After returning to the Zirui Grand Hotel, Ye Yu brought the girls back to the presidential suite.
Wearing a warm smile, Ye Yu once again activated the External Spirit Bone: Demon Willow Fluff (Mother Body), producing two new Demon Willow Fluff offshoots, which he intended as gifts for Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
"Yanyan, Lingling—hold out your hands."
"Huh? What is this?"
When they saw the Demon Willow Fluff, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were both stunned, clearly curious.
"When I hunted the Demon Willow, I obtained an External Spirit Bone from it," Ye Yu explained with a smile.
"This External Spirit Bone—I call it the Demon Willow Fluff: Mother Body. It can generate offshoots—new Demon Willow Fluff, which function as External Spirit Bones on their own."
"These Fluff strands can be implanted in the body using the Spirit Bone Ability: Devouring Parasitism."
"At first, I thought they were only useful for offense. But just recently, I discovered something new: when implanted along the outer layer of the meridians, they can form an independent, secondary meridian system."
"This second system can be used to cultivate and store Spirit Power, increasing your overall reserves beyond what's possible at your current rank."
"Additionally, I've acquired a technique called the Mysterious Heaven Skill, which cultivates faster than even the most advanced meditation methods. I also have several powerful self-created Spirit Abilities."
"But the Mysterious Heaven Skill can only be practiced from scratch."
"So first, I'll implant the Demon Willow Fluff into your bodies, creating that second meridian system."
"Then I'll teach you the Mysterious Heaven Skill and the custom Spirit Abilities."
"These are the two gifts I'm giving you."
"A second meridian system?"
"And cultivation faster than top-tier meditation methods?"
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were both shocked—unable to believe what they were hearing.
A Spirit Bone that grants an additional meridian network?
A cultivation method superior to the very best meditation techniques?
These were heaven-defying treasures.
They never imagined Ye Yu's so-called "gifts" would be so valuable.
When the two extended their hands, Ye Yu placed the two Demon Willow Fluff offshoots into their palms and activated Devouring Parasitism.
The Fluff immediately burrowed into their bodies and began extending countless threadlike roots, anchoring along their inner meridians.
"From now on," Ye Yu said, pulling out a meridian-acupoint chart, "any Spirit Power you cultivate with the Mysterious Heaven Skill should be stored in the Guanyuan acupoint, one of the four auxiliary dantians."
"As for Spirit Power you cultivate from meditating on your Martial Soul, that stays stored in your Qihai dantian."
Then, within the presidential suite, Ye Yu began teaching Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling everything they needed to know about meridian channels and acupoints.
He made sure the four of them memorized the foundational knowledge thoroughly.
Only after that could they begin learning the Mysterious Heaven Skill.
If they made a mistake during energy circulation—allowing internal energy to go off-course—it could easily result in internal injury.
Of course, with Ye Lingling present, they had a skilled healer—but Ye Yu insisted on proper training.
In his view, no matter how powerful the technique, a solid foundation was non-negotiable.
And based on his assessment, it would take at least half a month for the four girls to fully memorize the necessary theory.
Half a Month Later…
In a run-down residence in the outskirts of Soto City, a strange transformation was taking place.
Thanks to the "passionate hospitality" of the Pervert Trio—Bu Le, E Kao, and Tian Ya—Yu Xiaogang had undergone a complete metamorphosis.
He had spent nearly a month immersed in a rotation of mentally taxing games like Link-Up and Push the Box—brain games that required intense focus and stamina.
These games demanded a lot from both mind and body.
To make things worse, the Pervert Trio didn't know how to cook.
Their only provision was plain white porridge—and even that, barely enough to live on.
They were simply too poor.
They couldn't afford enough rice to properly nourish Yu Xiaogang's increasingly frail body—especially not with the daily drain from these "training sessions."
And on top of that, Yu Xiaogang's homesickness grew day by day.
As the saying goes: "Longing can become an illness."
Bit by bit, Yu Xiaogang wasted away.
His face turned pale.
His cheeks became sunken.
His entire body looked like it might fall apart at any moment.
One day, Yu Xiaogang lay curled up on the bed—ashen-faced and completely listless.
"Xiaogang... is it time to let him go?" Bu Le asked, gazing sorrowfully at their weakened guest.
Over this past month of shared puzzle solving and "game training," Yu Xiaogang had displayed incredible intelligence, even earning their admiration.
He had finally proven himself to be the true Master.
"We have no choice," E Kao sighed.
"That high-ranking person only told us to catch Yu Xiaogang and Tang San and 'properly entertain' them."
"But he also made it clear—no fatalities allowed."
"And as for Tang San—we never found a good opportunity to act."
"So we focused on Little Gang instead. Played Link-Up, Push the Box... all that."
"But these games are exhausting."
"And with our poor financial situation, we can't keep up the hospitality."
Tian Ya's slit-like eyes filled with emotion. He clenched his fists and declared:
"No need to be heartbroken!"
"This parting is only temporary!"
"If we keep training, there will come a day—we'll reunite with Xiaogang!"
"And that day, the three of us will travel with him, play games together, roam the continent, and live our best lives!"
After one last farewell, filled with deep (and creepy) emotion…
The trio placed a tracking mark on Yu Xiaogang's body.
Then, in the dead of night, they quietly returned him to the edge of Shrek Academy's village.
Meanwhile, with no sign of their missing comrade, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the rest of the teachers were still searching all over Soto City.
As for Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar, their training hadn't stopped.
That morning, the four were getting ready for another round of weighted endurance drills—when they saw a figure lying near the village entrance.
"Teacher!!"
Tang San's eyes widened as he rushed forward, with the others hurrying after him.
As they got closer, they were nearly knocked out by the stench—a mix of decay, body odor, and fishy musk.
Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar all instinctively clutched their noses, grimacing.
"God, what is that smell?!"
"Teacher—what happened?!"
Tang San, ever the loyal disciple, braved the stench and knelt beside Yu Xiaogang, gently shaking his limp form.
But Yu Xiaogang was so weak, he couldn't even speak.
"Xiao Ao!" Tang San called out. "Quick—give Teacher a few Recovery Sausages!"
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin