Chapter 144: Poking a Hole in the Sky with a Single Finger?

"Alright, alright, stop crying. It’s not like this is the first time."

Now that the system reward had been triggered, Qin Yang lost interest in Xiaobai. He let go with a look of disdain, allowing her to scramble away.

WHOOSH!

The next moment, Xiaobai clutched her tail and shot out of Qin Yang’s arms, curling up in a corner of the sofa, trembling with red-rimmed eyes.

Every so often, she would glance at Qin Yang’s hand and shoot it a look of disgust.

"What’s with that look?"

Feeling her gaze on him, Qin Yang’s brow furrowed. "This is legitimate research. It’s not like I’m lusting after your body!"

He had just been feeling and probing it. The meridians, flesh, skin, and bone of Xiaobai’s fourth tail had all been thoroughly examined. His understanding of the Fox Race’s physiology had deepened even further.

"Do I look like the kind of person who’d take advantage of you?"

With that, Qin Yang opened his Star Ring, took out two Stabilizing Pills, and tossed them toward her.

"Ooh..."

The moment Xiaobai saw the Elixir Pills, she instinctively opened her little mouth and swallowed them with a GULP. All her previous grievances vanished in an instant.

’So good!’

The little abacus in her mind began to click and clack.

’Master touched my tail.’

’I got two Stabilizing Pills in exchange.’

’Therefore—’

’Getting my tail touched equals getting Elixir Pills!’

’This Fairy isn’t losing out at all!’

With this in mind, Xiaobai shifted, darted out again, and burrowed right back into Qin Yang’s lap. She stuck her rear in the air and flirtatiously flicked her fluffy fox tail.

"Master, let’s keep playing! If you haven’t had enough fun, please, continue. You don’t have to hold back on my account..."

"Get lost!"

Hearing this, Qin Yang leaned his head back to avoid the white fur brushing against his face. He gave Xiaobai a swat on the behind, tossing her onto the sofa before getting up and walking toward the courtyard.

"I told you... I’m doing legitimate research. Now you’re the one lusting after my hand?"

"Shameless!"

"..."

At his words, Xiaobai’s face flushed scarlet. She sheepishly hid in the corner of the sofa, grumbling to herself as she watched Qin Yang’s departing figure.

’Hmph! If you don’t want to play, fine! Why do you have to be so mean about it?’

...

...

「In the Courtyard」

The night was cold and still.

Qin Yang found a wide, open space. Bathed in the moonlight, he lay down on the soft grass and began to accept the system’s rewards.

The first reward was the True Understanding of Refining.

"Refining artifacts, attaining godhood."

Qin Yang closed his eyes and focused, his consciousness sinking into the Enlightenment Space. A vast amount of knowledge appeared in a sudden rush of enlightenment, and he quickly grasped some of the wonders of Artifact Refining.

What was Artifact Refining?

In this world, people drew upon the Star Force of the heavens and gathered the Spiritual Qi of the mortal realm, refining them into objects.

Items like the Taoist School’s Ruler’s Staff, Ruyi, Ganlu Bowl, Sacrificial Altar Wood, Command Flag, and Celestial Banner Ruler, or the Eight Treasures of Buddhism, all fell under the category of Artifact Refining.

At its peak, it could be used to summon gods and subjugate ghosts; at its most basic, it could achieve purity and flawlessness.

Having a good artifact on hand could provide a significant boost to its wielder’s combat strength!

"Not bad."

After comprehending the True Understanding of Refining for a while, Qin Yang retracted his thoughts and moved on to the next reward.

The Great Wilderness Heaven-Caging Finger!

Another Emperor Level Martial Arts technique.

’It looks a little familiar.’

Qin Yang looked at the description of the Emperor Level Martial Arts, stroking his chin and pondering.

’Isn’t this... who was it that created this again?’

’Ugh, I can’t quite remember... Whatever. I’ll just absorb it.’

Qin Yang’s mind sank into the Enlightenment Space. A torrential sea of Martial Arts knowledge surged and churned. His consciousness drifted within it as he absorbed the information, a look of pure bliss on his face.

In just a few moments.

He opened his eyes again, having gained a preliminary understanding of the profundity of this Emperor Level Martial Arts.

To condense the Heaven and Earth Star Force into a single point, reaching the pinnacle of power, caging the heavens and shaking the earth—all with just one finger.

’I need to find a suitable place to practice.’

Qin Yang glanced around.

The Great Wilderness Heaven-Caging Finger was immensely powerful.

He couldn’t test it carelessly, and definitely not on the ground.

If he were to unleash even a single finger attack... more than half the Fuhai Villa Complex would be turned to rubble!

But if he couldn’t test it on the ground... what about the sky?

At this thought, Qin Yang pillowed his head with his arms and gazed up at the vast, boundless night sky. The moon was bright, and the stars were few; only a handful were visible.

’Tsk. Guess I’ll add one more for you.’

With that, Qin Yang drew his right hand, slowly extended his index finger toward the night sky, and, using the firmament as his canvas, pressed down gently.

The next moment.

WHOOSH!

Tens of thousands of meters up, the dark layers of clouds rolled and burst apart.

A furious gale raged, the bright moon suddenly dimmed, and space itself seemed to crack, blasting open a huge molten chasm!

In the suburbs, under the night sky, an amateur astronomer recording a Star Map looked up from his telescope, pointed a trembling finger at the sky, and quickly dragged his companion out into an open area to get a better look.

"Come look! In the southeastern sky, it looks like there’s an extra star!"

"No, that doesn’t look like a star. I’m sure it wasn’t there when I looked a minute ago!"

"Quick, quick, take a picture and post it online! This isn’t some disaster star for Jianghai, is it?!"

As the photos were uploaded to the internet, the suddenly appearing star immediately sparked heated discussions among netizens, who all began to speculate about the cause.

...

’Hmph! That awful Master! Just you wait!’

On the balcony, Xiaobai sniffled, her nose red, as she absorbed the effects of the Pill. Remembering what had just happened, her heart filled with humiliation.

’Today, this Fairy had to suck up to you!’

’But one day, when this Fairy is stronger, I’ll be the one holding your head down, and I’ll make you grovel ten, a hundred times more!’

’I, Bai Li, swear it to the heavens!’

Xiaobai wrinkled her nose, muttering angrily. Just as she raised her hand to swear an oath, she suddenly saw Qin Yang below, pointing his finger at the sky.

’Huh? What’s Master doing?’

At the sight, she froze for a moment, rubbed her eyes, and looked in the direction Qin Yang was pointing.

She looked toward the night sky.

Right where Qin Yang’s finger was pointing, a spot of white light flared brightly before quickly dimming and vanishing.