System: "Acknowledged, Host!"
[Congratulations, Host: You have successfully redeemed an energy shield, deducting 100 million exchange points.]
[The energy shield is now active!]
[Energy Shield: Capable of withstanding a nuclear blast. It will vanish after use.]
[Current exchange point balance: 25.4 million.]
"Phew... I finally managed to redeem it."
Chen Wei let out a long sigh of relief after activating the energy shield.
Just then, the System's voice echoed in his mind once more.
[Congratulations, Host: For slaying the level four mutated Gold Leopard King, you've earned 10 million exchange points.]
[Congratulations, Host: For retrieving the corpse of a level four mutated fierce beast, you've earned another 10 million exchange points.]
The System inquired, "Would you like to recycle the Gold Leopard King's level four mutated crystal nucleus?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Wei's eyebrows quirked up, "Hold off on recycling. Have the robot bring it back. I might use it to attempt a breakthrough."
System: "Understood."
Watching his exchange points climb to 45.4 million, Chen Wei was hit with a surreal feeling.
Had he known the Intermediate All-purpose Robot was this formidable, he would have exchanged for it sooner and sent it to hunt level four mutated fierce beasts.
There would've been no need to exhaust himself hunting lower-level beasts, nor to be consumed by worry and fear.
A thought struck Chen Wei, and he suddenly sensed something amiss.
Chen Wei challenged, "System, did you orchestrate this deliberately? Did you intentionally avoid reminding me, just to push me into hunting mutated beasts?"
The System remained silent.
Chen Wei pressed, "Come on, wouldn't honesty be better?"
The System admitted, "Yes, the Host needs to continuously hone and enhance his abilities through combat and life-or-death struggles."
At that, Chen Wei exploded with expletives, "Damn it, all that worry for nothing. Now, tell me, did you fabricate that news about the nuclear attack?"
The System clarified, "The nuclear attack news is factual and not a manipulation by the system."
Upon hearing this, Chen Wei's eyebrows twitched, and he sheepishly clamped his mouth shut.
After all, the threat of a nuclear attack was real. Without any exchange points, he'd be just as dead.
Chen Wei collected himself and gazed at the white snake before him. Bathed in the blood moon's glow, the snake's massive form was faintly discernible.
He had already dispatched two of the three Level Four mutated beasts with the help of his robots, and his exchange points had soared to 45.4 million.
It appeared that hunting the white snake was no longer necessary.
"System, does this white snake have any fight left in it?" Chen Wei inquired.
"Zero defense. It just needs a final blow," the System replied.
At that, Chen Wei's brow quirked upward. "A final blow? What do you mean? You're not suggesting I kill the white snake, are you?"
"Yes," the System confirmed. "This white snake isn't a mutated beast; it's a natural growth. It has a thousand years of cultivation but failed during its transformation, reducing it to the strength of a Level Four mutated beast."
"The Host can absorb the essence from such a beast. If a robot does the killing, the essence will simply scatter," the System explained.
Chen Wei frowned once more. He wasn't concerned with absorbing the essence as much as he was intrigued by the fact that the white snake wasn't a mutation.
"How has this white snake been growing for a thousand years without being detected?" he asked.
"The Earth's environment is evolving, becoming more conducive to the cultivation of both fierce beasts and humans. The white snake emerged to transform under these new conditions. Before this shift, humans were the dominant force on Earth," the System clarified.
With this information, Chen Wei pieced it all together. In essence, if the white snake had emerged earlier, it would have been annihilated. It had to remain hidden until now.
"Now, the Earth's drastic changes have brought not only mutated humans and beasts but also a millennia-old white snake into the open. In the realm of myths, this would be a classic demon, akin to the legendary Lady White!"
"It's truly an apocalyptic era, overrun with all manner of demons and spirits," he mused.
With a resigned shake of his head, Chen Wei stepped forward toward the white snake. As he approached, the four robotic guards stood watch. They stepped aside upon Chen Wei's arrival.
Chen Wei stood before the white snake, feeling diminutive in its presence. The snake's head was nearly pulverized by four robotic brutes, its flesh torn and the scene gruesomely bloody.
Approaching the serpent's icy gaze, Chen Wei's hand shimmered with blood. He gazed at the creature and whispered, "White snake, oh white snake, I can't be blamed for lacking compassion. If you must blame something, blame the world's harshness."
"If I spare you now, you'll surely seek vengeance later."
"Even though you won't be able to kill me in the future, you'd still be a constant nuisance. So, to save myself future trouble, it's better you're reborn anew."
Chen Wei paced before the serpent, unconcerned whether it comprehended his soliloquy. Once finished, he lifted the bloodied weapon, ready to leap and deliver the final, fatal blow to the snake's head.
"No... please... don't... kill... me. I... can... serve... you," a faint voice echoed in his mind just as Chen Wei was about to strike.
Startled, Chen Wei twisted midair, landing with a thud. His eyes widened in astonishment at the white snake. "White snake, was that you speaking to me?"
"Yes..."
The indistinct voice resurfaced, penetrating his thoughts.
With his mouth agape, Chen Wei realized the truth. "It's become sentient, it truly has!"
He stared at the white snake, his eyes reflecting intense shock as if beholding a monster.
"The System," announced, "That was the white snake's telepathic message!"
"Damn! It really has gained sentience!" exclaimed Chen Wei.
His curiosity piqued by the serpent before him, Chen Wei knew there was no longer a rush to hunt down mutated beasts, now that the energy shield had been successfully acquired.
He stepped closer to the white snake and inquired, "White snake, you're asking me to spare your life in exchange for your allegiance?"
The white snake spoke, "Yes... yes, if you spare my life... I will... pledge my allegiance to you."
The muffled voice echoed once more, penetrating directly into Chen Wei's mind.
Upon hearing this, Chen Wei's eyes sparkled with excitement. He eagerly rubbed his hands together and paced back and forth on the ground.
The prospect of having such a white snake swear fealty to him was thrilling indeed.
Yet, Chen Wei harbored concerns about potential retribution from the white snake in the future, leaving him momentarily indecisive.
The System interjected, "Host, if you wish to subdue the White Snake, the System can offer a soul contract!"
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