Death... and me

The twins quickly accessed the Soul Gem System's reward list to check their actual progress.

[Soul Power and Spiritual Energy Fusion - 20000 Destiny Points] (Bought)

[Nascent Soul Revival - 20000 Destiny Points] (New)

[Soul Gem Dimensional Realm Pass - 10000 Destiny Points]

[Dragon Bones - 5000 Destiny Points] (Bought)

[Spiritual Energy Absorption Upgrade Level 3 - 10000 Destiny Points] ( It will go to 15% when they buy it, they have 10% at level 2)

[Soul Gem Dimensional Realm Upgrade Level 4 - 50000 Destiny Points] (New)

[Yin Yang Bathhouse - Reward from Destiny Strugglers Title]

[World Essence Formation - Reward from Grade 2 Efficiency Title]

[Breaking Bounds 01 - Reward from Breakers of Bounds Title]

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[Soul Connection Range Upgrade level 4 – 20000 Destiny Points] (10000km)

[Soul Gem Blacksmith Workshop Upgrade Level 4 - 10000 Destiny Points] (New)

[Soul Gem Alchemy Workshop Upgrade Level 4- 10000 Destiny Points] (New)

[Soul Gem Electrical Formations Repository Upgrade Level 3 - 3000 Destiny Points] (New)

Rean then shrugged his shoulders before saying, "Well, we already know what we'll use our Destiny Points on, so let's go ahead with it."

Roan agreed with him, saying, "True. Send the request."

The twins then used their Spiritual Senses and Energy to select the option.

[Spiritual Energy Absorption Upgrade Level 3 - 10000 Destiny Points]

[Confirm Purchase?]

"Yes!"

[Destiny Points: 34402]

[Initializing Upgrade.]

After confirming their choices, Rean and Roan braced themselves for the incoming pain as their meridians and the connections to their dantians began to change. Fortunately, they were ready for it, so they didn't contort like worms, much to Sister Orb's sadness. The upgrade eventually finished around one hour later.

"Phew... So many Destiny Points for just another 5% increment," Rean said as his body relaxed after the upgrade.

"It's fine. Now we have 15% extra Spiritual Energy Absorption. You should know how much time we've saved during all these years with the first 5 and 10%." Roan was quite satisfied, though.

Rean nodded and put those thoughts behind. Instead, he tried to absorb Spiritual Energy for cultivation, confirming that the speed increased by more or less 5%. However, it was then that Rean noticed something different.

"Hmm...?" Rean then looked at the barrier of the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm and could feel the Spiritual Energy coming from outside. There was nothing wrong with it. After all, Celis and Kentucky's cultivation could also bring the twins' cultivation up and vice versa. Even being inside the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm didn't stop it. What Rean felt was something different. With that, he asked Roan, "Roan, can you feel the difference?"

Roan immediately nodded, saying, "I can. The rate of Spiritual Energy entering our bodies from Celis's efforts increased as well."

[Well, there's nothing to be surprised about that. After all, you became connected with him after Kentucky made the pact with Celis. Since it's a cultivation-related issue, the absorption upgrade obviously counted Celis in the mix. The only sad thing is that Celis wasn't here when you upgraded the first two levels. Because of that, he's only absorbing Spiritual Energy 5% faster instead of 15% like you two and Kentucky.]

Nevertheless, that was great news. Celis was the main reason for their cultivation to be increasing this fast. If Celis could cultivate faster, even if just 5%, that would be a great help for the twins in the long term.

Of course, the twins weren't the only ones that noticed it. Celis also perceived the difference outside in the sect. "What's happening here?" He lifted one of his roots and couldn't see anything out of the ordinary. "I haven't had a breakthrough, so how come my rate of Spiritual Energy Absorption has increased?"

Rean then left the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm for a moment, knowing that Celis would be confused with the sudden change. 'Celis, the change in absorption is related to your connection with Roan, Kentucky, and I. There's nothing wrong with it, so don't worry. I'll explain everything later.'

Celis heard Rean's message and sighed in relief. 'Next time, tell me first before doing something to my body. As good as it is to absorb more Spiritual Energy, I don't like the feeling of having my body changed.'

Rean then remembered something. 'Oh, right! Did you feel any pain before the change?'

'Not really. Why? Did something go wrong?'

Rean shook his head. 'No, it's nothing. I just wasn't sure if it would be different for you since you're a Demon Tree and not a human.'

Rean quickly entered the Soul Gem Dimensional Realm and complained at Sister Orb straight away. "Why doesn't Celis feel any pain whatsoever? Every time we get a body upgrade, we pass through hell! That's not fair!"

[Why are you asking me? I'm not the one doing the upgrades, you know. The system is. I'm just the support AI, you know?] Sister Orb obviously felt wronged by Rean's accusations.

"But you do know why right?" Rean still insisted.

[I do. It's more or less because Celis is a Demon Tree. He doesn't have the nerves that transmit pain signals as you and Roan have. Naturally, there's no such thing as pain. You should have stopped to think about it a little. Have you ever heard about a plant feeling pain? I haven't...]

Rean narrowed his eyes, but he couldn't deny Sister Orb's logic. "Well... that's true."

[If you want Celis to feel some pain, you'll have to wait until he reaches the Transition Realm again. He will be able to take human form, which comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Feeling pain is one of them.]

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Roan couldn't happen but ask, "Now that you say that, we had a lot of trouble moving him around with his true form before he lost his cultivation. Couldn't he transform into his human form when we saved him from the Soul Rulers?"

[If I'm not wrong, the Soul Rulers probably restricted this ability with the formations present there. After all, his roots were spread through the entire planet. If he suddenly changed into his human form, the roots would lose their main energy source and die. Or perhaps they would simply disappear with him.]

Rean and Roan had to admit she was right.

"Wait! What about Kentucky?"

Somewhere in Wringan Continent, there was a Minokawa with tears in his eyes. Out of nowhere, a sharp pain assaulted his meridians, which made him crash down from the skies like a meteor. "Sniff, Sniff~ It hurts..."