The first experiments showed not everything was rosy with Seeds extracted from other people. No, they could still be used, but with strong limitations.
If I transplant the Seed personally right after extracting it, no problems. But if I put it in a special Seed container, the magic-boosting construct gradually breaks down and loses effectiveness. Apparently without the binding spirit, it doesn't last long.
And it happens relatively fast; after two hours, the Seed is fully destroyed, turning into just highly concentrated elemental mana.
And quite a lot comes out, even from a Spiritual Seed. Interesting, could ruined Seeds build an artificial magic source like the Three-Step Tower? Well whatever, experiments for later... much later.
Anyway, if I wanted to give Mu Nujiao as good a Spiritual Seed as mine, I'd have to implant it myself. No problem there. Just knock her out, do the operation, then say it was needed for proper absorption since the Seed is extremely strong—even the strongest at its rank. So she won't learn of my talent, and I can boost her calmly. Perfect.
By the way, during experiments I realized the magic-boost construct can break down unevenly, and usually does. This doesn't just lower the Seed's magic boost coefficient; it creates a kamikaze Seed.
The absorber's Inner World goes haywire, and if not strong enough, they die on the spot. Even if they survive, they get severe spirit trauma from Inner World damage and might fully lose or even regress in cultivation.
Maybe someday I'll use this to kill a couple people without linking deaths to me. Eh, always like this: want to just help a friend, end up discovering a silent kill method masked as an Unfortunate Accident. Experiments are so unpredictable.
Finishing the tests, I started searching for a big Heavenly wind element Seed for Mu Nujiao. And failed. No such info freely available online.
There was info on false and small Heavenly Seeds, who absorbed them and their life achievements. But nothing on big Heavenly wind Seeds. Or my internet search skills are mediocre, which can't be ruled out.
Had to turn to a pro. Ling Ling was sulking for leaving her alone in Shanghai, but understood no Hunter missions in Kowloon, and we wouldn't have time during this training.
So after a bit of nagging, she gladly agreed to gather info on big Heavenly wind Seeds. And even sent first results after a couple hours.
In Inner Mongolia province now stands Hohhot City. Nothing special: led by a High-level mage, under a million residents. But interesting is the place it stands on.
Inner Mongolia is famous for wind speed and most wind element Spiritual Seeds found there due to abundance.
So 900 years ago, High-level mage Da Zhao found a Seed on future Hohhot site—not simple, but big Heavenly. Problem: guarded by three Warlords and a tribe of subordinate monsters.
Luckily, Inner Mongolia is steppe; winged monsters don't settle there, so he had to steal from Wind Dragon Horses. Related Ice Dragon Horses I met hunting my Spiritual Seed.
Those horses were fast and strong, dominant locally. Da Zhao couldn't handle alone. So he leaked info on Heavenly Seed to rival clans. While they cleared the monster tribe with allies, he snuck the Seed and bolted.
That's how the site cleared for future Hohhot. And Da Zhao was never caught. Sending weaker than Binding spell mages or other High-level with Heavenly Seeds was useless due to his boosted power; even they didn't guarantee capture.
His Forbidden Domain Rule perfectly suited escape: "Frozen Air," compressing air in his domain to high density. Slowed attacks except spiritual/spatial, hindered pursuit by people and monsters.
Especially people; with weak bodies, they couldn't step in his Forbidden Domain. Even Warlord-level monsters moved at Servant speed; easy to outrun. Guy's a legend: screwed several strong clans and walked free. Even a temple in his honor in the city.
With many witnesses, Seed location info was detailed. Mostly curses at the shameless thief, but Ling Ling helpfully highlighted key parts in yellow. Love her; need to buy her a Chinese New Year gift too.
Learning from mistakes on my Spiritual Seed hunt, this time I double-checked calculations ten times and went for the Seed ready to summon armor and return to my world any second. Who knows who's there; better be a bit cowardly and stay alive.
Shifting to future Hohhot center long before Da Zhao found the Seed, I scouted. No element detectors this time; location info precise.
Around me for many km: steppe and small hills. All grass-covered; from the needed hill, I sensed dozens of relatively weak souls. No Pack Leader level, let alone Commander. Good; simpler the better. But don't drop caution.
Climbing the hill, I saw... dozens of two-meter hedgehogs. Their quills gleamed threateningly in sunlight, but I just couldn't see threat in those snorting fluffballs. And let all mankind throw stones, but I spared the monsters, just knocking them out temporarily with spiritual strike. Yeah, just 'cause cute; if spider lair, I'd dismember without thinking.
One hill depression had elevated magic background; telekinesis dig revealed wind elemental mana stream to my face, density matching my Spiritual Seed when I picked it. Calculations correct this time.
Collected into special Seed container, headed to nearest city to find an idiot to absorb it. Otherwise can't take it.
After applying magic wings at low altitude, reached nearest city in two hours under Sixfold Speed Boost. Eh, inhabited land area was truly small back then.
Stopping at nearest city—name unknown—spread spiritual senses to find Medium-level mage. And need one with wind element.
City relatively small; sensed only twelve Medium-level mages. Well, start the hunt.
Next half hour: approach a Medium-level mage, apply spirit element "Pacify," ask if they have wind element. Found one after five checks. So much for common element.
Under "Pacify" and "Fear" spirit spells, the middle-aged guy couldn't refuse. Knock out, extract Seed—even simpler.
Now just merge with Mu Nujiao. By time, she and Ai Tutu should be sleeping. Great, maybe no need to knock her out...