Leaving the girls' room, I sighed wearily. My body might not be tired, but mentally I was wrung out like a lemon. Experiments, info searches, calculations, trips to various places, transplanting Mu Nujiao's Spiritual Seed.
I almost walked into the unsleeping girls' room with the Seed in hand – good thing my heightened senses caught the sounds from their room, and I immediately knocked out the premises' owner. Nearly blew my cover stupidly. Maybe I should rest?
Eh, I'd like to, but finding cultivation vessels for the girls is crucial. I even considered just buying them good ones at auction and putting off the Totem vessel hassle. But I know myself – buy good vessels and stop there. Nothing's more permanent than the temporary. And the Totems will really help in the war against Oceanic monsters. Plus, extra protection for the girls won't hurt.
Alright, decided. Find them suitable cultivation vessels – I should make it by Chinese New Year. Then rest till the end of this training camp. I'm not made of iron and could burn out.
Okay, focus. Less than a month and a half till Chinese New Year. In that time, find two Totem vessels, preferably from the Big Four members. Thoughhh, is that really necessary?
Zhao Manyan's Wooden Fish let the guy boost defense magic to Mo Fan's Heavenly Seed level, despite his own being Soul Seed. Maybe I should focus on special vessel abilities instead of chasing monster power we might not even revive?
The Azure Dragon was in near-intact condition, anyway. A bit of necromancy, artifactory, special reagents like a few Holy Springs, and tons of energy from the Dark Talisman at least let it fight. What about the other Big Four members?
The White Tiger somehow passes its growth potential genetically, and the current lineage bearer is still a kid, though it can grow fast.
The Black Tortoise, parent of the Hangzhou Serpent and Baxia, vanished in last Ocean War per records, like many other totems. Doubt anything's left of her body – she died near the ocean. Probably eaten.
Phoenix… most ambiguous. A fragment still lives in the undead sea warlord, sustaining it. In theory, way better shape than the Azure Dragon, which is basically a lifeless construct puppeted by a spirit the Dark Talisman condensed and programmed.
But freeing it needs a powerhouse team, and it'd be nice to snag its regen ability. Though I could just hit up its parallel world copy later for regen. So Phoenix lives – an immortal junior Emperor-level combat unit will come in handy.
So, Azure Dragon for Mo Fan, Phoenix to TuTu, White Tiger for me. Leaves Black Tortoise, but she got eaten… yeah, no wonder she's the weakest of the four, didn't even have survival means like the other three. Her vessel's useless.
Conclusion: Phoenix Totem vessel for TuTu – plus she'll get Fiery Hetera later. Good combo. For Mu Nujiao, pick something with a solid ability.
Big Four vessels didn't have special abilities but condensed spirit to control Totem remains. Junior totems, due to lower combat power, directed vessel energy to empower Totem guardians via special abilities. Need one fitting Mu Nujiao.
Took three days to compile Tang Yue's info and my past-life knowledge. Sadly, not all totems in her notes were marked, just some. Either lost info or they had none – normal. People lived far apart back then.
Even traveling 900 years back, I flew over two hours to the nearest city on magic wings at 6x speed boost – let alone more ancient times. Good she sent info on eight Totem guardians.
Honestly, if no fitting ability among those eight for Mu Nujiao, I wouldn't hit my 1.5-month deadline. Would've had to time-hop to ancient eras, hunt Totem guardians, quiz them on colleagues they might not know – insanely time-consuming. Half a year easy. I'd burn out hard. Praise the gods, the eight had what I needed.
Wind Falcon. No clue which branch this totem was from, but as a bird, probably Phoenix line. Power level like Hangzhou Serpent, but unlike the crawler, didn't survive the war and died. Not too interested in it myself, but its vessel…
Like Baxia's vessel, Wind Falcon's boosted movement magic. High level x2, Super x4, theoretically Forbidden Curse x6. Theoretical, since no guardian reached that. Zhao Manyan didn't hit Forbidden Curse in life either, so no exact data.
But perfect for Mu Nujiao! With her future Big Heavenly Seed boost, soul stars if I port them here, plus vessel… no one catches her!
Don't forget Oath Tree fruit and Spirit Praise seal. And if she taps her Forbidden Domain slowdown…
Anyway, make her a speed fighter. Under that many buffs, her hits will pack power and speed too – add poison element, lights out.
Good poison's dark magic but doesn't draw external energy like shadow, curse, necromancy. Those summon or tap Dark Plane beings, letting Dark King influence via the channel. Wider channel, bigger influence.
Poison stands alone – mix what you mix, that's your poison strength, no more, no less. Real magic depth research needed, not just hit harder.
Decision made, I started hunting Phoenix and Wind Falcon Totem vessels. Mornings checked on girls, then off to parallel world. When energy ran dry – lasted till evening now – back to hotel.
Day after day, week after week, I slaved for the girls' growth, and they saw it. Didn't always like it, worried seeing my tired evenings. But no more trying to dissuade me, given my resolve.
They caught it too – fought arena daily. Mostly won, but per my advice, self-handicapped sometimes and lost. Like TuTu banned from Silver Grass AOE like first fight.
Or artifact limits. But built tactical smarts. One-shotting everyone makes combat experience lopsided.
Mu Nujiao surprised me most. Post-arena debut, way more emotional, open, cheerful.
Switched wardrobe to jean shorts and green tank like some mercs in the bar. Mu Nujiao chatted and drank with them! Did I corrupt a pure girl? Gotta take responsibility?
TuTu surprised too – no sweets for me last week, though she'd beg for cuddles before. On asking, mysterious smile, wait till New Year. Prepping special gift, I hope. Worth the abstinence week?
Girls got super popular here – without my High-level mage curb-stomp Day 1, suitors nonstop. But mercs chatted freely with TuTu and Mu Nujiao, so they didn't miss me much.
Finally, January 29, Chinese New Year. Found the Totem vessels – pinpointed times they lay unguarded in shrines like my pendant, swiped 'em. Spent the 1.5 months hunting those windows.
Well, today congratulate girls, then nothing stops well-earned rest!