Starting as a Magical Girl, I Alone Shall Rule for Eternity Chapter 40
Jiang Si sat at the table, applying medicine to the wounds he had inflicted on himself.
Fighting against himself was quite a novel experience, but for Jiang Si, it had also helped him discover a new method for improvement.
Perhaps he could keep asking Qinghua to make puppets for him to spar with and enhance himself.
Although the gap between his physical body and the puppet was too large, future training could involve fighting puppets in his transformed state, or creating puppets with different power gradients by investing varying amounts of magical energy, allowing his physical body to break through its limits step by step.
It could also cultivate his ability to multitask.
If the results were good, it could be promoted throughout the entire sect.
It could also further develop Qinghua's abilities. Qinghua had always been lazy and needed more motivation. Her abilities were an important development line for the sect's Hundred Cultivation Arts, including techniques like Dao Soldiers, puppets, and external incarnations.
As for the outcome of the date, Jiang Si was quite satisfied. The Disaster Control Bureau had indeed withdrawn their surveillance of him.
After all, as long as it wasn't the Witch Association, the Disaster Control Bureau wouldn't monitor him so strictly.
Not to mention that with the Azure Cloud Sect relationship, he could now freely use Barrier Leaves to hide his tracks.
He no longer needed to worry about being noticed because of this. It could be said to kill three birds with one stone.
Initially, he had thought Qinghua's suggestion was somewhat unreliable, but judging by the results, it seemed Qinghua had thought it through carefully.
Inner disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, even ones like Qinghua who usually seemed unreliable, should not be underestimated.
Although Jiang Si considered himself quite talented in the path of cultivation, with the potential of a Great Emperor, he wasn't arrogant enough to think he could consider everything thoroughly. He always needed someone to help him consider things to avoid oversights.
This was also the greatest help that Bingtang and the inner disciples could provide him.
Naturally, he wouldn't be going to school today either. He had already reviewed most of the senior year curriculum. When the college entrance exam approached, he would just ask the principal for exam permission and familiarize himself a bit more, and there would be no problem.
If it weren't for the fact that at the Azure Cloud Sect and at home, he couldn't help but want to cultivate and couldn't focus on reading, Jiang Si probably wouldn't have gone to school at all.
It was only because the school environment was relatively closed with no space for cultivation that he could empty his mind and read, completing his senior year studies review.
After all, the Azure Cloud Sect and home were full of training equipment with no restrictions. How could a normal person resist not training?
After bandaging his wounds, Jiang Si closed his eyes and reminisced about the final battle during the daytime date.
Fighting against himself sometimes made it easier to see his own flaws and mental laziness. In his physical body state, he occasionally couldn't help but use fighting methods from his Magical Girl state, resulting in numerous openings.
If he really encountered a Magical Girl of a higher level, he couldn't be so reckless. He needed to hold back some strength to be able to change moves and retreat at any time.
Although Jiang Si didn't think he would lose his transformation ability, the development of this world was always unpredictable. Who knew what would happen in the future?
If he lost the power of a Magical Girl, how would he fight, and how would he escape from high-level Magical Girls? This had always been Jiang Si's most important research topic.
Preparing for rainy days, having preparations prevents trouble.
On the other hand, he always felt that the power of the Miracle Seed had limits.
The longer he stayed at the Blooming level, the clearer he felt it. A Magical Girl going all out was like burning firewood, although at the Blooming level, the burning speed was far behind the rate of magical energy supply.
It was completely different from the Golden Core that Jiang Si knew about. Even external cores shouldn't have this feeling of burning firewood.
So what would it be like at Full Bloom? No one could say for sure.
Once his magical energy was completely burned up, what would a Magical Girl burn when using power again?
The few answers he could think of weren't good.
Moreover, currently known, the end for Magical Girls was only Full Bloom, and the destructive power of Full Bloom, at normal levels, could at most destroy a city. Of course, combined with a Magical Girl's mobility, destroying a country wouldn't be difficult either.
This power couldn't be considered poor, but it was undoubtedly quite distant from the Great Dao that Jiang Si wanted to pursue.
In his understanding, Golden Core and Nascent Soul were probably about this level. Although he had read about alternative strengthening methods like Three Thousand Golden Cores, Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, Thousand Years of Qi Refinement, Golden Core Great Dao, and Cavern Heaven Methods, those were ultimately exceptions.
Jiang Si didn't think he was that special either. He was just an ordinary cultivator.
As for settings where some Golden Cores could casually manipulate cause and effect, achieve immortality, deduce past and future, and casually influence entire worlds...
Jiang Si had always scoffed at such notions.
A Foundation Building minor cultivator is just a Foundation Building minor cultivator. What's this about Foundation Building great powers? If Golden Core is so amazing, then what about Great Integration, Unity, and Ascension stage experts?
Not to mention Immortals.
This was simply making trouble, challenging authority, subverting classics, and still having to borrow the names of past cultivation levels, making people confused and not knowing what it's about.
But regardless, these advancements would help cultivators master rules, elevate their status, and ultimately transcend the world.
But wanting to use Magical Girl power to transcend in this world was probably somewhat difficult.
That's why Jiang Si didn't plan to place all his hopes solely on Magical Girls.
The Disaster Beast's Grief Seeds were also powerful supernatural forces that could not only increase the Miracle Seed's magical energy but also directly and long-term enhance the physical body. Although there were various negative effects, this was something that Magical Girl magical energy couldn't achieve.
The pure magical energy of Magical Girls could only be borrowed in small ranges and for short periods without transformation.
For Jiang Si, more paths meant more possibilities. No matter what kind of supernatural power it was, he would accept them all and was willing to try.
Of course, he wasn't in a hurry either. Since becoming a Magical Girl, Jiang Si had become very patient.
Holding supernatural power, it was hard not to be patient. The methods for using the tainted magical energy of Grief Seeds could be slowly found from the Witch Association. Moreover, compared to tainted magical energy now, the Miracle Seed was more important.
Let him see what exactly Full Bloom was about, so he could make his next plans.
After dealing with some minor injuries, Jiang Si heated up the leftovers he brought back, planning to eat and then go to sleep.
Today had been particularly exhausting, not because of the fighting, but because of multitasking to control the puppet while shopping.
The general feeling was like threading a needle with an embroidery needle - precise manipulation of expressions while ensuring that both his own and the puppet's movements didn't have any problems that would make others suspicious.
From morning until afternoon, he couldn't relax for a moment.
Even Jiang Si felt that such training was somewhat too harsh and arduous.
When he gave up controlling the puppet, his brain felt a sense of relief.
Jiang Si, who could remain expressionless even with broken arms and legs, was experiencing mental torment for the first time.
That's why he planned to frequently ask Qinghua to make puppets for him to control in the future.
What Jiang Si wanted was absolute control over his body, including mental aspects. No matter how tormenting and painful, he needed his body to remain within his control.
No matter how painful or tormenting, he could avoid shouting and screaming, remaining calm and composed.
When he used to read web novels, he most despised those embarrassing characters who would panic, scream in terror, even vomit and cry after getting slightly injured or killing someone.
So he absolutely wouldn't allow himself to show such disgraceful behavior. No matter what kind of pain or torment, he would use his willpower to perfectly control his body and suppress all reactions.
This was what a true protagonist was like.
Controlling the puppet made him feel tormented, even somewhat unbearable, which meant his training wasn't sufficient.
Continue training fiercely until he became numb to it, able to effortlessly control puppets every day, strengthening his mental power.
Until it was perfect.
As he was planning his future training methods, just after eating some food, the door was pushed open. Keke walked in from outside, glanced at him, took off her sports shoes, put on slippers, and went straight to her bedroom.
Jiang Si glanced at the time; it was indeed about time for school to be out.
After casually eating a few bites, Keke threw her backpack in her room, changed clothes, then came out pushing the door. Jiang Si habitually stood up, planning to clean the table and leave.
"Wait a moment."
Keke suddenly stopped him, sitting down at the table. "I want, I want to talk to you. Don't leave yet, okay?"
Jiang Si, holding bowls and chopsticks, thought for a moment, then went to the kitchen first to clean up before coming back to sit down.
"Speak."
Keke avoided Jiang Si's gaze, looking at the repaired floor.
She suddenly realized that she knew very, very little about this blood relative.
She didn't know how Jiang Si had negotiated with relatives in the past, nor what Jiang Si had done over these years.
As a younger sister, Keke had always felt that everything in her current life was taken for granted.
But when she called Second Uncle earlier, she had vaguely realized that this wasn't the case.
Relatives weren't that easy to talk to. Even relatives who owed their family so much money weren't very responsive to her polite requests.
Ultimately, for two children who had lost their parents' protection to have such stable lives now, they couldn't rely on relatives' and others' pity and soft hearts, much less their own pleas.
This world didn't have that many great benefactors willing to help others unconditionally. Always fantasizing that because they lost their parents and were pitiful, everyone would unconditionally help them - especially over the long term - was really too naive and childish.
Over these three years, because of the cold war, she knew too little about Jiang Si. So when she saw Shion with Jiang Si, she couldn't think of any reason at all.
Only now was she slowly starting to look for the qualities that could make Teacher Shion develop feelings for him.
For example, taking care of her without relying on anyone, living independently for three years.
She remained silent for a long time, and Jiang Si just sat there, completely unhurried, occasionally drinking water, as if he was already thinking about other things.
After a long while, she finally organized her thoughts, took a deep breath, "Can I ask, how did you and Teacher Shion meet?"
"By chance."
"By chance?"
Jiang Si thought for a moment, "On my way home from school on Saturday, I met her on the road."
Only then did Keke remember that Jiang Si hadn't come home at that time, and Captain Silver Lotus had kept saying she couldn't find him.
So he had met Teacher Shion.
They had only known each other for two days? For their relationship to progress to dating in just two days was too fast...
Some doubts and regret arose in her heart. If only she had found Jiang Si at that time.
But soon she suppressed these emotions herself.
"What did you... talk about?"
"She asked me about you."
Keke's heart jumped, and she clenched her hands, "Asked what?"
"About your grades, your strength as a Magical Girl, and your interpersonal relationships."
Thinking about it, these were indeed things she would ask about, so it wasn't really lying to her.
When he, Jiang Si, did things, he was always open and aboveboard, never deceiving people.
"How... how did you answer her?"
"Normal answers." Jiang Si stood up, "Good grades, good strength, good interpersonal relationships. That's it. If there's nothing else, I'm going to sleep first."
After saying this, he prepared to go upstairs.
"My grades are thirty points higher than last time."
Keke also stood up, raising her voice, "My strength, my strength has also improved. Silver Lotus said I'll reach Seedling soon. My interpersonal relationships - Captain Silver Lotus and I have recently become good friends."
Jiang Si stopped walking, looked back at her, his expression somewhat puzzled.
Picking up a cloth to casually wipe the table, Keke lowered her head, "Next time you meet, you can answer her like this."
"Oh."
No need to answer, he had already heard.
He thought this as he just started climbing the stairs when Keke called out to him from behind again, "Wait a moment, I still have something I want to ask you..."
"Say everything at once."
The air froze for a moment.
Keke also withdrew her hand slightly. Although this sentence wasn't malicious, it was too cold, making her feel somewhat stung, "It's just, in the future, will you bring Teacher Shion home?"
This question was somewhat difficult to ask.
But she had to ask. After all, they were a couple now. It was normal to bring a girlfriend home.
Even staying overnight was normal...
The air froze to the point where Keke thought time had stopped. She even felt this tormenting wait was somewhat long.
Like sitting through three class periods.
Until Jiang Si spoke to reply, "It won't interfere with you."
The expression on Keke's face was both expectant and conflicted: "If she comes, can you... tell me in advance?"
"I'll try."
Watching Jiang Si go upstairs, Keke slowly breathed a sigh of relief and sat down.
Although seeing Teacher Shion and Jiang Si together made her feel uncomfortable and awkward...
But, having more opportunities to see Teacher Shion in the future was also a good thing...
Then she was amused by her own attempt to find happiness in adversity. Keke lay on the table, gently bumping her head against it.
Regardless of Jiang Si and Shion's relationship, she should first work on getting closer to Teacher Shion herself.
Maybe she could ask her to teach magical energy usage techniques, like Senior Hyacinth did.
As for being banned from entering the Disaster Control Bureau because of Jiang Si and Shion's relationship, and only being able to operate with Captain Silver Lotus, that didn't matter now.
As she fantasized about how to ask Teacher Shion to teach her later, her phone suddenly rang.
Looking at it, it was a message from the Disaster Control Bureau.
"Large numbers of Disaster Beasts will appear tomorrow. Please all team members prepare for combat."
She originally wanted to contact Captain Silver Lotus to ask what was going on, but found that the call wouldn't go through.
She would have to wait until tomorrow to find out.
...
Bingtang watched the gradually dissipating Shion puppet with a regretful expression.
Although she had tried her best to have the puppet return quickly, it was still too late. By the time it returned to the Azure Cloud Sect, it could no longer maintain its form.
By the time it reached her, before Bingtang could reach out her hand, the Shion puppet had already begun to turn to dust.
Who knew when the next puppet would be made...
"Lady Bingtang, we've received news from Susan."
Coming back to her senses, Four Leaf was looking at her with a serious expression, holding a mirror.
When Susan sent out intelligence, she still needed to rely on her divination ability.
"Didn't Susan say the Disaster Control Bureau is strict now?"
"I heard they detected large numbers of Disaster Beasts about to appear. The Disaster Control Bureau is very busy and somewhat chaotic inside now. She finally has a chance to send out intelligence."
Bingtang slightly frowned, "Large numbers of Disaster Beasts about to appear?"
"Yes." Four Leaf's small face showed some worry, "The Disaster Control Bureau's Disaster Beast monitoring uses technology distributed from their headquarters and has never been wrong. They plan to abandon the area south of here again. The people at the Disaster Control Bureau have notified us in advance."
"Hah, saying they're abandoning it, but they're really just throwing it to us to handle."
Bingtang wasn't very surprised. The Disaster Control Bureau had always operated this way, and both sides had developed a tacit understanding, "How many sect disciples are left in the southern area?"
"Three at Sprout level, one at Seedling level."
"That should be enough."
The Azure Cloud Sect assigned disciples to various areas in groups of four. Generally, there would be a Seedling level leader, but there weren't that many Seedling level Magical Girls, so sometimes more capable Sprout level Magical Girls would lead.
"Tell them to be vigilant, and have Yumo ready to provide support at any time."
"Received."
Generally, the Disaster Control Bureau's monitoring would give a one-day advance warning, so preparation time was quite sufficient.
Large numbers of Disaster Beasts appearing most likely had something to do with the Witch Association.
Naturally occurring Disaster Beasts almost never appeared in large numbers simultaneously.
So Bingtang was somewhat worried that something unexpected might happen. It was safer to have Yumo prepared for support.
"The Witch Association apparently can't hold back anymore." Bingtang pondered for a while, "What about Yinluo? Is Susan watching her?"
"Susan went back first. She doesn't know if Yinluo returned later, but Susan is already waiting near the safe room. The Miracle Seed is still in the safe room. If she acts, she'll definitely go to the safe room first. We won't miss her, and it will be easier to find evidence of Yinluo being a Witch Association member."
"Good. This time we must make her bring out the Miracle Seed. Tell Susan to pay attention and definitely not lose track of her."
After making arrangements, Bingtang sent the current arrangements and latest intelligence to Jiang Si as usual.
Then, Bingtang suddenly thought of that Magical Girl combat team captain.
Silver Lotus had been getting along quite well with Keke recently.
She sighed with regret in her heart, wondering what would happen to her later. She hoped it wouldn't involve Keke.
After glancing at Jiang Si's reply, she turned to look at Four Leaf:
"Tell Qinghua and the others to get ready. The Witch Association might also be active tomorrow. The Sect Master has ordered - don't let a single one escape."
"Yes."