Chapter 229: Fangirl
A new day. After Yuan Zhu went out for breakfast, he casually leaned under a Big Tree by the roadside, first using [Anti-Law] to summon Nie Yin, who was awake at the other end of Running City.
He first conveyed the idea of meeting through the [Anti-Law] connection. Then he sent his current address and even the ‘Navigation’ over. And he instructed her to bring all her usual experimental supplies, as he was going to give her a small test today.
Even without face-to-face contact, Yuan Zhu could perceive that Nie Yin, who suddenly received the ‘divine oracle’ at the other end, was shocked again, stunned in place like a fool, and synchronously transmitted intense emotional fluctuations, as if it was unbelievable?
Is there any privacy left?! Do you understand what sense of propriety is?
However, this [Anti-Law Summon] couldn’t be maintained for too long; the ‘call mode’ was consuming Shadow Pollution in the Capital Pool every minute and every second.
Even after disconnecting the communication, as long as ‘Navigation’ was kept on, the Capital Pool was still being consumed slightly.
This ‘Navigation’ was different from mobile phone GPS Navigation; it was more like a mysterious telepathic sense. Even if Nie Yin didn’t get the specific address, she could follow the guidance of her ‘intuition’, cross half of Running City, and arrive in front of him with her eyes closed.
While waiting for the Frog Killer Girl to come to him on her own, Yuan Zhu, with nothing to do, found a bench in a small Garden, sat down, closed his eyes, and took stock of his [Soul Space]:
The current remaining [Little Pumpkin] was down to 24, and the [Seal Casting] progress had approached 2/3.
Based on this efficiency, he estimated that he only needed two to three days to incubate a brand new [Space System. Holy Light Skill], and he would still have a few [Little Pumpkin] left in hand.
This was great news! He immediately decided not to return them to Meng Xiyue. Instead, he would keep them all for himself and compensate her with the comprehended [Holy Light Spatial Ability].
If he really luckily comprehended abilities like ‘hand-crafted Storage Equipment/Holy Light Small Pumpkin’, it would be an absolute jackpot! Paying only over 30 [Little Pumpkin], he could from then on start unlimited Space Equipment manufacturing, with a return rate of +∞.
Flexibly rolling two [Little Pumpkin] in his palm, Yuan Zhu showed a happy smile on his face, full of wild thoughts in his brain.
“Wake up already!”
Amid Snake Snake’s urging voice, Yuan Zhu gave up fantasizing about the [Holy Light System]. Then he shifted his attention to the [Shadow System].
[Holy Light] was steadily progressing in Seal Casting growth, nothing much to say. 2 seals didn’t improve him much; only when condensing the second [Soul Crystal] could he usher in a new round of qualitative change.
The current [Shadow System (Boss Template)], likewise. No substantial breakthrough, as if it had entered a bottleneck period that wasn’t quite a bottleneck.
The potential of the [Mutated Spiritual Root] hadn’t been fully redeemed; he only needed to activate [Tiger Demon Stance] to automatically draw ‘Shadow Power’ and slowly raise the intensity limits in all aspects of [Tiger Demon]. So strength growth had no bottleneck.
But aside from this slow and stable ‘Upgrade’ where the limit was nowhere in sight, all six Supernatural Abilities inherent to the [Boss Template] were stuck, with no inspiration for further optimization or upgrade for the time being.
[Shadow Manipulation 1] automatically increased with the Tiger Demon’s ‘Mana Points’, belonging to the most handy daily ‘basic attack level’ Move.
As for proficiency? There was no proficiency; his own [Shadow] was as flexible as an arm, arbitrarily controlled and manipulated.
The upper limit of this Supernatural Ability was tied to imagination and creativity. When the brain hole was sufficient, Shadow Manipulation would synchronize.
[Ghost Companion 2] Supernatural Ability was currently gradually groping toward the limit of ‘Refinement’.
Whether [Shadow Armor] or [Demonic Root Tendril], both thoroughly exceeded the limit of his own [Ghost Companion Divine Ability]; at most, he could only inject a share of [Shadow Pollution] into such Pollutants, stamp his own Brand, and forcibly take a stake.
As for that [Immortal Zombie], he couldn’t even refine it.
But if not overly pursuing the quality (completion) of Ghost Companion, then [Ghost Companion + Universe Within The Belly] was still a very useful ‘cultivation-type material extraction and Refinement Skill’.
It could shadowify all worthless low-grade Pollutants, refining them into high-quality cultivation spiritual materials that fit the [Tiger Demon (Shadow System)].
A proper god-level cultivation ability!
[Claw 3] this Talent was currently deeply bound to the latter half of the Tiger Demon’s [Snake Tail]. Similarly, no need for cultivation, automatically getting stronger.
The higher the Bone strength of Snake Snake (Tail), the more solid the Exoskeleton formed by [Claw], with Defense, magic resistance, and sharpness increasing accordingly. And the larger the Space of [Universe Within The Belly], the stronger the Space Slash heavy pressure stacked by [Claw].
In addition, [Claw] supported enchantments like ‘Shadow Entanglement, Ghost Companion Entanglement’. But Yuan Zhu hadn’t refined a single Ghost Companion that could provide entanglement service for [Claw].
His current [Ghost Companion] were all entity types. Only ‘ghost-type Ghost Companion’ eroded by Yellow Springs Aura could entangle and enchant. Unfortunately, he had no recipe, leaving the sharp claws idle with no place to shine.
[Summon Wind 4] had no inspiration for now; this Supernatural Ability required the Tiger Demon to collect, subdue, and refine, or self-create three [Wind System Pollution]. Only then could this Talent undergo three different Sublimation Transformations.
This transformation process, in the Tiger Demon’s hometown [Immortal Path Universe], was called ‘Refining Sha to Merge Gang’. Collecting three sets of different ‘Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches’ from between heaven and earth to Upgrade the [Summon Wind Supernatural Ability], ultimately obtaining [Three Flavors Divine Wind].
Unfortunately, his current Strength was limited; rashly seeking garbage [Wind System Pollution] to integrate into the Talent would not only fail to improve Strength but also ruin the potential of this Supernatural Ability.
After all, even for the same [Three Flavors Divine Wind], the power had strengths and weaknesses. The stronger the integrated ‘Wind Pollution’, the stronger the product. Unfortunately, neither the Tiger Demon nor the Snake Tail had the [Summon Rain] Supernatural Ability, unable to form the combo Ultimate Skill [Summon Wind Summon Rain].
According to Snake Snake’s introduction, this [Summon Wind. Summon Rain] was likewise an ultimate Ultimate Skill that could stand equal to the [Mountain Lord’s Domain]!
However, inside the [Great Desolation Immortal Scripture], there were still five shares of zero pollution [Demonic Monster Spiritual Root], which might be able to complete combo skills with other ‘users’.
[Universe Within The Belly 5] was like [Shadow Manipulation 1], with no cultivation shortcuts, all relying on ‘eating’!
As long as the Snake Tail kept swallowing Pollutants one by one, through Digestion and Absorption, it could Grow Stronger and enhance the Space size and strength of [Universe Within The Belly].
The more Snake Snake ate, the longer and bigger the [Skeleton Snake Demon]’s body would become, with physique getting higher and Bone strength getting harder. This was the original core Talent of the [Snake Demon (Ba She) Spiritual Root], the ultimate worldly python that devours heaven and earth.
Now Snake Snake had already devoured and refined a large amount of garbage ingredients (Pollution). Part of the essence was absorbed by itself, while the other part of ‘essence’ linked with the [Ghost Companion Divine Ability], refined and ruminated.
The weak ones were refined into [Extraordinary Pollution Crystal]; slightly higher quality ones into [Ghost Companion]; even higher ones injected with Pollution, stamped with the [Tiger Demon]’s Brand, Forced Confrontation!
The final [Shadow Domain 6] had succeeded once in the Underground World; Yuan Zhu was confident of replicating it once in Reality.
Now, it was in the accumulation phase. He figured he needed at least 36 Heavenly Stems [Human Pillars], or the 72 Earthly Branches formation, to have the face to reopen the ‘Mountain Lord’s Domain’.
…
Half an hour later, still wearing that oversized school uniform faded from washing, with a large Backpack on her back, the Frog Killer Girl drooping her head, nervous and sneaky, appeared at the entrance of the small park.
Cautiously poking her head out to look around, scanning back and forth, she finally found Yuan Zhu sitting alone on the bench in a daze.
She walked without making a sound, stealthily approaching Yuan Zhu’s side like an assassin, and softly and respectfully greeted: “Mr. Yuan.”
Yuan Zhu nodded: “I’m a year older than you, so call me Brother Yuan from now on; it’s more intimate. Since we’ve already established the Contract, today I’ll show you some good stuff and test your business ability at the same time. Elbow up, get in the car!”
He wanted to reach out and hold the Half-elf’s hand to bring her into the car. But he grabbed empty air; Nie Yin had already followed. At the same time, through [Anti-Law] + zero-distance face-to-face, he perceived the little girl’s emotions fluctuating again, mostly negative.
Was she unhappy? Rejecting physical contact, and with a tendency to darken?
Yuan Zhu immediately thought of the PUA strategy plan that Snake Snake had formulated based on her performance. So he stopped the action and went pure verbal: “Next, I’m going to take you to do some illegal things, to test your obedience. You have no right to refuse!”
Before the words finished, Nie Yin’s mental world, faintly emitting black gas, instantly flipped, bursting with intense and joyful thoughts. Very happy, very willing, not reluctant at all.
“You really guessed it? This girl indeed has mental issues.”
Snake Snake snorted proudly: “Hmph hmph. Accompanying you to face emotional troubles, helping you relieve life’s distresses, I’m a rainbow fart expert, a professional mental counseling specialist!”
After obediently getting in the car, Nie Yin actively avoided Yuan Zhu’s gaze, turned her head to look at a blind spot in the car, silent, hands placed on her knees, like a pitiful lamb ready to be slaughtered.
Like a delicate flower after rain, arousing pity, tempting Yuan Zhu to punch her and make her emit pleasant ‘whimpers’.
Yuan Zhu: “What’s in your Backpack?”
Nie Yin said softly: “[Frog School] reagents and equipment for making [Extreme Warrior], and a few Experimental Grade Frog, already anesthetized, won’t make noise.”
“You saved them up?”
“I sneaked them out.” At this point, Yuan Zhu judged through [Anti-Law] that her emotions showed a slight ‘positive fluctuation’. The amplitude was very low, easy to overlook; it was Snake Snake who captured this subtle change.
Translated, it should be ‘a moment of secret joy’?
“!!!∑(Дノ)ノ?!!”
Yuan Zhu couldn’t help but feel surprised. This autistic girl was so bold? Such a strong contrast; was she ostracized by classmates because of petty theft?
So he couldn’t help asking: “Do you do this often?”
Nie Yin immediately got nervous: “No, first time. After the [Contract] was established, the constraints and restrictions from [Rain Courtyard] on me automatically lifted, with the Price borne by sir. That’s why I gathered courage and, per your request, sneaked out a share of experimental Resources.”
While answering, Yuan Zhu noticed her ears twitching, expressing inner curiosity, eagerly listening for his response.
“Don’t do it again next time; I’ll give you some money to directly buy the raw materials.”
“Yes.”
The Truck soon arrived at the ‘Warehouse District’. Since Yuan Zhu borrowed the car, three days had passed with no sign of return. Fortunately, he had quite a few subordinates locally who paid the fine for him, so it didn’t alert the [Security Bureau].
Putting on masks, and giving the dazed Half-elf a full-coverage cloak, the two smoothly entered the rented Warehouse interior and dismissed the workers guarding inside against thieves.
Nie Yin followed orders throughout, accepting arrangements, standing obediently without moving randomly, waiting for Yuan Zhu’s instructions.
“Next is paid content; remember to hide it for me. If you leak it casually, per the [Anti-Law Contract], lightly you’ll lose your right to self-control and soul ownership rights; heavily your soul will scatter. Understand?”
Nie Yin nodded, her head under the hood slightly lifted, revealing green curious eyes, staring straight at Yuan Zhu.
This cloak gave her a strong sense of security. After her Head and Body were covered by the cloak, she quickly relaxed, with emotions and mindset becoming lively. At this moment, she even dared to look straight at Yuan Zhu, showing obvious curiosity, and positive feedback toward Yuan Zhu who provided the cloak.
What kind of autism patient is this? Gently touching her would cause blackening. Leading her to do illegal experiments increases Goodwill. Now a cloak greatly boosts positive feelings?
Unable to understand her, Yuan Zhu directly activated [Tiger Demon Stance], transforming into a five-meter-long pitch-black giant tiger in the empty Warehouse, then quickly compressed his size to 3 meters, glaring at Nie Yin, wanting to see her reaction?
The Half-elf was scared motionless on the spot, her eyes filled with shock and fear. Through [Anti-Law], Yuan Zhu found that after quickly calming down, she restrained part of the fear. Amid shock and awe, there was strong admiration and worship.
Translated: Too freaking awesome!
Nie Yin had a worshipful, so cool! urge to get close and touch toward the Tiger Demon emanating [Shadow Pollution] all over.
Fear and shock were of course there, but this awe was quickly diluted by [Anti-Law]. Because the [Anti-Law Contract] she signed originated from the same source as the Tiger Demon, there was an extra layer of soul-level closeness.
After discovering he hadn’t scared her but instead gained a fangirl, the [Tiger Demon] no longer posed to intimidate, but swung his Skeleton Snake Tail. A more shocking black giant snake drilled out from the ground, opening its mouth to spit out a sleeping Orc.
However, Nie Yin didn’t pay attention to the Half-blood Orc at all, but looked at the huge ‘Shadow Demon Snake’ with even more fervent eyes, heart surging. Read through [Anti-Law], she thought this even huger half ‘Shadow Snake Demon’ was cooler and more flashy than the Shadow Tiger Demon, obsessed with its style and power, unable to extricate herself.
Snake Snake: “This kid seems to really worship ‘terrifying, evil, powerful’ things?”
Tiger Demon: “Am I Shadow Tiger Demon not cool and terrifying enough compared to you?”
“But I’m big! This child is quite superficial, still stuck in the ‘bigger is better’ size-comparison stage.”
