[Ding! Large amounts of First Level early-stage Dragon Blood Fish leftovers digested. Strength +14, Defense +20, Evolution Points +18!]
Half an hour later, Wu Liang finished digesting the Dragon Blood Fish remains and gained another wave of attribute points.
His defense had reached 200, nearly matching the vitality of a First Rank mid-stage martial artist.
His evolution points had also reached 30, only 70 points away from evolving into the next form, the Gluttonous Beast.
I'll save my evolution points for now. I need to improve my bloodline first. The Grumpy Empress still doesn't quite trust me. I need to get her to invest more money in me.
As long as Wu Liang demonstrated the potential for limitless evolution of his Gluttonous Beast nature, Ling Qingxue would surely invest more effort into him.
Otherwise, she would continue to prioritize her own cultivation.
Selfishness was an animal's nature; no one could escape the "Law of True Fragrance" principle.
Maximizing benefits was the ultimate goal.
When the investment in Wu Liang yielded higher returns, the Grumpy Empress would definitely know how to choose.
Sitting beside him, Ling Qingxue was focused on refining the hot vital energy within her body.
She was like a blazing furnace with beads of sweat glistening on her forehead and her cheeks flushed.
This was a sign of excess vital energy; if she didn't refine it quickly, it would harm her body.
Now was the perfect time to cultivate the "Ten Thousand Sources Return to One" technique!
The ability to fuse spiritual elements was a unique feature of this technique, but its power lay in the refinement of energy.
In just two or three hours, Ling Qingxue had completely refined the vital energy of the Dragon Blood Fish.
She opened her beautiful eyes, a glint of light reflecting in her pupils.
"My vitality has surged to 300! I'm only 50 points away from reaching the late stage of the First Rank!"
The limit for a First Rank martial artist was 500 vitality points; she was very close to that limit.
Wu Liang rested his chin on one paw, his eyes gleaming with a dazed look.
Admiring the beauty of his Master Grumpy Empress was also a form of entertainment, wasn't it?
"Little Xuexue, it's time to go find some beasts for me to eat. Just ten more First Level beasts and I'll evolve! Then I'll be so handsome you'll be swooning over me."
If his attack and speed attributes weren't so low, he could find food himself.
For now, he still had to rely on the free henchman, Master Grumpy Empress.
It just goes to show that the rich are also serving the poor.
For the First Level mid-stage Grumpy Empress, killing a First Level early-stage beast was child's play.
Ling Qingxue sighed, a sense of desolation washing over her.
Reborn Empress: I'm Raising a Silly Dog in the Countryside.
If it weren't for her strong mental fortitude, she would have killed Wu Liang eight hundred times over.
She slowly stood up and used her spiritual energy to set up a concealment formation at the bottom of the pool.
With the energy supply from the pool water, this concealment formation could last for at least a month.
Within a month, she would definitely be able to enter this unexplored secret place and use its resources to raise her rank!
"Let's go. If you can't evolve on your own, you'll have to earn your own food from now on!"
Wu Liang shuffled along, his face full of arrogance.
What a joke! He's a man with a system! The Grumpy Empress' vision was too limited; she couldn't see the genius brilliance within him.
"Little Xuexue, carry me! Can I stay on your head? Don't worry, I won't pee."
Wu Liang followed her, his four short legs simply unable to keep up.
His speed was less than 50 points, while Ling Qingxue's speed was five or six times faster; they were on completely different levels.
"If you can't even keep up the pace, how will you catch your own meal?" Ling Qingxue casually remarked.
Wu Liang pouted, full of displeasure.
How presumptuous of you...
He's only two days old. He's lucky to be the size of a three-month-old puppy.
He was only slightly larger than a fist when he hatched.
Besides, did she think she was mocking a dog? He was a Gluttonous Beast, okay?!
Damn it, I'm going to piss on this Grumpy Empress's head sooner or later!
As he trotted after her, his attention was drawn to two people emerging from the bushes nearby.
Rogue martial artists?
"Old Bai, I'm starving. Look, there's a stupid dog here. Let's roast it for dinner!" The bearded man wiped his drool.
In his eyes, Wu Liang was just a few-month-old puppy without a bloodline— perfect for eating.
Hearing his words, Bai Ya also looked at Wu Liang, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Er Hu, you go catch him, I'll start the fire. I'm really hungry after searching all this way."
"Okay, I'm starving too!"
As he finished speaking, a Yellow Rock Tiger emerged from behind him, its aura around the mid-to-late stage of the First Level—something Wu Liang couldn't handle.
Seeing this, he immediately took off running, screaming in his mind for Ling Qingxue.
"Little Xuexue, help! I'm going to be eaten! Come save me!"
His short legs were incredibly slow. He wished he had wings.
A menacing aura filled the air before the Yellow Rock Tiger pounced straight at him.
Clang!
A silver-white alloy dagger shot from afar, forcing the tiger back.
Ling Qingxue stared coldly at Li Erhu and Bai Ya.
"You're asking for death!"
Hearing the voice that was as cold as ice, the two felt a tingle of excitement.
"The little girl we were chasing was pretty enough, but this one's even prettier!"
Li Erhu's eyes were practically glued to Ling Qingxue's face.
Bai Ya was equally infatuated, swallowing hard.
"Hey, sweetheart, come play with us. We won't kill your little beast, and we'll even let you join our Wolf Fang Squad. Our captain is a Second Rank late-stage martial artist, just one step away from the Third Rank!"
They could sense that Ling Qingxue's vitality was only around 300, and her surging energy indicated she had just broken through.
Meanwhile, the two of them were both First Rank late-stage martial artists, with vitality values of 350 and 400, respectively. Adding their two contracted magical beasts, how could Ling Qingxue possibly defeat them alone?
This was a one-against-four situation; Wu Liang didn't even count as half a fighter.
Ling Qingxue's expression grew increasingly cold. She hated being spoken to like this and being looked at with such lecherous eyes.
You're dead already!
"Step back a little and make sure you don't die."
After saying this softly, she charged forward, wielding her alloy short blade.
Wu Liang hid behind a large tree, a look of schadenfreude on his face.
"Master Grumpy Empress is so cool! She really nailed the hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress act. I was even a little smitten for two seconds. Next time I'm on 'If You Are the One**,' I'll definitely vote for this goddess!"
That throwing knife was really cool!
Seeing that Ling Qingxue dared to attack them directly, Li Erhu and Bai Ya were slightly taken aback, then a mocking look appeared on their faces.
"I'll go first, don't try to take her from me!" Bai Ya licked his lips.
Li Erhu's eyes widened. "Damn it, why can't I go first? I saw that stupid dog first!"
"Let's go together, you in front, me behind, we'll attack from both sides."
"Hehe, you rascal, you know how to play the game. That's why I like hanging out with you."
The two like-minded brothers, speaking their last words before death, were completely unaware of the murderous intent that had solidified on Ling Qingxue's face.