Serenity had returned from her mission, looking pleased with herself as she lounged beside me, her head resting in my lap. A content smile graced her lips as I idly ran my fingers through her hair. The other girls sent her envious glances, but no one could truly begrudge her the attention—not when they all enjoyed being pampered just as much. Even Xiao Wu, once fiercely independent, had succumbed to the group's influence, now openly enjoying having her hair brushed as she nestled against the others during cuddle sessions.
Zhu Zhuqing, however, remained slightly apart. Not because she was unwelcome—far from it. But she was still adjusting. Despite how naturally she fit in with the others, she had spent years keeping herself distant, cold, unreadable. Even now, her expression remained impassive, but the slight twitch of her ears, the subtle glance toward me, spoke volumes.
She wanted the same affection the others received.
She just didn't know how to ask for it.
I smirked inwardly. Like a cat that pretended to be aloof but secretly craved warmth.
She'd come around. They always did.
---
As for Serenity's mission, it had been a simple one for her level of strength.
In the original story, Tang San had acquired a Dragon Beard Needle, a rare crystalline weapon with thousands of hair-thin filaments capable of piercing through nearly anything. He had obtained it from a shop owned by Flender, the headmaster of Shrek Academy. Serenity, being far more efficient than Tang San, had easily tracked down and purchased one herself.
That was only the first part.
The true prize was a 2,000-year-old Man-Faced Demon Spider, the same kind of beast Tang San had killed for its legendary Eight Spider Lances—an external spirit bone of immense value.
Unlike regular spirit bones, which were bound to specific parts of the body—arms, legs, torso, or head—external spirit bones were far rarer and more coveted. They could grow, evolve, and integrate permanently, even being passed down through bloodlines. Once fully bonded, they couldn't be removed, even upon death.
Tang San had managed to kill his spider at Rank 30, armed with only two yellow spirit rings and a Godly Zhuge Crossbow. A remarkable feat, certainly.
But Serenity was better.
At Rank 52, with five black spirit rings, she was in an entirely different league.
Of course, finding the exact same spider could have been difficult…
If not for the dose of Liquid Luck she had taken before setting out.
Under its influence, not only had she tracked down the spider in the Great Dou Forest, but she had also stumbled across several rare medicinal herbs, deadly poison plants, and even spatial tools—remnants of spirit masters who had met their end at the hands of the monstrous spider.
Man-Faced Demon Spiders were apex predators, feared even among spirit beasts. They fought above their age, their cruelty making them universally despised by other creatures.
Almost like the Dark Devilgod Tiger.
But to Serenity, it had been easy prey.
---
I turned the small, curled-up spirit bone over in my hand, examining its eight folded legs. Once absorbed, it would merge with the ribcage and spine, sprouting as eight powerful appendages that could pierce, ensnare, and poison enemies. It even had the terrifying ability to devour poison, life force, and spirit energy from anything it impaled.
It was a powerful ability. One that could evolve even further.
I smirked and placed the bone into Serenity's hands.
"Here, this suits you better."
Her purple eyes widened slightly before she looked down at the spirit bone, then back at me. A slow, pleased smile curled her lips.
"Master… you're too good to me," she murmured, a hint of amusement laced in her voice.
"Absorb it here," I instructed. "It'll be more useful for you."
Serenity nodded and sat down, pressing the bone against her chest. Slowly, it began to sink into her skin, fusing with her body. The process was swift—within minutes, she shuddered slightly, then exhaled as the transformation completed.
Then—
Schlkt!
Eight black, blade-like legs erupted from her back, extending outward in a menacing display. Unlike the original blue color of the Man-Faced Spider, hers had already started to darken, shifting to pitch black as her body's natural poison fused with it, refining and strengthening the ability even further.
The girls stared, impressed.
Serenity flexed her new appendages, testing their range of motion. Then she grinned.
"These feel… perfect."
I chuckled. "Figured you'd like them. Should help you gain even more control over your poison—and make you even deadlier."
She hummed in satisfaction, retracting the spider lances back into her body seamlessly, her movements effortless, fluid, dangerous.
"Thank you, Master," she purred, leaning back against me, clearly enjoying both her new power and the attention.
I smirked, running a hand through her purple hair as she relaxed against me.
At my side, Zhu Zhuqing subtly clenched her fingers, her gaze flickering toward us before quickly looking away.
She wouldn't say it out loud.
But I knew.
She wanted this too.
She just didn't know how to ask for it.
Yet.
~~~~
Of course the reason I had Serenity get these things was that they were not only valuable but incredibly rare. It also wouldn't do for others to have them in the future and I enjoyed snatching the benefits Tang San would have received. Even though he is gone, just to make sure.
Tang San had truly been gifted everything on a silver platter like most protagonists. Cultivation techniques, immortal herbs, soul bones, godly positions, high quality spirits, a slightly competent teacher, a powerful father, a 100,000 year old spirit beast girlfriend....
Now all he got was eternal imprisonment in the Resurrection Stone. Of course he wasn't being tortured or anything, I saw no reason to be cruel to the man. I just didn't want him in my way or as my enemy.