Phantom Jade Rabbit

Yan Zu gently patted her back, his eyes full of warmth. He said,

"Sister Xiao Wu, close your eyes now. I have one more gift for you."

Xiao Wu was delighted to hear that. She said,

"Another gift? A-Zu, you're so good to me! Quick, give it to me." Then she obediently closed her eyes.

A wisp of luminous white origin essence gathered at Yan Zu's fingertip: the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit origin essence he had obtained earlier. It flowed like moonlight, carrying the pure presence unique to the Soft Bone Rabbit, and he gently pressed it against the center of Xiao Wu's forehead.

"Relax your mind and circulate your Soul Power as I guide you." Yan Zu's voice was gentle but firm. At the same time, he summoned the Qilin's phantom and had it lie on Xiao Wu's shoulder, where it radiated a warm, auspicious vitality that enveloped them both. This would protect Xiao Wu from disturbances as she absorbed the essence, while the Qilin's vitality would also temper its concentration, preventing it from overwhelming her.

Xiao Wu kept her eyes closed and obediently did as she was told. When the wisp of origin essence seeped into her body through her forehead, she instantly felt a familiar, warm energy flow through every limb and bone. It was like returning to the hot spring she had soaked in at the Star Dou Great Forest, so comfortable that she couldn't help letting out a soft hum.

The energy was perfectly compatible with her own Soft Bone Rabbit origin, with no rejection whatsoever. Instead, like companions reunited after a long separation, it swiftly merged into the Soul Power meridians within her.

Her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul released itself beyond her control, and a pink phantom of the rabbit appeared behind her, more solid than before.

Nourished by the origin essence, its ordinary pink fur gradually took on a crystalline, jade-like sheen. A few pale golden markings appeared, especially on the tips of its ears and tail, like runes it had been born with.

"Little Brother A-Zu... so warm..." Xiao Wu murmured, her body curling up involuntarily as she trembled slightly like a real rabbit. She could feel her bones heating up, and her already supple bones and sinews seemed to be reforged, becoming lighter yet tougher.

Xiao Wu's eyes flew open, and a faint golden gleam flashed through her large, watery eyes before vanishing in an instant. She blinked and looked down at her hands, somewhat bewildered, and then...

"Huh?!" she suddenly exclaimed. Without exerting any force, her body bent lightly backward, her waist as supple as if it had no bones, until her head touched her heels.

"M-my body..." Xiao Wu jumped up in delight and did a flip on the spot, landing as lightly and silently as a feather.

She looked excitedly at Yan Zu. "Little Brother A-Zu! My Martial Soul seems to have changed! It's become even... even stronger! My Martial Soul isn't a Soft Bone Charm Rabbit anymore. It's a Phantom Jade Rabbit now!"

Yan Zu nodded with a smile, and the system notification sounded at just the right moment:

[Soft Bone Charm Rabbit origin essence used successfully. Xiao Wu's Martial Soul has evolved into "Phantom Jade Rabbit." Attributes: flexibility +30%, speed +20%, Soul Power circulation efficiency +15%]

Xiao Wu's eyes shone startlingly bright. With a cheer, she threw herself at Yan Zu and hugged him again. This time, she also planted a hard "mwah" on his cheek. "Little Brother A-Zu! You really are my lucky star!"

The kiss stunned Yan Zu for a moment. Then he chuckled and ruffled her hair. "All right, all right, Sister Xiao Wu. That's all the gifts. What happens next depends on your own hard work."

"Mm!" Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, clutching the two manuals and unable to put them down. "I'll start practicing tonight! Oh, right..." She suddenly leaned close to Yan Zu and asked mysteriously, "Have you been giving me special treatment on the sly? Why does it feel like I cultivate especially fast when I'm near you?"

Yan Zu smiled without answering and simply pointed to the Qilin Little Jade lying on his shoulder.

Little Jade let out a proud little "yiyah" and raised his head high, clearly pleased with his role as a "cultivation accelerator."

"So it was thanks to Little Jade!" Xiao Wu exclaimed in sudden understanding. Then her eyes darted about. "Then... can I still sleep with you tonight? Cultivation will be faster that way!"

Yan Zu: "..."

This girl-who taught her to ask for a yard after getting an inch?

But looking at Xiao Wu's expectant, innocent eyes, he finally nodded. "All right, but promise me you won't kick off the covers."

"Yay! Little Brother A-Zu is the best!" Xiao Wu cheered as she ran back to her room. "I'm going to get my pillow!"

Watching her retreating figure, Yan Zu shook his head and chuckled, a warmth rising in his heart.

This little rabbit was growing in the way he had hoped.

The night was black as ink, and Five Souls Village had sunk into complete silence. Only a faint glow still shone through the window lattice of the Yan family's cottage. Hugging the handwritten copies of the Nine Yin Manual and Wind God Legs she had just received, Xiao Wu tossed and turned with excitement. Lying on the bed, she poked Yan Zu. "Little Brother A-Zu, I want to practice Wind God Legs right now. Will you practice with me?"

Yan Zu opened his eyes, his dark gaze exceptionally clear in the night. "It's too late now. We'd wake Father and Mother. But I'll take you somewhere we can train, get used to real combat ahead of time, and work on our coordination."

"Where?" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she perked up at once, most of her sleepiness vanishing.

Yan Zu offered no further explanation, merely motioning for her to close her eyes. "Relax your mind and follow my thoughts."

Though Xiao Wu was brimming with curiosity, she obediently did as she was told. Yan Zu silently recited Martial Soul Mimicry Training Ground, and a gentle energy instantly enveloped their consciousnesses. The darkness before them gave way to a cascade of shimmering colors.

When Xiao Wu opened her eyes again, she found herself in a vast virtual space. The sky was a pale silvery gray, the ground was paved with smooth bluestone, and the hazy outlines of mountains could be seen in the distance. The air was filled with the pure presence of Soul Power, making her whole body feel comfortable.

"This is..." Xiao Wu turned around in surprise and reached out to touch a bluestone beside her. It felt incredibly real.

"My Martial Soul space," Yan Zu said calmly. "Time passes three times faster here than outside, and training here won't use up our physical strength in the real world."

He did not mention the word "system," instead attributing everything to the special nature of his Qilin Martial Soul. Though the explanation was still astonishing, it was easier for Xiao Wu to accept than an "otherworldly cheat," and it did a better job of protecting his greatest secret.

"This place can simulate a fight against any Soul Master or Soul Beast. Time passes three times faster than outside, and it's completely safe and risk-free. Starting today, we'll come here to practice every night. We'll learn to deal with different types of opponents and train our teamwork."

Xiao Wu tilted her head, a hint of puzzlement flashing through her large, watery eyes. "Little Brother A-Zu, you seem to have a lot of secrets."

Yan Zu met her gaze openly. "Everyone has secrets. But Sister Xiao Wu, I'll never hurt you."

Xiao Wu stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly grinned, revealing two little pointed canine teeth. "I believe you! Pinky promise!"

The two linked pinkies once again. Xiao Wu then began hopping excitedly through the empty space. "So who are we going to simulate a fight against today?"

A thoughtful gleam flashed in Yan Zu's eyes. "Since we're working on our coordination, let's start with the simplest."

With a thought, he formed the phantoms of three wolf-shaped Soul Beasts in the empty space. The Wind Wolves were gray-black from head to tail, with bared fangs and green-glowing eyes. Each had roughly a hundred years of cultivation.

"Three hundred-year Wind Wolves," Yan Zu said gravely. "Sister Xiao Wu, your first Soul Skill, Waist Bow, is suited to explosive attacks against a single target, but when facing several enemies, you need to combine it with movement techniques and tactics. I'll handle defense and control; you handle surprise attacks and finishing them off. Understood?"

Xiao Wu nodded, fighting spirit kindling in her eyes. "Understood!"