Chapter 10: Going out for experience

Liu Haoyu stared at Yu Miao for a long moment, his penetrating gaze silencing her almost instantly. She quickly clamped her lips shut, a trace of guilt flickering in her eyes. Without further hesitation, she obediently extended her hand. Liu Haoyu grasped it lightly, his touch firm but measured, as he examined the condition of her body.

After a brief pause, he spoke, his tone calm and certain. "Your power will gradually but steadily grow. Your body and soul are not mortal, so there's no need for haste. Just focus on what brings you joy and fulfillment. Be carefree."

A warm, sweet smile spread across Yu Miao's face. "Thank you, Lord, for your advice," she said softly.

"Lord?" Liu Haoyu's eyebrows arched slightly in surprise.

She grinned cheekily, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, I do respect you, actually."

Days and nights passed, and Shi Yun had reached the seventh stage of the Qi Refining Realm. Under Liu Haoyu's tutelage, he had acquired lightning-element cultivation techniques that complemented his natural talent. Shi Yun wasn't merely gifted in mastering techniques; his comprehension ability was extraordinary, making every challenge appear trivial. His relentless dedication to training and cultivation left little room for rest.

Finally, the day arrived for Shi Yun to leave the comfort of the courtyard and venture into the outside world for real-life experience. At dawn, Liu Haoyu summoned him and the chubby dragon, Long Yi.

Shi Yun approached his master eagerly, the dragon trailing behind, puffing small clouds of smoke from his nostrils. "Master, is it time for me to go out for training?" he asked, his voice brimming with anticipation.

"Yes. Come closer."

Shi Yun stepped forward, and Liu Haoyu placed a hand gently on his forehead. A faint glow emanated from his touch as he left an imprint hidden within Shi Yun's consciousness—an emergency safeguard, should the dragon prove unreliable in moments of peril.

Then, Liu Haoyu handed Shi Yun a space ring. With a small cut to his finger, Shi Yun dripped a bead of blood onto the ring, binding it to himself. As his consciousness delved into its depths, his eyes widened in astonishment.

Inside was a treasure trove: a small mountain of high-grade Qi spiritual stones gleamed brightly, along with an impressive collection of high-grade Xuan-level weapons—swords, halberds, and axes. Bottles of medicinal pills of rank six and less lined the space, their contents potent and pristine.

The hierarchy of weapons is categorized into ranks: Yellow, Earth, Xuan, Heaven, and beyond, likewise, the ranks of alchemy pills range from rank one to rank nine and beyond. As the rank increases, the potency and effectiveness of the elixirs grow significantly stronger. In the entire Dahong Wilderness region, low-level yellow ranked weapons are common while Xuan ranked weapons are extremely rare. There are even less rank-seven alchemy level masters.

Shi Yun's mouth hung open as he stared in disbelief. "Master… You're really rich!" He snapped back to reality and let out a joyous laugh. "Thank you, Master! I'm also a little rich man now! This is a treasure trove! Haha!"

As his laughter echoed, Yu Miao appeared, carrying a neatly packed bundle. She smiled lightly as she approached. "Why are you acting so silly? I've packed some food for you. Take it with you, and don't forget to eat on time. Otherwise, you'll end up short like me and regret it later!"

Shi Yun scratched the back of his head awkwardly, muttering, "Thank you, Sister."

Before another word could be exchanged, the chubby dragon interjected loudly. "Hey! Why is everyone ignoring me? Am I invisible? This dragon lord is very angry! If you don't appease me, I will never forget this offense!"

"Shut up!" Liu Haoyu's command was immediate, silencing Long Yi in an instant.

Yu Miao laughed, walking over to the dejected dragon. "Oh, poor Long Yi! Don't be jealous. Big Sister loves you too and will miss you very much!"

Long Yi glared at her suspiciously. "Hmph! Woman, your words mean nothing to me. I'll only forgive you if you promise to make a hundred—no, two hundred meals for this dragon lord!" He emphasized his demand by counting on his claws.

Yu Miao snorted. "Dream on, Long Yi. If you want to eat, come back and visit. Now, I need to prepare ingredients for tonight's dinner—rice, mutton soup, braised eggplant with pork belly, sauced beef, and vegetable fried noodles with tomato sauce!" Tossing her hair proudly, she walked away without looking back, leaving the dragon salivating at the thought of her cooking.

Before the dragon could protest, Liu Haoyu abruptly pushed Shi Yun and Long Yi out of the courtyard, locking the gate behind them. The two stood outside, staring at each other in disbelief. Without much choice, they began their journey.

Days turned into weeks as Shi Yun and Long Yi roamed the wilderness. Though Long Yi was formidable, his assistance was limited unless Shi Yun faced life-threatening danger. Shi Yun spent his time hunting beasts, facing challenges with both skill and courage.

By now, he had defeated dozens of low-level beasts—three-headed pythons, one-horned leopards, winged tigers, king eagles, and even water monsters. His cultivation soared to the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, with only a small step left to break through to the Foundation Building Realm.

Despite his progress, both Shi Yun and Long Yi were utterly miserable. Neither of them could cook. Their attempts at roasting wild game resulted in charred, unevenly cooked meals. When they tried using Long Yi's dragon flames to evenly roast meat, it was reduced to ash.

The dried food and pickles Yu Miao had packed were long gone, leaving them to endure the tasteless, half-cooked barbecues. Every bite reminded them of Yu Miao's heavenly cooking, and their longing for her meals grew with each passing day.

Meanwhile, back at the courtyard, Liu Haoyu and Yu Miao lived in leisure. Liu Haoyu often observed Yu Miao bickering with her system, a routine he had grown accustomed to.

"Stupid system! Where's the power you promised? You're useless—no missions, no rewards, no system mall! How can you be so weak compared to the systems in novels?"

The system sighed exasperatedly. "Host, you're already living the dream! With your lucky value maxed out and that Liu guy's protection, you don't need to do anything. Just hold onto his thighs tightly, and you'll never have to worry again!"

Yu Miao rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm so lucky! But honestly, why are you such a disappointment as a system?"

"Host, you're the Goddess of Light. Helping others will grant you power. I forgot to mention that earlier!"

Yu Miao snorted. "Helping others? You've got the wrong host. I'm not some saint. If I can help someone without trouble, fine. Otherwise, I won't bother. Why would a system pick me as the Goddess of Light?"

"Everything happens for a reason, Host. Even gods have flaws. You'll understand in time. Host, I am going to recharge myself, bye," the system muttered and rushed off towards who knows where. Shaking her head, Yu Miao turned to find Liu Haoyu watching her. She met his gaze, then suddenly winked.

Caught off guard, Liu Haoyu looked away, looking slightly uncomfortable. Yu Miao laughed heartily and walked to her room. Behind her, Liu Haoyu's thoughtful eyes followed her retreating figure.