Essence Devourer Beast, Farce of the Lasso of Truth

At the dining table.

The little orange cat, completely unaware it had caused a major problem, was happily eating its portion of meat, its eating habits no different from a normal kitten.

Xi Nian sat in a chair beside it, wearing only pants, his upper body bare.

Diana, having changed into new home clothes, stood behind him and asked softly, "How do you feel now?"

"I feel like I want to eat everything," Xi Nian said, facing the food on the dining table in front of him.

"Then eat," Diana stepped back a few paces.

Xi Nian took a deep breath, and then—

The skin on his back suddenly split open, like a monstrous, bloody maw, with eight tentacles twisting and growing. They surged forward towards the dining table, devouring not just the food, but also the plates, cutlery, tablecloth, and everything else.

It all happened in a single second.

Xi Nian withdrew his tentacles and was once again like a normal person, save for the cold, soul-devouring azure light flashing in his pupils.

"How is it?" Diana's fair fingers traced the skin on Xi Nian's back as she continued to ask.

"I don't feel anything," Xi Nian touched his stomach. "The things those tentacles swallowed just now didn't go down."

"Then it should be correct," Diana nodded, looking at the little orange cat happily eating. "It's an Essence Devourer Beast."

"Essence Devourer Beast?" Xi Nian blinked.

"That's right. It's a species from outer space. My mother mentioned it before, but she didn't have very detailed knowledge about it. I only know that Essence Devourer Beasts appear as Earth cats but possess terrifying abilities, capable of swallowing vast amounts of things into their species' unique dimension."

"This species is very dangerous," Diana narrowed her eyes, pondering. "I wonder why this extraterrestrial species appeared on Earth."

"Really? I don't think Little Huang is as dangerous as you imagine," Xi Nian recalled. "If it were truly dangerous, it would have devoured me with its essence-devouring ability the first time we met near the park. Besides, in the bathroom just now, it only bit me like a normal cat, without using its essence-devouring ability."

Diana asked, "So, you want to keep it?"

Xi Nian looked at the little orange cat on the floor. "Since it's an alien species, wouldn't it be even more dangerous to leave it outside? If it stays with us, at least we can restrain and teach it."

"That makes sense," Diana agreed with his point.

She also considered something else.

If the Essence Devourer Beast genuinely felt affection for Xi Nian, or even depended on him, it could protect him closely in the future, or serve as an activation medium for his abilities.

"So, what do you plan to do tonight? Can you completely control the tentacles?" Diana posed a question.

"Probably... not," Xi Nian shrugged. "As soon as I get close to anything, the tentacles instinctively want to devour it, much like how humans breathe habitually. This instinct to devour essence isn't that easy to control."

It was just like when he had previously gained his aunt's demigod abilities.

These powers and abilities weren't innate to Xi Nian; he had acquired them suddenly, so he couldn't control their activation at will.

"I don't know if four hours will be enough," Xi Nian was uncertain.

This time, it wasn't an intermittent activation of abilities like before, but a direct liquid exchange with the Essence Devourer Beast.

If it lasted all night, he wouldn't be able to sleep at all—lying in bed, he might end up devouring the bed and banishing it to some unknown dimension in the next second.

Who could handle that?

"I have a method," Diana suddenly said.

Next to Xi Nian's room, this room was filled with a unique violet scent.

Xi Nian lay on the ice-blue down comforter, his upper body still bare but faintly shimmering with a soft golden light. The Golden Lasso bound his body, wrapping around his entire upper torso, including his arms, layer by layer.

Diana, now wearing a slip dress, leaned against the bed beside him, flipping through archaeology books under the dim light of the bedside lamp.

"I say, Aunt. Is this the method you were talking about to deal with this?" Xi Nian, unable to move, felt quite helpless.

Xi Nian was speechless.

"Sleep quickly," Diana said.

"Alright," Xi Nian closed his eyes.

It had been a long time since he slept with his aunt.

It felt so warm and cozy—not!

Under the dim, warm glow, his aunt, wearing only a thin slip dress, her graceful and alluring curves fully visible, had her slender, fair legs crossed.

Who could possibly fall asleep like this?

"What's wrong?" Diana was still turning the pages of her book.

"Nothing," Xi Nian was about to brush it off, but as he opened his mouth, his words changed to, "Aunt, you're too beautiful, I..."

In an instant, the air in the room fell silent.

Diana's hand, turning the pages, stopped, and her exceptionally beautiful face stiffened slightly.

Xi Nian's mind went completely blank.

He was stunned!

Absolutely stunned!

What did he just say?!

"You," Diana said, her face flushing slightly, "don't mind it. What's binding you is the Lasso of Truth. Anyone bound by it, when questioned, will reveal their true words."

"Oh, really?" Xi Nian chuckled, wishing he could disappear under the bed.

Not mind it? How could I not mind it!

"How was your day at school?" Diana deliberately changed the subject.

Bound by the Lasso of Truth, Xi Nian stated frankly, "Nothing much. Gwen got angry for some reason. Also, a lower-grade girl named Kara openly confessed her feelings to me in front of everyone."

Instantly, the room fell into another awkward silence.

Diana, whatever she was thinking, remained silent for a moment before asking softly, "So, do you like that girl?"

Xi Nian continued to reveal his true thoughts without hesitation: "I've only met her twice, so I can't say if I like her or not. However, my impression of her is quite good."

"You are indeed at the age where you can start dating."

Diana closed her archaeology book and smiled slightly, "If you think a girl is good, you should seize the opportunity!"

Xi Nian suddenly said, "I think my aunt is very good."

Diana's body trembled slightly.

She put down the archaeology book, reached out, and turned off the bedside lamp, saying calmly in the darkness, "Get some sleep early."

Xi Nian said nothing further.

Was that last sentence a truth forced out by the divine power of the Lasso of Truth? Was it something he could only say after disregarding their relationship?

He didn't know.

All Xi Nian knew was that those were the words he most wanted to convey at that moment.