The single-character numbered Nirvana Skills Shi Ming knew of, besides his own "Gnaw" and the unformed "Zero," included "Illusion."
Now, he could add "Desire" to that list.
Numbered skills were incredibly rare. The Evil Demon Race had truly produced a genius of a powerhouse!
But even with control over such a rare skill, they couldn’t escape their fate of being imprisoned in the Star Pit. Even their ancestral land had been carved out whole and locked away within this newly formed star-prison.
Unlike the adventurers from outside, the creatures within the Star Pit could not leave through the passages. They couldn’t even sense the passages’ existence or their connection to the outside world. Even beings as powerful as a Pillar Stone could not find a way to escape.
Yet outsiders, even those who were merely S-rank, could leave through the Star Pit’s passages.
In a flash, more information appeared.
A description of the skill "Desire" also materialized before Shi Ming’s eyes. This Nirvana Skill, numbered 27, much like "Gnaw," represented one of the true principles of the universe in a way:
[...]
[Nirvana Skill: Desire]
[A being who has mastered "Desire" can switch their gender at will.]
[It possesses both a male and female form and can customize the skills for each form. The skills are self-created and can be modified at any time, but must adhere to fixed rules.]
[Current Skill Configuration:]
[Gluttony: Gluttonous Feast]
[Greed: All-or-Nothing Gamble]
[Lust: Forgetful Paradise]
[Wrath: Chaotic Hell]
[When the skill wielder is in its male form, it controls Gluttony and Greed, allowing it to use "Gluttonous Feast" and "All-or-Nothing Gamble." When in its female form, it controls Lust and Wrath, allowing it to use "Forgetful Paradise" and "Chaotic Hell." The skills are twice as effective against beings of the opposite gender and genderless beings.]
[Additionally, regardless of its form, it is the personification of "Desire."]
[Most beings who glimpse its face and body will lose all aggressive intent, finding themselves unable to attack. Instead, they will feel a heartfelt desire to become its... close friend.]
[The few beings who retain their desire to attack will find their motives are no longer pure, and they will be filled with internal conflict.]
[...]
In an instant, Shi Ming had a general understanding of the #27 Nirvana Skill.
Possessing this skill was equivalent to having two genders. One could switch between them to gain different abilities and adopt different strategies for different enemies.
It even came with a powerful passive crowd-control effect.
It made enemies reluctant to strike!
Shi Ming couldn’t help but marvel once again at the wonders of the universe.
Of course, he was no pushover himself. Maintaining his state of void with his formidable Spiritual Power, he immediately unleashed his Nirvana Skill, "Gnaw." Invisible grubs formed from Spiritual Power burrowed about, turning offense into defense. The moment his target showed itself, it would be met with the heart-wrenching pain of being gnawed upon!
Not only that, but he also immediately activated the Nine-Headed Sanctuary.
This was an inspiration he had gotten from the Tower King.
When one had many treasures, taking on a three-headed, six-armed form allowed for more efficient control over different artifacts and quicker implementation of various strategies.
He could only hear the enemy’s voice, not see its form.
But that didn’t stop Shi Ming from acting. He gripped the Heart of the Star Spirit tightly in one of his hands while his other two arms brandished a giant stone pillar, swinging it in a devastating arc toward the source of the voice, which shifted between sounding holy and majestic.
’These sinners who lure other creatures into the abyss and devour their bodies!’
’They all need to be purified!’
...
"You’re courting death!" / "Who dares trespass in our clan’s Holy Land?"
The two voices, one male and one female, were ethereal and untraceable. Shi Ming didn’t bother searching for them. He simply continued his violent "purification" of the Desire Demon Race’s ancestral land, wielding the Supreme Gem Pillar.
’Why waste time with pleasantries in a fight?’
’Go talk to my pillar!’
BOOM!
The Stone Pillar of Profanity and Transgression smashed into the palace again. The immense might of the supreme treasure instantly cracked the entire structure open. Two mists, one light blue and one pink, shot out from the palace and rushed toward Shi Ming, radiating killing intent.
’Here they come!’
Gnaw!
The grubs shot toward the mists like invisible arrows. The blue mist dissipated, but the pink mist didn’t dodge. Instead, it transformed into the figure of a bewitchingly beautiful woman who stood proudly before Shi Ming, displaying her full charm.
She was using the passive trait of "Desire."
No one would have the heart to attack her!
"What flashy nonsense!"
Shi Ming treated her like a target. With a low growl, his grubs mercilessly burrowed into the ostentatious curves of that solitary figure and took the first vicious bite.
The figure trembled, as if struck by lightning!
???
’How is this possible!’
’How could he bring himself to attack me?’
The woman, seemingly in disbelief, forced herself to endure the strangely sharp pain from "Gnaw’s" bite. A pale ripple materialized in her eyes, spreading its decadent waves across the underground world of the Extremely Evil Sanctuary, which had already been reduced to near ruins.
Lust: Forgetful Paradise!
The pale ripples were unavoidable; the moment one saw them, one was ensnared. The Bright Eyes of the Void was, after all, only an S-rank skill. Even with the boost from Shi Ming’s powerful Spiritual Power, it showed signs of failing. The faint gold inscriptions on the body of the Nine-Headed Sanctuary looked like they were about to shatter.
Hmph!
’As expected of a numbered Nirvana Skill!’
Hundred-Floor Celestial Tower!
RUMBLE! A 99-story Heaven-Reaching Tower suddenly erupted within Shi Ming’s faint golden Sea of Spirit, guarding the depths of his mind. The moment this civilizational secret art, the "Hundred-Floor Celestial Tower," appeared, Shi Ming’s mind, which had begun to ripple slightly, became as still as an ancient well once more.
Devoid of desire, feeling neither anger nor joy.
After a mere 0.01-second pause, the Stone Pillar of Profanity and Transgression continued its descent to crush the stunningly beautiful body. The woman, a mere "painted skeleton," gave a vicious glare. Amidst the continuous biting of "Gnaw," she voluntarily disintegrated her body, turning into a pale mist that dissipated with the dust.
’Another Nirvana Skill?’
"Why didn’t it work? Is he a man?"
"You fall back. Let me try!"
The other mist, the light blue one from the palace, reappeared and transformed into an extremely handsome male with the features of an Earthling.
He didn’t say much, just waved his long sleeve.
A vast aura of treasure surged from his cuff. It was an uncountable hoard of riches and resources—Cosmic Crystals, artifacts, Gold, Crystal Stones... a mix of currencies from various civilizations. It carried a powerful allure, like a demon’s call, opening its arms to Shi Ming.
As if to say—
Accept me, and all of this will be yours!
In his state of void-like clarity, Shi Ming was like a Wise One, impervious to both hard and soft tactics. He once again sicced a few grubs on the male figure.
’You think this little bit is enough to buy me?’
’You’ll have to offer more!’
The male figure narrowly avoided one of the grub’s attacks by severing a part of his body. Seeing that "Greed" was ineffective against Shi Ming, he was just about to try the "Gluttonous Feast" that represented "Gluttony" when the Heart of the Star Spirit, which had appeared in one of Shi Ming’s left hands, glowed for the first time, offering its aid.
A Star Spirit Race skill!
[Inviolate]!