Tang Xueyao was still chatting with Zhang Chen, completely oblivious to the changes around her. This was actually a self-protection mechanism developed from years of living alone. Even if she noticed the changes in others, she wouldn't have any expectations. Because no matter what those people did, it wouldn't be for her. To avoid disappointment, Tang Xueyao had shut herself off, talking only to herself in a corner, never caring about the state of others.
"It's your birthday today, I don't know what to give you... How about..."
As Zhang Chen spoke, he took off the emerald green ring from his hand, then fashioned a new silver ring and put it back on. The new ring retained only the communication and transaction functions, as well as the manor; all other supplies remained in the emerald green ring.
"Clench your fist and close your eyes!" Zhang Chen said.
"Mmm!" Tang Xueyao closed her eyes nervously, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. She pursed her lips, her heart filled with both excitement and fear, and extended her right hand, clenching it into a fist. Suddenly, she felt something warm in her palm.
"Now you can open your eyes and open your palm." Tang Xueyao opened her eyes as instructed. She saw an emerald green ring appear in her palm.
"Is this... the Ring of the Ancient Leader?! The True God personally gave it to me... Could it be..." A shocking thought suddenly flashed through Tang Xueyao's mind, making her heart pound wildly and her cheeks flush.
"That's right, it's my ring, and now I'm giving it to you!" Zhang Chen said with a smile, gently stroking Tang Xueyao's hair. "I don't lack supplies now, I can create them anytime, including delicious food, any kind of equipment, even life! It was just a memory, a memento on my hand, now it's yours, be sure to take good care of it for me!"
However, his hand passed through her hair once more, going straight through her head.
"Happy Birthday!"
Suddenly, the restaurant manager jumped over with a party popper in his hand and set it off with a bang next to Tang Xueyao. Colorful confetti rained down. Then, everyone in the restaurant, with smiles on their faces, appeared around Tang Xueyao. The head chef held a bowl of fried rice with a candle stuck in it.
"This... this is for me?!" Tang Xueyao was stunned. The first birthday gift she had ever received in her life was a ring from the True God. And for the first time, so many people were celebrating her birthday with her. Tears immediately streamed down Tang Xueyao's face, sliding down her beautiful cheeks like a breached dam, uncontrollable!
"Good child, don't cry, we're here with you!" an auntie in her fifties said with a smile.
"You... you are? Gu Gu?" Tang Xueyao immediately recognized the energy radiating from the auntie. Not only that, but everyone around them was radiating the aura of the Pluto Mushroom, though the auntie's aura was much more intense.
"Yes, it's me, but they can't be considered me, only a small part of me," the Pluto Mushroom said with a knowing smile. "And I've given them full freedom, so you could say they are all individuals. It's just a pity that the True God can only transfer consciousness with you, otherwise, he would also be here to celebrate your birthday with you!"
"Thank you... thank you all. This is the happiest birthday I've ever had. Thank you!" Tang Xueyao bowed deeply to everyone, overwhelmed.
"Silly child, blow out the candles! Make a wish!" the Pluto Mushroom said. Actually, "silly child" wasn't an endearment; in its eyes, Tang Xueyao was a bit foolish. So, "silly child" was a truthful statement.
"Hoo!" Tang Xueyao blew out the candle without making a wish.
"You didn't make a wish, what a shame!" the Pluto Mushroom said with regret.
"It's not a shame at all. With the True God and Gu Gu by my side, I am already very content. I have no wishes!" Tang Xueyao declared. "And... as the leader of the True God Sect, I should not make wishes! Because everything that follows needs to be accomplished by me, one by one, to revitalize the True God Sect! Wishing is for the weak. What I need to do is achieve my goals!"
Tang Xueyao then began to eat heartily, a look of happiness on her face.
"Hmm, this birthday is quite good, just a bit... inspiring..." Zhang Chen said to the Pluto Mushroom.
"I've already consumed their consciousness, I can't spit it out. Let my other consciousnesses live in their bodies!" the Pluto Mushroom requested. "This place can also serve as one of our strongholds. I'll use this body to act! Is that okay, Master?"
"Mmm, having more entities means more combat power. So be it!" Zhang Chen agreed.
"Thank you, Master, haha, I can finally move freely! This feeling is wonderful!" the Pluto Mushroom exclaimed, doing a joyful spin. In reality, it looked like a plump, middle-aged woman with curly hair and a large pearl necklace suddenly twirled around with unbridled glee. The scene was indescribably bizarre.
The birthday party ended in a joyous atmosphere. The next day, Tang Xueyao, wearing the emerald green ring, prepared for departure. Her objective this time was to take on a delivery mission from the city hall, starting from scratch to change people's perception of the True God Sect and enhance its influence.
Due to the siege by a large number of soulless beings, all the troops were deployed to defend the city walls, leading to a surge in crime within the city. The most unfortunate situation was that as time went on, the number of soldiers dwindled, while the soulless beings, though suffering losses, were replenished by the fallen soldiers, resulting in almost no change in their numbers. Furthermore, the imperial reinforcements had not arrived.
In this situation, the lord of Rock City finally panicked and decided to offer a substantial reward to recruit brave squads to deliver a letter of appeal to Pine City, requesting reinforcements once again. Upon successful completion of the mission, a reward of 500,000 would be given, and the sect to which the deliverer belonged would be recognized as a legitimate sect. If members of established sects like the Loyal Warrior Hall or the Heavenly Maiden Sect completed the mission, their sect positions would be elevated by one rank.
Under such temptations, numerous members labeled as heretics flocked to join the letter delivery effort. For the lord of Rock City, the more people who delivered the letter, the higher the success rate. However, the reward would only be given to the first team to complete the mission, ensuring that he would profit regardless.