Zi Yan's Approval; Pay-to-Win Dou Skills

Yang Shan invited Zi Yan to dinner, but didn't invite anyone else.

This girl is very withdrawn; she becomes more defensive when other people are around.

Yang Shan led Zi Yan to a vast forest outside the Inner Courtyard, where they found a high mountain and landed at the source of a spring.

Then they set up the table and chairs and took out delicious food from their Storage Ring.

But Zi Yan just ate the rice, barely touching the vegetables.

Yang Shan asked, "What's wrong? Doesn't it suit your taste?"

Zi Yan shook her head. "You can't eat too much, otherwise your stomach will be too full to eat any more spiritual plants."

Yang Shan: "You've been consuming spiritual plants like crazy, is it to become stronger?"

Zi Yan answered calmly:

"Um."

Hearing this extremely brief answer, Yang Shan was basically certain that, given his current level of affection for Zi Yan, Zi Yan was unwilling to open up to him during normal conversations.

In the game, Zi Yan's past experiences are not significantly different from those in the original novel.

So the reason why Zi Yan kept consuming spiritual plants was that she wanted to transform back into her original form as soon as possible and see what kind of "monster" she really was.

Monsters must cultivate to the Seventh Order before they can take on human form.

Before reaching the Seventh Order, one can transform by consuming "Transformation Pill" or "Transformation Grass".

However, this kind of transformation is irreversible before one's strength reaches the Seventh Order.

Therefore, Zi Yan is currently unable to transform into human form.

If her strength reaches the Seventh Order (Dou Zong), she will know what kind of magical beast she is and can try to find her "kin".

Perhaps I will be able to see my blood relatives again.

This desire was so strong that Zi Yan could endure the indescribable taste of many spiritual plants and force herself to swallow them.

Yang Shan just stared at Zi Yan without saying a word.

Zi Yan finally grew impatient with the stare. "Why do you keep staring at me?"

Yang Shan: "I was just wondering, many spiritual plants taste sour and bitter, how did such a cute little girl like you manage to swallow them?"

Yang Shan's strategy for winning over Zi Yan, in the early stages when her favorability rating was low, was to use drastic measures: break through her defenses!

This drove Zi Yan to the brink of collapse! So, how exactly did she manage to swallow it?

This question seemed to bring back the pure spiciness of when Zi Yan ate the Hundred Flame Fruit, making Zi Yan feel dizzy.

There's also the Azure Nether Epiphyllum, whose petals are sour and whose stamens smell bad.

The Radiant Rock Floss Grass is the rock-hardest!

She had no idea how she swallowed it.

Anyway, you just swallow it down as you cry.

Zi Yan was broken by a single sentence, seemed unable to hold back. Her lips trembled and tears welled up in her eyes.

Fortunately, she was "smart" and lowered her head.

They definitely won't see it!

"How can such a small amount be enough?"

Yang Shan sighed, took out a Jade Bottle from his Storage Ring, and said regretfully, "But this is probably the only treasure I have that can help you, but it won't fill your stomach!"

Zi Yan quickly wiped away her tears and exclaimed in surprise:

"Do you have any more?"

Yang Shan nodded. "Yes, but not many."

Zi Yan dared not reach out, because she had previously consumed the Accompanying Amethyst Source and obtained a considerable amount of "nutrition" from it.

So she knew very well that this thing was very valuable.

Zi Yan said timidly:

"Why, why did you take this out again?"

Yang Shan: "Didn't I invite you to dinner? I feel bad if I invite someone to dinner and don't let them eat their fill. I'll give you the Accompanying Amethyst Source. Can you just consider this meal enough to fill your stomach?"

"Yes, yes!"

Zi Yan was afraid that if she agreed too late, Yang Shan would go back on his word.

She would occasionally go to the Secret Treasure Vault to "take" spiritual plants to eat, since there were very few things in the Secret Treasure Vault that she couldn't get.

But she didn't dare take too much, otherwise Great Elder Su Qian would definitely be angry, and then there would be no food left.

Just as Zi Yan was about to reach out, Yang Shan said, "Wait!"

Yang Shan then took out two porcelain bottles from his Storage Ring, opened the mouth of the Jade Bottle, and dripped a drop of liquid from each of the two porcelain bottles into it. He introduced them, saying, "These two are the juice of the Clear Spring Fruit and the honey of the Tyrant Bee. Although they are not considered high-grade spiritual items, their medicinal properties are mild and will not conflict with any spiritual plants. Most importantly, they taste very good."

Yang Shan shook the Jade Bottle and handed it to Zi Yan:

"Drink it quickly! Although these two don't conflict with the Accompanying Amethyst Source, they evaporate very quickly!"

Yang Shan said this on purpose, not giving Zi Yan a chance to refuse! If she drank his drink, things would be much easier!

"Oh oh oh!"

With her childlike nature, Zi Yan couldn't possibly have imagined that even if it evaporated, it could be re-dried in such a hurried moment. She quickly drank the Accompanying Amethyst Source in one gulp.

As usual, it was drunk in one gulp.

Zi Yan smacked her lips. "It smells a little good, and it's a little sweet. It's delicious!"

Yang Shan pushed two porcelain bottles containing Clear Spring Fruit juice and Tyrant Bee in front of Zi Yan:

"With these two things, you won't feel so uncomfortable when you eat spiritual plants. If you run out, come find me again."

Zi Yan looked at the porcelain vase, then at Yang Shan, and said seriously:

"Thank you for treating me like a human being, even though I'm not human. Hmm, that doesn't seem quite right."

Yang Shan smiled and said:

"I understand, I understand, I get what you mean, you don't need to explain."

Zi Yan raised her little fist:

"If anyone bullies you in the future, I'll beat them up for you!"

Before Yang Shan could answer, Zi Yan was troubled again:

"It still doesn't seem enough."

Zi Yan suddenly remembered something, jumped off the chair, went to Yang Shan, mustered her courage, and whispered:

Just once! You can only pinch me once!

Then, as if she were going to her execution, Zi Yan closed her eyes tightly, turned her head to the side, and brought her right cheek closer.

Yang Shan did not make a move.

We've gone in too far; it's time to back out!

"Should I stop kneading?"

"You have to pinch me! If you don't, we're not friends anymore!"

"So, does that mean we're friends?"

"Calculate!"

Alright!

Yang Shan pinched Zi Yan's cheek without any hesitation.

It feels so good, so soft! After Yang Shan squeezed it, Zi Yan immediately jumped away, pointed at Yang Shan, and said proudly:

"Haha, I never had any friends before, you're my first! Friends should help each other, so from now on I'll help you beat people up, and you'll give me that Sheng Yuan drink!"

[Ding! Player, please note that your actions have made Zi Yan feel close to you. She seems to have received something from you that she has never had but has always longed for. You have become Zi Yan's first true friend, Zi Yan affection for you has increased by 20! Current affection: 26!]

This is absolutely Yang Shan's most successful interaction to date! He seems to have used the Yan Yi in the original novel—

Let Zi Yan eat some spiritual plants that taste good.

In reality, Xiao Yan didn't have to put in much effort to become friends with Zi Yan in the original novel!

So it can also be attributed to: Xiao Yan's protagonist halo! But in the game, everyone is playing according to the system rules.

Yang Shan started by gaining negative favorability through character creation, then triggered a special opportunity to have a second interaction, giving up two sets of Accompanying Amethyst Source, plus every sentence he said to break through her defenses.

This is the key to getting Zi Yan to open the gates of her heart! As for making the spiritual plants taste better, it's similar to confessing your feelings after your favorability rating has reached 70.

It was just a side effect! Of course, there was another crucial factor: Yang Shan indicated that he also possessed the Accompanying Amethyst Source!

This was extremely tempting for Zi Yan.

Zi Yan believes that since they are friends, she can obtain more Accompanying Amethyst Source by "helping each other" with Yang Shan.

This is a chain reaction; if any link fails to meet the standard, the current effect will not have been achieved! The Accompanying Amethyst Source, worth tens of thousands of yuan, was not wasted! Of course, in Yang Shan's view, perhaps this interaction can have one last bit of continuation! Yang Shan pinched Zi Yan's cheek again:

"Since we're friends, let's give our friend face and eat more. You've suffered enough, so you can eat and drink well here with your friends in the future!"

Zi Yan exclaimed excitedly, "Okay, let's give our friend face and eat! Eat as much as we can!"

This Accompanying Amethyst Source is enough for Zi Yan to refine for several days, so there's no need for her to eat any more spiritual plants during that time. Therefore, Zi Yan can now have room in her stomach to eat something delicious! Zi Yan ate this meal with exceptional joy.

After all, it was the first time she had ever eaten with friends since she was a child.

So much so that Zi Yan ended up stuffed, patting her round belly, and said to Yang Shan, "Yang Shan, you're a good person! Oh, no, I should say you're really kind. Thank you for being willing to be my friend, hiccup."

[Ding! Player, please note that your words and actions have greatly pleased Zi Yan. Zi Yan's favorability +1, current favorability +27!]

After eating, Zi Yan went to sleep next to Yang Shan.

For monsters, sleeping is the best way to digest spiritual plants.

The Flame Refining Garment that Yang Shan was wearing, which had been pressed down by Yun Yun's buttocks, has now become Zi Yan's makeshift bed.

With her friends around, Zi Yan can sleep soundly.

Yang Shan, on the other hand, was about to begin cultivating the "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls"!

After carefully reading the cultivation method of "The Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls", Yang Shan knew that his cultivation process would become "painful yet joyful".

The cultivation descriptions in "The Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" are written in several long paragraphs.

But to sum it up in one sentence:

Consumes Spirit Stone and Magic Core!

Spirit Stone are one thing, but those Magic Core are truly outrageous.

The key is that only Magic Core of rank 5 or above are eligible to be consumed.

To condense a "remnant spirit", at least one sixth-order King of Beasts Magic Core is required.

Alternatively, one Tier 5 Thousand Beast King Magic Core plus three Fifth Order King of Beasts Magic Core. (These must be from the same major Magic Core, such as the Wolf Clan or Tiger Clan.) Or one Fifth Order King of Beasts Magic Core plus three hundred Tier 5 Elite-grade Magic Core.

In addition, each remnant spirit requires approximately 50,000 Spirit Stone to condense.

To cultivate the "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" to perfection, one needs to condense a full one hundred remnant spirits!

Yang Shan suddenly felt like he had been tricked into marriage by a professional gold digger, then tricked into a divorce, and then tens of millions of RMB in his bank account disappeared. But Yang Shan still gritted his teeth, opened his friend list, and sent a group message to Jin Shankao, Xiao Aotian, Lucky Poison Hand, and Bai Xiaosheng: "I need a fifth-level Magic Core recently."

Having many friends makes things easier.

When Yang Shan did business with these friends before, he would usually give them a discount based on personal connections.

Now that Yang Shan wants to do business with them, they will naturally give him a proper price as a favor!

At the current stage, most mainstream players have just barely overcome the hurdle of Dou Ling.

Fifth-Tier Magic Core are high-level items, and their prices are inflated.

If Yang Shan insists on achieving quick success, then tens of thousands of Magic Core, plus a full five million Spirit Stone, will definitely bankrupt Yang Shan!

This is the downside of being ahead of all other players.

They earn a lot, but they also spend a lot!

Yang Shan could only plan to buy some Magic Core to practice with first.

The number of remnant spirits directly determines the basic power of "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls".

At the very least, one must first condense a few remnant spirits to test their power, and then go and hunt down fifth-tier King of Beasts or even Thousand Beast King.

Once the price of Fifth-Tier Magic Core drops significantly after a while, I'll buy them in bulk and refine "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" to perfection.

Jin Shankao was the most efficient, sending Yang Shan a Fifth Order King of Beasts Magic Core and three hundred fifth-tier elite-level Magic Core.

Yang Shan immediately began to condense the remnant spirit.

In fact, the condensation process is quite simple.

Just place a Soul Strength in front of you, and then keep throwing Magic Core and Spirit Stone into it.

After all, this Dou Technique is already so "pay-to-win," if something like a potion-making mini-game comes out, it will really be torture for the players!

This also confirms the saying:

You think you can solve it by spending money.

If you don't want to, you can pay to solve it! Yang Shan is now "paying to buy comfort".

As Spirit Stone and Magic Core were continuously thrown in, the outline of the "remnant spirit" in front of them became clearer and clearer.

There is a significant difference between a remnant spirit and a soul.

The remnant spirit is more like a phantom. Although its core is a wisp of lingering will hidden within the Magic Core, the whole is still formed by the energy of the Magic Core and the Spirit Stone.

What now appeared before Yang Shan was a semi-transparent wolf-like magical beast.

It's half a zhang tall and one zhang long, and looks extremely fierce.

Yang Shan was itching to try it out, but then he remembered that Zi Yan was still sleeping nearby.

I had no choice but to abandon that idea.

Before long, Su Yitang, Chao Bafang, and Zhu Tianpeng brought Yang Shan the Fifth-Tier Magic Core they hadn't yet sold.

She didn't know how much time had passed before Zi Yan woke up groggily.

Yang Shan looked at Zi Yan and smiled:

"Oh, you're awake?"

Zi Yan wiped the drool from her mouth:

"Yang Shan, what are you doing?"

Yang Shan: "I'm practicing. It's good that you're awake. I can try out some moves. Cover your ears."

"Cover your ears?"

Zi Yan realized:

"You've already mastered that Sonic Dou Skills?"

Yang Shan: "Mm."

Zi Yan: "Come on, try yelling at me."

Yang Shan: "Um, forget it, I'm afraid it will hurt you."

The souls of monsters are inherently weaker than those of humans; even the souls of the Ancient Void Dragon are not necessarily that strong.

Zi Yan retorted, "Are you looking down on me? You've only been cultivating for a short time, how could you possibly hurt me?"

Yang Shan: "The main problem is that the sound was too loud and it hurt my ears. As a friend, I would definitely feel sorry for you."

Zi Yan nodded repeatedly. "That makes sense. Then you try it out, and I'll see what kind of Dou Technique requires four thousand Fire Energy Points."

Yang Shan smiled slightly, his Dou Qi rapidly depleted, and soon he had lost 500 points.

Behind Yang Shan, five wisps of green smoke rose, condensing into five illusory figures.

Two tiger beasts, two wolf beasts, and a cow!

Even among members of the same species, their size and physical appearance can differ.

The remnants of spirits in "The Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" do not require the "great clan" to be the only one.

The specific form of the phantom is taken from the highest level of condensed remnant spirit Magic Core.

Therefore, theoretically, it is possible for a hundred phantoms to simultaneously contain remnant spirits of the same bloodline but different ranks, such as the Amethyst Winged Lion King, the Amethyst Flame Lion, and the Amethyst Winged Mysterious Lion.

Each cultivator of the "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" will have a very different appearance of the hundred remnant spirits they ultimately condense.

It has to be said that the five illusory figures floating behind Yang Shan looked quite imposing.

With all 500 points of Dou Qi completely depleted, the five illusory figures simultaneously tilted their heads back and opened their mouths.

Tiger roars, wolf howls, and cow mooes.

The sound waves generated a strong wind, blowing up the sand thirty feet ahead, rustling the vegetation, and sending leaves flying everywhere.

And that was it!

Zi Yan scoffed:

"Tch, that's all the power you've got? My random punch is way more powerful!"

But Zi Yan then added, "But I always feel a little scared by the roar of your phantom, I don't know why."

Zi Yan felt a little scared, but that was purely because of the influence of "The Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" on the soul.

As for the direct lethality, according to the formula, it is only equivalent to the first level of the "Tyrant Blade" technique.

It consumes 500 points of Dou Qi, plus a 10-second Time Acceleration.

The current "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" is completely unworthy of its price!

But!

Just as the introduction says.

The potential of "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" is extremely strong! It is definitely much higher than its rating as Earth-tier Low-grade Dou Technique with Golden Word Seal! Not to mention its impact on the soul.

Let's see how destructive the Dou Technique is! If Yang Shan condenses one hundred remnant spirits, then the Dou Technique damage of this move will be 11 times the sum of the panel attack power and the Dou Qi Intensity! The maximum range of the Dou Technique's effect will reach 200 meters! And if Yang Shan's Soul Strength can reach the Spirit Realm Perfect Stage...

Then the damage of "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" will soar to 55 times the sum of the panel attack power and Dou Qi! The maximum range of the Dou Technique will reach 600 meters! What does 600 meters mean? The length of a college playground is generally no more than 200 meters! The three playgrounds are connected, and Yang Shan and his opponent stand at opposite ends.

Even the opponents could smell the remnant spirit's bad breath! If Yang Shan had possessed the perfected level of "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" during the Fire Energy Hunting Competition, why would he have needed to dull the Thunderbolt Blade? As long as those new students were positioned close together.

With a single shout from a hundred remaining spirits, eliminating ten thousand people would be a piece of cake, let alone clearing the field!

As long as Yang Shan condenses one hundred remnant spirits.

Then "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" will officially surpass "Tyrant Blade - Seven Kills" and become Yang Shan's most powerful Dou Technique!

Originally, Yang Shan only intended to create a copy of "Lion Tiger Shattering Gold Roar" as a surprise move.

Unexpectedly, a book called "The Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" came along, and it became a killing move!

Yang Shan hasn't tested the influence of the soul yet.

According to the panel, the "Soul-Shaking" characteristic of "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" only judges the difference in Soul Strength between the two sides.

Even with the Realm Suppression still in effect, "Lingering Spirit Hundred Howls" can still play a significant role in battles that cross major realms! It's not just about "Soul-Shaking"; if it's one hundred remnant spirits at the Spirit Realm Perfect Stage, with a 55-fold amplification, Yang Shan's current stats would allow him to roar out nearly 90,000 points of damage! Which Dou Emperor can withstand Dou Technique with 90,000 points of damage?

Yang Shan hadn't even factored in the Extraterrestrial Ghoul Lightning Extraterrestrial Ghoul Lightning, which could directly boost his stats! At that point, it would be "146,819!"

Yang Shan even thought about gathering all one hundred remnant spirits, cultivating his Soul Strength to the Spirit Realm Perfect Stage, and then running up to that damned Protector Liu and yelling at him.

Let's see if his old bones can hold up!

It was worth spending those four thousand Fire Energy Points!

It was totally worth it!

Yang Shan immediately said, "Little sister."

Zi Yan complained, "Could you please stop calling me 'little sister'?"

Yang Shan: "Little Zi Yan?"

Zi Yan: "This is barely acceptable."

Yang Shan: "If your true form is a magical beast, wouldn't it be easy for you to find other magical beasts?"

Many magical beasts live in the vast forest outside the Inner Courtyard of the Jia Nan Academy!

This was something that Jia Nan Academy deliberately preserved after it occupied this area.

There were even sixth-tier magical beasts among them!

On the one hand, it allows nature itself to slowly nurture spiritual plants.

On the other hand, it provides training opportunities for trainees.

Yang Shan then set his sights on the magical beasts in this vast forest!

Zi Yan nodded:

"Yes, I can sense other magical beasts from a great distance. And not only magical beasts, I can sense even more accurately the spiritual creatures nurtured by heaven and earth!"

Yang Shan: "That's great! Let's go cause trouble for the magical beasts! We'll get you some spiritual plants while we're at it!"

Zi Yan's eyes lit up. "Great, great, great! I know a place where a Snow Demon Sky Ape lives. I wasn't strong enough before, so I couldn't beat it. It chased me for a long way!"

Yang Shan: "Snow Demon Sky Ape? Fifth-Order Thousand Beast King?"

Zi Yan nodded. "Yes, that big guy is very strong. According to the human race's ranking system, he must be at least Eight Star Dou Wang."

Yang Shan: "Then find it! I'll avenge you!"

Zi Yan also clenched her fists:

"I've wanted to get revenge on it for a long time, but I was so busy that I forgot. That guy is guarding the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid, which is a valuable item!"

As she spoke, Zi Yan licked her lips.

Yang Shan: "Let's not delay, let's bury it today!"

Yang Shan and Zi Yan activated their Dou Qi Transformation Wings and headed towards the location of the Snow Demon Sky Ape.

At this moment, the Snow Demon Sky Ape was dozing off, drooling, probably dreaming of something delicious, or perhaps the mother monkey suddenly bristled.

Before even opening his eyes, his body was already moving.

With a quick somersault, he narrowly avoided the incoming Side Blade.

"Eeeeeeeeeee!"

The Snow Demon Sky Ape bared its teeth at Yang Shan, its arm, thicker than Yang Shan's waist, slamming down with a fist the size of a millstone.

Just as Yang Shan dodged to the side, the Snow Demon Sky Ape used the hand that had just slammed to the ground as a fulcrum to prop itself up and kick out! Yang Shan, who was prepared, also used his speed to forcefully dodge, but the Snow Demon Sky Ape seemed to have caught Yang Shan's dodge route, and its iron whip-like tail whipped out a whooshing sound.

There's no escaping this tail now!

The Thunderbolt Blade was flashing with Extraterrestrial Ghoul Lightning.

Raise your sword and cleave vertically!

Triggering a parry, Yang Shan lost over 500 health points! The ape race is definitely one of the most troublesome races in Warcraft.

They often possess not only a strong physique but also considerable Agility and speed.

Furthermore, they are highly intelligent and employ a variety of attack methods.

Many players can handle lions and tigers with ease in one-on-one situations.

But when faced with the apes, they were utterly defeated.

In the first round of combat, Yang Shan, despite having the first move, still managed to gain a slight advantage over the Snow Demon Sky Ape.

This made the Snow Demon Sky Ape grin with pride, and it even stuck out its tongue and made a face at Yang Shan.

Yang Shan shook his head dismissively and whistled at the Snow Demon Sky Ape.

In the next instant, six chains formed from Extraterrestrial Ghoul Lightning appeared on the Snow Demon Sky Ape's body.

At this moment, Zi Yan emerged from the shadows.

The small fist that came crashing down seemed to carry the force of ten thousand pounds.

"You stinky monkey, you had a good time chasing me last time, didn't you?"

Oh my god! I miscalculated! Double monthly votes at the end of the month! I already have 2,500 votes.

The extra chapter (at least 4,000 words) will be delivered next month.

The main reason is that this book needs to wait until it reaches 1200 average subscriptions before it can be ranked for recommendation.

Therefore, we need to reach 1200 average subscriptions first, otherwise, for each additional chapter, we need 1200 subscriptions to make up for it.

Rest assured, everyone, I've been writing books for several years now and have a good reputation. I never renege on my promises.

When I find a good inspiration, I'll stay up all night to write it for you, so the content will be guaranteed.

I'm still maintaining a daily update of 10,000 words. I'm almost at one million words, let's go!

Also, the images updated yesterday have been approved, so readers who missed them can take another look.

Finally, I humbly request: It's almost 2,500, could you Battle Emperor Lord please help me raise 3,000?

Let me try my luck in the lottery one more time and win 100 yuan. Then I can eat an extra braised egg for breakfast every day next month to nourish my body.