Chapter 40
Chapter 40
Curious about Qianying’s Talent, Zhou Ming attempted to activate Sovereign’s Descent.
“Ding!”
[Attention! This Talent is extremely unusual and exclusive to women. It cannot be copied!]
Zhou Ming: “…”
Exclusive to women?
That was a first!
As though she had sensed Zhou Ming’s attempt, Qianying laughed. “My Talent isn’t as good as you imagine. You wouldn’t want it.”
She might not know what Talent Zhou Ming had selected during the Talent Trial, but his sudden, dramatic increase in Movement Speed and Attack Speed, combined with his conversation with his friend, gave her a rough idea.
There was no question Zhouyou Shijie’s Talent was powerful. More than that, it was…
Limitlessly powerful!
“All right.”
Even so, Zhou Ming only grew more curious about Qianying’s Talent.
After all, Qianying herself had said every Talent was highly compatible with its owner and none were useless.
“Hm?”
Sudden surprise entered Qianying’s voice. She emerged from the God-Demon Orb and appeared beside Zhou Ming. “I didn’t expect it to appear here!”
“Who?” Zhou Ming asked.
Qianying pressed a slender finger to her lips, signaling for silence, while concealing his presence.
“…”
Zhou Ming immediately held his breath, his nerves taut.
Had another god-tier expert come looking for trouble?
“Chirp, chirp!”
A clear, melodious birdsong soon reached his ears.
“!!”
Zhou Ming’s heart tightened. He followed the sound and saw an elegant, lively swallow. Its feathers were glossy black, its body small, and its wings light and graceful.
The swallow stood quietly atop a chunk of ore, turning its head from side to side as though searching for something.
Whoosh!
Before Zhou Ming, hidden in a corner, could learn where the swallow had come from, the ore beneath its feet began shining with an intense red light and changing shape.
Qianying sent him a telepathic message. “That is Xuanniao, the only one of its kind on the Destiny Continent!”
As she spoke, she moved the information she had inspected in front of Zhou Ming.
[Celestial Spirit Beast · Xuanniao] (God-Tier Boss)
Level: 1
HP: 100
Attack: 1
Defense: 1
Skills: [Undying] [Good Fortune Divination] [Misfortune Divination] [Super Lucky Star]
Description: A mysterious bird that soars freely across the Destiny Continent. You might encounter it anywhere, but it never stays long.
…
Good lord!
It was actually a god-tier Boss!
And a… Level 1 god-tier Boss at that!
Zhou Ming’s heart pounded.
As though compelled by some unseen force, he opened his inventory and looked at the Rare A-Rank Pet Capture Stone he had obtained from Mo Yun.
At present, every name on the Pet Rankings belonged to a Summoner because pets had not yet opened to other classes. He didn’t even know whether he was allowed to capture one.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Qianying seemed to read his intentions. “Xuanniao may appear to be Level 1, but it possesses special powers beyond your imagination. Even god-tier experts can’t do anything to it.”
So it wasn’t that simple after all?
Zhou Ming wasn’t surprised.
He desperately wanted a divine pet, of course, but obtaining one this early in the game truly was unrealistic.
“Still, even if you can’t capture it, encountering it is a stroke of luck,” Qianying explained. “It performs a divination for every living being it meets. The result may bring good fortune or misfortune. Whether you want to try is up to you, but you must never show it hostility. That would bring you one run of bad luck after another.”
She had signaled Zhou Ming to remain silent because she wanted to explain the situation first and prevent him from doing anything that might upset Xuanniao.
“Interesting!”
Zhou Ming was fascinated.
Once Qianying had concisely explained everything he needed to know about Xuanniao, she released the technique concealing his presence.
“Chirp, chirp!”
Xuanniao’s senses were extremely sharp. It immediately cried out after noticing the two figures in the distance.
“We mean you no harm!” Qianying walked forward openly, her tone gentle.
“That’s right!”
Zhou Ming wore a face of perfect righteousness. “We’re good people. Very, very good people!”
Seemingly convinced by their behavior, Xuanniao nodded. It proudly puffed out its chest and spread its wings, signaling them to approach with an arrogant air.
Zhou Ming found nothing strange about that.
A god-tier Boss couldn’t possibly lack intelligence. Of course it would be highly sentient.
When he reached Xuanniao, he noticed a subtle change in the ore beneath its feet. Its structure was entirely different from the surrounding rocks, as though Xuanniao’s touch had enhanced it.
Blinking, Xuanniao carefully examined the two before it. Its gaze moved back and forth between them.
“We hope to receive your blessing,” Qianying said first, stating their purpose directly.
Flutter!
After a moment of hesitation, Xuanniao spread its wings and flew onto Qianying’s shoulder. It affectionately rubbed against her smooth cheek as a strange multicolored radiance spread from its body.
Several seconds later, the lingering pallor vanished from Qianying’s face. Her silver hair danced in the air, her vitality returned, and her aura climbed steadily.
“Ding!”
[Celestial Spirit Beast · Xuanniao has used Good Fortune Divination. Divine Ember Queen · Qianying’s injuries have recovered, and she has received a random buff: All Attributes +10% for the next 7 days!]
“I would have needed several more days to recover, but now I’m completely healed.” Qianying was delighted. “Thank you, Xuanniao!”
Xuanniao flew back to its original perch, looking quite friendly.
“I’d like your blessing too!” Zhou Ming said from the side.
Xuanniao turned toward him and studied him for a very long time, suspicion and uncertainty flickering in its eyes.
At last, it spread its wings again and emitted a dark, ghostly light.
“Something’s wrong!”
Qianying’s expression changed. “That isn’t Good Fortune Divination!”
Zhou Ming: “…”
Not Good Fortune Divination?
Then didn’t that mean…
As if to confirm his suspicion, terrible news soon rang in his ears.
“Ding!”
[Celestial Spirit Beast · Xuanniao has used Misfortune Divination. Luck -99 for 3 days, and you have received a random debuff: Speech Speed -50% for 2 hours!]
“Are… you… a… fucking… stupid… bird?”
The smile vanished from Zhou Ming’s face. He spoke at an agonizing crawl, swearing with every word.
Qianying got Good Fortune Divination, while he got Misfortune Divination?
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
“Chirp, chirp!”
As though it had discovered something hilarious, Xuanniao called repeatedly and flapped its wings like it was clutching its stomach with laughter.
Damn it!
He couldn’t tolerate this for a second!
Zhou Ming pulled the Pet Capture Stone from his inventory.
Xuanniao remained exactly where it stood, perfectly calm and utterly unafraid.
“With your Luck reduced by 99, you won’t have even the faintest chance of capturing it,” Qianying hurriedly warned him.
Zhou Ming instantly calmed down. He narrowed his eyes at the gloating Xuanniao, a dangerous light flowing through his gaze.
He had never liked swallowing an insult in silence!
If someone got the better of him, he had to pay them back with interest.
But how could he reclaim his dignity here?
Zhou Ming’s mind raced as he searched for a solution.
“I’ve got it!”
His eyes suddenly lit up as he remembered something extremely important.
How could a divine beast lack a Talent, especially one as unusual as this?
Staring at the utterly carefree Xuanniao, Zhou Ming revealed a smile overflowing with goodwill.
“You… want… to… play… I’ll… play… with… you…”
Sovereign’s Descent, activate again!
…