Golden Yellow said:
"I can teach you, but I usually have to handle organization matters and hunt Monster Demons, so I don't have much time."
As she spoke, she pulled a thick, yellowed book from her spatial pouch and handed it to Molly.
"This is a basic herbalism book. Take it and read through it first to understand the properties of different herbs."
"Once you've thoroughly mastered it, I'll teach you how to make potions."
Molly hurriedly accepted the book. It felt heavy in her hands.
She eagerly flipped open the first page and was immediately met with all sorts of unfamiliar herbal names and illustrations.
Things like "Nightshade Grass," "Dewflower," and "Crimson Blood Vine"—she had never seen them before, nor had she even heard of them.
Molly frowned and looked at Golden Yellow in confusion.
"These herbs... why have I never seen them before?"
"Things like these don't exist in reality, do they?"
"Of course not."
Golden Yellow chuckled softly and explained,
"They're magical herbs."
"Miasma is harmful, but it also contains dense magical power."
"When that power seeps into the soil, it changes the surrounding ecosystem, causing ordinary plants to mutate into magical herbs imbued with magic."
"Animals are the same. If they inhale too much Miasma, they either mutate and die or become powerful magical beasts."
"This is only the early stage of the Miasma Invasion, so there still aren't many magical herbs or magical beasts."
"Once more time passes and the Demon Realm becomes more deeply fused with Blue Star, these things will become increasingly common."
"Miasma Invasion..."
Molly quietly repeated those words and asked,
"What exactly is going on?"
Golden Yellow stopped walking. She looked up at the night sky, her gaze turning deep and distant.
After a long silence, she slowly spoke, her voice carrying a trace of heaviness.
"You can think of it as two worlds merging and colliding."
"One is Blue Star, where we live. The other is the Demon Realm, filled with Miasma and Monster Demons."
Molly's heart suddenly sank.
"You mean... Demon Gods will invade this world in the future?"
"Yes."
Golden Yellow nodded, her tone certain.
"But you don't need to worry too much."
"The stronger a Demon God is, the greater the price it must pay to cross the barrier between worlds and descend here."
"At present, only minor underlings can descend. True Demon Gods can't make it over yet."
Couldn't make it over yet...
Yet Molly felt no relief at all.
She remembered that level-fifteen Demonized Fanatic Follower, that terrifying Demon God Statue, and all those innocent people who had been harmed.
Even if Demon Gods could not come over now, as the worlds became more deeply intertwined...
What about the future?
Her previous smugness now seemed utterly ridiculous!
Fourth-tier Basic Swordsmanship and third-tier Warrior's Breathing Technique probably did not even amount to ants before a true Demon God!
"I need to get stronger. I have to get stronger faster!"
This thought took root and sprouted wildly in Molly's heart like a seed.
The two walked on for a while longer and arrived at the foot of the mountain behind the school.
Golden Yellow stopped and gave Molly a gentle smile.
"All right, I'll walk you this far."
As she spoke, the golden light around her slowly faded away. Her gorgeous golden dress transformed into a simple white school uniform skirt.
Her golden hair lost its luster and became smooth, straight black hair.
The cool, mature aura on her face also faded somewhat, replaced by the gentle elegance of a young girl.
"Eh?!"
Molly stared at the person before her, her pupils contracting as disbelief filled her face.
This beautiful girl in a white school uniform skirt with long, straight black hair was none other than her classmate and the student council president of A City No. 1 High School—
Luoxi!
No wonder Golden Yellow's voice and temperament had seemed familiar earlier.
So the magical girl Golden Yellow was actually Luoxi!
Luoxi had clearly noticed Molly's stunned expression. She raised an eyebrow, a sly smile curling across her lips.
"What? Don't recognize me anymore?"
Molly snapped back to her senses. The surprise had yet to fully fade from her face, and she opened her mouth but could not say anything for a long while.
In the end, she could only scratch her head awkwardly, silently reciting the command to undo her transformation and returning to her original appearance as a female high school student.
"Molly?"
Luoxi looked at her, understanding flashing through her eyes before she chuckled.
"So it really was you."
"I was wondering who could have such strong swordsmanship—and who had been acting so strangely lately... The food you bought was practically piled into a mountain."
Molly had not expected that the magical girl she had rescued on a whim would turn out to be her good friend.
The coincidence left her with an indescribable feeling.
Luoxi looked at her and asked again,
"Are you really not considering joining Constellation?"
"With an organization behind you, things would be easier. You wouldn't have to fight alone."
Molly shook her head.
"Sorry, I still prefer having a little more freedom."
"But don't worry. If the organization ever needs something and I can help, I definitely won't refuse."
Seeing how resolute she was, Luoxi did not try to persuade her further. She merely nodded.
"All right, then I won't force you."
As she spoke, she took out her phone and quickly tapped at it a few times.
A notification soon sounded from Molly's phone.
"Ding-dong... 100,000 yuan has been deposited into your XXPay account..."
She looked down and saw that Luoxi had transferred 100,000 yuan to her.
"What are you doing?"
Molly was startled and hurriedly said,
"I can't accept this money!"
One hundred thousand yuan was no small sum for an ordinary person.
But Luoxi waved her hand, looking unconcerned, and said:
"Take it. Consider it my investment in the things you need to replenish your body."
"Besides, you saved me this time. If anything, I'm the one who owes you."
"This little bit of money is nothing."
"If you need anything in the future, just let me know."
Molly looked at Luoxi's beautiful, mature face, then swept her gaze over her exquisite figure, unable to stop herself from muttering inwardly.
No wonder so many boys at school pursued her. Her looks, her figure, her personality—she was practically a perfect goddess.
And Luoxi came from a wealthy family. She was cool and steadfast, had never dated anyone, and only ever said publicly that she had no plans in that regard yet.
The words Then give yourself to me in return suddenly popped into Molly's head. She hurriedly swallowed them down, nearly choking herself.
She said with a serious expression,
"Cough, cough... all right."
The night breeze gently lifted Luoxi's black hair.
Her slender figure looked especially captivating beneath the moonlight.
She waved goodbye to Molly.
"It's getting late. I'm heading home first. Remember to read that herbalism book. If there's anything you don't understand, ask me anytime."
With that, Luoxi turned around and disappeared into the night with light steps.
Molly watched her graceful retreating figure, her long hair swaying softly with her steps, and the beautifully curved backside beneath her skirt. She could not help swallowing.
She raised her head and looked at the night sky.
Countless stars glittered with scattered light, as though winking at her.
Molly's cheeks reddened slightly as she muttered,
"These stars... really know how to drop hints. No wonder it's called Constellation."
"That reminds me."
Molly shook her head, tossing aside those messy thoughts, then turned and headed toward home.
After returning home.
Not long after.
Molly sat up from the bed, drenched in fragrant sweat. Full of regret, she gritted her teeth and said,
"Ugh... so filthy. What am I doing?!"
"No, no, I can't keep obsessing over this!"
"This lewd app actually dared to undermine my resolve!"
She picked up her phone, looked at the familiar red vegetable app icon on the screen, gritted her teeth, and tapped uninstall.
A prompt appeared on the screen asking, "Confirm uninstall?" Molly pressed "Confirm" without hesitation.
Only after the icon vanished from the screen did she let out a sigh of relief. Then she transformed into a magical girl and began preparing to practice swordsmanship all night.
"Transform!"
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh!"
[Basic Swordsmanship Proficiency +1 +1 +1...]
Before you continue