Thousand-Year-Old He Shou Wu

Looking at the Spirit of Plants before him, Qin Hao was overjoyed. He had originally planned to enter the Elite Training Camp first, then head to Australia to search for Mist Island. He had never expected to find a Spirit of Plants here.

Qin Hao carefully examined the Spirit of Plants before him, but he hesitated slightly. Although Spirits of Plants were valuable, their specific effects were unknown. Only a few varieties had been mentioned in the original novel, with little detailed description.

There was no way to judge the effects of this particular Spirit of Plants. As Qin Hao pondered, he carefully studied the plant before him.

"The leaves are narrowly ovate or heart-shaped, with gradually pointed tips and heart-shaped or arrow-shaped bases. The edges are smooth or slightly wavy. The upper surface is dark green, the lower surface light green, and both sides are smooth and hairless."

"It looks a little like He Shou Wu?" Qin Hao gradually came to a conclusion as he looked at the plant. Over eighteen years of studying ancient culture, traditional Chinese medicine had been an important subject as well, so Qin Hao knew something about medicinal herbs.

"Could it be Thousand-Year-Old He Shou Wu?" Qin Hao became increasingly excited. Thousand-Year-Old He Shou Wu had also been briefly mentioned in the original novel. It seemed Luo Feng had even used it to make wine for his family to strengthen their bodies.

With that thought, Qin Hao immediately began digging with great care. Before long, he unearthed the roots. At the end of the long, slender root was a reddish-brown tuber, large and plump, releasing waves of fragrance.

After quickly washing the He Shou Wu, Qin Hao did not hesitate at all. He opened his mouth and swiftly ate it. As the He Shou Wu entered his stomach, a surge of heat rose from within and began sweeping continuously through his body.

"Ah!" The comfortable sensation made Qin Hao feel incomparably refreshed. Beneath that hot current, he sensed his body undergoing a transformation. His muscles, bones, marrow, skin, and tendons all changed, before the transformation sank into every cell. It felt as though his entire body were soaking in a hot spring.

Sensing the changes brought by the He Shou Wu, Qin Hao did not dare slack off in the slightest and hurriedly began cultivating the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens. Ever since obtaining it, Qin Hao had never neglected its cultivation, but the results had been extremely limited.

After all, it was a cultivation technique capable of raising one's Gene Level. Both its profundity and the energy it required far exceeded imagination. Qin Hao's cultivation over the past few months had produced no progress whatsoever.

Now, the energy from the Thousand-Year-Old He Shou Wu spread out. Guided by Qin Hao, it began flowing according to the cultivation diagram of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens, passing through his meridians and muscles before merging into his skin.

Each stage of tempering proceeded from the inside out. The skin, as the first step, was also the threshold. Supported by the energy, Qin Hao felt every inch of his skin changing, becoming tighter and tougher as impurities were continuously expelled from his pores.

After a full two hours, the energy of the Thousand-Year-Old He Shou Wu gradually faded. Qin Hao opened his eyes, rose to his feet, and felt the changes in his body.

Though only two hours had passed, the increase in his strength far surpassed his cultivation gains of the past few months.

"My strength has increased by at least twofold." Feeling the surging power within his body, Qin Hao was somewhat excited. A twofold increase meant his strength had reached the Advanced Warlord level.

"The greatest gain is still the cultivation of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens. Now that the first step is complete, I only need to cultivate steadily from here on. Even attaining Perfect Gene status may not be impossible in the future." With the first step of the Crimsonbright Diagram of the Nine Heavens completed, Qin Hao's skin had become fairer. At the same time, both his defensive power and his perception of Cosmic Energy seemed to have improved.

Qin Hao could clearly sense the surrounding Cosmic Energy entering his body through his skin. Although the amount was extremely small, he could absorb and convert it anytime, anywhere, as though he had activated an automatic cultivation cheat.

"Advanced Warlord strength, the fourth level of the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade, Movement Technique at the major mastery level of Subtlety, and a Master-level Saber Technique. Even against a Lord-level Monster, I now have the strength to fight." After summarizing his capabilities, Qin Hao's confidence soared without limit.

"I need to leave quickly. These four are dead; I don't know whether they managed to send any signal." After rapidly clearing away his traces, Qin Hao emerged from the cave and quickly vanished into the deep mountains.

Several hours later, near dusk, a group of people appeared inside the cave. Seeing the four corpses, the middle-aged man leading them looked grim, his eyes filled with fury.

"Contact the HR Alliance and investigate everyone who has appeared nearby. Screen all suspects and find the murderer. He dared attack the Yanagawa Family and steal our Spirit of Plants. I will make sure he dies without a burial place."

"Hai!"

Qin Hao knew nothing of what happened in the cave. By then, he had already returned to County 0201. After turning on his communicator and checking it, he found messages only from his parents and Luo Feng. His parents were still asking when he would return, while Luo Feng had invited Qin Hao to join the Fire Hammer Squad.

Qin Hao replied to each message and politely declined Luo Feng's invitation. His next goal had already been decided: joining the Elite Training Camp.

Whether it was the Dragon Blood or the Gravity Chamber at the Elite Training Camp, both could rapidly increase Qin Hao's strength. Besides, he still needed to obtain the complete Nine Heavens Thunder Blade through the Limitless Martial Arts Center. He was unwilling to pay the hundred billion himself. If he could get it for free, why burden himself?

Furthermore, besides the Nine Heavens Thunder Blade, Hong's World Ending was also one of Qin Hao's goals. As for the other secret manuals, they were not even worth referencing.

After resting for the night, Qin Hao left County 0201 at dawn and prepared to head home. Although he had not been out for long, he had already completed his training, accumulated experience, and increased his strength. What came next was another period of consolidation. He could also update his strength certification, gain the attention of the Limitless Martial Arts Center, and join the Elite Training Camp.

Qin Hao traveled at an unhurried pace. Whenever he encountered Monsters, he showed no mercy and chose to eliminate them all in the shortest possible time. Walking through the wilderness and looking at the traces left behind by Human Civilization, Qin Hao made up his mind that once he became strong enough, he would clear out every Monster.

Although the appearance of Monsters had stimulated human Evolution, the price paid had been extremely painful. Qin Hao still preferred the ordinary life of his previous world, which was perhaps the life most people hoped for. Even if there were times of unwillingness, a safe and comfortable living environment—where one did not have to live in fear every day or reside in crowded Base Cities—was far more desirable.

Being able to admire the scenery of the world, leisurely visit famous mountains and great rivers—such things were more practical for ordinary people. Of course, Luo Feng, Hong, and Thor's choice in the original novel to leave behind some Monsters to train martial artists was also understandable.

After all, they were considering the rise of Earthlings. Though cosmic civilizations were advanced, they were also cruel. Even within the Human Race, countless slaves were sold and planets occupied. Reading about it in a novel was one thing; experiencing it in reality was another.

If not for Luo Feng's opportunities and rapid rise, Earthlings would not have escaped the fate of enslavement either. But since Qin Hao had arrived here, he would try to change all of it.