The Life Leaf

Shi Fen and Luo Feng were both completely in the dark, knowing nothing about the real Babata.

They were both quietly working hard, each determined to surprise the other.

Shi Fen made time to return home and give things a quick check. Seeing that all three families were diligently improving their strength, he felt reassured and went off to handle other matters.

Shi Fen took a fighter jet to Elder Qian's Forging Room.

Elder Qian was in excellent spirits. He looked triumphant, brimming with confidence and smug delight. His face seemed years younger, and he couldn't hide his joy.

After refining a Wood Bud Crystal, Elder Qian had successfully broken through to Planetary Level. With the help of the illusory Genetic Origin Energy, he'd gained a whole new perspective on forging, and his skills were improving by leaps and bounds.

He'd easily fulfilled two long-held wishes. How could he not be happy?

"Good things really do come in pairs." That was the clearest thought in Elder Qian's mind.

"Master, busy?"

Shi Fen saw Elder Qian bent over his work in the Forging Room and asked with a grin.

"If you've got nothing to do, get out of my way. Don't distract me." Elder Qian didn't even look up. Focused on the prototype of an SSS-grade combat vest before him, he carefully swung his Forging Hammer.

"Heh, I'm not here for anything in particular." Shi Fen gave an awkward laugh, then casually set down two Wood Bud Crystals and continued, "I just thought that since you've broken through to Planetary Level, you ought to consolidate your realm."

Seeing the two Wood Bud Crystals Shi Fen had set down, Elder Qian could no longer keep his composure. He put down his Forging Hammer and couldn't help reminding him, "How many Wood Bud Crystals have you gotten, exactly? I heard you already traded four with Hong. Add the one you gave me and these two, and that makes seven. Wood Bud Crystals are precious treasures. You can't just waste them."

Shi Fen gave him a mysterious smile. "It's just a Wood Bud Crystal. I'll give you something even better later."

Shi Fen now had the treasures of the Botanical Garden in his hands. He didn't think much of a treasure like the Wood Bud Crystal anymore. He had plenty of confidence now!

Elder Qian frowned and studied Shi Fen's eyes closely.

Although Shi Fen was grinning on the surface, Elder Qian saw absolute confidence in his eyes—and even a hint of "disdain" for the Wood Bud Crystals?

Elder Qian had lived for nearly a century and had plenty of life experience. He'd always been a good judge of character, and he was certain he wasn't mistaken.

The disdain in Shi Fen's eyes was faint, but it was definitely there.

A bold idea suddenly came to Elder Qian. He smiled and accepted the Wood Bud Crystals, then said, "All right, I'll take them."

Shi Fen smiled too.

Like old friends who'd known each other for years, the two silently reached an understanding.

Shi Fen's main reason for coming was that he respected Elder Qian and wanted to prepare him for what was coming. That way, Elder Qian wouldn't be shocked when Shi Fen showed what he could really do.

Elder Qian had a vague sense of it too.

There was no need for clever people to spell things out.

After exchanging a knowing look, Shi Fen spoke first. "Master, you carry on. I'm going to forge some tools."

"Mm, go ahead." Elder Qian picked up his Forging Hammer and continued working on the combat vest.

With Elder Qian's approval, Shi Fen immediately headed out as if nothing were amiss. His stride was a little arrogant and carefree.

With a smug, strutting gait, Shi Fen headed toward the materials room inside the Forging Room.

Seeing Shi Fen's swagger, Elder Qian felt eager to see whether things would turn out just as he suspected...

Shi Fen entered the materials room and scanned the storage list, quickly weaving among the many racks to locate the materials from the King-Level Crocodile Dragon he'd hunted.

At the time, Shi Fen had been immersed in a moment of enlightenment and showed no sign of waking. Worried that the King-Level Crocodile Dragon would spoil, Beast, Yaorao, and Iceberg hadn't waited for him to wake up and handle it himself. The three had eagerly butchered the King-Level Crocodile Dragon.

They'd sent its materials to the Forging Room along with those from the other Lord-level Monsters.

Iceberg had personally frozen and packed some of the precious edible ingredients, then sent them to the Extreme Martial Arts Hall's Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer in Yangzhou City. He'd thoughtfully made sure they were stored properly for Shi Fen.

The Shi, Luo, and Wei Families were eating these precious ingredients every day to improve their strength.

After waking and learning what they'd done, Shi Fen had been so courteous to Beast, Yaorao, and Iceberg for a reason.

Normally, Shi Fen couldn't be bothered to spare a glance at ordinary councilor-level powerhouses.

"Ah, there it is."

After searching for a while, Shi Fen finally found what he was looking for.

Shi Fen took out the sealed, valuable materials from the King-Level Crocodile Dragon. Using his Spiritual Force, he controlled a container the size of a small shipping crate, letting it float quietly behind him as he leisurely returned to the Forging Room.

Shi Fen's junior fellow disciples saw him preparing to use the King-Level Crocodile Dragon's materials and immediately gathered around, curious.

"Senior Brother, what are you going to forge with the King-Level Crocodile Dragon's materials?"

"I'm going to make the best sealed jar there is," Shi Fen replied politely.

"A sealed jar?" Everyone looked puzzled.

"Then I'll help all of you improve your strength together," he said mysteriously.

"Wow!"

"Long live Senior Brother!"

"Long live Senior Brother!"

Their eyes lit up, and they burst into excited cheers. They'd just seen Shi Fen give Elder Qian two Wood Bud Crystals.

Not long ago, Elder Qian had used another Wood Bud Crystal from Shi Fen to successfully break through to Planetary Level.

They'd seen all of it. They'd be lying to themselves if they said they weren't envious.

Now they had a chance to benefit from Shi Fen's help too. They couldn't have been happier.

Seeing how excited and expectant everyone was, Shi Fen grinned. "Haha, I'll take the opportunity to teach you all how to forge the finest sealed jar. Follow me."

The others grew even more excited and swarmed after Shi Fen, eagerly waiting for his lesson.

Although all the silver-tier tools in the Treasure Refining World had been unlocked, Shi Fen had awkwardly discovered that none of them had any "starter energy." To use them, he'd need to prepare a huge amount of Energy Crystals.

Shi Fen did have a way to produce plenty of Energy Crystals, but without a spaceship for now, he didn't dare do it on Earth. He could only put the idea aside.

If he did it on Earth, anyone with a little status would notice something strange about the planet.

Shi Fen had always been cautious. Besides, SSS-grade metal would work well enough, so he decisively chose to keep "lying low" and use the Forging Room's equipment to make a special sealed jar.

Shi Fen really missed the Ultra-High Temperature Furnace. Unfortunately, its prototype hadn't begun testing again yet. If it passed, he could forge an even better sealed jar from the spaceship's alloy wreckage.

Fortunately, testing for the Ultra-High Temperature Furnace's second prototype was scheduled to begin by the end of the month.

If it passed, the Ultra-High Temperature Furnace would give Shi Fen the best possible foundation for forging. He'd be set to make a few simple weapons and earn his first pot of gold exploring the universe.

Although he had all kinds of treasures from Yi, they were all high-tier items. Without a five-star account's Item Consignment Service, Shi Fen didn't dare sell them! He could only scrape by by forging standard weapons.

Shi Fen gave his junior fellow disciples a special forging lesson using his Spiritual Force.

He didn't touch a single thing throughout the lesson, relying entirely on his Spiritual Force to control the tools and forge.

His fellow disciple who was also a Spiritual Master gained the most from the lesson. Shi Fen had opened up a whole new perspective for him. So this was how a Spiritual Master could forge!

The others gained a great deal as well.

Although Shi Fen used his Spiritual Force to forge, he worked slowly, matching their pace and habits exactly and giving them meticulous, hands-on instruction.

To the others, there was no difference between Shi Fen using Spiritual Force and not using it.

Several hours later.

Shi Fen hurried home, carrying a black jar over half a meter in diameter. Its surface was glossy and pitch-black.

Back in his bedroom, Shi Fen carried the black jar into the Treasure Refining World, then entered the Life Secret Realm in the Plant Hall.

He took clear, sweet spring water from his World Ring and filled the jar.

Then he took a tender green leaf, about half the size of his palm, from the "Life Cube" in the Plant Hall. It was brimming with vitality. The moment it left the "Life Cube," it began radiating dense life energy.

Without hesitation, Shi Fen tossed the leaf into the water in the black jar and immediately used his Spiritual Force to seal it with the lid.

As the green leaf entered the water, thin streams of bright green liquid appeared wherever it touched. The leaf began to melt. At this rate, it would take at least several days to dissolve completely.

Shi Fen moved quickly, and the entire transfer took no more than a second.

He instinctively took deep breaths, inhaling the escaping energy to keep it from going to waste, even though he had a vast supply of Life Leaves.

He perfectly demonstrated what it meant to be "wealthy yet frugal."

After taking only a few breaths of the life energy escaping from the Life Leaf, Shi Fen was shocked to discover that his Gene Level had increased. It had risen from 103 times to around 135 times.

To put it in perspective, the combined life energy of the Jade Marrow and Millennium Willow Heart had increased Shi Fen's Gene Level by only 0.03 times. Yet in just one second, the life energy escaping from the Life Leaf had raised it by at least 0.32 times.

It was clear just how dense and terrifying the life energy in the Life Leaf was.

Discovering how astonishing the Life Leaf's effects were, Shi Fen couldn't help but boast, "Reaching the limit of my Gene Level will be as easy as drinking water! This body's hundredfold Gene Level is guaranteed!"

There was even better water in the Life Secret Realm, but with his current strength, Shi Fen ultimately didn't dare use it. Instead, he chose high-quality spring water to dilute the life energy of the Life Leaf.

Even so.

The Life Leaf potion in this jar had been diluted, but it still needed to be diluted again with more water before Shi Fen could safely drink it.