A few hours had gone by, and Bai Xinyue was now currently sitting at a table analyzing the [Symphony of Agony and Despair].
Huang Shi had decided to gift it to her as thanks for taking care of him while he was unconscious and for all of the help she had done for him thus far.
Although it also helps that I have absolutely no idea how to use that technique for myself. Maybe the system can help change it or something, although I doubt it would lead to anything truly valuable.
The reason Huang Shi thought this way was because all of the techniques that the system had retrofitted and changed for him were things that both he and the system had decided were most suitable for his growth and development as a cultivator.
Although he didn't really understand what standards the system used to decide which techniques to give him freely, he knew instinctively that the technique from that devil cultivator wouldn't make the cut.
It takes too much time to cultivate, not to mention requiring external aid.
Huang Shi shook his head as he was reminded of what Bai Xinyue had told him about the technique:
"At its core, this technique utilizes the feelings of suffering that people feel towards the individual who uses this technique and turns it into a stored reservoir of power. The more despair and agony you accumulate from your victims, the more energy you can use in emergency situations. "
Although once you use up the energy, you're pretty much screwed; the backlash from the technique is so severe that it will make you bedridden for a month at the minimum, and if you somehow decide to use the technique again, you'll have to accumulate all that despair and agony a second time to use the technique."
That technique is basically like a freaking battery, but instead of charging it using electricity, you charge it with the despair and agony of your victims. Perfect for a so-called "devil" cultivator.
Huang Shi remembered how his lips twitched at this information; clearly, he was a bit affected by the abysmal reputation of these so-called devils.
Dang... with that kind of performance, even I'm a bit embarrassed at being lumped together with you idiots.
Even though he wasn't a true devil cultivator and only shared some aspects of their philosophy, he still felt more inclined towards them compared to the hypocrites of the orthodoxy.
Although I'm guessing most cultivators are a mix of both philosophies; it's just that orthodoxy is considered the more mainstream.
Seeing that Bai Xinyue was completely focused on analyzing the technique, he started getting to work on cooking their meal. Right now, the thing that Huang Shi was preparing was a meat that seemed to glisten like pearls; even raw, it felt full of spiritual energy.
Guess it was worth it to kill that White King Lion, even though, now that I think about it, that fight should have ended way faster.
Huang Shi felt a bit embarrassed thinking about his previous performance with the White Lion before shaking his head and moving on with his thoughts. Clearly, worrying about the past was not the kind of thing that was good to do.
Let's just focus on cooking the most delicious lion steak dinner in the entire world!
Huang Shi worked with a focus that treated the meat like a precious alchemical ingredient. He sliced the White King Lion loin into thick slices, revealing iridescent veins of fat that shimmered with spiritual energy. Using a localized burst of his golden flames, he seared the meat on a heated stone slab.
The flames didn't char the steaks but cauterized them instantly, locking in juices and creating a bronze crust. He tossed in Spirit-Gathering Herbs and basted the meat in its own rendering golden oil until the pearly interior reached a tender medium-rare.
To finish, he added a pinch of Crushed Star-Salt that crackled with tiny sparks. The result was a meal that practically vibrated with essence, glistening under a liquid diamond glaze of delicious meaty juices.
Once he was done, a very aromatic smell started to spread through the room, making even Bai Xinyue raise her head for a few seconds before looking back down at the scroll. Clearly, she was pretending not to be bothered by the meal, but her fingers tapping impatiently on the table gave her away.
Hehe... I guess even a pampered young miss like her can't stop herself from admiring good food when she sees it.
Finally, the meal was finished. As he placed it on the table, plates and utensils appeared in a blink, already ready for them to take a bite before he could even speak.
"Guess her royal highness is hungry!"
Bai Xinyue raised her eyebrows before surprisingly nodding her head.
"That's right. It actually takes a lot of energy taking care of an unconscious log like you for days on end."
Huang Shi nearly choked at her words before looking at her, speechless, as he spoke with a bit of a grumble.
"You really, really hate taking a loss, don't you?"
Bai Xinyue gave a smile as she nodded her head, looking like a peacock with her head held high.
"Of course. I, Bai Xinyue, never lose!"
Huang Shi stared at her smug face. Despite how ordinary she looked, in his eyes, she seemed to glitter like the stars in the sky, and he felt himself dazing off.
Before long, he suddenly heard a snap; the sound woke him from his stupor. He looked up and saw the smug look on Bai Xinyue's face.
"It seems my charm works even on scoundrels like you, huh?"
Huang Shi felt embarrassed at being caught off-guard like that as he hurriedly tried to deny it by shaking his head.
"Aie, your highness, I'm just really, really worried! Because you've been using such an ordinary face all this time, you've gotten used to looking so ordinary. Maybe your real face has been affected and has become ordinary as well!"
Hearing these words, Bai Xinyue's eyes narrowed as she gave another dangerous smile—a smile that caused goosebumps to rise on his skin. However, the words she said next suddenly made his heart thump, as if it were running a million miles per hour.
"Huang Shi, don't you want to take a look at my true appearance? Don't tell me you never got curious?"