"Senior Sister, how does it feel? Do you sense anything?"
"Yes, somewhat... The malevolent energy feels like it's flowing out of my body..."
Shenhe answered honestly.
Because she felt inexplicably calm near Jiang Ning, to allow her junior brother to access the malevolent energy within her body, Shenhe untied the red rope and stood several meters away from him.
Her expression gradually became strained, large beads of sweat rolling down her cheeks, as black energy began emanating from her body - the isolating energy that had been hidden within her.
"After so many years, it's able to take physical form..."
Cloud Retainer sighed.
This was something even she had no solution for, nor did Rex Lapis.
It was something inherent in one's constellation from birth.
Therefore, even Cloud Retainer didn't know when the problem within Shenhe's body might spiral out of control.
Perhaps Jiang Ning would be the key to breaking through this predicament.
"Senior Sister, I'm going to start..."
Jiang Ning's expression turned serious as he reached out to touch the black mist.
Cloud Retainer's divine energy fluctuated, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of trouble.
Fortunately, when Jiang Ning touched the black mist, he showed no signs of discomfort.
[Ding! Task issued: As a villain, how can you not have special effects to set your atmosphere? So, absorb the black energy from Shenhe's body and turn it into your own power! Task reward: Free control over isolating energy, assisting in cultivation and combat.]
Jiang Ning's heart stirred. Although this wasn't good for Senior Sister, it was undeniable that this isolating energy had been essential in bringing her to where she was today.
'Absorb!'
Jiang Ning commanded mentally.
The next moment, like a plug being pulled from a water tank, Shenhe felt something rapidly flowing out of her body, making her feel lighter and more peaceful.
The black mist continued to swirl around Jiang Ning, flowing into his body like a whale consuming water.
"Jiang Ning, are you alright?"
Cloud Retainer asked.
Jiang Ning replied, "Master, I'm fine..."
After about ten minutes, the black energy around Shenhe was completely absorbed.
Jiang Ning was drenched in sweat.
He sat on the ground, breathing heavily and seemingly exhausted.
"Junior Brother!"
Shenhe quickly moved forward to support Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning waved his hand, saying weakly, "I'm fine, just tired... Senior Sister, how are you?"
Cloud Retainer said, "This immortal was watching. Jiang Ning is just exhausted. But you, Shenhe, do you feel any different?"
Shenhe furrowed her brows, then said, "I... seem to feel much lighter?"
"Let's try this - move away from Jiang Ning and see if any isolating energy emerges."
Cloud Retainer's suggestion actually made Shenhe instinctively hold Jiang Ning tighter.
Jiang Ning's face was buried against the white fabric on her chest, feeling suffocated.
Cloud Retainer was dumbfounded: "I said to move away from Jiang Ning to test the effect! No need to be so reluctant, he won't run away!"
Shenhe finally complied.
But she kept looking back at Jiang Ning, clearly reluctant to leave.
Cloud Retainer felt mentally exhausted - this disciple had clearly fallen hard.
Just what had she missed in these two years?
Shenhe looked at her hands - no red rope, no junior brother nearby, yet she could still feel that rare sense of peace that usually eluded her...
"Master, it worked."
A smile lifted the corners of Shenhe's lips, her gaze softening, making all flowers pale in comparison to her beauty.
"Yay!" Jiang Ning exclaimed breathlessly, collapsing onto the ground. His pure white hair clung to his temples with sweat.
Cloud Retainer said, "We owe our thanks to you this time, Jiang Ning."
"It was nothing, and besides, Senior Sister has been very good to me," Jiang Ning replied.
During this time, Jiang Ning had learned his immortal arts and elemental powers from Shenhe, who had also taught him some spearmanship.
Combined with the fact that Shenhe was a devastatingly beautiful white-haired immortal maiden, Jiang Ning had grown quite fond of his senior sister.
He had never forgotten his identity as a villain... so, ignoring conventional morality, riding his master and destroying his ancestors, corrupting his fellow disciples - these were things he must do!
[Ding! Reward issued: Free use of isolating energy.] The system popped up again.
"Master." Jiang Ning called out.
"What is it?" Cloud Retainer looked over.
Jiang Ning said, "Like with Senior Sister's Cryo element before, I now seem to be able to... use this isolating energy."
As he spoke, he guided with both hands, and black mist appeared in his palms, docile like a small bird.
"...Come here, let this master examine both of you." Cloud Retainer said.
The two complied, and after a series of tests and examinations, Cloud Retainer clicked her tongue in amazement.
"How peculiar. Although the isolating energy in Shenhe's body is still gradually increasing, it's much slower now. It will take nearly half a year before it affects Shenhe again. As for you, being able to freely control and use this isolating energy... truly remarkable."
"Moreover, this is absorption - by all logic, you should only be able to use what you've absorbed before running out. But somehow you've formed an internal cycle that automatically generates more..."
Cloud Retainer pondered for a long while, unable to understand the situation, and could only attribute it to the special constitution of an otherworldly visitor.
"Well, it's a good thing anyway, so this immortal won't investigate further. But during these two years of my seclusion, did anything else happen?"
Shenhe looked toward Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning said, "Nothing special really, just some people seeking immortality who Senior Sister and I sent away. Oh, and there was an immortal called Mr. Zhongli, who said he was your old friend. He would sit at that stone table drinking tea, then teach me spearmanship. I even gained the Geo element from him."
"Zhongli... Geo element, and sat at the stone table?" Cloud Retainer looked toward the stone table.
A stone table with three stone stools, inscribed with "Here sits Cloud Retainer," "Here sits Rex Lapis," and "Here sits Guizhong."
Her old friends should all know about this, so...
Was it Rex Lapis who came?
Cloud Retainer suddenly understood: "Indeed an immortal..."
Rex Lapis, the Prime of Adepti, certainly qualified as an immortal.
"Were there no other visitors?" Cloud Retainer asked, feeling unexpectedly hopeful for some reason.
"No one else." Jiang Ning thought carefully before shaking his head.
Immediately, Cloud Retainer puffed up like an angry bird.
"Those bastards! In two years, none of those jerks came to visit me! And that child Ganyu has really forgotten her master since getting a job!"
"How truly infuriating!"