Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's Request

"Hm?" Qin Muchu was astonished by Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's words. He had thought he was the only one who could see what had just happened. "Brother Sky Dream, you saw that person too?"

"I did, I did! How could anyone so terrifying exist in this world? I felt that lord could wipe out our entire continent with a single thought." Sky Dream Ice Silkworm still sounded shaken.

Qin Muchu did not doubt it. The first few images had been so overwhelming that a single glance had made his soul tremble.

"But since that lord took an interest in you, you're almost certain to become a god someday." Sky Dream Ice Silkworm's eyes shone with longing. "Looks like Brother Sky Dream's luck has finally turned, too. Just those few glimpses made the path ahead in my cultivation feel much clearer. After all the suffering I've endured, the bitter days are finally over. At last, I can see hope."

Qin Muchu could not help shaking his head. The fellow had slept for a million years at a stretch. How much could he really have suffered?

"Little Chu, could you do Brother Sky Dream a favor?" Sky Dream Ice Silkworm suddenly asked in all seriousness.

"What is it?" This was the first time Qin Muchu had seen him look so solemn. "Let's hear it."

But once Qin Muchu agreed to listen, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm grew bashful. His snow-white body even took on a faint pink hue. "Well... could you let Bingbing become your Wisdom Soul Ring too? She has a little over ten thousand years before her next tribulation, and I have a feeling she won't survive it."

Only then did Qin Muchu realize the pink was Sky Dream Ice Silkworm blushing. He found it rather funny. "Brother Sky Dream, I honestly don't understand. How did an Ice Silkworm like you fall for your natural predator? That scorpion has always wanted to eat you."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm tossed his head. "You don't understand. Love can spring from nowhere, then run deeper than the sea. When you love someone, who needs a reason?"

Qin Muchu cringed. "Stop, stop. I've had enough of you acting like a lovesick puppy."

After a moment's thought, he added, "I can help you, but I don't need a second Wisdom Soul Ring..."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm cut in anxiously. "Hear me out! Bingbing is one of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North. Making her your third Soul Ring wouldn't be beneath you at all."

Qin Muchu rolled his eyes. "Is your Bingbing more useful than my Million-Year Soul Ring?" Since becoming his Wisdom Soul Ring, Sky Dream Ice Silkworm naturally knew about the system too.

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm was struck speechless. "Well..."

"I never said I wouldn't help. Why are you in such a hurry to interrupt me? Anyway, what do you think of my Xiao Wu?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm answered without thinking. "The little rabbit is pretty cute."

"I meant her talent. I'm planning to have the Ice Empress become Xiao Wu's Wisdom Soul Ring. Not just the Ice Empress, but the Snow Empress too. All three of them are Soul Beasts, so I imagine they'll find it easier to accept."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm shook his head at once. "That won't work. Xiao Wu is a Soul Beast, and the Soul Beast Clan can't become gods. Even though she's recultivated as a human, her chances are slim, and her lifespan has been greatly reduced. They'd be better off facing their tribulations normally."

Qin Muchu said smugly, "Normally, you'd be right. But standing before you is Qin Muchu, the chosen one... Ahem. My system sells Divine Positions. As long as we have money, becoming gods won't be a problem."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm had not known the system sold Divine Positions. Qin Muchu had considered godhood too distant to mention. Besides Soul Rings, the other goods in the shop could all be given to others.

The news plainly stunned Sky Dream Ice Silkworm. His mouth hung open for a long while. "What did you say? It has Divine Positions too? Th-this..."

Qin Muchu grew smug again. "Of course. Just look at whose handiwork it is. Well? Happy with my idea now?"

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm nodded rapidly. "Happy? I couldn't be happier! It's settled, then."

While Qin Muchu and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm were talking, a soft sound came from the doorway. Xiao Wu walked in, rubbing her sleepy eyes. "Little Chu, what are you doing? I thought I heard you say my name."

Sky Dream Ice Silkworm glanced at Xiao Wu and flicked his tail in greeting, then returned to Qin Muchu's Sea of Consciousness and fell fast asleep.

Xiao Wu stared at Qin Muchu's forehead and curiously pressed a finger to it. Her fingertip felt cool, and Qin Muchu closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying it. "Didn't you say you were sleepy the whole way here? Why didn't you sleep longer?"

"Mmm, I've had enough sleep." Seeing his expression, Xiao Wu blushed and withdrew her finger. "You still haven't answered me. What were you two discussing? Why did you mention my name?"

Looking at Xiao Wu's guileless face, Qin Muchu suddenly felt like teasing her. "Brother Sky Dream and I were discussing whether he'd officiate at our wedding. We'll be fourteen in another two years, after all. Old enough to start talking marriage."

"Pah! Who'd marry you? Shameless." Xiao Wu blushed and ran out of the room. But just as she crossed the threshold, she remembered why she had come and turned back. "Um, did you break through to level fifty?"

"Of course. It's only level fifty. Breaking through was a piece of cake." Qin Muchu proudly released his Soul Rings. Five rings—two white, one gold, one red, and one purple—shone brilliantly.

Xiao Wu looked at the gold flowing across the purple Soul Ring, a little envious. "Another million-year one. At this rate, you really will surpass me soon."

Seeing the envy written all over her face, Qin Muchu smiled mysteriously. "That's not all. Look at this." He withdrew his Soul Rings and held out his left hand. A crimson-gold flower slowly bloomed.

"Oh, what a beautiful flower. Ah..." Xiao Wu cried out in surprise. "Is that a Martial Soul? But isn't your Martial Soul the Dancing Shadow Sword? Could this be..."

Qin Muchu was delighted by the little rabbit's expression. "That's right. Just what you're thinking. I awakened a Second Martial Soul, and my Dancing Shadow Sword underwent a Second Awakening too. It's become a divine-grade Martial Soul. Heh."

As he spoke, he withdrew the Guixu Other Shore Flower and summoned the Dancing Shadow Sword. Layers of flowing light curled around the pale-green blade. Once battered beyond repair, it now radiated a heaven-shaking sharpness. One look was enough for Xiao Wu to feel its overwhelming pressure wash over her.

"What a beautiful sword. It really did undergo a Second Awakening." Xiao Wu drew closer in a daze and carefully touched the edge with her fingertip.

Xiao Wu's reaction pleased Qin Muchu immensely. He had had few loved ones in his previous life, and his parents had died early in this one. Xiao Wu was now the most important person in his life. They said a man remained a boy until death, and he could not resist showing off a little before the girl he liked.

He could not quite explain it himself. Normally, he was a steady person, yet ever since the two of them had stopped keeping secrets from each other, he always wanted to show Xiao Wu what he could do.

So this was what it felt like to show off before someone you liked. What he gained was not vanity, but an indescribable contentment that left his whole heart soft.

Perhaps it was not showing off at all. Sharing might be the better word—sharing his joy so his family could be happy with him. Perhaps that was love.