[Enhancement Successful! Star-Binding Myriad Form enhanced to +1!]
[New Effect Added: Slightly increases Star Energy manipulation precision when worn, compresses one's Star Energy and aura, and slightly boosts cultivation speed.]
Crrrunch!
The empty soda can was crushed by Tendo, letting out a jarring metallic shriek. He stared at the bold red 'Failure' text on the system panel, a vein throbbing on his forehead beneath his silvery-white choppy hair.
Six times! It took a whole six attempts!
Despite having a solid 25% success rate, he had failed five times consecutively before finally succeeding.
This forced Tendo to accept the fact that he was, indeed, a 'Non-Chief' (having bad luck).
Luck truly was not on his side!
However, merely a '+1' enhancement of the Star-Binding Myriad Form was not enough to satisfy Tendo's needs.
With this thought, Tendo immediately made a decision.
"No, I need some metaphysics. I need to borrow some luck from someone."
Tendo suddenly stood up and walked to the cruise ship cabin next door, where Caroline and Jing Liuli were staying.
Since the two hadn't closed their door, Tendo heard Jing Liuli's chirping laughter coming from inside as soon as he reached the hallway, sounding as if she was showing off to Caroline.
Tendo pushed the door open and saw Liuli lying on the table, sticking colorful stickers onto the face of a doll in front of her.
Caroline sat beside her, focused on a research book filled with complex formulas.
"Tendo? What are you doing here?"
Seeing Tendo's sudden appearance, Jing Liuli looked up curiously.
Tendo remained silent, walking straight up to Liuli.
And while the other girl looked utterly confused... he reached out and furiously ruffled her pale-purple hair!
"Agh! Tendo, what are you doing! My hair was just combed!"
Jing Liuli instantly bristled, raising her hand to swat his away.
"Stay still, stay still. I'm borrowing some luck from you."
Tendo said, messing her hair up even more, making her look like a frizzled purple hedgehog.
Caroline watched the chaotic scene, helplessly putting down her book. Though Tendo often did strange things, this was the first time she had seen anything quite this odd.
After all, could luck really be borrowed?
Feeling that he had borrowed enough luck, Tendo pinched Jing Liuli's soft cheek again before turning around, satisfied.
"Thanks!"
"Thanks for nothing!"
Liuli grabbed her dolphin doll in anger and hurled it at Tendo, but he easily dodged it and dashed back to his own room with a whoosh, not even bothering to close the door properly.
Watching Tendo's retreating back, Jing Liuli nestled into Caroline's arms, complaining, "Sister Caroline, look at him! He's just bullying me on purpose!"
Facing the pouting Liuli, Caroline smiled and smoothed her ruffled hair, a hint of tenderness flashing in her emerald eyes.
"There, there. Tendo probably had some special purpose. He wasn't really trying to trick you. I'll give him a talking-to later, alright?"
Hearing this, Jing Liuli quickly cheered up.
After all, she wasn't truly angry.
Besides, being teased by Tendo was something she had long grown used to.
Meanwhile, in the other cabin.
"Now that I have Jing Liuli's luck, plus my massive amount of Popularity Points as support, I refuse to believe I'll suffer five consecutive failures again!"
"Enhance!"
[Ding! Enhancement Successful! Star-Binding Myriad Form enhanced to +2!]
[New Effect Added: Star Energy manipulation precision boosted, Star Energy compression effect strengthened.]
Seeing this, Tendo's eyes lit up, and he immediately clicked 'Continue Enhancement.'
Since his luck was good, he had to strike while the iron was hot!
[Ding! Enhancement Successful! Star-Binding Myriad Form enhanced to +3 (Maximum Cap Reached)!]
[New Effect Added: Greatly increases Star Energy manipulation precision, completely compresses one's Star Energy and aura, and cultivation speed is significantly boosted.]
"Phew, finally."
Tendo breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed into his chair, looking utterly 'exhausted.'
It was not easy, truly not easy.
These luck-dependent things were clearly not suited for a 'control freak' like him, who was skilled in technique.
Only silly 'luck monsters' like Jing Liuli could thrive on this kind of unreasonable 'Luck Stream.'
After his moment of reflection, Tendo picked up the enhanced Star-Binding Myriad Form, turned it into an eye mask, and inspected it closely.
Unlike the initial version, which only had simple patterns, the +3 enhanced Star-Binding Myriad Form not only had significantly improved effects but also looked much better.
More than the supposed 'boost to Star Energy manipulation precision' and 'boost to cultivation speed,' what Tendo valued most was its ability to 'completely compress one's Star Energy and aura.'
Tendo put on the eye mask and checked himself in the mirror.
The man in the mirror had choppy silver-white hair, a slender figure, and that 'perfect' facial structure.
He was indeed the face of the 'Stars'.
"Not bad."
With the crucial 'ritual item' in hand, Tendo felt that his 'Sage Mode 1.0' had met all the requirements.
All that was left was to unveil it during the climax of the theatrical act.
In the early morning, the horn of the cruise ship pierced the crimson mist of Scarlet Mist City.
The unique pale-red fog of the Crimson Fog Season enveloped the port, allowing only a faint light to emerge from the distant lighthouse.
Jeremiah stood on the deck of the passenger gangway, absorbed in a shojo manga whose cover showed 'The male lead saving the amnesiac female lead.'
His permed hair was slightly ruffled by the morning breeze, but he didn't care, occasionally reaching up to prop up the slipping manga.
For him, the mission seemed far less important than reading the manga.
Woo!
The dull horn sounded again, and the cruise ship began to slowly approach the shore.
Jeremiah looked up, his gaze fixed on the gangway entrance.
The theatrical camera followed his line of sight to the entrance.
Tendo was walking in the lead, carrying his suitcase, his black coat swaying gently in the sea breeze.
On his face, he wore the eye mask that had only briefly appeared in the first season, seemingly hinting at something.
Caroline followed him, holding the hand of the still-sleepy Jing Liuli, whose eyelids were drooping.
"Let's go, we've reached the port."
Tendo called back, his voice crisp with the morning air.
Liuli immediately jolted, finally opening her blurry, sleepy eyes, and let out a small yawn.
"We're here? I haven't slept enough yet..."
Caroline stroked her head, her green cat ears twitching slightly, and she chuckled:
"If you sleep any longer, you'll miss the fried dough sticks at the breakfast stall. Didn't you say yesterday you wanted freshly fried dough sticks?"
The moment she heard the words 'fried dough sticks,' Liuli instantly perked up.
She immediately grabbed Caroline's hand and hurried forward.
"Then let's go quickly! I want two! And I want them dipped in sweet soy milk!"
Tendo smiled helplessly at the retreating figures of the two girls, picked up his suitcase, and followed.
The three figures quickly blended into the crowd at the dock. The morning light filtered through the mist, casting long shadows behind them.
Jeremiah looked at the direction where the trio disappeared, a deep intensity flashing in his eyes. He quietly closed the manga, a lazy smile playing on his lips.
"After today, Scarlet Mist City should become lively."
With those words, Jeremiah stretched his incredibly long legs and followed the crowd out of the congested passenger corridor.
However, unlike Tendo and the others, he headed in a completely opposite direction after disembarking.
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