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"I need to go to Sunset Forest to check. He just came out of Slaughter City and heard the news of Tang Hao's death. In his state, without anyone to restrain him, he is highly likely to return to the path of devouring to increase his strength."
Shi Quan's figure disappeared from the room, soaring into the sky, flying directly towards Sunset Forest. He traveled at high speed until he reached the area where ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts roamed, then found an empty space and slowly sat down on the grass.
As soon as he landed, a blue-gold light illuminated from Shi Quan's right hand. The seventh spirit ring beneath him shone, and the blue-gold color spread throughout his body. Shi Quan entered the state of his Blue Silver Emperor Tree True Body.
At the same time, the Blue Silver Domain expanded. In an instant, under the effect of the Blue Silver Emperor Tree True Body, the Blue Silver Domain immediately swelled geometrically, rapidly extending outwards, reaching all directions of Sunset Forest.
In the center of his brows, the Reincarnation Mark flickered with light, and his vast mental force completely merged into the Blue Silver Domain. The Blue Silver Emperor Tree slowly grew out from behind Shi Quan, its downward-hanging Blue Silver Vines shimmering with golden patterns.
Dense Life force spread, and countless plants, nourished by Shi Quan's Blue Silver Domain, contributed their power without reservation.
A massive aura quickly spread throughout the entire Sunset Forest. Shi Quan seemed to have become the master of all plants in this forest.
Shi Quan was not there to absorb their Life force, but to search for traces of Tang San.
Massive amounts of information were transmitted from countless plants.
Soon, Shi Quan filtered out information about Tang San, but it was from the past, not the present.
Shi Quan's figure instantly transformed into a blue-gold afterimage and disappeared from his original spot.
Poisonous Miasma Land.
Shi Quan's figure plunged directly into it, looking at the dried Spirit Beast bones on the ground. Shi Quan raised his gaze and couldn't help but sigh, "Tang San has completely fallen now."
Such Spirit Beast corpses were most abundant in this Poisonous Miasma Land.
"It's just a pity that Tang San has already left Sunset Forest," Shi Quan shook his head and sighed. He had to admit that Tang San was cautious; with just a slight disturbance, Tang San immediately slipped away.
Through his search, Shi Quan only found some of Tang San's past traces.
With Shi Quan's current strength, he believed it was impossible for Tang San to escape his search. Not finding him could only mean that due to previous events, Tang San had already felt that Sunset Forest was no longer safe, so he had moved to other Spirit Beast forests to hunt Spirit Beasts.
"So cautious, it seems he'll be hard to find," Shi Quan shook his head. There were quite a few Spirit Beast forests on Douluo Continent. With Tang San's cautious personality, plus his disguise techniques, it would indeed be difficult to find his traces.
Shi Quan could only soar away.
Without finding Tang San's exact whereabouts, Shi Quan couldn't afford to waste too much time and energy on him.
It was enough to confirm that Tang San was not dead.
Three days later.
Shi Quan was disassembling a small bamboo tube. This bamboo tube was obtained by Xue Qinghe from Ning Fengzhi, and it contained fireworks made by Tang San.
Shi Quan had tested it before; once this small bamboo tube was triggered, the fireworks inside were enough to fly dozens of meters into the air.
This was the gunpowder Shi Quan was looking for.
After extracting the gunpowder from it, Shi Quan directly distributed the raw materials to his subordinates, instructing them to research it. Regarding gunpowder, Shi Quan was only responsible for leadership and directional guidance.
These researchers were all recruited by Xue Qinghe according to Shi Quan's requirements to assist him.
There was no need for Shi Quan to personally research these practical operations. Shi Quan only needed to spend one to half an hour each day to inquire about the situation and offer some suggestions.
Of course, this group of people were all Xue Qinghe's confidants. If gunpowder was used well, it would definitely be a great weapon in warfare.
One month later.
Boom!
A violent explosion echoed from within the research institute.
"It's done! It's done!" The researchers in the institute shouted excitedly.
The first generation of gunpowder bombs had been successfully developed.
Its powerful might was comparable to a full-power strike from a Spirit Ancestor.
Shi Quan looked at the research report submitted by the researchers and nodded in approval. Compared to single-shot firearms, larger gunpowder bombs were undoubtedly more suitable for combat and easier to develop. Developing them in just one month was a very gratifying achievement.
Soon, Shi Quan had someone send the first-generation bomb to Xue Qinghe. After Xue Qinghe tested it, he immediately came to the research institute at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
"This gunpowder bomb was developed so quickly?" Xue Qinghe excitedly asked as soon as he arrived.
"If it weren't for the fireworks you got from Ning Fengzhi, the speed wouldn't have been this fast."
Xue Qinghe nodded, then asked the question he was concerned about, "Can the power of this bomb be further increased? What about the production?"
"This is only the first generation of bombs. There's a lot of room for improvement in terms of power. As for production, it's relatively simple; even ordinary people can make them. Although I've already planned and designed the process, you know that this thing can cause a chain reaction if you're not careful, so extra caution is needed during production." Saying this, Shi Quan handed Xue Qinghe the process he had outlined.
"Good, good, good!" Xue Qinghe excitedly looked at the blueprints in his hand, repeating "good" three times.
"Also…" Shi Quan took out several more blueprints filled with images from the side. "These are machine gun blueprints. They are portable weapons I envisioned based on gunpowder, for use by ordinary people, and also some future research directions. There are also battle chariots, but these chariots might require a Spirit Master's spirit power to activate."
These blueprints were all drawn by Shi Quan based on some films he watched in his previous Life and adapted to the current reality. With these blueprints as guidance, on the basis of bombs, it would only require more precise research and experimentation to develop them. The current research personnel are fully capable of handling it.
After Xue Qinghe carefully read the blueprints Shi Quan handed him, he couldn't help but praise them as ingenious ideas.
If the same things were placed in front of him, he would absolutely not have thought of so many wonderful uses.
"With the support of gunpowder, inheriting the throne shouldn't be a problem, right?" Shi Quan looked at Xue Qinghe.
"Enough, with these advantages, it's enough!" Xue Qinghe's eyes sparkled continuously, unable to hide his excitement. For the first time, he felt the throne was so close to him.
Shi Quan nodded upon hearing this, "I look forward to the day you ascend the throne."
Xue Qinghe chuckled, "It's all thanks to you."
"We're friends, it's a small matter," Shi Quan waved his hand.
Only the two of them were in the research institute, and they weren't as polite as they were outside.
"After inheriting the throne, what are your plans?"
Ambition surfaced in Xue Qinghe's eyes, "I will first unify the Heaven Dou Empire, and then unify the Douluo Continent."
Shi Quan shrugged at his words, "And after unification?"
Xue Qinghe paused, then said, "To strive for greater strength."
Shi Quan nodded, "Did you ask about what I told you last time?"
"You know, my identity is special, so it's not convenient for me to return to Spirit City. I sent someone to inquire with my grandfather, and the result was vague. I really don't have time to return to Spirit City, so this matter has been delayed."
"Hmm."
It must be said that sometimes Qian Renxue truly prioritized benefits. Facing the true cause of her biological father's death, she could endure and hold back until now, unwilling to return to Spirit Hall to clarify the matter. She was truly capable of enduring.
"Power can blind one's eyes. You'd best not get lost," Shi Quan advised.
"Are you worried about me?" Xue Qinghe's lips suddenly curved into a smile, then he changed the subject, "By the way, you still don't know my true appearance, do you?"
Xue Qinghe took a step forward, approaching Shi Quan, or more accurately, Qian Renxue. As she drew closer, a faint golden light radiated from her chest. Her fair skin was like congealed snow, her nose bridge was straight, and her slender Phoenix eyes. In terms of beauty alone, Qian Renxue's face was definitely among the most beautiful on the Douluo Continent.
It must be said that Bibi Dong's genes were truly strong. Qian Renxue resembled Bibi Dong by seven or eight parts, but both had their own unique beauty.
Looking at the stunning face so close, Shi Quan couldn't help but blush and his heart pounded. He hastily took a step back, coughed twice, and said, "Ahem, what are you doing?"
Qian Renxue smiled charmingly, "Nothing. Didn't you say we're friends? Aren't I just letting you see my true face?"
Shi Quan smirked and said, "You're so beautiful, and you're so close to me. Aren't you worried I'll have ill intentions?"
Qian Renxue covered her mouth and chuckled, "Come on? Do you dare?"
Shi Quan's expression froze. He hadn't expected Qian Renxue to be wilder than him. He quickly waved his hand in surrender, "I wouldn't dare, wouldn't dare. I'm afraid your grandfather would fly directly from Spirit City and beat me up."
"Is that so? Aren't you afraid of your three little wives?" Qian Renxue chuckled.
"Yes, definitely afraid," Shi Quan immediately admitted defeat.
"Shi Quan, Oscar is here," just then, Ye Lingling's voice came from outside the research institute.
Qian Renxue heard this and took a step back. Her figure rapidly changed, and in the blink of an eye, she reverted to Xue Qinghe's appearance.
"Is Your Highness the Crown Prince here?" Ye Lingling pushed open the research institute door and saw Shi Quan and Xue Qinghe inside. Her figure paused slightly, then she looked at Shi Quan, "Shi Quan, should I ask them to wait first?"
Xue Qinghe smiled and shook his head, saying, "Since Little Brother Shi has matters to attend to, I won't disturb him. I'll visit again next time."
Saying this, Xue Qinghe nodded briefly towards Ye Lingling, leaving Shi Quan with a teasing smile, then turned and left.
"Shi Quan, what's wrong?" Ye Lingling came to Shi Quan's side. She noticed that Shi Quan's expression seemed a bit off.
"Nothing," Shi Quan adjusted his breathing and asked, "Is Oscar here alone?"
"Ma Hongjun is also here, but I noticed that Ma Hongjun's condition seems a bit off."
Hearing this, Shi Quan's lips also curved into a smile, "Let's go, then, let's go see…"