"Goddess?!"
A red-haired figure stood before Zhang Ling, clad in a similar robe like Shenxi's, completely out of tune with the world.
Her attire was black and red, hugging her slender figure and accentuating her curves, clinging perfectly in the right places.
She looked about the same age as Shenxi and was breathtakingly beautiful. Zhang Ling was certain he had never seen such a beauty, not even in the most polished AI-generated fantasy images.
But he wasn't focused on her beauty—his fists were clenched tight.
"You! You said I could regress and become the strongest! What is this, then!?" Zhang Ling shouted, pointing first at Shenxi, then at his surroundings.
The Goddess yawned, as if used to Zhang Ling's childish outbursts and waved her hand lazily.
"I already told you, I gave you everything you need."
"But I didn't get any powers!" Zhang Ling snapped.
The Goddess had stepped away from Zhang Ling and completely ignored him by now.
She instead stood before Shenxi, the man who was still hugging his knees and curiously looking at the lady while chewing gum.
The Goddess stared at his face. It really was the most handsome she had ever seen. The chiseled jawline, the sword-like brows, the calm and focused eyes reeking of dominance…
The Goddess couldn't help but lean down, touch the man's chin and lift his face up to have a better look.
Shenxi's lips twitched and he stared at the woman's playful red eyes.
"Sexual harassment. This is called sexual harassment, young lady."
A faint curve appeared on the corner of the lady's lips as she said, "It's not harassment if you like it though, is it?"
Shenxi meant to refute her, but his body betrayed him—heat rising at her touch and fragrance.
'What the hell?' Shenxi was somewhat flustered. 'How could a woman make me react like this? This woman's probably a demonic cultivator from a renowned seductress sect. But well, how is that possible? I'm not in the Upper Realm…'
Things confused Shenxi and he couldn't make out the whole situation properly.
Looking at his changing expressions, the Goddess tapped on his chin, nudging him to focus back on her.
"If you call me young lady again, I'll maybe tell you a thing or two."
"No amount of seduction can move my Dao Heart, young lady." Shenxi squinted, trying to appear domineering, only to frown when he saw the lady's smile widening.
"Good boy."
"…"
Shenxi realized his slip up and cursed himself. What an idiot! He had to change his phrasing or people would really take advantage of his politeness!
Zhang Ling, watching this whole thing from the side, couldn't help but sneer loudly.
"A useless goddess and a useless man, flirting uselessly in a useless land."
"Ptui! So cringe."
The goddess shot a look at Zhang Ling and said, "It's no wonder you're unpopular with the ladies. Even being a regressor won't get you maidens, and with that face… pfft…"
"…" It was Zhang Ling's turn to be speechless.
He knew he had an average face but it was only a matter of time before he got that chip and snowballed and became the strongest and handsomest! What would this good-for-nothing goddess know!?
It takes time even for the most peerless statue to be hand sculpted!
Watching how the goddess turned her attention away after her comment, Zhang Ling couldn't even argue back and pour out the resentment in his heart.
He took the hammer and walked to a corner, hammering quietly to find solace in the clinging-clanging metallic sounds.
Shenxi was not interested in the two's banter and while the lady had turned away, he had gotten up and moved a few steps away so as to not get sexually harassed again.
The Goddess turned to him and was surprised to see him move away.
She pointed at the crate and said, "If you don't come back at this instant, you are not getting any answers. You'll never find out why your powers aren't working even though you're the strongest or what this place is about or…"
The more Shenxi listened, the more shocked he was. It was to the point where it was visible on his face.
The red-haired lady couldn't hide the small smirk forming on her face as she understood her words were working.
"…or that thing called system speaking in your mind."
Shenxi froze in place, as if someone had pressed a shut down button on him.
At a corner, Zhang Ling was too busy hammering at a protruding nail and didn't listen to their conversation. All he wished was for the billboard above to fall on the two.
The Goddess covered her mouth and chuckled softly. "Now, will you be obedient and listen?"
Shenxi had no choice but to listen. For the first time in ages he felt so powerless.
He had the strength. He was the one most proficient in the way of the dao. Peerless. Unmatchable. Indomitable. There were many words that described him.
But now? He was losing to a woman.
A person he had long lost interest in. A person he had long stopped interacting with.
Shenxi used to think women and lust were distractions. Things that kept him away from attaining the dao.
He loathed the dual cultivators the most who kept spraying their bodily fluids in the name of attaining the Dao.
Dao literally could not be achieved like that, and yet those guys spent day and night doing just that!
Shenxi was the man who knew the Dao the best and he did not regret not mingling with ladies and giving up on lust.
He had achieved everything.
He even reached the unknown higher realm!
It was just that…
It was just that before Shenxi could enjoy the view from the top, he found himself stranded in the middle of nowhere. Between towering skyscrapers—giants made of steel and concrete, and flashy neon lights, something his world did not possess.
When he opened his eyes in this world, he saw a line of words appear before him in his native language followed by a soothing feminine voice saying:
[Welcome to City Z!]
[Complete quests to earn exciting rewards and have a chance to unlock the seals!]
[Current progress—Seals lifted: (1/12)]