Chapter 1276: Fish

A barrage of fists.

Hundreds of thousands of punches descended unceasingly onto and around the elemental giant, causing a sound almost like that of the pouring rain in a storm.

The elemental giant could not move, being trapped inside the barrage of fists.

The elemental giant only sensed for a few moments before it mocked:

「 Even if you continue this kind of attack for a hundred million years, it wouldn’t cause me a single bit of damage! 」

——-each punch only contained 1/10,000th of Gu Qing Shan’s power, and the elemental giant was formed from numerous elemental dragons, so it wouldn’t suffer any damage from this.

Gu Qing Shan didn’t say a single word and continued to throw his punches.

Each punch from [Myriad Shadows] consisted of nothing but the essence of numerous fist techniques, Gu Qing Shan couldn’t help himself from immersing himself within the technique, carefully experiencing their wonders.

The elemental giant was furious from seeing how he completely ignored its jeers and fully focused on throwing punches.

It couldn’t help but speak up again: 「 It’s nothing but a waste of time, you—– 」

It abruptly stopped.

The elemental giant’s expression changed as it looked down on its body.

A strand of crimson light flew out from its chest scattering into a glittering glow and vanished into the void of space.

Then a strand of blue light flew out from its arm, similarly vanishing into the void of space.

Continuously, colorful lights of the elements escaped its body bit by bit, disappearing into nothingness without it knowing where.

「 Who is doing this!? I’m going to kill you! 」

The elemental giant angrily roared.

It tried to struggle, attempting to find the one absorbing its elemental energy.

But like tidal waves of punches had completely enveloped it, causing it to be unable to move a single step.

…

On the other side.

The medical ward.

The dried salted fish smell was becoming increasingly fishy and salty.

“Ah… why is it getting even worse?” Shan Hai Qi Xia covered her nose and complained.

NEET Gu Qing Shan suddenly appeared from the void of space and picked up the dried salted fish:

“This is a cooking ingredient-type salted fish. The more it stinks, the more nutrients it contain, it’s very beneficial to consume”

Shan Hai Qi Xia was surprised: “Huh? Didn’t you turn into this salted fish? Why are you over there?”

NEET Gu Qing Shan paused for a bit, then awkwardly replied: “There was something I didn’t account for——– that elemental giant contains more power than I could ever imagine, and I’d literally explode from overeating if I absorbed it directly, so I could only choose the second form—– food-type Element and Law absorption Dragon”

The first form, transforming into an Element and Law absorption Dragon (salted fish) would allow him to directly absorb power.

The second form, whenever the power he needed to absorb was too great, unable to be completely digested in one sitting, he would stop taking the Element and Law absorption Dragon (salted fish) form, instead of manifesting this power in the shape of food, which could be consumed at any time.

NEET Gu Qing Shan raised the salted fish up to Shan Hai Qi Xia and asked: “Hey, do you want to eat one? This is the sublimation of [Order]’s power. After you finish eating one entire fish, there’s even a chance to awaken a unique ability. Every time I die, I only need to eat one of these salted fish to revive and return to my peak of power——-”

Shan Hai Qi Xia hurriedly backed off, waving her hand: “No! I do not wish to obtain power through this mean, not even a little bit”

Suddenly, another fully-dehydrated salted fish appeared from the void of space.

It landed in between the two of them, visibly gaining its unique smell and taste.

“Huh? Already forming a second one? The power of that monster sure is terrifying” NEET Gu Qing Shan spoke emotionally.

Shan Hai Qi Xia looked at the salted fish in his hand, then at the one on the ground and spoke in surprise: “This is the power you’ve absorbed from this monster?”

“Exactly”

NEET Gu Qing Shan continued: “In reality, it’s usually very tough to fully complete a dried salted fish. Right now, it’s actually a good thing that this elemental monster exist”

He began to take huge bites from the salted fish.

The salty fishy stench began to fill the room.

Shan Hai Qi Xia ultimately couldn’t endure it and said: “I’m heading out for a bit”

She ran out of the room without looking back.

NEET Gu Qing Shan was surprised, then muttered after a while: “She’s really giving up on such a good way of becoming stronger?”

Thud!

The void of space slightly moved.

Another salted fish fell to the ground.

The third one.

NEET Gu Qing Shan’s eyebrow twitched a bit, then immediately finished the one in his hand.

“Ah, how refreshing, my power expended during the previous deaths have all been replenished.

He picked up the second salted fish and began taking huge bites out of it as well.

As he ate, he suddenly took out his sword from the void of space and casually swung a single time.

Sha—–

A glowing sword phantom clad in black light manifested, flew out, and slashed the wall.

The entire wall quickly turned black, became fully corroded, then reduced to powder.

“Oh hey, I actually did awaken a new ability, what a pleasant surprise”

NEET Gu Qing Shan happily said.

He then continued to chew away at the second salted fish.

“Hoh, I’m so full already, but this really is a rare chance to get…”

NEET Gu Qing Shan bent down and picked up the third salted fish.

Thud!

The void of space moved again.

Another salted fish dropped down.

The fourth one.

NEET Gu Qing Shan appeared a bit sorrowful and muttered to himself: “This monster’s elemental energy is unbelievable. I’m lucky I avoided the first form, otherwise I would have already exploded…”

He picked up both of the salted fish on the ground and was about to wolf them down.

Then, a ‘thud’ could be heard.

The fifth salted fish appeared.

Instantly——-

Thud thud thud!

Three more salted fish appeared at the same time!

As these salted fish fell to the ground, their thin bodies began to visibly gain flesh.

The fishy salty stench became even thicker.

NEET Gu Qing Shan looked at the two salted fish in his hand, then the ones on the ground and muttered:

“Ah, oh no…”

…

In the night sky.

The barrage of fists continued without end.

Gu Qing Shan was attacking the elemental giant with all his might.

“Yes!”

“Beat it up!”

“Guardian god dragon, do your best!”

“We will surely win!”

The people of the capital city were all loudly cheering for Gu Qing Shan.

Gu Qing Shan heard them but didn’t have the time to pay attention.

He couldn’t stop.

Because as soon as he did, [Myriad Shadows] would also stop, and the elemental giant would regain its freedom.

“Hey!”

Suddenly, NEET Gu Qing Shan called him.

“What’s the matter?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

“I ran into some trouble here” NEET Gu Qing Shan said.

Gu Qing Shan’s heart tightened and asked: “What’s the trouble, hurry”

NEET Gu Qing Shan quickly explained: “This elemental giant has too much energy inside its body, so I manifested them into the food-type Element and Law absorption Dragons, but soon I won’t be able to eat anymore, you need to get someone to help me eat——– in truth, this is an extremely precious delicacy that even has a chance to awaken abilities”

Gu Qing Shan asked: “There are so many Professionists in this world, can’t you give it to them?”

NEET Gu Qing Shan resolutely replied: “They can’t, the difference in power is too great, they’ll just explode from overeating——– not to mention, they won’t easily eat salted fish from a random stranger”

Gu Qing Shan asked again: “Isn’t Shan Hai Qi Xia still there?”

“She ran away” NEET Gu Qing Shan replied.

Gu Qing Shan pondered for a moment, then shouted: “Shannu”

The void moved.

An aloof palace maid appeared behind Gu Qing Shan.

“I’m here, gongzi” she responded.

“You go and help the other ‘me’ eat the food manifested from the elemental giant’s power—– this is very crucial; it might directly affect whether or not we can survive and leave” Gu Qing Shan said.

Seeing how serious he was, Shannu solemnly responded: “Don’t worry, gongzi, I will surely do my best!”

Her figure flashed and flew towards a certain location in the city.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

“GONGZI!!!”

Shannu suddenly reappeared behind him, calling out in an emotional sobbing voice.

Gu Qing Shan was surprised, almost stopping his hand.

“What is it? What happened?” he hurriedly asked in his mind.

Shannu wiped her tears: “That fish smells too foul, I can’t swallow it!”

Gu Qing Shan: “…”

NEET Gu Qing Shan’s voice came again: “Hurry, I’m reaching my limit soon! If we can’t finish these salted——- these Element and Law absorption Dragons in a certain amount of time, they’ll just return to the elemental giant!”

Gu Qing Shan’s heart became tense.

If this continued, wouldn’t this fight be a complete loss?

“Shannu!” he called out again.

Shannu said with a pitiful expression: “Gongzi, I really don’t want to eat those salted fish”

Gu Qing Shan replied: “No, I’m not forcing you to eat the fish, come here and hit this elemental giant instead of me—–”

Shannu was stunned.

…

Ten breaths’ worth of time later.

The medical ward.

An orange cat was quickly chewing on a salted fish.

[Orange Sovereign transformation (mutated)]

[While you use this Thaumaturgy, you will take the form of the Orange Sovereign, thus obtaining the following ability:]

[Energy absorption: You will no longer passively absorb origin power of the soul from the void of space, but through eating and devouring, the origin power of the soul you can absorb will double]