Sign-In Mission

After hearing the system's analysis, Zhao Ming felt it made quite a bit of sense. Yu Xiaogang was now counting on Tang San to make a name for him. He definitely would not let Tang San go to Shrek Academy so early. Tang San had probably been taken by Yu Xiaogang to some unknown junior academy to study.

In the original story, Yu Xiaogang had sent Tang San to Shrek Academy largely because he was no longer capable of helping Tang San obtain Soul Rings at level thirty and above.

Tang San was still young now, so Yu Xiaogang naturally wanted to train him personally.

"Forget it. I can't be bothered with him. He's just Tang San. What can he possibly do? I already had his father killed. Next time I see him, I'll still beat him down." Zhao Ming curled his lip and spoke disdainfully.

Tang San could at most cause him a little trouble now; he was not worth fearing at all. What Zhao Ming found regrettable was that system mission. The reward for killing Tang San, the Son of Destiny, would definitely be generous.

With Tang Hao dealt with and Tang San having left Nuoding Academy, Zhao Ming's school life began to settle into peace. It even made Zhao Ming miss Tang San a little. At least he used to have someone to pass the time with. Now, there was nothing.

Zhao Ming and Xiao Wu had barely attended any classes. Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast cultivating in human form, and much of the knowledge human Soul Masters learned was useless to her. As for Zhao Ming, he had the system as a cheat. Whenever he cultivated, he could simply ask the system.

Very quickly, a year passed.

Over that year, Zhao Ming's cultivation reached level fifteen. Rising from level eleven to level fifteen in a year was not particularly fast for Zhao Ming. That was because he did not put much thought into cultivation. After all, as a transmigrator, he had once been the sort of person who could not even pay attention in class and spent all day daydreaming. Things had improved a little after coming to the Douluo Continent, but he still had that bad habit. In the system's words, he had too many distracting thoughts.

However, Zhao Ming did not care. Back when he read fantasy novels, he had seen many great experts with no distracting thoughts, wholly devoted to cultivation. Zhao Ming did not want to become that kind of person. If he had no desires or wants, then what the hell was he cultivating for? Wasn't he cultivating to grow stronger and satisfy his desires?

What disappointed Zhao Ming most, however, was that a full year had passed, yet Flame Spirit Princess still showed no signs of awakening.

It made Zhao Ming want to curse. Flame Spirit Princess's Life Force had clearly reached ten points, so why was she still the same? In the end, he received a depressing answer: the maximum Life Force was one hundred.

However, Flame Spirit Princess did not need to reach one hundred points before she could revive. According to the system's description, when a Puppet's Life Force reached twenty points, its heart would begin to beat. That was the start of life's revival. Then, with every additional ten levels, its Life Aura would grow stronger.

During this time, Zhao Ming had asked the system more than once how to quickly increase a Puppet's Life Force, but the system had brushed him off every time. According to it, before a Puppet's Life Force reached level twenty, there was no special way to increase it. One could only wait for the Puppet to awaken on its own as time passed.

After getting no answer several times, Zhao Ming could only give up. He could only wait slowly until Flame Spirit Princess's Life Force reached twenty points before asking the system again.

"Ding. Sign-in mission issued: Extreme North. Time limit: two months."

"Mission reward: Puppet Tu Shan Ya Ya."

Zhao Ming, who had been lying in a chair with one leg crossed over the other, looking bored, suddenly perked up.

The system had not issued him a mission in far too long.

Wait, Tu Shan Ya Ya? Wasn't she that obsessive sister-lover?

Delighted, Zhao Ming hurriedly opened the system panel.

Host: Zhao Ming

Soul Power: Level 15

Martial Soul: Puppet, Ancient Immortal Bird

Soul Bone: None

Puppet: Flame Spirit Princess (Life Force: 10)

Sign-In: Extreme North (time limit: two months) Reward: Puppet Tu Shan Ya Ya

Mission: Kill Tang San, Son of Destiny (no time limit)

He tapped the words "Tu Shan Ya Ya," and a series of details about her appeared before his eyes.

Tu Shan Ya Ya:

From the Fox Spirit Matchmaker plane. A Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox and the Leader of the Demon Alliance. Tu Shan Ya Ya possessed powerful Cold Demonic Power. After her Sister, Tu Shan Hong Hong, left, she became Tu Shan's strongest fighter. Though she appeared proud and aloof, she was actually quite tsundere.

Abilities:

Heaven and Earth Dharma Image: A spell that could make the user gigantic. Ya Ya had once used this spell to hold up the Golden Masked Fire God's giant fireball, buying time to catch her breath.

Ice Magic: Ya Ya had always cultivated Ice Demonic Energy, but after Hong Hong disappeared, Ya Ya specialized in Ice Magic for five hundred years. In the end, its power reached the highest realm of Ice Magic—Absolute Zero. She once used this spell to Ice Seal Tears of the Void, the strongest magical treasure between heaven and earth, wielded by Bai Yuechu. For thousands of years, no demon had ever cultivated cold demonic energy to such a level.

Endless Wine Gourd: The wine gourd Tu Shan Ya Ya used specifically for drinking. After drinking, her demonic power would greatly increase.

It really was Ya Ya!

This Puppet was pretty incredible!

Tsundere on the inside, cold and proud on the outside, with outstanding strength. Perfect!

At the same level of Soul Power, Tu Shan Ya Ya would definitely be able to display far greater strength than Flame Spirit Princess. After all, the Fox Spirit Matchmaker plane was stronger than Nine Songs of the Moving Sky, and Tu Shan Ya Ya was among the top-tier figures in Fox Spirit Matchmaker. Her combat power was certainly much greater.

But going to the Extreme North now seemed a little beyond his strength.

A few days ago, he had just sent Ah Yin to infiltrate the Clear Sky Sect. Going alone to the Extreme North would be tantamount to courting death. Still, the mission did not say he had to enter the core region of the Extreme North. He could just finish the mission at the outermost edge and slip away.

But how was he supposed to tell Xiao Wu? Vacation was about to begin, and Ah Yin had gone to the Clear Sky Sect. Leaving Xiao Wu alone seemed somewhat inappropriate. But he could hardly take Xiao Wu with him to the Extreme North.

That evening, Zhao Ming sat on the balcony outside with Xiao Wu in his arms, watching the starry sky.

"Xiao Wu, we've known each other for a year already, haven't we?" Zhao Ming said wistfully.

"Yeah, a year already. I still remember the first time I saw you." Xiao Wu nestled in Zhao Ming's arms. Thinking of when she had first met him, she revealed a sweet smile.

"I have a gift for you. Consider it a token of our one-year anniversary." Zhao Ming spoke tenderly as he took an exquisite little box from his pocket. A silk ribbon had been tied into a bow on top.

"What is it?" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up with curiosity.

"Why not open it and see?"

"Okay." Xiao Wu was impatient by nature. She immediately pulled off the ribbon and opened the box.

But the moment she saw what was inside, Xiao Wu's gaze softened.

"A ring? You're giving me a ring?" Looking at the pink ring, Xiao Wu said in delighted surprise.

"That's right. This ring was passed down through my family. It's called the Heart of Blessing. After I became old enough to understand, my mother put this ring on my hand. She told me that once I met the girl I could spend my life with, I was to give this ring to her. So after we confirmed our relationship, I stopped wearing it, because I knew it had found its owner." Zhao Ming spoke slowly, deeply moving Xiao Wu.

"I've always wanted to give it to you, but I never found the right opportunity. Now, I think it's time. Time to give it to you." As Zhao Ming spoke affectionately, he slowly placed the ring onto Xiao Wu's finger.

His movements were gentle, as though he feared hurting the girl beside him.

Seeing how careful and earnest Zhao Ming was, Xiao Wu's heart overflowed with sweetness.