First Upgraded Item

Inside the Treasury of the Heavenly Emperor Palace

Shen and Kaidi looked through all the shelves. While most of them were empty, some contained pill bottles. Sadly enough, they failed to find any offensive or defensive treasures.

Collecting all the pill bottles in a single place, both Shen and Kaidi, excluding Shang'er had a wistful expression on their faces. Most of the pill bottles were transparent in color, unlike the first they encountered, revealing their inside pills. The pills inside looked fine at first glance but just from a slight movement, all pills turned into powder without exception.

The duo knew the meaning of this occurrence, which Shen expected due to their long duration of being refined. Still, it did nothing to feel the loss of so many unknown pills.

"Kitty, absorb the Treas-Source Energy from these items." Shen took out the two out of the three initial items he found on top of the table and the ring on his finger to let her increase her strength using these items.

"That weird looking bracelet and your ring don't contain any energy at all. As for that pill bottle, I think it will be more than enough for my breakthrough!" Kaidi happily took the pill bottle and gazed it with interest. "Oh yes, why not strengthen this pill bottle too? Maybe I can reach the middle of the fourth big realm?"

Shen had a pondering look on his face. The bottle had a mysterious origin and was engraved with many runes. He wondered whether those runes will have any effects because of his upgrade. Nevertheless, he decided to try his luck. There shouldn't be any problem if he didn't push his luck too hard. He never had any problems with his items as long as he didn't upgrade more than the item can handle.

First, he decided to check the information.

[Sky Silk Bloody Jade Vase +10

A special jade vase created with Heaven ranked Jade and Bloody Jade Silkworm, for containing high-level pill for a longer duration.

Inscription Effect: Time Lock Seal]

The simple looking porcelain like bottle completely blew Shen's head. This was the first time he ever found something that was completely upgraded. Not even the Heavenly Emperor Palace which he expected to be upgraded, didn't turn out that way but this simple bottle was.

Not only was it upgraded, but it was also created with the items he never heard before but the description told enough that they were high-end material. Even the inscription on the bottle was a seal that isolated it from the restriction of time itself!

This discovery filled him with uncountable questions and curiosity. At first, he thought the Absolute Upgrade was his own, and personal cheat that none had before but finding this item, he completely removed that notion. Whoever possessed the Absolute Upgrade before, wasn't like him who upgraded anything possible and only used it when necessary.

This caused him to remember he didn't try to check whether the ring and the unknown bracelet could be upgraded or not.

Going with his feeling he first tried on the ring, but he felt that he will fail this upgrade, same for the bracelet. This was the first pair of items which couldn't be upgraded even once. Just what kind of treasures were these?

Shen decided to keep the bracelet with him and wore it on his left hand, the same hand, in which he had the Empyrean Ring.

Returning the Sky Silk Bloody Jade Vase, Shen calmly said, "It cannot be strengthened any further. You can start absorbing now but be careful with it, the item inside is very precious."

Kaidi nodded in understanding and handled the jade vase carefully.

"Since there's nothing here, we should go back." Storing every pill bottles inside the Immortal Realm, Shen explained them and tried to teleport to their previous location.

"Let's go~" Shang'er happily walked out of the treasury, she didn't seem to like this place that much. Watching how Shen not coming back, she innocently called him out, "Master~ come out~ we cannot go if you don't."

Shen seemed to understand the underlying meaning behind her words and returned back. The door to the treasury closed automatically. Then Shen tried the teleportation method used by Shang'er, without any circle and this time, it worked perfectly!

Looking around, he failed to found Kaidi or Shang'er. Then he remembered he didn't know how to teleport with the others. Just a moment later, Shang'er appeared beside him and clutched on his arm, "Master, so meany~ how can you leave Shang'er behind?"

Patting Shang'er with his other arm, Shen embarrassedly explained, "Sorry, Shang'er. I am new to this teleporting method and have no idea how to teleport others. Can you bring back Kitty?"

"Oh," Shang'er had an enlightened expression, "Master just has to imagine, it's easy right! Master can also cover them with your spiritual power, it works either way." She patiently explained and waved his hand as if introducing someone.

Just in front of her hand appeared Kaidi, with a pout on her face. She threw an envious and blaming glance at Shen. Envious, he seemed to have fun jumping from a place to another and blamed him for leaving her out of it.

Shen embarrassedly rubbed the tip of his nose, "Err, I will return outside now. It should be evening by now and I still have a lot to take care of. Kitty, Shang'er. You two get along with each other, ok? If you feel lonely you can summon Kawa and the black bird too."

"Master, don't leave Shang'er." Shang'er immediately clasped on his arm and said like a pitiful child.

Shen faced downward, meeting Shang'er eyes, "Shang'er, I have to go now. I will visit you every day. Promise!"

Shang'er pouted, "Not enough, not enough at all!"

Sighing helplessly, Shen smiled, "What might Princess Shang'er demand?"

"Hehe," Shang'er happily laughed and turned sideways, her left cheek faced Shen.

How can Shen not understand what this silly spirit wanted? Smiling, he pecked on her soft lips, causing her unblemished pale white cheeks to flush crimson red. It's like her dream turning true, how can she not be embarrassed. She was happy and abashed at the same time.

Enjoying the striking brilliance caused by a simple blush, Shen started viewing Shang'er in a different light. It's true that Shang'er had a petite body and had a little childish temperament but she had her own charm, both in her attitude and feminine appeal.

Shang'er had a satisfied expression, while Kaidi looked completely annoyed. Shen felt happy seeing Kaidi in such mood. Normally it's only them teasing each other, or getting angry, but now with Shang'er, there was a little change of pace in their relation. How could he not like it?

"Hmm, looks like someone is jealous here—"

"None."

Shen was about to tease her but she cut him mercilessly. Shen stood in front of her, who had a 'I'm definitely not jealous' type of expression on her face.

"Alright, no one is jealous but someone needs a little attention." saying this, he lightly pecked on her lips. Her eyes wavered a little, his lips touched hers again but she didn't retreat. This time, however, Shen didn't stand back. Both of their lips pressed onto each other as they both parted slightly.

Both of his hands placed on her thin light waist, Kaidi's only free hand reached the back of his head. The sweet taste of her tongue instantly excited Shen. A hot feeling coursed inside his body but he held back and gently lost himself in her taste.

Kaidi wasn't that better off either. Intimate actions with Shen makes her feel hazy and light-headed. She likes this feeling but also hated it, she felt as if she could lose her own self. Just when she felt she will lose control, she pushed him back but Shen didn't let go so easily. Their lips joined again but his tongue didn't invade her mouth and she found herself enjoying the aftertaste, making her feel light-headed, nonetheless.

Meanwhile, Shang'er was biting her lips in frustration and jealousy. How dare that detestable cat kisses her God, and so intimate one at that! Even she herself received one precious light kiss on her cheek, which she decided to keep as a treasure in her memory!

"Shang'er, don't bully her and show her around the palace. If I hear you bullied her, I will be angry. I will visit tomorrow." Shen nodded at Kaidi with a smile and left while waving at Shang'er.

"Y-yes..." Shang'er felt her head spinning at the speed of light, Shen's word kept echoing in her head 'I will be angry... will be angry... Angry...'

Kaidi had a smug expression on her face, obviously happy for more than one reason. One of them being Shang'er's priceless expression. She was still made at Shang'er for keeping her captive in the prison.

"J-just let Shang'er make clear, she doesn't like you, doesn't like you at all! However, for Master, Shang'er won't bully you, hmph!"

"Hehe," Kaidi smiled, revealing her pearly white teeth, "I'll be in your care, little sister~"

Just like that, a new hierarchy formed inside the Heavenly Emperor Palace between the cat girl and the spirit girl, completely unknown to Shen.