Afternoon.
Russell took his thesis and microscope to the Spirit Hall to deliver them to Su Yuntao, entrusting him to send them through the Spirit Hall’s channels.
He then returned to the academy to continue reading and training.
The primary mode of transportation on the Douluo Continent was still horse-drawn carriages, so he estimated it would be perfectly normal not to receive any news for a month or two.
The two books Yu Xiaogang had given him were rather obscure: “Desert Plant Atlas (Volume 1)” and “Encyclopedia of Poisonous Plants (Volume 1).” Russell started with the desert plant atlas.
Toxins were highly lethal, but if a Martial Soul itself lacked a part capable of storing toxins, attaching a poison-attribute Soul Ring could easily lead to toxins entering the body and endangering one’s life.
Examples included Dugu Bo’s Emerald Phosphorus Snake and, ten thousand years later, Meng Hongchen’s Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad.
In contrast, desert plants, in order to adapt to harsh environments and climates, often evolved powerful adaptability and vitality.
Cacti storing several tons of water, tuber plants resembling stones, peculiar life forms that withered for a hundred years only to revive with a single rain, trees covered in thorns as if desperate to prick themselves…
Russell was amazed and secretly relieved.
Fortunately, he hadn’t missed out on these books due to his dislike for Yu Xiaogang.
If it were up to him, he would never have found a way to obtain books on such plants, nor would he have imagined that so many extraordinary plants existed in the desolate, rarely visited deserts.
“Wait…
it says here that due to scarce rainfall in deserts, some plants have evolved the ability to sprout and grow rapidly.” “Seeds scattered by rain can sprout within four to five hours.
Plants with Soul Power grow even faster, taking only a day to develop preliminarily and store enough water to last a year.” Russell was intrigued.
Other plant-type Soul Masters wouldn’t risk going to the desert just to make their plants grow a bit faster.
Even if they fused with a Soul Ring and had high compatibility with their Martial Soul, they would only gain about thirty to forty percent of a plant’s advantages in a certain aspect.
The process not only relied on luck, but the results might not even be what they desired.
But Russell was different.
Through the Synthesizer, he could perfectly inherit the advantages of plant-type Soul Beasts.
The specialized characteristics of desert plants perfectly aligned with his requirements.
“The southwestern part of the continent…
that’s quite far.” Russell was troubled.
Even if he prepared food and water using a storage Soul Tool, he didn’t dare venture into the desert alone.
His cultivation level was still too weak.
He closed the book, deciding to train his Soul Skill to clear his mind.
“When releasing the Blue Silver Bamboo-Scale Armor, I can control it through thought.
If I could perfectly predict and manipulate the Blue Silver Grass to weave accordingly, I should be able to save about half a second.” Russell activated his Soul Skill on himself.
The Blue Scale King grew, engulfing everything like a swarm of serpents, stopping at specific positions and structures before dehydrating and hardening.
“…” It was over?
Russell dispelled the Soul Skill, speechless.
“No wonder no one actively develops Soul Skills.
It’s probably not that they can’t think of it, but that it’s too difficult.” “Two seconds feels slow when activating a Soul Skill, but when you try to actively intervene and control it, you realize just how short two seconds really are.” The process of forming the Blue Silver Bamboo-Scale Armor was too complex.
He could hardly remember the paths of many vines, let alone control them while distracted.
“Do I have to wait until I fuse with a new Soul Ring?” Russell sighed.
“It really is all about talent.
Without talent, even wanting to work hard is impossible.” He pondered for a moment and came up with a new idea: “If I can’t actively interfere, then practice makes perfect.
I’ll use my Soul Skill every day until my Soul Power is completely depleted.
I refuse to believe I can’t improve the activation speed.” No sooner said than done.
Russell released his first Soul Skill again, then canceled it, released it again, and canceled it once more.
Once his Soul Power was exhausted, he would meditate and cultivate.
When his Soul Power was fully restored, he would continue releasing his Soul Skill, repeating the cycle over and over again.
Time flew by, and the days passed swiftly.
Two months later.
“Russell, someone is looking for you outside.” A student came to the dormitory.
Russell was somewhat of a celebrity at the academy.
With his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, he had managed to catch up and break through to become a Soul Master through diligent cultivation, inspiring countless students.
Who could be looking for him?
Russell thanked the student and hurried to the academy gate, where he saw Su Yuntao standing outside.
“Brother Su, you’re looking for me?
Do you have news?” Russell was pleasantly surprised.
After two months without any news, he had almost given up hope.
Su Yuntao smiled and nodded.
“The reply said your article had been verified, which took some time.” “It’s not slow at all.
As long as it arrived, that’s fine.” Russell glanced at Su Yuntao’s hands.
Where was his payment?
His experiment was just waiting for the funds to come through.
Su Yuntao guessed Russell’s thoughts.
“Let’s go.
There’s too much gold to carry easily.
You’ll need to collect it in person to prevent anyone from impersonating you.” Russell shook his head repeatedly.
“Brother Su, you could just bring it to me.
I may not trust others, but I trust you.” Su Yuntao chuckled.
“That won’t work either.
Let’s go.
I also have some good news to share with you on the way.” He turned and walked away, with Russell quickly following and asking, “What good news?” Su Yuntao didn’t keep him in suspense.
“The Spirit Hall believes your invention—the microscope—has the potential to advance the study of Martial Souls and Soul Power.
They’ve decided to reward you with one thousand Gold Soul Coins.” “Additionally, if you’re willing to join the Spirit Hall, you can directly enroll in the Spirit Hall Academy in Spirit City.
After graduation, you’ll be assigned a position based on your Soul Power.” “One thousand gold coins, that’s a lot.” ‘That’s so little,’ Russell thought, his words not matching his feelings.
Was the Spirit Hall being stingy, or had someone skimmed off part of the reward?
Russell narrowed his eyes.
He wasn’t suspecting Su Yuntao.
After spending time together, he knew that aside from being a bit of a sycophant, Su Yuntao had no other obvious flaws and certainly wasn’t greedy for money.
He shook his head inwardly.
Even if someone had taken some of the gold, there was nothing he could do about it.
Su Yuntao urged him, “Russell?” Russell shook his head and declined.
“Brother Su, I’ve planned out every Soul Ring for my Martial Soul, and they’re all hard to find.
Although the Spirit Hall is powerful, it’s not suitable for someone like me who needs to travel all over the continent.” “Ah, that’s a shame.
If you were willing to join the Spirit Hall, your future status would undoubtedly be high.
But cultivating your Martial Soul is more important than your prospects, so your choice isn’t wrong.” Although Su Yuntao felt some regret, he didn’t press the matter.
He knew Russell was firm in his decisions and never changed his mind once it was made.
The two returned to the Spirit Hall branch, signed a receipt form, and collected the reward and payment, totaling one thousand five hundred Gold Soul Coins.
After bidding farewell to Su Yuntao, Russell picked up a newspaper and read it as he walked.
“The section about Evil Soul Masters wasn’t deleted?” Russell thought for a moment and shook his head.
“Do they look down on the Waste Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass?
Or are they unafraid of anyone falling into corruption?” “Probably both.” Russell read through it carefully.
The Spirit Hall hadn’t made any major deletions or revisions, and the process for making the microscope was fully preserved.
He was not surprised.
For the Spirit Hall to become the continent’s foremost power, it had spared no effort in recruiting civilian Soul Masters, frequently publishing theoretical knowledge on cultivation.
Before the emergence of Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong, the Spirit Hall had always been the holy land for Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent.