Xu Qing cradled the music box in both hands and gently held it out to Gu Yuena, a deeply sincere smile on his face.
"I happened to see it when I was out shopping before. I thought it looked pretty, so I kept it until now. It's yours, as a thank-you for helping me plant the Blue Silver Grass today."
Gu Yuena lowered her head, her gaze falling on the cool, exquisite metal music box. Her clear purple eyes flickered slightly.
It was her first time receiving a gift, and warmth slowly spread through her heart.
She carefully reached out with her slender white fingers and gently accepted the music box. It felt a little cool to the touch, and the patterns on its body were exceptionally intricate.
"What is this?" Gu Yuena looked up and asked softly.
"A music box." Xu Qing smiled as he explained, "Wind up the spring underneath, and it'll play a tune. It sounds lovely."
As he spoke, Xu Qing reached over and gently wound the spring for her.
A clear, gentle, soothing melody slowly flowed from the music box, drifting softly through the little courtyard filled with Blue Silver Grass.
The evening breeze blew softly, and the rustling grass mingled with the music like a calming tune, instantly bringing peace to the heart.
Gu Yuena quietly cradled the music box, listening to the gentle melody she had never heard before. Flecks of soft light filled her purple eyes, and the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted into a faint but lovely smile.
"It sounds beautiful." She looked up at Xu Qing and said earnestly, "I really like it. Thank you, Xu Qing."
Seeing the genuine smile in the girl's eyes, Xu Qing felt very satisfied as well.
Just then, Tang Xue called from inside, "Xiao Qing, Nana, dinner's ready! Go wash your hands and get ready to eat!"
"Let's go," Xu Qing said with a smile.
Gu Yuena nodded gently, carefully holding the music box as she followed Xu Qing into the house.
As soon as he entered, Xu Qing saw Xu Yan, who had just returned from work.
"Dad, you're back."
Xu Yan nodded, then looked at Xu Qing and asked, "I heard from your mother that you made some changes to the backyard?"
Xu Qing did not hide anything and briefly explained the Blue Silver Grass Mimicry Training Ground.
After listening, Xu Yan nodded. Seeing the earnestness in his son's eyes, a gratified smile appeared on his face.
The family sat together and enjoyed a lively dinner.
After dinner, Xu Qing did not want to waste a moment and eagerly ran to the backyard.
Holding the music box, Gu Yuena sat quietly on the little courtyard's stone steps, watching Xu Qing with a calm gaze.
Xu Qing walked over to the stone slab in the middle of the Blue Silver Grass, sat cross-legged, adjusted his breathing, and slowly entered a meditative state.
What Xu Qing himself did not know was that the moment he closed his eyes to meditate, a faint golden glow appeared over his body.
The densely packed Blue Silver Grass around him trembled and swayed gently, bathing in the faint golden light emanating from him.
It was like invisible, nourishing rain falling over the entire patch of grass.
As though receiving some strange blessing, the entire patch of Blue Silver Grass burst with vigorous vitality beneath the golden light.
The roots of the Blue Silver Grass slowly extended deeper into the earth, and new leaves grew one after another.
As the Blue Silver Grass grew, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi in the air also slowly gathered toward the patch of grass.
It was then slowly absorbed by Xu Qing amid the grass and the countless blades of Blue Silver Grass.
Moreover, as the Blue Silver Grass grew, it also separated out a wisp of life force to feed back to Xu Qing.
Gu Yuena watched the entire scene from the stone steps, a trace of understanding flashing deep within her purple eyes.
It really is the Power of Destiny.
It just hasn't fully awakened yet.
Meanwhile,
As Xu Qing entered a meditative state, he could clearly sense the changes in himself.
No, more precisely, the change in his cultivation speed.
Xu Qing made a rough estimate. Cultivating amid the Blue Silver Grass had clearly increased his cultivation speed considerably, and his affinity with Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi had also improved significantly.
Xu Qing also felt an extremely gentle energy slowly entering his body as he cultivated, continually nourishing it. He felt a faint warmth spread throughout his body.
What is this?
Life force?
But why is life force entering my body?
If I can't figure it out, I won't dwell on it. It's not a bad thing anyway.
Afterward, Xu Qing settled his mind and focused on meditating.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed since Xu Qing awakened his Martial Soul.
During that year, aside from attending his regular classes, Xu Qing spent the vast majority of his time on meditation and cultivation, as well as exploring the parallel world.
What about forging?
Xu Qing had no plans to learn it for the time being. There was no helping it: his Innate Soul Power was too low, and cultivation required a great deal of time. Besides, a year ago, his physical strength had been nowhere near Tang Wulin's, whose body was being nourished by the Golden Dragon King's essence every moment.
Although he also possessed the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Bloodline and his strength was slowly increasing, it was not like the Golden Dragon King's essence. Xu Qing had to strengthen and develop it himself.
At present, Xu Qing could only sense the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Bloodline slowly awakening and his physical strength increasing bit by bit along with it. He had noticed no other effects.
The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Bloodline protested: You bastard, isn't my existence the whole reason you can enter the post-cataclysm parallel world? Otherwise, why do you think all that incredibly violent energy has no effect on you? Besides, your awakening hasn't even reached five percent. How do you have the nerve to criticize me?
Of course, Xu Qing had tested his strength against Tang Wulin. Although his strength still fell short of Tang Wulin's, it had already surpassed that of an ordinary adult.
Moreover, throughout that year, Xu Qing had continued exploring Earth in the parallel world.
More precisely, he had been collecting usable supplies there.
He had once found a large generator in the storeroom of the town's supermarket. Unfortunately, it made too much noise when running and could easily attract zombies, so he could not use it for now.
Even so, he still transported it back to the house he had found in advance.
He had also gradually modified that house, and it had now become a rudimentary steel fortress.
Although the town in the parallel world looked dilapidated and desolate, supplies were actually still quite plentiful.
Of course, that meant everyday necessities other than food and weapons, which could be found almost everywhere in town.
During that time, Xu Qing had also turned up a handgun.
That was right, a real handgun.
Unfortunately, he had not found any bullets. There were plenty of shell casings, though, and the gun itself was covered in rust. Clearly, it had been abandoned there for a long time.
In the backyard,
The densely packed Blue Silver Grass grew lush and green, and a rich, pure breath of life lingered throughout the courtyard. Countless grass blades swayed gently in the wind, giving off soft, delicate rustling sounds.
At the very center of the Blue Silver Grass, Xu Qing sat quietly cross-legged on the stone slab, immersed in meditation and cultivation.
An unknown amount of time passed.
Suddenly, his eyelashes trembled sharply, and his eyes snapped open!
A sharp fleck of golden light flashed through the depths of his eyes and vanished.
I broke through!
His Soul Power had successfully broken through to rank six!
Three ranks in one year-this cultivation speed was already astonishing for a Soul Master with rank-three Innate Soul Power.
There was no helping it. His Martial Soul was simply too trash.