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Looking at the familiar surroundings, the four of them couldn't help but feel a sense of relaxation.
Returning to Dugu Bo's courtyard, the courtyard was still as they remembered it, but when the four of them entered the room, they found that it hadn't been lived in for at least one or two months.
A faint layer of dust had accumulated on the tables and chairs.
Dugu Bo preferred to live alone, so his courtyard had no servants. Since he wasn't living there, no one cleaned it for him, and over time, dust inevitably settled.
"Grandpa isn't here," Dugu Yan grumbled, pouting. She had thought she would see her grandpa, whom she had missed day and night, as soon as she returned, but instead, she found a floor covered in dust.
Shi Quan said with a smile, "Don't worry, if Grandpa Dugu isn't here, he should be at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."
Looking at the dusty room, Shi Quan continued, "Since we're here, let's help Grandpa Dugu clean up first. It'll be easier for him to rest when he comes back next time. I have some things to deal with in Heaven Dou City, so I'll stay for a day and then go find Grandpa Dugu at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well tomorrow."
"Okay."
The three girls nodded and immediately began to clean up.
Just as the four of them were cleaning, there was a sudden knock at the door.
"Who would come looking for Grandpa?" Dugu Yan frowned, looking towards the door.
"Could it be someone looking for us?" Shi Quan swept his Spirit Sense out, smiled, and turned around. "You guys keep cleaning, I'll answer the door."
With a clang, the door opened.
The person who came was none other than Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who was Qian Renxue.
Shi Quan had intended to go see him, but he had come to the door himself, which saved Shi Quan a trip.
"Little Brother Shi, it's been two years, you're finally back."
"I encountered some things in between, so I was delayed for a while." Shi Quan smiled faintly, "Come in and sit, Big Brother Xue."
"Mr. Dugu doesn't like to be disturbed. Will I be bothering him if I come in?" Xue Qinghe said with a smile.
Others might not know who lived here, but how could Xue Qinghe not know?
Shi Quan said with a smile, "Don't worry, Big Brother Xue, Grandpa Dugu isn't here, and even if he were, it wouldn't matter."
"Then I won't be polite." Hearing this, Xue Qinghe smiled and entered the courtyard, leaving all his guards outside the courtyard.
Shi Quan led Xue Qinghe into the living room. Fortunately, they had cleaned beforehand, otherwise, Xue Qinghe wouldn't even have a place to sit.
After helping Shi Quan heat water and brew tea, the three girls went to the side hall to continue cleaning, not disturbing Shi Quan.
Qian Renxue asked with a smile, "Little Brother Shi, how was your journey over the past two years?"
"I had a small harvest." Shi Quan looked at Qian Renxue, "Big Brother Xue, have there been any changes in the Empire these past two days? Has Tang Hao been found?"
"The Empire is still the same as before. Because of your championship back then, many more people now support me. As for Tang Hao, there have been a few reports about him over the past two years. From the investigation, it seems Tang Hao has been looking for you, Little Brother Shi. As for Tang San, with Tang Hao's protection, there's no definite trace of him."
Xue Qinghe said with a hint of deeper meaning, "But the most impressive is, of course, Little Brother Shi. After leaving back then, your whereabouts were completely unknown. For two years, there was no trace at all. Those who didn't know might have thought something happened to you, which made me quite worried."
Shi Quan picked up his teacup and slowly sipped the fragrant tea before saying with a smile, "It was just a small trick."
"Little Brother Shi's little trick is quite astonishing." Xue Qinghe didn't press further but asked, "What are your plans next, Little Brother Shi?"
"I will begin cultivating in seclusion in the next few days, probably for a few months."
Xue Qinghe frowned upon hearing this. "Little Brother Shi, you're just back and you're going into seclusion again?"
"Don't worry." Shi Quan put down his teacup and pulled out a self-bound booklet from his embrace. "This is a special Cultivation Method I summarized and created during my travels over the past two years. Big Brother Xue can take a look."
Xue Qinghe looked at the booklet in Shi Quan's hand. On it were six large characters: "Little Circulation Cultivation Method." After taking the Little Circulation Cultivation Method from Shi Quan, Xue Qinghe read it intently. The more Xue Qinghe read, the more engrossed he became, and he subconsciously began to Cultivate according to the Little Circulation Cultivation Method. It was fine until he tried it, and then he was immediately startled.
"Little Brother Shi, you researched and created this Little Circulation Cultivation Method yourself?"
Shi Quan nodded. "This Little Circulation Cultivation Method can at least increase the cultivation speed of ordinary Spirit Masters by 10%, and it also has a certain purifying effect on spirit power."
Xue Qinghe gasped at this. 10% might not seem like much, but accumulated over time, such an improvement would be terrifying. If this Cultivation Method could be spread within the Empire, it wouldn't be long before the strength of all Spirit Masters in the entire Empire would increase significantly.
"This Complete Manual of Little Circulation Cultivation Method, Big Brother Xue, I'll trouble you to spread it in my name."
"What? You want to spread this Cultivation Method?!" Xue Qinghe stared intently at Shi Quan. As the creator, he should understand the importance of the Little Circulation Cultivation Method.
Shi Quan, of course, knew how big a sensation the spread of this Cultivation Technique would cause. He wanted precisely that kind of sensation. He wanted his name to completely resonate in the ears of all Spirit Masters in both great Empires. He didn't know if there were higher-Rank reputation treasure chests, but making his name famous was always beneficial and harmless.
"Big Brother Xue, you can do it without worry. The Little Circulation Cultivation Method is just the basic version, and even if it's spread, it won't have any impact. However, you can use the Little Circulation Cultivation Method to solidify your position and gain more support. If used well, isn't your ascension to the throne just around the corner?"
Xue Qinghe's eyes were filled with shock. He tightly gripped the Little Circulation Cultivation Method in his hand, his gaze burning as he looked at Shi Quan. "According to Little Brother Shi, you also have an advanced version."
Shi Quan smiled and nodded, then took out a new booklet from his hundred treasure pouch. On it were six large characters: "Major Circulation Cultivation Method."
"This Major Circulation Cultivation Method can at least increase a Spirit Master's cultivation speed by more than 30%, and its purifying effect is also stronger."
Xue Qinghe took the Major Circulation Cultivation Method and immediately began to read it carefully, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"These two Cultivation Techniques are unique copies, enough to elevate the Heaven Dou Empire's influence in the entire Spirit Master's world by one Rank. How you use them, how you arrange them, I will not participate. But I have only one request: all Cultivators must know that these two Cultivation Techniques were written by me!"
Xue Qinghe slowly closed the books, and his gaze towards Shi Quan held a few more traces of admiration.
It was hard to imagine how Shi Quan had researched and created such Cultivation Techniques.
Regarding these Major and Little Circulation Cultivation Methods, Shi Quan had conceived them during his return voyage. In essence, they were simplified versions that integrated the martial arts Cultivation Techniques in his mind, specifically focusing on cultivation speed.
But even so, this simplified version would have a huge impact on the Douluo Continent.
Xue Qinghe carefully put away the two booklets and said with a hearty laugh, "Little Brother Shi truly never disappoints me."
"I believe Big Brother Xue won't disappoint me either, right?"
Xue Qinghe looked at Shi Quan's gaze, and his heart immediately understood. He said with a faint smile, "Little Brother Shi, don't worry. When you finish your seclusion, I will definitely bring you what you want."
What Shi Quan wanted was naturally the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
This was also one of the reasons why Shi Quan had specifically spent time researching and simplifying these Major and Little Circulation Cultivation Methods.
It could both establish his reputation and further secure the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud from Emperor Xue Ye. Given the value he had now demonstrated, using a national treasure to win him over would definitely be well worth it.
It was a win-win situation.
At the same time, Shi Quan also wanted to verify something.
Because when he absorbed his fifth spirit ring, his spirit power broke through to Rank 60, triggering a consolidation prompt for the Spirit Master's treasure chest.
He was currently holding Xiao Wu hostage. If he obtained the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, would it also trigger a consolidation of the Plunder Treasure Chest?
As for the seclusion, it was actually for Shi Quan to help Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling obtain the Water Fire Dragon King's torso bone.
At the same time, he also needed to absorb the Blue Silver King's sacrificial power, fuse the Blue Silver King and Blue Silver Emperor's Spirit Bones with the Spirit Bone modification device, and after absorbing them, he would try to attach the god-bestowed spirit ring to his Soul Martial Spirit Spirit.
Only after absorbing the god-bestowed spirit ring would he have the confidence to brainwash Xiao Wu and make Xiao Wu sacrifice herself for Zhuqing.
And hunting the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python would also require the help of the Water Fire Dragon King.
These matters, one after another, were interconnected and had to be done one by one.
After Shi Quan and Xue Qinghe chatted for a while longer, at Xue Qinghe's enthusiastic invitation, Shi Quan and the three girls went together to the restaurant they used to frequent and had dinner before parting ways.
The four returned to Dugu Bo's courtyard, rested there for the night, and the next morning, Shi Quan and the three girls left Heaven Dou City and headed towards the Sunset Forest.
Two hours later.
Before Shi Quan and the others even reached the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Dugu Bo descended from the sky, his voice coming from afar, "You little rascals finally decided to come back!"
"Grandpa!" Dugu Yan excitedly rushed towards Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo opened his arms, and just as he embraced Dugu Yan, his eyes widened, his expression changed, and his body uncontrollably fell backward. He stumbled, but fortunately, his reaction was quick, and he quickly stabilized himself, though he still slid back a few meters.
"Wuwuwu... Grandpa, I missed you so much!" Dugu Yan sobbed in Dugu Bo's arms, her eyes red.
Dugu Bo caught his breath, looked at the marks of his backward slide on the ground, and then noticed that Dugu Yan's speed just now seemed surprisingly fast. At the same time, he felt a powerful force coming from her waist.
"Alright, aren't you back now, Yan Yan?"
Dugu Bo gently stroked Dugu Yan's head, soothing her softly while also gasping in surprise. He could tell at a glance that everything Dugu Yan had just displayed was due to her own physical prowess.
How had Dugu Yan's physical quality reached such a monstrous level in just two years?