"Ah..." Zhao Linchuan sighed in feigned resignation. With a mere thought, a fresh, dewy carrot with a bright green top appeared in his hand.
Holding it by the leafy top, he waved it near Xiao Wu's head through the covers. The carrot's distinct, sweet fragrance immediately seeped into the bedding.
"Don't be mad, my little maid. Look, the carrot's right here." His voice held a trace of laughter.
"Hmm?" The figure beneath the covers stirred.
The next instant, the covers flew open with a swish, and Xiao Wu's head poked out. Her little nose sniffed eagerly, and her big eyes locked onto the carrot within arm's reach, shining with delight.
"Wow! A carrot!"
She snatched it in the blink of an eye and took a huge bite with a crunch. Her cheeks puffed up as she chewed contentedly, her eyes squeezing into happy crescents.
"Slow down. No one's going to steal it."
Amused by the way she guarded her food, Zhao Linchuan flipped his wrist and conjured another bulging cloth bag, setting it gently in front of her.
'Points -1'
"Here. That should last you a few days."
Xiao Wu used one hand to open the bag and peered inside—every inch of it was packed with crisp, fresh carrots!
Her eyes practically turned into carrots themselves. She let out an awed "Wow!" and hugged the bag to her chest as if she were holding the whole world.
About a quarter of an hour later, Xiao Wu rubbed her slightly rounded belly with satisfaction and gave a tiny burp.
She turned onto her side and looked at Zhao Linchuan, who had already lain down with his hands behind his head. Blinking her big eyes, she asked earnestly:
"So... as long as I keep warming your bed and behaving, I'll have an endless supply of carrots?"
"Mm, that's right."
Zhao Linchuan turned his head, reached out to pinch her soft cheek, and smiled.
"Just settle in as my personal bed-warming maid. I'll make sure you have all the carrots you can eat."
"Mm-hmm!" Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, her face blossoming into a radiant smile.
Half an hour later, Dorm Seven had fallen completely silent, broken only by the steady rise and fall of breathing.
Lying on his back, Zhao Linchuan gazed at the indistinct shadows on the ceiling and silently thought, System, fuse the Puni First Spirit Ring.
[Command confirmed. Beginning fusion of "Puni First Spirit Ring (Growth Type)."]
The instant the system's prompt faded, a warm, surging current welled up without warning from deep within his dantian. Like spring waters bursting through a dam, it rushed into his limbs and every tiny meridian!
The energy wasn't violent; on the contrary, it was exceptionally gentle and pure. Wherever it flowed, it brought an indescribable sense of comfort.
His muscles, bones, and even his blood quivered faintly as they were nourished by the energy, resonating with joy.
A wondrous feeling of his very life level rising, ever so slightly, washed over Zhao Linchuan.
"Mmm... that feels so good..."
The sensation was so overwhelming that Zhao Linchuan couldn't help giving a slight shudder. A barely audible sigh slipped from his throat.
But just as this delicate, private moment unfolded—
"Whoosh!"
A faint sound of something cutting through the air came from Wang Sheng's bed across the room.
A white object sailed over with pinpoint accuracy and landed beside Zhao Linchuan's pillow.
He caught it on instinct. It felt soft... It was an unopened pack of toilet paper.
He turned in astonishment. A shadow shifted on Wang Sheng's bed, followed by a lewd little chuckle, so quiet it was nearly inaudible but unmistakably said, "I get you, bro." Then everything went still again, as if nothing had happened.
Zhao Linchuan stared for two seconds before realizing what the bastard Wang Sheng meant. Three dark lines instantly slid down his forehead.
What the hell! he cursed inwardly. What kind of nonsense is this?! I'm absorbing a Soul Ring! Absorbing a Soul Ring! I'm not doing that kind of thing! My good name is ruined!
Clutching the pack of toilet paper, he was half exasperated and half amused. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it straight back, hitting Wang Sheng right in his chubby face.
A muffled "Ow!" came from the darkness. Then there was no sound at all.
Zhao Linchuan couldn't be bothered to argue with someone whose mind was full of dirty thoughts. He closed his eyes again and focused on what was happening inside him.
The Soul Ring fusion was complete. Zhao Linchuan silently thought:
Three thousand years! Not bad. Zhao Linchuan's heart leapt with delight.
At the same time, he felt his Soul Power Level climbing steadily as the Soul Ring's energy flowed back into him, until it settled at a distinct new level.
Level fourteen Soul Power! I jumped straight from level ten to level fourteen, crossed the threshold from Soul Scholar to Soul Master, and gained another three or four levels on top of that! This First Soul Ring really does bring enormous benefits.
Not bad. A smooth start.
Zhao Linchuan thought with satisfaction. But I should start looking into Soul Bones, too. I wonder if the system's future quest rewards will include a Soul Bone that can grow or evolve endlessly...
I'll wait and see. If nothing especially suitable comes along, those two divine bones of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings might be the best choice.
Two days later, at Pope Palace in Spirit City.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan strode silently into the great hall and stopped before the Pope's desk. He dropped to one knee. "Your Holiness, I have urgent intelligence."
Seated on her throne and perusing a dossier, Bibi Dong slowly raised her head.
A Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown rested on her head. Her peerless beauty seemed all the more stately and noble beneath its gleaming jewels, making it difficult to look directly at her.
"Speak."
"Yes." Yue Guan took a deep breath and reported gravely, "A confidential report just arrived from the Spirit Hall branch in Nuoding City, Heaven Dou Empire. After verification from several sources, it's been confirmed... Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao is dead."
"Tang Hao is dead?" A flicker of surprise crossed Bibi Dong's eyes.
The Clear Sky Douluo who had grievously wounded the previous Pope single-handedly and fought his way out of Spirit Hall's encirclement had died so quietly?
"What happened? Give me the details. Did one of the elders from the Worship Hall act?" Her first thought was of those Worship Hall elders who rarely showed themselves.
Yue Guan shook his head. "It wasn't the Worship Hall, Your Holiness."
"According to the investigation in Nuoding City, an extremely... bizarre murder took place outside the city about three days ago."
"An adult man was dismembered, chopped into countless evenly sized pieces."
He paused, as if even recalling the description made him uncomfortable.
"The local coroner spent a tremendous amount of time and effort just to piece the fragments back together."
"By comparing the victim's features, especially the traces of Soul Power left at the scene... they ultimately confirmed that the deceased was Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao."
"As for the killer and the method used, aside from those terrifying cut marks, no useful clues were left behind."
"None of the Worship Hall elders have left Spirit City recently, either."
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