Douluo: My Clone Is Groudon

Gu La's face twisted for a brief moment. He had just forgotten, and Tang San reminded him again. He advised, "It's better if you don't know."

Tang San looked puzzled as he watched Gu La put away the herbs, refraining from asking further questions. He continued searching for the bandits' hidden wealth.

Eventually, he found a cave. Tang San walked in, faint wolf howls could be heard, which soon turned into coquettish sounds.

Not long after, Tang San emerged from the cave with a sullen expression, his eyes lifeless, as if his entire worldview had collapsed. He held a plant that had transformed into a spirit beast—Hehuan Grass.

Gu La immediately knew what Tang San had seen. He patted Tang San on the shoulder and consoled him, "We've searched enough. I found some lamp oil. Let's burn this filthy hideout down together."

"Mm."

Tang San pulled himself together, his gaze hardening as he followed Gu La in spreading the lamp oil. Finally, he threw a torch, reducing the den of thieves to ashes.

The flames roared in the mountain ravine, illuminating the sky and burning away all traces of evil within the mountain.

Gu La and Tang San descended the mountain, found Xiao Wu, returned to the carriage, woke up the sleeping coachman, and continued their journey to Nuoding City.

By evening the next day, the three returned to Nuoding Academy.

Xiao Wu lay on her bed, her slender arms rubbing back and forth on the sheets. Bored by the rustling sounds around her, she sighed:

"I'm so tired. It feels like we didn't play for long outside, just sat around in the carriage daydreaming."

Gu La was busy counting the medicinal herbs and paid no attention to her.

Although the various rare herbs they found were mainly aphrodisiacs, when combined with other complementary ingredients and properly balanced, they could still produce potions that refined the body and enhanced soul power.

Tang San wasn't particularly interested in aphrodisiacs. He spent his time discussing plans to process the herbs with Gu La while chatting with Xiao Wu, keeping himself very busy.

The other work-study students couldn't join in the conversation, so they gathered to chat among themselves, waiting until it was time to meditate and train.

---

A few days later.

Lü Hongwen, the editor-in-chief of the Spirit Hall Newspaper, received Gu La's paper.

As the mouthpiece of the Spirit Hall on the continent, the Spirit Hall Newspaper held significant sway over public opinion. Traditionally, the editor-in-chief was concurrently a Red-Robed Bishop at the rank of Soul Douluo.

The deputy editor, Lü Hongwen, was responsible for the final review and specific tasks.

Inside the grandiose building, Lü Hongwen meticulously scrutinized the data in Gu La's paper, finding no obvious signs of fabrication.

He was a Soul Emperor with considerable expertise in martial soul theory.

Previously a teacher at the Spirit Hall Academy, he published several papers that caught the eye of a Red-Robed Bishop, who recommended him for an editorial position.

Later, through his discerning eye, he selected a few impactful papers that elevated the influence of the Spirit Hall Newspaper. Promoted to deputy editor, though nominally subordinate, he effectively ran the publication.

Lü Hongwen looked at the Purple-Robed Bishop being restrained by the Holy Knights below and cautiously said:

"This paper appears to be largely fine. If there's no fabrication, it can indeed help expand the Spirit Hall's influence. This Purple-Robed Bishop wasn't lying."

The Purple-Robed Bishop struggled, "I told you, I didn't abandon my post. There was urgent intelligence that required me to personally deliver it to the Spirit City."

One of the Holy Knights sneered, "Behave yourself. Sneaking around isn't a valid excuse for intelligence."

Chastising the bishop, the two Holy Knights exchanged disappointed glances. They had hoped to catch a derelict priest and earn merit but ended up with a false alarm.

Leaving the bishop behind, the two knights bowed to Lü Hongwen and excused themselves.

Once the knights were far enough away, Lü Hongwen instructed other editors to keep an eye on the bishop and hurriedly made his way to Spirit Mountain.

He intended to seek an audience with Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan. Yue Guan had a medicinal garden and was highly knowledgeable about pharmacology. No one was more authoritative than him when it came to verifying pharmaceutical papers.

Moreover, if such a paper were to be published, its impact would be enormous. It would require the Pope's approval. To avoid unnecessary summons, only an elder could see the Pope quickly.

"Elder Yue, Deputy Editor Lü Hongwen of the Spirit Hall Newspaper requests an audience."

Outside the medicinal garden, Lü Hongwen waited humbly as the Holy Knight guarding the garden went inside to announce his presence.

"The Spirit Hall Newspaper editor? Is it an interesting paper? Let him in."

Yue Guan lounged in a bamboo recliner, gently swaying amidst the vibrant medicinal garden. His feminine face was strikingly pale, his chrysanthemum-yellow hair draped over his shoulders, and his fox-like eyes seemed capable of piercing through one's soul.

"Greetings, Elder." Lü Hongwen bowed respectfully.

Yue Guan gave a slight nod, "Cut to the chase. What's the matter?"

Lü Hongwen recounted the events. Yue Guan became intrigued, "The author praised by Her Holiness the Pope last time? That does warrant caution. Let me see the paper."

Lü Hongwen handed over the paper. Yue Guan extended a hand softer than a woman's, using his soul power to levitate the paper. He first swept away surface odors with his soul power before bringing it closer to examine.

"Methods to Enhance the Physical Strength of Soul Masters – Bone Jade Bamboo (Part 1)"

"Bone Jade Bamboo? A rather useless plant. Can it really serve as the main ingredient of a formula?"

Yue Guan paused, reading on with curiosity and anticipation. When he saw that the principle behind the drug relied on the deceased Bone Jade Bamboo's ability to attract ambient origin energy, he suddenly understood and exclaimed:

"A genius idea, a god-like train of thought. Not only does it avoid negatively impacting the foundation of soul power, but it also perfectly formulates the cheapest possible recipe."

"If it were me, even knowing the principle of the drug, without years of research, I wouldn't have been able to deduce this formula."

Yue Guan marveled at the author's talent, feeling humbled.

However, out of prudence, a practical drug experiment was still necessary.

Fortunately, his medicinal garden lacked nothing except herbs. The age of the herbs Gu La needed was low, and they were abundant in Yue Guan's garden.

Yue Guan stood up, utilizing the speed of a Title Douluo to dart through the garden, swiftly gathering the required herbs listed in the paper.

Due to his lifelong study of herbal medicine related to his martial soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, he was no stranger to potion-making. Soon, he brewed a pot of grayish-yellow ointment.

Yue Guan frowned slightly, "There are quite a few impurities. If filtered continuously with soul power, most impurities should be removed, but it remains to be seen whether the efficacy justifies the effort."

Gu La had underestimated the capabilities of a Title Douluo. Yue Guan, an expert in pharmacology, immediately identified how to handle the impurities.

Though the method was not a permanent solution, the Spirit Hall never lacked soul masters. Once he developed and promoted a filtering technique, they could surely supply the core disciples of the Spirit Hall.

Yue Guan sniffed the ointment—a refreshing citrus scent wafted up, causing him to smile involuntarily: "Indeed, choosing Red Tangerine Peel not only suppresses the heat caused by turbulent ambient energy but also contributes to this delightful aroma."

"Oak is truly a remarkable person!"

He sighed slightly, feeling as if he had encountered a kindred spirit. Without further hesitation, he scooped a bit of the ointment and placed it in his mouth.

Once swallowed, he circulated his soul power slightly, instantly refining the ointment.

Yue Guan felt the warmth emanating from his abdomen, circulating his soul power once. His fox-like eyes narrowed slightly, exuding a brilliant light.

Lü Hongwen kept his head lowered, staring intently at the ground. No wonder people said Elder Yue was the most fabulous of the Spirit Hall—he finally understood why.

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