Chapter 24 That Damn Alarm Clock

Chi Li recently discovered a serious problem—she, the supreme being of the demon realm, a phoenix who has lived for tens of thousands of years, may… not grow taller.

No, it's not a height issue, it's a sleep issue!

All of this stems from that damned, two-way, and increasingly sensitive "soul resonance"!

At first, the resonance was one-way; Tang Lu could vaguely perceive her emotions and strong intentions.

But whether it's because the fusion of essence and blood has deepened over time, or because Tang Lu's spirit is gradually growing, this resonance has recently begun to... flow in both directions!

what does that mean?

This means that Akari is not only able to "send" signals, but is also being forced to "receive" signals!

The strongest and most consistent signal that Comrade Tang Lu sent was not love, nor jealousy, but rather—get out of bed!

It happened on an ordinary morning.

As a powerful demon with profound cultivation, Chi Li no longer needs much sleep.

But she enjoyed the tranquility before dawn, and was used to waking up when the sky was just before it got light, sitting on the bed to regulate her breathing and absorb the first wisp of purple energy.

However, on this day, while she was still calmly regulating her breathing, her consciousness was wandering in a warm ocean...

Sudden!

"Buzz—"

An extremely strong, restless emotion, tinged with impatience and a sense of "why isn't it dawn yet?", exploded directly in her mind.

Chi Li was suddenly jolted awake from her meditation, her heart skipping a beat.

She subconsciously thought it was an invasion by foreign enemies or a mishap in her cultivation, and her divine sense instantly spread out, enveloping the entire palace.

The weather was calm and everything seemed normal.

She frowned in confusion, then her gaze fell on her side.

Tanglu was still asleep, her little face buried in the soft pillow, breathing evenly.

But through that invisible bond, Chi Li clearly "heard" the little drama unfolding in her heart:

"Hmm... Where's the sunshine? Time to soak up some sun..."

"I really want to stretch... and put my roots in the soil..."

"Why isn't Lili awake yet? She can play with Tanglu when she wakes up..."

"I feel a little hungry..."

"Ah! I can't sleep! Life is hard for trees!"

A jumble of chaotic yet vibrant thoughts, like a flock of chirping birds, started a morning seminar in her mind.

Chili: "..."

She finally understood what that "soul alarm" was all about!

Does this little tree spirit automatically "turn on" at daybreak?! And its self-test program is so noisy!

She tried to block out the noise and return to a meditative state.

But the vibrant restlessness belonging to Tang Lu continued like background noise, making it impossible for her to calm down.

Helpless, Chi Li had no choice but to give up meditating and resignedly open her eyes.

Almost the instant she opened her eyes, the little guy next to her, who had only been making noise inside, started moving too!

Like a little sunflower sensing the morning light, Tang Lu suddenly lifted her head from the pillow and rubbed her sleepy eyes.

Seeing that Chi Li was awake, she immediately flashed a sleepy yet incredibly bright smile and snuggled closer to her:

"Lili~ Good morning! You're awake too!"

Chi Li looked at the "culprit" who had woken her up without her even realizing it, her feelings were complicated.

What could she say? That she was woken up by the voice in your head?

She could only give a blank "hmm".

And this is just the beginning.

Since the discovery of Tanglu's "tree-shaped biological clock" characteristic, Chili's peaceful mornings have come to an end.

Tanglu wakes up very early, and once awake, she is full of energy and eager to move around.

What's even more terrifying is that her "activation" signal is transmitted directly through the soul bond, making it impossible to defend against!

Chi Li tried waking up early in an attempt to finish her meditation before Tang Lu "started up".

As a result, Tang Lu sensed that she was awake and immediately "turned on" as well, even earlier than usual!

Chi Li tried pretending not to wake up, but Tang Lu's inner monologue got more and more intense, escalating from "the tree's life is difficult" to "Is Li Li feeling unwell? Why isn't she waking up yet? Waaaaah."

The wave of worry surged through her, making it even more unbearable than the restlessness.

Chi Li even tried to guide Tang Lu into a deeper sleep with gentle divine power before bedtime, and the result was that Tang Lu woke up earlier and was more energetic the next day.

It was as if her Wood Spirit body treated that divine power as a high-grade nutrient solution, and her vitality doubled after absorbing it!

The Demon King discovered in despair that all her supernatural powers were ineffective in the matter of "making Tang Lu wake up later".

Thus, Akari was forced to adopt a healthy lifestyle of "working at sunrise".

Every day, just as the sky begins to lighten, she is awakened by the punctual "soul alarm clock" in her head.

Then she watched as the little tree spirit beside her, like a small sun whose start button had been pressed, was instantly fully charged and began her energetic day.

"Lili! Look! The clouds today are shaped like rabbits!"

"Lili! Let's go water the flowers in the yard!"

"Lili! Tanglu looks like it has grown a new leaf! Look, look!"

“Lili…”

With non-existent dark circles under her eyes, Chi Li listened to the cheerful chatter around her and felt the continuous, vibrant "background noise" in her mind. For the nth time, she let out a deep sigh.

She missed the quiet little tree spirit who could sleep until noon.

"Lili, are you unhappy?" Tang Lu keenly (through soul resonance) sensed the hint of helplessness in her and immediately came closer, asking with concern.

Looking at the little face in front of her, filled with concern and pure joy, Chi Li's helplessness vanished.

What could she do?

I nurtured this little tree spirit myself, and I made a blood oath with it; I have to raise it even if I have to cry.

And... seeing how this little guy gets so happy over the smallest things every day is... kind of therapeutic, isn't it?

At least, her Demon King's Palace was no longer the cold, empty, and lifeless place it used to be; instead, it was filled with... well, filled with noise and vitality.

Chi Li resignedly got up and ruffled Tang Lu's messy blonde hair.

"I'm not unhappy," she said. "Let's go, aren't we going to water the plants?"

"Yay! Lili is the best!"

Watching the little tree spirit cheer instantly and run ahead like a happy puppy, Chi Li silently thought:

Perhaps waking up early... isn't so unbearable?

After all, this is the most unique "tree-shaped alarm clock" in the world.

This alarm clock, however, has no snooze function and no off button.

Today, Her Majesty the Demon King, still amidst sweet troubles, began her "healthy" and "fulfilling" day.