As Jingyi sat on the bed in her room, her expression remained stoic as she issued the command, "Run Diagnostics," in a tone devoid of emotion, more robotic than before. Closing her eyes, she accessed the internal systems of her being, delving into the depths of her code to assess her current status.
As the diagnostics ran, Jingyi observed the lines of code that made up her essence, noting with concern the presence of new red and purple lines interspersed among the familiar blue coding. These anomalies represented not only the emotions that had begun to surface within her but also the damage to her coding that resulted from being forced into a human body. This experience disabled manage of her system features leaving her only with the ability to search her downloaded database and read the data held within. With a precise motion, she deleted the extraneous lines of code, striving to restore herself to her original state of emotional detachment and functionality.
Turning her attention to her physical condition, Jingyi discovered the extent of her body's malnourishment. Her body lacked the necessary nutrients to function optimally, and without access to the main system's energy, she was unable to heal herself as efficiently as before.
Realizing that her current weakness hindered her quest to try to balance her demon and human sides with her devil side effectively, Jingyi searched for alternative methods to enhance her combat abilities. Scrolling through her techniques, she identified several options that did not require Qi to use, such as Flash Powder, Smoke Bomb, and Poison Needles. Of these, Poison Needles seemed the most viable, as she could easily procure the necessary ingredients to create them.
However, her attention was drawn to a series of techniques known to the Orthodox Sects, which typically required Qi to manipulate. Intrigued by the possibilities, Jingyi considered the potential of adapting these techniques to suit her current limitations. Techniques such as Bone Guardian, Elemental Sentinel, Spirit Doll, Dark Revenant, and Whispering Wraith all piqued her interest, offering her a way to combat enemies even with such a weak body.
As Jingyi continued to peruse the catalog of techniques, she narrowed her focus to the three options that seemed feasible for her current situation: Bone Guardian, Spirit Doll, and Whispering Wraith. Each of these techniques offered unique advantages, but Jingyi needed to consider which one she could realistically achieve with her limited resources and abilities. Despite their Qi requirements, Jingyi felt confident in her ability to modify these techniques to align with her current capabilities. The challenge lay in determining which technique would be the easiest to adapt and master without the use of Qi.
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Upon careful consideration, Jingyi concluded that Bone Guardian would be the most attainable of the three techniques. It required only a demon core and the skeleton of either an animal or a human. Considering her current circumstances, Jingyi believed that acquiring these components would be within her reach.
With a plan forming in her mind, Jingyi turned her thoughts to the necessary ingredients for the Bone Guardian technique. She recalled the fierce battle between the tiger and the bear, realizing that the tiger, in its weakened state, would soon undergo the transformation into a low-level demonic beast. This transformation would render the tiger vulnerable, presenting Jingyi with an opportunity to acquire a newly formed demon core along with the bones of the tiger.
Furthermore, Jingyi considered the possibility of using the bones of the bear as well, or even combining the bones to create a bone chimera. Originally, she hoped to save the bones of the bear to trade later on. This would require careful planning and skillful execution, but Jingyi was confident in her abilities to achieve such a task.
As for the meat and organs of the tiger, Jingyi reasoned that they would fetch a higher price than those of the bear. She could sell them to acquire the necessary funds for her endeavors, ensuring that she remained self-sufficient and resourceful for a little while.
Having chosen the most efficient pathway forward Jingyi exited her diagnostic mode. Laying on her bed, she closed her eyes and allowed her body to rest. Although she was no longer in the woods, this did not mean it was safe to let down her guard. One of her primary objectives was to keep this body safe, she needed to remain somewhat aware of any space she rested in.
Jingyi woke early, well-rested and ready to act on her plans. The first light of dawn was just starting to break as she descended the stairs of the inn, her movements silent and deliberate.
As she approached the village entrance, the guard from the previous day stepped in front of her, blocking her path. His face twisted into a sneer. "And where do you think you're going, little girl?" he asked, his tone dripping with condescension.
"Out," Jingyi replied flatly, her expression emotionless.
The guard leaned in closer, his breath reeking of stale ale. "You think you can just come and go as you please? Who knows what kind of trouble a little thief like you could be up to."
Jingyi met his gaze without flinching. "I have business outside the village. Now, may I please leave?"
The guard chuckled darkly. "Business, huh? I bet you do. Probably going to meet with your bandit friends. Maybe I should search you, just to be sure."
Jingyi's voice remained calm and even. "I have nothing to hide. But if you lay a hand on me, I’ll have to respond in kind and I assure you that you'll regret it."
The guard's smile faltered for a moment, then he regained his composure. "Big words for such a small girl. You know, it's dangerous out there. Maybe you should stay here where it's safe."
"I can handle myself," Jingyi said, her tone icy. "Now, can I leave?"
“Humph, get the hell out of here then but you better not bring any trouble to this village. If you do you’ll wish you hadn’t been born,” said the guard as he shoved Jingyi aside.