But the problem was... this wasn't the first time such signs had emerged in the past few days!
Over these days, Huai Shi, eating without restraint, had nearly taken a bite out of everything on Yu Dai Shan, including the reserves in countless laboratories and hidden stashes.
Logically, the sheer accumulation should have naturally pushed him onto the Qing Emperor's Road by now, but the problem was, every time he was about to advance, he managed to hold back.
Just like at this moment, as Huai Shi took a deep breath, the straight line of green light suddenly halted.
Then, inch by inch... it receded.
It seemed extremely unwilling, as if it were being forcibly pulled back, unable to escape, reluctantly returning into Huai Shi's body and firmly locked up by the Mountain Ghost Stigma.
I can't advance yet; I just can't advance like this. If I make one wrong step, I'll really become the Second Fifth of the Heavenly Kingdom Genealogy, a true traitor!
Right there, Huai Shi's face turned a dark green, and his entire body seemed to round out a bit.
After holding it in for a long time, he couldn't help but let out a satisfied burp and flashed a smile at Ju Shuang. "—I'm good now!"
I'm not good! Ju Shuang glanced at him, a hint of madness in her eyes.
She had been aimlessly wandering with this guy for a week now, and her postgraduate entrance exam was approaching. Her revision time was being delayed; why hadn't this guy advanced yet?
Huai Shi, looking like he had overeaten, stayed put, holding his stomach. After a long while, he finally sighed in relief.
"OK, that's enough for now."
He wiped his mouth with a hint of reluctance.
I've really reached my limit; I can't eat any more. If I eat any further and fail to hold it in, I'll advance on the spot, and that will be the end of it.
If it weren't for the effects of the 'Birth of Life,' how could I have eaten so much?
The 'Birth of Life,' in essence, involved gaining gradual control over one's own state through a profound understanding of life. This profound understanding, brought about by a significant Correction Value connected to an Artificial Human's Creator (one who did not originally exist in this world) fully becoming a member of the Current Circumstances, was an insight far greater than what one might obtain from merely siring a child.
Of course, the approval of the White Crown King and the assistance of the Three Sages were part of it, but the absolute leading role was played by Huai Shi himself.
Therefore, the effect brought about by this understanding was also exceptionally immense.
Huai Shi now had perfect control over the life force within his body and his own state. Controlling his heartbeat, the functioning of his lungs, and his muscles were just the most superficial manifestations. His absolute control over his Stigma and Soul was nearing the theoretical limit.
It was for this reason that he was able to eat his fill on Yu Dai Shan, to the point that Ju Shuang began to question reality.
Now, as Huai Shi unfolded his palm, in Ju Shuang's disbelieving gaze, countless life forces quietly emerged, intertwining continuously, sketching out the faint outline of The Great Circle of Yu Dai Shan.
A proportionally scaled model of Yu Dai Shan, thousands of times smaller, was formed.
In other words, with his occasional nibbles here and there these past days, Huai Shi had somehow accumulated enough to meet the conditions for the entire Great Circle of Yu Dai Shan.
But then, the projection in Huai Shi's hand suddenly dissipated, as gently as spring rain turning to mist, silently merging back into the overall cycle of Yu Dai Shan.
Ju Shuang once again began to question reality.
This display was truly shocking.
Reaching this level, with just a nod from the Qing Emperor, he could interfere with the whole Great Circle... meaning, he had essentially conjured administrator-level access out of thin air.
Old lady, if this son of a bitch doesn't leave, forget the chickens and dogs, our whole home is going to be stolen!
Sensing the astonishment hidden in Ju Shuang's eyes, Huai Shi's mischievous urge for a bit of showing off was satisfied. Just as he was about to say something, his vision suddenly blurred.
The next moment, he found himself at the foot of the mountain.
The old lady was shooing him away.
Now that he had eaten and drunk his fill, she wanted him to get lost.
"Thanks for the hospitality, I'm out of here." Huai Shi stifled a laugh, waved goodbye, then turned around only to be tripped by a root, taking a nasty fall with his entire face smacking onto the frozen ground.
SMACK.
Scrambling up in an ungainly manner, Huai Shi helplessly rubbed his face, putting his hands together in a plea for mercy with a bitter smile before hastily making his escape.
This old lady's temper is truly foul...
***
He went directly to the Social Security Bureau's border transfer station and arrived back at the Stone Marrow Pavilion just after noon.
Upon entering, Huai Shi saw Raven lazily lying on the sofa, basking in the sun.
It wasn't unusual for this woman to slack off, but what was unusual was that... she had transformed back into human form again, her demeanor coquettish and indolent, captivating to the point where one couldn't look away.
"What's with you?" Huai Shi was startled, becoming alert once more. "Are you thinking of 'giving out welfare' again?"
Just thinking about last time's 'welfare' makes my mouth hurt.
This woman's conscience is terribly flawed. I have to always be on guard.
But immediately after that, he noticed two iron boxes used by Raven as footrests on the coffee table and instantly realized.
"Has the stuff arrived?"
The first box, when opened, contained a piece of Amber as big as a fist, with a pale flame quietly burning inside it. Upon detecting Huai Shi's gaze, the flame moved in his direction.
If not for the barrier of the glass bottle, Huai Shi even suspected the flame would follow his gaze and burn its way onto him.
Meanwhile, the second box was brimming with a blood-red light that sent shivers down Huai Shi's spine.
Amid layers of silver cords, a palm-sized blood-red Crystal Stone oozed with dense crimson. Just looking at it, one could feel an overwhelming surge of blood, making Huai Shi feel as though he were suffocating.
Right after, Raven took out another two boxes, one containing Holy Grace.
In the other box were Remnants of Sinister Beings.
All four major materials were ready.
The conditions—Birth of Life, True Essence of Nothingness, Linking of Souls, and Phantom of Yesterday—were also thoroughly prepared.
Huai Shi's Mountain Ghost Stigma had also reached its limit in growth.
Amidst crisp knocking, a delivery from the Stone Pot Society arrived at Huai Shi's door.
It was the reward from the Asian rookie competition.
——The huge box contained all the materials for advancement to Soloist, categorized and neatly arranged. All materials were processed to the highest specification, and more than two sets of everything had been prepared.
When Huai Shi walked into the basement, he encountered a solemn scene drastically different from the past.
Countless complex Alchemy Runes were enveloped in a Secret Ritual.
As Uncle Fang closed the door behind Huai Shi, silence fell. Behind the Secret Ritual, Raven turned her head, revealing a disturbingly odd smile that made him uneasy.
"What are you standing around for, Huai Shi? Strip!" Raven said cheerfully, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "Before you advance, let your big sister check if you've developed properly..."