Chapter 6: World Upheaval! Ning Qingrou: I'll Take Care of You From Now On​​

Within the desolate mine shaft, two skeletal figures carried him deeper into the darkness. After traversing about twenty meters, they encountered yet another zombie miner.

Wang Shikong employed the same tactic: Five Elements Fusion Technique, enhanced with Light and Dark energy. In moments, another zombie miner crumpled to the ground.

"A second guardian longsword." A smile touched his lips. This felt no different from picking up free money.

Pressing further into the mine, it wasn’t long before the third zombie miner fell. These zombies boasted high defense, thick hides, and wielded Dark Iron weapons, making them notoriously difficult adversaries for cultivators of the same level. Yet, against Wang Shikong, merely level 1, they possessed no capacity for resistance whatsoever.

"Huh? Did it drop something else?" The skeletons carried him closer. Seeing loot once again, Wang Shikong felt a surge of luck. Picking it up, he examined a vial of blood-red liquid.

​​[Darkvision Potion (Common): After consumption, grants Night Vision.]​​

"A bloodline potion?" Wang Shikong blinked, then murmured softly, "This place truly is a treasure trove."

In the Endless Continent, Alchemists were a profession with immense promise. Powerful Alchemists, armed with the right [Recipes] and [Ingredients], could concoct an array of formidable potions. Their effects could range from boosting mental energy and elemental affinity to temporary surges of power.

The thought of potions inevitably led him to the Ning family. In his previous life, their rise to prominence and the establishment of their powerful guild was largely fueled by the unwavering loyalty of the Ning family’s corporate alchemists.

"The Darkvision Potion costs around five thousand Spirit Coins early on and stabilizes at around two thousand later," Wang Shikong calculated internally. Quite valuable.

​​[You have consumed the Darkvision Potion. Your eyes can now pierce the darkness.]​​

The effect was immediate. His surroundings gained significant clarity, becoming noticeably brighter. Astonishingly, even his myopia seemed cured. Out of habit, he merely removed the lenses from his spectacles.

He continued onward. Venturing another two hundred meters deep, he paused after the thirteenth zombie miner collapsed. The skeletal minions held Dark Iron longswords clutched in their other skeletal hands.

Wang Shikong’s mental energy reserves, however, were dwindling to just over two points. Depleting mental energy entirely not only barred spellcasting but also induced debilitating exhaustion. Survivors of the Endless Continent knew better than to let reserves drop too low, always preserving a buffer for emergencies.

Recovering mental energy required practicing the Elemental Spirit Refinement Technique. The speed varied with one’s level. Currently, he could recover about five points per hour.

"It’s time to head back. Need to store these weapons on Earth first," Wang Shikong decided. He placed the thirteen longswords on his wheelchair and willed himself to exit.

"[No hostile engagement detected for 10 seconds. Logout sequence initiated.]"

"[10, 9, 8... 1!]"

On Earth, within Villa No. 18 of the Tan Palace, Wang Shikong’s ethereal form solidified. His hands now grasped thirteen longswords. He channeled Wood Essence into a sturdy rope to secure them before stepping into the villa’s courtyard. Closing his eyes, he began silently absorbing the ambient elemental energy.

Earth’s elemental energy mirrored that of the Endless Continent. Absorbing it replenished mental energy and even contributed to leveling up. Yes, cultivation alone could grant levels, though it was at least a dozen times slower than absorbing the Primordial Force dropped by slain monsters. Still, Wang Shikong observed his cultivation speed was now more than five times faster than in his past life. Even cultivating without hunting wouldn’t significantly lag behind many other cultivators who did.

"Shikong." Over an hour later, Ning Qingya’s voice drew him from his meditation. "You’ve entered the Endless Continent, haven’t you?" Her face held an expression of shock as she approached him.

Wang Shikong gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping past Ning Qingya to her parents and Ning Qingrou standing nearby.

"Let’s talk inside," Ning Tianxiong interjected. Ning Qingya nodded, pushing Wang Shikong’s wheelchair towards the villa.

The emergence of the Endless Continent promised a monumental shift in the world’s power dynamics, and the Ning family was already feeling the tremors of massive change.

"Old Chen and the others all called," Ning Tianxiong began, pulling out a cigar only to have Ning Qingya snatch it away before he could light it. He sighed, continuing, "They’re quitting. Only Aunt Song hasn’t resigned yet. She’ll manage our meals. The company has seen a flood of resignations too." He added, "I’ve temporarily placed everyone at the pharmaceutical company and factory on paid leave."

Ning Qingya spoke with calm decisiveness. "The sudden appearance of the Endless Continent guarantees a reshuffling of the global order and a redistribution of wealth. The dawn of supernatural power means the future belongs to the strong."

"Superpowers!" Ning Qingrou chimed in, bouncing with excitement. "Mom, Dad, Sis! Look! I can cast fireballs now!" Ignoring the context, she raised her right hand, her round eyes fixed in concentration as she began chanting a spell. One second... two... ten seconds passed before a faint flicker of flame appeared. At twenty seconds, a small fireball hovered above her palm. "Cool, right? Super cool?" She tilted her chin up proudly, a bright grin splitting her face.

Wang Shikong: "..."

Ning Tianxiong managed a small smile. "The little one certainly is impressive. It takes me nearly twenty-five seconds to conjure a flame arm. Our top priority as a family now is strengthening ourselves. Power will be paramount in the days to come."

"Information is crucial," Ning Qingya interjected thoughtfully. "We need to gather as much intel on the Endless Continent as possible. The fact that real-world items can be taken in means items from the Continent can be brought out. I think we should try to rally the company’s executives and loyal employees. There’s strength in numbers."

"Agreed. I’ll handle contacting and organizing them," Ning Tianxiong affirmed.

"Sis," Ning Qingrou piped up again, derailing the conversation, "Why did you choose the Body Refiner Path? Close combat means getting hit by monsters – that sounds ouchy! The Mage Path is way cooler!" She tilted her head curiously.

"Body Refiners aren’t limited to melee," Ning Qingya clarified. "I plan to use a bow."

"A bow? Oh! I forgot you were president of the university archery club!" Ning Qingrou exclaimed, raising an eyebrow playfully. Her gaze then slid dismissively towards Wang Shikong. "Hey... you...!"

"Show some respect!" Ning Qingya rapped her knuckles lightly on her sister’s head, cutting her off. She turned apologetic eyes towards Wang Shikong. "I asked around in the Endless Continent, Shikong. Your leg injury... it can be healed. Rest assured, I will find a remedy for you."

"Hm." Wang Shikong listened silently, offering a calm nod.

"I won’t be going back to the company anytime soon either," Ning Qingya continued. "We should coordinate our schedule for entering the Continent." She paused, her lips pressed together, a faint blush warming her cheeks as she glanced at him. "Tonight... I’ll... take care of you."

"Perhaps... have your father help?" Ning Qingya’s mother suggested hesitantly.

Ning Tianxiong’s eyes widened. Me? Wiping his ass?

"No need," Ning Qingya shook her head, her voice firming. "Shikong is my... husband. Taking care of him is my responsibility."

In this era of world-shattering change, even the family’s maids and butler had quit without notice, rushing into the Endless Continent seeking transformation. Wang Shikong, because of her negligence, had already missed out on so much. Her guilt was profound; this was how she could make amends.

Wang Shikong looked at her, a comforting warmth spreading through his chest.

Ning Qingya’s mother watched the exchange, her expression conflicted. She sighed, murmuring under her breath, "What a mess..."

"Aunt Song is clearing things out. I’ll prepare lunch today. We can enter the Continent after eating," she announced, changing the subject.

"Mom, I’ll help," Ning Qingya offered, starting to follow her.

Ning Qingrou remained seated for a moment, studying Wang Shikong. Suddenly, she approached him, leaned down, and bared her little tiger teeth in a mock-threatening snarl. "Hmph! Once your leg is better, you better not cling to my sister! Don’t drag her down. Crawl as far away as you can. Got it?" She thrust her small fist near his face. "Or else... see this?"

Having delivered her threat, she whipped her ponytail around and flounced off.

Wang Shikong watched his little sister-in-law and couldn't help but chuckle softly. This spirited, playful version of her, so full of life, was far removed from the woman she would become after her sister's... incident. Back then, her smiles had faded, replaced by a hard-won maturity as she shouldered the burden of the guild.

"What we owe you... the Ning family will repay." Ning Tianxiong observed the scene but offered no reprimand. His voice held only icy detachment. "Once settled, I trust you will know your place."

Wang Shikong felt no anger at his words. Instead, his thoughts drifted to his previous life... recalling that after Qingya was gone, Ning Tianxiong was even trying to set up...