Que Zelian and Mo Jiao, already at the five-star level, required a significant amount of star stones. They had merely reached the threshold of upgrading to six stars, and further advancement necessitated finding even more resources.
Meanwhile, Su Ye ascended from four stars to five, while both Yu Yunxiao and Huai Qing progressed from three stars to four.
The six of them were in good spirits that evening. Huai Qing, utilizing the dried provisions they had brought, managed to prepare a delicious meal.
Just as they were relaxing and awaiting their food, another group arrived at the villa.
"Oh, there are already people here," a female voice exclaimed in surprise.
Xiao Jinsheng turned towards the sound and saw a woman with mid-length hair, dark eyes, a tall and slender figure, and a mature, sophisticated air.
A female!
Could she perhaps try to connect with her and casually inquire about enhancing mental energy?
"Can you tell how much mental energy she has?" Xiao Jinsheng whispered to Que Zelian.
Que Zelian gave a cursory glance. "Three-star mental energy."
"Excuse me, the west of the Misty Continent became dark an hour earlier than usual today. We only found this house within a five-kilometer radius and hurried over, not expecting it to be occupied," a burly man with a buzz cut stepped forward to speak.
Xiao Jinsheng estimated his height to be at least two meters.
She turned to Mo Jiao and murmured, "He's taller than you."
"His beast form is a brown bear, five-star ability," Mo Jiao reminded her.
"It's dark and more dangerous outside. We really don't have time to look for shelter. I was wondering if you could spare us a little space to rest," Xiong Yanyu said, offering two three-star star stones to Su Ye, who stood outermost with his longsword on his back.
In the west of the Misty Continent, whoever found shelter first claimed it.
It was rare for two groups of strangers to reside in the same place.
Unless one side genuinely couldn't find shelter and had a female in their group, they would offer some resources to negotiate with the group that had found shelter.
In the west of the Misty Continent, nightfall was the peak activity period for beasts and fog corpses, and venturing out easily attracted fog corpse hordes.
Therefore, as soon as it got dark, task participants would find a place to rest and avoid moving around.
Su Ye made no decision but turned to look at Xiao Jinsheng.
Xiao Jinsheng wanted to befriend the female and casually ask some questions.
However, she had read many apocalypse novels, and unfamiliar groups often carried potential dangers.
More than getting answers about mental energy enhancement, she feared danger and couldn't discern if this group had malicious intentions. So, she left the decision to her five men. "It's up to you all."
"We've already cleaned the living room and kitchen on the right. You can take the empty rooms on the left," Su Ye said, accepting the star stones as he offered the arrangement.
"That's wonderful, thank you," Xiong Yanyu said, also pleased. He turned and enthusiastically picked up his wife, spinning her around twice in joy.
This earned him a sharp ear-twist from Peng Qin. "What are you hugging me for? Hurry up and go clean."
Peng Qin's group consisted of one female and five males, all of whom were her beast husbands.
Each of them had a robust physique. Xiao Jinsheng also learned from Que Zelian about the five men's abilities.
Three had five-star abilities, and two had four-star abilities.
Their strength was comparable to her current group.
As for their beast forms, she currently only knew that Xiong Yanyu, the tallest and largest, was a brown bear.
While Peng Qin's five men cleaned the rooms, she stood alone with her back against the wall.
Intending to interact with her, Xiao Jinsheng patted the sofa beside her and called out with a smile, "Sister, would you like to come sit for a while?"
Peng Qin turned her head and saw a delicate and charming young woman.
Her fox-like eyes were full of spirit, exactly the type she liked.
She answered with a hearty laugh, "Sure, I happen to be bored anyway."
"My name is Peng Qin, and those five are all my men," Peng Qin introduced herself, sitting down next to Xiao Jinsheng.
As the two females sat on the sofa, Xiao Jinsheng's five men consciously stood up. Yu Yunxiao went to the kitchen to help Huai Qing cook.
Su Ye stood guard at the door, Mo Jiao had disappeared somewhere, and Que Zelian went to sit by the window, maintaining a distance of four meters from Xiao Jinsheng.
If Xiao Jinsheng encountered danger, he could intervene at any time.
"My name is Xiao Jinsheng, and those five are also my beast husbands," Xiao Jinsheng said with a smile.
Peng Qin glanced at Que Zelian and the others, then said generously, "Your five beast husbands are quite good-looking and refined, and they have great physiques."
"Unlike my five beast husbands, who are just big and silly," Peng Qin complained, though a satisfied smile played on her lips.
Xiao Jinsheng felt a bit awkward.
This was the first time she had a friendly conversation with another female in the Misty Continent.
She also hadn't expected that the topic of their first meeting would be about each other's men.
As an introvert who could be witty among acquaintances but needed a lot of courage to be briefly outgoing in front of strangers, Xiao Jinsheng was pondering a suitable topic when she heard Peng Qin ask gossiping, "Jinsheng, are you newly married?"
"I've been married for half a year," Xiao Jinsheng replied.
Peng Qin, who had intended to gossip, was taken aback. She double-checked Xiao Jinsheng's mental energy level – it was indeed one star.
"Why is your mental energy still one star after half a year of marriage?" Peng Qin asked, genuinely puzzled and straightforward. "Based on my experience, and I've observed, your five beast husbands are good-looking and should be very capable in marital matters. It shouldn't be that you're only one star after half a year."
"I've also been married for half a year, and my mental energy is already three stars."
"Wh… what?" Xiao Jinsheng exclaimed in surprise.
In an instant, her small face flushed crimson, her mind racing.
Could such explicit topics be casually discussed and inquired about in the Misty Continent?
"Given the looks, physiques, and abilities of your beast husbands, even if your foundation was poor, your mental energy should be around four stars after half a year of marriage," Peng Qin said directly.
Xiao Jinsheng慌得赶紧捂住她的嘴.
She glanced back and, thankfully, Peng Qin's voice wasn't too loud as she was gossiping, and her own five men weren't paying attention to her.
"Sister Qin, so the enhancement of mental energy is… is sleeping with men?" Xiao Jinsheng's voice was a little unsteady.
"Yes, it's definitely sleeping with men," Peng Qin replied, lowering her voice again as she saw Xiao Jinsheng's flustered expression.
The two women leaned their heads together, discussing in hushed tones.
"Men who are good-looking, have great physiques, and high abilities all help you upgrade your mental energy faster," Peng Qin said, puzzled, then seemed to realize something and exclaimed in surprise, "You and them haven't slept together yet, have you?"
Xiao Jinsheng blushed and remained silent.
With their constant bickering and fighting every few days, how could they possibly sleep together?
"I knew it. Your beast husbands are all quite good; how could your mental energy only be one star after half a year of marriage?"
Having her question answered, Peng Qin became curious again. "Why aren't you with them? Sleeping with your contracted men allows your mental energy to upgrade much faster than sleeping with others."
"You can even sleep with others?" Xiao Jinsheng's worldview began to crumble.
Was it the world that had gone mad, or was she the one losing her mind?
"Of course. Some sisters don't have good relationships with their beast husbands, so the beast husbands are easily stolen by others," Peng Qin said, pursing her lips. Seeing that Xiao Jinsheng seemed like a complete novice, she reminded her with concern, "We should keep our method of upgrading mental energy to ourselves. Don't tell your beast husbands."
"I would rather die than tell them," Xiao Jinsheng said, on the verge of tears.
After exploring the method of enhancing mental energy for two days and a night, the result was so absurd.
"You should quickly claim your five beast husbands," Peng Qin urged, unable to bear seeing her sister letting such good prospects go to waste. "The first time with each beast husband provides the most significant boost to your mental energy."
"I…" Xiao Jinsheng's hands trembled with panic.
She felt like she had transmigrated not into an apocalypse, but into some scandalous novel.
Just as she was processing this information, Que Zelian, who had been sitting by the window, had approached unnoticed and now stood a meter away, reminding them, "Dinner is ready."