So That's What This Is?

"Ding! Congratulations, you have successfully checked in at the Spirit City Great Spirit Arena and completed the ten-win Soul Fighting Competition mission. Reward: one string of Sea Calming Divine Pearls. It will be credited shortly. Please check your account."

The system said.

"Wonderful, System Sister!"

Wang Xiao had just stepped out of the Great Soul Arena when the system issued his mission reward, filling him with delight.

The reward itself doesn't really matter. The important thing is that now the mission is complete, I can finally relax.

Still, these Sea Calming Divine Pearls were pretty damn impressive.

Wang Xiao had read Investiture of the Gods. These pearls were not a single pearl, but a string of twenty-four.

Some accounts said there had originally been thirty-six, but by the time they fell into Zhao Gongming's hands, only twenty-four remained.

Later, they were taken by Daoist Burning Lamp.

Of course, that was ancient mythological lore from the primordial era. No one knew the real answer.

As a modern-day transmigrator, Wang Xiao had never even seen an immortal, so there was no way he could know whether the Sea Calming Divine Pearls numbered twenty-four or thirty-six.

He would only find out after the system delivered them.

No matter how many there were, it did not matter.

The more, the better.

Wang Xiao walked forward for about a hundred zhang when something suddenly fell from the sky and landed before him.

Looking closely, he saw a string of beads gleaming with five-colored light. His heart leaped with joy. Could these be the Sea Calming Divine Pearls?

"Ding! Your string of Sea Calming Divine Pearls has been credited."

The System's loli voice said.

Wang Xiao was overjoyed. "Received!"

He then counted them. There were not twenty-four, but thirty-six.

"I wonder whether this string of Sea Calming Divine Pearls is the one from Investiture of the Gods?"

But whatever. It would make a fine necklace.

Wang Xiao immediately put it around his neck. A warm sensation flowed through his entire body. It was truly pleasant, nourishing his body nicely.

"System, what is this thing used for?"

"Ding! It can ward off evil and avert disasters. More importantly, it lets you swim. You won't have to fear drowning underwater."

"That's great! Then next time I go sightseeing on the ocean floor, can I wear it and walk around underwater while breathing normally?"

"Ding! Yes."

Wang Xiao was ecstatic. With these Sea Calming Divine Pearls, he would never need to worry about drowning because he could not swim.

"Then I'll try it at the seaside next time and see whether these Sea Calming Divine Pearls are really that magical!"

"Ding! Go ahead and don't worry in the slightest. If you drown, I'll definitely keep you company in death."

Wang Xiao did not even have the strength to complain. "Forget it, System! Rather than have you keep me company, I'd be better off finding a Catgirl or a foxgirl or something."

"Ding! Hmph. Taking kindness for granted. You're beyond saving."

"You're the one beyond saving."

Tap, tap, tap~

Wang Xiao had reached a shaded path when footsteps suddenly echoed from all directions. He looked over at once and saw a group of people surrounding him.

Although it was nighttime, lamps stood along the roadside, making their faces clearly visible. One of them was Yan.

Wang Xiao immediately understood what was going on.

The reason Yan had come looking for trouble with him was definitely because he had gotten too close to Hu Liena.

After all, Hu Liena was Yan's greatest love.

Although Hu Liena had never liked Yan, Yan was utterly devoted to her.

Why was Yan putting himself through this?

Was it not painful to torment himself over and over for a woman who did not love him?

Everyone had their own ambitions. Since Yan was that kind of person, no amount of talking would help.

There was no way Wang Xiao would give Hu Liena up.

Besides, Yan was naïve in an almost adorable way. Did he think that if Wang Xiao did not appear, Nana would become his Nana? What was he even thinking?

In the end, would she not still end up benefiting Tang San, the man she had always longed for?

Speechless!

Yan quickly led seven or eight lackeys up to Wang Xiao. They were all students from Spirit Hall Academy.

They were around twelve or thirteen years old, both boys and girls, with cultivation levels around Level Twenty. Most had absorbed two spirit rings.

There was, however, one person whose cultivation had reached Level Fifty-Three.

Wang Xiao did not know how Yan had managed to invite them here, but he could imagine how great Hu Liena's influence was within Spirit Hall. Yan was not the only one who liked her. Most of them did.

On the surface, Yan had invited them to deal with Wang Xiao, but was Yan not also being used by others to join forces against him?

So while Yan was using others, he might also have been used by them without even realizing it.

Wang Xiao remained calm. These minor riffraff before him were not worth his attention. He could handle them easily.

Heh heh heh~

As soon as the seven or eight people arrived, they cracked their knuckles and rubbed their fists together, eager to make a move as they let out sinister chuckles.

Every one of them glared at him with cold, vicious eyes, looking as though they wanted to capture him alive and devour him.

Wang Xiao stood in the middle, his expression calm. If the enemy doesn't move, I don't move. If the enemy moves, I move first. If the enemy tries to kill me, I kill first.

Seeing that Wang Xiao had nowhere to run, Yan stepped forward and stopped a zhang away. When he swept his cold gaze over Wang Xiao, he looked utterly terrifying, as though he were really something special.

"Brother Xiao Xiao, please?"

All of a sudden, Yan lunged at Wang Xiao's feet, wrapped both arms tightly around his thigh, and dropped to his knees.

This...

Everyone present was caught completely off guard. They were utterly stunned!

Wang Xiao was even more stunned. He had thought this was going to be a fight scene, but it had turned into a melodrama. "Little Yan, a man's knees are golden. Let's talk this over properly. Can you get up first?"

Yan immediately shook his head, tears streaming down his face, snot and tears everywhere. He looked so pitiful that even a lame old man passing by could not help stopping to sigh at him.

"Ah! Young men willing to endure humiliation and bear heavy burdens like this are truly rare in this day and age."

A woman standing nearby hurriedly said, "Isn't that so? Back in my day—"

The old man quickly cut her off. "A hero does not boast of past glory. Young people should settle young people's affairs themselves. We should just watch from the sidelines."

The woman nodded. "Yes, Grandpa. My back hurts from standing too. How about I help you sit over there, and we can watch at our leisure?"

The old man flew into a rage. "You girl, how can you be so lacking in sympathy?"

He pointed at Yan's back. "Do you know how pitiful this child is?"

The woman hurriedly shook her head.

"We can't just stand here watching. We have to contribute something. When it gets exciting, we need to applaud! Understand?"

The woman nodded quickly. "I understand, I understand!"

"That's more like it."

Thus, the woman immediately helped the old man over to a chair at the side. Then they stared without blinking at Wang Xiao and Yan.

Yan glanced back at the old man and woman seated behind him. His eyes suddenly lit up, and he found his opening. "Getting up is impossible. I'll never get up."

"Unless you promise not to pursue Nana and give her back to me, then I'll get up."

"Otherwise, I'll kneel here for the rest of my life. Even if I kneel to death... I still won't get up."

Wang Xiao was furious and immediately flicked Yan on the head. "Little Yan Yan, why are you so hopeless?"

"Are you still living in childhood fairy tales?"

"Do you still think you're that all-powerful Prince Charming, showered with endless affection, and that Snow White must belong to you?"

"That she must love you?"

Yan stared at him, dumbfounded.

"Wow, my heavens! How can someone be as ignorant as you?"

"As the saying goes, no feast lasts forever. Even if you and Nana were childhood sweethearts who grew up playing together, you can't stay trapped in the past!"

"A person has to face the gale head-on, understand?"

Yan shook his head.

"Do you understand, Little Yan Yan?" Wang Xiao forcefully ruffled Yan's fiery hair, hoping to make him a little more clear-headed.

"I don't understand!" Yan continued shaking his head.

Sigh~

This Little Yan Yan was truly far too naïve!

Only then did Yan raise his little head and gaze up at him pitifully, seeking comfort.

The seven or eight companions beside them stood there like wooden posts, having no idea how to help him.

After hearing Wang Xiao's heartfelt words, the old man and the woman nodded repeatedly and both gave him a thumbs-up, praising him again and again.

The woman could not help muttering, "To be able to speak such profound truths, could he... could he be that legendary genius youth?"

The old man repeatedly agreed. "Mm. If my guess is correct, the title of genius youth belongs to none other than this young man."

I hope readers will add this to their collections and throw some recommendation votes my way! Tips are welcome too.

Special thanks to reader Mask in the Darkness for the 1,366 book coin tip! Jun for the 200 book coin tip. Thank you for your repeated tips. Luo Chen for the 100 book coin tip.

Thanks again to all readers for your recommendation votes and all kinds of support! Thank you!