9: Chapter 9: Bonds Formed, First Son Developing

[Do you wish to form a bond with Xing Jianwan?]

A golden system panel hovered before his eyes.

Lin Zhe only glanced at it, not a single trace of hesitation in his heart.

"Confirm."

Hum—

A pale pink light shield, visible only to Lin Zhe, instantly rose from beneath his feet.

The shield wasn't large, just enough to envelop him and Xing Jianwan within.

The players outside noticed nothing.

Xing Jianwan, however, was suddenly taken aback.

She felt a warm power emanating from Lin Zhe, washing over her like a gentle current.

In the next second, system notifications began popping up frantically in Lin Zhe's mind.

[Ding! Bond successfully established]

[Target: Xing Jianwan]

[Current Bond Value: 85]

[Conception mechanism triggered]

[First offspring is currently being conceived]

[Offspring Initial Grade: Common]

[Offspring Growth Direction: Novice Area Rule-Type]

[Notice: Increasing Bond Value, Player Awe Value, and Host Authority can all improve the offspring's grade]

Lin Zhe's gaze paused.

The first child.

It has already begun.

Although the initial grade was only Common, the system had made it very clear.

It could be upgraded.

The higher the Bond Value and the stronger the players' awe of him, the higher the offspring's future grade would be.

This was his first path of growth.

It wasn't about killing monsters.

It wasn't about leveling up.

It was about making this unborn child step-by-step become an existence that controls the rules of the Novice Area.

A flash of coldness crossed Lin Zhe's eyes.

The Wild Wolf Gang.

And those players who treated NPCs as monsters to be hacked away at.

Just wait.

Soon, you will all learn what true 'rules' are.

On the other side, Xing Jianwan also opened her status bar.

She had initially only felt her body warming up, but upon seeing the new buff, her cool eyes instantly narrowed.

[Special Buff: Breath of the Bond]

[Effect: Monster-killing damage increased by 10%]

[Source: Unknown Special NPC]

A 10% damage increase!

And it was a buff with no displayed time limit!

Xing Jianwan had played miracle long enough to know exactly how ridiculous such a buff was.

In the early stages, players had poor equipment and few skills; a 10% damage boost was equivalent to being a direct step ahead of everyone else.

She subconsciously looked toward Lin Zhe.

"Did you give this to me?"

Lin Zhe looked at her and didn't deny it, merely giving a slight nod.

Xing Jianwan's heart jolted.

As expected.

Her guess from just now was correct.

This refugee NPC was definitely no ordinary NPC.

He could reflect damage back at players.

He could pin down an Elite Boar King.

And he could even grant her this kind of special buff.

More importantly, he understood her words and would actively judge the situation.

This had completely exceeded the scope of a low-level NPC.

Xing Jianwan gripped her staff, her gaze becoming much more serious.

"Just what is your identity?"

Lin Zhe did not answer.

It wasn't that he didn't want to say.

It was just that there was no need right now.

The more he said, the faster he would be exposed.

Currently, he was still just a lowest-level refugee NPC.

Although he had damage reflection and immunity to instant-kills, the rule that he could not actively attack players still applied.

If he truly encountered a group of madmen who didn't fear death, it would still be quite troublesome.

Seeing his silence, Xing Jianwan didn't press further.

She wasn't the type to lack social awareness.

If Lin Zhe didn't speak, it meant it was inconvenient to do so now.

She closed her status bar and suddenly took a step to the side.

Not away.

But right next to Lin Zhe.

It was as if she had tacitly placed herself on his side.

The surrounding players, who were still discussing the Boar King, were all stunned when they saw this.

"What's the situation?"

"Why isn't Xing Jianwan leaving?"

"What is she doing standing next to that big shot?"

"No way, is she really staying here?"

Wild Wolf's face also darkened as he watched.

Who was Xing Jianwan?

The number one goddess player in the entire server.

Honorary President of Lingxiao Pavilion.

Countless guild masters wanted to invite her to their teams, yet she ignored them all.

Now, she was actually taking the initiative to stand beside a refugee NPC?

This scene was too absurd.

So absurd that people didn't dare believe it.

Xing Jianwan ignored those gazes.

She looked at Lin Zhe, her voice steady.

"I want to stay by your side."

Lin Zhe looked up at her.

Xing Jianwan continued, "You can't actively attack players, right?"

Lin Zhe's eyes flickered slightly.

As expected of a top-tier player.

Her observation was spot on.

From just now until now, he hadn't made a single proactive move.

All the damage had been triggered by reflecting others' attacks back at them.

Xing Jianwan had clearly already figured it out.

Her tone was very direct.

"You helped me once, and I won't take benefits for nothing."

"If any players harass you in the future, I can step in and handle it."

"And for the items, requests, and information these players bring, I can also help you organize them."

"You only need to decide whether or not to accept."

The words were simple.

But the meaning was clear.

She wanted to stay.

And it wasn't just to leech off his buff.

It was to help Lin Zhe block trouble.

The surrounding players' eyes nearly popped out as they listened.

"Holy crap, did I hear that right?"

"The goddess wants to be an assistant to an NPC?"

"Is this still that cold and aloof Xing Jianwan?"

"Is she crazy? The server's number one goddess is proactively staying to help a refugee NPC?"

"You don't know shit, this must be a hidden quest!"

"Even if it's a hidden quest, it's not our turn!"

The discussions grew louder and louder.

Xing Jianwan, however, remained calm.

She was never one who liked to explain herself.

She didn't care what others thought.

She only knew that Lin Zhe held a massive secret.

Moreover, if it hadn't been for Lin Zhe just now, she would have been sent back to the respawn point by the Elite Boar King.

Not to mention she had now obtained a 10% damage boost buff.

Staying was no loss.

In fact, it was the best choice she could make at the moment.

Lin Zhe looked at her, quickly weighing the options in his mind.

Xing Jianwan was level 5, and her equipment and mechanical skill far exceeded ordinary novices.

She also had the reputation of Lingxiao Pavilion behind her.

With her there, many ordinary players wouldn't dare act recklessly.

The most crucial point was that the bond had just been established.

With her staying by his side, the Bond Value would surely increase faster.

This was vital for improving the grade of his first child.

Lin Zhe didn't act pretentious.

He nodded.

"Fine."

Two words.

Short and to the point.

A very faint smile flickered in the depths of Xing Jianwan's eyes.

"Good."

She turned to face the surrounding players, her voice becoming cold and aloof.

"From now on, do not casually approach within three meters of him."

"Place any items you bring on the left."

"If you want to ask questions, line up."

"Anyone who attacks him, bear the consequences yourselves."

As soon as these words were spoken, the area around the mound instantly quieted down significantly.

Quite a few players subconsciously took a few steps back.

Before, they feared Lin Zhe's damage reflection.

Now, there was also Xing Jianwan.

One they couldn't touch.

One they couldn't afford to provoke.

Who would dare act out now?

A young warrior swallowed hard and muttered in a low voice.

"This lineup is way too grand..."

A mage next to him immediately chimed in.

"No shit, have you ever seen the server's number one goddess personally standing guard?"

"Say no more, I'm going to go kill two rabbits to calm my nerves."

The atmosphere on the mound became peculiar.

The players stopped crowding in recklessly.

They also didn't dare to try and grope Lin Zhe anymore.

Those bringing items began to honestly place potions, wild fruits, and equipment in the designated spot.

People who wanted to ask if Lin Zhe was a hidden quest NPC were also suppressed by a single look from Xing Jianwan.

Lin Zhe stood in place, quietly watching the scene.

Good.

Order was beginning to form.

He pulled up the system panel.

[First offspring is being conceived]

[Current Grade: Common]

[Growth Progress: 1%]

[Current Bond Value: 85]

[Host Authority: Instant-Kill Immunity, Damage Reflection, Player Information Viewing]

Lin Zhe's gaze fell upon the words 'Growth Progress'.

Only 1%.

But it was enough.

The first step had been taken.

Next, he only needed to make all the players in Luofeng Village understand one thing.

He was not an NPC they could just hack at whenever they wanted.

He was the source of future rules.

Xing Jianwan stood by his side, her white mage robes fluttering in the wind.

She didn't ask about Lin Zhe's secrets again, instead quietly helping him sort the supplies at his feet into several piles.

One pile for potions.

One pile for food.

One pile for equipment.

One pile for useless junk.

The surrounding players watched this scene, their expressions each more colorful than the last.

The server's number one goddess was truly organizing items for a refugee NPC.

And Lin Zhe stood there with a calm expression, as if all of this was exactly as it should be.

In the distance, the members of the Wild Wolf Gang supported each other as they retreated.

Wild Wolf stared fixedly at Lin Zhe and Xing Jianwan, his face so dark it almost seemed to drip.

Lin Zhe noticed that venomous gaze and swept his eyes over indifferently.

Wild Wolf's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously lowered his head to avoid eye contact.

Lin Zhe retracted his gaze.

On the system panel, that line of text was still glowing faintly.

[First offspring is currently being conceived]