After Elysia organized the clothes, vegetables, and food she had bought and moved them into the wardrobes and kitchen of the small building, it was already getting late. She cooked dinner for the institute once more, then took the three people there to bed early.
Mobius had originally planned to use the collected samples of Xu Ziling's body tissue to develop a reagent that would temporarily let him resist sunlight. However, she had not expected her idea to be met with a united protest from the other three.
Xu Ziling's reason was that Mobius was currently his target to pursue. As Mobius's "boyfriend," he naturally had to take responsibility for her health. He couldn't stand by and watch her wear herself out.
Blanca had no particular reason. She had simply been forced into it by Elysia.
Elysia's reason was that if Professor Mobius stayed up all night, Little Ziling would definitely stay up with her. If Professor Mobius and Little Ziling did not sleep, Little Blanca would definitely be unable to sleep either. And if the other three all went to sleep, Miss Elf would be lonely at night without anyone to hug, so she would not sleep either.
Under the persuasion of the other three, Mobius—who had not slept well even once since discovering Xu Ziling's sealed stone statue and had spent the entire day conducting high-intensity biological experiments—felt utterly exhausted in both body and mind. For the sake of "Little Mouse, you're begging me this much...", she agreed to the request of the other three people at the institute.
It was worth mentioning that, with Elysia's tacit approval and Xu Ziling's own strong pleas, Xu Ziling successfully slept in Mobius's... room, on the floor.
But it did not matter. Even if it was only the floor, at least he had made it into her room. After knowing Mobius for only a few days, he had already developed such a fiery relationship with her that he was way ahead of some white-haired boy who had never even gotten into his girlfriend's bed before his death.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next day.
As Xu Ziling habitually got up early to brush his teeth, a familiar yet unfamiliar, crisp sound suddenly rang out in his mind.
It was his system, whose presence was not particularly strong.
Come to think of it, ever since his system had announced two days ago that it was going to update, it had not made a sound. It had finally finished updating today, and Xu Ziling wanted to see just where this forty-gigabyte update—comparable to that of a certain two-character game—had gone.
Ding~ The Star Rail Cultivation System 2.0 has finished updating. The updated panel is as follows. Host: Xu Ziling Inventory: Galactic Lottery, Star Rail ×300, Realgar Wine ×1, Viper Serum ×1 Talents: Pillar Men (crossed out), DNA Mimicry, Strength, Speed, Precision Coordination, Stamina, Recovery MAX+++ Unique Weakness: Fear of sunlight Ding~ In view of the host's vastly improved strength, the Trailblaze Mission and Archon Mission have now refreshed ahead of schedule. Trailblaze Mission: Survivor of the Honkai World Mission Requirements: Survive in the Honkai world for seven full days and adapt to this world. Mission Rewards: Star Rail ×1600, random item rewards ×3. Mission Progress: 2/7 (today not included). Archon Mission refreshed: Godslayer of the Honkai World Mission Requirements: Survive in the Honkai world for thirty full days and hunt down one Honkai Beast of Chariot-class or above (regardless of method) to prove your strength. Mission Rewards: Star Rail Pass ×10, Star Rail ×1600, instance—Simulated Universe unlocked, system shop unlocked, Simulated Universe Survival Rules ×1. Mission Progress: 2/30 days, Chariot-class Honkai Beast (0/1) Note: The Simulated Universe generally consists of arena-style boss battles. After clearing them, you will receive large amounts of Star Rail, Star Rail Passes, and other rewards. Star Rail can be exchanged for various curios and blessings in the system shop, while Star Rail Passes can be used to draw character abilities. Host, please participate actively.
After brushing his teeth and rinsing his mouth, Xu Ziling carefully read through the system's updated panel and fell into thought.
There was nothing to say about the Trailblaze Mission. He only had to survive for seven days, with no additional restrictions. He could pass simply by lazing around and slacking off in Professor Mobius's institute for seven days.
The first condition of the Archon Mission worked the same way. In the Previous Civilization of the current Honkai era, even the Herrscher of Reason had not yet been born. The one thing Xu Ziling had no shortage of was time.
As for hunting down a Honkai Beast of at least Chariot-class, Xu Ziling glanced at the "Pillar Men" that had been deliberately crossed out in his talent panel and recalled the scene from two days ago, when he had just awakened from the stone statue and torn apart an alloy with his bare hands. With that kind of strength, it should not be difficult for him to punch a Chariot-class Honkai Beast into submission.
System, does my body have resistance to Honkai energy?
To be on the safe side, Xu Ziling decided to ask the system a few more questions.
Um... Host, please have a little more confidence in your body. Although... er... although I have no idea how I managed it either... your current body should be immune to all poisons. As for Honkai energy radiation, three thousand... no, no, two thousand—radiation below 2,000 hw will absolutely not cause your body any discomfort. As you continue completing system missions, this resistance will gradually increase.
2,000 hw?
Xu Ziling clenched his fist. This was an unexpected bonus.
He remembered that the Honkai energy radiation emitted by the first few Herrschers in Honkai had only been around 2,000 hw. Now that his resistance was also 2,000 hw, that meant Xu Ziling was roughly equal to a Herrscher, which meant he outranked them by one level, which meant he could easily crush an ordinary Chariot-class Honkai Beast.
The problem was no longer whether he could defeat one. The problem was where he could find a wild Chariot in this era, when the Previous Civilization's understanding of Honkai was still limited to natural disasters.
Perhaps, after he became more familiar with Elysia and Mobius, he could use "seeing the Honkai intensity of this era for himself" as an excuse and have Elysia take him to find one?
But that was obviously a matter for later. After all, defeating a Chariot was only one of the mission requirements. Before that came the additional condition of slacking off... no, surviving for thirty days.
Er... Host, your daily mission has refreshed. Would you like to take a look?
Xu Ziling was stunned at the words, then smiled helplessly and spoke inwardly,
System, this is my first time transmigrating, and it is your first time being a system. But look at me—I'm not nearly as stiff about things as you are. There are some things you don't need to ask me about.
Um... I know that... It's just that you might find today's daily mission... a little difficult to accept, so I wanted to confirm it with you first. If you refuse it, I'll work harder and see if I can exchange it for another one.
Hmm?
Xu Ziling raised an eyebrow. He had already felt that the daily missions the system gave him were abnormal. Was it finally dropping the act and openly admitting that he might not be able to accept one?
However, people tended to do the opposite when challenged, and Xu Ziling was no exception in such a small matter. He waved his hand grandly and said:
"It's fine. Let me see what it is first. If I feel like I really can't accept it, you can change it afterward."
Oh, oh... all right. Ding~ Daily Mission refreshed Daily Mission: Put on a good-looking outfit and put on a tearful performance in front of any Valkyrie or Flame-Chaser.
Xu Ziling: ???
What the hell?
Xu Ziling looked at himself in the washroom mirror. He seemed to resemble the Female Bishop. After running his fingers through his brilliant golden hair, he said,
"System, does the phrase 'tearful performance' really suit me?"
That's why I said you might not be able to accept this mission...
This...
Um... But Host, you don't actually have to reject the mission right away. The system's daily missions are issued according to the standard of 'something you can complete today'...
"Something I'll experience today?"
Xu Ziling could not figure it out. In other words, the system was saying that today he would put on a good-looking outfit and perform a tearful scene in front of a Valkyrie or a Flame-Chaser?
But there was no reason for that.
His relationship with Serpent and Elysia was developing perfectly well. He had no reason to break down in tears in front of them.
As for Senior Blanca... Although it was indeed rather sad that she would soon be leaving the institute, she was neither a Valkyrie nor a future Flame-Chaser. She did not meet the system's requirements at all.
Just as Xu Ziling was racking his brains in confusion, a knock came from outside the washroom.
"Little Mouse, are you awake?"
The knock was accompanied by Mobius's malicious, mischievous laugh.
"Or are you taking care of your personal physiological needs again, Little Mouse? Don't come out yet. I'll go get you another graduated cylinder."
Mobius's words nearly made Xu Ziling stumble in shock. He hurriedly straightened his clothes, walked out of the washroom, and said:
"I was just washing my face, Doctor... And besides, I only did that before to cooperate with your experiment. Don't always think so badly of me."
"Yes, yes, yes~"
Mobius looked at Xu Ziling's delicate face, still dotted with a few water droplets after washing, and his strikingly bright golden hair. She could not help licking her lips. Then her eyes shifted, and she said,
"Come to the institute with me, Little Mouse. You stopped me from working through the night yesterday, so I'll just have to do the experiments this morning. Your fear of sunlight is a serious drawback, and we need to find a way around it as soon as possible.
"But don't get the wrong idea. I'm not doing all this simply for your sake. Once you overcome this final weakness, it will also be more convenient for me to carry out the extreme tests I have planned for you. Understand?"
"Extreme tests?"
"Come with me and you'll find out."
As they passed through the first-floor living room of the small building, Xu Ziling saw Blanca wearing an utterly lifeless expression while Elysia hugged her and vigorously ruffled her.
"Hi?~ Good morning, Doctor Mobius and Little Ziling."
Elysia smiled and waved at Xu Ziling and Mobius. Then she pointed toward the living-room table and chairs in the distance and said,
"There's a thermal bag over there with the local Shenzhou breakfast I just bought, okay? On this brand-new day, Miss Elf wishes you a happy life?~"
Mobius completely ignored Elysia's joke. Xu Ziling smiled and nodded at Elysia in thanks, then went over and picked up the two breakfasts in the thermal bag to take a look.
It was a familiar breakfast.
Soy milk in a cup, Fried Dough Sticks, and eggs.
Mobius took a Fried Dough Stick, bit into it, and slightly furrowed her brows. She looked at Elysia behind her and said:
"Elysia, did you buy the wrong thing? Why is this so greasy?"
"Huh?"
Elysia came over, took a bite of the Fried Dough Stick Mobius was holding in a plastic bag, and said,
"Professor Mobius, this is what Fried Dough Sticks from Shenzhou are supposed to taste like, isn't it?"
"Fried Dough Sticks?"
A trace of confusion flashed through Mobius's eyes. She asked instinctively,
"Isn't this little baguette you bought?"
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