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"It can coat a golden film."
"It can protect everyone."
"How nice!" x2
While eating lunch, Yiji and Belle were still fixated on Caesar's ability, speaking with envy as if hoping they themselves might suddenly have an epiphany and learn some kind of special skill.
"I think it's because of Ether energy. Think about it—so many incidents of Ether corrosion happen inside Hollows, and there are differences in Ether Aptitude among humans and even among family members."
Arden walked over while trying to explain, holding three cups of Fuel Drink. He took a sip himself, then handed the other two to Yiji and Belle.
"Feed me?"
Perhaps because of last night's intimacy, Yiji started acting spoiled.
At least it's spoiled-cute, not yandere.
Thinking this, Arden wrapped one arm around her, picked up the cup of Fuel Drink with the other hand, and poured a big gulp into her mouth.
Gulp gulp... cough cough!
It seemed she drank a bit too much.
Yiji coughed lightly, and some cola-colored liquid slipped from the corner of her mouth, then flowed down her fair neck and into the slightly indistinct cleavage.
"Belle, do you want some?"
Pulling his gaze back, Arden gestured toward the cup in front of Belle.
"Uh... I'll pass, thanks."
Feeding play and all that—she wasn't Arden's girlfriend.
"Alright, gulp!"
Arden took a sip of his own Fuel Drink. "When entering a Hollow environment, even with very high Ether Aptitude, you'll still suffer some degree of Ether corrosion. Rather than saying people with strong aptitude resist corrosion better, it's more like they can coexist with Ether... think about it—when this energy circulates inside the body, isn't that basically an extra source of power?"
In fact, part of Yunkui Summit's spells also originated from Ether energy, though there was also so-called 'mana.'
The main difference between Arden's talisman techniques and Yunkui Summit's spells lay in the ratio of Ether energy to mana. Due to environmental factors, Yunkui Summit's spells leaned more toward utilizing Ether energy, whereas Dao techniques could rely purely on mana, with Ether energy serving only as a supplementary power Arden developed during cultivation.
"Mm... that makes a lot of sense."
Hearing this, Belle nodded in agreement.
None of them were professional researchers anyway, so there was no need to be overly rigorous—if it sounded reasonable, they'd go with it.
"At that point, if someone carrying Ether energy leaves behind descendants, it wouldn't be strange for some miraculous abilities to emerge under all kinds of odd reactions... It's already the apocalypse. We're only one New Eridu away from apocalypse—if humanity doesn't mutate, we're probably done for."
Arden spread his hands.
He had long since realized that his wives weren't normal humans... no! Rather, they were all superhumans.
Wasn't there a saying: "The rich rely on technology, the poor rely on mutation"?
Among them, Yixuan, Ju Fufu, and Sweety relied on mutation, while Yiji relied on technology—perhaps the Qingming Bird should be counted too. As for Belle... she was probably on technology's side as well.
"Hubby, you're so smart! Sis—ah!"
Yiji hugged Arden's neck and kissed him hard. "Let's work harder—then we'll definitely have a superhuman baby!"
"..."
Belle, forced to witness this public display, felt her eyelid twitch.
"A superhuman baby, huh..."
Prompted by Yiji, Arden thought of some future possibilities. "Sigh~~ Maybe the future of New Eridu will depend on me and my wives."
Arden believed his genes were excellent, and his wives—and future harem—were all top-tier as well. As long as they had a few more superhuman babies... it wasn't impossible to carry New Eridu to greatness.
"These Dao techniques of mine will definitely be passed down."
The Dao arts Arden mastered could be acquired not only through the system, but also through cultivation.
When he grew old and could no longer fight, he'd still have sons and daughters to inherit his legacy, achieving the realms of Grandmaster or Celestial. Just imagining it made him feel content.
"Hehe, yeah—sons inheriting their father's path!"
When Yiji said this, her eyes sparkled with stars. With such a good husband like Arden, she truly looked forward to their future together... their whole big family, a wonderful future, and lots and lots of children.
Yiji secretly decided that after Ju Fufu, she would be the second one!
...
Beep beep beep...
After lunch, the sound of a horn rang out.
The three of them looked over and saw the video store's small car driving into Blazewood.
If it hadn't been stolen, then the driver had to be Wise.
"Belle, are you okay? I heard they even held a cremation ceremony?"
After getting out of the car, Wise hurried over to Belle with a worried look. Only after seeing her safe did he finally relax.
He had received a tip-off from Dinky, saying Belle had already been cremated in Blazewood.
As for where she got that information—it was definitely from Billy, who had returned to New Eridu. Yes, definitely not from something Arden casually mentioned while secretly chatting with her.
"I'm fine, brother. Why are you here?"
Belle asked. "With Yiji and Daoist Arden around, I'm very safe."
It's precisely because 'Yin Zhiping' is here that I rushed over!
Arden's reputation preceded him, and the rumors were plentiful.
"Hero of New Eridu" was reassuring enough, but the urban legend about marrying four wives at once... After hearing Arden was also in Blazewood, how could Wise let Belle stay alone by his side? If something happened, that would be disastrous!
Wise had absolutely no mental preparation for suddenly gaining a 'brother-in-law.'
"I heard you'll be working inside a Hollow. Considering the signal here is unstable and HDD data transmission might have issues; I brought the equipment over."
As he spoke, Wise pointed to the trunk.
"That's great!"
Belle broke into a happy smile. With the equipment here, it meant her external brain, Fairy, was here too.
This was huge news. She wouldn't need to rack her brain calculating Hollow data anymore—everything could be handed over to Fairy.
"Big bro, you really thought this through. Thumbs up!"
Belle smiled as she hugged Wise.
Yiji had a husband who doted on her, and Belle had a brother who doted on her too. Her sense of jealousy faded quite a bit.
However, some things were beyond what a brother could accomplish.
And so, that night, the person tormented by Arden and Yiji went from one individual to a pair of siblings.
...
"I heard you almost got hit by a car. What exactly happened?"
Because Wise had left in a hurry, he hadn't eaten breakfast, let alone lunch. So, the three of them, who had just walked out of the restaurant, went back in again.
"Yeah, what happened?"
Arden also asked with interest.
Before he arrived, Belle and Yiji had encountered some trouble. He'd heard there was a car accident and that they fell into a Hollow, facing danger—but he didn't know the details.
"We ran into some jerk driving the wrong way. Good thing Yiji was there."
When Belle mentioned it, a look of displeasure appeared on her face. Fortunately, Yiji was strong in a fight—otherwise, Belle alone would have been in real danger against Ether beasts.
But it was all in the past now. Belle didn't dwell on it and had mostly forgotten.
"Thank you, Yiji!"
Wise thanked Yiji first.
"It's nothing. It's what I should do," Yiji replied modestly.
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