Chapter 389

That evening, Xia Zhi cooked another meal at the construction site cafeteria. No treasure chests or Luck bonuses this time, but his reputation as both principal and chef had grown.

After the meal, Xia Zhi pondered something, then suddenly stood.

"Qiqi, come with me."

Everyone looked up curiously.

Qiqi blinked, then nodded. "Okay, Boss."

She didn't ask questions, obediently following him.

They arrived at a quiet corner of the site.

"Qiqi."

"Yes, Boss?"

"Do you want to stay a zombie forever?"

"Huh?"

"I asked—do you want to stay a zombie forever?"

Xia Zhi turned to face her, tone serious.

Qiqi froze, biting her lip.

"I… don't want to…"

"I see. This is a cultivation technique, meant for zombies. If mastered, it can purge corpse qi and ascend to immortality. Do you want to learn it?"

"I… I do!"

Xia Zhi nodded and purchased an item from the Shop he'd seen before.

[Corpse Immortal: Ninefold Transcendence] 

Quality: Gold 

Type: Experience Manual 

Trait: Transformation 

Effect: Instantly comprehend the Corpse Immortal: Ninefold Transcendence cultivation method 

Hidden Effect: None

He reached out, summoning a mysterious orb of light.

"Come here, Qiqi."

"Mm."

He pressed it gently to her forehead.

"It might feel a bit uncomfortable."

"Okay."

Qiqi closed her eyes, brow furrowing.

Moments later, she opened them—silver light flickering within—looked up at Xia Zhi and quietly called out:

"Master."

"Master?"

Xia Zhi blinked, slightly taken aback.

Still, he'd taught Qiqi herb recognition, and now passed her a cultivation technique. Calling him Master wasn't unjustified.

"If you want to call me that, I suppose that's fine."

"Master."

"Mm. From now on, make sure you cultivate diligently."

"I will."

"When your cultivation reaches a certain point, you won't need to wear that Corpse Pearl anymore."

"Corpse Pearl?"

"The little white bead I gave you before, remember?"

Qiqi paused, then looked up at him. "Master, you told me you found it by chance… but really, you gave it to me on purpose, didn't you?"

"Haha…"

"Even if I get stronger in the future, I'll keep wearing it."

"You like it that much?"

Qiqi nodded solemnly. "I do."

She looked straight at Xia Zhi as she spoke. It was hard to tell whether she meant she liked the pearl—or liked him.

"I see."

Xia Zhi nodded and held out his hand.

"Then give it to me."

"Huh?"

"It's a bit too weak for you now. I'll enhance it for you."

"Oh… okay. Thank you, Master."

Qiqi took off the snowy-white orb tied around her neck with a red string and placed it in his hand.

Despite having worn it close to her skin, it still felt eerily cold to the touch.

"I'll need a little time to enhance it. You can use that time to practice the technique. This cultivation isn't like Liyue's adepti arts. It doesn't draw on elemental power but spirit energy. The 'Ninefold Ascension to Immortality' mentioned within won't turn you into an adeptus like Mountain Shaper or Moon Carver—but into something far stronger. A true immortal, comparable in strength to an Archon."

"Okay!"

Qiqi sat down obediently on a large stone nearby, crossing her legs and beginning to meditate.

The peaceful, secluded environment of the construction site made it a far better place for cultivation than the busy streets of Feiyun Slope.

That's also why traditional immortals preferred living in places like Jueyun Karst.

Once Xia Zhi saw she was progressing well, he nodded slightly and opened the system's [Evolution] interface, placing the [Corpse Pearl] inside.

[Corpse Pearl] 

Quality: Silver 

Type: Accessory 

Trait: None 

Effect: Allows a zombie to retain a cold body and clear mind. 

Hidden Effect: None

He clicked the [Evolve] button.

"Evolve [Corpse Pearl]? Silver-tier item. Current success rate: 10%. Cost: 10 points."

"Yes."

One evolution later—success.

[Corpse Pearl] 

Quality: Gold 

Type: Accessory 

Trait: Vitality 

Effect: Allows a zombie's body to feel no different from a living person's. Maintains active cognitive function. 

Hidden Effect: Stamina recovery speed +10% 

Recyclable: 100 points

Xia Zhi retrieved the upgraded bead. It was still snow-white in color, but no longer icy to the touch. Now, it felt like an ordinary round marble.

The item's effects only applied to zombies. For Xia Zhi, who wasn't one, it remained inert.

But judging from its description alone, this golden-tier Corpse Pearl was far more powerful than its silver predecessor.

Qiqi was still meditating, absorbing the surrounding spirit energy.

Even though it was her first time cultivating, the experience book had granted her full comprehension of the technique. There were no detours, no guesswork—she simply progressed smoothly.

Xia Zhi fiddled with the bead in silence, waiting patiently.

After a while, Qiqi slowly opened her eyes.

"Master…"

"How do you feel?"

"I feel a bit stronger."

"Good. I've enhanced your [Corpse Pearl]."

Xia Zhi opened his palm to reveal the bead.

Qiqi stared at it. Somehow, it felt… more alluring than before.

She didn't understand what had changed, but her body told her—she needed it.

"Here you go."

"Thank you, Master."

She took the bead and noticed it no longer felt cold in her hand.

"Try wearing it."

"Okay."

Qiqi put the [Corpse Pearl] back around her neck.

Moments later, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Master!"

Her voice was suddenly laced with emotion.

"Hmm?"

"I… I feel… warm!"

"Warm, huh…"

"Here, feel!"

She reached out and clasped his hand, gazing up at him with pure delight.

"See?"

Her fingers were just as small and soft as ever.

But no longer cold—now, they were comfortably warm.

"Mm."

"Is it because of the Corpse Pearl?"

"Yeah. It can now make your body feel like a living person's, and keep your mind more active too."

"Like a normal person…"

"But it only changes the way you appear. Your constitution is still that of a zombie. Unless you truly ascend through cultivation and become an immortal."

"I'll work hard to achieve that!"

Qiqi looked up at him, a light shining in her eyes. Her expression was more animated than ever.

"Master is amazing!"

Xia Zhi smiled and shook his head.

"Alright, let's go back."

"Okay!"

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