"Carve it out?" Gao Neng looked at Shen Ning’Er, who was holding a set of carving tools. He had never imagined she would have something like this on her.

’But that’s not right. When Shen Ning’Er came to the Eastern Capital Military Academy, she shouldn’t have known she’d need to learn energy materialization, right? Why would she have these things prepared?’

’Did she get them while I was practicing...?’

Gao Neng looked toward Shen Ning’Er.

But Shen Ning’Er didn’t seem to have any intention of explaining. She just spun the tools in her hand, seemingly familiarizing herself with their weight.

Gao Neng didn’t dwell on it.

Because a mechanical voice had already sounded in his ear.

"DING! Congratulations, Host, for completing the quest ’Three Days, Three Nights - The Second Night.’ Reward: one High-Level Treasure Chest."

’The mission’s complete?’ A flutter went through Gao Neng’s heart. ’It’s just past midnight, and my mission is already done?’

’Just as I thought. The condition for completing this quest was that Shen Ning’Er had to stay of her own free will.’

As long as it was past midnight and Shen Ning’Er wasn’t thinking about leaving anymore, the mission would be flagged as a success.

Shen Ning’Er couldn’t see things like treasure chests.

Gao Neng was relieved. So, while describing his ideas to Shen Ning’Er, he casually instructed the system to open the High-Level Treasure Chest.

"BEEP! A High-Level Treasure Chest contains several different rewards. The Host may select one based on their needs!"

"Randomizing rewards..."

"Randomization complete. Presenting three treasures: 1. One upgrade opportunity for a special ability or skill (can be used on Beginner or Intermediate-level abilities/skills). 2. One Treasure Map. 3. Two pages of ’Money-Making Tips’ (contains two lucrative side-quests)."

Just like last time, three options appeared in the treasure chest.

What was different was that the Ningshen Awakening Pill and the random skill were gone. Instead, there was an upgrade opportunity for a special ability or skill, and... a treasure map?

Gao Neng’s brow furrowed slightly.

This upgrade opportunity could be used on an Intermediate-level ability, which meant he could level up ’Three Hundred Nursery Rhymes.’ It was better than what he could get from a Middle-Level Treasure Chest.

’But is it really necessary to upgrade ’Three Hundred Nursery Rhymes’ right now?’

Gao Neng thought it over. ’Three Hundred Nursery Rhymes’ was rather embarrassing, but that wasn’t his primary concern. The main issue was that the skill accelerated his cultivation speed.

Currently, ’Three Hundred Nursery Rhymes’ increased his cultivation speed by 300%.

’So what if I upgrade it to Advanced-level?’

’Could I get it to 400%?’

Gao Neng hesitated for a moment, wavering between the skill upgrade opportunity and the treasure map.

’After all, this is the first time a treasure map has shown up. Since the system gave it to me, maybe it leads to some kind of divine weapon?’

’What should I choose?’

’The treasure map...’

’It seems really good!’

’If I have a chance to find a divine weapon, won’t my power take another leap forward?’

Gao Neng’s finger hovered over the treasure map option, but just as he was about to select it, he paused. ’A treasure map? Doesn’t that imply danger?’

’Besides, even if I get the map now, I don’t really have a chance to go treasure hunting, do I?’

’Forget it. I’ll lay low and power up first! On the path to becoming strong, not advancing is the same as retreating, but that doesn’t mean I have to bet my life on it. My strength isn’t sufficient right now. It’s better to increase my cultivation speed first. Once I’m strong enough, I can open another High-Level Treasure Chest and pick the treasure map then!’ Gao Neng finally made up his mind.

"I choose the skill upgrade opportunity."

"DING! Please select which skill the Host wishes to upgrade."

"Upgrade ’Three Hundred Nursery Rhymes’." Gao Neng didn’t hesitate this time. His other special abilities were good too, but ’Three Hundred Nursery Rhymes’ was the one that boosted cultivation speed. Upgrading it first was the right call.

"’Three Hundred Nursery Rhymes’ upgrading..."

"Upgrade complete. Obtained new special skill: Second Magnetic Core (Advanced)."

"’Second Magnetic Core?!’" Gao Neng immediately checked the system’s Attribute Panel.

Sure enough, the Special Abilities section had changed.

Special Abilities: 1. Eye of Deprivation (Beginner). 2. Second Magnetic Core (Advanced). 3. Life Form Transformation (Beginner).

"Ning’Er, I’m going to get a drink of water," Gao Neng said to Shen Ning’Er.

"Mm." Shen Ning’Er nodded without a second thought. She went back to studying the tools in her hand, occasionally making a few test cuts on the block of earth and stone.

Gao Neng immediately ran to the kitchen and started to check the description for the Second Magnetic Core.

Second Magnetic Core: When using the second magnetic core, your cultivation speed will increase to 400%, your concentration will increase to 400%, and the recovery speed of your vitality and stamina will increase to 400%. Furthermore, the energy contained within your Second Magnetic Core can be converted and transferred to your first magnetic core.

’My cultivation and recovery speeds both really increased to 400%?! And I can even convert energy?’ Gao Neng was absolutely stunned.

What did this mean?

This meant that as long as he kept the Second Magnetic Core fully charged, he could instantly replenish his first magnetic core. That was far faster than eating an Energy Pill.

Energy Pills restored energy very slowly.

But this... it could be converted instantly.

How tyrannical!

Most importantly, he finally didn’t have to sing those embarrassing songs anymore.

Gao Neng was thrilled. However, when his eyes landed on the final line of fine print, his expression darkened considerably.

Energy Conversion: 10,000 Alliance Coins per transfer.

’You damn idiot system, would it kill you not to have microtransactions?’ Gao Neng was furious. ’Trying to rip me off again?’ But on second thought, he calmed down. ’If it didn’t try to rip me off, could it even be called an idiot system?’

The silver lining was...

’The energy conversion is probably meant for critical moments.’

’Normally, I can just eat Energy Pills, right?’

Thinking of this, Gao Neng’s mood improved considerably. He wouldn’t have to sing anymore, plus he now had a function to instantly restore his energy. This upgrade was definitely a net win.

He closed his eyes.

He observed the magnetic cores within his body.

Sure enough, a new golden magnetic core was orbiting the original red one, constantly rotating just like the moon around the Earth.

Though much smaller in size, it was pure gold.

’Why is it so much smaller? Is it because the golden core has a greater mass?’ Gao Neng tried to magnetize his arm using the Second Magnetic Core.

Then, he discovered...

Nothing happened.

’Right, I haven’t charged it with any energy yet.’ With a mental command, Gao Neng began transferring energy from the red core to the golden one. The red core quickly faded to white.

’Wait a second.’

’My money didn’t go down, did it?’

Gao Neng checked his pockets. His money was all there.

He breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed transferring energy from the first core to the second was free; only the reverse cost money.

Gao Neng ate some more Energy Pills.

He continued the transfer.

After a few more transfers, he found he couldn’t send any more over.

’It seems that even though the second core is much smaller, its total capacity is the same as the first. That makes sense. It’s basically double my total capacity.’

Gao Neng didn’t experiment any further. He put aside the matter of magnetization for now. A more pressing problem had come up: his first magnetic core was now a faint, pale red.

And he had already run out of Energy Pills.

’After I’m done practicing energy materialization, I really need to go to the logistics department and trade for some more Energy Pills. The second core is full while the first is almost empty... this is enough to drive a perfectionist crazy!’

Gao Neng walked out of the kitchen.

Shen Ning’Er had already started carving, following the simple description Gao Neng had given her earlier.

...

Time passed quickly.

That night, neither Gao Neng nor Shen Ning’Er slept. Gao Neng constantly communicated his ideas to Shen Ning’Er, while Shen Ning’Er made modifications to the sculpture according to his descriptions.

One of them would speak, and the other would sculpt.

After she finished a round of modifications, Gao Neng would try practicing again.

After practicing, he would explain more.

And then, she would continue to sculpt...

They repeated this cycle over and over.

Gao Neng had no idea how the night flew by. All he knew was that it passed in what felt like the blink of an eye, and then it was dawn.

When dawn arrived, Gao Neng made breakfast for Shen Ning’Er as he usually did.

Fang Tangtang didn’t seem to be awake yet.

Gao Neng didn’t wake her. The two of them wolfed down their breakfast and immediately got back to work...

「At 9:30 in the morning.」

Fang Tangtang ran downstairs.

The moment she saw Shen Ning’Er, she let out a cry, her face a mask of pouty resentment. "Sister Ning’Er, you abandoned Tangtang to sneak off and fool around with Gao Neng..."

However, after seeing the sculpture placed in the room, Fang Tangtang shut her mouth.

"You two were carving this all night?"

"What else? What did you think we were doing?" Gao Neng replied irritably, then directly chased Fang Tangtang out.

’What the hell?’

’Can’t she see we’re doing something important?’

Shen Ning’Er didn’t stop Gao Neng, just smiled.

「By noon.」

Fang Tangtang obediently brought food for the two of them.

After clinging to Shen Ning’Er for a while and circling the sculpture a few more times, Fang Tangtang left, showing no intention of staying.

Gao Neng was actually already a bit tired at this point.

A wave of drowsiness washed over him, especially after the meal. But looking at the sculpture, which was still not quite finished, he felt he had to give it one last push, no matter what.

There wasn’t much time left.

Shen Ning’Er would be leaving tomorrow.

And according to what he told Song Tianyun, he would challenge the Ding Ranking again tomorrow afternoon. Time was everything right now; he had to race against every second.

「In the afternoon.」

Fang Tangtang brought food again.

After Gao Neng and Shen Ning’Er ate together, they didn’t relax for even a second and immediately threw themselves back into practice. The sculpture was also nearing its final stages.

"Gao Neng’s gone mad, and he’s dragged Sister Ning’Er down with him..." Fang Tangtang muttered. She went upstairs on her own and started bustling about.

The sky darkened.

Time ticked away...

As the two continued their non-stop practice, the stroke of midnight was once again approaching.

"How about a little change here?"

"That’s it! Speed, surprise attack, a one-hit kill... Ning’Er, what do you think?" Gao Neng gazed at the sculpture before them, his mind buzzing with excitement.

"It’s good. It’s really good!" Shen Ning’Er nodded.

"We succeeded?!"

"Yes, we succeeded!" Shen Ning’Er nodded again.

A slight blush crept onto Gao Neng’s face. This was the first time in two days he had heard such praise from Shen Ning’Er. While what he’d learned might not be perfect yet, it was at least enough to handle most of the teams on the Ding Ranking.

And he still had nearly a month to continue perfecting it.

’First place on the Ding Ranking... I have a shot!’