176: Chapter 175 Taking an Inch and a Mile

I don't know how much time had passed before Qian Mo gradually regained his senses.

His first sensation was that his entire body was brimming with power. The old injury on his arm had completely healed, and the spiritual power within him had surged significantly.

More importantly, he felt as if his Star Body had undergone a qualitative leap, and it seemed to have formed a strange synergy with his other Superpower, the Balance of Equivalence.

From now on, as long as he activated his Star Body the instant his body made contact with someone, he could inject a burst of energy into their body, suppressing their power.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on achieving a Breakthrough to the fourth rank, bringing you one step closer to the path of godhood. As a reward, you receive one 'Special Grand Gift Pack.' Please check your inventory!]

An exquisitely wrapped gift box promptly appeared within the System space.

"Wait a minute, System... you didn't reward me for my previous Breakthroughs at all. So why is there a reward this time?"

[Ding! Don't ask too many questions about how things work on the Dao. Anyway, I make the rules. I reward when I feel like it. Don't worry about it.]

The System's words effectively blocked any further questions he might have had.

"Alright then... I'm the one benefiting anyway. As long as you're happy..."

He decided not to dwell on this ridiculous System any further.

He opened his personal System panel:

"Strength: 2000 (Average for fourth rank: 500)

Speed: 1000 (Average for fourth rank: 200)

Spiritual Power & Astral Power: 10,000

Demonic Power (Not Awakened)

Spirit Pet: None (Favorability: 60)

Superpowers: Star Body (mythical grade), Balance of Equivalence (legendary grade)

System Coins: 5000 (+5000 new)

Additional Abilities: Mastery in Blade Arts, Mastery in Firearms, Ninth Dan in Sanda, Mastery in Stealth..."

"Holy crap!"

Qian Mo stared in shock at his data panel.

His physical attributes completely overwhelming others of the same rank was one thing, but his spiritual power had actually reached 10,000 points! That was comparable to the spiritual power value of a sixth-rank cultivator! When he was at the third rank, his spiritual power was only around a thousand. This single Breakthrough had increased it tenfold!

Looking further down...

Huh? My Spirit Pet entry says 'None,' so what's with this 'Favorability: 60'...? Never mind, I'll worry about that later... Speaking of which, it's all thanks to Young Miss Xing Yan that I was able to...

Wait! Young Miss Xing Yan... I remember I was kissing...

The outside world.

On the somewhat disheveled sofa, amidst an atmosphere tinged with lingering intimacy, the young man abruptly opened his eyes. The golden patterns on his body flashed briefly before rapidly dimming and disappearing completely.

He discovered that he was no longer sitting on the sofa but was instead lying on top of a soft, warm body. A pair of slender, fair arms were tightly wrapped around his neck, and he could feel the rapid rise and fall of the girl's heartbeat against his chest.

Qian Mo gently raised his head, gazing dazedly at the blushing, lovely face of the White Wolf Girl before him.

He saw her slightly parted lips and dazed eyes. A thin, glistening silver thread stretched from her lower lip, its other end connected to his own lips—a clear testament to how forceful and passionate that kiss had been.

He had never imagined that Young Miss Xing Yan, so formidable and dignified in the outside world, could wear such an expression—one that seemed utterly yielding and filled with unfulfilled longing.

For a moment, his eyes were glued to her, and his body froze in place.

...

Feeling the sudden release of the physical restraint, Xing Yaoyan gradually began to recover from that strange state she had been in.

Her dazed gaze slowly focused. In her field of vision, the young man's handsome face gradually came into clear view.

"Mmm... Qian Mo... we..."

As her memories returned, an indescribably complex mix of emotions flooded her heart—embarrassment, anger, reluctance, satisfaction, anticipation...

"You... you get off me!"

She realized she was pinned beneath him. Moreover, due to their position, she felt a blush-inducing sensation against her abdomen. Having been a man in her previous life, she immediately understood Qian Mo's current state.

A massive wave of energy erupted from her body once again. Because Qian Mo had voluntarily withdrawn his Star Body, Xing Yaoyan's full-force resistance this time directly sent the young man flying.

"Thud!"

The young man crashed heavily onto the floor and fell silent.

"Qian Mo! Are you okay?"

Xing Yaoyan was shocked. She couldn't understand why Qian Mo, who had so easily withstood her power surge before, was now sent flying so effortlessly by her.

She hurriedly tried to stand up and move towards him.

But perhaps because her body hadn't moved for too long, she suddenly felt her limbs go weak and started to stumble forward.

"Smack!"

She fell into a warm embrace.

"Qian Mo... so you were just pretending earlier..."

Sitting up on the young man's stomach, Xing Yaoyan raised a fist and shook it playfully in front of his face, which wore an awkward smile now that his trick had been exposed.

"Hahaha... I... well—I'm sorry..."

The young man's flustered, comical appearance immediately broke the girl's act, and she couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"What are you apologizing for? What exactly did you do wrong?"

"I shouldn't have kissed you like that... I know it was my fault... I'll take responsibility. I'll accept any punishment or beating..."

Watching the young man's red-faced, anxious explanation, Xing Yaoyan felt a tightly held emotional string in her heart pluck violently.

"Silly... you didn't do anything wrong... Besides, you just saved me. How could I possibly beat or punish you..."

The girl gently cupped the young man's face with both hands, leaning in slightly closer. Gazing tenderly at his stunned expression, her tail behind her subconsciously curled around his thigh, and the wolf ears on her head bent slightly towards him.

"As for what just happened between us... consider it my way of repaying you~"

"Young Miss Xing Yan... I..."

Xing Yaoyan could feel the young man tentatively grab her arm and start to speak.

At the same time, she noticed his gaze slowly drifting downward. Following his line of sight, she realized her clothes had been torn open in several places at some point, revealing her delicate collarbone.

So he was looking at...

"I... I think I'm having a hard time controlling myself... could we... Ah!"

The unfortunate Qian Mo disappeared from his spot before he could even finish his sentence. Simultaneously, a human-shaped crater appeared on the floor.

"How about now? Have you managed to control yourself, you pervert..."

Red Demonic Power slowly dissipated from her fist. The girl looked down at the crater beneath her, a vein throbbing visibly on her forehead.

As soon as her words fell, a trembling hand emerged from the crater and gave her an 'OK' gesture...