**Chapter 167: Go Back and Deal With Him**
The Wild Combat Body hadn't upgraded from intermediate to advanced level; the only change was the addition of one prompt: "Feature: Getting Stronger With Each Battle (Awakened)." Aside from this, there were no other noticeable transformations.
As Zhao Ling stared at the words, he couldn't help but ponder their significance. "What exactly does 'getting stronger with each battle' refer to? Does it apply to all aspects?"
The thought intrigued him, and Zhao Ling opened the diary panel to vent his thoughts smugly:
[Haha, Yin'er, Xi'er, and Long'er think they've found a way to control me, but they've unknowingly helped awaken my physique's characteristic: getting stronger with each battle.]
[If they plan to use the same tactics to subdue me again, they're in for a surprise.]
[Come on, let's see who outlasts whom. Their schemes versus my ever-growing strength—I'm dying of laughter just imagining their reactions when they realize their mistake.]
[Of course, I'll have to keep pretending I'm scared of them for now. Let them think they hold the upper hand and can teach me lessons. When they come at me next time, I'll make them regret it and think they've bitten off more than they can chew. I'm just giving them face for now.]
[But trust me, there'll come a day when they'll cry. And when that happens, don't even dream of asking for my forgiveness.]
Satisfied, Zhao Ling uploaded the diary entry. The system rated it C+, resulting in the age of all his spirit rings increasing by 1,000 years.
This improvement pushed his second soul ring in the Netherworld Demon Suppression Tower martial soul from the thousand-year level to the ten-thousand-year level. Zhao Ling instantly felt a slight boost in his soul power.
Excited, he released his Netherworld Demon Suppression Tower, proudly observing the one purple, five black, and three red soul rings surrounding him. Only the final soul ring remained at the thousand-year level, but it was close to upgrading.
"This system is impressive sometimes," Zhao Ling mused. "If it keeps increasing the soul rings by a thousand or even five hundred years, it won't take long before all my soul rings reach the ten-thousand or one-hundred-thousand-year level."
Meanwhile, Liu Erlong, Ah Yin, and Bo Saixi strolled through the bustling streets of Tiandou Imperial City, arm in arm.
With Bo Saixi set to return to Poseidon Island in a few days, Liu Erlong and Ah Yin had insisted on buying her some specialties from the city to take back with her. Unable to refuse their kindness, Bo Saixi agreed, accompanying them on a shopping spree.
Thanks to Zhao Ling's wealth—bolstered by a generous 5-million-gold-soul-coin annual salary from the Tiandou royal family—the three women had ample funds to indulge themselves. Zhao Ling had allocated 300,000 gold soul coins to each of them, encouraging them to spend freely.
As a result, they cleared out several stores, much to the delight of the shopkeepers, who grinned from ear to ear while clutching their golden soul coins.
Just as they were about to continue their spree, a copy of Zhao Ling's diary appeared before them.
The three women's eyes lit up in unison. Their husband was awake at last, giving them the perfect opportunity to "teach him a lesson."
Liu Erlong smirked, exchanging a glance with Bo Saixi and Ah Yin. "Our husband's awake. Should we head back and take care of him?"
"Of course," Ah Yin replied without hesitation. "If we don't, he'll start acting cocky again once Sister Saixi leaves." Her tone brimmed with anticipation.
Bo Saixi nodded playfully. "We'd better hurry. While I'm still in Tiandou City, I can back you up. Once I'm back on Poseidon Island, you two might end up crying after he turns the tables on you."
After stowing their purchases in their storage soul guides and paying the shopkeepers, the three women headed toward the mansion.
As they walked, they opened their copies of Zhao Ling's diary, letting his familiar voice ring in their ears.
Excitement and joy quickly turned to shock as they read the contents. The expressions on their faces froze into stiff smiles.
"What on earth is this 'getting stronger with each battle' physique?" Ah Yin finally muttered.
The women exchanged incredulous glances. It seemed impossible—a physique that grew stronger after every battle? Surely their husband was exaggerating.
But then again, Zhao Ling didn't know they could access his diary. Why would he fabricate something in private?
Liu Erlong hesitated. "Should we really go back and 'teach him a lesson'? We might end up being the ones taught instead."
Bo Saixi frowned. "Who knows? He's definitely unusual, but we can't let the diary intimidate us. We've discovered a way to improve our strength and fitness through him—why stop now?"
The three women nodded in tentative agreement, determined to confront Zhao Ling, even as a sliver of doubt lingered in their hearts.
---
In Spirit City, Bibi Dong massaged her temples in frustration as she read Zhao Ling's latest diary entry.
"What on earth are Ah Yin and the others doing?" she muttered. "They've completely underestimated their husband."
She couldn't decide which was more ridiculous: Zhao Ling pretending to be helpless or her sisters falling for it.
"If they're foolish enough to walk into his trap again, I might have to find some new allies to deal with him," Bibi Dong thought with a sigh.
Meanwhile, deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, a small rabbit perched confidently atop a massive ape-like soul beast. The ape's shoulders towered over seven meters high, even when it crouched on all fours.
By a nearby lake, an enormous ox-headed serpent slithered, its body so massive it dwarfed a water tank. Its glowing eyes gleamed like twin lanterns.
Despite the intimidating presence of the two colossal beasts, the rabbit showed no fear. Instead, the creatures seemed to await its commands.
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(End of Chapter)