New Tokyo, Outer Street District Five.

  Xia Li walked into the Benzoin Clinic—Yagyu Chihaya's headquarters.

  It also served as his base in New Tokyo.

  Pushing open the door and entering, Yagyu Chihaya was treating several customers. Worth noting, those customers were dressed rather plainly, their prosthetics old and lacking even synthetic skin.

  Yet Yagyu Chihaya patiently treated them, ultimately accepting payment in corporate credits.

  Converting the exchange rate, she earned at most half a spirit stone per patient on average. For someone as greedy as her, wasn't this a waste of time?

  Seeing this, Xia Li didn't disturb her. He quietly sat in the waiting area.

  He waited for nearly two hours until the sky had completely darkened before Yagyu Chihaya finally walked to the front door to close shop. Then she turned to look at Xia Li, who had remained steadfastly seated.

  "Didn't realize you were so patient."

  "You look beautiful when you work seriously. Easy on the eyes."

  Xia Li could tell that Yagyu Chihaya treating the poor wasn't earning spirit stones at all—essentially volunteer work. The medicine she prescribed was even below market price.

  Just this side of her alone could barely count as beautiful inside and out.

  "Wow, did you pay for emotional intelligence simulation training?"

  Yagyu Chihaya hadn't expected flattering words could come from Xia Li's mouth. His attitude toward her before wasn't exactly good.

  "Just suddenly felt you're not so bad."

  She'd helped him get satellite access rights to deal with the Snake Eyes Gang, then designed an escape route that let him enter that critical biochemical laboratory.

  And come to think of it...

  His coming to New Tokyo—Yagyu Chihaya was an important guide.

  In his destiny, she wasn't just a passing encounter.

  After that unique dimensional ascension experience, Xia Li now had new understanding and perspectives on people and matters.

  "Wait... did being away so long make you want to... you know... me?"

  Yagyu Chihaya instinctively used her hands to shield her body, eyeing Xia Li strangely.

  She was the type who could tease others, but others couldn't tease her.

  "Not really. I've gained some appreciation for your soul, but I still can't appreciate your body."

  "So... why didn't you respond to me at all?"

  "No need. By the time communications restored, I was already on my way back."

  "Alright..."

  Yagyu Chihaya didn't pursue these trivial details. She went to the medicine cabinet to rummage around, finding some herbs to brew two cups of medicinal tea.

  She came to sit beside Xia Li and handed him one cup.

  "So what did you encounter on your way back? That tunnel should take half a day at most, but you took nearly five days."

  "It's a long story. Let me start with the Infant's Cry illusion..."

  Xia Li briefly recounted what he'd encountered, including the research facility, but didn't mention that Yan Qing was Heart Constellation Two.

  He also mentioned his telekinesis growth, though he didn't mention higher-dimensional beings—explaining it as finding a rare treasure instead.

  "You've got good luck. These lost research facilities independently built in phase space are hard to find."

  "Back when the Heavenly Dao Computer hadn't been constructed and human knowledge couldn't be consolidated, many mysterious research results were left behind in them."

  "In the early Spirit Qi Revival period, everything in this world was incredibly active. Quite a few legends were born in that brief window of several decades."

  The early Spirit Qi Revival was also the super eruption period. Spirit rain fell continuously for ten years, spirit wind blew and all things flourished—all life on the planet underwent transformation.

  Only humanity fell a big step behind!

  Even bathing in spirit rain, without knowing cultivation techniques, humans only became physically stronger.

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  Many benefits didn't manifest until the next generation.

  Fortunately, humanity accumulated power and finally weathered through to today's Spirit Energy Era.

  That period of absurdly abundant spirit energy was called the Golden Window Period. Countless great demons were born during that time.

  Of course...

  The monsters crowned with constellation names were too.

  The consequence of humans wildly launching nukes was that even the spirit rain became contaminated. Spirit wind carried terrifying radioactivity, meaning anyone wanting to bathe in spirit rain had to gamble whether they'd grow stronger or mutate first.

  "My luck's always been pretty good. Also, I have something for you."

  Xia Li pulled out a ring, extending his hand to offer it to Yagyu Chihaya.

  Seeing the ring, Yagyu Chihaya looked at Xia Li with a puzzled expression.

  "Wait—how long have we even known each other?"

  "Could you let me finish speaking?"

  "Fine... I'm ready. Go ahead!"

  "This is the ring Yagyu Munero gave his fiancée."

  Xia Li's next sentence instantly made Yagyu Chihaya feel like a clown, but she awkwardly coughed twice and accepted the ring to examine it.

  "If this really is the ring Yagyu Munero gave his fiancée, it could be very useful. Yagyu Munero has never married. Rumor has it his private life is clean too—probably someone who values old feelings."

  Once Yagyu Chihaya obtained this ring, she instantly thought of many uses. Never mind anything else—just giving it directly to Yagyu Munero could probably raise her position in Yagyu Arms.

  "Handle it yourself. Maximizing benefits is your specialty."

  "Thanks. This really is useful for me. So what's the price?"

  "No price. I don't like that Corporate Alliance stuff. Let's just be sincere with each other."

  "Good. Then let's bare our hearts completely!"

  As she spoke, Yagyu Chihaya started to undress. Seeing this, Xia Li didn't stop her—he directly started unbuckling his belt. Seeing that, Yagyu Chihaya immediately chickened out.

  "Wait... are you serious this time?"

  "You make this kind of joke again, I'll stir-fry you, believe it or not?"

  "Sorry... I just thought dirty jokes help bring us closer..."

  "Play too many dirty jokes and you'll play yourself out."

  With that, Xia Li used telekinesis to directly help Yagyu Chihaya put back on her half-removed clothes.

  "Chihaya, give me a list of weapons you can supply."

  "Oh? Finally going to patronize my business?"

  Yagyu Chihaya was delighted to hear this. Her main income still came from illegal modifications and black market arms dealing.

  How much could legitimate treatments and standard modifications earn?

  "So where's the list?"

  "Hehe, let's discuss this downstairs. After all, weapons need to be test-fired."

  "Fine."

  Xia Li rose and followed Yagyu Chihaya to the basement.

  Yagyu Chihaya brought him to the reception room, poured him a glass of red wine, then made an excuse to leave.

  When she returned, she had changed into a sailor uniform, with cute ribbons tied in her hair and white over-knee socks.

  Just looking at her made one feel youthful energy radiating out.

  "You get special services buying weapons here?"

  Xia Li's eyes widened. He had to admit Yagyu Chihaya's outfit was quite to his liking.

  "Currently, you're the only one who's enjoyed this service. I looked up what people from five hundred years ago liked. How is it?"

  Yagyu Chihaya deliberately flipped her skirt.

  "Average."

  Xia Li's expression remained unchanged, looking steady as an old dog on the surface. But what he was thinking inside, only he knew.

  "Crossing your legs while talking—so tough! Put your legs down if you dare!"

  "Stop blabbering and wasting time. Where's the weapon list?"

  "Sent to you."