As soon as he entered the room with Firia and the others, Alex asked them to go ahead as he had another thing to do.
They nodded with a smile, walking toward their own Gathering Array. Alex didn't forget to check it with his Spirit Eyes to confirm that everything is safe.
Watching how they sat down and activated the array before cultivating, he then turned serious. "I will go to Gacha Palace. I have gotten the reward from beating the trial, right?"
[Mission: Beat the pillar (Complete)
Reward: Gacha Hammer x5
Description: Show them who's the boss.]
[Although you haven't gotten out of this tower yet, you have indeed beaten the tower.]
Alex smiled, having the same logic with the system. "Can you open the gate?"
[Of course.]
The white gate appeared, gradually opening itself. Alex took another glance at the others before stepping inside the Gacha Palace. Little did he know Firia raised her lips as if she was happy to see Alex went there.
Meanwhile, Lin Xingzhi had been waiting for him inside, smiling and bowing her head gently. "Welcome. It's been a while since you've visited this place."
"Indeed. It's been a while." Alex nodded with a smile. "I think I don't need to say what I am going to do, right?"
"Of course. First of all, I want to congratulate you on reaching Martial Saint. The same goes for the others." Lin Xingzhi thought for a moment and said, "There is one thing I want you to hear."
"What is it?"
"Even if I need to choose, I will choose the present you." Lin Xingzhi said with a serious expression, telling him that she had come to terms with the death of her late husband. She wanted to say this for a long time, but she felt it wasn't sincere enough if she said it through the system. Hence, she took this chance to express her feelings.
These words stunned Alex. He took a deep breath and smiled. "Thank you. However, I also know how big the hole he left behind. That's why… Can you please wait until I come to Eulja? I will settle this once for all."
Lin Xingzhi closed her eyes and waved her hands, calling the Gacha Crystal for him before summoning the Gacha Hammer and handing it to him.
Alex gently grabbed the hammer and nodded as they slowly walked toward the Gacha Machine. He shattered the crystal with the hammer, revealing the ball that was trapped inside. The ball was opened automatically as soon as the ice shattered and summoned an orb.
[Elemental Orb (SR) x1]
Alex then kept shattering the crystals one by one.
[Water Tank (R) x1]
[Rank 8 Monster Blood (SR) x1]
[Sovereign Slayer Sword (SR) x1]
[Heavenly Golden Mushroom (UR) x1]
The moment he saw a UR item on the list, he was dumbstruck. He knew that he would get a UR item, but he didn't expect it to be this medicinal herb.
"This…"
"It seems you are satisfied with the reward this time." Lin Xingzhi smiled, watching his excitement.
"Of course. This Heavenly Golden Mushroom is the last ingredient I need for that heaven-defying pill! I can give the ingredients to Firia, so she could make a pill." Alex nodded furiously before he glanced at Lin Xingzhi and asked. "Are you the one controlling the reward?"
"I have said I don't have the authority. Everything is random." Lin Xingzhi shook her head.
"No. What I mean is the reward for the Gacha itself. I am also the host for Rose, so I am wondering if you can control what kind of item you can give…" Alex narrowed his eyes.
Lin Xingzhi thought for a moment and let out a long sigh. It seemed she had decided. "You can say that I am controlling the item, but I am also not at the same time."
"What do you mean?" Alex tilted his head.
"Other than the things that directly connected to the system such as the Summoning Tickets and so on, they are coming from your own warehouse. I just split them according to your cultivation base. In other words, I am simply giving what you have in your previous life."
"…" Alex didn't know what to say that all of this was what he had in the previous life. Now that he knew about it, he was wondering whether he was fine to receive it or not. In the end, Lin Xingzhi added, "Don't worry. This is also the will of your previous life. He must have told you that he can only provide you with your needs, but you need to choose whatever do you want with them, right?"
Alex nodded and sighed. "It seems I can't win against that guy. To think he has thought this far…"
"Fufu… Even if you have the same items, I know you will have two different choices. I assure you it is true since I have been watching you from the beginning." Lin Xingzhi smiled gently like a maiden in love.
Alex didn't know why but this smile really cheered him up. "Yeah. You are right."
"Anyway… You need to be careful in your Divine Tribulation. You need to think about everything and choose what you want to do. Whatever the choice is, I will always stay beside you even if it means my doom."
"Please don't say that. I promise I will get stronger so it won't happen." Alex gently smiled, placing his hand on her cheek.
She also held her hand gently before saying. "I think I shouldn't occupy you any longer. I will wait patiently here."
Alex nodded. "Yeah. Wait for me."
They then walked as slowly as possible, savoring the few seconds they had before reaching the gate.
Lin Xingzhi suddenly grabbed Alex's hand as she kissed him on the lips.
Alex was surprised at first, and before he realized it, their lips were already apart as she took a step back.
"This much is fine, right?" Lin Xingzhi smiled.
Alex smiled back, turned around, and walked toward the gate while waving his hand. "I will be visiting you if I get more Gacha to open."
"I am looking forward to it." She nodded before waving her hand to close the gate.
Alex watched how the gate disappears and went to his gathering array.
Meanwhile, the spirits and Rose also had a good talk with Rose. They were sitting in the main room, facing each other.
"It's been a while, Rose."
"Yes, Elder Sister Anna, Elder Sister Anya." Rose nodded repeatedly. She had been calling them with Elder Sister, of course, according to their instruction even though their status as her master's wives didn't allow her to disrespect them like that.
"How are you? Is there anyone making trouble for you?" Anna asked.
"No. I have gone outside more than ten times as soon as Elder Sisters removed the ban to go outside. Other than some pests that I can solve, I don't have any problems. Even other influences won't touch me as long as they know my status… Not that I flaunt about it."
"Good. You have been completing the missions too, so I am happy to see your improvement. After all, to think that the weak little girl from back then can reach 3-Star Martial Monarch this fast…" Anya smiled.
"No, no. It's only because of Master. In fact, if I didn't have this equipment, I wouldn't be able to have this type of prowess. If I didn't have the resources from Master and a safe place to live, I wouldn't be able to train this fast. And if I didn't have his guidance and help, I wouldn't become the person I am now." Rose shook her head, fully knowing that Alex was the key to her success.
Anya could see that she was neither arrogant nor humble. She was simply sincere with her feelings.
"I would like to give you one last mission… If you can finish this mission, I will allow you to join us and help your Master in the Heavenly Continent. How about it?"
Rose's eyes widened as she suddenly dropped on her knees, kneeling in front of Anya. "Please give me that mission."
Anna and Anya looked at each other and smiled. Anna helped her up and sighed. "You little girl… You are overreacting."
"I… I am just happy that I can help Master. Hehe…" Rose scratched her cheek.
"It's not like you are going directly to help him in the fight you know."
"I am ready for anything. Even if I can't do it now, I can learn how to do it." Rose said with determination.
"Since you are like this, I won't beat around the bush." Anya paused for a moment as Rose gulped down. "You are going to the Freedom Sect to train yourself for two years and beat the potential tower there. If you can do that, we will let you participate in the meeting and help Alex."
"I will try my best." Rose repeatedly nodded as she swore she would succeed in this mission without fail.
"In that place, you are going to get a second element. Your mission is to master the technique and learn how to fight with both elements. Alex has arranged it all for you, so I don't think you will have a problem there. Just focus on training this time."
"Master did?" Rose opened her mouth in surprise.
"Fufu… I will be teaching you all our affairs if you succeed. And there will probably be a big war after this, if I am satisfied with your performance, you may participate in that war and defeat your master's enemies. So, try your best, alright?"
"Yes. Rose won't disappoint Elder Sisters."
"Good. We are going to wait for Alex in our base on the Heavenly Continent. However, you may not go out during this time and wait for Alex to come back. Are we clear?"
"Yes."
"Then shall we go?" Anna smiled and led the ground to the teleportation crystal. They placed their hands and took care of the Spirit Crystals needed to teleport all of them.
In an instant, they arrived in a small dark cave, barely suitable for living. Rose was surprised at first. Alex's base in the Heavenly Continent was far worse than the one he had in the Northern Continent. She thought this must be the work of his enemies, forcing him to live in this place.
Hatred grew in her hearts as she swore to pay them what they had done to her master that had been taking care of her since she was a small girl that wanted to commit suicide.
"Don't take it seriously. This is only our temporary base since our last place is ruined by one million monsters." Anya shrugged. "Besides, Alex doesn't really return to this base, so this is enough for the time being."
"Uh…" Rose looked down as she wanted to shed her tears now. "I have been living in luxury this whole time, not knowing that Master has this kind of life… I am sorry."
"Well, if you measure Alex with wealth, we have several million Spirit Crystals, so we are not exactly poor. Don't be sad, alright?" Anna patted her head while smiling.
"Un…" She nodded, albeit still looked sad.
"Alex will be coming back to this place in three months. For the time being, I think I can train you with all your techniques, or the others will also help me with it. However, I want to warn you. You know that your talent is not the best, right?"
"I am aware of it. I know my talent is low if Master didn't impart something in our first meeting. My lightning was also the same had I not refined the Lightning Gem."
"I will be searching for that rank 8 pill to solve this problem. On the other hand, you are going to use these three months to raise your combat experiences."
"I understand… And can I…" Rose wanted to request something, but she decided to shake her head. She wanted to learn about Alex's affairs since she had three months, but she realized her mind might get fixated about it for the next two years. It might also cause her to not reach the expectation, so she decided to focus on what she could do.
Noticing this expression, Anya smiled. "Let's go then."