Chapter 791: My Half

Chapter 791: My Half

"Wait... she suffers 85%? Didn’t we decide to put a tax of 50% on life professions?"

When Lily heard that, she grumbled for a while. She didn’t like the 50% tax; it was far too low compared to the 70% to 80% taxes in other territories.

Nonetheless, she answered.

"The rest actually comes from the raw materials we provide. The territory supplies those leaves and herbs. If she ever buys them from us, then the value is exactly 50%."

Leo raised his brow in realisation. The raw materials were produced so naturally that he hadn’t even counted them.

In fact, if he started selling the leaves of the Mid-Yellow (5)-Tier Titanbreath Lotus, he could retire right now for seven lifetimes.

Leo patted her shoulder.

"That’s good. By the way, don’t worry about the tax thing. Veronica is now counted among our own people. It’s natural to make things easier for her."

Lily nodded, understanding what Leo meant. They had even upgraded Veronica’s Intermediate Contract to a high-level one after gaining access. So, there was no need to worry about betrayal.

And it was Veronica who had suggested renewing the contract in the first place. Lily was already sure that Veronica was wholly loyal. This was an application of Lily’s talent, which allowed her to know a person’s true feelings by peering into their spirit.

After breakfast, Leo and Lily took some time to absorb the Elasian Bloom flowers and petals.

In these 2 months, 6 flowers had already accumulated.

While Lily was still limited to 3 petals at once, Leo could sit down and consume an entire flower in one go, though it required a whole day.

When Leo handed Lily the flower, she looked down, seeming a bit downcast.

"What happened, Lily?" Leo asked in confusion.

"...Nothing." She smiled.

Flick!

"What was that for?" Lily asked, pouting as she rubbed the spot on her forehead where Leo had flicked her.

"Just say what’s on your mind. I can feel what you feel, don’t you know that?"

Her pout vanished.

"It’s just that... I feel like I’m freeloading..."

She still didn’t feel good about not providing anything substantial—even substantial wasn’t the right word. She felt like she was just an extra character around Leo, someone who only leeched off his progress.

Without all the help Leo had given her, she never would have become this strong. Not only had all her spirit beasts come thanks to him, but most of her cultivation resources had also come through him.

Flick!

"Ouu!" Lily squealed as the second flick landed even harder. But then, a warm hand settled on her head.

"You think about all the useless things. You are literally half of my life," Leo said with a smile.

"Half of my reason and drive to grow stronger comes from the fact that you exist."

"And let’s say, for a moment, that you are freeloading. Does that change anything?" As he spoke, he brought his hand down from her head to her cheeks.

"Do you know how reassured I feel when I leave the territory and go somewhere? Knowing that a person like you is staying back to protect it?"

"You are also the reason I look forward to coming back home. You make me feel the way nobody else does. These reasons are just a small drop in the ocean of all the others I cannot express. So, even if I need to pamper you until the end of the road, I’ll gladly do it."

Leo chuckled and rubbed her soft cheeks with his thumb.

"And let’s be honest, you being unaware of the importance you hold in my life doesn’t make you any less deserving of all the things I provide."

He brought out an Elasian Bloom petal with his other hand and lightly tapped it against her forehead, allowing it to absorb through her skin.

"So don’t ever worry about useless things."

By the end, Lily’s eyes were moist. The warmth she felt from Leo’s words was even more intense than the feeling of consuming a high-level treasure.

She stepped forward and kissed him, and they stayed locked in that position. The mystical glow from the consumed Elasian Bloom enveloped them, making the scene look both charged and majestic.

When they parted, Lily wore a radiant smile. The blush on her face made her look breathtaking.

"Of course, no one will ever make you feel the way I do!" she declared, then hugged him again, basking in his warmth. Her usual self was back.

Was the double meaning intentional? Why do I feel like I won’t be able to wake up early tomorrow?

As they slowly consumed the treasures, something loosened within Leo’s soul.

Ding!

Vitality: 5955 → 6093 + [6000 → 6500]

"This... My soul is about to rank up!" he exclaimed excitedly.

After so long, his soul would finally rank up. He was excited to see what kind of changes would occur in his [Beastiary of Souls] talent once it reached 9 stars. Though it wasn’t guaranteed to reach 9 stars, he looked forward to the moment.

"Hmm?" Leo suddenly felt something strange.

"Is... what?"

"Huh?"

He muttered incoherently, trying to make sense of the strange sensation.

Have my souls started the process of merging? He wondered with a deep frown. Why were they merging after such a long time? If merging was even an option from the start, that was.

Does it have something to do with my talent ranks getting closer or my soul ranks getting closer?

Leo had no idea what was happening, but one thing was clear—he would soon lose the benefits of having 2 souls, including the mana boost and additional contract spaces. Not to mention the two high-ranked talents. What would happen to them once the souls fused?

Would he lose one of the talents? Would he keep both separately, or would they fuse into an entirely new talent?

I really hope things don’t get worse... Leo thought quietly before focusing on meditation.

He also felt that his connection with Lily had grown stronger. This was great. He was now one step closer to having a loyal force once she obtained Niri’s [Primordial Matriarch] talent.

And just like that, the day passed.

Howl covered nearly 220 kilometres that day and had settled down to rest once again as night came down. Along the way, they had also managed to acquire some chicken-like beasts for domestication. As a result, they now had eggs in their diet and could occasionally enjoy chicken meat.

In a temporary inn in the commercial area, Alena and Jialou were discussing things.