Embroidered Ball! I Have Eight and a Half Planes!

(Ma Xiaotao beautiful image)

Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath and downed the Jasmine Milk Green Tea in her hand in one gulp.

The cool liquid slid down her throat into her stomach, yet it could not extinguish the fire growing ever more intense within her heart.

She raised her head to look at Lin Ye, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but she hesitated.

Her red dress fluttered gently in the breeze, clinging to her body and outlining her curvaceous figure to perfection.

The usual sense of cold aloofness that kept others at a distance in her pale pink eyes gradually dissipated.

Replacing it was a soul-stirring charm; with every flicker of her gaze, it felt as if she could hook a person's very soul away.

Lin Ye felt a bit unnerved by her stare and was just about to say something when a crisp notification sound suddenly rang out in his mind:

[System binding successful. Current remaining system points: 100]

Lin Ye's heart stirred as he quickly did the math.

Binding Xu Sanshi had cost 100 points, issuing a task later had deducted 20, and adding the 100 points for binding Ma Xiaotao...

Was there only 100 points left?

It seemed he would have to recoup some of his investment from Ma Xiaotao.

His gaze fell involuntarily upon her.

The graceful figure wrapped in that red dress, those alluring pale pink eyes, and that faint, lingering aura of charm all reminded him of one word: Cauldron.

Based on his previous experience, if he used Ma Xiaotao as a cauldron, his Medium-Flavor Essence Fire could be greatly enhanced.

Tonight, it seemed, would be another opportunity to try.

Just then, the system popped up another notification:

[Obtained binding system reward!]

[Magic Treasure: Embroidered Ball!]

Lin Ye's pupils constricted.

Embroidered Ball! Another magic treasure!

He quickly browsed the information on the magic treasure that appeared in his mind:

[Embroidered Ball: An eight-petaled spherical spirit weapon. Inside are eight directions of heaven and earth; each petal is a world unto itself!]

[Unlockable with sufficient magic power: Contains sixteen divine generals and five thousand plague-god ghost soldiers. Can summon demons to assist in battle, and when unleashed, can trigger landslides and sea-splitting, transforming into thousands of weapons to attack.]

Lin Ye was stunned after reading it all.

This was simply a divine artifact!

Electrolux had a necromancy demi-plane, but he had eight demi-planes!

And in the future, he could even summon divine generals and demons!

This was countless times better than any storage soul tool!

He suppressed the wild joy in his heart and took a deep breath to calm himself down.

No rush; he could study the magic treasure slowly. There were more important matters at hand.

With a thought, he issued a task to Ma Xiaotao.

A system panel popped up in front of Ma Xiaotao.

[Ding--]

[Obtained S-rank task: Go to the previous location with Lin Ye to vent the fire!]

[Task time limit: 12 hours!]

[Task completion reward: Soul power increased by two levels!]

[Task failure penalty: Soul power decreased by two levels!]

Ma Xiaotao stared at the task panel before her, her pale pink eyes filled with shock.

The task reward... soul power increased by two levels?!

Two levels!

That was a two-level jump between the sixth and seventh rings; under normal circumstances, it would take at least a year of cultivation!

Regardless of whether this system was real or fake, she had intended to find Lin Ye to try it out anyway.

And this task gave her a legitimate excuse, as well as a bit of courage.

Ma Xiaotao took a deep breath, her fingers hidden beneath her red dress clenching slightly. She gathered her courage, raised her head, and said in a soft, blushing voice:

"Lin Ye, um... can we meet at the usual place later?"

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum. Her cheeks beneath her veil were already flushed red, and even her earlobes and neck were stained with a faint pink hue.

Lin Ye looked at her, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly in an "I understand" expression, and he nodded. "Alright."

Having received a positive reply, Ma Xiaotao could no longer stay.

She lowered her head and turned to run, her red dress fluttering in the wind.

Good heavens, she had actually taken the initiative to invite a boy, and for... that kind of thing...

Ma Xiaotao screamed frantically in her heart as she ran, her face beneath the veil flushing as if it were about to bleed.

Xiao Xiao stood beside Lin Ye, watching Ma Xiaotao's retreating figure before looking at Lin Ye, who was packing up his stall, her large eyes filled with curiosity.

"The usual spot? Lin Ye, did you two know each other before?"

Lin Ye stowed the Milk Tea Maker back into his Leopard Skin Pouch and replied casually, "You could say that."

Xiao Xiao let out an "oh" and didn't press further, sensibly crouching down to help him tidy up the odds and ends on the stall.

The two worked with nimble hands, and before long, the stall was cleaned up completely.

Lin Ye straightened up, brushed the dust off his hands, and turned to beckon Xiao Xiao, signaling for her to follow him.

Xiao Xiao was a bit puzzled, but she followed along obediently.

The two turned into a quiet alley where there were no pedestrians around.

Lin Ye stopped, took a Little White Bottle out of his Leopard Skin Pouch, turned around, and held it out to Xiao Xiao.

"Xiao Xiao, this is what I wanted to give you."

Xiao Xiao looked at the little white bottle and blinked. "Hm?"

"Mystic Water Pill." Lin Ye's tone was as flat and casual as if he were saying "hello."

Xiao Xiao's pupils dilated sharply, and she stood frozen in place as if struck by lightning.

A Mystic Water Pill?!

Of course she knew what a Mystic Water Pill was.

It was a precious medicinal pill worth ten thousand gold, capable of cleansing the marrow, changing the physique, and increasing soul power; for any soul master below level thirty, it could raise their soul power by at least one level!

Such a precious item, and Lin Ye was just giving it to her so easily?

Xiao Xiao hurriedly waved her hands, shaking her head like a rattle. "No, no! It's too valuable, I can't accept it!"

Lin Ye took hold of her tender white hands without a word, pressed the Little White Bottle into her palm, and used a bit of force to hold it there so she couldn't push it back.

"Just take it. Consume it tonight."

He looked into Xiao Xiao's eyes, his tone becoming a bit more serious.

"You don't need to put so much pressure on yourself anymore. Your talent is already excellent, and with this Mystic Water Pill, you'll definitely be even stronger. You'll certainly be able to pass the Freshman Assessment."

Xiao Xiao's eyes turned slightly red, and her lips moved as she tried to refuse again. "No, no..."

As she spoke, she used her hands to push against the Little White Bottle, trying to return it.

But Lin Ye's hand was firmly pressed over it, and she couldn't budge it at all.

Watching the two of them pushing the item back and forth, Lin Ye was suddenly reminded of the scenes from his past life where people would politely decline gifts, and he was rendered speechless for a moment.

"What will it take for you to accept it?" He sighed. "How about you offer yourself to me instead?"

Xiao Xiao's face turned bright red in a flash, the flush spreading from her neck to her earlobes, making her look like a boiled shrimp.

She stopped refusing, clutching the Little White Bottle tightly in her small hands and pulling it to her chest as if she were protecting a rare treasure.

Lin Ye couldn't help but laugh as he watched her shy and embarrassed appearance.

"Alright, go back and absorb it quickly." He patted Xiao Xiao on the shoulder. "But be prepared, because after you take it, your pores will poop."

Xiao Xiao kept her head down, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum. "Okay..."

A short while later, outside Shrek City.

A quiet little grove.