Chapter 326
I cannot rule out this possibility.
Just a 5th-tier reward can change a single word... what about the higher-tier rewards?
Although, based on Donghai Shaleng's reaction last time, there doesn't seem to be any immediate danger, Yu Xunge couldn't help but feel a rising sense of crisis.
Her heart raced faster and faster.
In that moment, images flashed through her mind: the tower and the "Destined Savior," the "Fate Is Never on Time," the underwater behemoth that produced soldiers from Zelan energy... and the three floating islands of the Oak Owl...
But her rapid heartbeat wasn't due to any of these; it was because of her own thought: "I could just snatch it directly!"
If the phrase "this skill can only be used once in a lifetime" could be modified by a single word, how wonderful that would be!
She immediately dismissed the idea of using the now-gray divine talent in exchange for a "Reversal Moment."
Keep it! It must be kept!
Gathering her thoughts, Yu Xunge waited for about three minutes before taking out the second golden tree leaf and using it again.
"Congratulations, player, you have drawn a 3rd-tier reward—Death Penalty Reduction."
Golden threads coalesced into a card that flew directly into Yu Xunge's heart.
—"Thieving Baby Dragon"!
The card flew out—dispersed into golden threads—then reformed into a golden tree leaf.
However, when she used it again, there was no response.
This golden tree leaf was wasted.
Yu Xunge felt a bit regretful, but it wasn't too painful; she had anticipated this outcome and could accept it.
There was regret, but more than that, there was a sense of peace. She couldn't cheat, which meant other players couldn't cheat either.
Those veteran players surely had more elaborate and powerful cheating methods than she did.
She stored the wasted golden tree leaf, thinking it might come in handy in the future, and then took out the third golden tree leaf.
"Congratulations, player, you have drawn a 5th-tier reward—Combat Training Course (1-Star Sea Year)."
This time, the golden threads formed a small house.
She grasped the house, receiving the information that she could start the course anytime she wanted.
The flow of time in this space was different from the outside world; she could enter for 15 months of combat training, while less than a second would pass outside.
The space would continuously manifest the most suitable teachers for her based on her combat skills and abilities.
However, this was a solo reward, and she couldn't bring her pets.
Without hesitation, Yu Xunge grasped the golden house, which transformed into golden threads that wrapped around her hand and arm.
In the next moment, her eyes slowly closed.
But then, just as quickly, her eyes snapped open again, momentarily dazed before shifting to alertness, filled with determination.
As she took in her surroundings, it seemed she remembered what had happened before she entered that classroom space...
What was it like to undergo 15 months of relentless combat training?
No meals, no bathroom breaks, no showers—only two hours of rest each day, with the rest spent fighting in various states.
One-on-one battles, quick skirmishes, ambushes, traps, one-armed fights, magic suppression... sometimes she would randomly lose her sight, hearing, or even the sense of pain.
It was terrifying. She doubted that if she hadn't spent 300 years in the tower, honing her mind and spirit, this 15-month combat training might have pushed her to the brink of mental collapse, making it impossible to focus on learning later on.
Yu Xunge took out various calming potions and drank them, then used her healing skills on herself, looking slightly better afterward.
She shadow-stepped to the backyard, forcibly gathered a few of the fattest cats into her arms, and then lay down in the sun.
What she needed most now was a mental break.
When she opened her eyes again, she was greeted by the sight of Tu Lan's head filling her view: "You’re awake?"
Thinking her mentor had come to ambush her again, Yu Xunge almost reacted defensively: "...So, did the Holy Grail praise you?"
Tu Lan burst into laughter, even flying into the air, dancing as she reenacted the moment:
"Of course! I called the Holy Grail, Bei Sui, Xue Dui, Feng Qie, and Di San over. I raised three golden tree leaves in front of them and told them, 'This is the reward you gave me for fighting alongside Yu Xunge!'
"You should have come with me; you would have seen Bei Sui's silly face when he said, 'So soon?' Haha, Li Zhu didn't believe it either. When I told her I got six golden tree leaves, she was furious.
"Although it's not good to compare, you really made me look good compared to Song Gui! They all said you were amazing~"
Yu Xunge rested her hands behind her head, gazing at the starry sky as she listened to Tu Lan. When she heard Song Gui's name, she curiously asked, "Is Song Gui not good to Li Zhu? When we were in the tower, she even specifically looked for dragon recipes for Li Zhu, right?"
She also recalled the combined skill "Decisive Moment" she had exchanged from Di San, who had said, "Li Zhu can't use it now," which implied it had been used before. If a combined skill required a very close relationship to activate, then Song Gui and Li Zhu's relationship couldn't be bad.
If Song Gui was not good to Li Zhu, how could they have that skill?
She voiced her question.
Tu Lan explained, "On the surface, Song Gui treats Li Zhu very well. She gathers recipes for her, gives her many titles, builds castles for her, and even has Oak Owl build her statue in Four Seasons City. The skills she creates are named after Li Zhu.
"Every single thing Song Gui does is discussed with Li Zhu. If Li Zhu is unwilling, she won't do it."
"The most touching thing for Li Zhu was when they faced deadly danger together, Song Gui risked her life several times to protect her, willing to die rather than let Li Zhu perish.
"But I think Song Gui is not as good as you. You charge in yourself and leave me a way out."
Yu Xunge finally couldn't help but interject:
"That's obvious. I wouldn't want you to die either. If you die, you go back to Dragon Island, and who knows if you'll recognize me when you hatch again? Even if you remember me, you'll still be a dragon egg for a year. I can die for a few days and come back. Li Zhu and Song Gui are probably in the same situation."
Tu Lan was momentarily speechless. After a pause, she asked dryly, "Are you allergic to sentimentality?"
Yu Xunge replied, "...I was wrong. You can continue."
"Anyway! Li Zhu is indeed quite happy, but Song Gui has taken more from her.
"Although she discusses everything with Li Zhu, she always manages to achieve her goals, and the outcomes benefit Song Gui.
"When she needs gold coins, she asks Li Zhu for some dragon blood. Many alchemists in Zelan get their dragon blood from Li Zhu.
"If Song Gui wants to evolve quickly and surpass Feng Tang and Tao Mian, she asks Li Zhu to give way.
"She tells Li Zhu that they are in an equal contract and should not distinguish between you and me, so all gold coins, equipment, rare items, and props are kept with Song Gui, and nothing is calculated too closely.
"The most outrageous thing is that Li Zhu initially believed Song Gui's nonsense."
Thinking of Li Zhu's grievances and frustrations, Tu Lan concluded, "What Song Gui gives Li Zhu are all useless things, but she almost drained Li Zhu dry, selling her off. In Xue Dui's words, even if Dragon Island had to sell everything, they would still need to fix Li Zhu's mind."
Yu Xunge asked curiously, "Didn't the dragons from Dragon Island help her out?"
Tu Lan shook her head: "Di San said it wouldn't help. Li Zhu has to wake up on her own."
Just as Yu Xunge was about to continue the conversation, she heard the system's notification sound: Donghai Shaleng's first curse had been lifted.
That was fast; it had only been two months.
She immediately planned to try cursing again, but then thought that Shaleng probably faced no danger in his own world. She could wait until the next Divine Game to curse him, doubling his rule count!
But there was someone she could curse right now!
Yu Xunge first used a "Hide and Seek" to conceal the backyard in mist, preventing any presence from spying on her.
Then she transformed into a cat and began meowing incessantly.
A few minutes later, the sky echoed with meows.
But all players understood the meaning behind that long string of cat calls.
"I curse the player Zai Jiu, Yu Xunhuan, to wake up every morning in the agony of a thousand arrows piercing his heart, and every night to sleep in the torment of bone-chilling cold, unable to consume warm food or receive anyone's genuine affection. Each level-up will cost him five attribute points until he earns his wife's forgiveness, at which point the curse will be lifted."
As she cursed Yu Xunhuan, a black pot was placed over Su Yitong.
Although from any angle, she had no need to hide anymore, it had become a habit. Whether facing him or Su Yitong, she had no intention of being straightforward.
As long as she didn't encounter an unexpected situation like Shaleng's, she enjoyed the feeling of being hidden while her enemies were in the open.
Especially sinister, especially reassuring!
After casting the curse, Yu Xunge dispersed the mist and returned to her human form. She took out her phone and opened the family chat group. She had been playing dead for a while, but now she couldn't keep it up.
She asked Yu Xunhuan if he had offended someone, casually expressing concern, maintaining her persona of being stingy yet caring for her family.
However, the happy Qiu Guo had something to say about this curse.
[Happy Qiu Guo]: Hey, my dear, I’m sincere about you. Don’t believe this curse.
[Terrifyingly Strong]: Feeling guilty, huh? Giving yourself away.
[Happy Qiu Guo]: Nonsense, it’s all the curse’s fault.
Yu Xunge keenly sensed the underlying disdain Qiu Guo had for Yu Xunhuan beneath her joking tone. It seemed intentional.
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