After the excitement, Leo found himself in a dilemma. To release the puppet general from the painting and control it, he needed to erase the spiritual imprint that the previous cultivator had bestowed upon it.
Leo’s current cultivation level was at the Grand Spirit Master realm. Only by breaking through to the Spirit Lord realm could he open his sea of consciousness and generate spiritual awareness within it. It was this spiritual awareness that he needed to use to erase the spiritual imprint on the puppet general, allowing him to manipulate it.
As these thoughts occupied his mind, Leo’s gaze shifted to the bronze scroll in the left hand of the puppet general in the painting.
Unexpectedly, Leo’s head suddenly spun when he looked at it, and an image appeared in his mind.
“Wait, the puppet general is holding the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Borders!?”
Leo’s internal shock was truly indescribable. The Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Borders was one of the top ten innate spiritual treasures.
This map contained the heavens and the earth, nourishing all living things. It could generate everything and was considered an unparalleled treasure. Unlike other magical tools that focused on attack, defense, or a combination of both, the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Borders recorded the directions of the mountains, rivers, and veins of the primordial world. It was a map of the primordial world.
Inside it lay a boundless and endless spiritual energy that nurtured countless beings. Everything existed within its cycles of birth and death, creating a realistic depiction of the vast universe.
Once inside, even a Da Luo Golden Immortal could only be at the mercy of the map’s owner, with no room for resistance. If a saint were to enter, lacking a supreme treasure, they could be trapped for centuries.
For those with a supreme treasure, it would take a decade to escape. If the map were unfolded and placed in the air, it would disappear completely, silently deploying restrictions. Once caught within these restrictions, it was equivalent to being inside the map.
Unfortunately, the bronze scroll held by the puppet general in the ancient painting was not the genuine Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Borders sealed in the painting. Instead, it was just a clue to finding the actual map.
Soon, the image of the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State Borders disappeared from Leo’s mind.
While Leo was still in a daze, Michelle curiously asked, “Leo, what’s the magical function of this ancient painting of a general from ancient times?”
“It’s useful to me, but not to you. According to our previous agreement, I opened the ancient painting, helped you with the race, and now the painting belongs to me,” Leo said with a satisfied smile as he stored the ancient painting.
Once he advanced to the Spirit Lord realm and gained spiritual awareness, he could attempt to erase the puppet general’s spiritual imprint, replace it with his own, and thus release the puppet general, enhancing his own combat power.
“Fine, keep your secrets,” Michelle huffed. “How about this, besides the race, consider me owing you sisters a favor,” Leo suggested after a moment of thought.
“Owing us a favor? Hehe, sure,” Michelle said with a mischievous nod. Although this favor wasn’t part of the initial agreement, she saw no harm in accepting it. “But, make sure we win the race. We sisters can’t afford to lose face again,” Michelle added.
Leo confidently smiled, “No problem. If we lose, I’ll cover the bet.”
With the perception and reaction speed of a spiritual cultivator, winning the race would be effortless for Leo, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
“Sis, what if we bet ten million this time against Mark Lynch, winning back the losses we suffered before, principal and interest included? What do you think?” Michelle turned her gaze to Irene, asking.
Irene pondered for a moment, her beautiful eyes shimmering with a hint of radiance. “If Leo is confident he can win, perhaps we can bet something even more significant and meaningful.”
Michelle blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Leo and Madame Godwin, on the side, also turned their attention to Irene.
Irene looked at Michelle and said, “Michelle, you’re aware of the purpose of that woman from the Koken family in Japan, right?”
“Sis, you mean Maniwa Koken? That woman is eyeing the Lynch family’s Ice Spirit Sakura Blossom.” Michelle replied.
“Yes, Maniwa Koken is targeting the Ice Spirit Sakura Blossom recently developed by the Lynch family.” Irene nodded with a touch of solemnity in her voice.
Leo questioned with doubt, “How does your car race relate to a woman from Japan?”
Irene explained, “Two years ago, Kim Lynch, Mark Lynch’s father, invested a billion and established a flower base. He invited many floral experts from the National Academy of Sciences to develop a new variety of flowers.”
“The newly developed flowers, similar in size and fragrance to cherry blossoms, differ in that their petal fragrance is more lasting and refreshing than cherry blossoms. They are ice-white in color, so they named them Ice Spirit Sakura Blossoms.”
Leo inquired further, “What’s the purpose of Ice Spirit Sakura Blossoms? Why does that woman from Japan want them?”
“The perfume made from Ice Spirit Sakura Blossoms, carrying the distant fragrance of cherry blossoms, isn’t well-liked by our Chinese people, but it’s hugely popular in the island nation of Japan.” Irene explained.
Now Leo understood; the island nation of Japan holds cherry blossoms dear, making them highly coveted.
“In the Lynch family’s flower base, many Ice Spirit Sakura Blossoms are cultivated, and the Lynch family sells the petals to two domestic perfume companies.” Irene continued, “Within six months, the perfumes developed by these two private enterprises quickly captured thirty percent of the perfume market in Japan.”