Chapter 258: New Treasure

Cat-woman Kouyi purred once and raised her hand.

"I had a part in it too — the crystal was my contribution. If you want to blame someone, blame both of us. You're not allowed to dislike Lily."

Rod didn't pay much attention to the displeasure they were showing openly.

Instead, he felt it was frank enough — very much the Chivalrous Alliance's style.

He took the square crystal.

It felt cool to the touch.

"I think you two have somewhat misunderstood the relationship between me and Lily. We haven't reached that step yet."

"Misunderstood what? Lily is so cute, yet you insist on finding so many girls!" Doris was moved by the scene, her face wearing a mournful look. "You men are all sheep dung balls!"

Pan Ni, off to the side, frowned slightly.

Sheep dung balls?! How dare you insult my master like that?! Can't you smell how fragrant his flesh is?!!

She was about to speak, but Rod raised a hand to stop her.

"The trial means — take out the bean pod inside, by any means?"

"Of course not! Bare-handed! Even seventh-tier powerhouses can't break this."

A press of his finger.

Crack—

The crystal immediately showed cracks.

Doris's and Kouyi's faces instantly froze.

"How is this poss—"

Not to mention the 【Dragon Force Art】 and 【Giant Dragon Heart】 from when the battle soul had just solidified.

Not long ago, after resonancing with the slime Little Black's element, the power buff gained — 【Surging Strength】 — was no slouch either.

That was a strength boost comparable to a deep-sea tidal wave.

But he didn't take it any further.

Because from the moment he touched this crystal, the slime Little Black, which had been clinging to his body all along thanks to 【Clingy】, transmitted a faint yearning.

Although Little Black still had no spiritual intelligence, because of the 【Mind Link】, Rod could clearly sense this feeling coming from her instinct.

A stream of metallic-textured fluid crawled up onto Rod's palm.

He took the square crystal.

Then immediately shrank back into his sleeve.

Doris was startled by this.

Then she said dejectedly, "Fine, you win. I'll give you one extra thing."

She handed over a purple ceramic swan, from which a faint magical fluctuation emanated.

It was a magic ornament of rather ordinary quality.

"My hometown is a remote little country to the east, called Belis. There, ceramics and swans represent devotion and loyalty. I hope you can live up to it."

Kouyi looked at that ceramic swan.

After a long daze: "Isn't this from your fiancé who—"

"It's not anymore! He ran off! I'm Doris — I can live just fine without a man!"

Hearing this, the hand that had just taken it went rigid.

"Should I not have taken it?"

"No, you hold onto it. Remember! You absolutely must treat Lily well! Don't you dare run off at the wedding!"

Having said that, Doris's eyes glistened with tears. She stood up and ran off.

"Doris!"

Kouyi gave Rod an apologetic smile and also stood up.

"Stay a couple more days in Shi Ying Town. I'll show you around."

"No need, thank you. We're heading to Coral Bay tonight to rendezvous with our Chivalrous Alliance companions."

"In such a rush?"

"A bard collaborating with the Chivalrous Alliance told us that Coral Bay has secretly summoned a black dragon from the Montes sea area. We have to hurry over and take a look. Farewell, Mr. Rod — may we meet again if fate allows!"

Having said that, she hurried off in pursuit.

Rod watched the two girls' retreating backs and, for no particular reason, felt as if he were watching television.

However—

Another dragon, huh?

He gently stroked the ceramic swan in his hand.

【【Treasure Affinity】 activated successfully】

【Granted item 'Ceramic Swan' treasure property: Mass Flight】

【Details: Gathered a maiden's love and disappointment. No mana, spirituality, or casting materials required. Mass Flight allows the user to affect multiple creatures simultaneously.】

His fingers paused.

Rod's eyebrows rose.

Mass Flight, huh?

An aerial orgy!

Heh.

I'll try it out with Tally tonight.

Thinking so, he gently took a sip of freshly brewed black tea.

The texture is soft and smooth, gliding through the mouth like silk.

Rich and mellow, it also carries a hint of honeyed sweetness.

"Did you add something?"

"A little Tally fluid, mainly to increase the sweetness."

"Won't there be a problem if they drink it?"

"I only added it to your cup, my Master. My entire being belongs solely to you; no one else, man or woman, is worthy."

Rod smiled and downed the black tea in one gulp: "I like your persona today."

Tally's legs trembled, and her eyes glowed with a red light of restraint.

"I-I am very happy that Master likes it..."

Time passed silently for a month.

News of the second great dragon appearing in Coral Bay spread without legs.

Along with the sandstorm sweeping east from the Death Desert, a wave of panic rose in the hearts of the people in Shi Ying Town, Windstorm City, and surrounding towns.

They gathered to hold a meeting and intended to negotiate with Coral Bay once more.

But all of this received not the slightest response.

Coral Bay drove the Ruin Brotherhood and the opportunistic bards away to Twilight Hills; the entire harbor city was like an iron bucket.

Apart from the fragmentary news gathered by the bards' 【Hearsay】, there was no intelligence at all.

The calm was terrifying.

Rod suspected all of this was related to that drop of holy blood that fell into Purgatory.

Every time he went to the market district to apply for an anonymous shop, he would take the opportunity to ask the rabbit girl Oona for news.

But clearly, high-level battles are not so easily decided.

This blood war is far from over.

Rod knew that before this war was decided, it would be the last peaceful time in the forest.

So over this month, while maintaining his own training and contemplation, he also intentionally worked to improve the strength of the forest girls.

Everyone at Rank Seven was his small goal.

The closest was naturally the zombie Selena, half a step into Rank Seven.

The next tier were Tally and the ghoul Pan Ni, both at the peak of Rank Six.

Kali was not within his jurisdiction.

The Young Lady Elf had a very strong sense of self-management; over this month she had been busy almost every day upgrading the Windwall Forest.

The half-deer Miss Xiao Ke was non-combat personnel, but her prophetic ability was no small matter, so she too must do her best.

The current problem was the banshee Chris and the pony girl Little Little Bangde.

Both were lazy dogs.

Rod sighed and walked into the ranger's cottage.

Click! He locked the door.

"Tally, come eat breakfast."

Tally in the bedroom did not respond, but he could hear her turn over.

"I'm furious, I—"

"Coming, coming..."

The succubus got up reluctantly.

She was completely naked, stomping over in a huff.

She swayed unsteadily, which was very pleasing to the eye.

Rod's brow furrowed slightly.

He pointed to her slightly bulging belly: "The stuff from last night hasn't finished digesting and is leaking out; clamp down quickly, that's all spiritual essence."

"What last night? It was just now. Let Tally off the hook, okay~?"

"That needs to happen before you advance to Rank Seven."

"Then can you give me some love! I want you to love me! Hmph!"

(End of this chapter)