"Turn you... into my servant?"Gu Ning was taken aback.
He had believed he had thoroughly analyzed Qin's personality—someone obsessed with knowledge, driven by a thirst for wisdom, and somewhat fanatical.
But even so, he hadn't expected her fanaticism to go this far.
"You should be happy to accept. I'm quite confident in my own value," Qin said with a sweet smile. "This is the only way to ensure we'll meet again. Who knows, I might even get a chance to visit your world someday."
Gu Ning fell silent. He was beginning to understand her intentions.
First, Qin feared that once he left the "Origin Plane of the Flesh Plague," he might never return, and this parting would become permanent.
Second, she sought broader horizons—and perhaps, this was her way of gaining access to the real world Gu Ning belonged to.
"Aren't you worried that once you become my servant, I'll make you do things that go against your will?" Gu Ning asked.
"Go against my will? You mean… force me?"Qin studied Gu Ning's strikingly handsome face, then chuckled, "That wouldn't really be against my will. Who knows who would benefit more from that."
She paused before continuing:"You're a smart and rational man. I know you wouldn't waste your time on meaningless acts like abuse or venting. Once I become your servant, I'd be your prized possession—you wouldn't want to damage me. The most likely thing you'd ask of me is to conduct research in flesh alchemy. Isn't that exactly what I want too?"
Though Qin's words were outrageous, her twisted logic somehow made sense.
A beautiful, noble, intelligent native woman was voluntarily asking to become his servant. Even with Gu Ning's usually cold and rational nature, he couldn't help but feel a surge of pride, excitement, and satisfaction. His lower abdomen even felt a little warm.
Gu Ning wasn't some paragon of virtue. He wasn't going to act like some sanctimonious movie hero and flatly reject her—for her to speak so candidly, turning her down now would only seem hypocritical.
"I'd be happy to accept—but the actual process will be difficult," Gu Ning replied."To make you my servant, I would need to have strength surpassing yours... You know that, right?"
Qin nodded."Yes. The Blood Ring Imprint can only successfully bind a mutant because the Blood Ring Fortress operates on a pyramid of strength. At the top is Emperor Gustav. The second tier includes Chancellor Oxenshelna, Marshal Horne, and Scholar Schroedler. The third tier holds the generals, like Bloodhand Colon."
"From what I can tell," Gu Ning said, "your outward strength is about on par with Lieutenant Zweig and Sorcerer Garlan (Enhanced Elite class), slightly weaker than Bloodhand Colon (Leader class). But in truth… you're probably even stronger than him, right?"
Qin nodded with a sly smile.
A prompt from the Spirit Realm appeared:
[Due to the native Qin's voluntary disclosure, you've learned partial information about the target.][Qin (alias) / Level 3 Enhanced Leader][Race: Humanoid / Human][Class: Blood Magus][Attributes: Strength 12, Agility 17, Endurance 45, Spirit 49][Skill 1: Flesh Alchemy – Qin has stockpiled various blood-curse materials to craft corresponding flesh alchemy potions. She can use blood magic to activate these potions and greatly enhance their effects.][???]
"Level 3 Enhanced Leader!"
Even though Gu Ning had been prepared, he was still shocked.
"Even after I absorb the second vial of Origin Blood, I probably still won't surpass your strength," he admitted.
"Two vials of Origin Blood won't be your limit," Qin said softly.
"That's true. It's just the beginning," Gu Ning said with conviction. "I will grow stronger. Soon enough—I'll surpass you."
"Then I'll wait for that day… when I become your servant," Qin replied naturally, even with a trace of anticipation, as if the word "servant" meant "lover" or "bride."
[You have absorbed the second vial of Origin Blood. Progress: 2/2][You have gained a Growth-Type Talent: Heart of Evolution, derived from the Spirit Realm Relic: Origin Blood.]
Here is the talent breakdown:
[Heart of Evolution – Level 1 (Growth-Type Talent, Rank: Unknown)]Talent Skill 1: Adaptive Evolution – You can store multiple evolution forms to adapt to various types of damage. Current stored forms: 2/4 (Keratinized Skin, Fluid Skeleton).Talent Skill 2: Dominion of Pureblood – You can store up to 2 drops of pure blood in your heart. Injecting pure blood grants +7 free attribute points. Injecting into others has a chance to make them your temporary servant.Talent Skill 3: ??? (Requires 100 Life Source Points to unlock. Current: 44/100)Tip A: With a standard Earth diet, you store 1 drop of pure blood every 7 days. Consuming high-spirit-energy nutrients shortens this cycle.Tip B: Killing powerful lifeforms grants Life Source Points and unlocks more abilities of the Heart of Evolution.
The talent description was practically a short essay.
Even just the two known talent skills would make any other awakened individual green with envy—most awakened didn't even have any innate talent, let alone a third one waiting to be unlocked.
Gu Ning glanced through it and realized that the two active skills had already shown hints earlier.
The Adaptive Evolution forms—Keratinized Skin and Fluid Skeleton—had activated during his fights with the Plague Dead and Blood Ring Heavy-Hammer Soldiers.
But now, with control over the Origin Blood, Gu Ning no longer needed to be injured for adaptive responses—he could transform at will.
The Dominion of Pureblood mentioned the same enhanced blood potion that Qin had brewed for him earlier, "Blood of Intensification." Now, Gu Ning could bypass her alchemical process and directly generate pure blood to enslave others or strengthen himself—+7 free attribute points was an impressive early-game bonus.
The last part mentioned Life Source Points—gained by slaying powerful beings—to unlock new abilities. Gu Ning had tried investigating what the third talent was, but was told to explore it himself.
From his current 44 points, it was clear that even though he didn't get a treasure chest after poisoning Bloodhand Colon, his death had still yielded Life Source Points.
Putting aside the talent, Gu Ning continued reading the latest notification:
[Trial Quest Complete – You have earned the right to advance as an Awakened.][Based on your trial difficulty and completion efficiency, your advancement template is: Enhanced Elite.]
Enhanced Elite Class!
Gu Ning was thrilled.
This was nearly the best possible starting point for any trial participant. It put him on par with top-tier elites like Lieutenant Zweig and Sorcerer Garlan—individuals who shone easily during Spirit Realm expeditions.
Most trial-goers only got standard templates, unless they completed an A-grade or harder mission with exceptional efficiency. Gu Ning had completed an S-grade trial in just two days—earning the Enhanced Elite class was only logical.
Above the Enhanced Elite was the Heroic Class, equivalent to native Leaders—but it was virtually unheard of for a trial participant to start with that. Only a rare few would earn it after overcoming immense challenges and undergoing a second class change.
Gu Ning now had a clear goal: to collect more Origin Blood and related Spirit Realm relics. One day, he would emerge from his cocoon as a true powerhouse.
For now, Enhanced Elite was already a near-perfect beginning.
[You may now choose one of the following unique professions from the Flesh Plague: Origin World.]A: Blood-Frenzied Gladiator – Channel boiling blood to unleash brutal power. Crush your foes.B: Bloodcurse Stalker – Use eerie blood curses to relentlessly hunt your prey.C: Bloodforged Warden – Absorb enemy vitality to craft living armor. Become the fortress.D: Blood Magus – Wield blood magic to drain the ignorant and turn their strength into your own.