Soul Bone, Whale Rubber, and Follower Benefits! Zhu Zhuqing: What's So Bad About Being a Dog? Woof!

Looking at the half-dead Thousand-Year Man Faced Demon Spider before her, Ning Rongrong felt as if the whole world had become unreal.

Three Man Faced Demon Spiders! Three External Soul Bones!

How was that possible?

If these things were really so easy to obtain, how could they have become legends in the Soul Master world?

Of course, Meng Yiran knew what had happened. She had personally watched Qian Ni use a magical little mirror to duplicate the Man Faced Demon Spider several times!

But she merely curled her lips into a smile and didn't show off in front of Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.

Zhu Zhuqing reacted differently. The longer she stayed by Qian Ni's side, the more unfathomable and frighteningly mysterious he seemed.

Still, if he was one of their own, there was nothing to fear. The more mysterious, the better!

She believed Qian Ni's words without question, her eyes openly filled with longing for the External Soul Bone.

Though she had never heard of such a thing before, she knew what a Soul Bone was.

Obtaining a Soul Bone would greatly improve her strength! It would bring her one step closer to surviving the struggles within her family!

Qian Ni continued his introduction.

"This isn't merely an External Soul Bone. It's an External Soul Bone with extremely high growth potential!

"Besides strengthening its owner, it also possesses the Man Faced Demon Spider's power to devour other Soul Beasts."

Meng Yiran nodded lightly, confirming that Qian Ni was telling the truth.

Although it looked slightly different from Tang San's, its enhancement and devouring abilities had not weakened. It had merely undergone adaptive changes based on Meng Yiran's martial soul.

"What a pity..." Qian Ni suddenly sighed. "This is only a Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

"If it were a Ten-Thousand-Year Man Faced Demon Spider, that'd be even better.

"Tch, let's keep a few and raise them. Feed them more Soul Beast flesh and blood or something. Maybe their cultivation will increase!

"Damn it! If I'd known, I would've pinned down that monkey and snake, cut off some meat, and drained some blood!

"What a loss!"

The more Qian Ni thought about it, the angrier he became. He couldn't help punching the Alien's arm beside him.

Bang—

The Alien staggered from the blow and nearly fell to the ground. Fortunately, it was rather tough and managed to stand back up.

If it could speak, and if it hadn't been brainwashed by the Hypnosis Phone App, it would probably have already started cursing Qian Ni out.

"Xiao Meng!"

Qian Ni turned to look at Meng Yiran.

"Logically speaking, a rookie little lackey like you should've built up some merits before receiving a treasure like this.

"But we're not devils. Since you've absorbed it, work properly for us!"

"Mm-hm!" Meng Yiran's eyes were full of little stars as she looked at Qian Ni.

To her, as long as she could stay by Qian Ni's side and be closer to him, anything was fine.

"Little Zhu!"

Qian Ni called on her next.

"During the trip to Star Dou Forest, we've seen your performance. You managed the capsule well, and even while at the academy, you didn't forget your boss. Your loyalty is commendable!

"Once your Soul Power reaches level thirty, we'll reward you with a Thousand-Year Man Faced Demon Spider Soul Ring! And a set of Eight Spider Lances External Soul Bone!

"Also, our Soul Power is already at level forty-two. Discuss with Xiao Meng how you'll borrow our Soul Power to cultivate. Just return it at night.

"And you're at level twenty-seven Soul Power, right?"

When Zhu Zhuqing heard Qian Ni mention borrowing Soul Power, the delight on her face was impossible to hide.

"Level twenty-eight! I happened to advance a level before returning to the academy."

Qian Ni nodded approvingly.

She was his follower, after all. If her strength were too lacking, it would reflect poorly on him too.

"Not bad! You're close to level thirty now, so we'll give you another push!"

Qian Ni took a small box from his storage ring. The words "Ten Thousand" were engraved on its lid.

When the lid opened, it revealed stacks of small solid biscuits, black with traces of golden yellow.

A peculiar fragrance immediately spread through the room.

"This is..." Zhu Zhuqing had seen something similar before. Back at the Rose Hotel, she had secretly eaten a piece of Ninety-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber and ended up exhausted all night.

Now that Qian Ni had taken out this Whale Rubber, he clearly intended to give it to her!

The unforgettable memories flooded back, and amid her faint resistance, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help feeling a desire rise within her.

If I eat these, can I have a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring too?

But didn't Master say I'd explode if I ate it?

She was terribly conflicted.

Qian Ni picked up a piece and placed it in his palm. An extremely tiny orange-red flame abruptly appeared half a foot above the Whale Rubber.

As he fed his Soul Power into it as fuel, the Supernatural Flame underwent subtle changes, its color shifting from red to blue.

Everyone's Soul Power was different. This was the color of his Twin-Winged Bird Soul Power.

If the Supernatural Flame were used directly to roast the Whale Rubber, not even ashes would remain.

Qian Ni had to add Soul Power during the process of Microscopic Particle Manipulation, weakening the flame while altering its properties so it could be used to prepare edible Whale Rubber.

"Open your mouth!"

At Qian Ni's shout, Zhu Zhuqing instinctively opened her pretty mouth.

With a flick of his hand, he tossed the processed Whale Rubber into Zhu Zhuqing's mouth.

It didn't burn her mouth, but the still-scorching gelatinous texture made Zhu Zhuqing frown slightly.

Very quickly, the medicinal effect took hold. A hot current surged through her limbs and bones, and Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help letting out a muffled moan.

Her body trembled as she was about to twist...

Qian Ni suddenly pointed a finger at her and shouted, "Freeze!"

First soul skill! Cursed Speech!

He had forcefully used a word of Cursed Speech as though it were a paralysis technique.

An invisible force bound her entire body. Zhu Zhuqing immediately seemed to have been put on pause, standing motionless in the living room.

Qian Ni continued, "This piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber can increase the age of your third Soul Ring by one thousand years. Once your body adapts somewhat, take higher-grade Whale Rubber.

"Work harder and strive to absorb a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring at level forty! That way, you'll make us look good outside.

"Alright, today's meeting is over. Rongrong-san, you and Xiao Meng carry her back to her room.

"We'll think of some training work for you starting tomorrow!"

As Qian Ni spoke, he got up to leave.

Ning Rongrong froze, taking a moment to process it.

Huh? What about me? Aren't I one of your followers too? Where are my benefits?

The girls are already aiming for Ten-Thousand-Year fourth Soul Rings. What about me?

I want Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber too! I want an External Soul Bone too!

"Wait!" she called after Qian Ni.

"Hm?" Qian Ni didn't turn around, merely showing her his profile.

Ning Rongrong's face reddened as she said awkwardly, "I..."

She hummed and hawed for a long time without saying anything. Though she was a little witch in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong didn't dare act recklessly before Qian Ni.

Clearly, she also knew that compared to Zhu Zhuqing, her attitude wasn't merely improper—it was utterly terrible!

"What is it?" Qian Ni sneered coldly.

"Tell us, have you ever fulfilled the duties of a follower for even a single day?"

Qian Ni began settling accounts.

"Forget being a mount. The Alien runs faster than you, and for long journeys, we don't think much of your tiny frame.

"You don't even change into your uniform! Your attitude is wrong! You never greet your boss! And you still want salary and bonuses? We're already being kind by not charging you a spot fee and friendship fee!

"Rongrong-san, think about it. You're a Pagoda Little Loser. You can't fight, you can't take hits, and you can't heal.

"You have neither attitude nor strength. You don't have more money than us, and you can't even provide much emotional value.

"And you still have the nerve to ask for follower benefits? Search your conscience! Have you sincerely regarded yourself as our follower?

"Don't keep thinking about what we can give you! Think about what you've done for us!"

Qian Ni's barrage left Ning Rongrong completely overwhelmed, standing in place without daring to say a word.

"Rongrong-san, get this straight. You're only a follower!

"What we give you is yours. What we don't give you, you can't take!

"Today, you're already thinking of freeloading. We don't even dare imagine what you'll do tomorrow!"

Bang—

Qian Ni shut his bedroom door, leaving Ning Rongrong standing in disarray in the living room.

Beside her, Meng Yiran suddenly felt a little sorry for her, but what followed was a subtle sense of superiority rising within her heart.

After thinking for a moment, she took Ning Rongrong's arm and said softly.

"Little Rong, can you come into town with me tomorrow to buy some clothes?

"I arrived late, so I don't know what styles Qian Ni likes."

She pointed at Zhu Zhuqing.

Ning Rongrong looked in that direction. Zhu Zhuqing's maid outfit was now particularly eye-catching.

Sis, even you're competing with me!

Could it be that I'm really the only abnormal one?

Is being a follower really that appealing?

Ning Rongrong's nose stung, and she nearly burst into tears.

But then she saw the Eight Spider Lances External Soul Bone behind Meng Yiran, which she seemed to have forgotten to put away...

And Zhu Zhuqing's skin, which had turned bright red from absorbing the medicinal effect...

Ning Rongrong came to a realization. A voice echoed in her heart.

Perhaps... it's time to abandon that unnecessary sense of shame!

My Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Rubber... my External Soul Bone... sob...

Dad, Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, Rongrong is going to become someone else's little follower...

If Zhu Zhuqing could still speak, she would definitely have told Ning Rongrong.

"What's so bad about being Qian Ni's follower? Woof!"