Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Da Ming and Er Ming
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The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's precious horses possessed a trace of spirit beast bloodline, capable of traveling a thousand miles in a day. When Gu La returned to the Noding Academy, he retrieved a walkie-talkie bought from the system, which already had several missed call notifications.
Gu La had only given a walkie-talkie to Ning Rongrong, so there was no doubt that she was the only caller.
Each walkie-talkie cost a hundred points, and he had bought two.
Based on his mechanical knowledge, these walkie-talkies transmitted messages using a special energy waveform, allowing for long-distance communication without satellites. In essence, they were another type of mobile phone.
"Can you hear me?"
Gu La turned on the walkie-talkie, and soft breathing came through from the other side. It seemed that upon hearing Gu La's voice, the breathing slowed noticeably.
Ning Rongrong had figured out how to use the device by reading the manual. Her soft breaths sounded warm:
"You're… that pervert? How does this thing talk?"
Gu La's eyebrow twitched. "I've already said I'm not a pervert, little wife. You're being naughty."
Ning Rongrong huffed, "How dare you! Who said I'm your little wife? I didn't agree to anything. If you dare flirt with me again, I'll have Grandpa Sword beat you up!"
In the spacious and elegant room of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the pink-and-white bed curtains were drawn open. Ning Rongrong lay on her bed, her little feet swinging back and forth as she whispered into the walkie-talkie.
Gu La chuckled and decided to stop teasing the little girl. He asked, "Did you tell anyone at home about me?"
Ning Rongrong shifted positions on the bed and glanced toward the door. "No, but if you dare bully me, I'll tell Daddy!"
That was good enough.
Gu La sighed in relief. Although his visions of the future showed no one coming after him, he still worried that something might cause an unexpected change in what he had foreseen.
He didn't want to attract the attention of powerful factions just yet. Better to stay hidden for now.
"How could I bully you? This is our little secret—don't tell anyone else. I'm going to train now. Remember to keep the walkie-talkie safe, and feel free to chat with me when you have time."
After confirming everything was fine, Gu La ended the call.
Giving Ning Rongrong the walkie-talkie was a temporary measure. He hadn't yet figured out how to deal with the little witch in the future. For the precocious people of the Douluo Continent, even a young girl couldn't be underestimated.
Ning Rongrong tapped on the walkie-talkie, but no sound came out. She pouted, looking unhappy.
"Training, always training—it's so annoying."
She complained as she sat cross-legged on the bed and began her daily meditation.
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Star Dou Forest.
After a long journey, Xiao Wu finally returned to the core area. After playing around with Titan Ape for a while, she remembered her mission.
She looked at the tranquil Lake of Life, where the enormous head of the Sky Azure Bull Python emerged above the water. "Da Ming, I brought back a recipe. Take a look and see if it can help you."
Xiao Wu hadn't asked Gu La for the perfect formula, so she referred to the recipe published in the Spirit Hall Newspaper.
The core area contained the densest concentration of natural spiritual energy in the Star Dou Forest, where many rare medicinal herbs grew naturally, including some ten-thousand-year-old herbal kings.
The Sky Azure Bull Python had a steady temperament and had studied the relics left behind by soul masters who died in the core area. He had acquired some knowledge of herbs.
As he listened to the formula for Bone-Fortifying Ointment, his massive head nodded slightly. "These are all common herbs. Let me give it a try. Er Ming, remember the herbs Xiao Wu mentioned and go gather some."
Titan Ape roared in response, seemingly questioning why the Sky Azure Bull Python wasn't going himself. Then he realized that Xiao Wu wouldn't be able to stop Da Ming from beating him up anymore. Reluctantly, he ran out of the core area to search for herbs.
Not long after, Titan Ape returned, his mountain-like arms cradling a small hill of medicinal herbs.
The area near the core region was the territory of the two hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts. Other spirit beasts dared not approach, so the resources here were well-preserved. Thousand-year-old herbs that were rare outside were abundant in the core area.
The Sky Azure Bull Python didn't idle either. He melted some metal ores with thunder and fire, dug a pit in the ground, and forged a crude cauldron.
"The main ingredient is Bone Jade Bamboo. Five thousand years' worth will do. Eight-thousand-year ginseng, six-thousand-year blazing tangerine peel…"
The Sky Azure Bull Python added ingredients one by one. Clearly, he didn't understand the pairing of medicinal properties like Yue Guan did. Regardless of potency, he used the best herbs available, treating them as if they were roadside weeds.
It made sense. These herbs, though thousands or tens of thousands of years old, weren't as ancient as the Sky Azure Bull Python. To him, they were no different from weeds.
Half an hour later, the Sky Azure Bull Python stared deeply at the black, gooey substance in the pot, lost in thought.
"Er Ming, come and test the formula Xiao Wu brought back."
He called upon his ever-dutiful younger brother.
Titan Ape wasn't stupid. His colossal frame matched his sharp intellect.
But he didn't want to disappoint Xiao Wu, and with confidence in his own constitution, he wasn't afraid of most poisons. With one hand, he lifted the two-meter-wide iron pot and poured the scalding ointment directly into his mouth.
True friendship runs deep—one gulp and it's gone.
Titan Ape burped, and the scent of citrus wafted from his mouth, spreading across the lakeside.
Even though the herbs were randomly paired, they were still considered heavenly treasures. Their combination produced some effect, especially since the formula had some correlation.
Soon, the ointment took effect.
Steam rose from Titan Ape's body as sweat evaporated from his skin. He felt an endless surge of strength and pounded his chest with force, his muscular frame emitting deep, thunderous sounds.
Still unsatisfied, Titan Ape leaped and bounded around the core area, releasing his overflowing energy. He even spoke in human language, exclaiming, "So hot, so much energy rushing into my body!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python was astonished. "It really works! Er Ming, can you feel any improvement in your physical strength?"
Titan Ape was, after all, a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast. Even medicines made from five-thousand-year herbs could only produce short-term effects on him.
Within seconds, he stopped sweating and adapted to the effects of the ointment. Tilting his head thoughtfully, he said, "There's a bit of improvement, but not much. It's comparable to the progress we'd make in a year of regular cultivation."
For hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts, improvements in cultivation were measured in millennia. A year's worth of progress might sound significant, but even after a thousand repetitions, it wouldn't amount to even one percent of Titan Ape's current strength.
The Sky Azure Bull Python wasn't disappointed. After all, he hadn't expected Xiao Wu to find something valuable so quickly during her trip to the human world.
"It's useless to us, but it should be helpful for Xiao Wu right now. Humans are far weaker than spirit beasts. If Xiao Wu improves her physical strength, it will also speed up the conversion of her innate soul power."
Thinking about his lack of skill in alchemy, the Sky Azure Bull Python realized the actual efficacy of the herbs must be even better. He said, "Er Ming, don't just play around these next few days. Gather more herbs for Xiao Wu to take with her."
"Roar!"
Titan Ape responded with a roar. Though he disliked talking, both the Sky Azure Bull Python and Xiao Wu, after many years of interaction, could understand what he meant from his growls.
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