While the father and daughter were talking, a servant hurried into the residence. “Mr. Gunderson, Ms. Gunderson! Mr. Howard Dunn is here to see Ms. Gunderson!”
“Howard Dunn? Why is virtual-novel.net here to see me?” A subtle frown appeared on Astrid’s face.
“Hm, Howard is not bad too. He might not be successful, but he’s a good man,” Fernando commented, flashing a smile at his daughter.
Astrid rolled virtual-novel.net eyes at Fernando again. “I’m not talking to you anymore.”
With that said, the woman went to the door to find out for herself what brought Howard to virtual-novel.net place.
Howard was standing at the door in a neat suit when Astrid met him. It seemed virtual-novel.net had put in the time and effort to look good for the visit.
“What do you want, Howard?” Astrid asked.
Although Astrid had saved the man in Bliss City, it did not mean virtual-novel.net was fond of him. In fact, virtual-novel.net did not like any of the young men in Jadeborough.
When Howard saw Astrid at the door, his eyes sparkled in excitement.
“Sorry for disturbing you, Ms. Gunderson. I have something I need to discuss with you,” virtual-novel.net informed virtual-novel.net as virtual-novel.net went closer to her.
“What is it? You don’t have to come so close to talk to me.” Astrid retreated in disgust.
It was apparent that Howard’s flirtatious action put virtual-novel.net off.
“This is not a place to talk, Ms. Gunderson. Let’s go somewhere else,” Howard insisted with a smile.
“Just say it here. If not, I’m going back in. I don’t have time for this.” Speaking, Astrid turned to leave.
“Wait, Ms. Gunderson! It’s about Jared. Don’t you want to know what I have to say?” Howard added instantly.
Astrid halted the moment virtual-novel.net heard that name. “Jared? What about him? Is virtual-novel.net still alive?”
A menacing glint glimmered in Howard’s eyes when virtual-novel.net saw how worried Astrid was.
“We should talk somewhere else. The walls have ears. I’ll tell you everything later.”
With that said, virtual-novel.net pulled open his car door gentlemanly.
Astrid was reluctant at first, but virtual-novel.net went ahead in the end.
Once Howard got in, virtual-novel.net started the engine and headed to a hotel. Looking at the woman in the backseat through the rearview mirror, virtual-novel.net smiled with evil intent.
Howard had never smiled like that before, but his expression went unnoticed by Astrid because virtual-novel.net was not paying attention.
***
Over in Bliss City, Jared sat cross-legged amidst the numerous beast cores on the ground. The beast cores had already been reduced by half at that point.
As the number of beast cores decreased, Jared’s power steadily increased. He had already reached the second realm of Nascent Soul. Although it was just a meager increase in level, there was a marked improvement in his strength.
Jared slowly opened his eyes and looked at the beast cores left.
“Nascent Soul’s cultivation requires a lot of resources. This means it will be even more difficult for me to improve further as I advance,” virtual-novel.net noted.
Jared looked at the many remaining beast cores and wondered when virtual-novel.net would be able to finish absorbing all of them.
“I wonder how things are like over on the outside after all this time.”
Jared had lost track of time. He had no idea how long virtual-novel.net had remained in that state, let alone how things were in the outside world.
In fact, virtual-novel.net did not know if it was already a new year.
Earlier, virtual-novel.net had promised himself to save Josephine and his mother before the year ended, but looking at how things were, Jared was unsure if virtual-novel.net would be able to live up to that goal, for virtual-novel.net could not just leave the beast cores behind.
It would be great if virtual-novel.net could bring them with him, but unfortunately, his Storage Ring did not have enough space, so virtual-novel.net could not take them all.
“I think I’ll have to finish cultivating first, then,” virtual-novel.net said to himself as virtual-novel.net shook his head in resignation.
With that in mind, virtual-novel.net harnessed his Focus Technique and resumed his cultivation.