I Am the Lord in the World of Mist – CH59

Chapter 59: Digestion

Shen Jinwen gave Xu Zhi a Tang sword. Although Xu Zhi hadn’t paid her anything yet, now that Zhen needed high-level attribute cores more than basic ones, Xu Zhi, who had plenty of [Winter] attribute basic cores, took out ten of them as payment for the sword and for Shen Jinwen’s careful instruction in swordsmanship.

“Isn’t this too much?” Shen Jinwen, her hair tied up in a high ponytail, hesitated as she held the ten cores Xu Zhi handed her.

Xu Zhi smiled reassuringly. “It’s nothing. I still need you to get stronger so you can help me collect rent. If you’re outmatched by other Awakened, it’ll be a problem for me too. After all, you’re the only one I trust.”

Shen Jinwen understood her meaning. These cores weren’t just payment—they symbolized her role as Xu Zhi’s hired hand. Thinking carefully, Xu Zhi had never been stingy, whether as a “boss” or a companion. In fact, she was rather generous. Still, Shen Jinwen felt uneasy receiving ten cores outright—because Xu Zhi’s generosity always came with expectations.

She couldn’t help but wonder what she had done recently to earn such generosity from Xu Zhi.

But it was undeniably a gift she couldn’t refuse. For a solo Awakened like her, ten cores were a fortune.

“I understand,” Shen Jinwen said simply as she accepted the cores—but Xu Zhi knew that meant she had taken it to heart.

Xu Zhi was starting to figure Shen Jinwen out: not one for sweet words or grand promises, but everything she said had weight—especially promises.

After that, Shen Jinwen earnestly taught Xu Zhi how to use the Tang sword. Since Xu Zhi had no foundation, the day’s lesson was limited to basic techniques.

Xu Zhi was surprised to find that the top floor of the building had been converted into a dojo-like room. It seemed Shen Jinwen’s swordsmanship was a family heirloom.

“Make sure you practice every day once you get back,” Shen Jinwen said. “Once your fundamentals are solid, I’ll teach you more advanced moves.”

Xu Zhi wiped sweat from her forehead and nodded. She’d never done such intense physical activity for so long—it felt novel.

When she returned home, Gouzi had already awakened from its evolution.

It had become the third Familiar to reach Level 20.

[Familiar: Wolf King Lv20]
Spirit: 940
Body: 3200
Attribute: Blade
Traits: Strength Lv7, Smell Lv5, Alertness Lv5, Sharpness Lv5, Intimidation Lv5, Evolution Lv1
Special Ability: Pack Leader ]

[Congratulations, your Familiar has awakened a special ability: Pack Leader]

[Pack Leader: The mark of a king—this ability allows the Familiar to dominate any creature it defeats, gaining their absolute loyalty.]

“Wow, Wolf King—very cool.”

Xu Zhi looked at the newly evolved Gouzi—or rather, the Wolf King.

It had grown even larger. Its silver fur gleamed under the dim sunlight, and its pupils had turned golden. Muscular and powerful, just standing there exuded the presence of a fierce predator.

Especially those golden eyes—they radiated intense mental pressure just by looking. But Xu Zhi couldn’t feel it. To her, it just looked cool—with a hint of goofiness.

[Congratulations, your third Familiar has reached Level 20. When your fourth Familiar reaches Level 20, you will unlock a fifth Familiar slot.]

[With three Familiars reaching Level 20 and entering the metamorphosis phase, the starting level of your next Familiar will increase.]

[Your Familiar has entered the Metamorphosis Phase. Growth will accelerate. Once Evolution reaches Level 10, it will break its limits and ascend to a higher lifeform.]

[During this phase, demand for attribute-matching cores will sharply increase.]

Despite evolving into a majestic Wolf King, Gouzi showed no pride. It only looked dignified when Xu Zhi first entered—then immediately became a silly puppy again, nuzzling her affectionately.

Xu Zhi patted its head and found the fur smoother than ever, so she gave it a few hearty rubs.

Unfortunately, the fifth Familiar slot hadn’t unlocked yet. That meant the next to hit Level 20 had to be the twig.

Xu Zhi pulled the twig out of her pocket. It behaved only when close to her; the moment it strayed more than a meter away, it got rowdy.

“You done digesting?” Xu Zhi checked the status screen. Its [Restlessness] was only at Level 1.

“Then eat some more.”

Time to level up and get her little No. 5.

She tossed a few [Cup] attribute cores nearby, and the little dummy pounced on them.

Now that she had enough [Lamp] cores, she no longer had to cut her fingers to feed it blood. And because of its special nature, the twig could simply consume cores to level up—no grinding necessary.

Unfortunately, while it digested cores at an absurd speed, the [Restlessness] trait kept forcing it to eat conflicting attribute cores, resulting in painful self-torment.

This greatly slowed its leveling. Later on, it was practically one [Cup] core, followed by one [Lamp] to suppress the backlash—each suppression lasting at least half an hour.

Xu Zhi’s hopeful gaze gradually turned into frustration.

“What’s your problem? After so many [Lamp] cores, why are you still this restless?”

[You have to understand—it barely has a brain. It’s hard for it to suppress its impulses.]

“Then what’s the point of getting one measly Spirit point per level—charity?”

Charity for a shred of intelligence?

[Once it reaches Level 15, things will get a little better.]

“How little?” Xu Zhi asked suspiciously.

[Just a little.]

Understood.

At this rate, would this little dummy ever have a working brain?

Even after Yi and Zhen woke from evolution, the twig still hadn’t reached Level 15.

Xu Zhi looked silently at the massive pile of [Cup] attribute cores in her warehouse.

“It’s not that I’m withholding food—it’s that you’re hopeless,” she said, pointing at the little creature writhing in pain on the floor.

Thankfully, the results of Yi and Zhen’s evolutions eased her frustration a bit.

Yi’s Evolution reached Level 3, and Zhen reached Level 2. Their stat boosts were significant too, making all that leveling time worthwhile. Xu Zhi could also feel slight improvements in her own physical condition.

Unfortunately, her special abilities hadn’t advanced—but it felt like she was close.

“No more eating for now. Watch me. If something’s off, wake me up.”

She turned to her Familiars, taking out a high-level [Moth] attribute core.

It was time for Xu Zhi to try upgrading her own level.