Another Helping of Soft Rice

The princess's voice was sincere.

And she used a tone of persuasion.

Xu Xi thought for a moment and eventually agreed to her request.

The courtyard was spacious, with numerous rooms. It wasn't a problem to accommodate Wu Yingxue, or even two or three more people.

Moreover,

Wu Yingxue's request was simple; she merely wanted a place to rest her head.

"Alright, you can choose any of the remaining vacant rooms, Yingxue."

"You're the best, sir!"

Xu Xi's agreement seemed to make the girl incredibly happy.

The night was deep, the air was cold, but the night during the Spring Festival remained noisy and bustling.

The cold dissipated, and the stillness was buried.

Wu Yingxue, fists on her hips, smiled widely, her smile like the rising sun, full of vigor and warmth.

"Let's go back, shall we?"

Xu Xi glanced at the time.

The clock on the wall, with its hands of varying lengths, slowly twirled and rotated, carrying time toward a more distant future.

Midnight was approaching.

It was the most important moment to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new.

It was also the critical moment to step into the first day of the new year.

Xu Xi planned to take the princess back to the courtyard's living room to celebrate the new year with his sister and the witch.

But as soon as Xu Xi took a step,

He was stopped by the girl.

"Wait, sir!"

"Hmm?"

Xu Xi looked confused as Wu Yingxue ran in front of him and grabbed his wrist.

"Sir, you've always been taking care of me."

"Whether it was before or now, you never changed."

Those clear, water-like eyes gradually curved into crescents, filled with joy and a touch of melancholy. With a gentle tug on Xu Xi's wrist, her delicate hand felt the intertwining of something.

Xu Xi felt something wrap around his wrist, smooth yet slightly cool.

Upon closer inspection,

It was a thin rope, red with a hint of yellow.

Like coagulated blood, or like soil lifted by hand.

Wu Yingxue, rarely so gentle and careful, slowly wove the rope around Xu Xi's wrist.

"Over time, I owe you so much."

"Like the rent in Qingniu Town, you never charged me."

"After leaving Qingniu Town, the two pills that helped me reach the innate realm, and the cultivation technique you created for me."

"So much, I can't even list it all. Even today, you prepared a New Year's gift for me."

"Sir, this isn't right…"

"You're being too kind—it's unfair. I want to give something back too."

As her voice faded,

Wu Yingxue's actions came to a stop.

She stepped back gently, giving Xu Xi enough space to see the red and yellow rope now wrapped around his wrist.

It shimmered with a crystalline glow, as if dotted with twinkling stars.

[Ding Dong—]

[Congratulations, Host! You've acquired the special item: Starlight of Dust]

[Starlight of Dust]

[Item Description]: The dust of the earth becomes stars, forever illuminating those it watches over.

[Item Effects]: Tenfold increase in Qi training efficiency, tenfold increase in martial skill training efficiency, tenfold increase in Qi power, tenfold increase in martial skill power, tenfold increase in inner world rotation speed, tenfold increase in comprehension of principles, tenfold increase in damage to demons, one hundredfold increase in damage to the Azure Dragon clan.

Daily refresh of a Martial Insight, allowing comprehension of heavenly principles regardless of talent or bottlenecks.

Daily refresh of Eternal Qi, granting a massive boost to your Qi and vitality for 24 hours without endangering your life.

Daily refresh of True Martial Body, reducing all attacks by 90%, completely nullifying demonic attacks.

Permanent "Persistence" effect: As long as you have a clear goal and strive towards it, you will progress several times faster.

[Usage Requirements]: The best fool in the world, the one who remembers one thousand three hundred thirty-five stars.

"This…"

Xu Xi was momentarily stunned.

He subconsciously twisted his wrist,

Causing the rope to sway with it.

The sensation was peculiar, like cold blood sliding by, or rough sand rubbing against his skin.

Looking closely with the naked eye, it seemed more like a connection of stars, shimmering with glittering lights.

It was beautiful.

And the effects were powerful.

"I… am I eating soft rice again?" Xu Xi was momentarily dazed, his attention drawn to the usage requirements of the new soft rice.

One thousand three hundred thirty-five. This was the final number the girl had counted while leaning on Xu Xi's back as the Qiuhuo Army stormed the border pass.

Xu Xi hadn't expected,

That the girl still remembered such an old story.

"Sir, do you like it?"

As if finishing a mission, Wu Yingxue's lips curled into a smile, her face looking relaxed.

Her hands overlapped and raised above her, her body slightly leaning back, her waist bending as she stretched.

"This is my carefully prepared New Year's gift. Sir, you can't dislike it."

She said so,

Her eyes widening slightly, as if prohibiting Xu Xi from refusing, threatening to cry and make a fuss if he did.

Xu Xi smiled, he hadn't intended to reject the girl's kindness:

"Thank you, I really like this New Year's gift."

Pausing, he continued: "And thank you for your sentiment, Yingxue."

Receiving Xu Xi's approval, Wu Yingxue was delighted, and even the rope on Xu Xi's wrist seemed to glow with starlight.

It was a condensation of authority.

And a supreme expression of affection.

The insignificant dust on the ground rose to the skies, transformed into stars to illuminate the dark moon, making it shine again.

Subtly,

After putting on this rope, Xu Xi felt himself becoming more like a martial artist.

In every possible sense, from martial cultivation to invincibility, and even unimaginable comprehension, it was all maxed out.

It was almost as if the word [Invincible] was boldly written.

"The rotation speed of my inner world has become noticeably faster."

"During the simulation, I had just newly ascended to the Human Immortal stage, and the world's development was quite limited."

"But now, the world is rapidly improving."

"That's the power of the Starlight of Dust… it seems even cultivation and magic are benefiting from it."

Xu Xi felt the changes in his body, his face showing more astonishment.

The rope given by the princess was not just a matter of tenfold enhancements, as the words suggested.

Multiple layers of multiplication, overlapping systems.

Creating an insurmountable strength.

This was the power of the noble numerical soft rice!

Seeing the familiar Persistence effect, Xu Xi's motivation for training surged endlessly. He inwardly sighed, "I’m too diligent; I’m always thinking about training."