I see...
Dao.
I could control the natural aspects if I gain insights into the Dao.
Wait!!
"Mai is not Dao connected to the Dao? Or Dao is a part of Heaven?" I asked knowing that I am hated by Heaven and if I gained insights in something related to it, then it may be problematic.
Mai nodded.
[Yes Master, Dao is connected to Heaven but Dao is not the part of Heaven, Heaven is a part of Dao. As for the rest, sorry but talking about Dao is forbidden if you have no understanding of it. Right now, you have gained the understanding of Dao of Devouring because it is your main Dao, but you have no insights in any other Dao.] Mai answered calmly.
I nodded, but at the same time, I don't understand how much understanding I have in my Dao.
"And Mai, how much understanding do I have in my Dao?" I asked.
Mai put a thoughtful look on her face before she answered.
[Master, you have gained 2% understanding I think, because the understanding differentiates from person to person so even I can't guess how much understanding you have in your Dao.]
Ohhh... 2% and I could use my Power of Devouring this much but I guess it's true that I don't know how my Devouring even works completely. I just know that I could devour and refine but nothing more than that.
"I see..." I said and focused on the last part of the status.
Which showed affection and I was happy to see that at the same time, a little scared.
Yandere, Yang Ruiya is becoming a Yandere, should I be happy that she loved me this much or should I be scared that she is becoming a Yandere?
I don't know. But the Future me will know.
So, take care of it at that time, Future me.
"Then, what other feature do you have?" I asked as there should be something else too as only the feature of having Status and Quest is not enough.
Mai nodded excitedly.
[Yes Master, anything living thing that you killed will get you SP, Skill Points and using them, you could learn any technique. And anything you killed will automatically get stored in the inventory.] Mai answered.
Wow... these Skill Points seem useful, no they are useful. I could use them to learn the skills without wasting time in comprehending them and place my time in other things.
And I have a picker for me now and don't have to worry about things like picking the beasts that I killed.
I nodded.
"That's a good feature and it would be helpful to me, and anything else?"
Mai stared at me.
And continued to do it.
"What happened?" I finally asked after she continued to stare at me for 5 minutes.
[Master, you are greedy, there are already so many features but you want more?] Mai spoke disapprovingly.
A blush appeared on my face.
'...I also think that I was greedy but can't help with that, the excitement and the fear that I felt ignited me to become strong...and never felt something like that again...' I thought, remembering the feeling that I got before making me tremble a little.
[Master, you will get rewards after you complete the quest. The rewards could be anything from a simple technique to even a treasure.] Mai quickly answered seeing me getting lost in my thoughts.
I come out of my thoughts and patted Mai's head with my finger making her purr a little.
I wonder, why am I even thinking too much.
I should relax and work hard for now, and face the challenges that life had in the box for me.
After a minute, Mai moved a little and started floating in the air, above the screen.
[Master, you just need to know that be careful. The rest will happen on its own.] Mai said in a comforting tone.
I nodded.
'It seems like Mai knows how to see someone's emotions or is she reading my mind?' I thought and decided to ask.
"Mai, are you reading my mind?" I asked.
Mai instantly shook her head in a panic.
[No! Master! Mai is not doing anything like that. We both are connected to each other so I could feel your emotions and understood what you are thinking about.] Mai explained.
I see, well even if she read my thoughts, I wouldn't care but she shouldn't hear them considering what I thought whenever I am with the girls.
Those thoughts of mine are NO for her.
I was interrupted from my thoughts as the system interface vanished and a new screen appeared there.
[Quest-Become Strong.
-Defeat 50 Rank 3 Beasts in 3 days!
-Reach Golden Core Realm in 7 days!
Reward-
-A Sword Technique of Mortal Rank.
Penalty-
-Stay as a Man for a whole week.
]
I looked over at the quest with expectation but the more I looked, the more shocked I felt especially the Penalty!!
I grabbed Mai but failed as my hand went through her body.
I looked at her with resentment in my eyes and she just showed me a smile, a bright smile.
"You know that I can't reach Golden Core in one week right?!" I questioned loudly.
Mai shook her head and floated in front of me and touched my stomach where my Dantian is.
[Master, you are a Devourer who could devour anything, so act like one. Moral values? Ethics? Customs? None should matter for you. Became what you should and what you are.] Mai said seriously but with a small smile.
Hearing her words, I remembered what was written in the Black Book.
Right...I am a Devourer...
Why should I care for what other thought on how I gained my strength?
I have hundreds of ways to gain strength through Devouring.
Why should I constrict myself with morals and ethics?
I again felt myself gaining Enlightenment, not too much but felt free, free from the morals that I have in this life and from my past life.
I looked at Mai and patted her with a smile on my face.
"Thank you, Mai, for making me realize this," I said softly.
Mai nodded and enjoyed the patting.
After a minute of patting, I caught Mai in my hand and this time, she stayed there instead of running away.
"Now, care to explain to me about the punishment?" I asked.
[There is nothing to explain, Master. I am System's spirit but not the system itself so I know about the system but I can't change everything about it.] Mai answered calmly while placing her head on my finger.
I see...
But I guess this is a good way to get motivation for myself to become strong.
It's not like I have any problem with becoming a man but I like being a girl even though it's difficult to do those things sometimes, but it's still fun to be a girl for me more than a man now. So, I want to become one if there is a situation that required me to become a man else not.
"Then, I just have a week to reach Golden Core right?" I asked even though I know it already.
Mai nodded relaxedly.
[Yes Master, but if you could do it before that, then it's better but you are not going to get any more reward even if you cleared it before the time.] Mai informed.
I see...
Well, I also don't think that I could reach the realm that easily even if I did everything I could or maybe I could if I got more Contribution Points or Spirit Stones from selling the undergarments.
I would be able to buy pills, herbs, and other stuff from the contribution points and use them to increase my cultivation base quickly.
And, hunting the beasts... using their cores, I guess 50 cores are alone enough, even with the Supreme Refinement Method, will give me enough energy to reach the next stage.
And the reward, Mortal Rank Sword Technique is more than enough.
The techniques are divided into Mortal(Till the Soul Purification, this rank is perfect)->Core Rank(Till Nascent Soul)->Divine Rank->Saint Rank.
A Cultivator could also comprehend higher rank techniques too if they have enough talent or enough time to spend on them.
I nodded at Mai.
"There is no problem and I think that the reward is already more than enough, so don't worry," I replied and released Mai but she stayed in my hand before for a minute before she started to float.
I looked at her confusedly.
[Good Luck Master!] Mai exclaims before her body becomes transparent and she vanished completely.
I looked around the room not getting what she meant but suddenly, the door of the room opened making me look at the visitor in surprise as it is late night now.
And seeing the visitor, I understood what Mai meant by her words.