Niu Chang had just finished digesting the proficiency of Closed Loop Protection and was now fully engrossed in learning more about Shrine Maiden Under the Sacred Tree. He continuously practiced the first skill, Captivating Smile Under the Shade and Red.
The red qi emitted from Niu Chang's body fluctuated between low and high saturation, causing the overflowing qi to be dyed in an irregular pattern.
'With such a high amount of qi and an endless supply, learning any martial techniques will be as easy as drinking water. There are no limits to the number of mistakes I can correct and repeat.'
The demonic snake, which had intended to strike, was disturbed by the strange emotions stirring in its heart. However, as time passed, it found it increasingly difficult to avoid Niu Chang's gaze.
Now, the snake was torn between the internal struggle of leaving or staying. Its bestial instinct urged it to flee, sensing the threat to its life, while the fluctuation in its heart compelled it to keep watching Niu Chang's smiling face.
Being a creature with limited intelligence, the demonic snake was particularly susceptible to Niu Chang's beguiling technique, which disregarded race and gender. Merely seeing his smile was enough to haunt them with the image of a smiling shrine maiden.
Maintaining his smile, Niu Chang couldn't help but find the situation beyond his expectations. He turned to his system and asked, 'System, increase the proficiency of Shrine Maiden Under the Sacred Tree to the level of small success.'
[To cultivate Shrine Maiden Under the Sacred Tree to the level of small success, you require 33,440 karma points.]
Receiving this answer from the system left Niu Chang stupefied. Undeterred, he continued, 'System, increase the proficiency of Shrine Maiden Under the Sacred Tree to perfection.'
[This cultivation technique is incomplete, and the proficiency cannot be increased to the level of perfection.]
Upon seeing the system's response, Niu Chang fell into contemplation. He kept activating the Captivating Smile Under the Shade and Red, pondering, 'Perhaps it's because I lack the red qi cultivatio method from Shrine Maiden Under the Sacred Tree. After all, this cultivation technique combines both a cultivation method and martial skills.'
'What are the limits? Can it achieve great success?' Niu Chang mused, about to pose the question to the system.
But before he could, he was shocked by an unexpected development.
[Established karma with Huang Zhi.]
Without delay, the Automatic System Answerer chose the second option. Niu Chang, stunned by the revelation, quickly regained his focus and followed the sense of direction indicated by his system.
Suddenly, a shiver ran down his spine as he realized the direction and distance pointed directly behind him.
"What an interesting boy. Ah, it seems you've already sensed my presence. Huhuhu, how amusing," a seductive voice of a young woman whispered into his right ear from behind.
"It appears you possess deeper secrets beyond your special physique," she remarked.
Niu Chang swallowed nervously and pushed his Closed Loop Protection to its limit, uncertain of how much it could harness from his abundant qi reserves.
Having assimilated the knowledge of Closed Loop Protection, Niu Chang wasted no time in putting it to use, paying no heed to the paralyzed demonic snake.
Unwilling to take any risks, especially with an unknown enemy lurking behind him, Niu Chang remained cautious, utilizing the limitless quantityl of his qi.
The mingling white and qi energy around Niu Chang began to circulate in accordance with the Closed Loop Protection, forming rings that spun around his body.
Despite achieving a level of perfection in his proficiency, Niu Chang could only create three rings, with plenty of qi still escaping from his body.
Stomping his right leg firmly into the ground, Niu Chang launched himself away from his original position.
In mid-air, he turned his head and beheld a grotesque sight.
Not far from his previous position lay a chilling and unnerving spectacle—an unparalleled tree monster. Its body consisted of a tangled web of thin, yellow branches, resembling animated skeletal stick figures. Each twisted and gnarled branch moved with an eerie grace, casting an unsettling silhouette against the forest backdrop.
As the creature stood calmly, its branches swayed and quivered, seemingly animated by otherworldly forces. They writhed and entwined, creating a mesmerizing yet deeply unsettling display. Fragile branches, reminiscent of forsaken tree veins, sprawled out in chaotic patterns, embodying the essence of a creature born from nature's darkest realms.
Dangling from the creature's neck hung a severed head, serving as both an ornament and a disconcerting testament to its nature. The woman's countenance bore a livid complexion, with an expression reflecting a mixture of amusement and keen interest. Clear and vibrant eyes radiated profound spiritual wisdom, while alluring lips curled into a captivating smile, painted in a seductive shade of red.
However, the true intrigue lay within the monster's hollow chest cavity. Deep within the tangle of branches, nestled a single mesmerizing fruit—radiant red and pulsating with life. Its mere presence captivated anyone who laid eyes upon it, emanating an irresistible allure that tempted and enchanted those who dared to pluck it from its precarious abode.
Approaching this abomination elicited an overwhelming mix of dread and fascination. Its presence served as a chilling reminder of the blurred boundary between the realms of the living and the supernatural. Ancient enchantments and curses gave birth to haunting abominations like this amalgamation of tree and severed human form. The sight evoked a deep sense of unease, heightened by the mysterious allure of the enchanting fruit hidden within its chest cavity—a fruit that beckoned those who dared to succumb to its seductive call.
Niu Chang's eyes widened as he beheld this unspeakable monster, but his shock stemmed mainly from the smiling face before him.
His mind was thrown into chaos and confusion. 'How? How can it be her?'
Living in a small and impoverished village, Niu Chang could count on one hand the number of beautiful faces he had encountered. Consequently, he vividly remembered when and how he had met each of these alluring individuals.
Observing the shock on Niu Chang's face, the severed head on the tree branch monster's neck appeared stunned as well.
It, too, seemed to recognize Niu Chang.
"Hahaha, boy, it seems we are fated," Huang Zhi, the name mentioned by the system, was indeed this tree branch monster.
Amidst his bewildered thoughts, Niu Chang managed to land safely on both feet. He stared intently at Huang Zhi, attempting to comprehend this sudden reappearance.
"Don't look at me like that," Huang Zhi waved its yellow branch-like hand, its cheeks blushing slightly. However, its lower body displayed conflicting view, causing confusion for those who witnessed it.
"Are you surprised? You should be, aren't you? Hehehe, because you're the one who made me like this. Huhuhu~"
Huang Zhi acted as if it were intimately acquainted with Niu Chang. Its words and gestures resembled those of old friends reuniting.
Its enchanting laughter flowed melodiously, entering Niu Chang's left ear and exiting from the right, but it failed to stir his heart.
"Who are you?" Niu Chang asked tersely.
"How cruel. Don't you remember me?" Huang Zhi moved its branch-like hands to touch its human head, pointing to various parts.
"This face, doesn't it trigger any memories from the past?"
"I remember that face, but I don't recall ever encountering you in the past. The owner of that head was killed by me, and now you use it as an accessory. So, who are you?"
Huang Zhi's head belonged to the unconscious woman Niu Chang had encountered in the past—the woman who should have been his second chance to activate the system.
But Niu Chang was different; he didn't adhere to the rules. He killed the unconscious woman, beheaded her, and used her body to deepen his understanding of female anatomy. Unfortunately, his actions were purely scientific research due to his immature state, preventing him from fully exploring the not-yet-cold body.
"What are you talking about?" Huang Zhi playfully displayed disappointment and sadness, holding its head with both hands asking for sympathy.
Niu Chang furrowed his brow. 'This monster doesn't seem to be lying. Its words carry a deeper meaning.'
Mobilizing his mind to deduce an answer, Niu Chang glanced at his side, where the demonic snake remained in a state of suffering from the continuous smiles inflicted upon it.
The demonic snake continued to shake its head, occasionally pausing to regain composure.
"Huang Zhi?" Niu Chang called out the name given by the system.
The severed woman's head appeared stunned, its once smiling face turning cold. Huang Zhi started to regard Niu Chang with a different gaze.
"Hah! I knew it! It's you, Little Zhi! How did you end up like this? If I remember correctly, I left you at the brothel in Heichen city. But look at you now, tsk tsk, the future is truly unpredictable. The last time I saw you, you were still playing with dirt and mud near Old Yang's pigsty. I distinctly recall that day when you gleefully ate pig feces."
Niu Chang's behavior took a sudden turn, and now he was the one who seemed close to Huang Zhi. His face bore an expression of nostalgia, his eyes slightly moist, and his tone soft and friendly.
On the other side, Huang Zhi's face grew colder, and its forehead darkened.
"Hey, hey, don't be angry. Just look at that menacing face of yours. There's no need to get angry, right? I'm merely stating the facts, and now you're upset. Tsk tsk, has becoming a plaything for those old pigs in Heichen city made you colder? I still remember the day after you ate pig feces; you became addicted to it and asked for my help to find different types of feces."
"I helped you scour the village for dog, cow, and chicken feces, and we even ventured into the forest in search of wild beast feces! Look at the sacrifices I made for you."
Niu Chang chose to disregard Huang Zhi's fierce gaze and continued speaking.
"Now that you're grown up, you resent my kindness? You certainly know how to bite the hand that fed you. Tsk tsk, or is it because of what happened the next day?"
"The next day, I helped you satisfy your curiosity by taking the largest and fattest pig from Old Yang's pigsty to the forest. Why did I do that? Wasn't it for you? You kept pestering me about the taste of pig urine, so I brought the biggest pig to the forest to fulfill your desire!"
"You ungrateful brat! I even assisted you in getting the pig to insert its repulsive penis into your asshole so you could have a better experience. And then, and then—"
Just as Niu Chang was about to recount how he helped Huang Zhi have her first time with the pig, he was interrupted.
"Shut up!" Huang Zhi bellowed at the top of its lungs, its voice no longer human but a hoarse, monstrous sound.
"If you dare to open your stupid mouth again, I will make you taste what it's like to have a pig's penis inside your ass!" Huang Zhi's eyes turned bloodshot, and any semblance of playfulness vanished from its demeanor.
"You bet," Niu Chang replied cheerfully and tauntingly, as if mocking his best friend, fully aware that they wouldn't dare to carry out their threats.
Huang Zhi gritted its human teeth. "Good, good. You truly have the audacity to talk back to me. Even if you beg for forgiveness and plead for death later on, I will keep you alive for eternity so you can never escape my grasp."
The branches comprising Huang Zhi's body trembled with tension, ready to burst from within.
"Oh, is that so?" Niu Chang continued teasingly, escalating the situation even further.