"Didn't you warn me before not to eat random things?" Jiang Ning asked through gritted teeth.
[Times have changed... and now we've found the manual...]
[Besides, not only can you absorb the demon god's resentment, I think if you were to bite into that pile of walking corpses, you might even absorb the demon god's powers!]
The system tried to gloss over the situation.
Jiang Ning looked at the waves of walking corpses and felt nauseous. He would never eat those things, even if his life depended on it.
Besides, that scene would be too bizarre!
But the demon god's resentment...
Jiang Ning looked up at Zhongli and said, "Master, I think I can absorb this thing... not the walking corpses, but the demon god's resentment."
Zhongli paused, then narrowed his eyes as he examined Jiang Ning. Although he knew his disciple could absorb elemental energy, even Shenhe's cursed energy, demon god remnants were different.
Even the slightest contact could drive one mad, let alone demon god's resentment.
But Jiang Ning never spoke without reason, so...
"Are you confident? What are the side effects?"
Zhongli's voice grew more serious.
Jiang Ning said, "Don't worry, Master. There won't be any effects - I have a special constitution."
Zhongli chose to believe him, remembering how the cursed energy that had wreaked havoc in Shenhe's body became as docile as a rabbit when stored in Jiang Ning's body.
Zhongli calmly stated, "Go ahead then. If anything goes wrong, I'm here."
His tone was level but filled with absolute confidence, which reassured Jiang Ning.
Shenhe quietly stood by Jiang Ning's side. Miss Yingying had said that she could be willful in private, but outside... she should always support her man no matter what.
Jiang Ning had wanted to make some grand declarations, but seeing the sea of walking corpses outside, he knew he couldn't handle them. He could only look awkwardly at Zhongli:
"Master, um, there are too many walking corpses for me to deal with right now..."
Zhongli nodded: "In that case... Heaven and Earth!"
With his hands clasped before his chest, adeptal energy surged. Though they were in a cave, stars appeared one after another, crashing heavily into the ground.
Dust filled the air and the cave trembled, but their position remained unaffected.
The sea of walking corpses instantly fell silent. Those servants of the Death Demon God were all petrified, turning to dust in the wind.
This move was effortless for Zhongli. The young ones hadn't seen it before, and the ancient texts only recorded that he subdued enemies with geo spears.
"That move was so cool..."
Jiang Ning's eyes sparkled.
[Host, this old man is stealing your thunder. I can issue a quest where you...]
"Shut up."
[Oh...]
Zhongli's expression remained neutral, as if he had done something trivial. He turned to Jiang Ning and said:
"Now then, go do what you want to do..."
"Morax! You deserve death!"
The demon god's resentment grew more frenzied, continuously striking the shield, but to no avail.
"Morax, I XXXX you XXXXX!"
The language was so foul that Jiang Ning wondered if his Rex Lapis had actually scattered their ashes to the wind.
Zhongli's gaze darkened as he opened his hand towards the demon god's resentment, then suddenly lowered it.
The world fell silent. Heavy geo energy suppressed the demon god's resentment - no matter how it struggled, it was futile.
Jiang Ning was delighted - Master had practically delivered it to his mouth...
Absorption, activate!
It had been a while since he'd eaten anything new. Though this thing looked unpalatable, it was at least a new flavor...
Although he was absorbing with both hands, Jiang Ning could precisely sense the taste of this demon god's resentment.
His expression immediately soured.
"What's wrong?" Zhongli noticed his change in expression, ready to help at any moment.
Jiang Ning said, "It's nothing, just that this thing tastes terrible... *retching*..."
Jiang Ning's hands were still absorbing the demon god's resentment, but his head was turned aside as he continued retching.
"...What does it taste like?" Shenhe asked curiously.
Jiang Ning spat and then said:
"How should I put it... If senior sister, your Cryo element tastes like the fragrance of Qingxin flowers, and Sister Ganyu's tastes like Sweet Flowers, Master Zhongli's, well, honestly has no taste but carries the weight of history."
"As for this thing..." Jiang Ning said with disgust, "It's like fatty meat left in the summer sun for a week, then brought back and stir-fried with heavy seasoning before being served..."
Shenhe fell silent, knowing just from the description how awful it must taste.
But what made Shenhe more curious was...
How did her little junior brother know what that tasted like?
Had he actually taken a piece of meat and...
"No, no! Morax! You can't absorb me! Argh!!!"
The voice changed from vengeful to shocked, then terrified, and finally grew weak.
After about ten minutes, the voice completely disappeared.
Zhongli also sensed the gradual dissipation of the demon god's resentment, but noticed that Jiang Ning's complexion was rosy and his eyes were clear.
It seemed that single act had restored all his previous damage and exhaustion.
He felt relieved.
As for his curiosity about Jiang Ning... while he had some, he didn't plan to investigate. After all, doesn't everyone have their own secrets?
"Finished?" Zhongli asked.
Jiang Ning exhaled: "Finished..."
"What changes do you feel? Your energy has strengthened, but not by much. If that's all, it's somewhat disappointing."
Zhongli said.
Jiang Ning closed his eyes, carefully sensing that his energy seemed to have become more complex, with something extra added.
[Don't worry, after completing the quest, I'll try to make the reward purify your energy. Then it'll just be your energy again...]
The system said.
"What about the extra stuff I got? Can you tell what it is?" Jiang Ning asked.
[Like I said, due to program limitations, I can't see all your data... I can't tell. Why don't you try it out yourself, Host?]
With the life-and-death crisis over, the system remained carefree.
Jiang Ning pursed his lips: "You don't even know that much? Embarrassing."
However, he still tried to use his newly acquired ability.
Black energy appeared around Jiang Ning, filled with deathly stillness and life-extinguishing essence.
Along with white hair, white clothes, and blood-red eyes, he looked like a character from a demon realm in a novel.
Well, now he really looked like a villain - with this appearance, he was the very picture of a white-haired demon.
Jiang Ning mocked himself.
Though, this black energy was quite interesting.
Author's note - Guys from now on I will upload 2 chapters per day ;-; . 4 chapters per day is kinda hectic .-. or maybe I should make some PS goals wdyt? like 2-5 ( random ) chapters per 100 PS?
Also, guys, leave a review if you liked the story so far.