A Surprise from Urahara

Urahara noticed Wang Xun's unusual behavior, gradually stopped talking, and turned to look at Wang Xun.

"What's wrong, Wang Xun?"

Wang Xun forcibly suppressed his shock, glanced at Urahara, then pointed at the spring, his expression slightly surprised.

"It's nothing, I just feel that this spring water is a bit special..."

Wang Xun's gaze was fixed on the astonishing number of Reiryoku Fragment in the spring water.

Moreover, he had just witnessed a fragment naturally precipitate from the spring water and coalesce into its current form.

Wang Xun then sensed that a barely perceptible barrier was faintly flowing around the spring water.

He then realized that this was clearly a small spirit-gathering barrier, slowly gathering the scattered Reishi around it and converging them into the pool.

Urahara, that guy, actually made something like this?

Wang Xun forcibly suppressed his astonishment, maintaining a moderate expression of surprise on his face.

"This pool looks quite unusual."

He tried his best to make his voice sound like he was just curious.

"Third Seat Urahara, is this also part of the experiment?"

Kisuke Urahara walked to the spring, squatted down, and stirred the water.

"Good eye. This is a little gadget I made by imitating the technique of a senior I saw a long time ago, but my learning is only superficial and the effect is limited."

He scooped up some spring water, the warm water flowing through his fingers.

"That senior's hot spring is said to be able to revive the dead and heal bones, containing Reiryoku that can help the Soul Reaper break through his limitations."

"Well... it's good for treating superficial wounds and replenishing Reiatsu, but it's a downgraded version."

"However, it was just a sudden idea of mine to add this simplified version of the hot spring here; it wasn't part of the actual research and development process."

Urahara stood up and pointed to the chickens splashing in the spring water, and a few fat pigs that came over to drink from the sound.

"Under the influence of this hot spring, these creatures not only grow faster and have better physiques, but their flesh has also become much more abundant, making them an improved breed."

Wang Xun carefully observed the animals.

Indeed, their fur is glossy, their eyes are bright, and they are a size larger than ordinary livestock.

More importantly, they naturally emanate faint Reiatsu fluctuations, which is extremely rare among ordinary animals.

"The project has achieved a great success in its phased progress."

Urahara picked up a recording tablet from the lab bench.

"The yields of three staple crops increased by 40% to 60%, and the yields of two types of vegetables increased by 35%. The growth cycle of livestock and poultry was shortened by 50%, and the content of crop Reishi remained stable and within safe consumption ranges."

He paused, his eyes flickering.

"With such excellent results, I'm wondering... could our cooperation be taken to the next level?"

"What's the meaning?"

"I would like to participate in the subsequent business operations."

Urahara spoke his mind frankly.

"As mentioned before, we'll contribute technology as equity and enjoy profit sharing. After all, I hold the core technologies for these achievements; it would be too unfair to only take the initial research fees."

Wang Xun raised an eyebrow.

Urahara, that guy, really doesn't do business at a loss.

"And I can make these results even better."

Urahara smiled and pointed to the spring.

"For example, this hot spring. If I could further enhance its effects, the crops and livestock cultivated from it might be of even higher quality."

He walked to the feed trough and took out a few small, pale purple crystals from his pocket.

The crystals were only the size of a grain of rice, gleaming eerily in the dim light.

Urahara sprinkled the crystals into the feed and stirred it a few times.

The pigs that had been leisurely drinking water by the spring suddenly became agitated, crowding around the trough and gulping down the feed mixed with crystals.

"This is?"

Wang Xun watched the restless animals with great curiosity.

"Wonderful little gadgets to promote reproduction."

Urahara clapped his hands, his tone relaxed.

"After improving the breed, we naturally need to check the stability of the offspring's traits. This stuff can significantly increase an animal's reproductive drive and success rate, so it's a good time to test its effects."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the pigs, having finished their feed, began to grow restless.

They sniffed each other, emitting low humming sounds, their eyes glowing red.

Soon, the boar began circling the sow, and the situation gradually spiraled out of control.

Wang Xun:...

"Third Seat Urahara."

Wang Xun turned his gaze away expressionlessly.

"You usually spend your time in Maggot's Nest, and you still study these things?"

"Scientific research requires a broad range of knowledge."

Urahara showed no remorse whatsoever; he even pulled out a small notebook and began recording the observation data.

"Look, the effect is immediate. If used in a livestock farm, the population expansion rate could definitely more than triple."

Wang Xun a deep breath and decided to skip the topic.

His gaze returned to the spring, and he walked over to absorb the fragments.

[Gained 655 Minor Reiryoku Fragment, +655 Spiritual Might Experience]

Although the quality is small, the quantity is large.

"This pool is quite nice."

Urahara paused in his recording.

"Oh? You're interested in this too?"

"Certainly."

Wang Xun walked to the spring, squatted down, and pretended to carefully observe the water quality.

"The benefits of this hot spring, whether for aiding cultivation, healing, or cultivating special medicinal herbs, are immeasurable."

"Using it in this kind of situation is a waste of its potential."

Wang Xun raised his head and looked at Urahara.

"I'm willing to invest another sum of money specifically for this hot spring project, but only if you deliver results that satisfy me."

Urahara closed his notebook and stroked his chin.

"Well... that's a bit tricky."

He looked troubled.

"This technology is something I learned by stealing, and it's still very rudimentary. If I were to delve deeper into it and apply it on a large scale, I'm afraid it would offend the original owner."

"Does that senior even care about this?"

Who knows?

Urahara shrugged.

"Some old guys have strange tempers. If they come knocking on my door one day, accusing me of stealing their skills and using them to make money, that would be troublesome. I can't afford to offend them."

Wang Xun silent for a moment.

"But haven't you already been doing that?"

"No, I already said it was my personal research and has nothing to do with your request."

"Tsk."

Wang Xun his tongue in amazement.

"What if it's used on a small scale for private purposes, not disclosed to the public, and only used as a special resource for our internal supply?"

"You do your research, I'll use mine. Funding doesn't cover this aspect. What do you think?"

Urahara stared at Wang Xun for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"Wang Xun, the way you're talking makes it sound like I, Kisuke Urahara, am the kind of person who's only interested in money."

"Isn't that right?"

"Of course not," Urahara said seriously. "I do scientific research to advance the technology of Soul Society. Money is not important."

He paused, then changed the subject.

"However, if I can enjoy a share of the profits in future collaborations, this technology might be used in my personal capacity in subsequent research and development..."

Wang Xun understood the subtext, and he looked at Kisuke Urahara's exceptionally shrewd eyes.

After a long while, Wang Xun slowly nodded.

"Can."

Urahara's smile deepened.

"It's a pleasure doing business with you."

The two tacitly looked away, as if the conversation had never happened.

Urahara returned to the lab bench and began organizing the scattered data.

Wang Xun paced back and forth in the cave, staring at the hot spring. After a while, several more fragments appeared on it.

If this hot spring can be expanded and its quality improved, then the speed at which his Spiritual Might level increases might experience a qualitative leap.

Shortly after, Urahara packed the organized documents into a file folder and handed it to Wang Xun.

"These are the complete reports for the production increase project; you can take them back and review them."

Wang Xun took the file folder.

"Alright, then I'll take my leave."

"Take care... Oh, and by the way," Kisuke Urahara pointed to the pool of water, "Remember to keep it a secret."

"That's natural."

Wang Xun nodded, then turned and left.