RNP Chapter 18 The Phantom Jade Rabbit
Chapter 18 The Phantom Jade Rabbit
Yan Zu gently patted her back, his eyes full of tenderness. He said...
Sister Xiaowu, close your eyes now, I have another gift for you.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu exclaimed with delight.
"There's a gift too, Ah Zu, you're so kind! Give me the gift quickly!" Then she obediently closed her eyes.
A wisp of shimmering white essence condensed at Yan Zu's fingertip—the essence of the Soft-Boned Enchantress Rabbit he had previously obtained. The essence, like flowing moonlight, carried the Soft-Boned Rabbit's unique pure aura, and gently touched Xiao Wu's brow.
"Relax your mind and follow my guidance to circulate your soul power." Yan Zu's voice was gentle yet firm. At the same time, he summoned a phantom of a Qilin, letting it perch on Xiao Wu's shoulder, radiating a warm and auspicious vitality that enveloped the two of them. This was both to protect Xiao Wu from interference during her absorption and to use the Qilin's vitality to neutralize the concentration of the primordial essence, preventing her from being unable to withstand it.
Xiao Wu closed her eyes and obediently did as she was told. As the wisp of primordial essence seeped into her body through her brow, she instantly felt a familiar and warm energy flow through her limbs and bones, as if she had returned to the hot springs she had soaked in in the Star Dou Great Forest, so comfortable that she couldn't help but hum softly.
This energy perfectly matched her own Soft Bone Rabbit origin, without any rejection. Instead, it was like a long-lost companion, quickly merging into her soul power meridians.
Her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul was released uncontrollably, and a pink Soft Bone Rabbit phantom appeared behind her, more solid than before.
Nourished by the essence of nature, the rabbit fur gradually develops a crystalline, jade-like luster from its ordinary pink color. Especially at the tips of the ears and the end of the tail, a few strands of light gold patterns appear, like natural runes.
"Brother Azu...it's so warm..." Xiao Wu murmured, her body unconsciously curling up and trembling slightly like a real rabbit. She could feel her bones heating up, and her already flexible muscles and bones seemed to be reforged, becoming even lighter yet stronger.
Xiao Wu suddenly opened her eyes, a fleeting, pale golden glint flashing in her large, watery eyes. She blinked, looked at her hands somewhat blankly, and then…
"Huh?!" she suddenly exclaimed, her body bending backward lightly without exerting any force, her waist so supple it seemed boneless, her head touching her heels.
"My...my body..." Xiao Wu jumped up in surprise, did a somersault on the spot, and moved as lightly as a feather landing silently.
She looked at Yan Zu excitedly: "Brother Zu! My martial soul seems to have changed! It's become... much more powerful! My martial soul is no longer the Soft Bone Rabbit, but the Phantom Jade Rabbit!"
Yan Zu smiled and nodded, and the system notification sounded at the opportune moment:
[The essence of the Soft-Boned Jade Rabbit has been successfully used. Xiao Wu's martial soul has evolved into the "Phantom Jade Rabbit," with the following characteristics: Flexibility +30%, Speed +20%, and Soul Power Circulation Efficiency +15%]
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up dramatically. She cheered and pounced on Yan Zu again, this time planting a big kiss on his cheek: "Little brother Zu! You're truly my lucky star!"
Yan Zu was startled by her kiss, then chuckled and ruffled her hair: "Alright, alright, Sister Xiao Wu, the gifts are all given. Now it's up to you to work hard."
"Mmm!" Xiao Wu nodded vigorously, clutching the two cultivation manuals with obvious delight. "I'll start practicing tonight! Oh, by the way..." She suddenly leaned closer to Yan Zu and asked mysteriously, "Have you been secretly giving me extra lessons? Why does it feel like my cultivation speed is especially fast when I'm close to you?"
Yan Zu smiled without saying a word, but simply pointed to the Qilin Xiaoyu perched on his shoulder.
Xiaoyu let out a proud "Ee-yah" and raised her head high, clearly quite pleased with her identity as a "cultivation accelerator".
"So it was all thanks to Xiaoyu!" Xiaowu exclaimed in realization, then her eyes lit up. "Then... can I still sleep with you tonight? That way I can cultivate even faster!"
Yan Zu: "..."
Where did this girl learn her skill of pushing her luck?
However, seeing Xiao Wu's expectant yet innocent eyes, he finally nodded: "Okay, but it's a promise, you're not allowed to kick off the blankets."
"Yay! My little brother Azu is the best!" Xiao Wu cheered and ran back to her room. "I'm going to get my pillow!"
Watching her retreating figure, Yan Zu shook his head and chuckled softly, a warm feeling welling up in his heart.
This little rabbit is growing up in the way he hoped for.
The night was as dark as ink, and Five Souls Village was completely silent, except for a faint glow emanating from the window of the Yan family's hut. Xiao Wu, clutching her newly acquired copy of the *Nine Yin Manual* and the *Wind God Leg* manual, tossed and turned excitedly on the bed, nudging Yan Zu: "Little brother Yan Zu, I want to practice the Wind God Leg right now! Will you practice with me?"
Yan Zu opened his eyes, his dark pupils shining brightly in the night: "It's too late now, it'll disturb Father and Mother. But I'll take you somewhere where you can cultivate, get a head start on real combat, and also develop our teamwork."
"Where?" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, and she instantly perked up, her sleepiness almost completely gone.
Yan Zu didn't explain further, but simply gestured for her to close her eyes: "Relax your mind and follow my will."
Although Xiao Wu was full of curiosity, she obediently did as she was told. Yan Zu silently recited "Martial Soul Simulation Training Ground" in his mind, and instantly, a gentle energy enveloped their consciousness, and the darkness in front of them was replaced by a dazzling light.
When Xiao Wu opened her eyes again, she found herself in a vast virtual space—the sky was a pale silver-gray, the ground was paved with smooth bluestone, and the distant shadows of mountains were faintly visible. The air was filled with pure soul energy, making her feel comfortable all over.
"Where is this...?" Xiao Wu spun around in surprise, reaching out to touch the bluestone beside her; the texture felt incredibly real.
"My Martial Soul Space," Yan Zu said calmly, "is where time flows three times faster than outside, and it doesn't consume physical strength in the real world."
He didn't use the word "system," but instead attributed everything to the unique nature of the Qilin Martial Soul. This explanation, while still astonishing, was easier for Xiao Wu to accept than "anotherworldly cheat," and it was also better at protecting his biggest secret.
"This place can simulate battles between any Soul Master or Soul Beast. The time flow is three times faster than outside, so it's safe and risk-free. From today onwards, we'll come here every night to practice, not only to deal with different types of opponents, but also to develop teamwork."
Xiao Wu tilted her head, a hint of doubt flashing in her big, watery eyes: "Little brother Azu, it seems like you have a lot of secrets."
Yan Zu looked at her calmly: "Everyone has secrets. But Sister Xiao Wu, I will never harm you."
Xiao Wu stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly grinned, revealing two sharp little tiger teeth: "I believe you! Pinky promise!"
The two pinky swear again. Xiao Wu then excitedly jumped up and down in the air: "So, who are we going to simulate fighting today?"
A thoughtful glint flashed in Yan Zu's eyes: "Since the goal is to cultivate teamwork, let's start with the simplest things."
With a thought, he conjured the phantoms of three wolf-shaped soul beasts in the void. These wind wolves were entirely gray-black, with exposed fangs and green light in their eyes; each possessed a cultivation level of about a hundred years.
"A three-headed, hundred-year-old wind wolf," Yan Zu said in a deep voice. "Little Wu, your first soul skill, 'Waist Bow,' is suitable for single-target burst damage, but when facing multiple enemies, it needs to be combined with movement techniques and tactics. I will focus on defense and control, while you will focus on surprise attacks and finishing off enemies—understand?"
Xiao Wu nodded, a fighting spirit igniting in her eyes: "Understood!"