The Gu in his hand decreased one by one, and his reward points rapidly increased.
Seventeen Rank One Gu, twenty-three Two-turn Gu, sixteen Rank Three Gu.
Seventeen Rank One Gu gave 1870 reward points, twenty-three Two-turn Gu gave 10120 reward points, and sixteen Rank Three Gu gave 21200 reward points (the first four were 2000 each, the remaining twelve were 1100 each).
A total of 33190 reward points!
Adding the previously remaining 17000 points, Zhou Ming's total reward points soared to 50190.
Over fifty thousand reward points!
"As expected, to earn a lot, you have to rely on buying and selling. Speculation makes you rich, diligent work buries you without a trace. The meager amount earned by fighting to the death in the plot world is nothing!"
Thinking this, Zhou Ming casually exchanged for 30 pure Soul Crystals, consuming 15000 reward points.
After accumulating through one plot world, Zhou Ming's Soul strength had already reached the level of 45 people.
After this 30-day interval between missions, his Soul strength would reach the level of 75 people.
If he was lucky, by the end of the third plot world, he would achieve the accomplishment of a Hundred-Person Soul!
A Hundred-Person Soul is the limit of Soul enhancement for ordinary people, and also the limit of life and death.
If the Soul exceeds a Hundred-Person Soul, even by a tiny bit, the Soul will explode and perish.
However, this limit is not unbreakable; as long as the Soul can be refined, the upper limit of its capacity can be increased, allowing for further enhancement of Soul strength.
Strengthening the Soul is an accumulation of quantity, while refining the Soul is a change in quality, just like turning foam into soil, soil into stone, and stone into reinforced concrete.
Soul cultivation, with quality and quantity proceeding in parallel, neither aspect can be neglected. This is the first rule that every Soul Path Gu Master keeps in mind.
"To achieve a Hundred-Person Soul, the investment is enormous! If entirely boosted by Soul Crystals, it would cost fifty thousand reward points alone!"
Zhou Ming sighed, then couldn't help but fantasize.
"If only I had Soul Shaking Mountain, Luo Po Valley..."
Soul Shaking Mountain and Luo Po Valley are both Heaven and Earth Secret Realms. Soul Shaking Mountain produces Guts Gu, which can directly strengthen the Soul. Luo Po Valley produces bewilderment fog and falling Soul wind, which can refine and advance the Soul, increasing its load capacity.
These are the two supreme treasures of the Soul Path, the two Holy Lands in the eyes of Soul Path Gu Masters.
"It's just that, although I know where Soul Shaking Mountain and Luo Po Valley are, the timing isn't right now, and I don't know if my information is accurate."
"Moreover, with my current strength, thinking about these things is still too far-fetched."
Suppressing those useless fantasies, Zhou Ming then exchanged for ten Scarlet Iron Relic Gu, consuming 4000 reward points.
"Earning fast and spending fast, two tens of thousands gone just like that."
Remarking on money flowing like water, Zhou Ming turned and left the Main God Space.
The days ahead were bound to be busy, and Zhou Ming was already prepared to rush around.
The next day, Zhou Ming went to the second Market, disguised as a Rank 3 Gu Master, and distributed the Scarlet Iron Relic Gu he had among several different shops, successfully purchasing a Silver Relic Gu and a Ghost Face Gu that could disguise one's appearance.
Then, he extensively acquired Gu, and also replenished the food needed for his own Gu.
On the second night, Zhou Ming's reward points returned to fifty thousand. This time it was a bit less than last time, because the suitable Gu available in the Market further decreased, and Zhou Ming could only buy more expensive Gu to exchange.
"This won't do. The Market resources here are depleting day by day, and the harvest will inevitably be lower each time. I must go out and open up new avenues."
On the third day, Zhou Ming did not go out again, because Zhou Hao and the others had returned.
Having received the news in advance, Zhou Ming waited at the Warm Pool Valley entrance before they returned, and soon met the four returning individuals.
No, it was three people.
Seeing the three of them with blood-stained clothes and low spirits, Zhou Ming's heart sank, and he quickly went to meet them.
"What happened?" Zhou Ming ran to the three and asked anxiously, "Where is Zhou Jiaping?"
"Zhou Ming?" Zhou Hao's face was full of exhaustion, his eyes bloodshot, looking as if he hadn't slept for three days and nights, yet he still keenly sensed Zhou Ming's aura and asked in surprise, "You..."
Zhou Ming used Deception Gu to disguise his aura as a newly entered Two-turn, but this still surprised Zhou Hao, after all, they had only been apart for ten days.
Zhou Ming was about to answer when he was suddenly interrupted by a loud shout.
"Get out of the way!"
Another person among the three pushed Zhou Ming, trying to shove him aside, but couldn't.
Zhou Ming looked at the person who made the move, his face full of anger, yet unable to hide his sadness and fatigue, putting on a brave but inwardly weak front. He sighed, grabbed his wrist, and slowly pried his hand open.
"Zhou Yu, go back and rest. We can talk about whatever happened tomorrow."
Seeing the three of them in this state, Zhou Ming could naturally guess what had happened, and also why Zhou Yu was taking out his anger on him.
"Stop pretending to be a good person here!" Zhou Yu flung Zhou Ming's hand away and roared, "I don't want to see you, stay away from me!"
He bypassed Zhou Ming and ran furiously towards Warm Pool Valley.
Zhou Ke, the third person in the team, also glared at Zhou Ming resentfully and chased after Zhou Yu.
"You two..." Zhou Hao shouted, but couldn't stop the two from slowly disappearing from his sight.
"Sigh." Zhou Hao looked at Zhou Ming and gently comforted him, "Don't take it to heart. They are just..."
"I understand." Zhou Ming asked calmly, "What did you encounter?"
"A Small Beast Tide!" Zhou Hao said resentfully, "Every time it gets close to the ten-year great snowstorm, the number of Beast Tides in various places will continuously increase. But this time it's too early, there's still a whole year left!"
"A Small Beast Tide?" Zhou Ming pondered silently, thinking of the large-scale hunt the Family was going to hold in May.
It seems the Family has long been consciously preparing for it.
"So, this isn't your fault." Zhou Hao patted Zhou Ming's shoulder and sighed again.
"Encountering a Small Beast Tide, it's lucky we even survived. One more or one less of you wouldn't have made much difference."
"Once they calm down, they'll realize their mistake. Then, I'll make them apologize to you."
"Apologize to me for what?" Zhou Ming said with a bitter smile, "We are a team. It's my fault for not participating in the team mission. It's not unreasonable for them to blame me."
"Forget it, let's not talk about this." Zhou Hao waved his hand, "Having escaped death this time, I'm also exhausted. Let's discuss this problem after I've rested."
"Okay, I'll see you off."
"That works."
The two walked side by side, silently all the way, no one speaking, not knowing what to say.
They continued in silence until they reached the entrance of Zhou Hao's residence.
"Alright, I'm here. You go back." Zhou Hao said.
"Okay." Zhou Ming responded, standing still, watching Zhou Hao open the door and walk inside.
"Rest well, find me if you need anything." Zhou Ming suddenly said.
Zhou Hao's body paused, he didn't speak, just raised his hand and waved it above his head, leaving Zhou Ming with his back, then closed the door.
Zhou Ming stared blankly at the door for a long while, then, as if just coming back to his senses, turned around and walked towards his own residence.
'Zhou Hao, you don't say it, but you blame me in your heart, right?'
He walked alone in silence, his shadow stretched long under the sunlight, appearing somewhat lonely and desolate.