Chapter 83: Immortal Salted Fish

Suppressing the urge to decompose this line of text and that fish into basic particles with his ability, Heimu raised his hand, made a light swipe in the air, and a Light Screen appeared, quickly displaying the data information of this reborn Salted Fish:

【Name】: Immortal Salted Fish (Strange Object)

【Description】: A Salted Fish that has endured extraordinary years and conceptual contamination, dyed by the gaze and power of the joyous Star God Aha, and by its "excellent" performance in a pivotal battle, has ascended to become a cosmic strange object.

Its very existence is an interpretation of "taste".

【Attributes】:

1. Immortal: Cannot be destroyed by conventional means.

2. Stench Immunity: The bound holder is completely immune to the odor it emits (exceptionally effective against other units).

3. Skill Library (named affectionately by Aha, effects to be explored by yourself):

- Stench Horse: Summons an energy warhorse composed of concentrated stench to charge enemies. (Note: May cause indiscriminate mental damage to allies.)

- All Fish Return to Sect: Briefly summons a multitude of Salty Fish Illusions to unleash a area "odor" bombardment.

- Divine Rhythm·Fish Aura Over Heaven: Unleashes a domain that greatly amplifies all "bad odor" effects within the area, accompanied by mental interference.

- Great Void Swordfish: Throws the Salted Fish outward, transforming it into a sharp sword qi of (taste) (?).

- (More skills pending unlock…)

Heimu stared at this series of skills whose very names made eyes and nose uncomfortable, and fell into deep silence.

What on earth is all this?

Meanwhile, A Xing, after reading the information on the Light Screen, had his usually dull golden eyes suddenly burst with a star‑like brilliance!

She fixed her gaze on the hovering, newly reborn Immortal Salted Fish; her look was as if a poor youth had reclaimed a family heirloom, and as if a scientist had uncovered a physics‑defying miracle!

She extended both hands, moving gently and reverently, as if receiving a relic.

Heimu watched A Xing's expression of having found a treasure, eyes almost star‑shaped, and helplessly waved a hand, his tone tinged with weary resignation: "Fine… if you like it, keep it yourself."

"Thank you."

A Xing's voice remained flat, but the speech rate seemed a fraction faster.

She carefully, as if handling a fragile artwork, cradled the Salted Fish exuding an "Immortal" aura in her hands, then somehow produced a relatively clean cloth, meticulously wrapping it layer by layer before treasuredly placing it into her bracelet.

That motion, that demeanor, seemed to be storing not a mere odor‑overwhelming Salted Fish, but a crucial key to the universe's survival.

Heimu watched A Xing complete the sequence, then simply turned and left a line: "Tidy up, and prepare for the next agenda."

Yet that departing silhouette, no matter how you look at it, carried a faint, wordless melancholy toward this world.

A Xing, however, brushed her wrist, feeling the newly collected "treasure" inside; under her gas mask, the corner of her mouth seemed imperceptibly to curl upward.

Hmm, this trash can was really worth the rummage.

System Space·Na Ke Xia's Tranquil Tree Courtyard

After handling the episode with A Xing and the "Immortal Salted Fish", Black Curtain Lady's figure silently appeared in another redefined space.

Here it had become a tranquil night sky, beneath soft grass that glowed with gentle phosphorescence, speckled with luminous flora; a massive, twisted, sturdy tree stood at the center, its branches dripping with star‑like light specks, and a flat clearing lay beside it.

The entire space exuded serenity; the system evidently, based on the Founder of Zhizhong School's status, crafted a new "Residence" for Na Ke Xia.

Heimu stepped into the space, the hem of her violet‑black Lolita dress brushing the glowing grass.

She looked around—tree, meadow, starry sky—the scenery was beautiful, yet the Golden Descendant who had just undergone a "taste baptism" was nowhere to be seen.

She furrowed her brow slightly, clearly sensing Na Ke Xia's presence lingering in the space like the breath of the trees, merging with the world, yet he seemed to be deliberately concealing himself.

"Na Ke Xia?"

Heimu's cool voice echoed under the tranquil night sky, carrying a hint of inquiry.

No response.

Only the phosphorescent flora swayed gently.

She paused, then used a more formal appellation: "Anaksgoras?"

Still only the wind and rustling leaves answered.

Heimu felt the aura of that presence flicker, yet the other party still showed no intention to appear.

She thought briefly, realizing that the earlier "Salty Fish face" experience was perhaps too shocking, leaving the scholar with lingering dread.

She was somewhat helpless, but her tone remained Calm: "Rest assured, that Salted Fish… is no longer here."

As soon as the words fell, Heimu's keen perception caught, from the direction of the tree, a faint, heavily suppressed "Ugh…" sound.

Heimu's mouth twitched imperceptibly.

Seems it truly left a psychological scar on that teacher; even mentioning it is impossible.

She no longer forced the other to appear immediately, raised her hand, made a gentle swipe in the air, and an entrance sparkling with countless stars, as if linking to an endless ocean of knowledge, quietly opened above the clearing.

"This is the entrance to the 'Simulated Universe',"

Heimu introduced, voice calm, "Although it's merely a replica of the project from the Black Tower Space Station, its knowledge system and cosmic model remain fairly complete. If you're curious about the outside world, or looking for something to pass the time… you may go in and have a look."

She gazed at the still silent space and continued, "Then you rest well first; I'll visit later."

Having said that, she prepared to turn and leave the tree courtyard.

Just as her figure was about to fade away from the place—

A slightly hoarse yet unusually cold male voice finally came low from the direction of the great tree, light in tone yet clearly reaching Heimu's ears:

"Thanks."

Heimu's departing motion paused imperceptibly.

Though only two short words, the Reason String and restraint within them gave her some peace.

It seems that after overcoming the berserk state, the scholar famed for rationality is regaining consciousness.

She nodded slightly, lingered no more, and her figure vanished completely within the tree courtyard.

Starry Dome Train

Heimu's figure reconstituted inside a carriage of the train.

The scene before me has a post‑catastrophe, lingering‑survival (specifically in smell) everyday feel.

Chang Ye Yue, having returned at an unknown time, is lazily leaning on the sofa, crimson eyes bearing a teasing smile, playing with Xi Lian's pink hair tips using a finger.

Xi Lian's small face turned slightly red, seeming a bit embarrassed, but she did not strongly resist, only whispered in protest: "Chang Yeyue… stop messing around."

It appears that with Na Ke Xia successfully Persuasion, Xi Lian's permission has been elevated, allowing her to move freely inside the train and no longer have to stay constantly beside Heimu.

Bai Hang, with a pallid complexion, lies on the nearby table, her snow‑white fox tail and ears drooping listlessly, a glass of clear water before her, clearly not yet fully recovered from that soul‑piercing "fragrance".

A Xing sits on the other side, holding a steaming bucket of Bubble Noodles, eating with full concentration, as if the one who just brandished a great killing weapon and fought wearing a gas mask were not her.

The system doll sits quietly on a chair in the corner, its hands neatly placed on its knees, like an exquisite yet lifeless ornament.

Seeing Heimu return, Xi Lian immediately shook off Chang Ye Yue's "demonic claw", stood up, her azure eyes filled with concern and anticipation: "Black Curtain Lady, Na Ke Xia—how is he…?"