16 - Dungeon Growth Log

【Ding! Material inspection in progress! Inspection complete! All five materials are correct. Puppet synthesis technique initiated.】 【Synthesis successful!】 【Congratulations, host has acquired a new skill: Puppet Synthesis!】 Xia Ge tilted her head slightly, a hint of green flickered in her deep purple eyes, and a panel appeared before her, showcasing the new skill’s details. 【Puppet Synthesis · Basic Synthesis】 【Usage: Gather the materials first, then silently recite the skill name】 【Proficiency: 0/1】 Xia Ge: “……” Sometimes she had to admit, ever since she got the system, even a lazy life could feel like it was on cheat mode. Gathering all the materials into a pile, Xia Ge silently recited “Puppet Synthesis” in her mind. Before her eyes, the materials began to transform at a visible rate! A crystalline light slowly emerged from the air after her silent invocation, gradually wrapping around the pile of materials and lifting them bit by bit into the air. 【Ding! Puppet Synthesis · Basic Synthesis proficiency 1/1】 【Ding! Congratulations, host has crafted an F-grade Glazed Puppet!】 With the announcement of the F-grade Glazed Puppet’s completion, the light surrounding the materials burst in mid-air, and a palm-sized, fully transparent tiny puppet “thunked” onto the table. Xia Ge’s eyes slightly brightened, but before she could rejoice, there was a brisk knock on the door! Outside, Ye Ze’s voice was urgent, “Xia Wuyin!” Xia Ge's pupils suddenly shrank. She hastily swept the small puppet off the table and into her sleeve, “Ye Ze?” 【Ding! F-grade puppet crafted… Congratulations to the host for leveling up!】 【Puppet Apprentice → Puppet Master】 【Title acquired: Puppeteer】 “I heard there was an attack by a demonic puppet at the foot of the mountain. Are you alright? Open the door!” Ye Ze's voice was filled with concern, “Why are you still staying here? Is that scythe on your roof left by those puppets? Aren’t you afraid it’ll collapse in the middle of the night?” “It’s fine, it won’t collapse.” Xia Ge’s voice was casual, “I’m fine. The Sword Peak people arrived quickly, don't worry. What brings you down the mountain so late?” “I just finished evening classes.” Knowing she was safe, Ye Ze's voice calmed slightly, “It’s not midnight yet... Xia Wuyin, open the door. Don’t stay in that room tonight.” Xia Ge glanced to the side, where a copper mirror stood by the window. Under the weak candlelight, the blurred reflection showed a youth with a green hairband, disheveled black hair, and a pair of deep purple eyes that seemed almost otherworldly. [Soul Captivation] state maintained. Today, she could meet no one. “I’m not opening it.” Xia Ge’s lazy voice responded, as she poked a few holes in the window paper to let the bright moonlight in, then walked to the bed and casually took out a dagger from under the pillow, “That scythe is valuable. I have to watch it in case someone takes it while I’m gone.” Ye Ze: “……” Ye Ze restrained himself, “You can stay in my room; I’ll go back up the mountain.” “No way, if I sleep there, no one will be watching it.” Xia Ge's lips subtly curved, intentionally teasing him, “When the mountain people arrive, I’ll claim I was in my room all along and the scythe fell from the sky. Then I can extract a hefty compensation and emotional distress fee.” Half of Ye Ze’s face darkened, “If this room collapses tonight, the mountain people will only issue a death benefit payment.” Xia Ge sliced through the bed sheet with the dagger, tearing off a strip of cloth to wrap around her eyes, casually saying, “Ah, Ye brother is so right, Ye brother is really smart. Then I'll make sure that death benefit gets billed to Ye brother’s account, as thanks for his five years of friendship.” Ye Ze: “……” He absolutely did not want to receive this troublemaker's death benefit!! Blindfolded, with everything turning to darkness, Xia Ge heard her own voice, “You better hurry back to the mountain. Climbing up and down every day, I get tired just watching you. The puppet attack earlier, your brothers didn’t lose a hair, so don’t worry.” Moonlight was like water. Ye Ze, lip slightly pursed, leaned silently against the worn wooden door, lifting his head to gaze at the bright moon, momentarily speechless. Xia Ge wondered why he’d gone silent when a low voice came from outside, “I heard... there was a disciple with a green hairband today, from which division of Lingxi Mountain I don’t know. He recklessly tried to save someone and almost died under a demonic puppet’s scythe.” Xia Ge arched an eyebrow. Oh, the news travels fast. “Xia Wuyin, I know it was you.” Ye Ze’s voice was calm, “The moment I heard, I knew it was you.” Xia Ge feigned shock, “Ye senior brother, I never imagined, in your eyes, I would be such a righteous person!” ...In the entire Lingxi Peak, there’s no one else who wears a green hairband but you! Ye Ze’s temple pulsed with a vein, restraining himself, “Do you know what bothers me most about you?” Xia Ge’s voice was even more incredulous, “Ye senior brother, are you really annoyed by me?” Ye Ze kicked the door open, “Xia Wuyin, could you stop being so self-righteous!!” The old door, already in disrepair, was kicked open with no mercy. Whether from anger or the rush of coming down the mountain too hastily, the youth in his red maple attire hadn’t even changed his clothes, breathing slightly heavily, his face faintly flushed. Xia Ge tightly gripped the puppet in her hand, a cold sweat seeping from her palm under the wide sleeves of her hemp robe.