[Check Out My P4treon For +50 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]
===
Hearing Zhongli's words, Paimon and Chiyu had no objections.
Paimon's eyes even sparkled with anticipation—the temptation of food was simply irresistible to her.
She loved delicious food, of course, but even if it wasn't particularly tasty, she could still eat it as long as it filled her stomach.
After all, she had fainted from hunger before.
Now, with the prospect of good food ahead, her excitement was at its peak.
"That's great! Although I love the food Zhongli makes, I also really like the food at Seven Treasures Hotel—mainly because..."
"Because there's just so much variety there!"
In Liyue, it was Marchosius—Guoba—the Stove God, who had spread the methods of cooking.
But in the hearts of many Liyue citizens, Morax was the true Stove God, as Zhongli had also played a part in disseminating culinary knowledge.
Later, Marchosius sacrificed his power for Liyue and fell into a deep slumber...
And so, the legend of Morax as the Stove God grew ever stronger...
As an archon, Morax would not explain these things. He would not interfere with humanity's own choices.
As long as he lived, he would never forget his old friend, Marchosius.
"Old friend... did you bring any money?"
Guoba: "..."
Hearing Paimon's words, Zhongli's eye twitched slightly.
Was the food he made not better than that of Seven Treasures Hotel?
Perhaps Paimon was just tired of his cooking and wanted a change of taste.
He would not easily interfere with others' choices. If Paimon made this decision, Zhongli wouldn't be angry or anything of the sort.
He had long outgrown such emotions.
The reason he treated Chiyu so well was also out of respect for her choice. She had chosen to stay by his side, making her one of his own—naturally, he would treat her better.
Those around him couldn't be too weak, otherwise, he would be exhausted...
Of course, Paimon was an exception. For now, there was no helping it—though perhaps a solution would present itself in the future.
Chiyu blinked, glancing at Paimon in confusion. Though she had never tasted Zhongli's cooking, she firmly believed that anything he made would be far superior to Seven Treasures Hotel's offerings!
A twisted Rex Lapis fanatic was quietly forming.
After just over a day together, Chiyu had gradually shifted from gratitude to becoming a Zhongli fan...
Then from a Zhongli fan to an enthusiastic Zhongli fan...
And finally, she began to distort, becoming a twisted Zhongli fan.
"I'll follow whatever Master decides!"
Chiyu blinked, speaking with utmost seriousness.
Her beautiful eyes reflected nothing but Zhongli's image!
Zhongli: "..."
He had told her multiple times, but she refused to listen...
Fine. She could call him whatever she liked.
With Zhongli's discerning eye, he could easily gauge Chiyu's physical limits.
Under the "enhancements" of the Nine-Vein Purple Spirit Herb and the Jade-Like Water Immortal Bone, her first soul ring wouldn't be limited to just a few hundred years.
The Nine-Vein Purple Spirit Herb repaired her body and martial soul deficiencies.
The Jade-Like Water Immortal Bone strengthened her physique and boosted her soul power...
Once Chiyu had absorbed the two herbs sufficiently, Zhongli would select an immortal herb suitable for her martial soul's secondary awakening.
Only then would Chiyu truly soar to new heights!
A body-fused martial soul—Zhongli couldn't even begin to guess what Chiyu's upper limits might be.
After the transformations from the Nine-Vein Purple Spirit Herb and the Jade-Like Water Immortal Bone, her innate soul power—her natural talent—could rival that of a genius with full innate soul power!
"I hope she can stand on her own in the future. This child has suffered enough from the moment she was born..."
Zhongli thought to himself, keeping these words unspoken.
The Sunset Forest was the largest soul beast forest within the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Located near Heaven Dou City, it took roughly two hours for a Great Soul Master to reach it.
Though the Sunset Forest didn't have as many or as powerful soul beasts as the Star Dou Great Forest, it still housed quite a few formidable creatures.
Zhongli, Chiyu, and Paimon ventured deep into the inner regions of the Sunset Forest without encountering any reckless soul beasts along the way.
As if struck by a thought, Zhongli spoke:
"Generally speaking, your martial soul is that of a cat—a type of agility-attack system martial soul, yet it is also a mutated variant."
"Since it has fused with your body, it can be considered a body-type martial soul."
"Body-type martial souls can still be categorized into different systems..."
"Zhongli, you mean... Chiyu can still follow the agility-attack path?"
Paimon blinked, confused.
She was a little lost listening to all this—strong attack, agility attack, control, support...
Agility attack sounded like a soul master who specialized in speed.
"Correct."
Zhongli nodded.
After all, it was still a cat. Even after fusing with her body, the agility-attack path would allow her to maximize the martial soul's advantages.
Chiyu didn't understand any of this, so she simply nodded at whatever Zhongli said.
After some consideration, Zhongli studied Chiyu again...
He knew the general direction, but many of the finer details of soul masters eluded him.
With soul beasts, Zhongli could gauge their approximate age based on the energy within them—but he didn't recognize many of the species...
"I should visit the library when I have time."
Zhongli mused silently.
Since he was in the Douluo Continent now, he ought to learn its unique aspects properly.
As for Chiyu—once she obtained her soul ring, he'd see if she wanted to attend an academy.
"Your physique should be able to withstand the energy of a three-thousand-year soul ring."
A body-type martial soul, innate soul power exceeding ten levels, and the aid of immortal herbs had elevated Chiyu's physical strength to rival that of a Soul Elder in their thirties.
A level-thirty quasi-Soul Elder could generally absorb a soul ring of around seventeen hundred years.
But Chiyu's body was far stronger than that of an average quasi-Soul Elder, though not quite at the level of a quasi-Soul Ancestor.
Three thousand years was a reasonable middle ground.
Once she obtained her first soul ring and her body was further strengthened by its energy, the limit for her second soul ring would increase accordingly.
Why did the Spirit Hall's soul masters possess soul rings that far exceeded normal limits?
The main reason was their superior physical strength—only a robust body could endure greater soul power impacts.
This was also the secret behind twin martial souls!
The first recorded soul master with twin martial souls had died from body explosion while absorbing a soul ring precisely because his physique wasn't strong enough.
"A three-thousand-year soul ring?!"
Paimon was stunned. She knew about soul ring age limits and their corresponding colors.
A thousand-year soul ring was purple.
But didn't most soul masters start with a white ten-year soul ring or a yellow hundred-year one?
"Zhongli, can little Chiyu really absorb a thousand-year soul ring as her first?"
"The soul masters I've seen all had white or yellow first rings..."
"Wouldn't it be dangerous for her to start with a purple one?"
Paimon asked worriedly. Though she and Chiyu didn't quite click, she didn't want anything bad to happen to her.
The girl was nice enough—she just seemed to have an especially strong grudge against humans...
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 115 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 20 power stones I will publish the next chapter.