"Since I'm here now, I don't plan on going back. I've decided to live in Crimson City," Shirley stated.
"Why?" Rocky asked, stunned by her decision.
"So that I can see you and curse you every day!" she exclaimed, seeping in anger. Revenge was the
only thing on her mind at that moment, but she wasn't sure why her head was filled with that thought
either. All she knew was that she didn't want Rocky to live a peaceful life.
"Fine. Do whatever you like." Rocky figured that she would stay for a while, and leave eventually after
getting bored.
However, a few days later, Shirley was still around and soon joined the team of cultivation after being
invited by the other women.
Since Rocky moved to the Crimson City, the reconstruction of the Genome Research Institute in the
city progressed according to the blueprint he had devised. And outside the city, facilities were being
built for raising wild spirit-manipulated beasts.
With Laney's assistance, they recruited many talented people from various empires. They were
stationed in the Crimson City and began to receive professional training directly from Rocky.
A month later, with powerful financial support from the Lan Clan, five beast hospitals were established
in each big city of the Holy Dragon Empire, including the Imperial City. Simultaneously, Rocky also
trained the beast curers of the Lan Clan in basic operating skills so that the five hospitals could operate
smoothly.
Along with the hospitals, the preliminary construction of the Genome Research Institute was also
completed. With new and raw talents at his disposal in addition to the gene data he had already
collected from the beast hospitals of the Timber Deity Empire, Rocky began to lead new gene
experiments. The experiments were based on his own research data from long ago, so there were no
issues regarding that front.
Hoping to allot more time to gene research, Rocky passed the method of refining the spiritual crystals
to Isis and the other women. They were stunned beyond words when they finally found out that Rocky
could refine the spiritual crystals manually.
So now, besides cultivating alongside Rocky, the women also helped in hunting spirit-manipulated
beasts and refining spiritual crystals whenever they had free time. Occasionally, they would venture
into the areas of the spiritual race with him to catch supernatural beasts for experiments.
Amidst all this, Rocky still found time to nurture his spirit-manipulated beasts that produced treasures—
the Dark Magic Insects, descendants of the Dark Heaven Insects and the Fire Rock Turtles. When the
two new spirit-manipulated beasts were ready to produce treasures, they could assist the cultivation of
the Divine Stage.
At the same time, he also began to experiment artificial reproduction between the treasure producing
beasts and the ordinary spirit-manipulated beasts to see if they could produce a new type of treasure
producing spirit-manipulated beasts.
However, after several unsuccessful attempts, he began to study their genomes in more detail. The
difference between the treasure producing beasts and the ordinary beasts was the result of variance in
their genomes. If he could find the exact reason for their different natures, he might be able to solve
this issue.
Although he was passionate about gene research, the main reason why he carried out so many
experiments was because he wanted to cure the deadly gene in Uriah's body. He had to hurry before it
was too late.
At the same time, something sinister was happening in the northeastern part of the Wild Spirit Land, in
a small country called the Demonic Cloud Empire. The country was so small that it had only one good
city. It was located in the cold snowy land, and hence was sparsely populated. The people were self-
sufficient and most of them lived on hunting alone.
However, in the middle of the small city was a magnificent palace, covering acres of land. It looked
completely out of place, like something out of a fairy-tale.
It was as big as any other palace in large well-developed empires. But it was a strange presence in this
small cold country.
If anyone had the courage to enter through the large gates, they would see that the palace guards were
not human but were spiritual slaves of the spiritual race who were fully armed. The whole palace was
heavily guarded by them.
At the far end of the luxurious palace hall was a large chair—strangely shaped with dancing demonic
monsters engraved on it. A handsome and charming man, who looked almost human, sat casually on
the chair, while several beautiful women served beside him. He was unlike any ordinary spiritual being.
On both sides of the hall stood eight spiritual race beings, all of whom were several levels above
ordinary spiritual beings.
At that moment, a figure in a black robe entered the hall and in a few long strides, stopped in front of
the man in the grand chair. He cupped his hands respectfully and greeted, "Patriarch Townsend."
The figure in the black robe bowed to the man, the patriarch of the Heavenly Demon Clan. The
Heavenly Demon Clan had once sent two powerful ordinary spiritual beings to the Timber Deity Empire
in an attempt to snatch the Moon Fox, the legendary guardian beast that Alyssa owned. In the end,
they had failed to obtain the beast.
The figure in the black robe lifted his head up to show his face. If Rocky was present in the hall at that
moment, he would have doubled in surprise.
Rocky would have hopelessly wondered why this man was here to visit the patriarch of the Heavenly
Demon Clan, for he was Reginald, the man who had stood behind Rex during their battle.
"How is everything going on with the Dragon Master Clan, Reginald?" Townsend asked calmly.
Reginald showed dissatisfaction on his face. "Because of the revival of the Mu Clan and the sudden
reappearance of the legendary guardian beast in their clan, Rex had to deal with them. But now, many
forces of the Dragon Master Clan have begun to favor the Mu Clan; the overall situation does not look
good for Rex," he answered.
"The internal strife is indeed unexpected, but it does work in our favor. Unfortunately, we still haven't
obtained the Dragon Master Clan's spiritual treasure," Townsend said coldly.
"I almost had it. Prince Basil's presence changed everything! I didn't know that he would risk his life to
protect the spiritual treasure. If I had gotten my hands on the spiritual treasure at the time, and if the Mu
Clan had gotten rid of Rex, everything would have been so much easier for us. I could have taken
Rex's place in the Dragon Master Clan with the spiritual treasure." His words were filled with hatred for
Rex and the Dragon Master Clan.
"I heard you got injured by that Prince Basil of the Holy Dragon Empire. It is a little unbelievable. A
human has dared to fight against spiritual masters of the spiritual race. Such bravery..." The patriarch
paused for a moment, then continued, "However, that human could mean trouble for us. If it weren't for
him, the Holy Dragon Empire would still be under our control. With Alston as our puppet, when the time
arrived, we could have made the empire betray the Dragon Master Clan and join us instead. But now,
although the Holy Dragon Empire is separated from the Dragon Master Clan, it seems like they are not
willing to join any other clan of the spiritual race. This could ruin our plan." As Townsend spoke, his
expression turned grim.
"How should we proceed? Several of the spiritual treasures have already reappeared, and the search
for the rest is continuing. All spiritual race clans are involved in the race to find them now. I believe that
it won't be long before the nine spiritual treasures reappear," Reginald said with caution.
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