Would I love myself?

[Congratulations, host has completed one day's diary entry. The explosive timeline concealment rate is being calculated...]

[Beep—The concealment rate has reached ten times the explosive threshold. This reward has been upgraded. Congratulations, host: your soul power has increased by three ranks; you have obtained a ten-year soul ring, a ten-year left arm bone (with a ten-year Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear soul bone attached), and a Nine-Stripe Defensive Soul Weapon, the King's Shield (usage limit: its defensive effect is based on the user's soul power. Special effect: attacks from soul bones have their power reduced by one rank).]

???

What was that?!

A Nine-Stripe Defensive Soul Weapon, the King's Shield? It could reduce the power of attacks from soul bones by one rank?

Xiao Ge was sprawled on the bed and couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.

This explosive reward was way too outrageous!

After all, those things in the explosive rewards were usually pretty abnormal. Who knew what kind of freakish stuff these explosive rewards might give him? With this reward, he wouldn't have to worry about those explosive rewards at all.

What kind of nonsense was that? It could even break through my defenses?

At the sudden announcement, Xiao Ge's heart gave a thump, and a trace of alarm surfaced within him.

According to the definition of an evil soul master on the Douluo Continent, those who cultivated through methods such as slaughter, devouring, and extracting spirit souls, or who acted in an evil and unconventional manner, were called evil soul masters.

By that definition, the Ghost King, who shared a name with the benevolent Sea God Tang San, definitely couldn't be considered an evil soul master. But the Ghost King was the head priest of the Holy Spirit Cult.

So, in that case, could his Nine-Stripe Defensive Soul Weapon, the King's Shield, block the Ghost King's attacks?

Take the Ghost King Duoduo, for example. She had a Blood Soul Demon Puppet, which was an evil soul master's characteristic. But aside from that Soul Demon Puppet, she also possessed the Light Phoenix and the soul skill Light Attributes.

If Duoduo used the Light Phoenix's soul skill to attack him, would the King's Shield still take effect?

If it did, and Duoduo could use it to defend against him, but his own attack was reduced by one rank, then that would be hilarious.

Xiao Ge was certainly curious about the answer to this question, but it was best to wait until he had the chance to ask her.

Of course, if her soul power had already reached a level where he couldn't even break through her flesh, then asking would be pointless.

Aside from the Nine-Stripe Defensive Soul Weapon, the King's Shield, Xiao Ge was very satisfied with his other rewards.

Three ranks of soul power, a ten-year soul ring, and, most importantly, a ten-year left arm bone.

It was a left arm bone from a ten-year-old Darkgolden Terrorclaw Bear.

Xiao Ge paused for a moment, then put his mind at ease and sat down cross-legged on the bed. He began absorbing the soul ring and soul bone.

Wang Dongliu had already taken Xuan Yuan to the Spirit Academy's bathing facilities. It seemed they'd gone to find somewhere to wash up, and they wouldn't be back for a while, so he could absorb them without worry.

...

[The one-day diary entry has been completed. System calculations...]

[Congratulations, Wang Dongliu. You appeared in the diary a maximum of eight times today and received the explosive reward: soul power increased by eight ranks; you have obtained the Sea God Tang San's recognition (one year).]

[Congratulations, you've been chatting with Duoduo for three years. From today onward, you've become an active member of the group chat and earned the favor of the Xuan Turtle King. Your chats from now on can only be directed at tomorrow's diary group members.]

Wang Dongliu, who was taking a bath, couldn't help freezing.

Today's diary entry had only appeared eight times, yet she'd received eight ranks of soul power?

She'd actually earned eight ranks from Xiao Ge's diary?

She'd been completely satisfied just to receive the Sea God Tang San's recognition for a year. How could she be so greedy?

As long as she was careful and didn't let Xiao Ge find out who she was, she could completely take advantage of her identity as his childhood friend to appear in the diary more often. One day, she might even be able to sleep with Tang San!

Female dormitory.

Duoduo was sprawled on the bed and couldn't help sighing.

She'd already been lying in bed for a while, but she kept tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

The impact of her martial soul's evolution had been too great. If she could, she would rather endure the pain of having her soul power and soul bone pierced through than let her martial soul evolve.

The diary's rewards offered her the hope that her martial soul might evolve again, but what reward she received depended entirely on luck. Just like this time, she'd received a ten-thousand-year Wisdom Skull Bone, while Xuan Yuan had only received an increase of eight ranks in soul power.

What would she do if she never received another reward that could evolve her martial soul?

Besides, Xiao Ge had already exposed that she could see the diary. She had no idea how to face him in the future, how to get along with Xiao Ge, or how to make her own name appear in the diary more often. All of this left her feeling troubled.

Seeing how down Duoduo was, Xuan Yuan thought for a moment. Then, in the quiet dormitory, he finally spoke and broke the silence.

"Duoduo, you don't have to be so upset. This matter... might not be a bad thing."

???

My martial soul has evolved, and you're telling me it might not be a bad thing?

"Duoduo, think about it. You were able to see the diary, and then you received such a violent martial soul evolution. What does that mean? It means the more people who come into contact with Xiao Ge, the greater the chance they'll be exposed as being able to see the diary. It also means everyone who comes into contact with Xiao Ge in the future will have to be careful, and will be even less likely to dare approach him."

"But, Duoduo, you're different. You've already been exposed, and you've suffered the martial soul's backlash. Still, you're the only one who can interact with Xiao Ge without holding back. No matter what you do, Xiao Ge won't suspect you again. So what you need to do is, Duoduo, make sure your name appears in the diary more often."

Really...

Xiao Ge's so kind... Isn't he afraid of getting hurt?

If she had his backing, the rewards she wanted would definitely come more easily.

But soon, Duoduo's mood sank again. "It's just that Wang Dongliu and Xiao Ge live in the same dormitory. Even if I want my name to appear in the diary more often, I'm afraid it won't be easy. And... I don't know how to explain myself to Xiao Ge."

"Xiao Ge knows about the relationship between Wang Dongliu and the diary's male protagonist, but the others at the academy don't know yet. Also, they're both men. Even if others see them together, they won't think much of it..."

Before Xuan Yuan finished speaking, Duoduo's eyes suddenly lit up.

Really!

He's reminding me!

Wang Dongliu and Xiao Ge are living under the same roof, so the two of them definitely don't need to hide much from each other. So if she became closer to Xiao Ge—say, by becoming his girlfriend—wouldn't her name appear in the diary more often?

"Xuan Yuan, you're right! If I can become Xiao Ge's girlfriend, then the problem will be completely solved! And before we got back to the dorm, I started chatting with Xiao Ge in the class group. We both got exposed at the same time, so my chances are high!"

"As long as I get enough rewards, I can even get rewards that'll let my martial soul evolve!"

Huh?

No!

I only asked you to become Xiao Ge's girlfriend? When did I ever say that?

Xuan Yuan gave a wry smile. In the dim dormitory, his expression grew a little strange.

Would I fall in love with myself?

Duoduo was already asleep, but Xuan Yuan couldn't sleep at all.