Zhang Luan felt a chill run down his spine. If that was true, this world’s depths ran far deeper than he’d ever imagined.
Aruola finished speaking and walked over to the small pot. She cracked an egg into it, then politely asked Zhang Luan, “Would you like some?”
Staring at the plain boiled egg floating in clear water, Zhang Luan’s heart ached.
“You eat just this? Can you even raise chickens in this tower?”
Aruola shook her head. “Only I can’t leave this Mage Tower. The others can go out. This pot and the eggs are food they brought back. Though I don’t actually need to eat.”
“Others? There are more people here?”
“Mm. They’re lingering souls, elevated through blood sacrifice. My sister refined them into guardian spirits to care for me. But she hasn’t visited in ages. Many turned into evil spirits.”
Hearing this, Zhang Luan suddenly recalled what he’d caught earlier. Clearly, it was a physical spirit—one of the extremely dangerous kind.
This Mage Tower never saw sunlight. Only Aruola’s room had a faint glow. Outside, the darkness swallowed even Stellar Flame’s light. How long had that shadow clung to these walls?
He’d thought coming here was just about grabbing some treasure. Who could’ve predicted this?
In his past life, the Mighty Roar Cathedral’s leader had triggered a massive blood sacrifice with thousands of followers. Their suicide blast collapsed the tower.
Its materials were top-tier, its craftsmanship superb. But after over a millennium without magical upkeep, the collapse wasn’t surprising.
After the fall, people found gold, jewels, and artifacts scattered in the ruins. Most rare, high-tier items had lost their power, reduced to blank slates. Yet one special thing remained.
A magic device. A legendary-grade one.
That legendary device was Zhang Luan’s goal. But now, it seemed less precious than what stood before him: this stoic girl, a divine spirit, Afan Yin’s sister—the ancient tower spirit herself.
Aruola quietly ate the boiled egg, though as a tower spirit, she didn’t need sustenance.
Zhang Luan watched her for a long moment. Hesitating, he pulled the Culinary God’s Spicy Pot from his backpack and set it before her. He dumped out a pile of emergency rations—food he’d bought for outdoor adventures.
“Is this… a pot?” Aruola asked, puzzled. As an ancient tower spirit, she sensed mysterious power radiating from it.
“Yeah. A pretty handy pot,” Zhang Luan replied. He tossed the rations in without caring if they’d taste good together. This pot only produced two outcomes: unbearably spicy or supremely delicious.
This was his boldest use yet. As the ingredients hit the pot, heat spread evenly across its base. A red lid materialized overhead. Crackling, popping sounds erupted.
Aruola stared at Zhang Luan, confusion in her eyes. “This… is a pot?”
Zhang Luan felt awkward. He’d only ever cooked leaves or twigs for minor buffs before. Real food had never acted like this. “Don’t worry. It won’t explode. I promise.”
Unaware, Zhang Luan had dropped his guard around this cute, emotionless girl. It shouldn’t have happened.
In his past life’s decade of survival, he’d seen adorable things morph into demons slaughtering players. He’d met harmless-looking creatures that bared fangs the moment you neared, swallowing you whole.
But he couldn’t help it. After all—
“Is it wrong for a tough guy to love cute girls?”
Seriously, she was just too adorable.
As the Culinary God’s Spicy Pot quieted, the lid vanished. A heavenly aroma filled the air. Aruola sniffed lightly with her tiny nose and said in her flat tone, “Smells good.”
The jumbled ingredients had transformed into a Supreme Delicacy soup. Who’d believe it without seeing it?
“Here.” Zhang Luan ladled a bowl for her. She took it without hesitation, unafraid of poison or curses. She gently blew twice. A cool breeze flowed from her lips, cooling the scalding soup to warm.
She took a sip, then set the bowl down. “Delicious. Thank you.”
“Glad you like it.” Zhang Luan drank too. The [Supreme Delicacy] buff activated. His HP didn’t drop, so the healing didn’t trigger. But the 50% max HP boost flooded him with energy.
Truly, this pot lived up to its legendary status.
Aruola floated up from the floor, watching Zhang Luan. “I don’t think I know your name.”
“Zhang Luan. Zhang as in bow and arrow. You said I’m the one your sister waited for? Why her? I don’t even know her.”
Aruola shook her head. “I don’t know. Sister only said that whoever enters my room carrying a coin can take me out of this tower.”
“I can take you out?” Zhang Luan stared at her, stunned. He had no idea he could free an ancient tower spirit who’d lived who-knew-how-long.
“Mm. That’s what Sister said.” Aruola nodded firmly.
Just as Zhang Luan opened his mouth to ask more, a harsh roar echoed outside the door. Aruola glanced that way and flicked her finger. A monstrous figure stood barely a meter beyond the threshold, clearly repelled by the room’s light.
“Is that the evil spirit you mentioned?”
“Mm. Evil spirits. They were people captured with me by that mage long ago. Years twisted them like this.” A rare trace of sadness flickered in Aruola’s eyes. She stood, picked up a doll, and tossed it out. The monster shattered it instantly, its frenzy utterly mindless.
“I’m the ancient tower spirit. With Sister’s help, I can defend myself. But I can’t kill them. These evil spirits share a similar fate with me. That mage made us what we are. So I can’t grant them release.” She turned to Zhang Luan. “But you can.”
