Xiao Wu's Return

"Open the mystery box?"

"Confirm."

"Ding! Congratulations, host! You have obtained a 90% Off Shopping Card. Use this card to purchase any one item from the System Shop at a 90% discount."

Looking at the glittering golden card, Qin Muchu felt better than he ever had. If he hadn't closed the box, surely that couldn't count as opening it?

Qin Muchu silently calculated his current earning rate. In a year, he would make over 157 million. He was at level twenty-three now, and reaching level thirty would probably take only about a year. By then, a Million-Year third Soul Ring would be within reach. Once he showed off three Million-Year Soul Rings, even a Five-Ring Soul King probably wouldn't be his match.

Now that his earnings had picked up, there was no need to scrimp like before. Qin Muchu opened the System Shop and browsed. He still had over seventeen million left. He had no use for another Soul Ring yet. There were plenty of Soul Bones, but ten million would only buy a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bone. That was much more expensive than outside the shop, and he had no interest in one of that age anyway. His goal was a Million-Year Soul Bone. Soul Bone Age Upgrade Cards existed, but how could the Soul Skills provided by an upgraded Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bone compare to those of a natural Million-Year Soul Bone? As for Immortal Herbs and pills, he couldn't afford those yet either.

In the end, Qin Muchu's gaze settled on the Soul Ring Age Upgrade Cards. If there was nothing suitable for him, he could strengthen Xiao Wu instead. After all their time together, that little rabbit had learned a great deal. She knew what she could say and what she couldn't, so it didn't matter if she learned a few more of his secrets.

Qin Muchu bought sixteen thousand-year Soul Ring Age Upgrade Cards. Once the transaction went through, his balance shrank to just over a million, while a stack of cards shimmering with purple light appeared in his hand.

"So these are Soul Ring Age Upgrade Cards?" Qin Muchu examined them curiously. The system's ability to increase a Soul Ring's age didn't surprise him. Even a First-Level God could grant Soul Rings and increase their age, let alone a system capable of crossing countless worlds.

The night passed without incident.

At the first glimmer of dawn, Qin Muchu heard footsteps rustling nearby. He immediately rose and crept toward the sound, where he spotted a worried-looking Xiao Wu.

"Sister Xiao Wu, thank goodness you're all right! I thought I'd never see you again." Qin Muchu spoke excitedly and took a few steps forward, reaching out to hug her. "Are you hurt? Did that monkey injure you?"

His sudden movement startled Xiao Wu, and she instinctively stepped back. Once she realized it was Qin Muchu, her cheeks flushed faintly. She swatted his hands away in mock annoyance. "You little brat, you scared me! What could have happened to me? That monkey was carrying me deeper into the forest, but then a bull's cry came from somewhere. It got so frightened that it dropped me and ran."

"A bull's cry? A monkey that big was scared of a bull?" Qin Muchu asked, feigning confusion. Then he said, "Forget it. Sister Xiao Wu, I got my Second Soul Ring last night. I'm a level twenty-three Soul Grandmaster now, too. I've caught up with you again." With that, he revealed his two Soul Rings.

"Wow, you have two rings now too, Xiao Chu! Congratula—huh? Why is it another Ten-Year Soul Ring?" Joy flashed across Xiao Wu's face, but she soon frowned, guilt written all over it. "I'm sorry, Xiao Chu. I promised I'd help you hunt for a Soul Ring, but then... Your body and mental strength are as good as mine. Your Second Soul Ring could have been around two thousand years old. It's all my fault."

Qin Muchu hadn't expected her to blame herself. He hurried to reassure her. "It was an accident. How could it be your fault? Besides, my Second Soul Ring isn't a hundred years old. It's a million years old." He told her how the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had sacrificed himself, leaving out their earlier encounter in the Soul Hunting Forest. Instead, he said he had stumbled upon the dying Sky Dream Ice Silkworm while searching for her. Knowing he had little time left, Tian Meng had sacrificed himself to become Qin Muchu's Wisdom Soul Ring so his consciousness could survive.

After listening, Xiao Wu was stunned. She couldn't stop marveling at it. "I never thought Million-Year Soul Beasts really existed. Xiao Chu, what an incredible stroke of luck. A Million-Year Soul Ring has never appeared in history, has it? Oh, right—what's your Soul Skill?"

Qin Muchu described his second Soul Skill to Xiao Wu, then turned serious. "Xiao Wu, I'm going to strengthen you next, but the method is rather unusual. Remember, you can't tell any

one else about this. Understand?"

Seeing how solemn he was, Xiao Wu nodded. "Mm. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. Is it connected to your God of Wealth godfather?"

Qin Muchu couldn't help laughing. "I made that up to fool you, though it isn't too far from the truth. Explaining it properly would be a hassle, so just pretend I really do have the God of Wealth as my godfather. If word of this gets out, every Soul Master on the continent will come after me."

Hearing how serious it was, fear flashed through Xiao Wu's eyes. She quickly raised a hand. "I swear I won't tell anyone about this."

Smiling, Qin Muchu caught her raised hand. "Silly girl. I only told you so you'd be prepared. Why swear an oath? It's not that I don't trust you. Here, each of these cards can add a thousand years to a Soul Ring's age. Absorb them, then guide their energy into your Soul Rings. Once you've absorbed them all, your first two rings will both reach the Ten-Thousand-Year level. Your Soul Power should rise quite a bit, too."

Xiao Wu stared at the cards in her hands, stunned. She had thought Qin Muchu would bring out pills or medicinal herbs to increase her Soul Power. She had never imagined he possessed something that could directly increase a Soul Ring's age. She had never seen such a thing—never even heard of it. No wonder he had spoken so gravely.

"Are you really giving me something this precious?" she asked, dazed.

"Of course. No matter how precious it is, it can't be more precious than Sister Xiao Wu..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Wu suddenly threw her arms around him. Her voice trembled. "Xiao Chu, why are you so good to me? Do you know... if you found out one day that I'd lied to you, would you blame me?" Qin Muchu stiffened. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction. Gently stroking her long hair, he said, "Didn't you say you'd look after me from now on? If I'm not good to you, who should I be good to? If you lied to me, you must have your reasons. Why would I blame you? You'd never hurt me. Besides, I'm keeping things from you too. That makes us even. Now go absorb the cards."

Xiao Wu gave a muffled reply against his chest before letting go. Blushing, she sat on a nearby rock and gripped the cards. Following Qin Muchu's instructions, she began trying to guide their energy into her First Soul Ring.