Upgrade, Absorb a Soul Ring

As the pill went down, Qin Muchu felt none of the warmth or coolness described in novels. It did not melt in his mouth, either. Instead, a strange flavor spread across his tongue. Only after he chewed and swallowed it did the Soul Power inside him begin to circulate on its own.

Qin Muchu could feel the remains of the Origin Returning Pill gradually being enveloped by Soul Power in his stomach. A tingling sensation spread through his body, leaving him wonderfully at ease.

He immediately settled his mind and guided his Soul Power along its usual cultivation path. As he absorbed the pill's power, his Soul Power grew stronger and stronger. At last, with a faint rumble, something invisible seemed to burst open in his Sea of Consciousness. Qin Muchu felt the meridians throughout his body widen in an instant. The barrier at level seven finally broke, and he officially stepped into level eight. But it did not end there. Nourished by the pill, his Soul Power kept rising: mid-level eight, late-level eight, level nine...

Suddenly, having absorbed the last of the pill's power, Qin Muchu opened his eyes. "Level ten. I finally made it. Now I can absorb a Soul Ring. And half the Origin Returning Pill's power went toward refining my Soul Power. It's several times denser than before."

Holding back his excitement, Qin Muchu opened the System Shop and withdrew the Soul Ring that had been gathering dust there for over a year. "I wonder what Soul Skill this Million-Year Soul Ring will give me. I can't wait to find out."

The moment he withdrew the Soul Ring, Qin Muchu summoned the Dancing Shadow Sword and drew the ring onto it. An immense surge of Soul Power poured into his body, shattering the barrier at level ten. He did not dare delay. He immediately circulated his cultivation technique to refine the Soul Power within him.

Time slipped by. Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

"Hmph. He comes back, leaves me alone out here, and hides in his room to cultivate. Little Chu is the worst. When he comes out, Sister Xiao Wu won't talk to him for three days!" Outside Qin Muchu's room, Xiao Wu sat on the steps, her cheeks puffed with indignation. Though she complained, she could not hide the worry in her eyes. If Qin Muchu had not warned her before secluding himself that this session would take longer, and if she had not sensed the ever-strengthening fluctuations of Soul Power inside, she would have rushed in long ago.

Just then, the door that had been shut for three days finally opened. A feeble voice came through with its creak. "Damn, I'm starving. Aunt Liu, is there anything to eat? Huh? Sister Xiao Wu, what are you doing here? Quick, give me a hand."

Xiao Wu turned and saw Qin Muchu clinging to the doorframe, barely able to stand. Pain flashed through her eyes, and she hurried over to support him as they headed for the main hall. As they walked, she gave his waist a gentle poke. "You cultivated for so long without even coming out to eat. I thought something had happened to you."

Her words were still sharp, but she quietly tightened her grip, holding his slightly trembling arms steady.

Once they sat down in the main hall, Aunt Liu soon brought over warmed porridge and a few side dishes. Qin Muchu did not even stop to speak. He picked up the bowl, tipped back his head, and gulped it down.

"Slow down. No one's going to steal it. You'll choke." Xiao Wu took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of his mouth. Then she remembered she was supposed to be angry, so she pouted and turned her back on Qin Muchu.

"Burp. That hit the spot." Full at last, Qin Muchu leaned back in his chair, rubbed his stomach, and sighed in relief. "Hey, Sister Xiao Wu, what's wrong?"

He nudged Xiao Wu's arm. She answered with a soft huff.

When Xiao Wu ignored him, a puzzled Qin Muchu scratched his head. He gave it no further thought and opened the system to look it over.

The first thing he saw was the Mystery Box Opening option. Once gray and unavailable, it could now be selected. Delighted, he immediately tapped the claim button.

An orange box thoughtfully appeared on the screen. It shook a few times, then a burst of confetti went off and a line of text appeared: Congratulations, host! You have obtained one Disguise Soul Tool. Its form can be changed at will. Functions: conceals aura, disguises Soul Rings, and more. Claim now?

Qin Muchu's eyes lit up at the prize. He had been worrying about how to hide Xiao Wu's aura. The Lovesick Heartbreak Red, which played a part throughout the original story, cost a hundred million Gold Soul Coins in the shop, and the problem had troubled him for ages. Now, just as sleepiness struck, someone had brought him a pillow. The system's mystery box had given him a Disguise Soul Tool that could not only conceal an aura but also disguise Soul Rings. It was practically made for playing the pig to eat the tiger.

"System, are there more Soul Tools like this in the shop? I could buy a few later and disguise myself too." Qin Muchu rubbed his hands together.

"Ding. Host appears to be a coward. System detachment initiated. One percent, two percent..."

"What the fuck!!! The system can detach itself?" Qin Muchu stared in disbelief. "My dear little ancestor, I don't want one anymore! Don't leave! I was only joking. No need for this, all right? Doesn't the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record say that if you play the pig to eat the tiger, it's easy to turn into a real pig?"

When the system's detachment progress alerts finally stopped, Qin Muchu wiped away a cold sweat and checked the system again. Mystery Box Opening had turned gray once more. It seemed he could open one only when he advanced to a new major realm. He checked the System Shop too, but nothing there had changed. Finally, he opened his system balance, and his eyes grew wider and wider.

"Holy shit, two Gold Soul Coins a second! Has the God of Wealth shown himself?"

Xiao Wu was still sulking beside him. Qin Muchu had asked her one question and then said nothing more, and the longer she thought about it, the angrier she got. She turned to give him a piece of her mind, only to see him leap up and let out a curse. The words on her tongue died. Her red rabbit eyes went round. "Fine, fine! It's bad enough that you won't comfort me when I'm angry. Now you've learned to swear at me too? Qin Muchu, I'm never talking to you again!"

Caught up in his excitement, Qin Muchu did not hear what Xiao Wu said. He took two steps forward, wrapped an arm around her waist, and lifted her up. "Hahaha! Xiao Wu, we're really going to soar this time!"

Xiao Wu froze in his arms. Her little face flushed bright red, and she gave his back two light taps with her fists. She pulled free, stepped back, and tugged at the hem of her skirt, her cheeks puffed out as she protested, "W-why did you suddenly hug me?" Only then did Qin Muchu realize he had lost control of himself in his excitement. He scratched his head and chuckled twice. "Xiao Wu, close your eyes. I have a gift for you."