Chapter 6: I've Become Stronger and More Handsome
Whatever! Tang San was going to be taken out sooner or later. But with Tang Hao still around, going all out for a deathmatch now was a bit premature. Might as well keep him around and milk him for some benefits.
Thinking this, Zu Zong gave an evil, charming smile.
"System, open my personal panel."
[Beep, host's personal panel has been opened.]
[Host: Zu Zong
Gender: Male
Age: 6 (25)
Martial Soul: Blue Silver Emperor (awakened)
Innate Soul Power: Level 10
Soul Power Level: Level 10
Base Strength: 15 (Average adult male: 10)
System Inventory: None
Overall Assessment: A slightly stronger piece of trash.
Remaining Steal Attempts: 10
Hatred Points: 8000
World of Theft: Douluo Continent
]
"Only 8000 Hatred Points? System, how does transferring to another world consume hatred points?"
[Beep. Transferring to a low-level world costs 1000 hatred points. A mid-level world costs 5000. A high-level world costs 20000 and only allows for a one-day stay. Each additional day consumes the same amount of hatred points as the first.]
"So you're saying if I stay for one day and don't return, the second day is counted as a second transfer?"
[Correct, Host.]
[Beep. Currently available transfer world is Douluo Continent. Since it is the main world, there are no restrictions. Random transfer costs 2000 hatred points. Would you like to proceed?]
"Transfer my ass! What if I get tossed into the Star Dou Great Forest? I'd be soul beast poop in no time."
[Beep. Host has 10 remaining steal attempts. Would you like to use one?]
"Hm! Let's test the waters with two."
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen 10 gold soul coins from Flender of 'Douluo Continent'. Flender's hatred towards host: increased to 10%. Flender wants to give the host a lesson. Hatred points increased by 100.]
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen 100 gold soul coins from Flender of 'Douluo Continent'. Flender's hatred towards host: increased to 50%. Flender wants to beat the host until even his mom wouldn't recognize him. Hatred points increased by 400.]
Hearing the name "Flender," Zu Zong pulled out a big and small pouch of gold soul coins from the system inventory and gave a smug chuckle.
"Heh! Beat me till even my mom wouldn't recognize me? If my mom were still alive and saw how handsome her son is now, she might really not recognize me.
But man, this Flender really holds a grudge!
Even when I was messing with Tang San, the hatred value wasn't this high.
Just stealing a little over a hundred gold soul coins, and it shot up to 50%?
And what's with this stingy hatred point gain? It's not even half of what Tang San gives me at 20% hatred."
At the same time—
In the Balak Kingdom, in a certain general store in Soto City—
A hook-nosed middle-aged man was humming happily to himself. It was none other than Flender.
"♫ Sister sits on the boat's bow, brother walks along the shore, love blooming evermore... ♫"
Just a few days ago, he'd tricked a food-type soul master with innate full soul power into joining Shrek Academy.
Not only that, but today he even managed to make an unprecedented sale — a useless piece of junk porcelain — and scammed the customer for a full 100 gold soul coins.
Carrying a big sack of gold soul coins in his hand, Flender burst into laughter.
"Haha! A full 100 gold coins! That's enough to cover Shrek Academy's expenses for an entire year. Mhm! Still, I should be thrifty. Let me gather all the gold soul coins in the store and count them to settle the account."
When he opened the drawer, Flender found it completely empty.
Flender roared, "Where are my gold soul coins?! Where are my two bags of gold soul coins?!"
He clearly remembered stashing away the income from the past half-year of running this general store — one large and one small bag of coins, totaling 110 gold soul coins.
"Who was it?! Who stole my gold soul coins?! If I catch them, I'll beat them so bad their own mom won't recognize them!"
[Beep. Host has 8 remaining steal attempts. Would you like to steal?]
Zu Zong couldn't be bothered to think too much and simply decided to use them all. No need to be a miser.
"System, keep stealing!"
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen 'Douluo Continent' Yu Xiaogang's Soul Power Meditation Technique. Yu Xiaogang's favorability toward host: increased by 5%. Hatred points increased: 0.]
"Yu Xiaogang's Soul Power Meditation Technique? Even if most of it is plagiarized from Spirit Hall, I'll use it for now! I'll switch to a high-grade technique once I steal one."
Suddenly, Zu Zong frowned and asked the system in his mind, "System, what's with this favorability crap from that scumbag Yu?"
[Beep. Reporting to host: in rare cases, when someone has a cherished item stolen, they may feel that their treasure is finally being valued. Rather than holding a grudge, they may develop a favorable impression toward the host.]
Meanwhile—
Fasno Province, Nuoding City.
In a certain teacher's dorm, a buzz-cut middle-aged man noticed the notes for his Soul Power Meditation Technique had disappeared from his desk. He looked elated.
The man raised his head and howled to the sky, as if venting years of injustice.
"Damn heavens, you finally opened your eyes! After all these years, finally — finally someone values the soul master theories of this great master! Hahahaha!"
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen from a general store in 'Douluo Continent' a three-piece hygiene kit: toothbrush, toothpaste, and towel. General store owner's hatred: increased to 10%. He wants to beat the host up. Hatred points +500.]
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen from the same store a three-piece sleeping set: bedsheet, pillow, and quilt. Store owner's hatred: increased to 30%. He wants the host to marry his 300-pound daughter. Hatred points +500.]
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen a set of clothes from a clothing shop in 'Douluo Continent'. Shop owner's hatred: increased to 10%. He wants to beat the host up. Hatred points +500.]
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen another set of clothes from the same clothing shop. Shop owner's hatred: increased to 20%. He now wants to marry the host (the shop owner is the same 300-pound daughter of the general store owner — who, by the way, has a thing for pretty boys). Hatred points +500.]
After four consecutive thefts, Zu Zong almost coughed up blood.
"What the hell is all this?! Stealing daily necessities I can understand, but what's up with that 300-pound fatty?! Damn system! I wouldn't marry her even if you killed me!
And seriously, System, why is it always from Douluo Continent? What happened to stealing from the infinite multiverse?"
[Beep. All targets are random (laugh). Please trust that this system is always honest and reliable.]
"Oi oi, damn system, did you just laugh just now?!"
[Beep. That was host's imagination. Three steal attempts remain. Would you like to continue stealing?]
"Forget it, I won't argue with you. Use all three!"
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen from the world of 'Naruto' — Uchiha Itachi's taijutsu (includes hand-to-hand combat, shuriken throwing, kunai throwing, swordsmanship, etc.).]
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen from the world of 'Naruto' — Uchiha Itachi's chakra control technique (automatically converted to soul power control technique).]
[Beep. Congratulations! Host has stolen from the world of 'Naruto' — Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan. It has been stored in the system inventory (can be fused with the host as a martial soul).]
[Beep. Because Uchiha Itachi died in his battle with Uchiha Sasuke after holding back, he did not develop hatred toward the protagonist.]
"Finally hit the jackpot! Thank you, Itachi-sama, for your generous donation! And as for you, Sasuke, your Eternal Mangekyō is gone. Looks like you're gonna be a blind man from now on!"
Without any hesitation, Zu Zong fused Uchiha Itachi's taijutsu and soul power control technique into his body.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Zu Zong exhaled a long breath.
The world before him suddenly seemed more vivid and clear.
His first feeling — strength. Overwhelming strength. If before Zu Zong was still somewhat afraid to face Tang San, now he could toy with him at will. All those hidden weapons, those silent sleeve darts? He could dodge them easily and counterattack in an instant.
"As expected of Itachi-sama! Even though I can't fully wield his power yet due to my age, as long as I train hard following his memories, I'll surpass him one day!"
From now on, this Zu Zong no longer feared Tang San.
(End of Chapter)