Child of Destiny Trait Upgrade, Puzhi's Traits

"What the hell? No way?"

"My Child of Destiny trait actually upgraded—it's white quality now?"

"Doesn't that mean... Zhang Xiaofan has become my stand-in!"

After all, when it came to opportunities, getting one step ahead meant staying ahead every step of the way.

What was more, Su Han knew the plot in advance. How could he possibly give Zhang Xiaofan another chance to surpass him?

At the same time, though, Su Han was somewhat surprised.

He had never expected traits of the same category to be able to fuse and upgrade each other. This was a function the system had never explicitly mentioned before.

"Traits can be upgraded."

"In that case, the system's potential and flexibility have become much greater!"

Su Han was delighted.

For instance, Zhang Xiaofan possessed a Gold Word Trait: Exceptional Comprehension.

Previously, if Su Han plundered this trait, it could at most remain Gold quality.

But if traits could fuse and upgrade each other...

Then if Su Han plundered another trait related to comprehension from someone else in the future, could he continue upgrading the Exceptional Comprehension trait?

Until it became heaven-defying comprehension?

Or even... Circulating Creation?!

At the thought of that possibility, Su Han's eyes filled with delight. He clenched his fists, unable to hide the smile on his face.

After quite a while.

Su Han took a deep breath and composed himself.

Looking toward the large tree, where the children had already run off, he murmured inwardly, "Now that I've finished plundering the first trait, it's time to wait for the monk Puzhi to arrive."

Su Han rose to his feet and headed toward the ruined temple not far outside Caomiao Village.

When Su Han arrived at the ruined temple.

He saw Lin Jingyu holding a wooden sword to Zhang Xiaofan's face as he demanded loudly, "Do you yield?"

"Cut the crap, we're not done fighting yet!"

Zhang Xiaofan shouted back. Taking advantage of Lin Jingyu holding back, he struck Lin Jingyu's wooden sword from his hand.

Lin Jingyu seemed somewhat angry. Without saying anything, he walked sullenly toward the wooden sword.

But at that moment, Su Han noticed that Lin Jingyu's eyes had somehow taken on a faint, barely perceptible crimson tint.

"Has Puzhi already arrived?"

Su Han was startled, but he remained calm and did not turn around to search for anyone.

Instead, he silently watched Lin Jingyu resume fighting Zhang Xiaofan.

Lin Jingyu truly deserved to be a swordsmanship genius with the Unrivaled Sword Dao (Red) trait. Even without anyone teaching him swordsmanship, his swordplay was far beyond what Zhang Xiaofan could match at present.

Thus, after merely a few exchanges, Lin Jingyu had pressed his wooden sword against Zhang Xiaofan's throat. "Do you yield?"

"I won't!"

Despite Lin Jingyu's demand, Zhang Xiaofan still refused to admit defeat.

But this time, Lin Jingyu, influenced by the Blood Devouring Pearl, did not go easy on him as before. Instead, because Zhang Xiaofan refused to concede, he began applying more and more force.

Before long, Zhang Xiaofan's face had turned red from suffocation, and he could no longer breathe.

The blood-red glow in Lin Jingyu's eyes also became increasingly apparent.

Outside the ruined temple.

An old monk witnessed this scene. He lowered his head to look at the Blood Devouring Pearl on his prayer beads and silently recited a Buddhist invocation.

"Amitabha."

"It seems that young benefactor has been influenced by the Blood Devouring Pearl."

With that, the old monk intended to intervene.

But the next moment, Puzhi discovered something to his surprise.

While all the children were frightened out of their wits.

A child dressed in black remained remarkably composed. He picked up a wooden sword that had fallen to the ground and, with a gentle flick, separated the child influenced by the Blood Devouring Pearl from the other child.

"This child was not only unaffected by the Blood Devouring Pearl, but could remain so calm in a crisis?"

Puzhi was somewhat surprised by what he saw, and a trace of approval flashed through his eyes.

Inside the ruined temple.

Lin Jingyu angrily pointed his wooden sword at Su Han, who had separated him from Zhang Xiaofan. "Who are you?"

Even as he shouted, he gripped the wooden sword without mercy and charged at Su Han.

Seeing Lin Jingyu become incredibly combative under the Blood Devouring Pearl's influence, Su Han frowned slightly.

He was just about to raise his wooden sword to block.

But then.

Su Han discovered that an old monk wearing black-and-white cassocks and holding a string of prayer beads had somehow appeared between him and Lin Jingyu.

The instant he saw the old monk, Su Han opened the system.

At once, a panel visible only to him appeared before Su Han.

Name: Puzhi

Identity: One of Tianyin Temple's Four Great Divine Monks

Traits Possessed: Buddha's Blessing (Gold), Merit Wheel (Purple), Prodigious Talent (Purple)...

"Sure enough, the time is not yet ripe. He only has one Gold trait, Buddha's Blessing."

Su Han shook his head somewhat dissatisfiedly and did not choose to plunder Puzhi's traits for the time being.

Just as Su Han was examining Puzhi's traits.

"Amitabha."

The old monk Puzhi softly recited a Buddhist invocation toward Lin Jingyu.

In an instant, the red gleam in Lin Jingyu's eyes faded.

"You have some skill in subduing opponents, child. Your bones and aptitude are also quite good—you may be considered exceptionally gifted."

Lin Jingyu angrily rebuked him, "Where did this old monk come from?"

At the same time, he hurried to Zhang Xiaofan's side and helped him up, still somewhat shaken.

Puzhi ignored Lin Jingyu and looked at Zhang Xiaofan instead. "Young benefactor, you only needed to admit defeat just now. Why persist so stubbornly?"

After speaking.

Puzhi turned to Su Han. "Had this young benefactor not acted, I fear you would have lost your life for nothing."

"Amitabha."

"Saving one life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Benefactor, your merit is boundless."

Su Han smiled faintly at Puzhi. "It was only a small effort. Master, you flatter me."

Meanwhile, Lin Jingyu grabbed Zhang Xiaofan. "Xiaofan, this old monk is acting strangely. Let's go."

Though Zhang Xiaofan was puzzled, he merely glanced at Puzhi a few times before allowing Lin Jingyu to pull him away.

Before long.

Only Su Han and Puzhi remained in the ruined temple.

"Young benefactor, why have you not left yet?"

Puzhi looked at Su Han in confusion. Rather than leaving, Su Han had found a comfortable spot and sat leaning against a pillar.

"Why should I leave?"

Su Han chuckled softly before continuing, "I can tell that you are not a bad person, Master."

"If you truly harbored ill intentions, then with the skill you displayed when you suddenly appeared, Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu could never have left safely."

Puzhi smiled faintly. "Young benefactor, you are intelligent, composed, and decisive enough to save others. That is rare."

"However, it seems those children do not know you."

"May I ask where you come from, young benefactor? And why you came to Caomiao Village?"

Su Han shook his head. "I cannot say. I promised the village chief that I would not reveal my origins to anyone."

"But I can tell you my purpose, Master. I wish to become a disciple of the Qingyun Sect."

"Become a disciple of the Qingyun Sect?"

Upon hearing the Qingyun Sect mentioned, Puzhi seemed to understand and nodded slightly.

"Caomiao Village lies at the foot of Qingyun Sect's mountain. It is only natural that one seeking to join the Qingyun Sect would come to Caomiao Village. This old monk was overthinking it."

With that.

Puzhi said no more and closed his eyes to rest.

Su Han did the same.

Before long, the sky gradually darkened.

Footsteps sounded outside.

Hearing them, Su Han suddenly opened his eyes. "Is Cang Song coming?"

"The time for me to plunder traits has finally arrived!"

"I wonder what kind of surprise Puzhi, one with both Buddha and demon within him, will offer me through his traits?!"