Preparations

The atmosphere inside Gu Tian's laboratory remained tense, but amidst the heavy mood, Gu Tian let out a slight smile before speaking in a calm yet resolute tone.

"While this may be a crisis, it could also be an opportunity for us."

As soon as the three heard his words, their eyes widened as if something had awakened within them. That's right. They had been so focused on the impending danger that they had forgotten—there was always opportunity hidden within every crisis.

At that moment, Gu Long spoke up with confidence. "So, you already have a plan, don't you?"

Gu Tian smiled and nodded before replying, "As I mentioned earlier, this catastrophe will likely occur in the next two years at the earliest, assuming no unforeseen factors accelerate it. What we need to do now is strengthen ourselves and our forces as much as possible."

He continued, "Even though I already have the Star Commerce Guild, it's still not enough. Based on insider information I've gathered, the Central Government and the Ten Great Families are likely aware of the impending disaster as well. Their top leaders have been acting increasingly secretive and reclusive, which indicates that they are making preparations of their own."

Gu Tian pressed on. "That's why I want us to start converting liquid assets into resources immediately. Any money that has been laundered should be turned into tangible assets as soon as possible. Once the catastrophe arrives, money will be nothing more than worthless paper. It's far better to stockpile valuable resources in advance."

"I'll leave this matter to you, Mother."

Guang Yue nodded in agreement without hesitation. She knew Gu Tian was a farsighted thinker, and she had ample experience handling such matters.

Gu Tian then turned to Gu Long and placed a black card in front of his father.

"As for you, Father, I want you to take control of the academies and begin recruiting talented individuals into our ranks. We cannot rely on external forces forever—we must build our own power base. And a strong force must start with a solid foundation."

He handed another card to Gu Long. "This card holds a massive amount of credits. I want you to establish our own Beast Tamer University and reinforce the internal infrastructure of various cities. We need to ensure that we have complete control over both resources and manpower."

Gu Mo, who had been quietly listening all this time, let out a small smile before speaking. "Leave it to me."

Guang Yue, standing beside him, rolled her eyes playfully, but deep down, she knew that her husband could prioritize matters when needed. While he might appear carefree at times, when the moment called for it, he was someone she could always rely on.

Finally, Gu Tian turned to Gu Mo. He pulled out a beautifully crafted golden ring and handed it to his grandfather.

"As for you, Grandfather, I want you to travel to various cities and seek out those with potential who can be trained to be loyal to us. Inside this ring, there are tens of thousands of blood contracts, as well as talent-assessment stones. This ring will transmit the contracts directly to your mind and analyze the talents of individuals in real time. However, it may not be able to reveal the abilities of certain individuals, as the database I possess is sourced from the Central Government's records, and some talents may not have been documented."

Gu Tian paused for a moment before adding, "Deciding whether to recruit these individuals into our family's covert unit or enroll them in our university will be up to your judgment. Additionally, if you come across hidden realms, rare materials, or valuable artifacts, I want you to collect them. We need to gather as many useful assets as possible before the catastrophe strikes."

Gu Mo nodded in understanding, his gaze reflecting a deep sense of pride in his grandson.

The once tense atmosphere within Gu Tian's laboratory began to shift, replaced by a sense of determination and resolve. Everyone understood that they didn't have much time—every second lost could mean the difference between survival and annihilation.

As everyone prepared to go their separate ways to carry out their respective tasks, Gu Tian suddenly spoke in a calm but firm voice.

"Everyone, please follow me for a moment."

Hearing his words, Gu Long, Guang Yue, and Gu Mo exchanged brief glances before nodding and following Gu Tian without any further questions. He led them deep into a part of the facility that almost no one had ever set foot in. This area was sealed off with multiple layers of security, so tightly fortified that even spiritual energy could barely seep through.

As they passed through several thick metal doors, Gu Long, who was walking right behind, suddenly spoke up in shock.

"This metal… Is this SSS-tier Darksteel?"

Guang Yue and Gu Mo, who hadn't noticed at first, quickly turned to inspect their surroundings. Their eyes filled with disbelief.

"Darksteel? You mean that metal even an Epic-rank Beast Tamer would struggle to destroy?" Guang Yue's voice was filled with astonishment.

Gu Mo placed a hand on the door and nodded. "It is. Even the Central Government barely has any of this. Where in the world did this rascal get his hands on it?"

The three of them observed the long corridor, completely encased in Darksteel walls, as well as the doors forged from this extremely rare mineral. But before they could press him for answers, Gu Tian swiftly changed the subject.

"Let's head inside first."

Guang Yue, still skeptical, couldn't help but ask, "How much money did this room cost exactly?"

But before she could inquire further, Gu Long simply waved a hand, grabbed his wife's wrist, and led her inside.

"Just get in. Sometimes, it's better to sleep peacefully without knowing too much."

Gu Mo didn't question anything either. He silently followed them inside.

The moment they stepped into the room, everyone was stunned by what they saw.

At the center of the room was a special bed surrounded by numerous life-support devices, but what caught their attention the most was the five crimson stones placed atop the bed. They looked like ordinary rocks, yet their deep red patterns emitted a mysterious aura. Behind them stood a lone tree that radiated a faint but distinct energy.

Guang Yue was the first to speak. "A Millennium Pine?"

Gu Mo examined the tree closely before nodding. "A Millennium Pine—one of the rarest healing artifacts. Simply lying near it allows a person on the brink of death to recover fully. It doesn't just heal wounds; it cures any disease, no matter how severe. These should have gone extinct long ago. Where did you find one?"

Gu Tian chuckled softly but didn't answer. Instead, he walked to the corner of the room and picked up a bag. As he opened it, three delicate flower petals were revealed inside.

He picked them up and spoke. "These are Spirit Veil Petals. Their ability is to prevent mind-reading or soul-searching. They will last forever unless forcibly destroyed. As for how to use them... just swallow them whole."

The three exchanged glances before each took a petal without hesitation.

"I've never heard of anything like this before in my entire life," Gu Mo muttered under his breath before swallowing it, just as Guang Yue and Gu Long did.

The moment the Spirit Veil Petals were consumed, a faint spiritual energy began to circulate around them, wrapping them in a calm yet profound aura. Slowly, everything began to settle.