Little Nora was happily eating meat, but paused abruptly upon hearing Niman's words.
It immediately threw itself across Yu Xian's lap, clinging tightly to his thigh, and looked up at Niman in terror. "Big Sister Niman, you can't eat Big Brother! Big Brother doesn't taste good at all!"
"That's right, you can't eat Big Brother!"
Little Huangquan was instantly misled as well, rushing over to hug Yu Xian's other leg while glaring warily at Niman.
*Pfft.*
Seeing the two little ones looking so terribly worried and ready to protect Yu Xian with their lives, Niman couldn't help bursting into laughter.
Setting her cup down onto its saucer, she smiled at everyone and said, "You might not know this, but an innate divine spirit like me can actually choose our own path freely. In the past, 'Creator God' was merely a title born from my actions, not something that dictates I could only ever be a Creator God."
"What does that have to do with me?" Yu Xian patted the heads of the two little ones, looking at Niman in curiosity.
Niman looked at Yu Xian and answered, "Because this time, I will become your exclusive guardian god. Once the conversion is complete, the stronger you become, the stronger I become. But I must also protect you; if death comes, I can only die before you."
Very few innate divine spirits ever chose to become guardian gods, for most "predecessors" who walked that path had met tragic ends.
Some newly born, naive divine spirits might inadvertently become someone's guardian god in their ignorance, but their endings were seldom pleasant, almost always dying after sacrificing their own lives to protect their ward.
In short, it was an option steeped in sacrifice.
Yet for Niman, it was the best choice. After all, if Yu Xian died, she would die too. Since they were already bound as one, this instead became the optimal mutually beneficial path.
"Niman, set aside talk of dying for a moment. What do I need to do? And what benefits do you get from becoming a guardian god?" Yu Xian turned serious, looking at Niman.
He had no desire to see his companions sacrifice themselves to lift him up; only when everyone thrived was it truly good.
"You don't need to do anything. A guardian god by nature asks for nothing in return. Your existence alone is enough," Niman said with a gentle smile.
Then, just as Yu Xian opened his mouth to speak, she popped a piece of diced meat into his mouth with a bamboo skewer and said, "This is the way of sacrifice, but it is also the way of self-fulfillment.
"The stronger you are, the more my guardian divine power will rise accordingly. Furthermore, before breaking through to the Cosmos Rank, none of my other abilities will be weakened; on the contrary, my defensive capabilities will all be enhanced. Especially when protecting you, my defense will double again—and protecting you is effectively protecting myself, isn't it?"
"It truly won't harm you?" Yu Xian asked, looking at her with concern.
Niman smiled. "Of course not. I still intend to see the sights beyond the Cosmos Rank. I have no intention of falling here."
Only after hearing Niman's assurance did Yu Xian relax. He then looked around at everyone and said, "Remember this, all of you: I don't need anyone sacrificing themselves to help me. All you need to do is believe in me. I have far more abilities than you could imagine!"
He clenched his hand, and in an instant, a golden rope appeared.
"When you fused with me, you probably didn't realize I had this ability, right?" Yu Xian gave the golden rope a tug, and Little Nora was instantly hoisted into midair, dangling as if suspended.
Next, he drew a golden ring from the void, slipped it onto his finger, and snapped his fingers. A shower of candies began raining down from the sky, leaving everyone present wide-eyed in astonishment.
"This is the bond between Nora and me—Love-Flavored Candies. Anyone who eats one can taste the sweet flavor of being in love," Yu Xian said, picking up a piece of candy, peeling off the wrapper, popping it into his mouth, and closing his eyes in sheer bliss.
Curious, Niman and Nora both picked up a candy and ate it. Both of their faces quickly flushed pink. The effect of this candy on women was several times stronger than on men; at that moment, they truly felt as if they were falling in love with Yu Xian.
Well...
Nora was already Yu Xian's lover to begin with, but for Niman, it was the first time she had ever experienced the feeling of romance. Only now did she realize what loving someone truly tasted like.
"Big Brother, what about my bond?" Little Huangquan asked curiously, looking at Yu Xian.
Resigned, Yu Xian produced a golden skewer of meat and handed it to Little Huangquan. Little Huangquan grew sick of the richness after finishing it, staring at the bamboo skewer in disbelief.
"These abilities belong entirely to *me*. Anyone who forms a pact with me will share a unique bond with me, and only I can use these abilities," Yu Xian explained to the group.
Niman nodded. "I see. So a pact master possesses such power."
"No, this isn't an ability of a pact master. What I mean is, this Power of True Self—I can help all of you awaken yours as well. So please, don't ever think about sacrificing yourselves for my sake! I don't need your sacrifice, really!" Yu Xian paused, then quickly waved his hands in denial.
Nora asked curiously, "All of us can awaken an exclusive ability?"
"Yes. This power is called the Power of True Self, and I can help each of you awaken it. However, the ability is determined entirely by the 'true you.' What kind of person you are dictates what kind of ability manifests; even I cannot influence it." Yu Xian nodded, addressing the group.
Niman looked at Yu Xian and asked via voice transmission, "Is this the power gifted by that Lord?"
It was the first time she had witnessed power in such a form, and she faintly sensed that Yu Xian's flashy abilities were far from simple—they likely possessed other effects. And the only being she could think of capable of bestowing such a thing was Zhenwo Changjing.
Yu Xian gave Niman a slight nod, then turned to the others. "Since everyone is here, who wants to be the first to awaken their ability?"
"Let me go first," Niman said with a smile. "The Power of True Self is likely tied to one's experiences, state of mind, worldview, and personality. Even if I idle away another few centuries or millennia, I'll still be like this."
Yu Xian nodded. "All right, Niman goes first."
With that, he rose to his feet, pressing one hand against the tablecloth while reaching toward Niman with the other. The index finger of his extended hand began to glow with green light, and he lightly tapped the center of her forehead with it.
Everyone watched Niman with curiosity as the green light sank between her brows.
Niman leaned back slightly and didn't open her eyes until a good moment later.
[Heart-Guarding Mushroom House]
[Ability: Construct a mushroom house with extremely formidable defensive power.]
[Remarks: Though hidden deep in your heart, the agony of a stray dog still torments you day and night. Crisp, cheerful laughter and groans riddled with sickness are your unending nightmares. You swear that this time, you will protect your world.]
After understanding her ability, tears gradually welled from the corners of Niman's eyes as face after face she had failed to save flashed across her mind.
Among the residents of Crescent Bay, who wasn't a stray dog who had lost their homeland forever?
How could she be an exception?
Chapter 264