Xu Xiao never expected that not only would he not be punished, but Nüwa would even reward him. This was truly... unexpected.
'But there's no such thing as a free lunch. Do I dare accept this stroke of luck?'
Xu Xiao used to enjoy serendipity, but after he started arranging more serendipity for others, he gradually came to understand a certain principle.
'Fate's gifts always come with a hidden price; we don't accept them now simply because the time isn't right. Once the time is right, we'll reap the rewards, principal and interest.'
What is Nüwa?
Sage!
Such a great fortune bestowed upon him by such a powerful figure must have incredibly deep karmic connections. How will Xu Xiao ever repay it?
Associating with big shots isn't always a good thing; in most cases, getting scammed is the norm.
"What? You're afraid to take it?"
"No, I wouldn't dare."
Xu Xiao followed his heart completely. He believed more in the opportunities he obtained through his own efforts than in any fortune bestowed upon him by others.
"Hahaha! Interesting kid, are you afraid I'll scheme against you, or do you simply not want to get involved with me?"
"You should know that there are more beings in all the worlds who want to have even the slightest connection with me than there are stars in the sky, and you actually don't want it?"
Nüwa looked at Xu Xiao with amusement; she had never met such a cautious little fellow before.
"I thank Your Majesty for your kindness, but please forgive me, for I am still somewhat overwhelmed by such karma."
Xu Xiao stood up and bowed deeply, determined not to accept such a fate.
"Haha, interesting lad, but that's not up to you."
"As the saying goes, one should not refuse a gift from an elder! I have a karmic connection with all living beings of the human race, and I will need your help in the future. Consider this good fortune as my future reward."
Nüwa ignored Xu Xiao's refusal and waved her hand, sending a golden light directly into Xu Xiao's Sea of Consciousness.
Xu Xiao had no way to dodge and could only watch helplessly as he was burdened with the consequences of this forced sale.
Some peculiar insights surfaced in Xu Xiao's mind.
"This... this is!"
Xu Xiao, who was initially somewhat reluctant, also felt the magnitude of the karmic connection after experiencing these insights!
"This is a little insight; you'll definitely need it when you take that step later."
"Although your path is quite diverse, it's necessary no matter which path you take to take that final step."
Nüwa spoke with a smile as always, without hiding anything.
"This humble servant thanks Your Majesty!"
Xu Xiao bowed deeply once again, this time expressing his sincere gratitude.
Nothing more than what Nüwa gave him: insights into how to unite countless timelines and break through to the Daluo realm.
This is something that even someone aspiring to the highest level, let alone Xu Xiao, would find irresistible.
Even if the other party intends to establish a karmic connection with him before giving it, this gift is still a great honor!
It can't be described as small.
"No need for thanks. I'm just investing in you because I think highly of you. You'll have to repay me for this debt in the future."
"But speaking of which, you're quite a special one among the little ones I've taken a liking to."
"Keep going! This world is far more vast than you imagine. The Great Dao is endless; only by becoming Daluo Immortal can you have the right to sit at the table."
'Is only Daluo qualified to sit at the table?'
'Indeed, compared to these truly powerful beings, I am still far from being able to achieve my goals.'
Xu Xiao couldn't help but marvel at his good fortune; the legendary Goddess Nüwa was so easy to talk to.
If one were to encounter an existence that one cannot resist for the time being, forget about good fortune or karma; one would likely be hunted down across realms and have all one's interests squeezed out, just as the Mahavairocana said.
Of course, this does not mean that Xu Xiao completely trusts Nüwa. Although he accepted her creation, Xu Xiao has always been skeptical of such goodwill from above.
Moreover, Nüwa herself said that this wasn't a free gift; Xu Xiao would need to repay the karmic debt in the future.
Returning the karma to a Sage... tsk tsk, just hearing about it makes you know it's not a simple or easy task.
However, it's not the time for Xu Xiao to consider such things yet. To be honest, he's not even an immortal, let alone Daluo Immortal.
'Once the cooperation with the First Firmament is complete, my next step should be to properly develop the power of my main body.'
' Xu Xuanpin and Xu Yuantui, these two avatars, are both stronger than the original body in terms of raw power. If the original body didn't rely on the World Power as a trump card and the restraint of the main consciousness, it would indeed have some hidden dangers.'
' Daluo can be served here. It seems my vision was too narrow before. I still have a long way to go.'
Xu Xiao thought to himself, this time I really was very lucky.
However, luck won't always be on his side. Unexpected events might occur next time. No matter how good something is given by others, it's not as solid and stable as something you have yourself.
'For now, it seems that Goddess Nüwa's goodwill is merely a pretext; aside from anything else, it will be a useful asset when traveling to other worlds where she exists in the future.'
Xu Xiao had accepted everything, and after hearing Nüwa's words, he gave his own assurance.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, when I achieve great things in the future, I will never forget your kindness in helping me today. Whatever Your Majesty needs, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."
Nüwa nodded. "It's good that you remember, but even if you're fast, it will still take several epochs before we need you. You should focus on your cultivation and keep a low profile."
"Not everyone is kind to you little rascals who love to run around. There are some... you should know that."
Xu Xiao nodded. "Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. I understand."
"Alright, I see you caught Fire Qilin before, right? Do you have something on your mind about these mythical beasts? Do you need me to give you a few more?"
Nüwa shifted the topic to Xu Xiao, saying that since she had already bestowed upon him all the blessings, she wouldn't mind giving him some more divine beasts.
These things are treasures to ordinary gods and immortals, but they are of no use to Him.
If it weren't for the unique function of this world, it wouldn't be a problem to give it to Xu Xiao.
These worlds, which are coveted treasures for others, are merely trivial trinket to them, unless they are the Great Chiliocosm.
"I do indeed wish to raise a few divine beasts, to see if I can breed more for my own enjoyment. If Your Majesty has any, I would appreciate it if you could grant me a few more."
Xu Xiao didn't hide anything and directly stated his thoughts.
"You really are outspoken!"
Nüwa, being of Innate demon race origin, was initially somewhat uncomfortable with this claim, but seeing Xu Xiao's frank manner, she was both angry and amused.
"Since it's a treat, I'll catch you a few snakes and Qilin. I have a deep connection with the Phoenix and the Black Tortoise tortoise, so I won't waste them on you, kid."
"Um... Your Highness, how about giving me two instead? I don't need them."
Xu Xiao, shameless as ever, spoke up. It was a rare opportunity to take advantage of a big shot, so he certainly couldn't let it pass.