Routes and Experiments

No one expected that Ning Rongrong, who was always gentle and obedient, would say such harsh words.

Especially since she also had a head of pink hair.

Does this mean the pinker the hair, the more ruthless the heart?

Chen Feng wasn't as surprised as the others. Although he was a little taken aback, he knew that Ning Rongrong wasn't exactly a docile person.

He stroked Ning Rongrong's pink hair and said to the others, "Overall, we have two routes: Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire. In terms of kinship, Star Luo Empire is closer, but in politics, kinship may not always be an advantage; it could even become an obstacle."

The words were somewhat subtle, but some people quickly figured out their meaning.

Oscar glanced at Dai Mubai and said cautiously, "Bro Feng, do you mean that if we go to the Star Luo Empire, some people might think we're on Boss Dai's side, and thus get us into trouble over the throne struggle?"

"That's right, it's entirely possible." Chen Feng gave Oscar an approving look. "No matter what the matter is, once it gets caught up in partisan struggles, right and wrong become less important. What matters most is where you're positioned or where your interests lie. And whether this situation arises or not is not determined by our will."

The most typical example is the Song Dynasty. Because of questions such as whether or not to reform, and whether the reform should be radical or moderate, the court was constantly divided into camps, and then the two sides began to attack and hurl at each other.

Are these people really arguing about reform? Most of them are simply arguing about their own interests.

At first, this struggle had room for maneuver, limited to simply removing political enemies and that was it. But as time went on, the struggle gradually intensified, turning into a fight to the death.

This is easy to understand; cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.

Even after the Northern Song became the Southern Song, factional strife did not cease, and the final outcome was that everyone perished together.

The Star Luo Empire happens to be located in the south, and it has a tradition of fighting between each generation of princes, which makes Chen Feng think twice.

He wasn't worried about his personal safety, but rather about not being able to get things done in this situation, because the so-called factional struggles were mostly about interests, and what he wanted to do would inevitably infringe on the interests of others.

"What if I don't go back?" Dai Mubai suddenly asked.

"What do you think, Xiao Ao?" Chen Feng didn't answer, but looked at Oscar instead.

He can't shoulder everything in the future alone, so naturally he needs to cultivate some helpers. Judging from his previous answer, Oscar seems to be a good choice.

Oscar thought for a Boss Dai and said, "I don't think it will have a fundamental impact whether you go back or not, because as your teammates, we are already labeled as such. Bro Feng just said that partisan struggles are about interests. As long as we do things that harm people's interests, these people will definitely use you as a scapegoat."

"Even if I'm not even in the country?" Dai Mubai frowned deeply.

Chen Feng nodded. "Yes, even if you're not in the country, if you go back, they'll say we're helping you seize the throne; if you don't go back, they'll say you're remotely controlling us to help you seize the throne."

"Is this even reasonable?" Xiao Wu couldn't help but complain.

"Reason?" Chen Feng laughed. "Xiao Wu, if one day someone wanted to steal something from your White Cloud Smoke, but didn't take it all, and only used a third to build their own territory, what would you do?"

"Of course we should kill him! He dared to steal my things!" Xiao Wu realized something as soon as she finished speaking, scratched her head, and fell silent.

Dai Mubai looked somewhat irritated. He couldn't help but say, "I have already given up the throne. This is common knowledge. If anyone wants to slander me for vying for the throne, they should at least provide evidence, right?"

Chen Feng laughed somewhat sarcastically, "Evidence? Completely fabricated."

Dai Mubai felt a chill in his heart, as if he sensed endless darkness from those three words, and finally fell silent.

Chen Feng continued, "What I just said was a prediction of the future, and it may not necessarily happen. The most important things we need to focus on when choosing which path to take are authority and resources."

"The so-called authority, to put it bluntly, is the support of those in power. In this respect, the two sides of Heaven Dou Star Luo Empire are actually quite similar, but the gap between the two sides in terms of resources is widened because of the existence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"There's something you might not be aware of: although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Heavenly Treasury is nominally the sect's private property, it's actually the foundation of the Heaven Dou Empire. This is a tacit understanding between Uncle Ning and the Emperor. Without the Emperor's trust and support, the Heavenly Treasury couldn't have become so wealthy."

Everyone nodded in agreement. They knew that Chen Feng had asked Ning Rongrong to go home to get her things, but if they went to the Star Luo Empire, they probably wouldn't be able to do that anymore. This made the scales in everyone's hearts gradually tip.

"Therefore, in terms of both authority and resources, the Heaven Dou Empire has a greater advantage. So my opinion is that we should make the Heaven Dou Empire the main development area for the Soul Guidance System, but the Star Luo Empire should not be neglected. They can have technical exchanges with us. We can discuss the specific rules for this later. As for how the Star Luo Empire can apply the Soul Tool Technology, that's up to them to work on." Chen Feng concluded.

In short, the Hydra Organization is based in Heaven Dou, conducting research and development here, and promoting the implementation and expansion of the Soul Guidance System. Star Luo Empire only provides the technology, and it can't be for free. After obtaining the technology, how to use it is up to the Star Luo Empire authorities to figure out.

After hearing these words, Dai Mubai breathed a sigh of relief. Although he was not clear about the future prospects of the Soul Guidance System, he believed that Chen Feng would not waste his time on useless things. Therefore, he was afraid that Chen Feng would simply abandon the Star Luo Empire Star Luo Empire and not include it in his plans.

Since they're still willing to help out, Dai Mubai is already satisfied. After all, he's just a prince, not the Crown Prince, so this is about enough.

If you want to achieve more, as Oscar just said, you have no choice but to fight for the throne, even if you don't want to.

After reaching a consensus on the route, the atmosphere of the meeting became more relaxed, and everyone began to chat about the interesting things they had experienced these past few days.

Chen Feng breathed a sigh of relief. The reason he brought up this topic today was to unify their thoughts and goals.

It's best to do this sooner rather than later, otherwise disagreements will definitely arise, and then it won't be something that can be resolved with just a few words.

Although Chen Feng named the organization Hydra, he didn't want it to actually be like Nine-Headed Serpent with nine different ideas. It was obviously the most appropriate thing to set a course while everyone's feelings for each other were still strong.

After everyone left, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stayed behind.

Chen Feng squeezed Zhu Zhuqing's hand and said, "Zhu Zhuqing, I didn't choose the Star Luo Empire. I hope you don't mind."

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. "Of course I don't mind. You did the right thing. This place is indeed more suitable for your development. Besides, you didn't kick Star Luo Empire out of the game, which is enough."

Ning Rongrong then leaned over and asked, "What would you do if the two countries were to go to war one day?"

Zhu Zhuqing paused for a moment, then smiled at Chen Feng and said, "I believe Xiao Feng will have a proper solution."

Ning Rongrong pouted, and Chen Feng poked her forehead with his finger, "You, don't even think about causing trouble."

"What do you mean by causing trouble? I was just stating the facts," Ning Rongrong said, rubbing her forehead in dissatisfaction.

She glanced at Chen Feng, hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Feng, don't you think what I said in the meeting just now was a bit too harsh?"

"A bold and decisive approach, huh?" Chen Feng found it somewhat amusing; it was the first time he'd ever heard anyone use that word in such a way.

"Oh dear, I just said that without thinking. You... you shouldn't think I'm a heartless person," Ning Rongrong said somewhat nervously.

I don't think so.

"Real?"

Chen Feng didn't answer directly, but pointed to the woods ahead and said, "Rongrong, this woods is a shared memory for all of us. But what if one day they wither and decay, and pruning, fertilizing, watering, and spraying pesticides are all ineffective? What do you think we should do then?"

Ning Rongrong slowly lowered her hand from her forehead, her expression becoming calm, and Zhu Zhuqing's eyes also became much more serious.

After a while, Ning Rongrong said, word by word, "They should all be eradicated."

The experiment on the Foundation Ring was scheduled for two days after the symposium.

That day, everyone gathered again in the Academy's woods, and the siblings Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu also came.

Huo Wu the others looking so serious, Huo Wu couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

Could it be that these people truly possess the ability to Artificially Created Foundation Ring?

Huo Wushuang didn't have many thoughts on it; he was just following his sister to join in the fun.

Not far from them stood Bai Chenxiang and a little boy. The little boy was holding a Wind Slime, and Bai Chenxiang was whispering to the boy, "Bai Yang, don't be nervous when you go up. We will do our best to ensure your safety."

Although Bai Yang was young, he acted like a little adult. "Don't worry, Sister Chenxiang, I know this experiment is dangerous, but I'm prepared. This is a great thing that will go down in history. Even if I die, people will remember me."

"What do you mean by 'no life'? Say such unlucky things! Say 'pui pui pui'!" Bai Chenxiang tapped Bai Yang on the head.

Bai Yang: "Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!"

While the two were talking quietly, Tang San had already taken out the Soul Tool Metal frame he had been forging over the past two days and placed it on the open ground.

The frame was made to be just the right size, large enough for an Adulthood to sit cross-legged inside. It also had five grooves on it, which were for placing Foundation Establishment materials. To prevent the experiment from failing due to a lack of Foundation Establishment materials, Tang San had specially reserved two more spaces.

"Let's begin," Chen Feng gestured to Dai Mubai and Bai Chenxiang.

The two arrived at the Soul Guidance Frame and placed their respective Foundation Establishment items into the frame.

"Is this all there is to it?" Bai Chenxiang asked.

"Let's try it first. If it doesn't work, we'll see if we're missing anything," Chen Feng said.

"Then come here, Bai Yang." Bai Chenxiang turned around and waved to the little boy.

Bai Yang licked his lips, walked up somewhat nervously, handed the Wind Slime in his arms to Bai Chenxiang, and then stood in the middle of the Soul Tool Metal frame.

"Bai Yang, before we begin the experiment, let me confirm one more time: are you aware of the potential risks involved, and are you willing to participate?" Chen Feng asked Bai Yang with a serious expression.

Bai Yang swallowed hard. He had been so righteous before he came up, but now he suddenly felt a little flustered.

He looked at Chen Feng and nodded, stammering, "Yes, Mr. Chen Feng, I... I know this experiment might be life-threatening, and I know it might give me a bad Soul Ring, but... I'm still willing... willing to participate."

Seeing that Bai Yang's legs were trembling slightly, Chen Feng said, "Sit down first, cross your legs, and once you're ready, channel your Soul Power into this frame."

"Okay." Bai Yang sat down, staring blankly at the frame in front of him.

The others didn't urge them, but waited quietly. Tang San and Xiao Wu went to a spot not far from Bai Yang, ready to provide first aid at any time.

After a while, Bai Yang finally mustered his courage and reached out his hand toward the Soul Tool Metal frame.

Tang San and Xiao Wu summoned their Martial Soul, ready to Martial Soul Fusion them immediately if anything went wrong.

But after a dozen seconds, Bai Yang opened his eyes and said with some confusion, "It seems... there's no reaction?"

Chen Feng was not surprised by this situation at all; he never thought the experiment would succeed on the first try.

"Xiao San, just like before, provide him with some life energy."

"Hmm." Tang San nodded, letting the Blue Silver Grass spread and wrap around Bai Yang's waist. "Let's try again."

Bai Yang curiously touched the Blue Silver Grass on his waist, feeling a sense of comfort from it; the Soul Power he had just lost seemed to be slowly recovering.

Feeling much more at ease, Bai Yang reached out his hand towards the Soul Tool Metal frame again. This time, the frame reacted, and the three Foundation Establishment items emitted a faint white light, along with small vortices.

However, these strange phenomena quickly subsided, and nothing happened on the field again, just like before.

"There's some reaction, but not much," Ma Hongjun commented.

"Xiangxiang, go and input your Soul Power into the frame with Bai Yang," Chen Feng commanded once again.

His experiment was to try all the possibilities to determine the necessary conditions for the formation of the Foundation Ring, or rather, the necessary conditions for the formation of the Soul Ring.

Bai Chenxiang went up to try, but the experiment still failed. The only change was that the white light and vortex on the Foundation Establishment item became a little more obvious.

"Let the Soul Beast give it a try," Gu Yue Ling suggested at this moment.

Chen Feng nodded, and was about to call the Dark Soul Cat over when he heard Bai Chenxiang say, "Why don't we let Xiao Bai give it a try?"