CHAPTER 439: CHAPTER 439: SLY FOURTH

Ji You stared at Fourth nervously. Fourth shrank its neck, scared to the point of nearly collapsing to the ground...

Ji You: "..."

Fourth: [So...so scared...]

Ji You lifted her hand to rub her brow and said irritably, "Hurry up and spill everything you know! Don’t beat around the bush!"

Fourth, with its neck still shrunken, replied puzzledly: [But... but Fourth doesn’t know what to say?]

Ji You took a deep breath. If she didn’t know Fourth’s true colors and traits, she might have actually been fooled by it.

This creature was definitely the most cunning, gluttonous, and sneaky among the Six Strands. When you ask it to work, unless you’re forcing it, it will only do just enough to get by, never exerting more effort than necessary!

Yes, that’s just how lazy and pragmatic this thing is!

Ji You glanced sideways at it and said, "You just tell me, with what percentage of power would you have been able to prevent it from cracking just now?"

Fourth replied: [Oh⊙∀⊙! That, eh, 20% would’ve sufficed.]

Ji You: "..."

Ji You couldn’t believe her ears: "What? You only needed 20%?"

Fourth contracted its neck: [Wrong! Wrong! It’s 80%!]

Ji You: "..."

Ji You gritted her teeth and said, "Answer honestly, and you won’t miss out on benefits!"

It was then that Fourth perked up again, cheerfully responding: [Hmm, about 20-25% should be enough! Also—Master, I like Cloud Mist Milk Tea even better...]

Ji You’s eyes twinkled with excitement, although she was somewhat speechless at Fourth’s antics. It really never missed a chance to secure benefits for itself!

However, if it really worked out! Ji You wouldn’t be stingy! Because the help offered by Fourth was too significant! It was huge! If she could predict and freely control the use of spiritual power for each Soul Device, she wouldn’t worry about the success rate of creating them anymore!

This was a jackpot waiting to happen!

A grand windfall was coming!

Fourth, observing Ji You’s expression and sensing that the Master must be very happy and easily swayed to hand out benefits at this moment, immediately seized the opportunity and wagged its tail: [Master! Master! Master! Fourth wants to enjoy the Cloud Mist Milk Tea alone! Not sharing with the others!]

Ji You: "..."

Ji You gave a sidelong glance and said, "Let’s talk after you have completed the task!"

Fourth’s tail stiffened in an instant, feeling deceived, and it stood there looking perplexed: [But Master only just asked Sisi to speak, not to do anything!]

Ji You: "..."

Alright then!

It’s even catching my slip of the tongue now.

Fourth, noticing that Ji You looked displeased, immediately swung its tail and lashed out at Old Five, who was lounging comfortably on the side. Startled, Old Five shivered and woke up, looking around.

Pointing its tail at Old Five, Fourth earnestly looked at Ji You: [Master! Master! Master! Let Old Five do the work, Old Five can handle it!]

Ji You: "..."

Old Five shook its neck, not expecting to be singled out, but as this honest kid had just rested a bit and felt refreshed, it honestly nodded its head: [Master! Old Five can give it a try!]

Having closely observed Fourth slacking off and passing the task to another strand, Ji You then turned to the very picture of ’honesty’ Old Five, who seemed to be wearing a sign that said ’easy to bully’. After thinking, she agreed, saying, "Alright then! Let’s have Old Five do it!"

Old Five: [Master, I will work hard!]

Ji You said, "Do your best, and as for whether to use 20% or 25% power, that’s for you to decide."

This time, Ji You didn’t give a strict task, leaving it to Old Five to play it by ear.

Seeing Old Five take over the task, the other strands happily enjoyed their leisure, each of them wishing they could make themselves disappear, pretend they didn’t exist, for fear of being pulled by the Master for labor.

Concentrating deeply, Ji You gathered her thoughts and carved the Array Diagram once more. Old Five kept an eye on the progress bar, and as soon as the time came, it leapt out...

This time, Ji You watched Old Five’s every move intently. Old Five, diving into the Array Diagram, moved quickly, completing the circle in less than a second before returning to the Spirit Space.

But——

The Array Diagram adorned by Old Five’s movements and the Companion Stone instantly lit up with a lustrous halo...

This halo, like a layer of thin fog shrouding it, was exceptionally beautiful.

second.

seconds.

seconds.

...

minute passed, the Companion Stone didn’t shatter, and the Array Diagram didn’t collapse...

Ji You was ecstatic beyond words!

She picked it up and gave it a close inspection, she could confirm that it was a success!

It really was a success!

The originally ordinary pink Companion Stone, after being polished and transformed, looked different on the outside, and if you looked closely, you could even sense an indescribable aura emanating from it.

This is——

A Soul Device!

Definitely a Soul Device!

The only question is, is it low-level? Or Intermediate-level? Or?

Regarding this, Ji You, as the creator, had a vague feeling that it should be low-level.

It definitely did not surpass the threshold of Intermediate-level.

Whether it’s low-level or Intermediate-level, now that it’s completed, it’s absolutely cause for celebration!

Ji You smiled so broadly that her teeth showed but her eyes disappeared. When she looked at Old Five, her eyes were filled with affection: "Old Five, you are a good kid."

Old Five wagged its tail, with a light tone: [Master is also a good Master! Old Five likes Master the most!]

Such a good child! In a flash, Ji You’s face beamed with a smile, "Old Five, tell me, how much effort did you just put in?"

Old Five tilted its head, pondering: [46%? 56%? Or 66%?] It said a string of numbers, then flicked its tail abruptly, looking a bit annoyed. [Ah! Old Five isn’t clear anymore!]

Fourth stood with its head cocked, looking down on it: [Silly! You just used 39% just now!]

Huh?

Seeing Old Five’s expression, Ji You believed that it was probably not deceiving her; after all, this silly kid was honest, and simple to the point of being a bit daft, probably couldn’t even count 12345... let alone understand the concept of percentages.

But——

This remark from Fourth... Ji You’s eyes flickered, "Fourth, are you sure?"

Fourth nodded, looking enthusiastically for recognition: [That’s right! Fourth was watching the whole time!]

Ji You believed it!

Because although Fourth might lack scruples, there was no need for it to deceive her about such matters, moreover, it was clearly making an extra effort, it surely wanted something in return.

Sure enough——

Fourth wagged its tail, circled around Ji You with a flattering face: [Fourth just helped Old Five answer the question, I’ve helped out Master, doesn’t Master want to reward Fourth? Fourth isn’t greedy, just one Candy Bean would be satisfying!]

Ji You: "..."

Ji You’s voice dragged on: "You really aren’t greedy at all, huh!" Totally ungreedy to ask for a Candy Bean right away, which can be purchased at a discount from Teacher Mu Jianling for just 50,000 credit points, indeed not greedy.

Just——

It must’ve forgotten that its Master was a poor soul, and among the poor, a particularly stingy soul, right?

Seeing the situation turning sour, Fourth immediately changed its tone: [Ah—It doesn’t matter if there’s no Candy Bean, just remember not to forget the Cloud Mist Milk Tea that Master promised to give to Fourth.]

Ji You narrowed her eyes, her smile was full of charm: "The rewards for you all will not be shorted, now——work harder! Let’s get rich together!"