Plane Star Gate, Encountering a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Beast!

Chapter 14: Plane Star Gate, Encountering a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast!

One month later.

Huo Si's spirit power broke through to level nineteen.

Within this month, the entire Nuoding City had undergone a massive transformation, thanks to the support of the Dragon Kingdom behind Huo Si's Plane Star Gate.

The Dragon Kingdom treated Nuoding City as its primary foothold and core development hub in this other world, investing exceptional effort into it.

High-rise buildings sprang up everywhere, and various commercial streets—along with major salt, clothing, food, and even ironware trades—were all acquired.

Streets and main roads were paved according to modern specifications. Under the advice of the hawkish faction, the City Lord's Mansion and even the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch were slated for a purge within that first month.

After all, while they did not know the full extent of Huo Si's background, they were aware of certain unspeakable secrets. However, through the mediation of the conservative faction, no direct action was taken against them.

Under the route planned for Huo Si by the Think Tank, Huo Si would join the Heaven Dou Empire while secretly establishing ties with the Spirit Hall.

To become the City Lord of Nuoding City and even the head of the Spirit Hall Branch, thereby completely controlling the city, the Xiao Family and the people of the Spirit Hall were kept in place.

The changes in Nuoding City over just one month were visible to the naked eye. The greatest beneficiaries were the Nuoding City Lord's Mansion, the Xiao Family, and the head of the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City.

With sky-high political achievements, Nuoding City became the fastest-growing city in the Fasinuo Province of the Heaven Dou Empire. Within a month, City Lord Xiao was summoned by his superiors five times and received three commendations.

City Lord Xiao revealed that it would not be long—at most three years, or as little as one—before he would likely take another step forward and reach the provincial level.

To reward Huo Si, City Lord Xiao arranged for him to hold an official position as a civil servant of the Heaven Dou Empire on the spot: Nuoding City Economic Development Envoy.

At the Spirit Hall Branch, in just one month, Huo Family Village provided ten children with innate level eight spirit power and twenty children with innate level seven spirit power. Most had already been reported to the Spirit Hall and were transferred to Spirit City half a month ago.

Currently, at the suggestion of Huo Family Village Chief Huo Si, the Nuoding City Spirit Hope Primary School was established. Huo Family Village provided the funds and labor, and with the support of Nuoding City's policies, the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch also played an indispensable role; its superior sub-hall agreed and had already sent people to serve as teachers.

Huo Si was awarded the honorary deacon status of the Spirit Hall Branch.

Two identities: an official of the Heaven Dou Empire and an honorary deacon of the Spirit Hall Branch.

But the goal of Huo Si holding both military and political power was still far off.

Huo Si's influence was currently still limited to this small corner of Nuoding City and had not yet deeply taken root in everyone's hearts.

Huo Si proposed that Huo Family Village, in conjunction with Nuoding City and the Spirit Hall, jointly host the Genius Spirit Tournament. This proposal was approved after careful deliberation by the Dragon Kingdom's Think Tank.

First place: one ten-year spirit bone and ten thousand gold spirit coins!

Second place: five thousand gold spirit coins.

Third place: one thousand gold spirit coins.

The age limit for participants was eight years old. The Spirit Hall would send referees, and Nuoding City would provide city guards to maintain order.

Once the event was announced, it caused a sensation throughout Nuoding City.

This was a three-way profitable activity. All expenses for the tournament were covered by Huo Family Village, the naming rights were given to the Spirit Hall, the ten-year spirit bone was provided by the superior sub-hall of the Spirit Hall Branch, and the prize money was exclusively sponsored by the City Lord's Mansion and City Lord Xiao.

The venue was provided by Nuoding City Square (built by Huo Family Village).

The entire Fasinuo Province was shaken. This was a great opportunity for geniuses to make a name for themselves, and City Lord Xiao, aiming for a promotion, fought hard to seize this opportunity.

As for the Spirit Hall, they wanted to further enhance their reputation among the common people. Although a ten-year spirit bone was precious, it was not a painful loss for such a massive organization; this was also a test run for the upcoming Continental Elite Spirit Master Tournament.

What Huo Si—or rather, the Dragon Kingdom—wanted was to delve deeper into the Douluo World, reach cooperation with various forces, establish even closer ties, and obtain spirit bones... all to pave the way for Huo Si to become the City Lord of Nuoding City and the person in charge of the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch, as well as to target the hundred-thousand-year spirit beast in human form, Xiao Wu!

The tournament proceeded quickly, as it was only a small-city event.

However, the organization was very cumbersome. Most importantly, this was the first spirit master tournament in the Fasinuo Province. Not only did people from Nuoding City attend, but several neighboring large cities also sent representatives. The city of one hundred thousand people swelled by several hundred thousand, bringing significant economic effects.

Seven days later, the tournament ended. High-ranking officials from the Fasinuo Province of the Heaven Dou Empire, a regional governor, and the head of the Spirit Hall sub-hall arrived.

Huo Hu from Huo Family Village was a genius with innate full spirit power and a War Tiger spirit. Relying on his extreme spirit ring absorption and the special characteristics of his spirit, he won first place in the tournament.

The head of the Spirit Hall sub-hall, a peak Spirit Emperor, took a liking to him and personally recommended him to the Spirit Academy.

Xiao Wu won second place and was signed by Huo Family Village to become the brand ambassador for the Dragon Brand.

Tang San won third place and received one thousand gold spirit coins.

Do not ask why Tang San only got third. In the Genius Spirit Tournament, the use of all items outside of one's spirit was prohibited.

Relying on a two-hundred-year first spirit ring, the fact that Tang San could win third place was already the result of him pushing his movement techniques and Mysterious Heaven Technique to the limit.

After the tournament ended, City Lord Xiao of Nuoding City ran excitedly to Huo Si, telling him that he would be promoted in three months. Before he moved to the provincial department, he would arrange for Huo Si to be placed in a suitable position based on his gold spirit coin contributions.

Noticing City Lord Xiao's movements, the head of the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch could no longer sit still.

With the emergence of a large number of geniuses, the branch head knew that it would not be long before the prodigies from Huo Family Village would enter the Spirit Hall and receive heavy cultivation. He immediately granted him the status of deputy branch head.

Douluo Research Institute

"Can spirit bones be replicated?"

"Haven't you already developed a method for spirit power compression??"

"Can't you directly compress spirit power, inject it into a bone, and create an artificial spirit bone???"

Upon hearing Huo Si's words, Elder Ke's expression turned solemn.

"We have already attempted spirit power compression to create spirit bones, but the hardness of the bone is limited. Without the support of the original body, the bone shatters under excessive spirit power..."

After hearing Elder Ke's words, Huo Si seemed to have thought of something.

"You have only tried using spirit power compression to create artificial spirit bones after killing spirit beasts, but why must you kill them in the first place?"

"Could we not forcibly inject spirit power into a specific part of a living spirit beast, stop when it is near death to let it recover, and then inject it again once it has recuperated? Could we wait until the part containing the bone changes and increases in strength, or even develops a spirit skill to resist, before killing it to claim the bone?"

The words were like a sudden enlightenment, and Elder Ke left in excitement.

Three days later, ten-year artificial spirit bones appeared.

Seven days later, ten-year artificial spirit bones entered batch production.

One month later, hundred-year artificial spirit bones appeared.

Huo Si's spirit power broke through to level twenty.

City Lord Xiao approached Huo Si with a face full of guilt.

"The operation failed. A child of a big shot in Heaven Dou City took a fancy to this place, which is an easy spot to build a political record. They will be parachuted in as the City Lord, and after three to five years of gaining experience, they will be transferred back to Heaven Dou City."

Huo Si was not surprised upon hearing this news.

Or rather, he had anticipated this situation long ago. After all, Nuoding City was currently the most important tax-generating city in Fasinuo Province; there was no doubt it was a prime spot for gilding one's resume.

Furthermore, he had joined the Heaven Dou Empire for too short a time. Although he had a track record, his spirit power of less than level twenty was ultimately a shortcoming.

"However, your boldness was appreciated. I managed to secure the position of Deputy City Lord for you from the higher-ups."

To be able to reach the position of Deputy City Lord with less than level twenty spirit power—it seemed his hundreds of thousands of gold spirit coins had not been spent in vain.

Huo Si stopped concerning himself with Nuoding City's affairs and turned to find Chu Youwei.

"Xiao Wu, your job is to wear clothes featuring our Dragon Brand. In the future, you will represent our brand at tournaments and any other occasions."

"From shoes to socks, skirts, tops... even hairpins, we will pay you a separate salary every month."

"I heard you are still living in the dormitory. Move out. This is bad for your image and will affect the brand's sales."

At this moment, Chu Youwei was helping Xiao Wu coordinate her outfits while simultaneously managing the bond of friendship between Xiao Wu and Tang San.

To drive a wedge between Xiao Wu and Tang San's future relationship, Huo Family Village spared no effort in launching a spirit master brand and signing Xiao Wu.

"Alright, Sister Youwei, I think what you said makes sense."

"After I took second place and made a name for myself in the Genius Spirit Master Tournament, I noticed the way the work-study students looked at me changed. My socks would get stolen every time."

"You must be Xiao Wu. Let's get acquainted. I am Huo Si, the village chief of Huo Family Village, and also the financier behind you."

Huo Si slowly extended his hand, a smile appearing on his face.

Xiao Wu was stunned.

"Xiao Wu, like the dance."

"Nice to meet you, Big Boss!"

Huo Si nodded.

"Your performance is excellent, and your external image is also very good, but I hope you pay attention to your own life."

"You are the star spirit master that our Dragon Brand is about to launch. We will build you into the most popular spirit master and guarantee your safety. We won't let anyone hurt you. Don't doubt our strength; as long as you are in Huo Family Village, we are enough to protect you."

Upon hearing Huo Si's words, Xiao Wu's heart shook violently, and her body stiffened for a moment.

Noticing Xiao Wu's condition, the corners of Huo Si's mouth slowly curled into a smile.

"We have already investigated. You might not know this, but your classmate Tang San is actually the son of a Titled Douluo. I don't know why, but I have sensed that he is intentionally approaching you."

After planting a seed in Xiao Wu's heart, Huo Si left directly with Chu Youwei.

It was simple to create a rift in Xiao Wu's heart; she only needed to know that Tang San had a Titled Douluo father and that his motives for approaching her were impure. That was enough.

"I am leaving for the Star Dou Great Forest to capture more spirit beasts for the institute to study, to create artificial spirit rings, and to obtain a spirit ring to break through to Great Spirit Master. Long Weiguo also needs to obtain a spirit ring. I don't intend to take you with me this time."

At the Douluo Plane Research Institute, Huo Si received the research institute's spirit ring selection data for him.

"I disagree. The spirit ring age is too low. My hypothesis for my second spirit ring is a thousand-year one!"

Huo Si's proposal met with total resistance from Elder Ke.

"No, it's too risky. A thousand-year spirit ring is different from a hundred-year one. Even though the Pioneer's first spirit ring reached five hundred years and his physical fitness is already comparable to a Spirit Grandmaster, this is still too risky."

"According to the latest data from Spirit Hall, a thousand-year spirit ring requires two spirit rings to improve physical fitness before it can be absorbed. If your physical fitness isn't up to par, you are very likely to explode and die!"

Elder Long was alarmed once again.

"I know, I know you want to speed up progress, but Elder Ke is right."

"You are not just one person anymore. There is the Dragon Kingdom, and there are 1.4 billion people about to embark on the path of spirit cultivation. If something happens to you... the entire Douluo Plane Research Institute and the hope of 1.4 billion people will be extinguished."

For the current Huo Si, many things were no longer his to decide.

The success of the Martial Soul Devouring Evolution Method, the resources of an entire Douluo world plane...

They no longer allowed Huo Si to take risks. The Dragon Kingdom had just started in the Douluo plane, and the slightest risk could turn all their efforts into ashes.

"What if I cultivate both of my martial souls together?"

"I want to attach my first soul ring to my second martial soul—an eight-hundred-year-old one. It will increase the strength of the Plane Star Gate, making it larger so we can bring more weapons from the Dragon Kingdom inside. More personnel will be able to awaken their martial souls and gain the power of Spirit Hall, allowing the Dragon Kingdom to master the Douluo World much faster!"

A single sentence left the entire research institute in silence.

"You... you... are you truly willing to sacrifice your future development for the sake of the Dragon Kingdom, for all of us?"

In the institute's projections, Huo Si needed to break through to the Soul Saint level, or even become a Titled Douluo, before he could cultivate a second martial soul and attach a soul ring to it. Only then could the potential of his second martial soul be maximized.

But no one expected that for the sake of the Dragon Kingdom entering, deploying, and mastering the Douluo World more quickly, Huo Si would be willing to sacrifice the development of his own second martial soul.

"I, Huo Si, am the Planar Pioneer!"

Huo Si did not answer directly, simply stating his identity. In an instant, everyone's eyes turned red.

The research institute no longer had any reason to stop Huo Si.

Inside the Star Dou Great Forest.

A squad dressed in uniform gear, holding assault rifles, quickly escorted Huo Si into the Star Dou Great Forest.

Bang, bang, bang!

A series of gunfire rang out.

On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, Long Weiguo hunted a Thunder Eel and obtained the soul skill: Thunder Dragon Claw.

His soul power broke through to level thirteen.

On the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, they hunted a Soul-Devouring Beast.

Soul-Devouring Beast: Absorbs soul power attacks and reflects them back!

This was a hypothesis the institute had developed based on Huo Si's martial soul.

According to the theory, Huo Si could use the Plane Star Gate's ability to shift space-time to absorb, store, and even reflect soul skill attacks back at his opponents.

Huo Si sat cross-legged on the ground to absorb the Soul-Devouring Beast's yellow-to-purple soul ring.

There was no risk. After two and a half hours of absorption, his body was strengthened, and the soul ring slowly descended onto his head.

The Plane Star Gate appeared abruptly.

Whoosh!

Huo Si, along with Long Weiguo and the squad of elite special forces, vanished from the spot in an instant.

The scene flickered slightly.

At the same time, in a different space-time, inside the Star Dou Great Forest.

"This..."

"Where on earth is this?"

Hum—bang—boom!

A violent explosion rang out, and a small patch of the forest was instantly reduced to nothingness.

After the intense blast, everyone went on high alert. The next moment, a silver-white giant over ten meters tall suddenly appeared.

"Damned humans, die! You all must die!"

It had a bizarre, single eye that resembled a bright moon. A beam of light shot straight toward where Huo Si and his team were located.

"Not good, the intensity of this attack!"

"This aura, and it can speak—oh no, it's a hundred-thousand-year... a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"

"Plane Star Gate, devour!"

Huo Si dared not be the least bit careless. He decisively activated the Plane Star Gate, and a deep yellow-to-purple soul ring slowly emerged. The next instant, the Plane Star Gate opened wide, and the silver beam of light was instantly sucked into the endless void.

In a flash, Huo Si's soul power was forcibly drained, and the Plane Star Gate was forced to shut down.

"Protect the Planar Pioneer!"

"Fire! Launch all the missiles!"

Long Weiguo roared, and the next moment, dozens of small missiles were fired instantly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The violent explosions directly blew off one of the hundred-thousand-year soul beast's arms.

Behind the hundred-thousand-year soul beast, a blood-stained young woman in her twenties slowly stood up. She looked around, taking in the scattered limbs and carnage, and a look of sudden, profound grief appeared on her face.

"How... how... how did it come to this?"

"Ruoruo, Wu Ming... junior brothers...!"

"Silver Moon True Body!"

Seven soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black—suddenly appeared around her. A massive, bright moon shone instantly, and the next moment, it descended with crushing force.

"Silver Moon Slash!"

Badly wounded and teetering from the missile bombardment, the hundred-thousand-year soul beast did not notice what was behind it. Its head was instantly severed, and a blood-red beam of light shot straight into the sky.

The blood-red hundred-thousand-year soul ring shone!