Chapter 1471: Mom Still Loves You
Forcibly increasing the total amount of spiritual power is no easy task. If each qualitative change requires a bit of talent, then increasing the total amount requires relentless diligence day and night and long-term accumulation. Xu Huo didn't have either of these conditions. First, because he hadn't been evolving for very long, and second, his evolution rate couldn't be raised for the time being, lacking the corresponding hardware foundation.
Six years ago, Bai Kou was barely over twenty. If she had already started Super Evolution back then, she was undoubtedly an absolute prodigy. Of course, judging from the current results, she was equally gifted—already an A-Grade Player at such a young age, and at the very least a dual-direction Super Evolver.
What was effortless for her might not be replicable by others.
After several attempts without finding a breakthrough, Xu Huo took out the notes of a Mental Evolver he had obtained from Fresh Flower City. Since they were both Super Evolvers, the insights and experiences of someone who had steadily improved their abilities might provide him with some clues.
Bai Kou waited in the next room for a while. Seeing that his attempts were fruitless and he had stopped to rest, she lost all interest. Staring at the readings on the instrument, which had settled into calm numbers, she said, "Not clever at all."
Hou Pei stood beside her. "Mr. Xu is very talented."
At least he was far beyond what someone like him could ever hope to reach.
Bai Kou naturally knew this. That was precisely why she believed that, given his current progress, he should easily complete the step of increasing his total amount after receiving a hint. She said as much, but expanding the coverage of the Spiritual Realm was definitely not as difficult as materializing spiritual power.
"Keep an eye on him. Wake him up if there's a problem," Bai Kou said.
Hou Pei nodded and then mentioned Lang Zongjing. "He's still waiting outside. It looks like he won't leave today without seeing you."
Bai Kou's eyes turned cold. "None of the Lang family have any shame, just like that woman."
No sooner had she spoken than the communicator on her wrist lit up. The figure of a beautiful woman was projected into the room, quietly gazing at her. "I've contacted you twice already, Kou Kou. Don't make me call a third time."
It was a recorded message. Bai Kou expressionlessly shut off the communicator, but the next second, Hou Pei's communicator rang. As a subordinate, he had no right to refuse a call from the Mayor's wife. So, after hiding the background, he answered.
The holographic projection was realistic enough to be indistinguishable from reality. The Mayor's wife appeared opposite Hou Pei, smiling gently. "Is Kou Kou with you?"
Hou Pei adjusted the angle to bring Bai Kou into the communication's view.
"Kou Kou." The Mayor's wife's beautiful face carried a hint of sorrow. "You've been back for so long, and we haven't had a meal together. I had someone buy a few of your favorite dishes. I'll cook them for lunch, okay?"
"I'm afraid you'll poison me," Bai Kou said flatly. "Save them for your current husband."
"Kou Kou..." The Mayor's wife called her name helplessly. "Do you have to talk to your mother like this? You've been away for so long. As a mother, I miss you too. I want to see you properly."
Bai Kou remained unmoved. "Just say what you want. Don't beat around the bush."
The Mayor's wife sighed. After a moment, she said, "We have a marriage agreement with the Lang family. You'd better not keep Lang Zongjing out."
Bai Kou looked up at the woman before her. "Or else?"
"This puts your mother in a difficult position." The strikingly beautiful woman's expression didn't change, but her still gentle tone carried an undeniable force. "Your mother, like you, only wants what's best for the Platinum Eye's future."
Bai Kou let out a cold laugh. "You can skip the empty promises."
"Alright," the Mayor's wife said, as if conceding. "Aren't you searching everywhere for the 'Time Origin'? I went out this time and borrowed a piece for you. I've already had it sent to your small lab. How about you send Lang Zongjing away and come back to have a meal with me?"
The cold smile on Bai Kou's face gradually faded, quickly replaced by a calm that revealed neither joy nor anger. She said, "The Mayor's wife is truly impressive."
"Even though you have issues with your mother, Mom still loves you very much." The Mayor's wife's maternal radiance seemed capable of transmitting through the communicator. "Pei Pei misses you too. Remember to bring her a toy."
After the communication ended, Bai Kou stood still, as if she had suddenly lost interest in everything. She said to Hou Pei, "I'm going to the lab. Drive Lang Zongjing away and tell him not to show up in front of me anytime soon."
"Yes." Hou Pei acknowledged. The two left the testing room one after the other.
On the other side of the wall, Xu Huo had finished reading Elder Zheng's notes.
When he had fought Elder Zheng before, the other party had created a type of flame within the Spiritual Realm. This flame could, to some extent, consume an opponent's spiritual power. And when targeting Xu Huo's Spiritual Gate, these flames could connect from points to a surface—meaning it didn't require enough power to cover the entirety of the opponent's Spiritual Realm to achieve the same effect. Because changes within the Spiritual Realm would cause fluctuations in power, Elder Zheng had gained insight in this area, managing to concentrate his own power while also accounting for the scope of the opponent's Spiritual Realm.
"Full control isn't necessary. As long as you can specifically track the traces of power fluctuations, Spiritual Interference can achieve the same effect." Xu Huo was lost in thought.
He had previously believed that covering an area with spiritual power was like a complete circle. Regardless of whether the circle was regular or not, the movement of power would inevitably be large-scale. Elder Zheng had chosen a different angle. Without such powerful spiritual control, he had turned this control into points—like spreading a net. He arranged power at each point, connected by lines, which could greatly reduce the mental burden.
Although he felt this method had significant drawbacks, as a way to achieve equal Spiritual Interference against multiple people, it was still a viable approach. Perhaps after dispersing the power, he would have the energy to expand the scope of the Spiritual Realm.
Concentrating spiritual power wasn't difficult—just reduce the range. But reducing it to scattered points required much more practice.
Putting away the notes, Xu Huo began to attempt Elder Zheng's method.
Unknowingly, a day passed. After nightfall, having successfully mastered the "net-spreading" technique, he walked out of the testing room drenched in sweat. Due to excessive consumption of spiritual power, he had a nosebleed as he came out.
Bai Kou, who already knew his progress through Hou Pei, sent him a message telling him to come back tomorrow.
"Thank you." Xu Huo took the towel Hou Pei handed him and heard him say, "I'll still see you out today."
Xu Huo didn't refuse. However, as soon as he stepped out of the Mechanical Castle's main gate, a flying vehicle suddenly pulled up and blocked his path. Xin Rong poked his head out. "I've been waiting for you for ages. Want to come have some fun?"
As he spoke, he winked at Xu Huo.