A Bite of Douluo Continent

The little creature in Qi Han's arms couldn't resist nuzzling the green crystal, then curiously licked it twice. A very light green layer appeared on its body, and it quickly shrunk back into Qi Han's arms and fell asleep, as if some kind of hidden change was taking place.

Qi Han did not stop Gulu. He looked at it with some surprise as it fell into a deep sleep. Clearly, Gulu was undergoing some kind of positive change, which was also a good thing for him.

"System, could you explain what this is and how to use it?"

Qi Han still doesn't know what this is. It looks quite nice, though. Is it something you carry with you every day?

However, if you are immersed in such a rich life force every day, you should at least be able to prolong your life, right?

Thinking about it that way, it really is a great treasure.

(P.S.: There will be extra chapters for the next three days. How many extra chapters depends on how much the readers support me. There will be a chapter for every 200 comments in the Qidian book review section. There will also be an extra chapter when the reader group reaches 100 members (4 more members needed). Hurry up!)

Chapter 143 The System Can Upgrade Again? (Bonus Chapter When the Book Club Reaches 100 Members)

Life Crystal, also known as the Gold of Life, is a form condensed from the purest life force. It can only appear in places where life force is most concentrated, making it a rare and precious treasure and a wellspring of life power.

"I see." He had never heard of the Crystal of Life, but he had heard of the Gold of Life.

Five thousand years later, Huo Qubing had one.

So it really is a good thing.

"Then how do you use it?" Qi Han asked curiously. If he remembered correctly, Huo Gua was simply stuck into his head, right?

[Life Crystals are materials for system upgrades. After the system upgrade is complete, the remaining life energy will be fed back to the host.]

"You can upgrade??" Qi Han was stunned, his attention immediately shifting from the life crystal to the system itself.

While still backstage at the Starlight Auction House, Qi Han simply put the Life Crystal into his pocket and stored it in his system space. Then, guided by a waiter, he walked out of the Starlight Auction House.

"System, what's the status of your upgrade?" Qi Han became interested in the system's upgrade.

[The system upgrade requires absorbing a large amount of life force from the Life Crystal, lasting 24 hours. During the upgrade, the system will be unable to respond to the host, but the normal supply of ingredients and the store's automatic protection mechanism will continue to function normally.]

The main purpose of the system upgrade is to utilize the life force within the Life Crystal to improve and rebuild the system's mini-world, thereby better providing the host with ingredients. It will also strengthen the training space, and it is expected that the base time flow rate of the training space will double after the upgrade.

[After the system upgrade, the remaining Life Crystals will be fed back to the host as a reward for the host helping the system obtain key materials for upgrades.]

That's a lot of information...

Qi Han couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

The first sentence is relatively easy to understand; it means that the upgrade will take one day, and the business can continue to operate normally during the upgrade period without being affected.

The meaning of the second sentence is quite clear: for the time being, the only benefit of the system upgrade for himself is that the training space time flow rate doubles again.

The current time flow rate is 60:1; if it doubles, it will be 120:1.

He enjoyed privileges that were originally reserved for intermediate-level chefs, but he did so ahead of time.

Of course, after being promoted to intermediate chef, the time flow ratio will also change to 240:1.

As for the life force feedback from the life crystal, Qi Han doesn't know what the effect will be yet, but it's good nonetheless.

but...

"System, where did you get this little world from? I don't know anything about it."

[The System's Mini-World is an unmanned mini-world independently created by the system. It is mainly used to raise all the ingredients needed for the host's business and to build a complete ecosystem. The internal time flow rate is one thousand times that of the outside world. Access to this mini-world is only granted when the host reaches the level of a god-level chef.]

Qi Han suddenly realized that this was how the system had been providing the ingredients all along.

and many more...

"System, since the small world has already built a complete ecosystem, theoretically you should have no cost in cultivating ingredients, right? Didn't you say that cultivating ingredients was very costly when you asked me for money before?"

【…】

Oops, I let it slip.

[This...this system also wants to experience what it's like to receive money, is that wrong?]

Qi Han chuckled, "Alright, alright, consider it your secret stash of money."

The money the system collected was just a drop in the ocean compared to what he earned, so Qi Han naturally didn't care.

No wonder the system never asks me for money for the ingredients it gives me; it turns out the ingredients have virtually no cost.

Is this what they call a risk-free business? I love it!

"By the way, System, has something changed about you? Why do I feel like you're speaking with emotion now?"

Because of its proximity to the Life Crystal, and its partial influence, the system will experience richer emotional fluctuations after upgrading using the Life Crystal.

That's something to look forward to, Qi Han said with a smile.

The previous system was great in every way, except the voice was completely devoid of emotion, like a heartless food supplier.

As they were talking, Qi Han had already arrived at the shop entrance, opened the door, and walked inside.

He didn't notice that in an alleyway a few dozen meters away from him, five or six men lay unconscious, piled up like a heap of garbage.

A figure in a golden robe stood silently before them.

"Consider this your way of repaying me for treating this old man to a meal, you little brat," he muttered to himself, then vanished in an instant.

...

"System, make a cat bed for Guru in my room." Walking into the room, Qi Han looked at the still sleeping kitten in his arms and a smile appeared on his face.

【10,000 Gold Soul Coins, thank you for your patronage.】

"What kind of cat bed is so expensive?" Qi Han's face fell, feeling that the system was up to its old tricks again.

[Made of the same material as the host's bed, it's so comfortable you fall asleep instantly.]

"Fine, so you finally admit that it's your doing that I fall asleep the moment my head hits the bed every day?" Qi Han suddenly realized his blind spot.

【…】

I've let things slip a few times, but the system doesn't care anymore.

Just tell me if you want it or not.

"Here you go." Qi Han handed the system a gold note containing 10,000 gold soul coins, showing some curiosity about the cat house produced by the system.

Immediately afterwards, a delicate and cozy cat bed appeared in the corner of Qi Han's room. The cat bed was not large, but it could automatically adjust to the size of the kitten as it grew.

Another example of advanced system technology.

Qi Han carefully placed Gulu in the cat bed and then turned to lie down on the bed.

[Does the host have anything else? If not, this system will now enter upgrade mode.]

Zzzzz...

That was too hasty.

The night passed quickly, and early the next morning, after waking Qi Han, the system entered upgrade mode.

Unable to access the system space and training space while in upgrade mode, Qi Han, who had originally planned to take advantage of his free time today to start a three-star recipe, could only wait another twenty-four hours.

However, given the numerous benefits of the system upgrade, the wait is clearly worthwhile.

After washing up and changing into clean clothes, Qi Han suddenly heard a faint call.

"Meow~"

The gurgling sound made him suddenly realize that the Cold Food Festival had gained a new member.

"I'm still getting used to it." With a smile, Qi Han walked up to the cat's bed and looked at the fluffy little creature inside.

"Meow?"

Gulu tilted its head, its large, black eyes with a hint of purple meeting Qi Han's gaze.

I remember now, this is the human who scratched my itch yesterday!

With a light tap of its limbs, Gulu easily hopped into Qi Han's arms.

Humans, I want more!

Qi Han skillfully petted the cat with one hand and carried Gulu in the other as they walked downstairs.

Nourished by the Life Crystal, Gulu seemed to have grown a bit, and its fur had become longer, feeling fluffy and incredibly soft to the touch. Its fur had completely regained its luster, and it looked much more energetic.

With the nourishment of the life crystal, there's no need for things like insecticides.

Speaking of which... do Soul Beast Cats need to be spayed/neutered?

Qi Han looked at Gulu in his arms and fell into deep thought.

"Meow!"

Gulu was comfortably lying in Qi Han's arms, enjoying Qi Han's massage, when suddenly he felt a chill and couldn't help but shudder.

Who? Who wants to harm me?!

Chapter 144 Cat Food Made for Gulu

It was still early, so Qi Han gently placed Gulu on the ground floor and smiled, "This is where you'll be living from now on. You can familiarize yourself with the surroundings first."

After saying that, he turned and walked towards the kitchen, intending to make himself a bowl of dragon beard noodles for breakfast.

Watching Qi Han turn and leave, a thoughtful expression appeared in Gulu's eyes. Then, he slowly strolled around and began to examine the decorations on the first floor of Hanshi.

"Meow!"

From now on, this will be my home!

Soon, Qi Han placed a steaming bowl of dragon beard noodles on the table and sat down to eat.

"Meow?"

What does it taste like?

Gulu sniffed, turned to look at Qi Han, jumped onto the table in a few steps, bent her hind legs and squatted in front of the dragon beard noodles, watching Qi Han eat the noodles with longing eyes.

this...