"Do you want to wear something to protect yourself?"
An Miaoyi's voice was soft and filled with concern as she carefully uncorked a porcelain jar of herbal ointment.
"No need, sis," Lin Yi replied casually, giving her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, nothing will go wrong."
"But Lin Yi," she said with a frown, gently dabbing the green paste onto the fresh cut on his hand, "if you don't protect yourself, your hand might get scratched if you exert too much force."
"Ouch... sis, it hurts..." Lin Yi winced the moment her fingers brushed over the open wound.
"You see?" she sighed, looking at him with a mix of worry and amusement. "I told you that you'd get hurt."
The herbal ointment gave off a sharp, bitter fragrance. It was a potent mix — a hemostatic and healing paste commonly used in this world to stop bleeding and accelerate skin regeneration. For people here, this was routine. For Lin Yi, it was still something out of a fantasy novel.
After all, he wasn't a native of this world.
Three months ago, Lin Yi had been on Blue Star. To celebrate his company's successful stock market debut, he had gone to the Red Romantic Bathhouse with a few business partners.
He'd chosen a loli-type technician and was just settling in, when—
Bang!
Before An Miaoyi could even reach for the door, it was kicked open with violent force.
The wooden door exploded into splinters, pieces flying across the room, dangerously close to hitting Lin Yi and An Miaoyi!
"An Miaoyi! I never expected you to be hiding here!"
A mocking voice rang out, laced with malicious delight.
"Tsk tsk... You, the real young lady of the An family, lowering yourself to pretend as a servant? Afraid of being exposed? How pitiful. But it's all useless now. I, Wang Deyang, have finally caught you!"
Lin Yi stared in stunned silence as the old man stepped into the narrow room, laughing with unrestrained arrogance.
The man was dressed in a flowing purple robe, his build solid and his face flushed — whether from excitement or madness, Lin Yi couldn't tell.
In the old man's hand was a small wooden box, carved with strange runes — clearly a spiritual mechanism. At that moment, he raised it and pointed it straight at Lin Yi and An Miaoyi.
Wang Deyang?
The name struck a chord. Lin Yi blinked, confused, then instinctively looked down at the finger An Miaoyi had just finished bandaging.
The ointment she had used — the highly effective, fast-healing herbal paste — hadn't she just mentioned it was crafted by Pharmacist Wang?
This Wang Deyang... wasn't he the same person?
Before Lin Yi could piece it together, he suddenly realized something else — An Miaoyi was still holding his hand.
Her soft, delicate fingers were cool to the touch, but her grip was firm — she didn't let go.
An Miaoyi slowly turned her head to face him. Her expression was calm, almost resigned, and she gave him a faint, helpless smile.
She squeezed his hand ever so slightly — and in doing so, accidentally pressed down on his wounded finger again.
"Ahh—" Lin Yi gasped from the sudden sharp sting.
Thud.
At that moment, the small book Lin Yi had been carrying in his arms — the Records of Descendants — slipped out from beneath his robe and landed on the ground.
Coincidentally, several drops of blood from his injured finger dripped directly onto its aged, yellowed cover.
The next instant, the book trembled violently and emitted a golden light.
Then—
Whoosh!
The Records of Descendants transformed into a stream of golden energy and vanished, reappearing within Lin Yi's mind. The image of the book hovered in his sea of consciousness, rapidly growing larger.
Ding!
A clear notification sound echoed in his head.
Lin Yi stared in disbelief as lines of glowing text began appearing inside his mind.
> "The Records of Descendants is a Law Treasure prepared for the fortunate host to establish an Eternal Family — happily and joyfully!"
> "Once the host is recognized by the Records of Descendants, and if the appearance and potential of a candidate exceed eighty points (out of one hundred), marriage or producing offspring with them will trigger random rewards — based on the qualities of the partner and the child."
> "Please work hard, host!"
> "The more marriages and concubines, the more children — the greater the rewards!"
> "An Miaoyi is a potential spouse or concubine with a comprehensive evaluation score of ninety points!"
> "As this is the host's first time fusing with the Law Treasure, you are granted a special welcome gift: the Emperor-Level High Grade Technique — Withered Tree Reviving Spring — and a bonus of one year of cultivation!"
> "All of this is for the host to marry, have children, and build a legacy!"
> "Note: This greeting gift will not be repeated. Future rewards will only come after entering descendants into the Records!"
Boom!
An image of An Miaoyi appeared on a glowing golden page of the spiritual book. Her name was engraved underneath:
> An Miaoyi — Potential Spouse / Concubine | Comprehensive Evaluation: 90
A blinding golden light erupted from the book inside Lin Yi's spiritual sea.
The energy flowed out in waves, spiraling through his meridians and muscles.
He felt it — a strange, powerful technique was being imprinted into his soul.
Withered Tree Reviving Spring.
A surge of indescribable warmth and energy filled Lin Yi's body. He could feel his blood flowing faster, his cells rejuvenating, his bones resonating with newfound strength.
Crack. Crack.
The sound of bones realigning echoed from within him, yet there was no pain — only pure, comforting energy.
Lin Yi clenched his fists, awestruck.
My body... feels incredible. I could probably knock out a bull with a single
punch!
He had no idea how, but in the blink of an eye — he had become stronger.
Unknowingly, his road to invincibility had begun.