Chapter 22: The Second Ghoul Incident! Will a Terrifying Creature Emerge?
If it increased tenfold, then each meal would add +5 health points, totaling +15 points per day! Before the age of five, reaching 10,000 health points would be a piece of cake, effortless!
Xu Ran carried these hopeful visions and eagerly indulged. Shortly after, 350 grams of seventh-tier fat snow rhinoceros meat were devoured.
[You have consumed a high-energy substance. With the blessing of Nutrient Extraction, health points +2. Current health points: 1,279…]
“Hm? Only a fourfold increase?” Xu Ran frowned slightly.
Two points per meal, three meals make six, plus one point from the self-disciplined baby, totaling a daily increase of seven points.
This was only half of the twelve points per day standard.
“I need to spend another hundred days cultivating Nutrient Extraction to reach the intermediate level.”
“I wonder how much the intermediate Nutrient Extraction can boost…”
“If it can’t double it, then I’ll grind it to mastery!”
Xu Ran’s face was resolute.
Though the difficulty remained, it was by no means unreachable or hopeless.
One had to admit, credit was due to that Adam.
Without the keyword “Divine Stomach,” the third golden achievement might have truly eluded Xu Ran.
But now…
If he could cultivate Nutrient Extraction to mastery, there was a ninety percent chance he’d secure the third golden achievement!
Xu Ran smiled brightly.
A person with a collecting compulsion was at this moment feeling utterly clear and joyous.
He even felt like dancing with glee.
“The chance of failure should be slim! Good, good, just keep this pace!”
Xu Ran couldn’t help but hum a nursery rhyme.
“Why are you smiling, little Ran? So happy this morning?”
Beside him, his mother couldn’t help but ask curiously.
Xu Ran was about to respond when Tiger Girl, kicking her little legs, scampered over, with Aunt Chen lagging far behind.
“Li-lan-ge-ge~” Her strong voice echoed through the cafeteria from dozens of meters away.
“Hmm,” Xu Ran nodded, glancing at Tiger Girl, who was now two years and ten months old, standing at 1.1 meters tall—tall enough to pass for a five-year-old girl.
Still, she was twenty centimeters shorter than Xu Ran.
Xu Ran was now 1.3 meters tall, resembling a second or third grader, about eight or nine years old.
“Here, go get some rhinoceros meat.”
“Okay.”
Tiger Girl nodded and waddled to the counter, lightly jumping, skillfully supporting herself on the counter ledge with both hands.
Her two little legs dangled in midair as she cheerfully kicked them.
“Uncle Zhao, I want two pieces of fragrant meat.”
Zhao replied, “Alright, Little Liuli.”
Minutes later, the fragrant pan-fried meat was served.
Tiger Girl gobbled it down in a few bites.
Meanwhile, Tiger Girl’s mother had just taken her seat…
“Good morning, Little Ran’s mom.”
“Good morning, Liuli’s mom.”
“Good morning, Aunt Chen.”
The two mothers gathered together, chatting eagerly.
After more than ten minutes of conversation, nearby, a tall and spirited female guard protecting Xu Ran and Tiger Girl pressed her finger against the Bluetooth earpiece, holding her breath to listen.
“Understood, team leader. I will maintain strict vigilance!”
The two confident female guards nodded and approached the mothers and Aunt Chen.
“Madams, a minor security incident has occurred in the park. Please remain seated in the cafeteria for a while. We will stand guard nearby to ensure your safety.”
Lin Qian and Tiger Girl’s mother were startled.
“What happened? Even the demigod kindergarten has dangers?”
The female guard patiently explained: “It’s ghostly creatures.”
“Due to the energy pollution from the ghostly alien star, Blue Star now sporadically births batches of ghostly creatures.”
“This time, a large number of ‘Guwu Lang’ appeared in the city, abducting children.”
“Just recently, the park detected Guwu Lang in the process of birthing. Rest assured, within half an hour, the security team will have thoroughly cleansed the park.”
Hearing this, Lin Qian’s mother felt chills.
“Guwu Lang? The kind Xu Ran and I encountered two years ago? I remember those missing children—no bodies were ever found.”
The female guard nodded.
“Yes, Guwu Lang are very eerie.”
“The Clearing Agency has investigated repeatedly but still doesn’t know where the abducted children are taken…”
“This case remains an unsolved mystery.”
“Moreover, according to our team leader’s analysis, Guwu Lang are becoming increasingly sinister, cunning, and deceptive.”
Lin Qian’s mother and Aunt Chen exchanged glances, their eyes filled with compassion.
As mothers, they deeply understood the despair of having a child stolen.
They did not know how many mothers’ tears would be dried by this calamity.
Lin Qian’s mother was speechless, only holding Xu Ran tighter and tighter.
Tiger Girl’s mother also clutched her daughter firmly, fearing any misfortune.
Half an hour later.
“Madams, the minor alert has been lifted. The principal requests that we gather at the teaching activity center.”
“Alright, let’s go!”
“Please, madams.”
The female guards flanked them, escorting them to the teaching activity center.
They were accompanied by sixteen geniuses, their guardians, and security personnel.
The tall and imposing Principal Cheng Qiyuan stood at the front with hands behind his back.
“All eighteen students are here, right? To ensure the safety of each genius, I will take attendance.”
“Zhu Yuheng…”
A beautiful little girl with white hair and eyebrows stepped forward, her features proud, but voice soft: “Zhu Yuheng, present.”
“Feng Yan…”
“Bian Yue…”
“Bie Jingqiu…”
“Zhuge Huangjin…”
A chubby little boy wearing a golden necklace said, “Zhuge Huangjin, present!”
…
“Xu Ran…”
“Jiang Liuli…”
As attendance was called, eyes swept over each genius.
Once attendance ended, a cultivator unknown to all hovered in the air, gently crushing a radiant crystal stone in his palm.
Instantly, fireworks blossomed, casting golden light over everyone.
The adults felt warmth and comfort, their fatigue dissipating.
The children found it fascinating, blinking their sparkling eyes at the fireworks.
The principal nodded.
“Alright everyone, the danger has been neutralized!”
“The spell just cast can burn ghostly creatures. The golden light on you will keep Guwu Lang away for a week. All mothers can rest assured.”
His words made all the mothers breathe a sigh of relief.
Lin Qian’s mother gained a new understanding of the park’s security.
Not only was the problem solved in half an hour, but they could also use spells to provide a week-long protective layer.
Truly reassuring!
“Additionally, let me introduce a new instructor.”
The principal’s figure flickered as he dragged a girl from a corner a hundred meters away.
She looked to be in her twenties, strikingly beautiful but with eyes dull and lifeless as ashes.
“The new instructor’s name is Li Qinghong. She is very capable. Her task will be to lead the children through some simple training. Come here, child. Greet everyone.”
Li Qinghong stood at the center of attention.
“Principal, I can’t teach…”
The principal’s expression turned stern.
“This is an order. A soldier’s order! From now on, you are responsible for their lessons!”
“You know, our Blue Star and our Xia Nation are on the brink. These children are the future. You must nurture their growth with your dedication! I will say it again: this is an order!”
Hearing the word “order,” Li Qinghong instinctively straightened up, but as she realized, her spirit collapsed abruptly as she muttered, “I’m just a pathetic deserter. How can I teach these geniuses?”
The principal firmly patted her shoulder.
“Every corner of Xia Nation needs talent. You are already a phoenix among men. How could you fail? Go, child! Greet everyone.”
Li Qinghong’s voice was mechanical and vacant.
“Hello everyone, I am Li Qinghong…”
The principal said, “She is the first outstanding graduate of our kindergarten. One of my proudest children. Let’s give her a warm welcome!”
Thunderous applause erupted below.
Many did not hear her claim to be a deserter, but Xu Ran heard it clearly.
The first class of the Jing Province Demigod Kindergarten, calling herself a deserter?
Certainly not a deserter.
If she were, why would the principal appear stern but patiently counsel her?
He called her “one of my proudest children.”
His tone conveyed not just guidance, but sympathy.
What happened?
Xu Ran’s curiosity was piqued, but he quickly suppressed it.
He was not one for gossip!
On stage, the principal patted Li Qinghong’s shoulder again.
“All right, in a few days Teacher Li will start classes with the children. For now, everyone is free to relax and enjoy your meals!”
After the brief alert, everything returned to calm.
The kindergarten seemed like a peaceful haven.
Only the news continued to overflow with various eerie Guwu Lang incidents.
[Level One Alert: After two years, ghostly creatures Guwu Lang have reappeared across urban districts. Cultivators are exerting full efforts to hunt them down.]
[Guwu Lang Incident Special Report]: Cultivators nationwide have slain 17,000 Guwu Lang.
This time, Xia Nation reacted faster than before, but the number of missing children exceeded the last event.
Moreover,
No bodies of the missing children have been found.
Cultivators searched every corner of the city, even thoroughly inspecting the sewers, yet not a single bone was discovered!
This led to suspicion!
[Guwu Lang Incident Special Report]: Cultivators failed to find bodies of the missing children. Reasonable speculation suggests the children were converted into ghost energy by the creatures, with no chance of survival.
[Guwu Lang Incident Special Report]: Cultivators are searching for ghost energy purification devices. If these devices are deployed throughout all cities, it could prevent the third emergence of Guwu Lang!
[Guwu Lang Incident Special Report]: There is no evidence that cultivators are using human children for cultivation.
Because the spawning locations of Guwu Lang are completely random, it is highly unlikely humans are responsible unless such organizations are widespread in Xia Nation!
…
“How exactly do ghost creatures dispose of abducted children? Do they swallow them whole, bones and all, converting them entirely into ghost energy? Or do the children become the next Guwu Lang?”
“As for any organization behind Guwu Lang, that’s surely nonsense.”
“I personally slew eight Guwu Lang and devoured them all, yet found no evidence of any controlling organization…”
Xu Ran shook his head.
At most, the ghostly creatures were simply more bizarre than usual.
“The only real concern is if they consume too many children, could an extremely terrifying ghostly creature be born?”
A strange premonition surged deep within Xu Ran’s heart…