Nearby, Meilin stood—no longer the unsure village girl from before. With her newly awakened Moon Radiance Emerald Lily, her aura had transformed entirely. Her once plain appearance now radiated natural elegance. Silvery moonlight hair flowed down her back like a waterfall, and her eyes gleamed with a cool, icy blue. Her skin had become smooth and fair, glowing faintly as if kissed by moonlight.
She looked more like a young noble princess now—easily standing alongside Natasha and Shuri, no longer out of place among girls who inherited legacies from Genshin characters.
Dave couldn’t help but smile.
"She’s finally caught up," he thought, "and she’s only going to grow stronger from here."
After distributing the cultivation techniques to everyone, Dave slipped out to get some air—and quickly found Mo Chen waiting for him near the side corridor, holding a small ledger in hand.
Mo Chen, as always, looked tidy and composed. Somewhere along the way, he had begun managing logistics for the group—handling expenses, overseeing purchases, and assisting the team like a professional steward. Whether Spirit Hall assigned him that role or he volunteered himself, Dave still wasn’t sure.
"Brother Dave, do you need something?" Mo Chen asked politely.
Dave raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. I need you to buy something."
Dave continued, "Use our monthly allowance to buy eight pieces of 1,000-year Whale Gum."
Mo Chen blinked. "Whale... gum? You mean that Whale Gum?"
"Yeah," Dave said with a straight face.
There was a pause. Then Mo Chen gave him a strange look. "Brother Dave... I’m not too versed in that kind of stuff."
Dave narrowed his eyes slightly. "It’s not what you think."
Mo Chen looked unconvinced. "It’s widely known as a noble’s aphrodisiac."
Dave leaned in, voice low and casual. "That’s what people think. Truth is, it has a hidden property—it strengthens the physical foundation. It’s just that no one ever uses it right."
Mo Chen furrowed his brow. "And you’re sure this isn’t just for... bedroom glory?"
Dave deadpanned. "Mo Chen."
"...Right. Just confirming," Mo Chen sighed and pulled out his ledger. "Eight pieces. You’re including yourself?"
"Obviously," Dave replied with a casual wave of his hand. "And one more for Meilin. So, in total, nine pieces... hmm, wait—make it ten. You’re at nearly level 25, right? You’ll need it too."
Mo Chen blinked, a little surprised. "I’m actually level 29 now."
Dave raised an eyebrow. "You? Really?"
Mo Chen gave a modest shrug. "I’ve been cultivating steadily. Spirit Hall’s techniques are good, and I don’t slack."
Dave nodded with approval. "Alright then, you’ve earned it. What’s your age again?"
"I’m twenty-four," Mo Chen replied.
Dave gave him a quick glance up and down. "Huh. Could’ve fooled me. You blend in like an average joe around here."
Mo Chen gave a dry chuckle. "That’s kind of the point."
"I’m from a commoner background," Mo Chen explained calmly. "Nothing special—just doing my job in Spirit Hall. My talent’s slightly above average, but I work hard. They gave me this job because of consistent contributions."
Dave gave a slight nod, appreciating the sincerity. "Steady effort has its own kind of power."
Without saying much more, Mo Chen excused himself and left to go purchase the whale gum.
The next day, something unexpected happened.
A surge of pressure rippled through the training grounds as a figure descended gracefully from the sky—calm, composed, and undeniably powerful.
She wore flowing robes edged in copper and pale green, and her long silver hair was tied back with a simple vine-weave band. Her eyes, however, were sharp—too sharp to mistake for anything but a veteran of countless battles.
Her spirit signature was unmistakable.
Ling Yuan — Level 95 Titled Douluo.
Martial Spirit: Spirit Kite.
She soon found Dave and others and explained that from this moment on, she had been appointed as the guardian and guide for Dave’s group.
"So they finally sent someone..."
He had been browsing the system shop not long ago, contemplating whether to spend upwards of 30,000 template points to summon or contract a Titled Douluo to watch over their group. It would’ve been a massive cost, even for him.
With Ling Yuan assigned directly by Spirit Hall—whether to guide them or keep an eye on them—he didn’t have to spend a single point.
A grin tugged at his lips.
’Saved myself a small fortune.’
"Thank you. From now on, we’ll be in your care," Dave said politely, stepping forward with a calm smile.
Ling Yuan glanced at him, her gaze sharp but not unfriendly. Her eyes lingered on Dave for a moment longer than necessary, clearly evaluating him.
’So, this is him... and the other seven. The ones rumored to be from hidden families.’
She didn’t let her thoughts show, but the curiosity was there. The Grand Priest had personally requested she observe them—not just to guide and protect, but to investigate. Their origins were unknown. Spirit Hall had extensive records, even on secluded clans and noble bloodlines, yet these eight didn’t match anything clearly.
And yet... their talents, affinities, and growth rate were extraordinary.
’If they truly are from hidden families... they’re not ordinary ones. Their potential speaks volumes.’
She gave a small nod. "Understood. I’ll be overseeing your growth from today onward. But I’ll also expect discipline and results in return."
Dave met her gaze with an easy confidence.
"That’s fine. Just try to keep up."
Ling Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly at the boldness but said nothing.
After a brief pause, Ling Yuan nodded and turned toward the group.
"Let’s go. I’ll assist you all in obtaining your spirit rings."
She began walking ahead, and motioning others to follow her.
But Dave held back a step and called out, "Please wait a moment. I’ve already sent Mo Chen to handle something. With what he’s bringing, we might be able to get better spirit rings."
Ling Yuan turned slightly, raising an eyebrow. "And what exactly is that?"
Dave just smirked. "You’ll find out soon enough."
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