"Soft Bone Rabbit Farm" and "Blue Silver Grass Cultivation Base"

The shock and clamor in the Laboratory did not last long. Under Kong Deming's direction, a preliminary agreement was soon reached regarding follow-up cooperation and resource allocation for the "Body Forging Method" project.

The Sun Moon High Officials did not linger. One after another, they departed to make advance preparations for the resources that would need to be allocated.

Before leaving, however, Xu Tianran approached Kong Ming'an with a gentle smile.

"Young Master Kong, your talent is exceptional. Today's results have truly opened my eyes. Should you have the time in the future, you are welcome to visit My Royal Mansion for a chat."

His words carried a hint of recruitment and goodwill.

Kong Ming'an merely raised his eyes calmly to look at the future Sun Moon Emperor, then gave a slight nod.

"Certainly."

He said no more, neither discourteous nor at all ingratiating.

A faint glint flickered in Xu Tianran's eyes. He said nothing further and left surrounded by his attendants.

Jing Hongchen was the last to leave with his Grandson and Granddaughter, but he noticed the unusual looks on their faces. After a moment's thought, he stopped and smiled at Kong Deming.

"Old Kong, I see the children are around the same age. They should spend more time together in the future. Meng and Xiao could use a like-minded companion at the Academy as well."

Kong Deming did not directly agree, replying vaguely, "Ming'an has a quiet temperament and does not enjoy liveliness. Still, children have their own fates. Let nature take its course."

Jing Hongchen agreed with a smile, patting his two grandchildren on the head before leading away Meng Hongchen, who kept looking back with every step, and Xiao Hongchen, whose gaze burned brightly.

The heavy Alloy Gate silently closed, shutting out the noise and commotion beyond.

Only Kong Deming and Kong Ming'an, seated in a broad Metal Chair in the corner, remained on the second floor of the vast Laboratory.

The faint hum of the instruments now seemed especially clear. A peculiar silence settled between Grandfather and Grandson.

They did not discuss the Body Forging Method that had just shaken everyone present, nor did they mention the vast resources that would soon pour in or their subsequent plans.

Kong Deming walked over to Kong Ming'an. Rather than sitting in the nearby chair, he bent slightly. The authority normally present in his eyes had been replaced by nothing but pure concern.

He reached out and, with complete naturalness, lightly patted Kong Ming'an on the shoulder.

"Ming'an," Kong Deming said in a low, gentle voice, completely unlike the hall master he had been before the others.

"...You've been pushing yourself a little too hard lately."

Kong Ming'an paused slightly. "Have I...?"

"Zhou Ping told me that you've barely rested these past few days."

"..."

Zhou Ping was the Kong Family's Butler. Kong Deming was busy with government affairs and Soul Tool research every day, so many matters concerning the Kong Family were handled by him.

Kong Ming'an fell silent.

He had not transmigrated into another body, but awakened memories. Thus, he clearly remembered every bit of meticulous care Kong Deming had shown him over the past six years amid his busy government work and research.

He had been an orphan in his previous life. In this life, he had family—something he had never experienced before.

A smile slowly appeared on Kong Ming'an's face, and he nodded faintly.

"Don't worry, Grandfather. I know what I'm doing. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Once the beginning is in place, things won't be so difficult afterward."

Hearing his Grandson's words, Kong Deming nodded. He said no more, but gave him sufficient trust.

"As long as you know what you're doing."

"Of course."

Grandfather and Grandson exchanged a few more casual words about unimportant matters.

Kong Deming did not ask where his Grandson's astonishing ideas and plans had come from, while Kong Ming'an did not take the initiative to mention those complicated calculations and data.

They simply chatted, quietly and peacefully.

That afternoon, Mingdu, Kong Family Residence.

Sunlight streamed through exquisitely carved windows, casting warm patches of light across the study's soft carpet. After finishing a simple meal, Kong Ming'an summoned Butler Zhou to the study.

This old Butler had served at Kong Mansion for decades. He was utterly loyal and exceptionally reliable in his work.

He stood respectfully with his hands lowered and asked, "Young Master Kong, what are your instructions?"

Kong Ming'an sat behind a desk that was slightly too large for him, his small hands folded atop its surface. He got straight to the point.

"Uncle Zhou, how are the Soft Bone Rabbit Farm and Blue Silver Grass Cultivation Base I mentioned before progressing? Has everything been going smoothly?"

Butler Zhou's face showed understanding and a respectful smile. Clearly, he was no stranger to the matter.

"In reply to Young Master Kong, everything is advancing steadily according to your previous plans, and progress has been very smooth.

"The Soft Bone Rabbit Farm was established in an area with relatively gentle Soul Power. The Breeding Rabbits we brought in were screened and have adapted well, with stable reproduction.

"As you requested, the feed has also been mixed with trace medicinal ingredients that promote the absorption of gentle Soul Power. The Young Rabbits are growing noticeably faster and have stronger constitutions than ordinary Soft Bone Rabbits. Their temperaments are also relatively mild and controllable."

"As for the Blue Silver Grass Cultivation Base..." Butler Zhou continued his report.

"It was established in a valley with particularly abundant vitality in the earth veins. Using the Crop Rotation Soul Power Nourishing Array you provided, the Blue Silver Grass has been growing splendidly. Not only are its leaves thick and lush, but the Life Force contained within its roots and stems is also purer and richer.

"The first batch of high-quality Blue Silver Grass that was transplanted has already taken root securely. Reaching a proper scale is only a matter of time."

Kong Ming'an listened and nodded in satisfaction.

This was precisely what he needed: a stable, controllable source of Soul Beast resources with improved quality.

"Very good," Kong Ming'an said, a trace of satisfaction in his voice.

"Continue according to plan. Keep observing and record every subtle change. There is no need to economize on investment; quality must be ensured. Once the Soft Bone Rabbits reach ten-year quality, send several to my Laboratory first."

"Yes, Young Master Kong. This old servant understands." Butler Zhou bowed to accept the order, then quietly withdrew. The study returned to silence.

Kong Ming'an's gaze was calm.

The Soft Bone Rabbit Farm and Blue Silver Grass Cultivation Base were both parts of his subsequent plans.

Of course, his choice of the somewhat peculiar combination of Soft Bone Rabbits and Blue Silver Grass had essentially been a coincidence.

Blue Silver Grass had already been selected as material for his future use. As for Soft Bone Rabbits, they were meant to replace the lab mice he had often used in his previous life.

At the time, he had merely asked whether there were any Soul Beasts with short breeding and maturation cycles. After looking into it, Butler Zhou had presented Soft Bone Rabbits as an option.

Unable to resist, he chose them.

He had some interesting ideas for his First Soul Ring. After all, an ordinary hundred-year or thousand-year Soul Ring alone would be far too boring.

So, he intended to make something interesting.

And the prerequisite for that was complete practical experimentation.

Low-level Soul Beasts like Soft Bone Rabbits were extremely easy to raise. With a little technology and some ruthless tricks, a batch of ten-year Soft Bone Rabbits could basically be produced every year.

Once Soft Bone Rabbits had ten years of cultivation, killing them could yield Soul Rings, and those Soul Rings were precisely the research materials he needed.

Naturally, in the spirit of making full use of waste, the dead Soft Bone Rabbits could also be turned into Cold Eaten Rabbit, Spicy Rabbit Head, and the like...

That counted as making full use of them.