Matsusaka Shigeki's Spiritual Beast was able to terrifyingly boost its Race Value to ninety thousand in a short amount of time; even though the six Spiritual Beasts eventually managed to kill it by relying on their unique abilities and close cooperation, the toll it took was significant.
After resting on the spot for two to three hours, with Xiaoqing's injuries from the battle completely healed and its strength returned to its peak, Qin Chuan and Yue Li boarded its broad back feathers with the other five little ones and soared into the sky.
The gale stirred up by their ascension was carefully deflected by Xiaoqing, and by the time it brushed against Qin Chuan's face, it was barely uncomfortable. Watching the land swiftly recede beneath their feet, the novel experience made him quickly forget the previous battle.
"This is amazing," Qin Chuan suddenly smiled as he looked at Yue Li, who was sitting beside him, "So this is what it felt like for you riding on Xiaoqing's back before."
"It wasn't entirely ," Yue Li smiled with pursed lips and spoke in earnest, "Before, Xiaoqing wasn't as large, so sitting on its back was somewhat strenuous."
"I'm a bit slimmer than you, so I have less impact on its flight. If you had sat on it back then, Xiaoqing probably would have found it inconvenient to even flap its wings."
"Hall Rank Spiritual Beasts can become very large, and they can freely adjust their size too. It's a really convenient ability," Yue Li said, stretching out her hand to gently stroke Xiaoqing's feathers.
Feeling the touch, Xiaoqing tilted its head slightly and let out a soft chirp, as if responding to Yue Li's caress.
"How high is your Affinity with Xiaoqing now?" Watching the close bond between them, Qin Chuan suddenly asked.
"99%," Yue Li casually replied. Seeing Qin Chuan inhale sharply, a teasing glint appeared in her eyes, "Xiao Hong is at 97%, and Xiao Zi has reached 92%."
"That was fast!" Qin Chuan exclaimed in amazement.
It seemed that ever since he had met her, he had never caught up to Yue Li in terms of Affinity.
Even Xiao Zi, the one with the most peculiar temperament, had quickly come to completely acknowledge Yue Li as its master during their time together.
Currently, his Affinity with Water Flower was the highest among the three Spiritual Beasts, at 96%, with Snow Cone at 95%, and Silver Horn at 89%.
Despite spending all their time together, and without Yue Li keeping any secrets in this regard, he too had started to place the Dream World on an equal footing with the real world.
So, it could probably only be chalked up to Yue Li's special affinity.
After all, even he...
Shaking his head to clear the stray thoughts, Qin Chuan continued to chat with Yue Li in a sporadic fashion. As the scenery below zoomed past, they crossed one district after another.
Completely oblivious to which district completed its daily settlement, nor that the entrance to the Dream World was about to close.
"Matsusaka Shigeki has been killed, Soul Fusion has lit up again, and both of our records now include the killing of Matsusaka Shigeki. It's going to be lively in the real world again," Yue Li said with a light laugh.
Having spent so much time with Qin Chuan, she had gradually gotten used to a life in the spotlight.
"Yeah," Qin Chuan stretched, feeling the breeze softened by Xiaoqing on his face, and was suddenly reminded of something real, "The high school exams are in two days."
As a high school senior who had been nearly a month without academic classes, the mention of the exams felt almost like a distant memory.
"Mm," Yue Li tucked her windblown hair behind her ear, nodding slightly, light flickering in her eyes, "I'm ready."
In the past few days, with Du Yu's treatment, her left hand had healed completely. After a few days of adjustment, there would be no issues taking the exams.
Although she still couldn't walk, she could now move independently with the aid of an electric wheelchair. Even through complex terrains, she could easily navigate using her Wind Attribute Extraordinary Power.
The upcoming exams in two days would be her first step out of the sanatorium after several years.
"Good luck, I believe you can definitely get into Yue Mountain University smoothly," Qin Chuan encouraged earnestly.
Even without showcasing her talents or achieving direct admission, Yue Li had the ability to easily pass the exams for Yue Mountain University.
"Mm," the corners of Yue Li's mouth couldn't help but curve into a gentle arc.
"Then, see you tomorrow."
[08:00:00/08:00:00][00:00:39]
[Dream World entrance closed]
In the real world, as soon as Qin Chuan awoke, he opened the Dream Realm Forum.
Sure enough, the news that Matsusaka Shigeki had been killed by him and Yue Li was discovered by the onlookers who spent their days gazing at the Ranking List.
Also mentioned was the breakthrough of Water Flower to the Hall Rank.
For a time, he and Yue Li once again became the subject of widespread discussion.
Carefully sifting through the discussions for useful information, Qin Chuan quickly found the answers to the things he wanted to know.
The Soul Fusion Talent had dimmed again after shining for three hours.
Compared to the past Ascension, the speed at which this Talent was selected again wasn't slow.
It was probably because it had been a long time since the last Ascension was drawn, and a lot of players at the Growth Rank waiting to draw their Talents had been born.
As he understood it, there were quite a few such players.
After all, in Dream World, the lack of a Talent did not prevent players from continuing to improve.
Considering this, why not save the opportunity to draw until a gold Talent lights up?
He had no idea who would draw Soul Fusion this time.
First, rule out the Special Affairs Group members.
If it were them, Dragon Halberd would have already called him by now.
Shaking his head, Qin Chuan decided not to dwell on this issue.
With the world being so vast and the players so numerous, he wasn't so obsessed as to insist on every gold Talent appearing on his own side.
As long as they weren't his enemies, they could do as they please.
On the other side of Blue Star, in Mi Country, it was currently night.
The gate of a detached villa at the top of a mountain slowly opened, and a well-built man stepped out.
His azure eyes were filled with calm and indifference, his golden hair that had once draped over his shoulders was now a tidy buzz cut, and the whole person had changed drastically; even his once arrogant face now seemed too still to look like the same person.
The man who had faded from public view after being killed, whose past videos had been edited into a joke for people's leisure time, stepped out of the villa which had confined him for twenty-four days.
Several men in black suits and sunglasses immediately appeared, blocking his path.
They didn't speak, but their actions conveyed the same message.
You are not allowed to leave the villa.
Eric halted, no sign of anger on his face.
"Go tell my father, Lauren Solag,"
"I have earned the right to leave this place."