Bibi Dong

Yue Guan did not notice the offense in Lu Hongwen's heart. He was still shocked by the effects of the Body Strengthening and Bone Tempering Paste.

"Medicinal herbs no older than ten years, combined together, can actually give even me a slight improvement."

"Though the improvement is faint, not even the strength of a bug, and it still takes time to expel the impurities, what if they were replaced with hundred-year, thousand-year, or even ten-thousand-year medicinal herbs?"

Yue Guan knew that a formula using low-year herbs might not necessarily suit high-year medicines, but that did not stop him from deducing what the medicinal effect would be after switching to high-year medicinal herbs.

"If replaced with ten-thousand-year medicinal herbs, as long as the body can withstand the ravaging of Heaven and Earth Origin Energy and the principles of the medicine are preserved, it should at least increase the upper limit of the body's strength for absorbing a Three Thousand Year Soul Ring."

"A Soul Master is not a stone, after all. The flesh is fragile. Several more medicinal herbs would have to be added to tame the Heaven and Earth Origin Energy, and more herbs would have to be added to maintain balance..."

"No!"

As Yue Guan calculated in his heart, he suddenly shook his head. "Bone Jade Bamboo is extremely common. With human intervention, burying more bones around its roots means there will never be a shortage of Bone Jade Bamboo to use."

"But ten-thousand-year Bone Jade Bamboo is far too rare, even rarer than a ten-thousand-year Ginseng King. The main ingredient must be replaced."

Yue Guan froze. After changing the auxiliary ingredients, then changing the main ingredient, and replacing everything once over, would that not be equivalent to deducing the formula all over again?

"Could this also have been within Da Mu's expectations? Did he deliberately choose a main ingredient that is common at low years but rare at high years, to avoid large-scale conflict appearing on the continent?"

The more Yue Guan thought about it, the more he felt that was the case. He could not help but secretly think that this was terrifying indeed.

He asked, "Where is Da Mu? Did he say anything?"

Lu Hongwen had long since asked everything clearly. "Da Mu was unwilling to join Spirit Hall. He concealed his identity when collecting the manuscript fee."

"And he said that if Spirit Hall does not publish this thesis, or attempts to search for him, his future theses will be handed to the Upper Three Sects."

"As expected."

Yue Guan revealed an expression that said it was just as he had anticipated. "He wants the Entire Continent to see his thesis. Is it for reputation, or something else?"

He could not figure it out.

He looked at Lu Hongwen. "You go back first. I will hand the thesis to His Holiness the Pope for judgment."

"Yes, Elder."

Hearing this, Lu Hongwen bowed and withdrew.

Yue Guan did not delay. Taking the thesis and the paste with him, he ascended Spirit Mountain and arrived outside the Pope's Palace at the center of the mountain.

The Temple Knight opened the ten-meter-tall doors. Yue Guan walked into the Pope's Palace, and the sound of the doors closing came from behind him. The interior of the Pope's Palace was pitch-black, with only a graceful, richly dressed woman of extraordinary bearing seated high above.

Pope Bibi Dong.

"His Holiness the Pope, this subordinate has something to report."

Yue Guan summarized the thesis, then used Soul Power to send it, along with the paste, to Bibi Dong's side.

"Oh? It truly has such good effects?"

Bibi Dong became interested.

"This subordinate would not dare speak falsely." Yue Guan explained his own conjectures on the pharmacology, along with his conjectures regarding a high-year formula.

Bibi Dong's eyes moved slightly. "In that case, the author of this article can indeed be considered a theoretical talent if he is able to research a Body Forging Medicine suitable for a Soul Master's entire life."

"If the Soul Masters of my Spirit Hall took Body Strengthening and Bone Tempering Paste from childhood, their strength at the same level would be ten percent higher than others. As the time spent taking the medicine and training increases, the gap would grow larger and larger."

"Uh, Your Holiness, this subordinate still has something to report."

Yue Guan had no choice but to interrupt Bibi Dong.

"Speak."

Bibi Dong did not take offense. Yue Guan could be considered one of her trusted aides, handling most miscellaneous matters for her, so she had some tolerance for him.

Yue Guan Breathed a Sigh of Relief. Ever since the previous pope died, Bibi Dong's temper had become increasingly strange. As a Title Douluo, he understood the pope's terror even more clearly, and did not dare make the slightest misstep.

"The medicinal herbs in the formula are extremely common, but if they are supplied every day, then for those below Soul Elder, each person will cost at least five thousand Gold Coins per year. For those below Soul King, their ability to digest the medicinal power is stronger, and the cost will double."

"And so on. Moreover, the effect of medicine ultimately cannot compare to Soul Rings or Soul Bones. Therefore, even for Spirit Hall, it would be very difficult to bear the cost of promoting the Body Strengthening and Bone Tempering Paste on a large scale."

"In this subordinate's view, using the paste continuously for three years is the most cost-effective number of years. It can allow a Soul Master to challenge a nine-thousand-year Soul Ring for their fourth ring."

"At the same time, body tempering is also a tempering of will. There may be a small number of geniuses who can endure the mental shock of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring in advance. Perhaps an unprecedented ten-thousand-year fourth ring could appear. At that time, it would be a great feat to spread the fame of my Spirit Hall."

As a Title Douluo, Yue Guan naturally knew that the greatest obstacle to a Soul Master absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring was not physical constitution, but the mental shock brought by the remnant soul of the soul beast within the Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

This was also a concept Gula had mentioned in the thesis, laying the groundwork for him to one day reveal a Soul Ring configuration beyond common sense.

Bibi Dong understood Yue Guan and asked, "Was all this said in the thesis?"

"Indeed, Da Mu wrote it in the thesis. This subordinate judges that Da Mu should have some basis for it, and may even have seen a Soul Master absorb a Soul Ring beyond the limit, causing his wording to carry a mysterious certainty."

Bibi Dong's jade-like finger lightly tapped on the armrest, as though deep in thought.

Yue Guan continued to add, "Da Mu even dared to threaten that if Spirit Hall does not publish his thesis, he will hand his next theses to the Upper Three Sects."

"Mm?"

Bibi Dong gave a soft hum, displeasure threading through her voice. She had no goodwill toward the Upper Three Sects. A dense pressure flashed and vanished, and in her extreme anger, she laughed instead.

"A reckless fool. With a bit of genuine talent and learning, it is only normal to be arrogant."

After the praise was over, Bibi Dong withdrew her expression and said faintly, "Yue Guan, I'll leave it to you. Find him, and bring him back to Spirit Hall."

Yue Guan: "..."

Sometimes, he truly felt speechless. With no information at all, where was he supposed to go looking for someone?

But he did not dare refuse, and could only accept.

"As you command."

Yue Guan said without batting an eye, "This subordinate believes that since Da Mu dared to speak such threats, he must still have unpublished articles in hand."

"He must believe the value of those articles will make us back down. Otherwise, this subordinate cannot imagine what confidence he has to threaten Spirit Hall."

Accepting the mission did not mean he had to do it.

Yue Guan calmly advised Bibi Dong. Bibi Dong heard the meaning behind Yue Guan's words, pondered for a moment, and thought of that stubborn figure in her heart. Her heart softened, and in the end, she did not force the matter.

"Then keep in contact with him. Require him to submit his Thesis to Spirit Hall for review first. If he has any requests, Spirit Hall will consider them as appropriate."

Bibi Dong offered what she believed were very suitable terms. For the continent's number-one power to cooperate with an unaffiliated individual was already lowering itself. She hoped Da Mu would not fail to appreciate the favor.

Though Gula had never intended to gain any benefits from Spirit Hall in the first place.

"Your Majesty is wise."

Yue Guan bowed and voiced his agreement.

Bibi Dong nodded and said, "Elder Yue is familiar with pharmacology, so I will leave the promotion of medicine refining to you."

"First, purchase a batch of medicinal herbs across the continent, then publish the Thesis. Use the medicine as a lure to draw a group of Soul Masters into joining Spirit Hall."

Spirit Hall did not lack money. Bibi Dong had also thought of hoarding goods to drive up prices, but her purpose was to draw Soul Masters into joining Spirit Hall.