Honkai, I'll Transform and Give You a Punch

"Who said there was no haul?"

Bai Chen used the Authority of Space again to take out the Xuanyuan Sword. Luckily, Kiana was not the only transformation with spatial power; otherwise, he could only store things and not retrieve them, and would have to wait several days for the cooldown.

"Xuanyuan Sword!"

Himeko happily took the Xuanyuan Sword. She had thought they had gained nothing, but now it seemed this trip had not been for nothing.

No, what Himeko had truly wanted was the Stigmata. But Bai Chen had worked so hard to bring back the Xuanyuan Sword, so she could not dampen his spirits with a disappointed expression. That was why she deliberately put on a delighted look.

Lottery Time!

But since Bai Chen had read the original story, how could he possibly not know what Himeko truly wanted?

"As for the Stigmata, of course I've got that too."

Imperial Armament Loadout · Ji Lin

Amid a blur of phantom images, Bai Chen transformed into a black-haired girl about the same height as him. She wore an ancient Shenzhou robe, and there was a trace of majesty in her eyes that did not belong to an ordinary mortal.

It was Bai Chen's first time transforming into Ji Lin. He had not expected this transformation to bring him such an unexpected surprise! Another new skill had been unlocked!

But this was not the time to test a new skill. He would find an opportunity to test it after returning to St. Freya.

"Huh?? Little Bai, you have another new transformation? You look so tiny."

Kiana leaned in, curiously fiddling with the unfamiliar outfit.

"Kiana, don't make trouble."

Himeko pushed Kiana aside and looked at the girl Bai Chen had become.

"Could this be the first Stigmata bearer in Shenzhou legend... the Yellow Emperor, Ji Lin?"

Although Himeko did not recognize Ji Lin's appearance, judging by what Bai Chen had done, Ji Lin was the only likely possibility.

"That's right. As long as Headquarters studies the Stigmata data in this body, that should be enough. Right, Lady Rita?"

Bai Chen suddenly turned toward the rear.

"Rita?"

Theresa looked in the direction Bai Chen was facing. Sure enough, Rita was standing there, though no one knew when she had arrived. Her relaxed demeanor did not resemble someone who had just awakened from unconsciousness at all.

Thinking it over carefully, Bai Chen guessed that Rita had not actually been unconscious at the time. Otherwise, considering how deep that water had been, she would have choked on at least a few mouthfuls when they pulled her out.

"Being addressed as Lady Rita truly flatters me. Bai Chen, please simply call me Rita."

Seeing everyone looking at her, Rita walked over at last and politely curtsied to Bai Chen. Her elegant smile remained on her lips, making it impossible to read her true emotions.

"So, what does Headquarters want?"

Bai Chen could not be bothered to pretend anymore. Otto probably already knew everything he was supposed to know, so Bai Chen crossed his arms and asked impatiently.

"Lord Otto has been waiting for you for quite some time."

Rita smiled and gave the answer Bai Chen had expected.

That old bastard really had been watching all along.

"This transformation state can't last long enough for me to reach Headquarters. I'll go after my transformation cooldown is over in a few days."

It seemed Bai Chen would have no choice but to face Otto sooner or later. Hopefully, that guy would not go to extremes and try to control him right away.

Thinking about it carefully, there was no real need to become enemies with Otto. As long as Bai Chen cooperated with Otto's plan, he could completely replace Kiana and carry it out for him.

If he became proficient with the Dimensional Wall, it might even be possible to make an exception and do certain things that violated the rules.

"Then I shall await good news."

Rita then left.

"What does that mean? Grandpa already knew?"

Theresa finally understood. Her feelings were exactly the same as Bai Chen's earlier ones—she felt like a clown. She had been helping Bai Chen hide it from her grandfather all this time for nothing.

"Probably since Changkong City. That first transformation caused quite a commotion. It wouldn't be surprising if he noticed."

Bai Chen recalled his first transformation, that blazing sword which had nearly torn open the sky. It had practically planted a beacon right in Otto's face.

If Otto knew, then World Serpent surely knew as well. Bai Chen just did not know why Gray Serpent had not approached him yet. Did he think there was no need?

This operation against Chi You had not been particularly difficult, but the gains had been considerable.

First, after returning from this operation, Bai Chen noticed that Bronya and Himeko's purple lights had lit up. That meant he had unlocked two more transformation characters, along with their corresponding greatsword and cannon weapons.

Second, although Bai Chen had not checked yet, he could feel that he could summon Stigmata now!

With Stigmata, his strength should be able to rise by another level. He just did not know how much stamina they consumed or what their cooldowns were like.

Then, the instant he killed Chi You, he received twenty draws. Combined with the ten draws he had saved over the past few days, he would probably get another thirty bottles of Nutrient Solution.

Having experienced the pain of the last draw, Bai Chen both looked forward to and feared the lottery. He was afraid the rewards would be even more cursed than last time.

Cursed as they were, the skills had shown obvious results after he learned them. Thanks to Advanced Collapse Energy Manipulation, he had been able to gain the upper hand in his fight with Kiana.

Then, let's begin. Draw! Cards! All in!

System transporting...

Congratulations! You have obtained Nutrient Solution *20!

Congratulations! You have obtained Invisibility Underwear *1!

Congratulations! You have obtained Wordless Heavenly Book *1!

Congratulations! You have obtained One Punch Eight Hundred Years of Cultivation!

Congratulations! You have obtained Nutrient Solution *7!

Invite your friends to come draw prizes too!

The system has placed the items in the system space.

New items? Three of them!

For a moment, Bai Chen did not know whether to laugh or cry. Nervously, he opened the descriptions of those new items.

Invisibility Underwear: A certain goddess felt that having someone see her underwear would be far too embarrassing, so she made the underwear invisible! It can eliminate abnormal conditions to a certain extent.

Wordless Heavenly Book: A certain transmigrator entered an immortal cultivation world and discovered, after obtaining many Wordless Heavenly Books by chance, that they all needed water to reveal their text. How cliché!

So, he created Wordless Heavenly Books for future generations that would reveal their words only when exposed to fire! Though this book itself seemed to be nothing more than ordinary paper.

If you can read the words on it, perhaps you will learn things unknown to others?

Damn it! A Wordless Heavenly Book made of ordinary paper! The text appears when exposed to fire! Are you fucking kidding me? What am I supposed to look at?!

Bai Chen's face turned green with rage. The underwear was at least somewhat useful, but what the hell was this thing for?!

Whatever, check the next one!

One Punch Eight Hundred Years of Cultivation: Hundred Years of Fist Power, do you want it?

/I want it

Oh? What was this? That description was no different from having no description at all, and this option did not even give him a choice? Where was the X button?

Bai Chen searched for ages but could not find the X button. This suspicious thing definitely needed to be left in the warehouse to gather dust!

Finally, Bai Chen found an X in a corner. The moment he tapped it, he felt his consciousness beginning to separate, as if he were being pulled into that space again!

"Wait! I clicked X!"

As Bai Chen tried to resist, he noticed an even smaller X in the upper-left corner of the X he had just clicked!

"Hehehe! Fuck!"

Were those advertising bastards from his past life the ones who made this system?! Next time, why not just make me agree by moving my eyes?! Damn it!

Practice

Under the system's effects, Bai Chen's consciousness returned to that monochrome space.

Unlike last time, a middle-aged man wearing a hat, robes, and a vest stood before him. However, Bai Chen could not make out the man's face, as though it had been deliberately concealed.

Having experience from last time, Bai Chen immediately looked toward the sky to see this time's objective.

Learn the true essence of "Hundred Years of Fist Power" from NPC A.

Alright, at least Bai Chen now knew that the thing he had drawn was for learning a skill.

Then Bai Chen felt the hairs on his body stand on end. Instinctively, he flashed away into the distance.

A straight ravine dozens of meters long appeared where Bai Chen had just been standing, while NPC A slowly withdrew his fist.

"Holy shit!"

Bai Chen stared wide-eyed at the ravine. That had been made by the force of his punch alone?? No way!

"Young friend, there is no need for surprise. I have practiced my fists without pause for a hundred years to attain this strength. Everything is accumulated day by day."

NPC A assumed his stance again and spoke to Bai Chen with surprising intelligence.

"Bullshit! What kind of person could practice punching for a hundred years and leave a mark like that?"

Bai Chen pointed furiously at the trace left by the punch's force. Did this guy think he was an idiot?!

"Have you ever seen anyone practice their fists for a hundred years?"

NPC A asked with an amused smile.

"Uh..."

Thinking it over carefully, Bai Chen had indeed never seen anyone practice punching for a hundred years in his previous life. But in the Honkai world, anyone who lived past a hundred years did seem capable of doing things like this.

For a moment, Bai Chen was at a loss for words and did not know how to argue back.

"Be careful, Bai Chen. This guy isn't simple."

Fu Hua, who had been observing NPC A the entire time, warned Bai Chen. From her perspective, this man would definitely not be easy to deal with.

"Mm."

Bai Chen nodded inwardly and prepared to speak to NPC A again.

But NPC A clearly had no intention of chatting. Before Bai Chen knew it, he had closed in. His waist and stance moved as one as he drove a straight punch directly at Bai Chen's face!

Bai Chen hurriedly raised his hand to block, only to discover that NPC A's fist had changed into an open palm that struck his chest.

The palm strike did not look powerful, yet it sent Bai Chen flying back dozens of steps before he barely managed to stop.

At that moment, he felt as though he had not been slapped by someone, but struck by a shot put thrown at him while running on a track field in his previous life.

This shitty system definitely did not have any proper teaching method! Learning the true essence apparently meant getting beaten up by someone!

"Damn it, again!"

This time, Bai Chen took the initiative to approach NPC A, preparing to seize the first move. The boxing he had practiced with Fu Hua these past days had not been for nothing!

Once he closed the distance, Bai Chen steadied his stance and threw a sideways punch at NPC A's chest.

But NPC A merely shifted slightly to the side and grabbed Bai Chen's fist. Then, he stepped forward and twisted his wrist, wrenching Bai Chen's arm behind his back.

The entire sequence flowed without the slightest pause. Bai Chen did not even have time to react before he found himself restrained.

With only his legs free, Bai Chen kicked backward, trying to knock NPC A away.

But before Bai Chen could fully raise his leg, NPC A kicked the joint of his other leg. He did not use much force, yet Bai Chen was kicked to the ground.

Lying prone on the ground, Bai Chen hurriedly tried to roll over, but with one hand pinned, moving was extremely inconvenient. He could only try to get up first before struggling free.

Then an immense force struck his head, and Bai Chen lost consciousness.

NPC A withdrew his bloodstained fist and stepped aside to wait nearby.

Before long, Bai Chen's body on the ground ignited with a special flame. Moments later, Bai Chen rose to his feet amid the flames.

When the flames dispersed, there seemed to be something more in Bai Chen's eyes.

"Phew."

Bai Chen took a deep breath and stared seriously at NPC A. This guy gave him the same feeling as Fu Hua—an overwhelming sense of being crushed by game mechanics.

But after dying just now, Bai Chen had gained a deeper understanding of some of the things Fu Hua had taught him. He even understood a little more about this man's techniques. At this rate, perhaps his strength really could soar.