"Why are you so serious now? Weren't you the one smiling like a madman yesterday? That was quite the sight. Even this deity was surprised."
The crow, always eager to boast whenever it had the chance, said those words to Xie Yun, who remained silent. After a few seconds, he finally spoke.
"Hey, Black Crow! Why do the heavens hate my physique so much? I know it's called a Disaster Body, but why so much hatred? Beyond misfortune, is there any actual benefit to having this kind of body?"
Finishing his question, he looked at the Black Crow, who perched on the black puddle.
"Well... a Disaster Body, as you already know, is a magnet for bad luck. No matter where you are, unpredictable things will always happen. As for why the heavens hate it, there are several reasons. The first: unlimited potential!
Even though you're unlucky as hell, everyone who survives disasters keeps growing. They don't stop evolving.
And haven't you noticed one of its abilities? Why do you think your body is able to endure everything—metal, lightning, etc.—without breaking apart? It's the power of adaptation!
No other body in this world has that! Now I understand why I wanted you to be my successor. It's because my technique is perfect for your body!"
Upon hearing this explanation, Xie Yun's eyes trembled in disbelief, but then he frowned.
"Then why couldn't I adapt to the oil?"
He pointed to the black water, looking at it cautiously. That thing had almost killed him, rotting him from the inside.
"You're weak! That's the reason. That stuff is made from the fossils of thousands of powerful creatures that were buried here for millennia. If you want to absorb it, your body needs to be strong enough to adapt before total destruction."
'Physical limitation.'
Xie Yun understood that point. And the next moment, he sighed in relief, grateful he'd thought quickly and escaped the black water. If he had stayed, his life would have ended.
After a while, he stepped back. The crow followed him closely. Once they were far enough away, it spoke:
"Why are you backing away?"
"Danger! What if it cracks and I fall in? With my luck, I wouldn't be surprised at all!"
Xie Yun replied and kept his distance. The fear of that thing breaking out of nowhere made his hair stand on end.
"Kid, you're not wrong! But are you really going to give up such a good cultivation resource?"
The crow gave him a curious look. It truly wanted to see what choice the young man would make. Would he abandon such a valuable resource?
Xie Yun, who had been running, stopped and gave the crow a strange look.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I'm not trading my life for temporary gain. What if fate screws me and buries me alive in there?"
"..."
The crow was silent and had to agree. For someone with a Disaster Body, being near dangerous things was a nightmare.
"Well... You're a divine beast, right? Why don't you store it for me? I'll absorb it later when I'm strong enough."
Xie Yun made a proposal. Abandoning that source truly pained him. He wasn't sure if it would still be there in the future. It could sink back into the depths or someone else might find and take it.
He didn't doubt either possibility… In fact, he was certain one of them would happen! If he didn't find a way to obtain the oil, he'd have to say goodbye to that resource.
"Kid, are you trying to use this deity? Do you think I'll accept—" Before it could finish, it saw a cold glare directed at it.
"Then get lost. I'm not in the mood to have someone following me around doing nothing!"
Xie Yun had made his decision. Even though he was grateful to the small creature for helping him, and even though he needed it for its knowledge...
He wasn't willing to let it tag along without lifting a finger!
He didn't need help to fight against fate—that was his burden! But help to store something? Why not?
It wouldn't hurt him in any way.
"Aren't you bored, Black Crow? Don't you want to know why the Divine Realm fell? Isn't that why you placed your bets on me? If I'm right, help me with the things I can't use yet. The consequences of my misfortune—I'll handle them. If I die, it's because I wasn't good enough."
Xie Yun was blunt. Even in front of a divine beast, he didn't hesitate to speak his mind.
"Y-You brat..."
The crow stammered. That was the first human to speak to it that way. Not even the other three divine beasts or the gods had been so disrespectful. It was irritating, and it stared at Xie Yun, who stared right back. He never flinched.
"You've got guts, little human. Seems you fear nothing—not even higher beings. Facing disasters since childhood has made your will unbreakable.
Fine… I'll make a deal with you. From today on, this deity will store everything for you. But remember: I'll never help you beyond that. I won't save you from death. Every action you take, you'll face the consequences and weigh the risks."
"Okay. That's what I've wanted from the start, Black Crow. I never expected you to save me, and I never needed your help! I only depend on myself. It's always been that way!"
Xie Yun smiled. Those words were like nectar to his ears. He was thrilled to have gotten what he wanted.
'I will become stronger! Strong enough to control my own life, and no longer be influenced by the Disaster Body! Until that day comes, I'll have to keep facing death!'
"This is exciting."
He raised his arm to the sky and clenched his hand into a fist, murmuring to himself. He was ready for the next events, which would surely test his ability to survive. It could be another fossil, a random stone appearing out of nowhere, or a monster attacking him. The possibilities were endless.
'Different ways to kill me… So far, the closest were… the oil? Or that thing that slammed me into a tree? Why do I feel like things are getting worse and worse?'
Xie Yun pondered. And he felt things would indeed get worse from here on out.
"What a hard life..."
He muttered, gazing at the horizon where a beautiful sun rose, starting to brighten the world around him.
"Black Crow, store the oil."
He turned his eyes from the horizon back to the Black Crow, who said nothing. It simply flew toward the black water. Xie Yun followed it with his gaze.
But suddenly, something appeared in front of him—out of nowhere. A yellow talisman.
"This isn't good! Something bad's about to happen!"
His heart raced, and his alertness spiked to the max.
He stared at the talisman, which suddenly exploded…