Xyrin Empire

The thoughts of the Divine Race are always unpredictable. Speaking of oddities like Bingdisi, who dare to charge protection fees at the temple's door with her own bishop and Guardian Knight, even Dingdang can be quite astonishing when her mind goes astray. Just to experience what a sauna felt like as seen on TV, she came up with the idea of boiling herself in a pot. What's even more peculiar is that Monina, as Dingdang's subordinate, actually played the role of aiding in such an absurd act.

Indeed, Monina was the one who boiled the water; she personally cooked her own captain...

Of course, I understand that an ordinary pot of boiling water wouldn't harm Dingdang in any way, but you have to understand, we usually use that pot for cooking. If each meal reminds me of the time it was used to boil Dingdang, do you think I'll have any appetite left?

I have already handed the blood samples collected from Mars to Dingdang. She merely touched the sample, and it disappeared without a trace. Upon inquiry, I discovered that Dingdang had converted it into a "concept" and uploaded it to the Divine Realm, letting those Divine Realm experts analyze the origin of these life samples.

Dingdang continued to nuzzle around on my shoulder, her little body exuding a cute pinkish hue. Already a little creature of carved jade and ivory, she now appeared more crystalline. The subtle fragrance she emitted immediately after stepping out of the pot has dissipated, now discernible only when near. It's a pleasant scent that eludes description. I have two points of confusion: Firstly, how such a little creature could have a natural fragrance, and secondly... where exactly lies the incongruity in the phrase "Dingdang out of the pot."

"Snore... snore... snore..." Dingdang snorted as she rolled around, feeling so comfortable after the sauna she was becoming sleepy. Seeing the little thing look so adorably silly, I couldn't even bring myself to say the mild reproach I had. Instead, I gently poked her head, trying to snap her out of her drowsiness, and then asked how long it might take to track down the origin of those life forms.

After all, even if the Voyage Logs were decoded, we would only know which worlds the disassembled starship had passed through. To truly answer who had occupied that ancient spaceship, we need the answers given by the life registry of the Divine Race.

"Probably very soon, maybe a day or two," the little thing said drowsily, hugging my earlobe. "Dingdang has already uploaded it to 'Search All,' where lots of idle Divine Race wait every day to answer questions."

"Search All? What on earth is that?" I frowned, overwhelmed by a sense of absurdity.

"Search, encyclopedia, Q&A, integrated network," Dingdang announced proudly. "When you don't know something, just 'Search All.' It's common knowledge among the Divine Race. Many like to share their discoveries there, and there are panels dedicated to answering various questions. The first time you answer a question, you're labeled as 'Kindergarten Class,' and then you accumulate experience until you can rise to Mentor..."

I palely patted Dingdang's head, signaling her not to explain so thoroughly, then bowed my head, pondering whether Father God knows Robin Li...

Monina was still busy at the stove. Ultimately, she couldn't bear to pour out that pot of Dingdang soup. Now she was adding honey, BlackTea, olives, and all sorts of strange spices. On the cutting board beside her, peaches were diced, bananas were sliced, pears were cubed, and apples were cut. All sorts of fresh fruits were prepared into intricately gorgeous materials that could be put in a museum as art. She was clearly preparing ingredients for a fruit soup. My eyes glanced over these suspicious items several times, having long suspected their purpose but not daring to confirm it, until the Dark God girl, whose mind seemed not quite right, poured them into the water pot that had just boiled Dingdang. It was then I realized: "Monina, don't you think this concoction is a bit bizarre?"

"Why?" Monina turned her head to look at me with curiosity while stirring the big pot of fruit soup. "It's not dirty. The Goddess's body transcends cleanliness, so this pot of miscellaneous fruit Captain soup is definitely cleaner than any food you've ever seen."

For a moment, Monina almost convinced me. Indeed, it isn't dirty. Not to mention this, but with the Tiaozi Five, any of them retain an "unpollutable" state. I've observed this phenomenon: unless they consent, nothing from the Mortal World can stay upon the Tiaozi Five, including a speck of dust and a drop of water, which shy away in fear when nearing them. Yelsen even used this power to tame all the Chinese village dogs within twenty kilometers in an afternoon. This imposing might that commands all things contrasts with their usual aura. Even Lin, who is timid and timid, stands in the rain, and all wind and rain avoid approaching her by half a meter: This is the inviolability of a God.

Even if for any special reason, they themselves get soiled, the filth automatically disappears.

Dingdang naturally is no exception. Despite often making herself dirty due to bizarre experiments or scuttling to weird places, causing me to need to be ever-ready with a large bottle to bathe her, in truth, Dingdang can cleanse herself within a minute in an unconscious act, though mysteriously, it seems she is wholly unaware of this. Every time she dirties herself, she dutifully appears before me, extending dirtied little arms and face, requesting a bath...

But after all this, the real issue isn't whether this odd concoction is dirty or not!

"You're not seriously planning to eat this, are you?"

I twitched my lips, watching Monina stir her prideful Dingdang soup, beginning to suspect that Monina's real reason for suggesting the sauna for Dingdang was to use her captain as seasoning: This girl's lifetime greatest aspiration was to be the ultimate cook. If Star Domain Divine Race standard positions included Kitchen God, she would've switched to become one long ago.

So, her using Dingdang to craft new recipes seems plausible?

"This? Of course, it's to eat, and not just anyone gets to enjoy it," Monina sampled a piece of apple, "Cooked... or rather bathed, for five minutes today, it's indeed different. Would you believe that just this piece of apple's value could provoke billions to fight for it in the right world? What did those Christians say, using wine to signify Christ's blood, bread to signify Christ's flesh, gaining virtue through God's flesh? Isn't this exactly YY on this stuff..."

"Well, enjoy your divine feast then," I backed out of the kitchen cold sweat on my brow, realizing I truly don't share a worldview with this Dark God girl, "I'll go check if Lilina is dead..."

"Hey, wait!" Monina hurriedly appeared with a small bowl of fruit soup in her hands. "This is specifically crafted for you. Having troubled you here for so long, I should express my gratitude somehow. I'm not like those remorseless people."

Listen to those words! Crafted! For a bowl of food, she can use the word "crafted." How do you think I can eat it?

I gazed miserably at the fragrant fruit soup in Monina's hands and suddenly grabbed Dingdang for a lick: "You keep it for yourself, I'll have it fresh..."

"Wow! Ah Jun, what are you doing! Dingdang just had a bath, don't lick her!"

Monina nodded, "That makes sense."

I left the kitchen, drenched in sweat, just in time to run into Sandora, who looked famished. She often doesn't eat much at night and seemed hungry now. Upon seeing me come out of the kitchen, she cheerfully approached, "Ah Jun, is there something tasty inside? Smells so good."

I looked at my hand in a peculiar way, Dingdang sat in my palm, using a peanut-sized handkerchief to vigorously scrub her face. Then I nodded, "Monina is cooking fruit soup, though she used..."

"I suddenly remember I have water on the stove, better go check on it. Don't worry about the remains, Taville is already transforming the Voyage Logs!" Without waiting for me to finish, Sandora rattled off a long string, and disappeared from the kitchen entrance.

Out of habit, I completed the sentence: "Dingdang juice..."

Alright, seems like Sandora might get to taste the legendary Godly blood and flesh that could incite billions of mortals to war today.

By now, the noise from upstairs gradually subsided, it seems the three little ones have finally settled. Though I do not know how formidable Little Qijing's combat skill is, she is my shared creation with Alaya. I firmly believe she integrates the Angel Sister's superb Martial Arts Skills alongside my... brilliant Street Fighting Skill. Though Alaya might lack superior Martial Arts Skills, at least I still possess Street Fighting Skills, and this technique has been fully passed to Little Qijing through Spiritual Sharing.

Feeling a delightful satisfaction akin to a landlord having outwitted a tenant, I pocketed Dingdang, took big strides up to the second floor, and reached Lilina's room. Just as I raised my hand to knock, the door was opened from within.

Lilina looked like she had just been through some horrible ordeal, with disheveled clothes and tear-stained face as she opened the door, weakly sprawling on my foot: "Boss... save me, I promise I'll never do it again..."

I never expected Lilina to turn out this miserable in such a short time. Normally, Mercury Lamp's combat power wouldn't achieve such a victory even with a helper, but the fact remains: Lilina now doesn't even resemble the imposing Archbishop she usually does. Toss her onto the street, and within five minutes someone would throw her money. Her clothes were so disheveled she was almost completely exposed — though there wasn't much to see — her face smeared with colorful paint, her hair a mess like a bird's nest, black feathers stuck all over her head and face, and there was a little doll stubbornly clinging to her leg.

"This is too much..."

After I roughly wiped her face and tossed her onto the bed, Lilina tearfully complained. Opposite her, Mercury Lamp sat proudly while Little Qijing was dozing off. "Not only did she find a helper, but she found a cheat helper! As soon as we met, she burrowed right into my body..."

Through Lilina's complaints, Mercury Lamp's additions, and Little Qijing's chaotic narrative, I pieced together the details of that battle. Simply put, Little Qijing's special talent played a crucial role: she can parasitically invade any creature with a soul, including Lilina's demigod body which couldn't stop her parasitism.

This is quite normal; just look at who her father and mother are. If Alaya were classified by mysteriousness, she'd at least be on Dingdang's level, deserving a True God's rank (though without authority), making it plausible that Qijing, with half Alaya's soul, is a demigod body like Lilina. Moreover, her father possesses unmatched spiritual power...

The tragic state on Lilina was entirely self-inflicted. The first thing Qijing did after taking over Lilina's body was to gulp down a cup of sacred paint Lilina typically uses for drawing runes. I suspect her stomach is still colorful now. Then she controlled the host to roll around the ground, tear clothes, bite pillows, stick her leg out for Mercury Lamp to bite. Despite Lilina finding a chance to breathe every minute or two, expelling Qijing, Mercury Lamp's disruptions gave Qijing the opportunity to burrow right back in.

And then that was it.

"Boss, your daughter needs lecturing, absolutely needs strict lecturing," Lilina rubs her head against my arm with teary eyes, trying to transfer the paint to my sleeve, "Who bullies someone like this? She bites everything she grabs, it's not even her own mouth! Lucky I don't have mice here..."

I smacked her: "Don't say such disgusting things!"

Lilina sulked off to one side, heartbroken.

"You two come here." I gestured to the two culprits. Mercury Lamp shrank her neck and woke the snoring Qijing, pulling her sister to stand in front of me, heads bowed and silent.

"Do you know you overdid it?"

Mercury Lamp kept her head down: "I know..."

Qijing imitated: "Did it..."

I continued gently: "Lilina is your sister after all."

"She's what, not even that old this year, and I'm already hundreds of years old." Mercury Lamp immediately tossed her hair, full of disdain. Qijing chimed in: "Hundreds of years old."

"Cut the nonsense, you're only two months old." I said seriously, "And we count by height—Lilina is still your elder sister, so you can't go overboard. Although she's mischievous, foul-mouthed, and often teases others, this time she actively taunted you, which was deserved, but..."

Lilina lamented: "Boss, show some mercy on lolis!"

I pinched her cheek: "Shut up, think about who picked fights with Mercury Lamp every time, always bullying others, can't you be content occasionally when you're on the receiving end?"

Realizing she was defeated, isolated, Lilina pouted silently. I continued gently educating Mercury Lamp and Qijing: "So now, do you know what to do?"

Mercury Lamp remained mute, Qijing nodded off.

"Good, nice attitude, just this once — go downstairs for some snacks!"

Mercury Lamp cheered, "Hooray!" dragging the still unresponsive Qijing out, leaving Lilina jumping furiously: "Hey, Boss! No way, you're not being subtle with your favoritism, are you just letting this slide? I drank half a liter of ink! And look at my clothes, my hair, these are the most important things to a lady, all desecrated..."

"Alright, alright, let Little Light off for once, you always bully her normally." I pinched Lilina's cheek, and she sulkily looked at me for a while, eventually resignedly shook her head: "You're such a daughter doting parent, you spoil her too much." Then with a snap of her fingers, a green light swept from head to toe, and the messy bird's nest hair, torn clothes, rainbow paint, and the teeth marks all vanished, as if it had never been so dirty—except for the chicken feathers, Lilina's divine power is limited, it's beyond her cleaning range.

"Honestly, is Qijing really that impressive?" I helped Lilina clean her hair from feathers, curiously asking.

"Of course, I let her," Lilina arrogantly lifted her head, short legs slapping the bed loudly, "I'm a top-tier pope, just an ordinary spirit, how could I possibly be controlled..."

"Stop bragging." I patted her, "Qijing's spiritual power comes from me. Within five hundred meters of me, it's like a perpetual machine. I'm genuinely asking, how does her spiritual parasitism work?"

Knowing this wasn't a joke, Lilina turned serious: "Honestly, this ability is honestly bizarre, unprecedented. The temple's mystical records don't have any documentation on this. A spirit can parasitically inhabit another spirit-like a biological entity and can manipulate the host's behavior. What's more, she can parasitically invade others' souls, using others' spiritual powers as food—if not for your abnormal spiritual power, before she learns to control her power, she'd turn you into a fool drooling in the sunset every day."

"You could just say you don't know and be done with it."

"I just don't know, and that's not shameful. Knowledge is infinite," Lilina said solemnly, waving her finger with a little adult-like demeanor, "But I suspect it's related to you—your identity as a Void Creature seems to have caused many unexplained things. Father God said, Boss, you're an information interference source, everything related to you is shrouded in a vortex similar to fate. That child probably is too. Her life form doesn't fit the temple's definition of 'life,' likely why she's not troubled by any life form and can parasitically inhabit any creature's spirit, siphon nourishment, control, even kill the host. This is a very dangerous ability."

"That's why I don't dare let her out often," I rubbed my temples in headache, "She has no sense of morality, nor urgency. Little Qijing and you have a good relationship normally, but she still decisively used the dangerous skill of spiritual parasite on you, because she doesn't know it's lethal—thankfully it can't harm you."

"Who said it didn't hurt!" Lilina demonstrated gritted teeth, "It injured! It injured a lady's dignity! The first time I was parasitized, I truly was controlled to do many embarrassing things!"

Thinking about it, I still felt Lilina deserved it, she's normally so unruly, today she got her payback all at once! (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)