Setting aside that tiny obsession with the [Cleansing Spell], Celeste immersed all her focus into the changes within herself.
She twirled her pink staff casually, the movement still smooth and swift, yet something seemed different.
It wasn't that her strength had increased or her speed had grown faster.
It was a more introverted, more fundamental qualitative change.
She could clearly perceive that with every swing of the staff, the surrounding airflow was no longer a resistance, but was being guided and commanded by a unique rhythm.
Every path of power circulating within her body, and every moment the 'momentum' gathered at the tip of the staff, became as clear as day.
The staff broke through the air.
The sound was no longer sharp and clear, but had become dull and heavy, carrying the weight of shattering mountain rock.
In her mind, the explosively shameful scenes from yesterday uncontrollably surged up.
That dignified black Rex Lapis robe.
That vast, rock-like, immovable mountain-like majestic aura.
And that... "I will have order!"—which, even now, made her toes curl in embarrassment inside her shoes, almost enough to dig out a whole Liyue Harbor!
An absurd guess formed in her heart.
"Could it be... because of Zhongli's status as the 'God of Martial Arts', that even just one cosplay gave me an intangible bonus to my spear intent?"
This guess made her mood instantly become incredibly complicated.
On one hand, the price of social death had actually turned into tangible benefits!
But on the other hand...
The source of this benefit was just too shameful!
Relying on transforming into a female version of Rex Lapis to comprehend Spear Intent of Rock?
If this kind of thing were said out loud, if people didn't take her for a lunatic, they'd think she was in the terminal stage of chuunibyou! She'd have to sit at the same table as Fischl when eating.
If she wanted to get stronger in the future, did she have to go on a touring cosplay circuit at conventions to unlock new skills?
[Ding! Detected that the Host has successfully comprehended "Spear Intent of Rock (Rudimentary Form)"! It seems social death is not only a source of joy but also a catalyst for power. ╮(￣▽￣)╭]
Celeste: "..."
Shut up! Can't I just refuse this catalyst!
She forcibly suppressed the urge to roast the system, focused her mind, and attempted to integrate this mysterious "intent" into the most basic Thousand Rock Spearmanship.
A plain and unremarkable straight thrust.
Power highly concentrated at the tip of the staff, the sound of breaking air becoming slightly duller.
Where the staff tip passed, the air seemed to be crushed into a viscous state, carrying the weight of ten thousand jun!
A simple sweep.
The trajectory was still sharp, but it suddenly possessed an aura of a rock that stood firm regardless of the wind and rain.
"Sis, your spearmanship... seems to have gotten stronger again?"
Selene's voice came from the side; she had accurately captured the change in her sister's aura.
Even though her sister was still holding a pink staff that was exploding with girlishness.
The stance, however, exuded a majesty and heaviness of "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand unable to open it," making it hard for people to breathe.
"Mm, just some new insights." Celeste replied perfunctorily.
She couldn't very well say this was gained from social death.
Just then, a violent rustling sound came from the bushes on the riverbank ahead.
A few [Swamp Crocodile Lizards Lv.19] dragged their mud-covered, heavy bodies out, their crimson slit pupils instantly locking onto this pair of delicious prey.
"Just in time!"
Selene's eyes lit up, full of fighting spirit, and she immediately entered a combat state.
"Just right to test the quality of my new shield!"
She didn't even activate any skills, just steadily held the [immovable mountain] in front of her, facing a crocodile lizard lunging head-on. The moment the impact hit the shield surface, she slightly lowered her wrist, precisely adjusting the shield's angle.
Bang! Bang!
Dull impact sounds rang out one after another; the two crocodile lizards seemed to have collided with a mountain wall.
Selene used the force to retreat half a step, her figure as steady as a rock, having perfectly dissipated the impact.
Instead, those two crocodile lizards, like having rammed headlong into a mountain wall, were dazed by the terrifying rebound force, stumbling back with mournful cries.
"The force dissipation effect is excellent, and the shock absorption is perfect!"
She excitedly reported the combat data, swinging the [light of dawn] in her hand as she followed through.
A milky white sword light flashed past, easily tearing through the relatively fragile scales on the neck of one crocodile lizard.
Celeste naturally wasn't idle either; it was the perfect time to use these blind beasts to verify the true power of this "social death legacy."
She raised the pink staff high and brought it down in a chop.
The movement appeared slow, but it carried a strange penetrating force, precisely smashing onto the top of another crocodile lizard's head.
"Puff!"
A slight sound, as if a ripe watermelon had been crushed.
The crocodile lizard's skull seemed to be suppressed by an invisible mountain, its entire head smashed fiercely into the ground, splashing up a patch of muddy water.
It twitched twice before completely stilling.
The corpse appeared undamaged on the outside, but its intracranial tissue had been shattered by that supremely condensed force; its brains were probably thoroughly pulverized.
"Huh?"
Selene, while easily blocking the biting of another crocodile lizard, turned her head to comment in surprise.
"Sis, that hit of yours... feels so strange."
"It looked so light, how is the power so ruthless? And it didn't even splash any blood?"
Celeste looked at the "clean" crocodile lizard corpse, the corners of her lips curling into a satisfied arc she couldn't suppress.
She had deliberately controlled her strength just now, pouring all the thick and solid power of the "Spear Intent of Rock" into the target's body, destroying it completely from the inside.
This not only ensured killing efficiency but also avoided the annoyance of being covered in blood after the battle.
"Mm, just some new insights." Her tone was lighter now, "It's much cleaner this way, isn't it?"
After all, what girl who loves beauty would like to end up covered in blood and stench after a battle?
Being able to fight cleanly and refreshingly was, in itself, a form of ultimate elegance.
Celeste thought happily that this "Spear Intent of Rock" not only had amazing power but also came with a hidden "keep clean" attribute; it was simply a joy from heaven.
"This... can also be considered a harvest from social death, right?"
She silently added in her heart, feeling that the bit of shame didn't seem so hard to accept anymore.
Easily dealing with these appetizers, The two sisters continued along the river.
Along the way, Selene had transformed into the most professional equipment reviewer, meticulously testing the various performance aspects of her new shield.
Celeste was enjoying herself, constantly familiarizing herself with that newly born "Spear Intent of Rock."
She tried to fuse the stability and heaviness of the Spear Intent with the lightness and swiftness of the Wind's Blessing.
Her combat style began to evolve in an increasingly unpredictable and varied direction.
She also increasingly appreciated this elegant fighting style of "killing the enemy invisibly, without a single leaf touching her body."