The Special Mechanism of 100 Affinity

Bai Chenxiang's affinity +25. Current affinity: 71.

Sure enough, Liu Hao was secretly delighted. No wonder this girl had suddenly become so affectionate.

After personally experiencing the tremendous changes the Immortal Herb brought her, her affinity had soared.

It seemed Immortal Herbs worked wonders for raising affinity. He would have to make good use of that in the future.

"Very good, but you haven't fully refined the Immortal Herb's medicinal power yet. Keep working at it, and you'll reach Soul Elder soon."

Liu Hao stroked Bai Chenxiang's hair and encouraged her with a smile.

"Mm, I'll keep working hard."

Bai Chenxiang nodded earnestly, thinking that she had to grow stronger quickly and narrow the gap between herself and Liu Hao.

Just then, as her excitement subsided, Bai Chenxiang finally noticed the hot breath flooding her nostrils and the strong arms wrapped tightly around her waist.

In an instant, Bai Chenxiang felt as though boiling water had been poured over her head. She was burning hot.

"B-Brother Hao, could you... let go of me? I'm having a little... trouble breathing."

Bai Chenxiang spoke in a trembling voice, feeling her body stiffen beyond her control.

"Ah, sorry, I... I didn't notice. Haha..."

Liu Hao hastily let go, covering his embarrassment with laughter while inwardly cursing himself for being a beast. He had actually...

It was also his own fault for having been an innocent virgin in his previous life, leaving him with far too little resistance in this department.

"Xiangxiang, are you all right? I didn't mean to. Should I use my Soul Power to heal you?"

"N-No, I'm fine. There's no need. I'm just a little... a little hot. I'll be fine in a moment."

"Hot? Then I'll fan you."

"Huh? Fan me?"

Bai Chenxiang's affinity +4. Current affinity: 75.

After that string of exchanges, her affinity had risen considerably again.

Liu Hao summoned his Martial Soul, the Heaven-Reaching Ambrosial Arbor Wooden Stick, and used his fourth Soul Skill: [Thousand Rotations, Thousand Defenses].

It made his Martial Soul spin rapidly before him, forming an airtight, disc-shaped shield.

Originally, it was only a defensive skill, but now it happened to come in handy.

As his Martial Soul spun at high speed, it generated powerful air currents, producing an effect much like an electric fan.

"How's that, Xiangxiang? Feeling cooler?"

"Mm-hmm, it's really cool. Thank you, Brother Hao."

Seeing someone as powerful as Liu Hao still being so clumsy in his efforts to treat her well filled Bai Chenxiang's heart with sweetness, and her affinity for him rose again.

Bai Chenxiang's affinity +6. Current affinity: 81.

In truth, Liu Hao had merely wanted to create as many topics as possible and exchange a few more words. He hadn't expected his stray shot to hit the mark.

Nearby, Bai He, who had long since awakened but had been playing dead for quite some time, still had mixed feelings.

Although he had known all along that Liu Hao must have a particular interest in his granddaughter, he hadn't expected her to fall for him so quickly.

They were already embracing. Could the day she was devoured down to the last morsel be far off?

He could only hope this fellow wouldn't be too much of a beast and would wait until his granddaughter was older before making his move.

"Brother Hao, I'm not hot anymore. Stop now, don't tire yourself out."

"Hehe, you're so good to me, Xiangxiang. You're even worried about me."

"Wh-Who's worried about you? I just can't bear watching you swing that stick around like a silly boy."

"Isn't that still worrying about me?"

"I... Fine, I am worried about you. What are you thinking?"

"I want to treat you well."

Bai He silently sealed his ears with Soul Power, not daring to move a muscle as he dutifully continued playing dead.

Good grief, this is far too mushy. They're practically a couple in the throes of romance, saying whatever comes to mind. There's nothing of substance at all, just pure lovey-dovey chatter.

See no impropriety, hear no impropriety.

Time flowed like water.

That night, Bai Chenxiang's affinity for Liu Hao snowballed, climbing higher and higher. The higher it climbed, the easier it became to raise.

Eventually, Liu Hao no longer needed to initiate topics.

Bai Chenxiang herself began asking about Liu Hao's life in an endless stream.

The two lay on a relatively flat patch of ground, gazing at the star-filled night sky and talking through the night.

Until the system notification sounded.

Bai Chenxiang's affinity +1. Current affinity: 100.

"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have gained your first female companion whose affinity has reached 100.

System notice: Once affinity reaches 100, it will remain permanently locked and will never decrease."

At that moment, all Liu Hao wanted to say was that the system was fucking awesome.

Since Bibi Dong's affinity kept dropping at the slightest provocation, he had thought this system-simplified affinity-raising mechanism was rather lousy.

But to think it would never decrease after reaching 100! Didn't that mean he no longer needed to worry about romantic battlefields?

Hehe...

Just thinking about it excited him.

Unfortunately, Bai Chenxiang hadn't grown up yet, so he couldn't eat her.

Still, since her affinity was now maxed out and wouldn't drop, he could leave without worry and pursue other targets.

He worried that his accidental arrival in the Douluo world might cause a butterfly effect and bring some unexpected harm upon Bai Chenxiang.

Liu Hao used one charge of the system's Simplification Function to simplify his ability to sense whether those close to him were safe.

That way, it would cover not only Bai Chenxiang, but also his parents, his younger brother, and every future female companion whose affinity reached 100.

Liu Hao would be able to sense whether they were safe at any time.

If anything happened, he could use the Heaven-Reaching Ambrosial Arbor Wooden Stick's spatial ability to reach them swiftly.

After a brief rest of a few hours, dawn broke.

Liu Hao picked all the Immortal Herbs near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and stored them in the Wishful Treasure Pouch. Then he escorted Bai He and his granddaughter back to the Speed Clan's settlement and said goodbye to Bai Chenxiang.

He had originally thought Bai Chenxiang would reluctantly beg him to stay, cling to him, or even ask to leave with him.

But Liu Hao had still underestimated the power of 100 affinity.

Though Bai Chenxiang was terribly reluctant to part, she considered Liu Hao's needs and didn't want to burden him, bidding him farewell with great understanding.

Instead, this left Liu Hao feeling somewhat guilty, so he decided to take Bai Chenxiang back to the Star Dou Great Forest with him and help evolve her Martial Soul as well.

Originally, Liu Hao had planned to go to the Star Dou Great Forest alone to evolve his second Martial Soul and obtain Soul Rings.

But what could he do? Bai Chenxiang now counted as his first love.

People always had somewhat different feelings toward their first love.

Perhaps that was Bai Chenxiang's good fortune.

With Liu Hao's ability to travel through space, the two arrived in the Star Dou Great Forest once again. Without wasting any time, Liu Hao immediately called upon the system.

"System, help me simplify the evolution of Bai Chenxiang's Martial Soul."

"Ding! The system has received the host's request. Simplifying Bai Chenxiang's Martial Soul Evolution..."

"One simplification attempt consumed. Attempts remaining: 56. Simplification complete. Bai Chenxiang's Martial Soul Evolution methods, including consuming heavenly treasures, practicing special cultivation methods, and absorbing Soul Rings from powerful Soul Beasts of the same kind, have been simplified to: devour three creatures of the same kind, namely birds, each with a Life Value above 100."

The requirements were rather similar to those for his own first Martial Soul Evolution.

Liu Hao was quite satisfied. He then spread his spiritual power outward and easily found three suitable targets.

Using his spatial ability, he reached out and caught three distant birds, each the size of a human head, bringing them over.

"Xiangxiang, summon your Martial Soul, then have it devour these three birds."

"All right."

Bai Chenxiang nodded obediently and released her Martial Soul. However, rather than using Martial Soul Possession, she manifested it as an energy form.