"Out of the three hundred spirit souls, elental spirits make up two-thirds. Studying them will help you gain a deeper understanding of elental forces. But don't get too absorbed—your own strength is still the foundation."
Leng Yaozhu gave these two reminders before leaving.
Gu La gazed at the roomful of spirit souls, his eyes flickering with curiosity. However, he had too much on his plate and no ti to study them for now. For him, it was enough to eventually learn the thod of forming spirit soul contracts.
He returned to continue studying cha while also refining the formula for the Body-Forging Bone-Fortifying Ointnt.
Over twenty thousand years, flora and fauna had evolved, and the destruction of the natural environnt ant that several herbs required for the original ointnt were now missing.
By creating a new formula, Gu La not only intended to aid his own cultivation but also wanted to see if the system could collect influence in this era and convert it into rewards.
"What core disciple trials? I'm taking a shortcut."
Gu La was well aware that in a highly developed soul master system, the Body-Forging Bone-Fortifying Ointnt, which steadily enhanced physical strength, would play an increasingly vital role.
Especially since fusing spirit souls couldn't improve physical attributes, and the lifespan of soul rings was limited by one's physical condition—these factors made the ointnt a treasure capable of influencing the future balance of power on the continent.
"It's been three months since I beca a disciple. Releasing the formula now might seem abrupt, but with the backup of my clone's abilities, I can afford to take so risks."
After much deliberation, Gu La decided to take the gamble. The Legend of the Dragon King era possessed many resources that didn't exist twenty thousand years ago.
More importantly, he hoped to accelerate the evolution of his Celebi martial soul as soon as possible, connecting it to the plane's consciousness. This would help it resist Tang Hao and Ah Yin while fusing with the Seed of Life to beco a true Child of Nature, aiding the Golden Ancient Tree's evolution.
"One action, multiple benefits—a little risk is worth it."
"At worst, I'll escape to another world. Besides, the plane's consciousness is tied to the grand plan spanning ten thousand years. Tang San definitely won't sit idly by. I can lure him into action and use him to restrain the Silver Dragon King."
Gu La reviewed his plan once more. Theoretically, there was a sixty percent chance of success—enough to warrant a try.
---
Two weeks later.
The remnants of the setting sun slanted through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting golden light onto the lab table. Gu La placed the last vial of dark brown liquid into the safe.
The tallic click of the closing door echoed clearly through the spacious workshop.
"Soul-guided devices are truly convenient. Liquid dicine is far easier to consu or prepare compared to ointnts."
Gu La quickly finished eating the delicacies reserved for core disciples. He activated the workshop's level seven soul-guided barrier and rapidly swiped his fingers across the virtual screen.
Twelve miniature chas flew out from hidden compartnts in the walls, each carrying his latest invention—a soul power interference device. He stored them in his storage soul-guided device and left.
He exited the Spirit Pagoda and headed to the Federal City Hall.
A middle-aged man who had been waiting for so ti spotted Gu La, his eyes lighting up. Holding a stack of papers and seals, he approached and lowered his voice: "Sir, these are the deeds to the farm outside the city. Within federal regulations, crops can be planted anyti."
Gu La checked everything carefully, confird there were no errors, paid the remaining balance, and left with the relevant docunts.
At nine in the morning, Gu La stood in the office of the pharmaceutical workshop on the outskirts of Donghai City. Behind him, the entire wall was lined with ecological chambers, where hundreds of rare dicinal herbs swayed and grew under simulated natural climate conditions.
Below, workers busily loaded boxes of processed bone jade bamboo into extraction furnaces.
Light filtered through the bulletproof glass do above, falling onto the green jade porcelain bottle in his hand. The liquid inside shimred with an erald-like luster—it was the improved concentrated version of the Body-Forging Bone-Fortifying Ointnt.
Not only was its efficacy better and absorption efficiency higher, but its appearance was also far more refined.
Moreover, after becoming the Child of Nature, Gu La had greater control over plant components. Others wouldn't be able to reverse-engineer the formula from the finished product.
Even if they tried every possibility one by one, there were countless combinations. By the ti they figured it out, Gu La would have already sold the formula seven or eight tis over.
Still, so surface formalities had to be observed.
"Manager Lin, distribute these confidentiality agreents to the newly hired extractors."
Gu La pushed a stack of confidentiality agreents toward the middle-aged man. "Anyone involved in the core processes must sign a confidentiality agreent, and no leaf may leave the premises before the end of their shift."
"Yes, boss. I'll handle it right away."
Manager Lin was a professional manager Gu La had poached. Though only a two-ring Soul Grandmaster with limited talent, that didn't an he failed to recognize the future potential of the Body-Forging Bone-Fortifying Ointnt. Thus, he worked diligently, determined to make sothing of himself by following Gu La.
Gu La walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed at the azure sky, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "I've cast out plenty of bait over the past week. The big fish should bite soon."
In the distance, three freight soul-guided vehicles bearing the insignia of the Tang Sect company crossed the bridge.
Gu La released the miniature chas he had crafted. Each was equipped with spirit souls he had purchased at internal prices, possessing rudintary intelligence and the ability to operate the chas in combat.
When necessary, the miniature chas could self-destruct, unleashing power equivalent to a level seven fixed-soul-guided cannon shell, capable of severely injuring ordinary Titled Douluo at close range.
The materials for crafting fixed-soul-guided cannon shells were military-controlled substances in the federation. However, the laws of twenty thousand years later couldn't reach back to this era, and Gu La's acquired materials included items now considered contraband.
"Unfortunately, even I can't access more advanced knowledge about fixed-soul-guided cannon shells—it's a federal taboo, and even the Spirit Pagoda can't openly defy it."
Gu La's eyes flickered. He didn't know anyone in the military, so to create these twelve self-destructing chas, he had to borrow the power of his clone. One arm was now filled with magma energy and needed ti to recover.
Thinking about it, Gu La felt a twinge of regret. His only spirit soul, the Golden Ancient Tree, wasn't fire-attribute; otherwise, it could have helped shoulder so of the energy burden.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The solid wooden door trembled violently as Manager Lin practically stumbled into the office.
His ID badge hung crookedly on his chest, and his loosened tie dangled limply near the second button of his shirt. "Boss! It's people from the Tang Sect… They say they want to acquire us outright!"
"Calm down. Go et them."
Gu La had anticipated this. He raised his head from the projection screen, lightly tapping his fingers on the pearwood desk.
The setting sun slanted through the floor-to-ceiling window, elongating his shadow against the antique bronze-patterned wallpaper.
He had released a batch of concentrated Body-Forging Bone-Fortifying Ointnt earlier to attract custors. He hadn't expected the first to arrive would be sharks.
But if he hadn't done this, he would have lost significant profits and influence.
After all, if he relied on Leng Yaozhu's connections, it would be difficult to distinguish between the interests of the Spirit Pagoda and his own. In the end, other factions would naturally assu the pagoda was the primary party in any transaction, claiming the lion's share of the benefits.
This move had its pros and cons. The upside was securing more benefits for himself; the downside was that without revealing his backing, he might initially be seen as an easy target.
And indeed, trouble had arrived at his doorstep.
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