Chapter 476: Three Ways to Tend the Bonds of Affection

A blessing in disguise.

This idiom floated through Zhao Chi's mind.

In last night's battle, Tang Ruan had truly been tempered.

Pursued by eighty furious enemies, among them the two strongest.

Stabbed by their swords, burned by their fire, again and again.

Her skin had been burned away countless times, her muscles pierced through by sharp blades, hole after hole of blood.

But she endured it all through sheer force of will.

Her muscles and skin recovered like new.

Her talent, tempered by that fire and sword, directly advanced in tier.

It was only right.

The name of her talent, just like when Zhao Chi's talent advanced, had undergone a subtle change.

From its original "masochistic tendency," it became "masochistic fondness."

Fondness?

Now it's even become a fondness?

Zhao Chi couldn't help glancing at Tang Ruan.

Tang Ruan had now relaxed.

Her cheeks were still faintly flushed, but far better than before.

She was also looking at Zhao Chi.

A curious, sidelong peek.

Summoning her courage, she reached out a small hand and gave him a pat.

Zhao Chi immediately shook his head.

"Hehe." Tang Ruan bit her lower lip and giggled.

Zhao Chi's whole body tensed for a moment.

"Not bad, Tang Ruan — now you've got the nerve to take the offensive?"

Tang Ruan pressed her lips together and smiled: "Has it always been like this?"

"Of course not, it's just like…"

Zhao Chi pointed at that glistening puddle.

"Just like that — you're not always like this either, right?"

Tang Ruan shook her head: "No, I only get like this when I'm thinking about you, my lord…"

"Mm, right, I only get like this when I'm about to use it too."

Tang Ruan curiously patted him again.

The force was a bit too heavy, nearly making Zhao Chi jump.

"Hehe… my lord, your reaction is so big."

Zhao Chi felt a little helpless.

She truly didn't understand anything.

It was fine — he could teach her slowly.

"Shaodengyi Society, let me finish reading your information."

"Oh, okay."

Zhao Chi turned his attention back to the system.

He felt Tang Ruan reaching over to touch him again.

But this time her movements were gentle, and it felt rather nice to Zhao Chi.

It seemed Tang Ruan had quite the talent for it too.

Now her talent had advanced in tier.

In battle she would be even more invincible.

And her grade had leapt from C-grade all the way to B-grade — a full major rank up.

Most talent advancements only raise a minor rank, like from C-grade to C+-grade.

After all, Tang Ruan's talent had undergone a data transfer: from one buff and one debuff, it had directly become two buffs.

With an advancement like this, both effects were upgraded at once.

That was how it could raise a full major rank.

Now, whenever her body took 3% damage, her morale would rise by 2%; the cap was still limited, but it had already reached as high as 60%.

Zhao Chi's Encouragement skill could only raise morale by 10% — a sixfold gap.

When morale rises too high, a person becomes extremely excited.

When that time came, Tang Ruan would probably go even wilder than last night.

Zhao Chi was genuinely afraid Tang Ruan's brain might break down.

But probably not…

The second effect now let Tang Ruan reduce damage taken by 20%.

Combined with her 20 Martial Arts bonus, she could reach a total of 40% damage reduction.

Add to that her current 144% defense boost, plus the 100% defense boost from her outfit.

Overall she could reach a 244% defense boost.

And her soft body could reduce impact damage by another 20%.

On top of that, she had an ultra-fast self-healing that restored 1% of her health every second.

Tang Ruan was truly about to become "invincible."

"My lord, how do you have these too?"

Tang Ruan twiddled her fingers and asked curiously.

Close the system.