At that thought, Gao Neng quickly glanced at his system’s secondary Attribute Panel.

Weapon Creation: 100% Success Rate!

’So, the truth is... although Energy Manifestation is a combat method, fundamentally, the manifested object is actually considered a type of weapon?!’

’A personal weapon controlled by Spiritual Power!’

’Right, that has to be it.’

Gao Neng considered himself a genius, but could even a genius learn something instantly?

’No, a genius couldn’t, but a super-genius could.’

’For example: Gao Neng.’

"Gao Neng, try to control it now. Have it attack me... I want to test its power!" Shen Ning’Er’s face bloomed into a smile. She seemed overjoyed—even more so than if she had succeeded herself.

"Prosper, attack!" Gao Neng was also thrilled. ’Does succeeding this quickly mean my strength is steadily entering the ranks of the experts?’

’Won’t I be able to just steamroll everything from now on?’

’Who needs a bicycle? A super-genius goes straight for the Harley!’

Gao Neng didn’t hold back. It was just an earth dog; it couldn’t hurt Shen Ning’Er. With a loud shout, he immediately used his Spiritual Power to command the earth dog to attack her.

Shen Ning’Er, for her part, stood on guard.

But the twist came the moment the earth dog leaped...

Something unexpected happened. After the earth dog leaped, the iron energy that formed its body suddenly cracked, and it crumbled into a pile of iron chunks on the ground.

"..." Gao Neng.

’What happened?’

’So much for being a super-genius. I actually failed...’

’This defies all logic!’

"But you clearly succeeded, right? Why did this happen?" Shen Ning’Er was also confused and a little disappointed. She walked over to the iron chunks on the ground to inspect them.

"Yeah, why did it happen?" Gao Neng was also pondering this.

He carefully recalled the sensation of controlling the dog. There was definitely nothing wrong with the manifested dog itself; after all, it had a 100% success rate.

But the instant the dog jumped, he felt a loss of connection, as if he had suddenly lost control of it.

"I think I lost my spiritual connection to it the moment it jumped. What’s the reason for that? Is this normal?" Gao Neng voiced his doubts.

"A lost connection? That’s not normal, but it probably has nothing to do with ’divinity.’ If I’m not mistaken, it’s because your Spiritual Power isn’t strong enough..." Shen Ning’Er mused, then glanced at Gao Neng again. "Actually, it’s already impressive that you’ve managed this in such a short time. Building up Spiritual Power is something that can only be done slowly."

"Slowly build up Spiritual Power? I don’t have that much time..." Gao Neng shook his head. Just as Shen Ning’Er said, increasing one’s Spiritual Power wasn’t something that could happen overnight.

’Unless I can get another Soul Tempering Pill.’

’Thinking of the Soul Tempering Pill...’

Gao Neng’s gaze subconsciously flicked to the wall clock. The time displayed was 11:33 PM.

’Only twenty-seven minutes left!’

’In another twenty-seven minutes, it’ll be past midnight!’

’Does that mean I’m just a tiny bit away from completing the mission for the first overnight stay?’

Gao Neng felt a small thrill of excitement, but he quickly sensed something was wrong. As he looked away from the clock, he noticed that Shen Ning’Er seemed to have seen the time as well.

’Why the hell did I have to look at the time!’ Gao Neng wanted to give himself a good, hard slap. ’We were having a nice chat, so why the hell did I have to look at the clock?’

’It’s like being in the middle of some... intense exercise, and right as you’re getting into it... you pull out your phone to reply to a text. You can imagine how that ends.’

And reality unfolded just as Gao Neng had expected.

After seeing the time, Shen Ning’Er’s brow furrowed slightly. "It’s getting a little late. I’ll be leaving now. You can continue practicing on your own. I’ll come by again tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Wait... hold on!" Seeing Shen Ning’Er grab her jacket, Gao Neng panicked and shouted without thinking.

"Is there something else? If it’s a question about Energy Manifestation, you can ask me tomorrow." Shen Ning’Er paused for a moment but still slipped on her jacket. Her intention was clear: she was really leaving.

"It’s not about Energy Manifestation. I mean... can you wait a little longer before you go?" Gao Neng was getting genuinely anxious now.

’The mission isn’t complete yet!’

’There’s only a little bit of time left! Twenty-seven minutes! Just hang on a little longer.’

’If I can just stall for another twenty-seven minutes, I can get a Middle-Level Treasure Chest.’

’And that means a chance to get a Soul Tempering Pill!’

The biggest reason he couldn’t complete the Energy Manifestation now was his insufficient Spiritual Power. If he could just increase his Spiritual Power, he might actually succeed.

He was only one step away from success.

Gao Neng was truly unwilling to let it go.

Although this seemed a bit selfish, he truly had no intention of doing anything inappropriate to Shen Ning’Er. He just wanted to get a little stronger.

’Wanting to become stronger...’

’Is that too much to ask?’

’The Human Alliance is currently besieged on all sides, surrounded by battlefields. Worst case, once I’m stronger, I can go to the battlefield, kill a few more aliens, and contribute more to the Human Alliance.’

"Wait a little longer before I go?" Shen Ning’Er stopped and stared intently at Gao Neng’s face. "Are you asking me to stay the night and sleep with you?"

"No, that’s not what I meant..." Gao Neng grew flustered under her gaze. Even if he considered himself a genius, in this area, he was still a complete rookie.

’It’s my first time!’

’I really have no experience!’

"Then what do you mean?" Shen Ning’Er’s lips curled into a slight smile.

’Yeah... what do I mean?’ Gao Neng was wondering the same thing. Asking for more guidance was obviously out of the question now.

After all, he’d just said himself that it wasn’t about Energy Manifestation.

’Twenty-seven minutes...’

’It’s not a long time.’

’But it’s definitely not short, either.’

What kind of reason could make Shen Ning’Er stay in his dorm for a full twenty-seven minutes when she had already decided to leave?

’That’s it!’

’The scheming little loli, Fang Tangtang!’

Gao Neng listened carefully. There was no sound from upstairs. ’Hasn’t Fang Tangtang come back yet? If I remember correctly, didn’t she say she was going out to drink and celebrate?’

’Right!’

’Fang Tangtang definitely isn’t back yet.’

If Fang Tangtang were really back and knew Shen Ning’Er was in his dorm, it would be weirder if she *didn’t* come in to join the fun.

"Right, it’s Fang Tangtang! She heard you were here and insisted I keep you here. She said she wants to see you! I’ll call her right now!" Without another word, Gao Neng immediately started dialing Fang Tangtang’s number.

"Tangtang?" Shen Ning’Er watched Gao Neng, a faint glimmer flashing in her eyes, but she didn’t say anything more, her thoughts unreadable.

Gao Neng dialed the number.

But Fang Tangtang didn’t pick up right away.

BEEP... BEEP...

He tried dialing again.

Fang Tangtang’s voice finally came through the phone.

"Kong Kun, you dare have a drinking contest with me, Death God Fang Tangtang? How could I, Death God Fang Tangtang, possibly get drunk! Hello... Oh, Gao Neng, you wanna come drink?"

"I can’t make it. Ning’Er is in my dorm right now, so I really can’t get away." Gao Neng was thrilled. ’This Fang Tangtang really is out drinking.’

’But wait, that’s not right, is it?’

’Fang Tangtang is only sixteen, right?’

’Is she even allowed to drink?’

"Huh? What did you say?! Sister Ning’Er is in your room... Whoa, Sister Ning’Er came to the Eastern Capital Military Academy! Wait for me, I’m coming over right now!"

"Don’t come too quickly..." Gao Neng said under his breath.

"What? Speak up, I can’t hear you!"

"I said don’t bring alcohol into the dorm! Ning’Er is here, and she’s not going to drink with a little brat like you. Just bring some snacks!"

"Hahaha, what do you know? Sister Ning’Er is a beast when she drinks! I, Fang Tangtang, consider myself undefeated when it comes to drinking, but I’m still no match for Sister Ning’Er. You just wait, I’m bringing over plenty of booze!"

BEEP BEEP!

The call disconnected.

Gao Neng was a little stunned.

’Looks like the plot just took an unexpected turn, huh?’

’Fang Tangtang actually said she’s bringing alcohol? Drinking openly in the Eastern Capital Military Academy dorms? If word of this gets out, I’m probably going to get chewed out big time, right?’

’And more importantly...’

’Will Shen Ning’Er even drink?’

Although Gao Neng was speechless, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least Fang Tangtang said she was coming, which meant he could stall for a little more time.

"Fang Tangtang said she’s on her way, but it sounds like she’s had a little to drink... I told her absolutely not to bring any alcohol, just some snacks would be fine."

"Mm, I heard." A faint, pleasant smile played on Shen Ning’Er’s lips, as refreshing as a spring breeze blowing past a peach blossom. Then, she said no more.

"..." Watching Shen Ning’Er, Gao Neng couldn’t help but feel that she might have figured something out.

’But there shouldn’t be any holes in my story, right?’

’It really was Fang Tangtang who said she was bringing alcohol; I never even considered that possibility.’

’Well...’

’I’m risking punishment to let Fang Tangtang and Shen Ning’Er have a "deep, sisterly" drinking contest in my dorm. That counts as a good deed, right?’

As Gao Neng tried to convince himself, he was also calculating in his head. ’Punishment is punishment. As long as I make it past midnight, the mission should be complete!’

’Get a Middle-Level Treasure Chest...’

’As for the high-level treasure chest and the lucky prize wheel after that, if I really can’t complete those, I’ll just have to give up. Trying to keep Shen Ning’Er here for three days and three nights is completely impossible!’

Seeing that Shen Ning’Er wasn’t talking anymore, Gao Neng went back to practicing, but his eyes kept darting to the clock. He could only hope that Fang Tangtang would take her time getting back.

’Please, just let it drag on past midnight!’

Just as he was thinking this, a burst of "HAHAHA!" rang out from outside.

’Crap!’

’How did that scheming little loli Fang Tangtang get back so fast? There are still fifteen minutes until midnight! Did the little loli fly back here or something?’

"HAHAHA... Gao Neng, I, Death God Fang Tangtang, have arrived! Hurry up and open the door for me! Sister Ning’Er, are you really in there?" Fang Tangtang’s voice quickly rang out from outside.