The Rewards Arrive

After Meow Meow closed his eyes, he didn't actually fall asleep.

At least, not this time.

He sank his mind into the System Panel and looked at the row of unopened gift packs. The tip of his tail couldn't help twitching slightly.

Four of them.

And every one was compensation from Qian Renxue's storyline.

These weren't ordinary daily feeding gift packs.

Who was Qian Renxue?

The Young Master of Martial Soul Hall.

The wielder of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.

Qian Daoliu's granddaughter.

And one of the most important figures in the original fate of the Douluo Continent.

There was no way the gift packs from her storyline would be anything less than excellent.

"Open."

Meow Meow didn't hesitate.

[Ding! The Qian Renxue First Encounter Pack has been opened.]

[Rewards: 80 Meow Points, Talent: Angel Affinity, ×1 Millennium Cultivation Card.]

[Ding! The Black Marsh Escape Together Pack has been opened.]

[Rewards: Soul Skill: Moonshadow Dash, Treasure: Purifying Feather Amulet, 100 Meow Points.]

[Ding! The Secret Journey Together Pack has been opened.]

[Rewards: ×1 Companion Soul Artifact Expansion Card, Meow Pet Skill: Bellbound Search.]

[Ding! The First Interaction Pack has been opened.]

[Rewards: ×3 Angelic Spirit Fruit Seeds, ×30 Sacred Spring Dew, 50 Meow Points.]

A string of notifications flashed before his eyes. Meow Meow almost leaped off the stone bench.

Good stuff.

All of it was good stuff.

He'd really struck it rich this time.

"The system's actually being this generous?"

"Sure enough, bonding with the Young Master is different."

Meow Meow was delighted as he quickly skimmed through all the rewards.

The first thing he examined was [Angel Affinity].

[Angel Affinity: The host can better adapt to angelic and sacred-attribute soul power. When near a Six-Winged Angel martial soul wielder, the host is less likely to be repelled by sacred attributes. Prolonged exposure can purify the host's spirit.]

Meow Meow's eyes lit up slightly as he finished reading.

This was useful.

It wasn't a direct combat ability, but it was extremely valuable to him right now.

Qian Renxue possessed the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.

Qian Daoliu did too.

And as for the Worship Hall, there was no need to mention the Angel God Statue and the Angel Temple.

Without this affinity, getting close to that place in the future might make him uncomfortable, even if he wasn't immediately repelled.

But now, things were different.

At least if he really entered the Worship Hall someday, he wouldn't have his fur bristling from the angelic aura the moment he arrived.

"Not bad."

"This ability isn't flashy, but it's perfect for spending a long time around Spirit Hall."

Next came [Moon Shadow Dash].

[Moonshadow Dash: A movement soul skill exclusive to the Moonspirit Cat. When activated, the host's speed increases for a short time, while noise and soul power fluctuations are reduced during movement. Its current effect is limited by the host's cultivation and cannot be used continuously for long periods.]

Meow Meow nodded in satisfaction.

This one was even more straightforward.

An escape skill.

On the Douluo Continent, you could do without plenty of things, but you couldn't do without a way to run.

Especially after last night's encounter in Black Marsh. It had made him understand one thing completely.

The outside world wasn't the East Side Courtyard.

Not every danger could be solved by acting cute.

If he ran into a fifty-thousand-year Soul Beast, he'd better run first.

"Moon Mark Time Slow buys me a moment."

"Moon Shadow Dash gets me out of there."

"Add Moon Concealment and Mimic Breath, and I finally have a reasonably complete set of ways to stay alive."

Then came the [Pure Feather Talisman].

[Purifying Feather Amulet: A protective keepsake formed from angelic soul power. It can withstand one moderately powerful mental attack and briefly dispel sinister auras. After use, it must be replenished with sacred-attribute soul power.]

Meow Meow looked it over.

This was different from the Golden Feather Qian Renxue had given him earlier.

The Golden Feather was more like a protective token from Qian Renxue herself.

The Pure Feather Talisman, on the other hand, was a reward the system had granted based on her storyline.

One was external, the other internal.

They didn't conflict.

"Good."

"If I run into an Evil Soul Master or a Soul Master with mental abilities, I'll at least be able to hold out a little longer."

As for [Bell-Led Master Seeking], Meow Meow examined it more closely.

[Bellbound Search: Meow pet skill. Through the Tranquility Bell, the host can sense the approximate location and fluctuating condition of the bound "scoop-the-litter" owners. Currently bound: Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue.]

[Notice: This ability can only determine location and signs of danger; it cannot pry into private matters.]

Meow Meow's mouth twitched when he reached the last line.

"System, you're pretty strict about the rules."

"But that's probably for the best."

This skill was important.

Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue were both key figures in the fate of the world.

And their relationship still hadn't been repaired. One was in the Pope's Palace, while the other was undercover in Heavenly Dou, with plenty of trouble between them.

He couldn't rely on guesswork every time.

With this skill, at least he'd know roughly what was going on if something happened to either of them.

"Excellent."

"Now it'll be harder for anyone to get up to mischief behind this cat's back."

"Of course, that's only if I can get there in time."

After checking the main rewards, Meow Meow looked at the cultivation card.

A Thousand-Year Cultivation Card.

It was simple and effective.

He was already a thousand-year Soul Beast, and the higher his age, the harder it was to increase.

But cultivation cards from the system had the advantage of being reliable.

No need to absorb Soul Power.

No need to take risks hunting.

And no need to slowly endure the way ordinary Soul Beasts did.

"Use it."

[Ding! Millennium Cultivation Card used successfully.]

Gentle Soul Power spread through his body.

This time, the improvement was more noticeable than before.

His meridians, flesh, and spiritual sea were all steadily pushed to a higher level.

Meow Meow didn't open his eyes.

He simply kept the changes inside him under control, trying not to let anything unusual show from the outside.

Qian Renxue was still beside him.

He didn't want her to have just accepted him, only to immediately see a cat sitting on a stone bench suddenly increase its cultivation.

That would look far too strange.

Fortunately, the system's improvement was steady enough.

After a while, the changes gradually settled.

[Cultivation: Three-thousand-year soul beast.]

Seeing the number on the panel, Meow Meow felt even better.

Three thousand years.

He was still a tiny speck in front of a Titled Douluo.

But at least he was no longer a kitten that any ordinary Soul Master could bully.

Among Soul Beasts, he'd managed to get a foothold.

"Not bad."

"This cat is a three-thousand-year-old feline now."

"It still doesn't sound very impressive, but it's a lot better than when I was just born."

Next, he turned his attention to the [Companion Spirit Tool Expansion Card].

It was obviously meant for the Calming Bell.

The Calming Bell already had a small inner space that could store nonliving objects and certain types of pure energy.

But the space wasn't large.

And it wasn't suitable for anything too complicated.

Now that he had an expansion card, Meow Meow naturally wasn't going to hold back.

"Use it on the Calming Bell."

[Ding! Companion Soul Artifact Expansion Card used successfully.]

[Expanding the Tranquility Bell's space...]

The silver bell around Meow Meow's neck gave a faint tremble.

The sound was very soft.

Qian Renxue was sitting not far away. She seemed to notice something and looked over.

The white cat's eyes were still closed, and he looked as though he was cultivating.

She didn't disturb him.

She simply grew a little more curious.

Meanwhile, Meow Meow's consciousness had already entered the Calming Bell.

The space, which had originally been about the size of a small room, was gradually expanding.

Gray-white mist dispersed.

A flat patch of open ground appeared in the center.

Beside it was a shallow pool.

The pool wasn't large, and there was no water in it yet. A faint mixture of moonlight and Holy Fire Aura shimmered within.

Farther away was an empty patch of spiritual soil.

It wasn't very large.

But it was enough to grow a few things.

"That's more like it."

"Before, it was just storage space."

"Now it's starting to feel like a little home I can slowly build up."

Meow Meow was quite satisfied.

The system's description was clear, though.

This still wasn't a real pocket world.

It couldn't hold ordinary living beings for long.

And he couldn't use it to raise a whole bunch of cats.

But it could hold a Sacred Flame Spirit Cat briefly, or store spirit fruit, Core Flames, Dew, and other special items. That was already possible.

For him, that was enough.

At least he wouldn't have to hang everything on his body whenever he went out.

Thinking of this, he first poured the [Holy Spring Dew] into the pool.

After the thirty drops of Dew fell in, a shallow layer of water appeared in the pool.

The water was clear.

A faint silver light shimmered across its surface.

Meow Meow could sense that it would help restore his spirit and nourish the Sacred Flame Spirit Cat.

"I can give a little to the little ones in the East Side Courtyard later."

"But not too much."

A Ju was such a glutton. If he knew there was a pond here, he'd probably find a way to stick his head in it.

Just picturing A Ju's round little form made Meow Meow want to laugh.

Next, he planted the three Angel Spirit Fruit Seeds in the spirit soil.

As soon as they touched the soil, they began to glimmer with a faint golden light.

They hadn't sprouted yet.

But he could tell they were alive.

"Angel Spirit Fruit."

"The name alone tells me it has something to do with Qian Renxue."

"If I manage to grow them, maybe I can let her and Bibi Dong try some."

At the thought of Bibi Dong, Meow Meow paused.

If Qian Renxue belonged to the Angel Lineage,

then the aura around Bibi Dong was far more complicated.

Her Martial Soul was spider-like to begin with, and later she became deeply entangled in the Rakshasa God Trial.

The Angel Spirit Fruit might not be suitable for her to eat in large quantities.

But if he only used it to clear away the cold, restless energy in her mind, it might help.

"I'll plant them first."

"I'll think about it again when they're ripe."

After taking care of that, Meow Meow opened his status panel.

[Host: Meow Meow]

[Species: Moon Spirit Cat]

[Cultivation: Three-thousand-year Soul Beast]

[Bound Objects: Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue]

[Companion Soul Artifact: Calming Bell]

[Talents: Heart-Melting Gaze, Purring Dream, Angel Affinity]

[Soul Skills: Soul Devour Moon, Moon Mark Time Slow, Sacred Flame Spirit Ignition, Moon Shadow Dash]

[Cat Pet Skill: Bell-Led Master Seeking]

[Followers: 15 Sacred Flame Spirit Cats]

[Meow Wish Value: 260]

[Current Main Quest: Repair the Regretful Storyline of Spirit Hall]

Looking at the panel, Meow Meow felt reassured.

He had gone from a newborn kitten in Death Canyon to someone with two bound objects, a group of Sacred Flame Spirit Cats, two places to stay, and several genuinely useful abilities.

It hadn't been long.

But a lot had changed.

"Not bad."

"At least now I don't look like a kitten who could be captured and turned into a Soul Ring at any moment."

Just as the thought crossed his mind, the system displayed a new notification.

[System: The next stage of Qian Renxue's storyline has begun.]

[Quest: Help Qian Renxue return safely to Heaven Dou City.]

[Description: Qian Renxue has been posing as Xue Qinghe while undercover in Heaven Dou. Staying away for too long could arouse suspicion. Please help her escape the fallout from the Black Marsh incident and return to Heaven Dou safely.]

[Reward: Determined by quest completion.]

Meow Meow's eyes shifted slightly.

Just as he'd thought.

Qian Renxue couldn't stay here forever.

She was still posing as Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou, in public.

If she stayed away too long, there would definitely be trouble in Heaven Dou.

Emperor Xue Ye, Prince Xue Xing, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and a host of nobles and spies.

The place didn't look as imposing as Spirit Hall, but its waters were just as deep.

"Heaven Dou City..."

Meow Meow mused to himself.

A lot of things in the original story would happen there.

Tang San would go to Heaven Dou later, too.

Shrek would go there as well.

Yu Xiaogang and the others would cross paths with them sooner or later.

But that was still a long way off.

For now, he was only helping Qian Renxue return. He wasn't going to flip the table in Heaven Dou City himself.

"Don't think too far ahead."

"Take things one bite at a time. A cat has to take it one step at a time, too."

Meow Meow withdrew his consciousness from the system and slowly opened his eyes.

Qian Renxue was sitting nearby, watching him.

White Dew lay by her knees, Ink Shadow was getting familiar with the courtyard in a shady corner, and A Yu crouched beside the Herb Garden, sniffing a small medicinal plant.

The courtyard was quiet.

So quiet that the string of reward notifications from the system seemed like an illusion.

When Qian Renxue saw him open his eyes, she asked, "Finished cultivating?"

Meow Meow nodded.

"More or less."

Qian Renxue studied him for a moment, seemingly noticing that his aura was steadier than before.

But she didn't ask any questions.

Everyone had secrets.

She had hers.

Meow Meow had his, too.

Asking too much would only spoil the mood.

Meow Meow didn't offer an explanation, either. He simply sat up a little straighter, licked his paw, and asked casually, "Qinghe."

"Hmm?"

"Shouldn't you be heading back to Heaven Dou City?"

Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed slightly.

Meow Meow looked up at her.

"You're still the Crown Prince of Heaven Dou."

"The business here in Black Marsh has kept you away long enough."

"If you don't return soon, people in Heaven Dou might start to suspect something."

Qian Renxue was silent for a moment.

Then she nodded gently.

"I should go back."

"But before I do, I have a few loose ends to tie up."

Meow Meow's ears twitched.

"The Evil Soul Master lead?"

"Mm."

Qian Renxue's voice grew a little colder.

"Although the hideout in Black Marsh has been destroyed, the traces it left behind are still there."

"If I don't clean them up, they could implicate me later."

Meow Meow thought it over and nodded.

"Then let's take care of it."

"Once we're done, I'll go to Heaven Dou with you."

Qian Renxue looked at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

Meow Meow swished his tail.

"I've finally gone out for a trip. I can't just make a lap around Black Marsh and head back to Spirit City."

"Besides..."

He paused.

"I want to see Heaven Dou City, too."

Qian Renxue watched him but didn't refuse.

"All right."

"Get some rest first."

"We leave tomorrow."

Meow Meow nodded.

He seemed perfectly calm.

But inside, his thoughts were already stirring.

Heaven Dou City.

Xue Qinghe.

The Young Master of Martial Soul Hall.

And Tang San and the Shrek Seven Devils, who were bound to appear in the future.

"Interesting."

"Looks like this trip is really taking me into the original story's main plot."