Chapter 9: Little Rabbit Brand Hug Pillow — The Chat Group Leaks Immortal Herbs!
The morning sunlight filtered through the broken window of the work-study dormitory.
Lin Qingmo was awakened by a warm, soft sensation.
Still half-asleep.
He only felt something plush tightly hugging him.
There was even a small leg domineeringly draped across his waist.
Heavy.
"Hmm?"
He rubbed his eyes.
Lowered his head to look—
And froze on the spot.
Xiao Wu was curled up inside his blanket.
Her head rested against his shoulder.
Long eyelashes still carried faint, half-dried tear marks.
Her breathing was steady.
She was sleeping soundly.
Clearly, she must have rolled over from the neighboring bed sometime last night.
And, instinctively, hugged him—treating him like a pillow.
Lin Qingmo: "..."
As a "proper gentleman" from Earth, how could he possibly have any improper thoughts about a six-year-old little girl?
What's more, she was a timid little rabbit.
He carefully pried open Xiao Wu's arms wrapped around his waist.
Then gently moved away the small leg resting on his own.
His movements were so light, as if afraid of startling a butterfly.
"Mm…"
Xiao Wu let out a soft murmur, turned over… and continued sleeping.
Her brows were still slightly furrowed.
As if she were having a nightmare.
Seeing the tear marks on her face,
Lin Qingmo muttered to himself,
"What's going on with this girl? Why was she crying?"
But he didn't think too deeply about it.
He quietly got up, neatly folded the blanket,
then tiptoed out of the dormitory to wash up.
As a work-study student, one had to complete the academy's assigned chores every day in exchange for food and lodging.
Lin Qingmo's assigned job was cleaning the academy's library.
It was tedious, but the upside was that it was quiet.
As he swept the floors, he pondered his own talent problem.
Innate soul power: Rank Four.
Martial soul: Blue Silver Grass—a trash martial soul.
With this configuration, unless you were a protagonist like Tang San, this was basically a hell-difficulty starting point on the Douluo Continent.
…
At noon.
After finishing his work, Lin Qingmo avoided the crowds and ran to a small grove in the academy's back mountain.
This place was rarely visited.
A perfect spot for meditation and cultivation.
He sat down cross-legged.
Circulated his soul power.
Trying to absorb the energy of heaven and earth.
But after half an hour had passed, the soul power within his body showed almost no response at all.
Not the slightest movement.
Calm as still water.
"Ah… having trash talent really isn't a solution."
Lin Qingmo let out a deep sigh.
He opened his eyes.
His face was full of helplessness.
At this rate of cultivation, forget about taking off.
Even reaching Rank Ten would probably take until the Year of the Monkey.
"I have to find a way to improve my talent and innate soul power.
Otherwise, whether I can even leave the newbie village is a problem."
Suddenly—
A flash of inspiration struck him!
He thought of several Douluo settings.
"Maybe… these methods could work?"
He immediately summoned the chat group interface and eagerly @-everyone.
[Dad Douluo]: @All Members, I'm a useless piece of trash—low innate soul power, and my martial soul is trash too!
The moment the message was sent, Liu Erlong was the first to reply.
Her tone carried a hint of teasing.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Uh, insulting yourself as trash? Kid, you're quite the talent, huh!
Inside the Pope's Palace of Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong's brows knitted slightly.
Ah Qing's talent really wasn't great.
But she didn't want to see this otherworldly little fellow give up on himself.
Otherwise, how would she continue observing him?
[The Pope Herself]: Ah Qing, are you giving up on yourself?
[Dad Douluo]: Cough, cough—Royal Sister, you've misunderstood! How could I possibly give up on myself? Even less would I call myself trash!
[Dad Douluo]: I'm a man destined to command Spirit Hall and be surrounded by three thousand beauties! How could I give up over something this small?!
Lin Qingmo's bold declaration made the atmosphere in the chat group turn subtle.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Surrounded by three thousand beauties?
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Bah, scumbag!
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: And you have the nerve to talk about Xiao… Yu Xiaogang? You're not any better yourself!
Liu Erlong finally found her chance to roast him.
Refreshing!
[The Pope Herself]: Ah Qing, what do you mean by that? Could it be that you're also the kind of person you criticize?
A trace of imperceptible scrutiny flickered in Bibi Dong's eyes.
She wanted to see exactly what this little fellow was up to.
[Dad Douluo]: No, no, no!
[Dad Douluo]: Royal Sister, Sister Long, don't misunderstand me!
[Dad Douluo]: When I said "surrounded by three thousand beauties," I didn't mean what you're thinking.
[Dad Douluo]: I just want to give all the suffering women of the world a warm home, so they'll never be bullied again. I'm a responsible good man, you know~ Hehe~
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: Heh heh, that sounds nicer than singing! Isn't it still being promiscuous? Bah!
Liu Erlong rolled her eyes.
Clearly, she didn't believe Lin Qingmo's nonsense.
[The Pope Herself]: Clever tongue, slick mouth.
[The Pope Herself]: Get to the point. What exactly do you want to say?
Bibi Dong cut off their banter.
Only because their increasingly natural and intimate exchange made her feel… oddly pleased.
"Among Ah Qing's sisters, having me alone is enough…"
[Dad Douluo]: Alright, alright, no more joking—let's talk business.
[Dad Douluo]: Aside from the Blue Silver Grass life-path I mentioned to Royal Sister before, I've also thought of several other ways to improve innate soul power and talent.
[Dad Douluo]: I wanted you two to help evaluate them, see which one is more reliable.
[Tyrant Dragon Mom]: ???
Liu Erlong was stunned!
She had carefully read Lin Qingmo's earlier explanation of the Blue Silver Grass life-path.
She had to admit—those ideas were indeed unique.
They even made her feel enlightened.
And now this little brat has come up with other ways to improve talent?
Just how many tricks did he have up his sleeve?
Bibi Dong was also intrigued.
She really wanted to hear what shocking things Ah Qing would say next.
[The Pope Herself]: Go on. Perhaps I can help you analyze it.
[Dad Douluo]: OK, then I'll start with the first method—Immortal Herbs!
[A Rogue Rabbit]: Immortal herbs? Are they tasty?
[Dad Douluo]: So-called immortal herbs are god-tier plants that grow in certain hidden locations on the Douluo Continent.
[Dad Douluo]: These herbs contain massive energy. Not only can they improve a soul master's talent and innate soul power, but some can evolve martial souls, heal injuries, and some can even directly help people break through realms!
[Dad Douluo]: Like "Yearning Heartbroken Red," "Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng," "Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew"… get any one of them and I'll instantly take off—innate soul power straight to max.
Lin Qingmo spoke endlessly.
Rattling off all kinds of immortal herb names and effects, he knew from Earth.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong in the chat group were completely stunned.
Bibi Dong abruptly stood up.
Her eyes filled with disbelief.
"There are actually such divine objects in this world?"
Improving talent, evolving martial souls, breaking through realms!
If this were true…
A sharp gleam flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes.
"Where can one obtain them?"
…
At Blue Tyrant Academy.
Liu Erlong was also dumbfounded.
She had lived for so many years.
Traveled countless places.
Heard no shortage of strange tales.
Yet she had never heard of such divine herbs.
"Is what Ah Qing said actually real… or did he just make it all up himself?"
—
End of Chapter