A heavy silence filled the air, broken only by the sound of their ragged breathing. After a long while, Zhu Zhuyun slowly regained a bit of her strength and awareness. Immediately, a massive wave of shame and humiliation washed over her.+2
She quickly grabbed a thin blanket to cover herself and turned her back to Ye Yin. Her voice was hoarse and cold, with the sound of a hidden sob behind it. "The essential oil... give it to me!" she demanded. Even after everything that had happened, her deepest desire was still the item that could bring her more power.+2
Ye Yin chuckled softly, not appearing surprised by her demand. He got up slowly, picked up a new, pitch-black jade bottle, and walked over to stand behind her. He let the cool surface of the bottle touch her smooth back, making her shiver.+2
"I won't keep what I promised you," he said, leaning down so his warm breath brushed against her ear. "However, what you just paid is probably only enough for one single treatment session".+1
Zhu Zhuyun spun around suddenly, her eyes wide with anger and disbelief. "You! You are shameless! You clearly said—".+1
"What did I clearly do?" Ye Yin interrupted, raising an eyebrow as his finger traced her chest, which was moving quickly with her anger. "Miss Zhuyun, you seemed very involved in the moment just now. It wasn't just my pleasure, was it?".+2
Zhu Zhuyun couldn't find any words to argue back. Her cheeks turned bright red, and she felt completely mortified. Seeing this, Ye Yin knew he had teased her enough. He placed the jade bottle into her hand and spoke more softly.+2
"I'm just kidding. I am always generous to my own people. Besides, our relationship isn't what it used to be, is it?" He pressed his finger lightly against her waist in a suggestive way.
Zhu Zhuyun held the cool bottle tightly. She could feel the energy inside it, the same energy she had seen in her dreams. The anger and shame she felt were slowly replaced by a feeling of great satisfaction. With this, her strength would improve again. In a world where the strong rule, this was the most important thing to her.+2
She took a deep breath to calm her emotions. "Thank you, Mr. Ye," she said as calmly as she could.
"Calling me 'Mister' is too formal," Ye Yin said, lifting her chin to make her look at him. "From now on, when we are alone, just call me by my name". His gaze was deep and possessive. Zhu Zhuyun looked away and bit her lip, neither agreeing nor refusing.+3
Ye Yin didn't push the issue. He smiled and changed the subject. "Speaking of which, Zhuyun, your second Spirit Ring is still a hundred-year one, isn't it?".+2
Zhu Zhuyun was surprised by the sudden question and nodded. "Yes," she replied. To her, having a hundred-year Spirit Ring was completely normal. But then she remembered something. Her sister, Zhu Zhuqing, and their friends Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu all had purple Spirit Rings for their first three levels.+4
Her heart began to race with excitement. Ye Yin nodded thoughtfully and explained, "A hundred-year Spirit Ring limits the speed of your Hell Civet Spirit. If you can upgrade your second Spirit Ring to a thousand-year one, your overall strength will increase by at least 30%".+2
Zhu Zhuyun looked at him with longing, but then her expression turned to helplessness. "Increasing the age limit of a Spirit Ring... how is that possible? I've never heard of such a thing on the Continent". Everyone knew that once you absorbed a Spirit Ring, it couldn't be changed.+3
Ye Yin smiled confidently. "Just because others can't do it doesn't mean I can't. My Spirit can increase the age limit, but you must have a close relationship with me first. You clearly meet that condition now".+1
Zhu Zhuyun's eyes lit up instantly. Ye Yin quietly used his system to buy seven hundred years of Spirit Ring enhancement. Five Spirit Rings—three purple and two black—appeared beneath his feet, and the Good and Evil Treasure Orb began to glow in his hand. He held the new power in his palm, and Zhu Zhuyun was immediately drawn to it. She could feel the vast energy resonating with her own spirit.+4
"This power is enough to upgrade your second Spirit Ring from a hundred-year ring to a thousand-year ring," Ye Yin said.+1
Zhu Zhuyun's eyes widened in shock, and her breathing became fast. Upgrading a Spirit Ring was like a miracle. It was worth much more than any essential oil. "Are you telling the truth?" she asked, her voice shaking as she grabbed his arm.+2
"I never lie to my own people," Ye Yin said, pulling her closer and stroking her back. "Do you want to try?".+2
Zhu Zhuyun was overwhelmed by a desire for power. Compared to this, her previous shame felt like nothing. "Yes!" she blurted out, looking at his hand as if it held the most precious treasure in the world.+4
Ye Yin smiled, knowing he had successfully won her over. Zhu Zhuyun felt waves of warmth moving through her body as her second Spirit Ring was reshaped. The yellow ring began to darken, turning into a deep purple right before her eyes.+3
One hundred years... five hundred... eight hundred... and finally, one thousand years!.
When it was finished, she felt a surge of incredible power. Her second Spirit Ability, Netherworld Hundred Claws, was now much stronger, and she felt even faster than before.+2
"This... this is real!" she cried out, opening her eyes in shock and joy. The way she looked at Ye Yin changed completely. Her fear and resentment were gone, replaced by a feeling of deep respect and worship. She realized that by following this man, she could reach heights she never thought possible.+3
"Yin-ge..." she said, using his name affectionately for the first time. Her voice was hoarse with excitement. "Thank you".
Ye Yin smiled and tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. "I told you, I'm never stingy with my own people". Suddenly, he stumbled as if he were about to fall, which startled her.+1
"Ye Yin, are you alright?" she asked quickly.
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