me warn you—you're at a critical stage in your cultivation. Don't let yourself be distracted by indulgence. Don't waste your talent."
"What?! You bought ten-thousand-year whale glue?!" Zhu Yaqin turned on Dai Weisi furiously, grabbing him by the neck like she was ready to throttle him. Her expression was full of disappointed rage as she scolded, "What did you buy that stuff for? You're still so young—your kidneys can't be failing already!
"And didn't you already get engaged to Zhuyun? She's such a beautiful girl—don't tell me she can't satisfy you? If that's the case, you could've just told your mother. I can give you Zhuqing too! Your brother ran off anyway!"
Cough cough, Dai Weisi thought to himself, Thanks, Mom, for the unexpected assist.
"Oh, so you still have jokes, huh? I'm warning you—tell me right now what you bought all that ten-thousand-year whale glue for! Your explanation better satisfy me, or I'll serve you a double helping of your favorite dish—Mom's Signature Slap and Bamboo Paddle Stir-Fry!"
"Cough, cough—Mom, at least let me go first!"
After struggling free from Zhu Yaqin's grip, Dai Weisi explained the actual purpose of the ten-thousand-year whale glue.
After hearing his explanation, both parents breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he wasn't visiting brothels, they were fine. Still, Zhu Yaqin wasn't entirely convinced. She stared into his eyes.
"Son, are you telling the truth? That stuff really has such amazing effects?"
"Of course it's true! If you don't believe me, ask Zhuyun and Zhuqing. They took it too—Zhuqing's soul power even broke through to level sixteen. With how much time has passed, Zhuyun should've already reached level thirty-four by now."
"Well, that part you're not wrong about," Zhu Yaqin nodded. A week ago, Zhu Zhuyun had indeed broken through to level thirty-four.
"Then what were you doing in Gengxin City?" As if something had suddenly occurred to her, Zhu Yaqin's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you went to Gengxin City to visit a brothel just so Zhuyun wouldn't find out?"
"Mom, seriously?" Dai Weisi said, speechless. "Do I look like that kind of person to you?"
"Then tell me already—what were you doing in Gengxin City?"
"Speaking of which, Father, I have something I want to show you!"
"Oh? What is it?"
"It's not suitable to demonstrate here. Let's go to the back garden."
Dai Pojun and Zhu Yaqin exchanged a glance, then followed him to the rear garden. It was a lush royal garden filled with bamboo groves, small hills, and flowing streams.
Dai Pojun had built it for Zhu Yaqin. The two would often come here for private dates—and a bit of intimacy. After all, always staying in bed was boring; changing locations now and then was what added romance to a relationship.
Mhm… rumor has it that Dai Mubai was conceived here by accident.
Dai Weisi grinned, "Father, Mother, try not to be too shocked, okay?"
As he spoke, Dai Weisi suddenly pulled out a grenade, pulled the pin, and hurled it. The grenade flew into the bamboo grove and exploded with a bang, creating a deep crater in the ground and snapping all the bamboo in the area. Countless bamboo leaves fluttered to the ground.
"Aiyah! You little rascal, are you asking for a beating?! That's the royal garden your father built for me!" Zhu Yaqin cried, heart aching. "Now it'll cost who knows how much to fix all this!"
But Dai Pojun's eyes lit up. As the emperor, he instantly recognized the grenade's potential value. He quickly asked, "Weisi, what is that thing? How does it have such immense power?"
Dai Weisi immediately responded, "Reporting to Father—this is a grenade. I developed it in Gengxin City while working with Master Lou Gao. It's powerful enough to kill a Soul Emperor or severely injure a Soul Saint! With enough of them, even a Soul Douluo could be blown to pieces!"
"What?! This is the work of Master Lou Gao?" Dai Pojun's expression turned serious. He immediately asked, "How much does it cost to make one of these? Can they be mass-produced?"
"The cost of a single grenade is less than five gold soul coins. They can absolutely be mass-produced."
Dai Weisi reported truthfully. Gunpowder and sugar were cheap—the real cost came from the metal fragments, which were made from a special alloy exclusive to the Blacksmith Association. To further boost the explosive force, Lou Gao had also added sheet metal inside.
This was exactly why Dai Weisi wanted to bring the Blacksmith Association under his control—without those metals, it would be impossible to create high-powered firearms.
"The cost is that low?!" Dai Pojun asked, then quickly followed up, "Weisi, since you just returned from Gengxin City, do you know how many grenades Master Lou Gao has already produced?"
"Is Father worried that Master Lou Gao might rebel?"
Dai Weisi's question hit the mark. Dai Pojun gave a helpless nod in acknowledgment. "That's right. With such powerful weapons and such a low cost, mass production would pose a huge threat."
"You can rest easy, Father," Dai Weisi replied with a confident smile. "Without my supply of black powder, Master Lou Gao can't make any more grenades."
"What?" Dai Pojun's eyes widened. "You're saying that without you, Master Lou Gao wouldn't be able to produce such weapons?"
"That's right. To be precise, I was the one who invented the grenade. I just don't know how to forge the metal, so I left that part to Master Lou Gao."
As he spoke, Dai Weisi explained how he had improved black powder, enlisted Master Lou Gao's help, and quietly brought the Blacksmith Association under his command.
By the time he finished, both Dai Pojun and Zhu Yaqin were completely dumbfounded—mouths wide enough to fit a pair of duck eggs.
Their son hadn't just absorbed a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring—he had also created a weapon of devastating power and secretly taken control of the Blacksmith Association.
Dai Pojun even began to doubt whether the person standing in front of him was really his own son. Had some ancient monster possessed him?
If Dai Weisi could read minds, he would definitely say: "Prophet? Eliminated! Damn, how did you guess that so accurately?!"
(End of Chapter)