Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Where there’s trouble, there’s the protagonist!_1
Excellent Level Soul Kinds aren’t enough...
Wang Linchi couldn’t help but sigh. He never thought he would one day lack Soul Kinds to use as nourishment.
He had used 396 Excellent Level Soul Kinds to successfully evolve his four Soul Kinds to Epic Level, and this was just the beginning. This was because only the Soul Kind itself had been upgraded; its Soul Kind Effect and clauses hadn’t been improved yet.
To upgrade the first three clauses, he needed 999 Excellent Level Soul Kinds multiplied by three. Additionally, the two empty slots that appeared after reaching Epic Level each required another 1,000 Soul Kinds. Therefore, this single Soul Kind alone needed 4,997 Excellent Level Soul Kinds.
Excluding the final Soul Kind, which was a combination of the first three and didn’t require additional Soul Kinds for its own evolution, a total of 14,991 Excellent Level Soul Kinds were needed for his four Soul Kinds to smoothly reach Epic Level.
Frankly, it wasn’t a lot; the Excellent Level Soul Kinds in the Soul Seed Bureau’s warehouse were merely a trivial amount.
Wang Linchi had about three thousand Excellent Level Soul Kinds on hand. Previously, Yan Ming King had sent him a large batch.
There should have been over ten thousand, but a large number were consumed during his experiments.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to proceed further with the synthesis.
This made Wang Linchi’s expression turn bitter. Just upgrading from Excellent Level to Epic Level consumed so many; the quantity needed to go from Epic Level to Legendary Level would be even greater.
And my time is almost up; I don’t have enough time to farm monsters anymore. Wang Linchi checked; in another twelve days, his one-year limit would be reached, and he would be directly ejected from the Secret Realm.
After Black Rain City had calmed down, he had naturally dedicated his time to secluded Cultivation and research.
Time had slipped away unnoticed.
I don’t know where I’ll make up such a large shortfall next.
Should I trade with Yan Ming King?
Wang Linchi had already developed the fourth-generation Soul Seed Boiling. It could affect Epic Level Soul Kinds and had increased power and duration, though also increased side effects.
Using it for the exchange should be fine. However, Wang Linchi didn’t have spare time for anything more.
It shouldn’t be a problem, but trading it wouldn’t be very worthwhile. Wang Linchi knew that Yan Ming King would surely want him to develop the fifth-generation Soul Seed Boiling next, and the rewards would undoubtedly be greater.
However, the timing was uncertain, and Wang Linchi actually lacked confidence, as the fifth generation involved Legendary Level Soul Kinds.
Previously, he hadn’t known what Legendary Level Soul Kinds entailed, but how could he still be unclear now?
How could there be any surplus of such powerful Legendary Level Soul Kinds?
To be given to a minor figure like Wang Linchi for research?
One was certainly not enough for research; at least ten would be required.
Yan Ming King might not even have enough for his own female companions, let alone provide them to Wang Linchi.
The best way to generate funds is to find a black market and sell off all the Soul Devices I don’t need, little by little. Wang Linchi had a large number of Soul Devices on hand.
He had a large pile of them, both useful and useless.
Leveraging his influence in Black Rain City, he had frantically gathered them, stuffing all five of his Storage Soul Devices completely full.
That’s right; he had obtained five more Storage Soul Devices in Black Rain City. His original two Storage Soul Devices were kept as a visible safeguard, while the rest were all hidden.
He had taken a drastic measure: he cut open his own abdomen and, using a particular Soul Device to create an isolating barrier to prevent infection, stuffed these five small Storage Soul Devices into his abdominal cavity before healing the wound.
If he wanted to retrieve them, he would have to cut open his abdomen again, take them out, and then heal himself.
One of them contained a Legendary Level Soul Kind, making the risk worthwhile.
The reason for doing this was, naturally, to allow these Storage Soul Devices to benefit from the protection and isolation of his Soul Shield and Thought Field, thereby avoiding detection by others.
If anyone found out, the best outcome for him would be death. Surviving would undoubtedly be a form of torture.
Once I reach the Black Iron Level, the second Soul Kind Page must first be converted into a storage space. Other things will have to wait. Feeling the unfamiliar sensation in his abdomen, Wang Linchi felt somewhat helpless.
It didn’t hurt. The insulation from that particular Soul Device prevented direct contact between him and the Storage Soul Devices, so he didn’t need to worry about infection. It was just uncomfortable.
He had originally intended to secure a means of escape first. Now, however, he found himself in a situation described by the saying, "an innocent man courts trouble by carrying a treasure." If word of the Legendary Level Soul Kind leaked, those who came after him would undoubtedly be at the Morning Star Level. With such a vast disparity in strength, escape would be impossible.
The matter of the Soul Kind Effect clauses can wait. After all, the Soul Kind is already Epic Level. Even if it’s further crippled, it’s still Epic Level.
The key is to cultivate my Soul Secret Technique to Fulfillment.
Wang Linchi looked at the Taoist Fetus on his Soul Shadow·Book of Records. It was already close to solidifying, indicating that the time was near. In contrast, the Nine Revolutions Golden Core was completely solid, adorned with nine purple patterns, and was being held in the Taoist Fetus’s embrace.
It should reach Fulfillment before I leave. I’m just a little bit away from my Mental Limit.
He hadn’t only been engaged in Cultivation and research; he had also been constantly consuming various Natural Treasures, attempting to raise his spiritual power from 109 to 110. This process was very slow, and Wang Linchi estimated it would take at least another month.
It wasn’t that consuming Natural Treasures would directly increase one’s power. One still needed to absorb and refine them, and then grow slowly. This was inherently a lengthy process.
This was just the beginning. The real difficulty lay in breaking through the 110-point Mental Limit to reach the 111-point Mental Limit, and then breaking through again.
During this period, he would also need the aid of The Three-Spirit Formation.
However, there should be no danger. After receiving the blessing from the White Wind Arhat, his physique’s strength had already broken through the limits of the White Porcelain Level, reaching at least the mid-stage of the Black Iron Level. He even suspected that his body wouldn’t collapse even after his spiritual power reached 111 points.
He hadn’t considered breaking through with 112 points of spiritual power. Firstly, there was the resource problem; he didn’t have enough to support it. Secondly, it was uncertain whether he could even reach 112 points of spiritual power, as he had no subsequent data, making success uncertain.
Therefore, he still intended to follow his original plan: use The Three-Spirit Formation Soul Device to reach the 111-point Mental Power Capacity Limit, and then break through to the Black Iron Level.
The Buddhist Domain is getting stronger and stronger. If this continues, the Divine Dynasty will find out sooner or later.
Wang Linchi could feel this field of influence growing increasingly strong, even capable of subtly altering people’s thoughts, guiding them to become devout Buddhist followers dedicated to good deeds.
From Wang Linchi’s perspective, this was certainly a good thing, as everyone would become part of the Benevolent Mass.
But the Divine Dynasty might not see it that way.
"Sir, there’s trouble..." Yan Chuan’s voice came, accompanied by urgent knocking on the door.
Wang Linchi immediately opened the door. Yan Chuan was holding an imperial edict sent from the Divine Dynasty. Of course, this edict wasn’t for Wang Linchi but for Murong Su, the City Lord.
However, Murong Su had now become Fahui, so Wang Linchi currently held the highest status in Black Rain City.
He hurriedly opened it. The edict instructed Murong Su to travel to the Divine Dynasty to report on his duties and stated that another person would be dispatched to serve as City Lord.
He didn’t even need to think to know this was because the matter of the Buddhist Domain had been exposed.
Under the very nose of the Divine Dynasty, how could it possibly go unnoticed?
However, upon seeing the name of the appointee, Wang Linchi couldn’t help but smile; the person coming was an old acquaintance.
Yes, it was Yan Ming King. It makes sense. Such a major and thorny issue—if the protagonist doesn’t handle it, who will?
Wang Linchi could already guess the subsequent developments. Yan Ming King would quickly pacify the Buddhist Domain. Then, someone would jump out wanting to "pluck the peach," only to be slapped down by Yan Ming King and used as a stepping stone. Then, they would be tricked into thinking they had actually succeeded, followed by the inevitable backlash.
Finally, Yan Ming King would step in to quell the backlash, reaping a harvest of shock and admiration.
Wang Linchi suddenly realized something. What if Yan Ming King had already arrived? "Yan Chuan, in the past two days, have any of your Mud Gang members offended someone? Especially someone surrounded by many beautiful women, who relies on Luck for everything, making you all feel disdainful?"
Yan Chuan thought for a moment, then frowned. "There is such a person, but for such trivial matters, Sir, there’s no need for your involvement, given your status."
"HISS~" Wang Linchi felt his scalp tingle; he thought he had already figured out the upcoming plot.
"Let’s go. Take me to see them. Bring everyone who offended that person along, and have them sincerely apologize," Wang Linchi sighed. Whether they could keep their lives depended on this.
In his eyes, even if Yan Chuan hadn’t made great contributions, he had certainly put in a lot of hard work.
If he couldn’t save them, then there was nothing he could do.
The crucial point was how the Mud Gang members had offended Yan Ming King. If they had harassed his female companions, Wang Linchi would immediately perform a "righteous disassociation."
Daring to touch the Gary Stu’s harem? They probably didn’t know how the word "death" is written. Those women were his reverse scale.
If it was merely some conflict, like a simple quarrel, there was still a chance. Handing over the Mud Gang to Yan Ming King could resolve the matter.
But I’m about to leave, so why is he being appointed now? Wang Linchi was a little puzzled.