So You're the One Called the Theory Master?

That was the question.

Gu Rong did not mind. He nodded; Soul Beasts would be a concern for later.

Whenever he had time, he could catch a few and send them over to see what happened.

Time flew by, and two years passed in the blink of an eye.

Seven Treasure City, Extreme Research Institute.

Outside a specially made gravity chamber stood one of a row of gravity chambers the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had built at enormous expense.

This was also an important training site for many of the Research Institute's students.

"How did the tests go?"

Through the glass, Ning Qinghe watched the people training inside and asked one of the researchers beside him.

At eight years old, he had only grown a little taller. Otherwise, he was not much different from before.

His Soul Power had now reached level 4. With vast resources and day after day of cultivation, he had gained three and a half levels in two years. It was incredibly slow—slow enough to make people laugh themselves to death if word got out.

Yet Ning Qinghe was not discouraged by his slow cultivation. Instead, he became increasingly confident.

His Soul Power had not reached level 10, but others were different. Over the past two years, quite a few people had already reached level 10.

Combined with extensive physical training and medicinal support, their physical strength had long surpassed that of most Soul Grandmasters, and even some Soul Elders.

"Everything is normal, Director. Based on their physical strength, the absorption limit for these hundred people currently ranges from 1,130 to 1,820 years."

"These are their records. We have narrowed the range as much as possible."

The white-bearded researcher handed a document to Ning Qinghe.

These researchers had originally all been leading medical experts, and Ning Qinghe had hired them with high salaries. After two years of research, they had begun to produce respectable results.

Based on the students' stamina, strength, speed, Soul Power absorption capacity, and other factors, they assessed the limits of their bodies.

Physical training in the morning until complete exhaustion, followed by medicinal baths and meditation to cultivate Soul Power, could push the human body to its limits. Then, medicine and Soul Beast meat were used to replenish the deficit. This was the most effective cultivation method they had found through experimentation.

They had collected an enormous amount of data, not merely from the Research Institute's own people.

Over the past two years, whenever Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect members absorbed Spirit Rings, they sent personnel to verify the absorption process and collect data.

Their subjects were not limited to Soul Masters and Soul Grandmasters. They had some data from Soul Elders all the way up to Soul Saints.

The Extreme Research Institute could be said to possess the most comprehensive database on Soul Master cultivation and physical bodies in the entire continent.

Among them, the one with the best physique and the highest absorption limit was Ning Yishan, whom Ning Qinghe had previously taken in: 1,785 to 1,820 years.

He had already reached level 10 Soul Power two years ago, yet he had chosen to listen to Ning Qinghe and not break through immediately.

For the past two years, he had trained like a madman, even more intensely than Ning Qinghe. After all, Ning Qinghe still had to cultivate his Soul Power, while he devoted himself entirely to training his body.

If not for the Research Institute's various medicines and the daily supply of Soul Beast meat, an ordinary person would have died from training like this.

"A hundred people have exceeded a thousand years. That should be enough. Gather them all."

"Also, send someone to invite Father and my two grandfathers."

"I'm sure they've been anxious as well."

For two years, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had provided whatever the Extreme Research Institute asked for. Ning Qinghe knew that his father was under considerable pressure too.

It was time to verify the theory behind his research. He hoped everything would turn out as he wished.

A powerful body enabling the absorption of Spirit Rings was certain, but Martial Soul Evolution and the extent to which cultivation speed would increase required further data.

"Yes, Director."

The white-haired researcher was a little excited as well.

Over the past two years, he had almost lost contact with the outside world. His heart had been wholly invested in this research.

Now that it was time to inspect the results, he could not help but feel thrilled.

Ning Qinghe quickly made arrangements.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Fengzhi was indeed in a difficult position.

After two years, the expenses had exceeded his expectations somewhat.

In just two years, spending had surpassed a hundred million Gold Soul Coins. They also had many thousand-year Soul Beasts that now needed to be raised.

He could only say that he could still bear it, but the number of objections was growing.

Several elders had brought stewards with them, and now they had even cornered him in his room.

"Sect Master, Little Qinghe was raised under our watch as well. It's not that we're unwilling to support him, but the expenses of this so-called Research Institute are truly too great. This is not a matter of a few million or even tens of millions."

"Personnel mobilization alone took away over a thousand lower-ranking members. Fine, we can overlook that. But every month, beast-hunting teams are sent out to capture so many Soul Beasts. The cost of raising those Soul Beasts, the expenses and casualties among the hunting teams, and even those absorbing Spirit Rings these past two years have been pulled in to cooperate with their cultivation."

"Not to mention the medicines they consume. They demand every strange medicine available, and no matter how much it costs, they buy it. Many people are saying our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is full of fools with more money than sense. Many in the sect have serious objections."

The old Great Elder and Second Elder spoke while spraying spittle, while the younger stewards behind them looked at Ning Fengzhi with resentment and pitiful expressions.

They were all members of the Ning family. In terms of seniority, Ning Fengzhi had to call the Great Elder and Second Elder uncles. With their objections so strong, even the refined Ning Fengzhi could only offer an awkward smile.

After learning about the Research Institute's situation, it was clear that thousand-year Soul Beasts had become a major demand for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Some Soul Beasts had even been purchased from others.

Their actions had already drawn the attention of other factions, just as their previous large-scale purchase of Whale Rubber had.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

"Have some tea, have some tea. Calm down, Great Elder."

His face had been sprayed with quite a lot of saliva, but Ning Fengzhi did not lose his temper. He merely smiled gently.

The two Titled Douluo beside him could not help in a situation like this and could only watch.

He could only try to persuade them himself.

"What tea? Your tea is too expensive."

"Two years. Do you know how much the sect has spent in these two years?"

"More than half of what we earned has been poured into that place."

"That's over a hundred million Gold Soul Coins. If Spirit Bones appeared at auction, we could have bought them back casually—several of them, even."

The Great Elder sprayed spittle as he spoke. He had always been the one in charge of the sect's finances.

This level of spending truly made him angry.

Although not many people sold Spirit Bones, Spirit Bones from Soul Beasts tens of thousands of years old generally cost only tens of millions, while ten-thousand-year Spirit Bones cost under ten million.

And with a hundred million Gold Soul Coins, they could have bought several small cities.

Resources were limited, yet the Extreme Research Institute was like a bottomless money-devouring beast.

With such enormous expenditure, it was only natural that many within the sect objected.

Over a hundred million Gold Soul Coins had been thrown into it without even making a splash. It was perfectly normal for people to have objections.

"Great Elder, I know what I'm doing."

"Qinghe is not someone who acts without restraint."

Ning Fengzhi tried to persuade him.

"Sect Master, no matter what, you must give us an explanation this time."

"It has been two years. What exactly has this Extreme Research Institute researched? You must give us an explanation."

"Either shut it down, or I will arrange for people to intervene and inspect the situation. Make it clear exactly how many resources are needed to produce results. It cannot remain like a bottomless pit."

The Great Elder and Second Elder clearly did not want to keep dragging this out.

They already wanted to intervene.

They were curious about what was inside as well. Ning Fengzhi had always kept it under wraps, and Ning Qinghe said even less. Over the past two years, he had rarely returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

They also wanted a return on the immense expenditure of the past two years.

Looking at the two agitated old men, Ning Fengzhi felt helpless as well.

He considered whether he should give them an explanation and take them to the Extreme Research Institute for a look.

Over the past two years, Bone Douluo had gone there the most. Ning Fengzhi himself had not interfered too much and had allowed Ning Qinghe to do as he pleased.

As he was thinking, an inner sect disciple hurried into the hall to report.

"Sect Master."

Seeing the situation, the disciple was unsure whether he should speak.

"If there is something, say it. Is there something this old man cannot know?"

The Great Elder glared at him in displeasure.

He was already in a foul mood.