A father and daughter's nighttime talk, terrifying talent, and level ten after a single meal

"So that's how it is. Then there won't be any problems."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded in understanding.

What Lin Yan said really did make sense. This business was a windfall from heaven. Any family that could afford that amount could not possibly refuse, much less default on the payment.

Over ten million in exchange for a peerless genius with twin martial souls could keep a family from declining for a hundred years, and even allow that bloodline to be passed down, generation after generation.

This was a deal guaranteed to turn a profit without any loss. If they refused to pay, there could only be one reason: they wanted the child without paying for her. In that case, the owner would be perfectly justified in taking action against them.

"Boss, can I really come along tomorrow?

I want to watch the Zhu Family cough up everything I'm owed."

"Sure, it's no trouble.

Eat. The food's getting cold."

Only at Lin Yan's reminder did Zhu Zhuqing come back to her senses, her face reddening a little more.

She was just about to dig into her food when, at that very moment-

Rumble!

An immense, boundless surge of supremely pure soul power suddenly erupted from Zhu Zhuyou's body.

The feast of high-level soul beast meat she had just eaten contained vast quantities of soul power and pure energy. Her perfect talent had already absorbed and integrated all of it, without wasting a single bit.

Her soul power, originally at level nine, instantly reached level ten. In the blink of an eye, Zhu Zhuyou had broken through.

The sudden development made even Lin Yan pause, before a peculiar look flashed through his eyes.

Beside him, Zhu Zhuqing froze completely, her breathing beginning to quicken.

She broke through just like that?

It hadn't been long since her awakening, and she had gone from level nine to level ten in the time it took to eat a single meal.

Was this the power of customized talent?

It really was enviable!

If she had this kind of aptitude, she probably wouldn't have to worry about staying alive, would she?

Still, this was her own dear daughter.

The greater her daughter's talent, the more she would receive in return, and the more benefits she would gain. She ought to be happy, not jealous.

After dinner, Zhu Zhuqing took Zhu Zhuyou back to her room to rest.

After spending the entire day with her nerves stretched taut, Zhu Zhuqing was utterly exhausted. Holding Zhu Zhuyou in her arms, she fell into a deep sleep.

Only after confirming that Zhu Zhuqing was sound asleep did Lin Yan furtively open his eyes and exercise the Cultivation Room owner's supreme authority.

An invisible spatial force silently parted the space, isolating the entire bedroom area and bypassing the sleeping Zhu Zhuqing without a sound.

The next instant, a small, slender figure shifted through thin air and appeared steadily before Lin Yan. It was none other than the six-year-old Zhu Zhuyou.

Lin Yan had thought that if he used his authority to teleport the little one over, she would not even notice.

But who could have known-

The instant she landed,

Zhu Zhuyou's eyes, which possessed an ethereal air of their own, suddenly opened. Her dark pupils looked straight at Lin Yan, and her young yet certain voice rang out once more:

"Daddy."

The corner of Lin Yan's mouth twitched. Looking irritably at that little face, as beautiful as an immortal descended to earth, he asked helplessly:

"How did you find out?

Did you happen to guess, or...?"

Zhu Zhuyou shook her head and shuffled half a step forward, her dark eyes fixed on him as she answered in a thoroughly serious tone:

"I didn't guess. I can feel an aura inside my body that's exactly like Daddy's. It's a bloodline connection. I knew just from looking into Daddy's eyes."

So that really was it. Learning the truth gave Lin Yan quite a headache.

He sighed helplessly. Sure enough, these top-tier children customized by the system were nothing ordinary children could compare to.

They were born seeing through everything, with extraordinary perception, precocious minds, and intelligence bordering on the uncanny. There was simply no fooling them.

Still, it was fortunate he had found out ahead of time.

With a solemn expression, Lin Yan crouched down to meet the little one's eyes and instructed her earnestly:

"Listen, Xiaoyou. From now on, you absolutely must not call me Daddy in front of other people. Understand?"

At his words, the exquisite little face of Zhu Zhuyou, who had looked like an immortal descended to earth just a moment ago, instantly fell. A film of tears clouded her eyes as she asked pitifully:

"Does Daddy not want Xiaoyou anymore?"

The sight of her aggrieved expression softened Lin Yan's heart. He quickly gentled his tone and patiently explained:

"It's not that I don't want you. We just have to keep this carefully hidden. We must keep it from your mommy. This is a secret just between the two of us.

If I miss you, I'll quietly come see you whenever I want.

If you miss me, you can contact me too, and I can bring you over anytime.

But we absolutely, absolutely cannot let anyone find out, especially your mommy. Can you do that?"

To make sure the little one firmly remembered to keep her word, Lin Yan held out his thumb:

"If you agree, let's make a pinky promise."

"Mm-hmm!"

Zhu Zhuyou immediately nodded hard. Half the hurt in her eyes vanished at once as she extended her soft little pinky, carefully hooked it around Lin Yan's finger, and solemnly completed the promise ceremony.

Once the pinky promise was done, the little one looked at Lin Yan hopefully and pressed:

"Then when can Xiaoyou openly acknowledge Daddy?"

Lin Yan's heart lurched. He had never planned on openly acknowledging her at all!

Still, he had to dangle a promise before her:

"When you're strong enough-so strong that no one in this world can defeat you-then you can.

Let's set a small goal for you first. Become a Limit Douluo. When that day comes, we won't need to hide anything, and we can openly acknowledge each other."

"Mm-hmm!"

Light instantly blazed in Zhu Zhuyou's eyes, as though she had suddenly found the drive to move forward. She was utterly resolute:

"Okay! Xiaoyou will definitely work hard at cultivating and become a Limit Douluo as soon as possible. I absolutely won't let Daddy down."

"I'm glad you think that way. Remember, you absolutely, absolutely must not call me Daddy in public, and you mustn't reveal our relationship.

Even if you see me without my mask in the future, you can't act very close to me. We'll pretend we're strangers."

"Okay, I'll remember."

Zhu Zhuyou nodded vigorously, engraving their agreement in her heart.

Only then did Lin Yan nod in satisfaction and send Zhu Zhuyou back to Zhu Zhuqing's room.

What had happened today had served as a warning to him.

In the future, he absolutely had to treat these customized, top-tier prodigies properly and seriously. The moment he let his guard down, unnecessary trouble would arise.

The night quietly passed. At the first faint light of dawn the next day, a sea of people had already gathered outside the shop, packing it so tightly that not even water could seep through.

Suotuo City's local residents and soul masters, other soul masters drawn by its reputation, and passersby there to watch the excitement had all gathered early, densely filling the entire street.

Everyone was waiting for the Cultivation Room to open for business.

After all, after an entire night of spreading, along with the news brought back by the onlookers, word of it had already exploded throughout several nearby cities.