CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: THIS CHILD CANNOT STAY! (THREE MORE)

Nighttime.

Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, Su Ping finally sat up in bed.

Although he had some experience from his past and current lives, what happened tonight was simply too bizarre.

He was also certain that the Paperman had mutated. Otherwise, why would it have Metal Element abilities?

But compared to that spatial ripple, the possibly mutated little Paperman didn’t seem like much.

What on earth was that thing?

So, unable to sleep and finding no answers online, Su Ping picked up his phone and dialed a number.

It was neither Qin Xiaoxue nor anyone else, but the person closest to him in this world—bar none: his own father, Su Anyong.

Ever since his dad went to Beihai City, he’d occasionally send a message to say hello, with no further contact. It was as if Su Anyong had forgotten he had such a son and his own family business.

However, after so many years, Su Ping had long grown accustomed to his unreliable old man.

But regarding today’s events and their connection to the Tianyun Group, Su Ping really didn’t know where to begin.

Unfortunately, the phone rang for a full minute with no answer. Anyone else might have assumed the person was asleep, or perhaps that something dangerous had happened. But Su Ping clearly wasn’t worried. After a short while, though no call came through, a message did.

Su Anyong: [What’s up?]

Su Ping: [Can’t we talk on the phone?]

Su Anyong: [Not convenient.]

Su Ping: [?]

Su Anyong: [She just fell asleep. Waking her would be bad.]

Su Ping: [Nice.]

Su Ping: [So you really went and found me a stepmom?]

Su Anyong: [Nonsense! Your Second Uncle found a reliable one this time, and she’s a wealthy widow! Once your old man has money, just tell me whatever you want to buy!]

Reading the message from his father, Su Ping felt suspicious.

Is this for real?

After all, even though his father was unreliable, Su Ping didn’t recall him being the type to fool around. But seeing his confident tone, Su Ping didn’t hold back.

Su Ping: [At the Breeder Association, there’s a Mechanical Core Compression Extractor. Our family’s old medicine furnace should have been retired long ago. I want to replace it. It’s not expensive, just three hundred million.]

Su Anyong: [?]

Su Anyong: [Kid, aren’t you afraid that thing will shorten your lifespan? Besides, you’re not a Breeder. Why buy it?]

Su Ping: [Who says I’m not a Breeder? I’m now an Intermediate Level Breeder specializing in Forest Wolves, certified by the Jianghai Province Breeders Association, and I’ve mastered Wood Heart Skill cultivation! A vice-president personally delivered my certificate! Su Anyong, for your son’s path to becoming a Breeding Master, it’s time to invest. The future returns are unimaginable!]

Su Anyong: [Alright, alright, an Intermediate Level Breeder, huh? On the path to becoming a Breeding Master, huh? Mastered Wood Heart Skill cultivation, huh? A vice-president personally delivered it, huh? You’re wrong! A vice-president isn’t enough. It should be the president of the Imperial Capital Breeder Association who delivers it to match my son’s talent and abilities!]

Su Ping: [Indeed. To think we father and son are on the same page. But it’s fine. There will be opportunities in the future.]

Su Anyong: [You little rascal, now you’re even pulling my leg! Just wait until I get back. I’ll have you show off in front of your grandfather. We’ll see if the old man’s lifetime wish being fulfilled by his grandson will make him come back to life just to drag you down to the underworld to show off properly!]

Su Ping: [I’m serious! Also, there’s something else I need to tell you.]

Su Anyong: [Whatever it is, we’ll talk later. Damn, she woke up again! My poor back... Not talking now. I’ll be back in a while. Take care of the house.]

He watched speechlessly as the last message came in, and Su Anyong’s profile picture turned gray.

Su Ping was speechless.

He knew it. Three sentences into a conversation with this old guy, and he’d be led astray. Sure enough, he hadn’t managed to discuss any serious matters, nor even successfully show off to Su Anyong.

Now he even had to worry that his father might accidentally bring home a half-brother or half-sister for him.

Damn it!

Su Ping, already burdened with complex emotions, found it even harder to fall asleep.

If I can’t sleep, I’ll go train! I’ll go meditate!

As long as my own strength is great enough, all obstacles will cease to exist.

「Late that night」

Su Ping stood at the edge of the forest. Clearly, he had come out because he couldn’t sleep and was curious about the results of the little one’s training that day.

By this time, all the wolf packs had also ceased their training, but they had not yet dispersed.

Innumerable vines were entwined on the ground, and large pits were scattered everywhere, testament to the Forest Wolves’ training results over the past few days.

Qin Xiaoxue’s Woodhead was among them. Although Woodhead’s Self-Healing ability had reached the standard, its innate Talent was also exceptionally good. As a member of the shared-link training, its excellent Talent also helped the other Forest Wolves when they practiced Skills. This allowed the other Forest Wolves to achieve breakthroughs faster.

Unfortunately, during this time, Su Ping had been busy researching Wolf Tobacco and breeding matters, and had somewhat neglected his own meditation, so his Realm had not improved.

However, it was worth mentioning that after all this time, Xiao Qing’s own Realm Level had once again caught up with Su Ping’s Realm. It had reached the common Seventh Rank.

The reason was simple: in the past few days, after Xiao Qing had fully digested the effects of its last consumption, Su Ping had it consume another Poison System Resource. A Heartbane Fruit.

The effects of this consumption were good. After swallowing it, Xiao Qing’s Realm had risen by one Level. Although its Poison Vine Strangulation Skill had not leveled up this time, experiments with San Ha—the only Forest Wolf in Su Ping’s pack that had upgraded its Self-Healing Skill to Master Level—had shown that the toxicity of Xiao Qing’s Poison Vine Strangulation had further increased.

At the same time, the experience cost for the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas to analyze Poison Type mutations had also decreased further.

And it was during Su Ping’s patrol that he suddenly paused, his gaze turning toward one of the Forest Wolves. This Forest Wolf was none other than Qin Xiaoxue’s Woodhead.

At this moment, there was something not quite right about Woodhead’s state. Even at night, green specks of light seemed to swirl around its body, like encircling fireflies. At this moment, Woodhead seemed as though it truly belonged to this forest, as if the grass and trees were calling out to it. This sense of profound connection with its surroundings made Su Ping keenly aware that Woodhead had made special progress. Indeed, it had.

The Eye of Truth activated instantly.

Su Ping quickly saw what had happened to this Forest Wolf—a top-tier specimen belonging to a wealthy scion—that had stayed at his home for the better part of half a month:

[Heart of Woods (Proficiency)]

Seeing the Heart of Woods Skill increase to Proficiency, Su Ping knew he couldn’t keep Woodhead any longer!

I have to notify Qin Xiaoxue to come and pick up her wolf!

Otherwise, if it suddenly masters another Skill, it’ll be hard to explain.