[Congratulations, Host, mission completed. White Energy Point +100]
"Did it really work?" Doehring looked at what had just happened, seeming somewhat surprised. "Linley, you're incredibly lucky. Once this Shadow Mouse grows up, it'll be enough to help you safely become a seventh-level mage."
Doehring smiled.
Shadow Mice were low-level magical beasts, and their potential for growth wasn't particularly high.
Even Saint-level rat magical beasts were rare in the Dark Forest.
But raising one to the sixth level was definitely possible. With good luck, reaching the seventh level wasn't out of the question either.
That was already more than enough.
If a mage could reach the seventh level, their combat strength would undergo a qualitative change.
"Little guy." Linley smiled and held out his right hand, lifting the Shadow Mouse into his palm. "Since we've signed an Equal Contract, what should I call you? What's your name?"
"Be... Be..."
"Bebe?" Linley raised an eyebrow. "Then Bebe it is."
Clearly, the Shadow Mouse hadn't been born very long ago. It couldn't even speak properly while communicating through their souls.
Meanwhile, in System Space, Lin Ke casually took a photo of Linley and Bebe.
Linley's greatest advantage in the early stages wasn't the Coiling Dragon Ring or his teacher, Doehring.
It was Bebe.
A descendant of Beirut, the Sovereign who ruled the Yulan Plane, and the second God-Eater Rat in all the countless planes.
Setting aside the monstrous growth potential of a Divine Beast,
Beirut's backing alone had already made things much easier for Linley.
Of course, that help was only indirect.
In fact, if it hadn't been for the Equal Contract, Linley probably would've been killed the moment Beirut discovered him.
Even after Linley became a god, Beirut didn't really think much of him.
It wasn't until Linley returned to the Four Divine Beasts Clan and made a name for himself in the Infernal Realm that Beirut truly acknowledged him.
In System Space, Lin Ke shook the photo in his hand, tapping the fingers of his left hand against the armrest of the sofa.
"Beirut should be discovering Bebe soon." Lin Ke leaned back and sprawled across the sofa. "When that happens, Beirut will definitely look through Linley's memories. I need to prepare."
With that thought, Lin Ke snapped his fingers.
Within the Soul Space, which Linley couldn't sense at the moment,
a memory created by Lin Ke appeared.
It contained all of Linley's past experiences,
with only Lin Ke's existence removed.
"Actually, if Beirut hadn't been under so much pressure and been so difficult to control, he would've made a much better host."
Lin Ke looked a little regretful.
Unlike Linley, who was still a child,
Beirut had already spent countless years adventuring in the Infernal Realm.
He had even snatched the Four Divine Beasts' corpses and Sovereign Sparks right from under the Chief Sovereign of Light's nose.
At the time, Lin Ke had run out of Energy Points and had no way to gain Beirut's trust.
Beirut might even have rejected him, thinking he was a ploy by the Chief Sovereign of Light.
That would've wasted even more time.
"But things are going quite well with Linley now." Lin Ke glanced at his Energy Point balance, a smile curling his lips. "After the contract, I've gained another 9,900 Energy Points."
He was still a long way from having the body he'd envisioned, but this was a good start.
Back in the outside world, Linley had successfully contracted with Bebe, and hurried home, eager to get started.
With 100 Energy Points in hand, Linley could hardly wait to exchange them for Dragon Blood and awaken his Dragonblood Warrior bloodline.
But when Linley brought up exchanging for Dragon Blood late that night, Lin Ke stopped him.
"Linley, you should think this through first." Lin Ke crossed his legs and watched Linley from the outside world. "You'll have to endure twelve hours of unrelenting pain. First, you need a private place where no one will disturb you. Home definitely won't do."
Linley paused at Lin Ke's words.
"I understand, Big Brother Lin Ke." Linley lowered his head and thought it over. "Tomorrow, I'll ask Father to give me a day off to prepare."
With that, Linley lay down and practically forced himself to sleep.
Early the next morning,
after washing up at breakfast, Linley sat in the dining room, watching Hogg at the head of the table. He hesitated several times, trying to speak.
"Father!" At last, when breakfast was over and Hogg was about to leave, Linley spoke up. "I'd like to ask for a day off."
Linley lowered his head, not daring to meet Hogg's eyes.
"Ask for a day off?" A hint of confusion flashed across Hogg's eyes. "What for? Hadley and the others won't be stopping their training. What are you going to do on your own?"
Hogg thought Linley wanted to slack off and go play with his friends. His expression grew darker.
"No, that's not it, Father." Linley hurriedly shook his head. "I, I..."
Linley stammered, unsure how to explain.
Big Brother Lin Ke had said that he absolutely couldn't reveal his existence.
"Can't come up with an answer?" Hogg's expression turned stern. "In that case, you'll have double lessons today."
As he spoke, Hogg started for the door.
In System Space, Lin Ke rolled his eyes at the sight.
Honestly, Hogg's behavior was proof that boarding school wasn't always a bad thing.
If Linley hadn't gone to the Ernst Institute and lived with his three brothers,
then with a father like Hogg, if Linley had spent his whole life in the Baruch Clan,
he might really have been driven mad.
"Linley, just say this," Lin Ke's voice rang out in Linley's mind. "Tell him a mage has taken you on as a disciple..."
"Father." Hearing the words in his mind, Linley hurried to catch up with Hogg. "Well, a mage has taken me on as a disciple, and I'm going to study with my teacher today."
Linley's words made Hogg's expression even darker.
Not only was he being mischievous and trying to skip lessons to go play, he was even lying now?
But Lin Ke had already anticipated Hogg's reaction.
So as soon as Linley finished speaking, he began casting a spell on the ground in the distance.
"Earth Spike!"
As Linley spoke, the ground five or six meters away from them rose up.
Three spikes, each over forty centimeters high, burst out of the ground.
Hogg's lecture caught in his throat.
"Linley, you..." Hogg turned around and stared at Linley in disbelief. "Are you really a mage's disciple?"
"Yes, Father." Linley nodded. "My teacher taught me this spell recently."
"Good, good, good!" Hogg was overjoyed. "Linley, you can have the day off. And from now on, too—you can stop all your academic studies and manage your time however you like."
Hogg's sudden excitement left Linley stunned.
"Go on, Linley." Hogg stepped forward with a smile. "Don't keep your teacher waiting."
In System Space, Lin Ke rolled his eyes.
He'd gone from arrogant to obsequious in an instant. It was laughable.
Still, Lin Ke didn't say anything mocking in Linley's mind.
After all, Hogg was Linley's father.
But Lin Ke was thinking about something else now.
Should I stop Hogg from walking to his death?
Before you continue