Mingdu Spirit Pagoda Underground Top-Secret Research Base
Twenty floors underground, a heavy alloy elevator descended rapidly along soul-guidance rails.
The white jade tower of the Spirit Pagoda aboveground, that symbol of peace and coexistence with Soul Spirits, had long since been shut out. Within the sealed elevator, dark blue soul-guidance patterns flowing across the walls cast a cold light. The chill scent of coolant drifted through the air, mingled with a faint yet lingering trace of Soul Beast blood.
The floor display bore no public markings. Only internal encrypted clearance could unlock access to this level.
After a long descent, the elevator shuddered sharply and came to a halt.
Pressure valves hissed out gas, and alloy doors weighing several tons slid open to either side.
A vast, cavernous underground chamber spread out before them, cast entirely from high-strength specialty alloy. Across its vaulted ceiling, soul-guidance conduits crisscrossed like a dense spiderweb, red and green indicator lights flashing incessantly. Dozens of enormous screens were embedded in the walls, densely packed data characters streaming down them like waterfalls, while the low, continuous hum of machinery filled the entire space.
Rows of reinforced cultivation pods taller than a person stood in orderly ranks, extending into the distant underground darkness. Filled with pale cyan nutrient solution, the pods held living Soul Beasts submerged within them. Some had been forced into dormancy; others twitched uncontrollably, the residual glimmers of Soul Rings flickering and swaying in the liquid.
Researchers in plain white laboratory robes hurried to and fro, carrying soul-guidance recording terminals as they moved among the cultivation pods to gather experimental data. No one spoke throughout; there was only the beeping of instruments and the sound of flowing liquid.
This was the Spirit Pagoda's core underground experimental base, one it would never disclose to the outside world. In public, it preached the protection of Soul Spirits and harmony between humans and Soul Beasts; underground, however, it conducted forbidden research into soul extraction and Artificial Soul Spirits.
Capturing living Soul Beasts, extracting their origin souls, forcibly processing and modifying them, and ultimately developing Artificial Soul Spirits that Soul Masters could contract with-this had long since betrayed the original purpose behind the Spirit Pagoda's founding.
Several pitch-black metal corridors branched off in all directions. At every junction stood high-ranking Spirit Pagoda guards with deep, steady auras, their Soul Power locked down and their vigilance strict.
Some corridors connected to the enormous docking chambers of the Spirit Ascension Platform. Deep within others lay sealed cages imprisoning high-ranking Soul Beasts. Even through the thick soundproof barriers, their stifled roars could still faintly be heard.
Farther inside, another enormous alloy door covered in confinement arrays barred the way. A staff member slotted a clearance chip into the card slot. With the dull rumble of turning gears, the door slowly opened inward.
Inside was a core laboratory of an even higher classification.
At the very center of the laboratory stood an immense soul-guidance aggregation device. Countless thick conduits, like countless metal tentacles, all converged at its center.
The damaged Sea God Helmet floated there.
After killing Chen Xinjie in battle, Qian Gu Fenfeng had brought the damaged helmet back to the laboratory and had the researchers analyze the Sea God Divine Power.
Qian Gu Fenfeng stood beside the device, its cold light carving his figure into alternating contours of light and shadow.
His gaze rested on the experimental parameters flickering across the screen, his expression indifferent.
"How is the conversion of the Sea God Helmet's divine power coming along?"
At that moment, a brisk voice answered, "Councilor, through our continuous analysis and refinement, we have extracted a skill called Unfixed Storm from it. It is perfectly suited to imprisoning the Co-Lord of Soul Beasts you mentioned." The speaker was none other than Ling Zichen.
"Good."
"The operation is imminent. You noncombatant personnel must also prepare to receive and contain the Soul Beasts."
"Yes!"
Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, towering ancient trees blotted out the sky and sun. Amid the damp, abundant vitality of the vegetation, a faint scent of scorched earth still lingered from the battle.
This time, Qian Gu Fenfeng had not brought thousands of troops. He had summoned only the top experts under his command, and the party of twelve quietly made their way on foot toward the heart of Star Dou.
Qian Gu Fenfeng walked at the front, dressed in a close-fitting black outfit. The weighty pressure of his God Level physique remained restrained, the Coiling Dragon Staff slung diagonally across his back. The vast will of the Unyielding Staff Technique lay stored within him, not the slightest trace spilling outward, yet even the fallen leaves beneath his feet seemed to sink slightly of their own accord.
Beside him, the Hongchen Twins walked shoulder to shoulder.
The crimson-gold Soul Power of the Blazing Golden Toad flowed around Wang Hongchen, its corrosive metallic aura silently seeping into the decaying soil, its edge concealed and ready to strike at any moment. Yi Hongchen's Illusory Jade Golden Toad shimmered with a jade-gold light. His spiritual illusion domain swept slowly through every corner of the dense forest like an invisible net, checking for ambushes and concealing the party's Soul Power fluctuations. One attacked and the other controlled, their coordination seamless.
Behind them, three Quasi-Gods followed at an unhurried pace.
Black purgatorial energy slowly churned around Qiangu Qingfeng, his killing aura as cold as frost. Yuanen Zhentian and Yuanen Tiandang were imposing in stature, the weighty earth Soul Power of their titan bloodline spreading steadily outward, offense and defense complementing each other. Han Tianyi extended his awareness, his spiritual power continually analyzing the surrounding terrain, choke points, and Soul Beast movements as he planned and weighed his options.
The others on the flanks each concealed their auras as they walked. A phantom Fallen Angel flickered behind Qian Chenyue, its eerie gray-white angelic power drifting lazily. Leng Yaozhu's Heavenly Phoenix flames remained contained within her, leaving only a trace of scorching heat. Leng Yulai's Dark Phoenix black flames lay deeply dormant, their sinister chill difficult to detect. A faint cursed mist hovered almost imperceptibly around Li Mengjie, poised to move when an opportunity arose. Xu Shengqun exuded a noble, sacred aura, steadying the party's spirits. Yu Mengxian's gentle Soul Power of divinity quietly lingered around her, ready to heal and strengthen the others at any moment.
Twelve auras at the pinnacle answered one another, giving off astonishing pressure.
The party passed through layer upon layer of forest before finally reaching a woodland clearing on the outskirts of the Lake of Life.
Qian Gu Fenfeng stopped, his gaze turning toward the rippling emerald waters of the Lake of Life.
The vast heart of Star Dou remained silent. The seeds of a fated confrontation had already been quietly sown.
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