?Michael also experimented a lot with the blueprints procured from the Regional War. He hadn’t used or sold them until now because it was obvious that he would need them at some point. However, using more than 2.8 million blueprints in experiments was easier said than done.
Michael didn’t know how many days he spent using Insert and Extraction to combine fragments and extract certain components of a blueprint in an attempt to create rare, high-quality blueprints. He managed to create Specialized Training Range blueprints, an upgraded version of an Advanced Infirmary, Superior Ranches, Treehouse Apartment Complexes, and the like.
It was very interesting as each completed blueprint advanced the progress within Arx and Brynud. The creation of high-quality blueprints would help simplify the construction of new settlements. The cost efficiency and time required to construct a proper settlement would decrease drastically. That was even more so after Michael combined more than one million blueprints to form a Basic Settlement Blueprint.
He spend another 500,000 blueprints adjusting the Basic Settlement Blueprint to fit into the Untamed Jungle. Once completed, Michael showed the humongous blueprint to the Architects, who were exhilarated. One of the Master Alchemists gained enlightenment and was promoted following several days of working on the Basic Settlement Blueprint.
Excited and curious about the efficiency of the Basic Settlement Blueprint, the Architects requested to alter Brynud. Michael denied that request because it would affect the livelihood of too many Summons, but he permitted them to work on another settlement. Since most of his Starless Summons had yet to be given a long-term task, Michael thought it might be best to expand his territory. His territory’s population could be expanded rapidly now that he had the resources to focus on it.
Brynud was still not completed, but the surplus of workers allowed the creation of a third settlement. The settlement would have various specialized training ranges, another Hunter Academy, and various other places that focused on training, enlightenment, and promotions. It would be a scholarly settlement perfect for everyone who desired to focus on studying, experimenting, and attaining enlightenment to increase their star rating.
Once Michael was done taking care of the experiments he’d postponed way too long already, he wanted to focus on his Soultrait Symbols and the SoulStar Fragments accumulated in his War Rune.
[Finally, we’re getting to the fun part!] Danny exclaimed in his mind.
“Fun part? Well…that’s not wrong,” Michael grinned. It was fun to throw around Soultrait Symbols and upgrade them as he pleased.
He had close to 1,000 stored in the sealed container and still 360,000ish SoulStar Fragments left to use.
“The only issue is that I need to feed you quite a lot of SoulStar Fragments to strengthen your Soul and that I’ll have to upgrade Soul Grimoire to 7-Star to ensure that I can contain your Soul once it regains full power,” Michael pointed out.
[What?! I’m the issue now? Just ignore the Soul Grimoire for the time being. Didn’t you say that you’ll beat the shit out of the Tekur soon? If they bring many Elite Tekur to this year’s Flag War, you’ll get 1000 or more SoulStar Fragments from each corpse, either way. If you extract them alive, you get Soultrait Symbols and even more SoulStar Fragments.] 𝘪𝘳.𝒸𝘰𝑚
“That is not wrong either,” Michael responded. It would be great if the Tekur would throw 1000 Elite Tekur into the Interdimensional Flag War. That way, he could procure roundabout one million SoulStar Fragments. That was enough to upgrade Soul Grimoire and fill Danny’s Soul to the brim.
[See. So upgrade your Soultraits!] Danny declared.
Michael could only nod. He knew upgrading his Soultraits would slow his progress to a Higher Lifeform. However, Michael would also learn a lot more about his Soultraits. Furthermore, every Soultrait with six or more stars would enhance the User’s being according to their properties. That would come in handy against the Tekur.
Michael could also do a lot more with stronger Soultraits. For example, by upgrading Insert to 6-Star, Michael would be able to do things he couldn’t do beforehand.
[Upgrade Insert to 6-Star and then upgrade a few more Soultraits, please! Insert is good, but let’s be honest. Upgrading it to 7-Star right now isn’t worth it. Your other Soultraits need some attention as well, especially Reinforced Sword Qi…I think.]
“Reinforced Sword Qi doesn’t fit me. It’s your Soultrait. I want you to take it back once your vessel is ready for you. I can upgrade Reinforced Sword Qi to 6-Star, but the Soultrait isn’t compatible with me. It’s yours,” Michael declared.
[Mine? Well, I always loved Reinforced Sword Qi. I can show you some tricks if you want. Even if you’re incompatible with it, your Qi Extraction Sword and the like will be much stronger once you upgrade Reinforced Sword Qi. If you want to give it back to me…give it to me once it is a 6-Star or 7- Star Soultrait!]
Michael frowned deeply but he smiled as he blurted out, “Greedy bastard.”
[So what? I’m a soul stuck in your Soul Grimoire. Let me have some fun!]
“Sorry about that,” Michael pressed his lips together, but he couldn’t contain his facial features. He smiled lightly. It was nice to have Danny so close to him after losing him. His brother was also not serious about being ‘angry’ about being confined by the Soul Grimoire. He was comfortable being with Michael—as comfortable as a Living Soul could be.
“Okay. Upgrading Insert and Reinforced Sword Qi it is then,” Michael concluded, “Enhancement deserves another upgrade as well. Taming, probably, as well. Taming combined with Tatjana’s Eye of Evolution will be a horrifyingly powerful long-
term combo.”
[What about Cosmic Stride and 4-Star Sphere of Elements? The only Soultraits you don’t have to upgrade or can’t upgrade right now are Soul Grimoire, Extraction, and Spirit Eyes. Even upgrading Superior Constitution to 7-Star is worth it. In fact, Superior Constitution at 7-Star should help you refine your War Rune faster. The barrier obstructing every Awakened from ascending to a Higher Lifeform won’t be that troublesome for you either with 7-Star Superior Constitution.]
“Brother…I don’t have that many SoulStar Fragments. I can either upgrade one Soultrait to 7-Star or most of my other Soultraits to 6-Star,” Michael rolled his eyes slightly annoyed, but his brother was too excited.
[Demand more criminals from the Valyrs then. They can throw hundreds of Higher Lifeforms at you. Then, you can upgrade all Soultraits without having to worry about your expenses!]
“The contract says that they have to hand me only a handful of Higher Lifeforms every month. Silver Teleportation Tokens are wasted on criminals under normal circumstances. The Valyrs wouldn’t give me more criminals without demanding more in return as well,” Michael said, but Danny didn’t accept his reasoning. .𝘤𝘰
[Just give them a bunch of Soultraits in exchange. Your 900ish Soultraits are collecting dust, either way.]
“They’ll find out about my powers then,” Michael reasoned, only to realize how stupid that sounded.
[They understand about you, either way. Just give up trying to hide your power from other races. Throw Soultrait Symbols and Soultrait Upgrades at everyone who benefits you. That will draw them closer!]
“Okay, okay,” Michael said lightly before deciding that it might be best to prepare a few documents for the Valyrs, the Tritan Alliance, and the Forest Elves. Maybe it was actually better to openly distribute Soultrait Symbols and Soultrait Upgrades in exchange for criminals. It was morally wrong, but as long as the criminals were not wrongfully incriminated and their crimes were bad enough, Michael didn’t see anything wrong with trading them for Soultraits and Soultrait Upgrades.
[I think I’m a bad influence. You would never have listened to me in the past.] Danny noted when he saw the first drafts of the documents Michael had prepared quickly.
Michael forced to smile, “You don’t realize how much I’ve changed.”
His voice sounded somber and silence reigned supreme in Michael’s head for a few seconds. Danny took a while before he spoke again.
[Maybe I don’t. Maybe I can only view my little brother when I speak to you. I might not have realized that you are an adult already…and that you have to bear a much heavier responsibility than I ever could.]
Michael felt a clot in his throat as he listened to his brother.
[But you’re doing an excellent job. I understand that you can do it. I’m proud of you!]
𝘳𝑎.𝒸ℴ