Chapter 20

It was very likely just some bad guy who, upon learning that Qi Xing had gone missing, came to assassinate his assistant to vent their anger.

Or perhaps there were even more evil characters attempting to do something even more cruel to her.

"If you don't speak, I'll open fire."

Yet, for some reason, Elaine couldn't feel any fear at all right now.

It was as if she understood and believed from the bottom of her heart who would be pushing the door open next.

"Do not be afraid."

Qi Xing pushed the door open and entered, his weather-beaten face full of composure, and said slowly,

"I was dead, and now I am alive, and I live forever and ever."

Having experienced the final brutal battle and a trip through the Inner Realm and the Underworld, he was now in tatters, nearly naked, with several wounds on his body covered in fresh blood.

Elaine stared at him in this state, stunned for a few seconds, before she walked up—and kicked him hard in the shin!

"You didn't die, yet you didn't call back to get in touch! And you're still joking around here!"

Sigh, this nun really isn't cute.

Qi Xing's muscles were solid enough that light weapons couldn't hurt him anyway, and he wasn't one of those useless protagonists who, no matter how much they cultivated, would still have their waists pinched in pain by women.

So, he calmly let Elaine kick him.

However, before he could continue speaking, after kicking him, Elaine suddenly hugged him tight, sobbing loudly against his chest.

Tears rolled down from her ocean-blue eyes, dripping onto Qi Xing's tattered clothes.

Sigh.

Well, this friend is still quite decent.

"Don't cry. Didn't I not die?"

Unfortunately, Qi Xing didn't dare to reach out and pat the girl's head like some harem protagonists; he could only spread his arms in a cross shape, letting Elaine continue to hold him, while saying helplessly,

"Besides, I successfully defeated Satan, right? Such a huge achievement, what's wrong with letting me make a joke?"

"Defeated… you actually won?!"

Elaine took a deep breath to stop her tears, stepped back to wipe her reddened eyes, both happy and surprised, "How did you survive coming out of that kind of environment?"

"It's complicated."

At this point, Qi Xing did hesitate for a moment, weighing the consequences of trusting Elaine against the disaster that might be caused by staying silent here… then he decided to be honest.

In any case, he had to let Elaine know what kind of thing was now by his side, otherwise it would be too irresponsible to Elaine.

"Come out, Samael."

He commanded.

As soon as he finished speaking, flames and wild winds exploded at his feet.

"What's wrong?"

As always, the shadow of the Demon King, dressed in a Gothic lolita outfit, appeared from the flames, giggling incessantly, looking to be in a very good mood.

In an instant, Elaine, who had just been in the state of a touching reunion, froze all over.

She stared at Samael in astonishment for a long while, then turned her head to look at Qi Xing, her face full of despair.

"No, no, no," Qi Xing hurriedly waved his hands, "I didn't do anything I shouldn't have with her; you listen to my explanation first."

At this point, it was fine to keep it from others, but there was no point in hiding it from Elaine anymore—and the point was, it was very low—so Qi Xing simply spilled everything: that he was a soul-transmigrator, what he had seen at the bottom of the universe, and what Samael had said there.

Anyway, Qi Xing originally needed a brain from a different camp, other than Samael, to help him analyze whether Samael's words were credible.

In technical terms, this is called confirmation bias, one meaning of which is that you cannot just choose one source of information for an investigation.

Of course, Qi Xing was indeed very worried about whether telling the nun that the Creator of this world was an idiot would cause too much mental shock and negative consequences for Elaine—but to his surprise, while Elaine was shocked, she didn't seem to have a total worldview collapse.

"Simply put, you want to tell me that the theory of Marcionism is actually correct?"

After listening, Elaine covered her forehead and sighed desperately,

"Christ, please don't play such a big joke on us, okay?"

Marcionism, which Elaine had mentioned before, was an early heretical sect of Christianity from two thousand years ago.

They believed that the one who created the world was the God of the Old Testament, a god of law and [justice].

Because He had no mercy, and merely used the laws He established and His truly invincible power to exercise His authority over the world; He was irritable, vulgar, willful, and devoid of any distinction between good and evil.

Marcionism did not consider the God of this world to be [bad].

Because He did indeed create this world and had ownership. But it was also He who turned this world into a place of suffering.

The Alien God, the God of the New Testament, the Son of God Christ, was a god who bestowed mercy upon the world and did not owe this world anything, yet descended voluntarily to preach, allowing those who followed him to be liberated, to leave this miserable cesspool of a world forever, and to go to the paradise of the alien land.

This Gnostic sect, which denied the importance of the human world too much and overly negated life in the present world, had naturally been condemned as heresy by the mainstream church over a thousand years ago and had long since ceased to be popular.

However, as an elite exorcist nun, Elaine had naturally studied everything and knew a little about everything.

"Since you already know that I am the omnipotent God, why don't you worship me as your Lord?"

Samael's shadow floated like a ghost at the height of Qi Xing's shoulder, asking her with a wicked smile.

"Get behind me, Satan (Vade Retro Satana)"

But Elaine made the sign of the cross on her chest with her right hand, instantly forcing back Samael's phantom.

The devil's shadow reformed to the side, sneering at the nun.

Ultimately, Samael was still a prisoner on the Black Throne.

Without the [Inner Realm], without the silver coin, and without a contractor in the human world, she could at most conjure up some phantoms in the human world.

"I'm not so easily convinced by the devil's words."

Elaine said coldly, lifting her head proudly,

"Besides, even if we take a step back and say that Marcionism is correct, so what? Do you think I would hold my head and scream in terror that my faith has shattered? At least my faith would not allow me to bow to an omnipotent Evil God herself."

"I saw that you were quite shattered before Qi Xing came in."

"That's a different matter."

No, that's not right.

Just after retorting, Elaine realized deep within her heart that, actually, it was the same matter.

"I believe in the carpenter who died on the cross, not for the sake of omnipotent divine power, but because he understood love and justice that are more correct than personal impulses, leading me forward. Idiots like you who only have power cannot do that."

As always, her words were merciless and very vicious,

"You are too arrogant, devil, and my God cannot stand such things. He will surely find a way to educate you, and it will be very black humor, making you unforgettable for a lifetime."

In an instant, Qi Xing almost started to worry whether Samael would fly into a rage because of these words.

Fortunately, she did not.

Seeing that both sides were completely fearless of each other and were at daggers drawn, Qi Xing hurriedly stepped in, standing between these two troublesome things that weren't very womanly, and raised his hands to block: "Stop it, both of you, no causing trouble, change the subject."

Just being caught between the two of them was probably enough for him to handle.

024: Longing to Become the Ultimate Strongman

The nun held up her faith to the Evil God. The Holy Cross was her light, and that evil dragon could never dominate her.

But Samael had never taken this little nun seriously. In the eyes of the God of this world, they were nothing more than ridiculous things, puppets imitating the behavior of the [Alien God].

Both sides were fearless of each other, at daggers drawn.

Qi Xing hurriedly made them change the subject.

Change the subject?

He might have thought that by changing the subject, the two of them would stop arguing.

But if they didn't change the subject, the nun and the devil might still be busy with their battle of faith, and Qi Xing could hide outside the firing line;

Once he himself asked to change the subject, the focus would shift onto him.

"You! You have the nerve to say that!"

The nun was angry!

"I told you a million times not to do stupid things! Signing a contract with a devil, even if you gain power, you will sooner or later be backlashed! Why can't you listen!!"

She was angry!

And this anger was purely for Qi Xing's sake, making him have to endure it… no, wait, he shouldn't just obediently endure it, right?

"I have to say something seriously, if I didn't cooperate with this devil at all, I would still be trapped at the very bottom of the universe by now." So Qi Xing protested, "If I were really locked in the void where there is nothing for a few years, I would definitely go crazy! The situation would be even worse by then!"

Anyone could see from the scene just now that, although Samael didn't seem to intend to do anything to Qi Xing on the surface, if Qi Xing didn't negotiate some conditions with her, she would certainly be happy to have an extra cellmate locked in the bottom of the Underworld to chat with her all day. In any case, she would certainly not send Qi Xing back to the human world.

If he were locked up and chatted for too long, he might even develop Stockholm syndrome, which would be even more fatal.

"Besides, I didn't sign a contract with her."

Speaking of this, Qi Xing was actually a bit proud,

"I didn't give her anything, yet I obtained this information, and I even got her to let me out of the Underworld."

Samael, floating to the side, heard Qi Xing's words and finally couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Pfft."

Now neither of them could pretend they hadn't heard it.

The nun immediately shuddered, both angry and fearful: "Mr. Qi, are you sure?!"

Qi Xing already knew that this Loli Evil God was an idiot, so he wasn't as easily frightened as Elaine. But he still felt a sudden tightening in his gut and immediately asked: "What are you laughing at?"

The devil showed a cat-like smile, shaking her head and wagging her tail: "Actually, we have already signed a contract."

That crisp, young girl's voice sounded very innocent.

Qi Xing heard it, but couldn't help feeling horrified: "I don't have any memory of that?"

Fortunately, Elaine was more sensitive and knowledgeable in the field of demonology and immediately reacted: "Mr. Qi, could it be that you… did something like a verbal agreement with her…"

That had indeed happened.

"I told her—[It's not me collecting power fragments for you, but you helping me find power fragments for me to use to change this world], and then she gave me a silver coin… Ah?! Does this count too?"

No signing, no stamping, no shaking hands, he didn't even promise to give the devil anything. Instead, he made demands of the devil and took things, does that count too?

This is not quite the same as the devil contracts in Qi Xing's impression!?

Elaine's vision went black upon hearing this, and she was suddenly even more panicked than Qi Xing: "Do you think that you have to sign a contract on parchment with a devil for it to be called a contract, you idiot!!"

The reason why they were both suddenly so nervous was actually completely normal.

Because… this was an absurd world that was just like an eroge game?

Because Qi Xing was a transmigrator who broke the fourth wall, he knew that in this kind of worldview, if one really signed a contract with a devil, it was just like putting oneself on a target; it was just like seeing a Chekhov's gun hanging on the wall. It would fire sooner or later, and bullets would fly over sooner or later. This kind of [plot development] was 90% likely to be a trap!

As for Elaine, although she didn't understand these meta-game things, as a sensitive person who was born and raised in this world, she certainly knew that anyone who signed a contract with a devil, regardless of gender, would either end up kneeling and becoming an ahegao slave, or simply become a rape-demon lord themselves!

This was like watching a videotape you shouldn't have watched or answering a phone call you shouldn't have answered in a horror movie world; the flags were already set, how could they not be afraid?

Is there really much difference between a yellow cesspool world and a horror movie world?

Watching their horrified expressions, Samael finally laughed holding her stomach; this time she didn't even need to deliberately adopt an evil tone, making her laugh until her stomach almost hurt.

Very good. This is what the life of Satan should be like.

"Rest assured, Qi Xing. You have defeated me once, so I will give you some face; you want me to help you find the silver coin, anyway, I cannot use much power in the human world."

After laughing enough, Samael floated up and continued, smiling,

"I have already agreed to give you the power of the silver coin, so the only thing I can decide is—in what [way] to give you power."

"What do you mean by what kind of [way]?!"

Qi Xing only had an even more ominous premonition about this statement!

"I won't give you knowledge, anyway you don't like magic knowledge that requires slow cultivation; you also don't need a particularly complicated functional spell list, that's not your style."

The devil curled her lips slightly, that gentle smile was very dazzling, and she, dressed in a black dress, was like an alternative Virgin Mary,

"So I will use the silver coin to transmit simpler and more direct magic to you."

"Exclusive weapons, beautiful combat outfits, physical enhancement, energy shields, magic bullets, and other most commonly used spells, and then according to your personal talent and mythological role, I will give you corresponding unique spells."

"Look, isn't this the profession you like very much?"

Isn't what you are describing a Magical Girl?!

As soon as she finished speaking, the silver coin in Qi Xing's pocket began to heat up slightly. Qi Xing hurriedly took out the silver coin to look, only to find that this divine artifact was emitting a pale golden light, like the morning sun.

The light overflowed and wrapped around his whole body. The golden sun fire burned all the remaining clothes on Qi Xing, which were already tattered, into fragments, burning them up, scattering into ashes.

In an instant, Qi Xing became completely naked!

"Why!"

However, before Qi Xing's scream could even land, they saw that the dust falling all over the hotel room, on the floor and furniture, as well as Qi Xing's hair, dander, and most importantly, the blood shed during the battle, etc., had all been burned and regenerated, growing into plump and sturdy wheat ears and wheat fields.

In just a few seconds, the entire business suite had actually turned into a whole mini wheat field ready for harvest! Why?!

"Don't make a fuss. Aren't you a monk? Isn't this a very simple method of borrowing form to escape the body by substituting clothes for the body?"

The Loli Evil God floated to the side, watching with gusto, and was unimpressed by Qi Xing's astonishment,

"Do you really want to turn your own flesh and blood into bread and feed it to people alive? There are over two thousand zombies waiting."

Flesh and blood turned into bread? Over two thousand zombies?