Trading 2.0

Emerald green Life Force spread through Kong Ming'an's Spiritual Sea in clumps, like ink soaking into paper.

The once monotonous and tranquil Spiritual Sea slowly transformed into a real mental space beneath the infusion of this pure, immense Life Force.

"The Spiritual Sea has expanded by at least four times, and it is still growing. My Spiritual Power has increased, and it seems to have gained some 'Undying' properties..."

"My physical attributes have also improved when manifested externally. My constitution has reached at least the Soul Ancestor level... I am not far from being able to endure a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring..."

Within his Spiritual Sea, Kong Ming'an's projection silently examined himself through his Martial Soul's innate talent, sensing the effects of fusing with the Life Gold. A trace of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

The improvement was even greater than he had imagined... His day-after-day purification over the past half year had not been wasted.

After calming his thoughts, he rose and gave a slight bow toward the gray Remnant Soul not far away.

"Thank you, Elder Yi."

Electrolux shook his head. "It was merely my duty. Life Gold alone cannot bear this fragment of my Remnant Soul. If not for you, this fragment would likely have scattered into nothing at any moment."

Kong Ming'an neither confirmed nor denied it. His current relationship with Electrolux was one of cooperation, mutually beneficial and nothing more.

"What are your plans from here on, Elder Yi?" Kong Ming'an asked, looking at Electrolux with mild curiosity.

"...You need not test me." Electrolux lightly shook his head, though he seemed to have developed some interest.

Looking at Kong Ming'an, a hint of certainty appeared in his eyes. "You know me, don't you?"

"..."

Was I exposed that easily? As expected, the old are wiser...

Kong Ming'an shook his head, no longer bothering to conceal it. He casually spread his hands. "I do know you, and I know quite a bit about your deeds. But... this truly is my first time meeting you."

"Is that so..."

Electrolux understood, but did not pursue the matter further.

He was ultimately only a Remnant Soul, with little memory remaining. There was no use dwelling on it too much.

At least for now, he could be certain that the Youth before him bore him no ill will and even possessed a measure of goodwill.

However, judging from what this Youth had just done...

Electrolux raised his eyes and spoke calmly.

"Child, would you be willing... to make another trade with me?"

Kong Ming'an was taken aback, but he seemed to see something in Electrolux's serious expression. Smiling slightly, he nodded.

"With pleasure."

Deals between two intelligent people were usually simple and effortless, because both knew what the other needed and how much they had to offer to move the other.

After only a brief exchange, Electrolux generously offered Necromancy, Light Magic, and derivative techniques for using Soul Power and Spiritual Power.

In exchange for this knowledge, Electrolux would nurture and recover within his Eye of Life.

To Kong Ming'an, the precious knowledge of magic and various derivative techniques for using power was secondary. The most important thing was Electrolux himself!

This was a rare research talent who had single-handedly steamrolled the entire world of Throne of Seal.

Compared to Kong Ming'an, who had awakened the memories of his previous life and possessed an "energy" Martial Soul uniquely suited for research, Electrolux had an entirely different research perspective and a power system completely unlike that of the Douluo World.

Compared with everyone else on the Douluo Plane, including Miss Meng, the little assistant he had always nurtured—

Because they had been exposed to all kinds of common knowledge from the Douluo World since childhood, they could easily fall into certain mental blind spots.

But Electrolux and he would not. They were the least likely to be bound by the Traditional Soul Master System.

Simply obtaining this man's knowledge was definitely not enough. Bringing him over to conduct research together with him—that was the proper path!

Of course, there was no rush. After all, he and Electrolux had only just met. Establishing a relatively peaceful cooperative relationship for now was enough.

As for what came later, they would need more time to gradually cultivate trust.

Watching Electrolux turn back into a small gray ball of light and slip into the Eye of Life, Kong Ming'an's consciousness returned from his Spiritual Sea to his body.

His eyes slowly opened. The first thing Kong Ming'an did was unconsciously clench his right hand lightly, then slowly spread it open again.

The massive increase in his physical strength gave him an unreal sense of his own body. He needed some time to adapt, though that would not be difficult.

The most important thing was...

With a thought from Kong Ming'an, a soothing emerald green glow slowly emerged from his palm in the next instant...

Life Force!

And it was Life Force of an extremely high purity!

After the Life Gold fused with him, this pure Life Force naturally flowed through his body, continuously nurturing and strengthening both his body and spirit.

In the Original Work, after Huo Yuhao fused with the Life Gold and gained the Eye of Life, he obtained an expanded Spiritual Sea and a strengthened body. Its fundamental source was likewise the nourishment of Life Force.

Yet after Kong Ming'an fused with the Life Gold, he gained control over the Life Force flowing within his own body.

"Energy"... Life Force can likewise be categorized as a form of energy... As expected, my earlier conjecture was correct.

"The kinds of energy the 'energy' Martial Soul can control depend on the kinds of energy I possess..."

Kong Ming'an slowly raised his hand. Three different energies gradually emerged in his palm: "Soul Power," "Spiritual Power," and "Life Force"...

Kong Ming'an's gaze was calm, though a hint of contemplation flashed through his eyes.

Under such circumstances, he could basically be completely certain that there would be no issue with his future control over "Vitality." The foundational framework for becoming a "Body Cultivator" was now fully complete.

Then another question arose: the choice of his Soul Ring.

At present, he was seven and a half years old, with a Soul Power Level of seven. After taking all kinds of pills that could increase Innate Soul Power, such as the Mysterious Water Pill, along with the Life Gold's second transformation—

Barring any accident, his Soul Power Level would smoothly reach ten within a year. Then, he would normally absorb his First Soul Ring.

But there was a problem here.

Did a Soul Ring truly count entirely as a Soul Master's own power? If it did, could he control the special attributes it possessed?

For example, if he killed a Fire Attribute Soul Beast and absorbed its Soul Ring, could he similarly gain control over "fire"?

If so, then the types of Soul Beasts he would choose for his Soul Rings were basically decided.

First, Soul Beasts with multiple attributes. Soul Beasts like the Silver Moon Wolf King, possessing multiple elements such as "water," "fire," "earth," "wind," "light," "darkness," and "lightning."

Second, Soul Beasts with special and rare attributes. Soul Beasts with attributes such as "space," "time," "gravity," and "annihilation."

There were many options. Fortunately, he still had plenty of time to consider his choice.