Chapter 378: Waiting

Luo De's flashy smile froze.

"You didn't tell her, right?"

Oona chuckled at his expression: "Not yet, so don't you dare offend me, or I'll give her your address."

"Fine, fine, I'll love and cherish you for life, happy now? Baby?"

Now it was the rabbit-girl's smile that froze.

Her face flushed slightly as she spat: "Pervert, shameless!"

Without another word, she spun around and hurried away.

Watching the girl skip off with a smile, Luo De handed the brass test ball to Tally, Vivian, and Yuna in turn for testing.

The seventh-rank low-stage succubus scored 197.

The seventh-rank mid-stage, nearly high-stage treeling scored 231.

The sixth-rank mid-stage Yuna scored 133.

All figures matched Oona's data: sixth-rank 100–150, seventh-rank 150–300.

Luo De's spiritual value of 312 clearly exceeded the seventh-rank range.

No wonder Oona thought the prototype was faulty.

A newly elevated seventh-rank with eighth-rank strength? It was hard to believe.

"Vivian, have you licked enough yet?"

Of course, the influence of the 【Craving Mark】 was certainly at play.

Before this, Vivian only acted this way after consuming a certain amount of 【Alluring Fluid】.

Luo De pinched her cheek, and the single-minded treeling finally responded.

She lifted her head, her chin resting on his firm pectorals, lips wet, a thread of saliva trailing from her corner, blinking her wide, innocent, glowing-white eyes.

"Little lusty treeling."

"Vivian not lusty."

She protested with a blank expression.

"Alright, alright."

With time still early,

Luo De didn't rest—he swiftly patrolled the forest.

After confirming everything was fine, he went to intimidate the neighbors in the desert: the land-naga traitors from the Mirror Desert.

After a series of events—successful coup, failed coup, expulsion, fleeing to the far west, gear stolen, attempted uprising crushed single-handedly by a treeling—this band of land-nagas was utterly broken.

Last time Luo De tested his magic ring in the desert, he ran into them.

They didn't dare make a sound and immediately offered a pile of local specialties.

This time, Luo De flew into the air and released a seventh-rank spiritual pressure directly over their camp.

The gorgeous priestess and tribal elders panicked instantly, trembling as they came forward to offer tribute.

The gorgeous priestess even changed into a particularly revealing armor.

To be honest, it couldn't even be called armor—it offered zero protection.

Large stretches of her snowy chest were exposed, with only two tiny cloth patches covering her vital areas.

Luo De did miss the taste of land-nagas.

But this gorgeous priestess had cycled through several husbands already, discarding them by biting off their heads and swallowing them—disgusting.

There were enough girls in the forest; he didn't need to go to her.

After the intimidation,

Luo De headed over to Claw Valley's highlands.

He'd hoped to find a worthy opponent.

But sadly, after this period of targeted suppression, the number of beast-plague victims attacking Claw Valley had dropped sharply—they'd shifted toward Shanlun City on the eastern plains of Ke's Region.

He unleashed a flurry of invisible air blades, sending the already scarce enemies flying.

After he cleared them out,

He spotted Pan Ni the ghoul and the banshee Krist in the distance, surveying the complex terrain of the highlands.

Krist, seeing her master, let out a yelp and tried to flee.

Luo De laughed and swooped down, pinning her to the ground.

He forced her into solid form, then kissed her all over, smiling.

Afterwards, the banshee's eyes welled with tears; she clutched her clothes, looking exactly like a violated little girl.

Pan Ni watched the entire scene.

Excitedly assuming she'd be next, she'd secretly slipped off her underwear.

But after tormenting the banshee, her master merely pinched Pan Ni's cheek and flew off.

Her smile froze.

She glared at Krist, filled with jealousy and anger.

Unbelievable, folks—my ghost coworker's a manipulative bitch!

After touring Claw Valley, Luo De had planned to visit Dusk Hill to check for any foolish bandits.

After all, he was seventh-rank now—he wanted to show off his strength.

But after careful thought, he decided against it—better to keep a low profile.

The forest's strength was already excellent.

He was already discussing a surprise attack on Coral Bay with Dimea and Rosalia.

When the time came, he'd ask Oona for help and use up both of her favors from helping Hera the scorpion-woman—gaining two eighth-rank allies at once. Coral Bay would never see it coming.

Now was not the time to increase pressure on Dusk Hill—better to wait and respond to change.

To avoid provoking Coral Bay into action.

Luo De blended into the adventurer patrol, secretly helping them eliminate several roadbandits and bandits attempting robberies.

Too weak. Boring.

He had strength to spare, so he could only direct it at Tally.

After the patrol withdrew,

Facing the sunset, he flew into the sky with the treeling clinging to his chest, watching the sun set as he scattered dewdrops directly into Tally's soul.

He played around for a long while before returning to the forest.

"Hm?"

The winter forest was pitch-black.

To Luo De, with his night vision, this meant nothing—he instantly sensed a subtle shift inside the forest keeper's cabin the moment he turned the wooden door.

It was pure instinct from the 【Spider Sense】; physically, he felt no magical disturbance.

Only a faint, strangely familiar scent in the air.

It was Kali's scent.

Elves rarely came here—unless…

Luo De raised an eyebrow, understanding.

He then deliberately pretended to forget to lock the door.

He tossed Tally, who was clinging to his back and nibbling his ear, onto the sofa.

"Go to bed early. I have something tomorrow."

"Ahh—nooo~~~ I'm already dead…"

"Hm?"

Luo De gave her a cold look.

Tally immediately fell silent, shrinking her shoulders.

No choice—circumstances were stronger than her. Lately, her master didn't pamper her; she had to act sweet to win back a little affection.

Dejected, she went to wash up, then put on the most conservative nightgown, arranged the pillow embroidered with the word " Yongli," and was about to lie down—

"Sleep on the sofa."

"What?!"

Tally's voice trembled with rage.

Every night she's hugged and grabbed—now you want me to sleep on the sofa?!

You dog… dog man!!!

From today, I'm on a hunger strike! Even if I die, I won't take another drop of your essence!

The succubus hurled the " Yongli " pillow onto the sofa, shot Luo De a furious glare, then slammed herself face-first into the cushions, turning her back to him.

Luo De's lips curled into a smile.

He quickly washed himself with the finest bath gel, turned off the lights, slipped into only the open-crotch woolen underwear Tally had knitted for him, and climbed into bed naked.

Everything was ready.

I've prepared the finale for you.

Come on, Kali—come shake me.

Beneath the night sky,

The rustling of leaves outside the window formed a soothing white noise, harmonizing with the steady, faint breaths of the two.

After a moment of stillness, a flicker of magical light appeared.

It was the familiar 【Sleep Sigil】 and 【Paralysis Spell】.

Another moment passed.

Crack—

The door, its bark peeled away to reveal mottled wood, slowly shifted open.

In the dim light, a slender figure with perfect proportions appeared.

(End of Chapter)