Novel En
Chapter 48
C48 – System Exchange for Fire Toxin
As the moon waned and the sun ascended in the east, a new day dawned at last.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Zhou Mu fought to open his eyes, tossing aside the gold that had landed on his face, shoving the rice barrel that had nestled on his belly under the bed, untangling Gator from his body, and gently pulling Genie, who had been curled up in his arms, a bit closer. He then snugly tucked the blanket around her. The sheer number of spirit animals was overwhelming, and their clinginess was proving to be a real challenge.
Sleeping amidst the chaos felt akin to battling a war, leaving Zhou Mu utterly exhausted. “Man, day in and day out, when will this ever end?” he lamented with a weary sigh, feeling both physically and mentally drained.
Yet, the sight of Genie’s delicate, porcelain-like face, serene in slumber, instantly banished his fatigue. She was irresistibly adorable! It was almost too much to handle, especially when she was diligently pounding away with the medicine pestle, her cuteness off the charts.
“Mmm…” Genie murmured in her sleep, nuzzling against Zhou Mu’s chest and smacking her lips. With a tender stroke of her soft hair, Zhou Mu made sure she was well-covered by the blanket before he settled back to sleep.
……
The opening of the Fire Grounds was imminent. Zhou Mu didn’t join the faculty and students of Bayshore School; instead, he set out a day early. He had an appointment with Zhou Hao and needed to pick up a few things.
Zhou Hao bore a striking resemblance to Zhou Chun, with the main difference being Zhou Chun’s generous and affable demeanor as a businessman, contrasting with Zhou Hao’s more formidable presence as commander of Ambergrasp’s area command. Facing the man of such resolute features, Zhou Mu greeted him with due respect, “Second Uncle.”
”Have you started seeing that Bai family girl?” Zhou Hao inquired immediately upon Zhou Mu’s arrival, causing a jolt of anxiety in his nephew.
Zhou Mu’s worst fears seemed to be materializing; it looked like his Second Uncle was on a mission to hasten a wedding. Sure enough, Zhou Hao’s words bore down on him with the weight of a mountain. “Work hard, and let’s aim for a grandchild by next year.”
Zhou Mu was dumbfounded. ‘A grandchild? I was nearly beaten to a pulp, and he’s talking about grandkids!’ He kept his retorts to himself, not daring to voice his true feelings.
“I… I’ll do my best…”
Zhou Mu’s words faltered, his heart sinking into despair.
He had assumed that being reborn into a wealthy and influential family would spare him from any troubles.
Yet, to his dismay, his family was pressuring him into marriage.
He lamented his fate. His ambition was to become the ultimate powerhouse; how could he let romantic entanglements hold him back?
Even if the woman in question was exceptionally strong, stunningly beautiful, with a seductive figure and grand vision…
Bah!
Zhao Qianqian has led us astray for three centuries!
No, it’s Zhao Qianqian, this roadblock, whom I must conquer eventually!
The more Zhou Mu dwelled on it, the more his rage boiled, nearly smoking with fury.
“This mission is fraught with peril. Once you enter the Fire Grounds, eliminate that dragon species and elevate your spirit animal to king status. Then, target the phoenix species. With that, you’ll have the means to defend yourself. As for what follows, use your judgment—just avoid a total massacre like in the Newcomers’ Ranking Competition.”
Zhou Hao handed over two items from his desk: a map and a space converter.
Space Converter: Activates instantly, tearing through space to reach a predetermined location.
This was an essential survival item, with the destination set to Zhou Hao’s office.
Against any foe, triggering the space converter meant immediate safety.
The commander of the Ambergrasp area command, a level ten Animal Whisperer, could handle any threat, including the Brightsmiths’ Vision of the Ended and Poisongarde, ensuring they’d never return.
“Something’s not quite right…”
Zhou Mu sensed a discrepancy. Zhou Hao’s directive to slay the dragon species and promote Gator to king status seemed off.
The system panel indicated a need for five dragon species’ bloodlines. Why did Zhou Hao suggest one was sufficient?
Were the dragon species in the Fire Grounds exceptionally unique, or did the system’s recommendations diverge from this world’s norms?
Zhou Mu kept silent; the system was his most guarded secret, not to be disclosed even to his uncle.
“I’ve got it!”
With a nod, Zhou Mu followed Zheng Hao to the temporary dormitory for some much-needed rest.
The Fire Grounds opened on schedule, with intense spatial tremors heralding the arrival of figures materializing from thin air.
This was the work of a directional teleportation device, an expensive piece of technology installed only between major universities and military districts for rapid deployment in times of war.
During the Brightsmiths’ assault on the Fire Grounds, a traitor sabotaged the spatial coordinates, delaying reinforcements and nearly dooming the defenders. Had it not been for this betrayal, the invaders would have met their end.
“Let’s begin!”
Zhou Hao’s command was the signal for the space ahead to warp and twist.
With a sound like fabric tearing under immense force, a world of fiery red hues unfolded before them.
This was the Fire Grounds, the vital artery of the Ambergrasp military command!
The air was thick with a deadly fire toxin, a challenge even for a level ten Animal Whisperer, who wouldn’t last long without proper countermeasures.
Spirit animals and fiend beasts, with their superior constitutions, had a higher tolerance to the fire toxin. Those of Lord-tier quality could withstand it for extended periods.
But resistance did not equate to immunity. The fire toxin would erode flesh and build up over time.
If not purged promptly, it would seep into bones, organs, and even intertwine with cells, becoming increasingly tenacious.
The Ambergrasp military had once paid a steep price to claim the Fire Grounds.
Countless resources were poured into developing a method to counteract the fire toxin’s effects.
With multifaceted support, the military command weathered the storm, reaping benefits that far outweighed their investments.
Upon entering the Fire Grounds, a blast of heat assaulted them immediately.
Zhou Mu’s skin prickled with an unbearable itch, prompting an almost instinctive scratch.
Over time, the itch would evolve into a numbing sensation, then a sharp pain signaling the urgent need to retreat.
And when that sharp pain escalated to searing agony, there would be no need to leave—death would claim him right there.
The fire toxin possessed the dual traits of flame and venom, making its erosive force formidable.
After consuming the wrinkled papaya, Zhou Mu’s physical attributes soared to 112 points, yet he still felt an itch. Others would likely have been unable to withstand it for even five or six hours.
“The fire toxin has infiltrated my body. Even though it’s mine, in light of this…”
Zhou Mu grinned, a plan forming in his mind.
“System, exchange for fire toxin!”
Earned 2 points!
“System, keep exchanging for fire toxin!”
Earned 2 points!
Earned 2 points!
Earned 2 points!
……
Alerts popped up continuously, quickly cluttering the entire screen.
Zhou Mu inhaled deeply, basking in an unparalleled sense of fulfillment.
What’s the definition of incredible?
This is the definition of incredible!
Standing still and racking up points was like a slice of paradise!
If he weren’t concerned about raising suspicions, Zhou Mu might have considered living here for years.
“Wait a minute, spirit animals are my personal property. I wonder if I can exchange the fire toxin within them.”
Zhou Mu called forth Gator and Goldie, leaving Genie within the Soul Contract for the time being.
With their tough hides and mythical creature lineage, Gator and Goldie were impervious to the fire toxin for the moment.
“It’s blazing hot here, the birds’ feathers are curling. A featherless bird is known as a green dragon. Hmm, a green dragon alongside a white tiger, that’s quite the perfect pairing.”
Goldie mumbled, hopping onto Zhou Mu’s shoulder.
Neither Gator nor Goldie was fond of such an environment, so they wriggled into Zhou Mu’s clothes, peeking out only at the neckline.
“System, continue to exchange their fire toxin!”
Earned 1 point!
Earned 1 point!
……
“Damn, that’s badass! I am an absolute genius!”
Zhou Mu was so elated by the notifications on the screen that he nearly leaped for joy.
He was right on the money! This place was a goldmine for accumulating points!
He summoned Genie as well. Though she was a Lord, her physical attributes paled in comparison to Gator and Goldie’s. She netted 3 points with each exchange.
Zhou Mu earned 2 points, Gator and Genie each earned 1 point, and the rest earned 3 points. In total, he could amass 7 points with each round of exchanges.
Zhou Mu racked up points quickly: two for herself, one each for Gator and Goldie, and three for Genie. Together, they could exchange for seven points at a time. At a rate of one exchange every five seconds, she could amass 84 points in a minute, and a staggering 5,040 points in an hour. That was far more efficient than hunting fiend beasts!
Without lifting a finger, she was earning over 5,000 points hourly. Who could she possibly complain to about that?
”Come on, let’s check out just how powerful that dragon species really is!”
Tucking Genie, now transformed into a rabbit, into her pocket, Zhou Mu strode off with a determined gaze to locate the fire-attribute dragon species.
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