The princess’s voice was sincere, and she used a pleading tone. Xu Xi thought for a moment and finally agreed to her request. The courtyard was large, with many rooms. Not only could Wu Yingxue stay, but even two or three more people wouldn’t be a problem. Moreover, Wu Yingxue’s request was simple—she just wanted a place to stay. “Sure, you can pick any of the empty rooms,” Xu Xi said. “You’re the best, sir!” The girl seemed overjoyed by Xu Xi’s agreement.
The night was deep, and the air was cold, but the noise of the New Year’s Eve was still lively. The cold and loneliness seemed to fade away. Wu Yingxue stood with her fists on her hips, smiling brightly like the rising sun, full of energy and warmth. “Let’s go, it’s time to head back,” Xu Xi said, glancing at the clock on the wall. The hands of the clock spun slowly, marking the passage of time toward the endless future. Midnight was approaching—the most important moment of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new. It was also the critical moment of stepping into the first day of the new year. Xu Xi was about to take the princess back to the living room in the courtyard to celebrate the New Year with his sister and the witch. But just as he took a step, the girl stopped him. “Wait, sir!” Xu Xi was puzzled as Wu Yingxue ran in front of him and grabbed his wrist. “You’ve always taken care of me, sir. Whether in the past or now, you’ve never changed.” Her clear eyes curved into crescents, filled with joy and a hint of sadness. She gently pulled Xu Xi’s wrist, and he felt something wrap around it. Upon closer inspection, it was a thin red and yellow rope, resembling both fresh blood and lifted soil. With rare delicacy, Wu Yingxue slowly wove the rope around Xu Xi’s wrist. “Unknowingly, I owe you so much, sir. Like the rent in Qingniu Town, the two pills that helped me reach the Innate Realm, and so much more. Even today, you prepared a New Year’s gift for me. Sir, this isn’t fair… It’s too sly of you. I want to repay you somehow.” As she finished speaking, Wu Yingxue stepped back, giving Xu Xi space to see the red and yellow rope on his wrist. It shimmered with a starlight glow.
[Ding—]
[Congratulations, host, for obtaining the special item: Stardust Radiance]
[Stardust Radiance]
[Item Description]: The dust of the earth transforms into stars, forever illuminating those it watches over.
[Item Effects]: Qi and Blood Cultivation effectiveness increased tenfold, Martial Techniques effectiveness increased tenfold, Qi and Blood power increased tenfold, Martial Techniques power increased tenfold, Internal World operation speed increased tenfold, Observation of Principles effectiveness increased tenfold, damage to demons and monsters increased tenfold, damage to the Azure Dragon clan increased a hundredfold.
Daily refresh of Martial Enlightenment, allowing you to comprehend the principles of heaven and earth regardless of talent or bottlenecks.
Daily refresh of Eternal Qi and Blood, granting a massive boost to your Qi, Blood, and vitality for 24 hours, ensuring no risk to your life no matter how much you use it.
Daily refresh of True Martial Body, reducing 90% of all attacks and completely nullifying demon attacks.
Permanent “Perseverance” effect: As long as you have a clear goal and work tirelessly toward it, you will make tangible progress.
[Usage Requirement]: The greatest fool in the world, one who remembers 1,335 stars.
“This…” Xu Xi was stunned. He subconsciously twisted his wrist, causing the rope to sway. The sensation was peculiar, like cool blood sliding or rough sand rubbing. Upon closer inspection, it seemed like a string of stars, shimmering with light. It was beautiful, and its effects were powerful. “Am I… living off someone again?” Xu Xi was surprised, but the usage requirement caught his attention. 1,335—that was the number of stars the girl had counted while lying on his back when the Army of Survival broke through the border checkpoint. Xu Xi hadn’t expected her to remember something so distant. “Sir, do you like it?” Wu Yingxue asked, her lips curving into a smile as if she had finally completed a task. She stretched lightly, leaning back with her left hand on her right shoulder. “This is my carefully prepared New Year’s gift. You can’t dislike it,” she said, her eyes widening as if daring Xu Xi to refuse, threatening to throw a tantrum if he did. Xu Xi smiled; he had no intention of refusing. “Thank you, I really like this New Year’s gift.” After a pause, he added, “And thank you for your thoughtfulness, Yingxue.”
With Xu Xi’s approval, Wu Yingxue was overjoyed, and the rope on his wrist began to glow with starlight. It was the condensation of power and the highest form of affection—a bond formed when the dust of the earth rose to the sky, transforming into stars to illuminate the dark moon and make it shine again. Subtly, after wearing the rope, Xu Xi felt more like a martial artist. The various martial arts bonuses, near-invincible defense, and incredible comprehension had maxed out every aspect. It was almost as if the word “invincible” was written on it. “The operation speed of my Internal World has become noticeably faster. When the simulation ended, I had just become a Human Immortal, and the development of my world was very limited. But now, it’s rapidly improving. Is this the power of Stardust Radiance?” Xu Xi stood still, feeling the changes in his body, his expression growing even more astonished. The changes weren’t something that could be explained by a simple tenfold increase. The stacking of multiples created an unrivaled strength. This… was the noble power of living off someone!
