I Want to Grow Stronger!

The Douluo Federation's only official presence in the Star Luo Empire was its embassy there. Relying on the Federation's official forces to investigate the past of a former Star Luo citizen from many years ago would be fraught with difficulties. They needed help from an influential local force.

The most influential local force in the Star Luo Empire was naturally the Star Luo authorities, but the Federal Investigation Bureau had not sought their assistance. Instead, it had turned to the Holy Spirit Cult's branch in the Star Luo Empire.

The Spirit Pagoda's branch in the Star Luo Empire would also have been a good choice. However, considering that Tang Ziran was an ordinary man without soul power and had no connection to the Spirit Pagoda, it was more appropriate to ask the Holy Spirit Cult for help.

"Director, Deputy Director, the drug analysis report is out."

A staff member in a white lab coat emerged from the laboratory carrying a freshly printed sheet of paper and handed the report to Director Shi Xing with both hands.

"This is a potent sedative. Its sedative effect is more than ten times stronger than the Federation's current strongest sedative. Moreover, this drug is only a semi-finished product. If it were completed, the upper limit of its sedative effect would be impossible to estimate."

Everyone in the corridor heard this and began wondering what the Evil Spirit Cult wanted such a powerful sedative for.

Its semi-finished effect was already more than ten times stronger than the Federation's strongest sedative. If that was true, an ordinary person would die on the spot after a single injection. Soul Masters and Soul Grandmasters would be no different from ordinary people after taking one. Soul Masters above Soul Elder rank but below Soul Sage rank would also struggle to escape death without prompt treatment.

Even a Limit Douluo would immediately enter a sage-like state after one injection—calm as still water, devoid of all desire, like a living corpse.

It could be said that the drug Tang Ziran and Lang Yue had developed was itself an extremely dangerous controlled substance. The semi-finished product was already this potent. What would the finished product be like?

"Send the drug analysis report to the Federal Parliament and apply to have this drug classified as a prohibited experimental project."

Shi Xing issued the order decisively.

Prohibited experimental projects referred to research and trials that violated human ethics or posed an enormous threat to human society, such as the RT Experiment.

The drug developed by Tang Ziran and Lang Yue was simply too dangerous. It had to be banned.

Seeing the husband and wife emerge from the laboratory, Shi Xing lightly flicked the pocket watch in his hand. Two pocket watches identical to his martial soul landed in their arms.

"These two pocket watches contain a one-use time-stasis soul skill. They can place a living being in a state of absolute temporal stillness. During that time, the restrained individual cannot be attacked or moved. If you encounter evil soul masters again, crush the pocket watches and use them on yourselves. No one below Limit Douluo rank will be able to harm you. And when the watches are crushed, I'll know something has happened to you and immediately arrange for people to rescue you."

The couple accepted the pocket watches. After thanking him, they seemed hesitant to speak, their gazes repeatedly drifting toward their son, Tang Wulin.

They wanted to ask for one of those powerful life-saving treasures for their son as well, but their reverence for such an important figure kept them from voicing the request.

After all, that would be asking something of a major figure.

Shi Xing had lived for so many years that he saw through them at a glance. However, he did not produce another pocket watch for Tang Wulin. Instead, he said indirectly to Wu Changkong and Long Bing, "Little Tang Wulin is a genius of your Spirit Pagoda. His personal safety is your responsibility, so this old man will not overstep."

"Thank you for your concern, Director Shi. You are right. A genius of our Spirit Pagoda should naturally be protected by the Spirit Pagoda."

A booming voice drew nearer. Long Yuheng appeared from around the corner of the corridor and strode toward the group.

"Since Tang Wulin is my daughter's student, I will take full responsibility for his safety."

"Father!"

"Father-in-law."

Long Bing walked happily to her father's side, while Wu Changkong stood respectfully nearby.

His father-in-law was immensely powerful, only a step away from the realm of Limit Douluo. He had always been the goal Wu Changkong strove to catch up to.

"You came back empty-handed. Did you let the Dark Earl get away?" Nana Li teased.

"Mm." Long Yuheng did not seem bothered by it. "The Dark Earl split into nine clones. I killed one false body, then searched along the East Sea for a long time without finding the other eight. By now, they have likely escaped beyond the East Sea waters."

Holy East Sea Church, meditation room.

Meng Xinghe formed a hand seal and awakened the unconscious Dark Earl.

When the Dark Earl opened his eyelids, his blood-red pupils were strangely pure white. Only after the spiritual light in his eyes receded did the white fade away, restoring them to their blood-red color.

"Praise the Heavenly God! Greetings, Your Highness Heavenly God!"

The Dark Earl bowed with elegance and nobility. His eyes, fixed upon Meng Xinghe, brimmed with fanatical faith. He was every inch a devout zealot of the Holy Spirit Cult.

"Thank you immensely for granting me new life, Your Highness. I am willing to devote the rest of my life to serving the Heavenly God."

Gu Yuena, who had been watching from the side, widened her eyes.

What an powerful method of control. It could completely control a person while preserving all of their memories and thoughts. Even she in her prime could not have done that.

Meng Xinghe saw through Gu Yuena's thoughts and explained, "The foundation of this control method lies in the power of faith. From the faith power accumulated by the Holy Spirit Cult over twenty thousand years, I condensed a Seed of Faith and planted it deep within the Dark Earl's soul. The Dark Earl is still the same Dark Earl, but now he also bears the identity of a believer, capable of sacrificing his life at any time for the faith in his heart."

"Before I become a god, this method only works on those below godhood. If the controlled person breaks through to godhood, they can also free themselves from the Seed of Faith's control."

After returning home, the family of three sat on the sofa.

This was the residence the Spirit Pagoda had arranged for Tang Wulin's family. Its decor and layout had both been designed with their preferences in mind, yet on their first night living here, no one had any interest in appreciating their new home.

"Wulin, your mother and I didn't mean to hide it from you..."

Tang Wulin interrupted his father. "Dad, Mom, I understand! I understand everything!"

"You had no choice but to conceal your names and identities for our family's safety. It isn't your fault. The fault lies with the Evil Spirit Cult."

"I don't blame you for being able to give me a better life. Our family being together is more important than any material comfort."

I want to protect my family. I want to become the support my parents can rely on for the rest of their lives. I want to protect them from evil soul masters.

But I'm not strong enough, so I have to find a way to become stronger.

Tang Wulin's heart pounded as his mind became clearer than it had ever been.

He would do everything possible to obtain more resources and make himself stronger. The best and fastest method he could think of now was to upgrade the A-rank Talent Contract he had signed with the Spirit Pagoda to S-rank.

After something this serious had happened, it did not matter if his identity as a nine-year-old fourth-rank mecha maker was exposed. But that alone was not enough.

To raise the rank of his Talent Contract, he needed greater talent as a soul master.

Thus, Tang Wulin placed his hopes on the Blue Silver Conference during winter break. If his Blue Silver Grass martial soul could evolve into the Blue Silver King, then combined with his talents in other areas, he might be able to raise his Talent Contract to S-rank.