45: The power of rules, the punishment of fate!

"No, no, I want to eat it now..."

Luna's childish voice carried a hint of urgency and stubbornness, like a child whining and throwing a tantrum.

Han Fei stared at the scene before him, dumbfounded.

How could the legendary Great Sage be like this? She was just like a little princess throwing a fit for candy.

"You can eat it, but you have to exchange something for it, as per the Immortal Spirit's principle of fair trade."

Han Fei tried to calm the turmoil in his heart, responding with feigned composure.

"But I don't have anything..."

Luna's words trailed off halfway, and her eyes suddenly lit up.

She floated lightly in front of Han Fei, her arms crossed over her chest, and tilted her head slightly, her nimble eyes carefully observing him.

Then, Luna, in a tone that was feignedly mature yet couldn't hide her playfulness, whispered to Han Fei, "You, fellow, aren't you a magic novice?"

Han Fei subconsciously nodded.

"Hehe~ I know what to exchange with you."

Luna smirked triumphantly, conjuring a crystal-clear fairy wand in her hand, and pointing it at Han Fei, she said, "Let me teach you how to use magic!"

"No need," Han Fei directly refused.

He had Magical Culinary Arts and could copy magic experience from mages; there was no need for Luna to teach him.

However, Luna didn't care. With a subtle smile on her lips, she said, "Your Forbidden Magic can't let you learn how to control your Forbidden Magic from others."

Han Fei's eyes narrowed, and he looked directly at her, "What do you mean?"

"Is the Forbidden Magic you obtained from the magic cake related to culinary arts?" Luna's gaze was piercing, as if seeing through everything.

Han Fei nodded slightly, secretly marveling at Luna's insight.

Luna, with confidence, pressed on, "So, the higher your culinary arts, the stronger the effect of your Forbidden Magic, am I right?"

"That's right."

While Han Fei was startled, he also felt a sense of anticipation.

"Then have you noticed that even though your culinary arts have improved a lot, your Forbidden Magic hasn't improved much?" Luna said in an inscrutable tone.

Han Fei nodded again, a look of confusion on his brow.

After copying Liu Yueer's ability, his culinary arts had soared more than ten times compared to before.

However, this leap-like improvement had not been reflected in his Forbidden Magic as expected.

The only changes were that the food he made became more delicious, and the speed at which he copied others' abilities significantly increased.

Other than that, there seemed to be no other improvements.

Luna chuckled softly, like a mentor guiding a lost student: "Hehe, the reason for this is that you don't know how to use the Power of Rules at all."

"What is the Power of Rules?" Han Fei frowned slightly, showing intense curiosity.

He had been curious when Luna first mentioned the term.

"Forbidden Power is a manifestation of the Power of Rules. And the Power of Rules transcends all things in the world, above all Laws!"

Luna's tone was solemn, every word resonating with gravity.

Han Fei clearly didn't quite understand, looking at Luna in confusion.

Luna seemed to have anticipated his reaction. She spoke slowly, her tone imbued with reverence for Forbidden Magic.

"You must have experienced the terror of Forbidden Magic. It is not a power that follows common sense, but one that transcends conventional rules. Once you master it, you no longer need to follow the common sense of this world, becoming an unreasonable person."

"Knowledge and skills that others spend decades and countless hardships to master, you can instantly copy through Forbidden Magic."

"This is the Power of Rules you possess, called 'Copying'—direct, overbearing, and utterly unreasonable!"

Luna's words contained a hint of uncontrollable envy.

"Different Forbidden Magic involves different rules: copying, deliciousness, destruction, cognition, and so on."

"And the same rule can affect this world in completely different ways."

"For example, the copying rule you possess can be further divided into ability copying, material copying, Luck copying, and so on."

"Ability copying can copy others' abilities, while material copying can copy tangible things."

At this point, Luna paused slightly, her gaze circling Han Fei enviously.

"Ability copying is definitely one of the top categories among many rules. You must have strict limitations when using this rule, right?"

After a moment of hesitation, Han Fei honestly nodded, "Others must eat the food I make with Magical Culinary Arts and find it delicious before I can copy their abilities."

Luna nodded thoughtfully, "The conditions are indeed a bit harsh."

Many powerful or high-ranking individuals would not casually eat food from others.

In fact, many moderately powerful individuals don't even need to eat.

For example, Cultivators who can abstain from grains, or modified humans who can perform photosynthesis, and so on.

"Oh, right, how many times have you used your Forbidden Magic?" Luna suddenly asked.

After a moment of hesitation, Han Fei honestly replied, "Today is the first time I've used it; I haven't used it many times yet."

"Oh, that's good then, the problem shouldn't be big." Luna nodded.

Her demeanor made Han Fei a bit confused, "What problem isn't big?"

"If you've only used it a few times, fate probably won't specifically target you."

Luna uttered astonishing words in a calm tone.

"Fate targeting me?" Han Fei's eyes widened, "Are the rumors of bad Luck true?"

Seeing Han Fei's bewildered expression, Luna didn't rush to explain but instead looked curiously at the magic cakes in the refrigerator, as if hinting at something.

Han Fei understood. He looked at Luna sincerely and said firmly, "Luna, please enlighten me. The magic cakes will be your reward."

Upon hearing this, Luna's lips curved slightly, and she nodded in satisfaction.

"Remember, I once mentioned to you that fate follows a higher-level Law of balance to prevent the world order from becoming unbalanced."

Han Fei nodded; he remembered Luna telling him that.

"Every time you use the Power of Rules in this world, in the eyes of fate, it's like you're cheating in this world, disrupting the world's fairness."

"And cheaters will naturally be punished!"

Luna deliberately emphasized the words "cheating," like a warning bell, reverberating in Han Fei's heart.

"What kind of punishment specifically?" Han Fei quickly asked.

Luna's lips curved into a meaningful smile as she slowly explained:

"The forms of punishment are ever-changing and unpredictable. The most common is that your Luck will sharply decline, which is the so-called bad Luck."

"Imagine, when you open a treasure chest with great anticipation, but only get a pile of useless junk."

"When you are in danger, opportunities that could have turned the tide quietly disappear, replaced by even fiercer crises..."

"These could all be fate's little 'punishments' for you."

After listening, Han Fei couldn't help but gasp, his heart churning.

He had only half-believed the rumors about Forbidden Magic attracting bad Luck, as no one had ever confirmed it.

Now that Luna said so, it was very likely true.

Forbidden Magic attracts bad Luck!

Those subtle changes concerning Luck, seemingly invisible, were actually enough to overturn one's life trajectory, which Han Fei could not accept no matter what.

More importantly, his Cheat relied almost entirely on opening treasure chests. If he couldn't get good things due to the influence of bad Luck, the impact on him would be too great!

Han Fei couldn't help but interrupt, "Luna, is there any way to avoid this punishment?"

Luna showed a 'fish on the hook' expression, her hands naturally placed on her slender waist, and let out a soft hum.

"Hehe, of course there's a way, but..."

She deliberately dragged out the end of her sentence, seemingly enjoying Han Fei's current anxiety and anticipation.

"Just tell me how many magic cakes it takes to exchange for it."

Han Fei was also determined. As long as he could get a way to avoid it, it didn't matter how many magic cakes he had to pay.

Luna extended her fair, jade-like small hand, her slender fingers lightly showing a number—"Two."

Han Fei felt relieved at this; two cakes were acceptable.

However, Luna's next words almost turned Han Fei to stone, "Two hundred complete second-tier magic cakes!"

Why don't you just rob me?!

The words were almost out, but Han Fei ultimately suppressed them.

He gritted his teeth, trying to calm the surging emotions within him, and questioned as steadily as possible, "Luna, isn't your request a bit too high?"

Given the drop rate of second-tier magic cakes, it was likely that not even two hundred had been opened from magic treasure chests in the thousands of years since their appearance.

Now Luna was making such an exorbitant demand for an astronomical number of cakes, which Han Fei could never produce.

However, Luna feigned innocence, mimicking Han Fei's earlier gesture, spreading her hands with a helpless expression.

"Oh dear, if you can't produce them, then there's nothing I can do."

This fellow was so annoying.

Han Fei gritted his teeth, looking at her, momentarily at a loss.

The Immortal Spirit race had pure Heart-Nature and were by no means cunning merchants.

Since Luna was so certain that the method to avoid punishment was worth two hundred second-tier cakes, it was most likely fair.

But the problem was, Han Fei simply couldn't produce that many cakes.

Even with his Cheat, it still depended on Luck.

Infinite Matryoshka Doll only had a 50% chance; if no treasure chest dropped, he truly wouldn't know where to find magic cakes.

Just as Han Fei was troubled and didn't know what to do, Luna's reluctant voice sounded.

"Two hundred cakes are indeed a bit difficult for you. How about this: for every magic cake you give me, I will teach you an equivalent value of avoidance methods."

Han Fei was startled, looking at Luna.

That's possible?

"You are only just beginning to touch the Power of Rules. Those profound avoidance methods are useless to you. I will teach you some basic avoidance techniques, which are enough for you now."

As she spoke, Luna's slender hand elegantly raised three fingers, and she stated the terms of the trade firmly: "Three cakes, and I will teach you one basic avoidance method."

Upon hearing this, the stone in Han Fei's heart fell, and he nodded without hesitation, "Deal!"

"Yoo-hoo!"

Luna's response was as joyful as a child's; clearly, she was even happier than Han Fei.

Immediately, she rushed to the refrigerator like a gust of wind, diving into the magic cakes and feasting.

"Ah~ Delicious! Delicious! It's truly too delicious!"

Cream clustered around Luna like clouds, completely enveloping her petite body.

While indulging in the cake's sweetness, she couldn't help but hum a cheerful tune.

Han Fei silently squatted in front of the refrigerator, quietly watching this scene, his eyes a mix of surprise and amusement.

He couldn't help but recall the descriptions of this Great Sage in history books.

Learned and talented, solemn and majestic, sacred and inviolable.

However, this gluttonous and comical Immortal Spirit before him truly overturned his imagination.

But Han Fei felt that this Luna was more vibrant and real.

"Um, Luna, when can you teach me?" Han Fei asked softly.

Luna, however, glared at him in displeasure, her nimble eyes seeming to scold his impatience.

While licking the cream remaining on her fingers, she casually said, "What's the hurry? I'll talk after I'm full."

Then Luna stopped paying attention to Han Fei, fully immersing herself in the world of cake.

Her small fingers skillfully cut the cake, every bite eaten with relish, her face beaming with satisfaction and joy.

Before long, the entire cake disappeared without a trace under her ravenous consumption.

After enjoying the perfect meal, Luna lazily lay down in the refrigerator, gently stroking her slightly bulging belly from overeating, and let out a contented sigh.

"Ah, I'm full, I'm full~"

After a short rest, Luna sat up straight, turned her gaze to Han Fei, and gently waved for him to come closer.

Although Han Fei didn't understand her meaning, he obediently leaned forward, looking at her in confusion.

Luna's lips curved into a sly smile, and she whispered, "I'm a bit big, you'll have to bear with it."

"Huh?"

Han Fei looked puzzled upon hearing this.

Before he could ask for details, Luna transformed into a brilliant light and instantly rushed into his mouth.

Han Fei felt his throat tighten as a strange energy rapidly slid down his throat, directly pouring into his body.

Immediately after, an energy that felt like it could cleanse the Soul swept through his entire body, making Han Fei let out a groan.

Coming back to his senses, Han Fei's attention was quickly drawn to an unusual throbbing in his chest.

He looked down, only to see a dazzling golden light blossoming at the location of his heart.

The light was scorching and brilliant, like the rising sun, instantly illuminating his entire chest cavity.

"Lu-Luna?"

Han Fei looked at his chest, his lips trembling, his voice a mix of shock and confusion.

"Mm, I'm here."

Luna's voice sounded from his chest.

As her tone fluctuated, the golden light also flickered on and off.

"You are..."

Han Fei's voice was slightly trembling. He tried to suppress the turmoil in his heart, attempting to understand everything that was happening.

"I used Symbiotic Magic and attached myself to your heart."

Luna's voice clearly echoed in Han Fei's mind.

"Symbiotic Magic?"

Memories of Symbiotic Magic quickly surfaced in Han Fei's mind.

It was the story of the hero Ye Fan.

Back then, hero Ye Fan was betrayed by his beloved, and his heart was pierced by a sword.

Later, Luna used Symbiotic Magic, replacing the hero's heart, which allowed him to be resurrected.