Chapter 373 – Cat Dad's New Homework!
DING
<Warning! An antagonist has targeted you!>
<Your luck is temporarily boosted by 100%. You will be guaranteed to have a fortuitous encounter at least once even if you hole up in your troll cave 24/7!>
"How nice, munya."
Xiaomao opened one eye to read the game system notification messages. He was amused.
"Antagonist? This fourth-wall-breaking type of class is quite a trend these days, munya. Hell, I haven't even unlocked all features of Regressor Class, and I get the Protagonist Class, munya."
DING
[Foresight]: "It can't be helped. Too many external influences disrupted your fate as a regressor, and your luck was weaker than the external forces. Some drastic measures are in order."
[Foresight]: "By the way, you actually have three choices here. First, stay here and keep cultivating, and a mythical armor will fall from the sky and land in your house. Second, stroll into the dungeon, and you will run into a fight between your subordinate and his rival. Kill the enemy, and you will steal their luck and power. Or third, you can take a walk outside the dungeon, and you will run into one of your MILF moms. She will give you a gift to help you."
Xiaomao furrowed his eyebrows as Foresight-Senpai had been talkative today. Even without a game system, the passive skill kept providing hints and tips.
"How did you know all that, munya?"
[Foresight]: "I'm your foresight."
"I know, but how the hell does that work? Isn't my foresight or precognition something that should happen in my brain or my mind, munya?"
[Foresight]: "Rephrasing, I'm a copy of your consciousness within your entity stone, created by Mu-Nyang. My job is to calculate and predict the future by reading the karma of everybody around you, then provide you a hint."
Xiaomao's mind blew. Senpai had lost him.
"I don't understand a thing, munya."
[Foresight]: "Rephrasing, I just know the future, but I don't actually exist or have a real body. Get it?"
"Somewhat, munya."
It was still confusing, but Xiaomao let it pass as he didn't want to delve too much into Foresight-Senpai's identity. As long as he was created by Mu-Nyang, he was trustworthy.
Although distracted, Xiaomao quickly turned his attention to the antagonist issue. As Pangu's system warned him, he was cautious about the messages.
"Do you know who is targeting me?"
[Foresight]: "I know, but I can't spoil it. The butterfly effects are annoying. The only hint I can give you is that you should finish your evolution and ascend within 70 hours."
"B-But I just forcefully advance to the 8th stage. You want me to be immortal in two or three days?! That's impossible, munya."
[Foresight]: "Do not underestimate the boon of your Heavenly Fate Crystal. Common sense doesn't apply to the protagonists."
"…"
Listening to his senpai, Xiaomao sank his consciousness into his pocket dantian.
.
.
= Xiaomao's Pocket Dantian =
Although Xiaomao was concerned about the targeting thing, he resumed training with Wei Huang's clone. So far, he managed to defeat Wei Huang 998 times, and he got used to Wei Huang's sword domain and the way he fought.
Wei Huang's sword domain allowed the Oni to launch attacks, which were guaranteed to hit every target. Even if the target was a hundred meters away from Wei Huang, the melee attacks never missed as the strike magically manifested directly on the victim's body. If Wei Huang aimed for Xiaomao's neck, his sword would always cut the latter's neck without fail.
However, Xiaomao also comprehended the sword dao and could use the same abilities. As a result, he knew the weaknesses of this power.
Whenever a domain attack manifested, there was a millisecond gap to react. Although Xiaomao couldn't physically dodge it, an invulnerability domain or a temporary teleportation ability could counter the tricks.
CHING
A sword strike mark appeared on Xiaomao's body, but his appearance faded away like a ghost.
DING
<You have activated the Soul Formation Domain – Ethereal Light!>
<Your physique will change into a spiritual body until you cancel the domain ability. All physical attacks cannot harm you. Qi attack and magical attack can still damage you, but they decreases your Life Essence and MP instead of your HP. Once either your MP or Life Essence reduces to zero, the domain will be disabled.>
This was the Holy Element's domain ability that Xiaomao recently obtained. It transformed his body into a spirit, and he could rapidly travel to any location within his domain as if he could teleport. However, it
WHOOSH
The sword domain strike missed!
A millisecond later, Xiaomao's afterimages surrounded Wei Huang. He also used the same sword domain.
SWUA
SWUA
SWUA
Unlike Wei Huang's techniques, Xiaomao's sword strikes connected, severing Wei Huang's body into four pieces. Once again, Xiaomao's sword attacks were too fast for Wei Huang to react. The grandpa fell victim to the same sword art that he relied on.
The clone proudly laughed as he dissipated into dust for the 999th time. He muttered before he vanished.
'Do your best next fight, Xiaomao. Let our final duel be legendary! Make me proud!'
"…"
Xiaomao bitterly smiled and nodded. He dispelled his abilities and rested to recuperate.
The next day in the pocket dantian world, Xiaomao summoned Wei Huang again. This time, the difficulty was fixed to 200% potential.
RUMBLE
Wei Huang looked different this time. He came out as a human Daoist. However, behind him, a hundred legendary-grade swords and sabers levitated and followed him around.
The old man's hair, beard, and robes were whiter than a sheet. They were coated with an element Qi that Xiaomao didn't have, and he looked more divine than his Oni form.
Xiaomao gazed at Wei Huang in admiration. He praised his grandpa, "Are you an angel now?"
This time, Wei Huang spoke clearly. He didn't need to move his lips to hint at the words.
"The law of this universe is generous. It allows me to use the power that I didn't have when I was alive."
"Oh?"
"Anyway, be careful, child. There won't be constellation souls, but I alone am enough to pulverize you and your domains. You won't be able to dodge my sword attacks anymore, and your tricks are useless against me now!"
"Bring it, munya!"
Xiaomao transformed into an angel with cat ears. The feathers of his wings condensed all his element Qi into white butterflies with cat-face expressions. Each glowing creature spread out and vanished, teleporting to its designated position as planned.
DING
<You have activated the Soul Formation Domain - Nihility Flame!>
<Your Qi will constantly give birth to White Flame Butterflies. They will steal Qi from creatures in your domain and transfer it to you. If anyone other than you touches one of them, their sanity will instantly drop to zero.>
<You cannot activate other soul formation domains when Nihility Flame Domain is active!>
When Xiaomao's power was active, Wei Huang smirked as he had seen it over a thousand times. He knew how to deal with the Qi-stealing bugs.
"Let me introduce you to what a "Compound" element is, Xiaomao!"
DING
<Wei Huang has activated the stellar constellation domain – Holy Sword of Undead Samurai!>
"Huh?"
Although Xiaomao couldn't see or hear the detail of the ability, Xiaomao sensed a crisis. The legendary-graded swords behind Wei Huang combined into one katana.
Wei Huang tossed the saber in his hand and let it merge with the new katana. Its blade turned black, and its ominous aura turned purple.
CLINK
The sword chimed, and spirits of purple butterflies came out. They rushed toward Xiaomao's white butterflies. Then, they started fighting, competing to devour each other.
"These are Death Butterflies, Xiaomao. Once touched, you're dead. This is one of Mao Miaomiao's favorite power. Make sure to memorize how I use it."
"How did you learn Mao Miaomiao's power, grandpa, munya?"
Xiaomao was puzzled – How did Wei Huang know everything when he was just a remnant spirit of the ancient era?
Wei Huang didn't answer. He grinned and held the black katana overhead.
"It can also destroy domains and cancel abilities. Here I go!"
Wei Huang slashed down without using his sword domain. Xiaomao shifted his body to the side and narrowly dodged the vertical crescent sword energy.
CLANK
Despite the successful dodge, Xiaomao's Nihility Flame Domain was destroyed. The dome around them shattered like broken glasses, and Xiaomao's blood vessels were shattered from the inside.
Xiaomao fell to his knees. But as soon as his knees hit the ground, his body faded to nothingness.
DING
<You have activated the Soul Formation Domain – Ethereal Light!>
WHOOM
The sci-fi sound of a lightsaber suddenly came from behind Wei Huang. The latter leisurely raised his katana to block the horizontal swing from the left.
Without looking at Xiaomao, who had teleported behind him, Wei Huang taught his grandson.
"Aura swords are incompatible with sneak attacks. Next time, use silent and quick weapons like daggers or knives. Also, hide your goddamn presence properly if you use an assassin technique!"
"Whoops."
Wei Huang turned around and started attacking without using his domain. Xiaomao also retaliated while he avoided using any domain ability.
Seeing that Xiaomao didn't recklessly throw out domain abilities like 3rd-rated immortals or deities, he nodded in approval.
"That's right! That's the way of fighting against someone with domain-destruction abilities! Do not use your domains randomly if your opponent is capable of destroying them! Instead, force your opponent to use their domains first and use your ability that counters them!"
"Yes, sir, munya!"
WHOOM
FFSSHAAAA!
As if Wei Huang and Xiaomao role-played as Jedi, their swords never stopped sounding like two lightsabers hitting each other. The Oni's katana was coated with a purple aura while Xiaomao's katana was silver-white like his flame butterflies.
Not caring about the outside world, Xiaomao trained as hard as he could.