Reborn through an arranged marriage, I awakened the Shennong farming system.

As Su Bai was happily enjoying the steamed egg in his bowl, the system suddenly flashed a notification: [Ding! Substances capable of restoring system energy detected within a ten-meter radius. Choose to absorb? Yes/No.]

Su Bai choked a little and coughed several times in a row.

"What's wrong?" Upon seeing this, Hua Gengchen immediately put down his bowl and walked to Su Bai's side, instructing the servant beside him, "Quickly go and call the doctor!"

Su Bai was shocked, but he couldn't speak yet, so he could only wave his hand frantically at Hua Gengchen to indicate that he was fine and didn't need to see a doctor!

When Hua Gengchen walked to Su Bai's side, Su Bai's cough had subsided considerably, but because of the incident that happened the night before, Hua Gengchen was still a little shaken. After all, Su Bai was the only descendant of Shennong that they had found.

Su Bai's safety is crucial to the future of both the demon realm and the human realm!

He had to take it seriously!

"Are you sure you don't need to see a doctor?" Hua Gengchen asked with concern, handing the water glass to Su Bai, who slowly took two sips.

After coughing a few times and having his throat soothed by warm water, Su Bai felt much better and quickly said, "No need, I just choked a little." Su Bai was puzzled by Hua Gengchen's anxious attitude towards him. He hadn't been like this before yesterday. What had happened when he was unaware of it?

After waiting a while and seeing that Su Bai was really alright, Hua Gengchen finally relaxed and whispered a reminder, "Concentrate on your meal!" before returning to his seat to continue eating. He knew his reaction was a bit excessive! But he couldn't control himself; Su Bai's pitiful appearance from last night was still lingering in his mind, and Hua Gengchen was genuinely afraid that something might happen to Su Bai again!

He hadn't experienced this kind of frightened state of mind in a long time.

Su Bai nodded blankly, but his attention was quickly drawn to the content on the system screen.

He had been wondering what this system energy was, but he didn't expect it to appear so quickly!

To his surprise, the system's energy could be replenished by external forces; he had assumed it could only be repaired by the system itself. It seemed there were still many things about the Shennong system that he didn't know.

What is system energy?

Su Bai asked the question in his mind.

Before this, no matter how many times Su Bai asked a question, the system would not answer. This time, Su Bai was just trying his luck.

At first, the system screen was empty, just like before. Just as Su Bai was about to ask the next question, the system screen flickered a few times, and then a line of text slowly appeared: "Insufficient permissions, unable to query."

Permissions! This word appeared in the system documentation!

However, most of it is used for various tasks. For example, Su Bai is currently completing the initial task. Before completing the initial task, Su Bai cannot find out the various vegetable planting methods in the formal tasks. He will have to wait until he completes the corresponding task before the other vegetable planting methods will be unlocked one by one.

It's like playing through levels in a game.

What level is required to perform the query?

Su Bai immediately pressed for an answer.

The system responded incredibly quickly this time, almost the instant Su Bai finished asking the question: 【Complete twenty official tasks.】

For some reason, Su Bai wasn't surprised at all by the system's response! Although he hadn't completed either of his initial tasks, at least he had something to look forward to.

What is the purpose of system energy?

Previously, Su Bai had always thought that even if the Shennong System was harmful, it wouldn't be much. However, the sudden appearance of 'system energy' was something he didn't understand. Su Bai had to understand it clearly before deciding whether to continue using the system.

Perhaps the system sensed Su Bai's thoughts, or perhaps the system energy had a great effect on the system. After hesitating for a while, the system finally gave an answer on the screen.

[System energy can be used to maintain normal system operation and upgrades, and can gradually improve the host's physical condition.]

Su Bai's eyes flickered after seeing this line of text. It seemed that there were indeed many things about this system that he didn't know! Or rather, it was deliberately hiding them from him!

Suppressing his doubts, Su Bai quickly asked a few more questions: 'What is the substance that helps restore the system's energy? How is it absorbed?'

The system readily provided the answer, as if urging Su Bai to find that thing quickly.

Matter is an energy body and can exist in any form. Absorption method: Requires direct contact between the host and the matter.

After seeing the system's reply, Su Bai secretly looked around while eating breakfast. The system said that the energy body was within ten meters of him and that the energy body could exist in any way.

He had breakfast here yesterday, but the system didn't pop up any such notification, which means it's not something that's usually placed around here, but rather something that appeared today.

Suddenly, Su Bai's gaze stopped on the black crystal that Bai Ze was holding in his hand not far away.

This thing seems to have only appeared today, and it looks a lot like an energy entity!

After Su Bai choked, Hua Gengchen didn't dare to concentrate on his meal. He kept his attention on Su Bai and noticed that Su Bai wasn't as focused on eating as before he choked. He also noticed that Su Bai was secretly looking for something with his eyes, which puzzled Hua Gengchen.

Suddenly, Su Bai's gaze stopped on Bai Ze, and Hua Gengchen's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be... that he wants what Bai Ze has?

Humans who have been tainted by black energy are indeed very easy to be attracted to and tainted by black energy again, but he gave Su Bai dragon scales, so how could Su Bai still be attracted to black energy?

Hua Gengchen couldn't understand the problem, but a sense of unease was gradually growing in his heart.

"Hua Gengchen, can I take a look at that thing?" Su Bai thought for a moment. The best way to confirm whether the black crystal in Bai Ze's hand was the substance the system mentioned was to ask Hua Gengchen directly.

Hua Gengchen put down his cutlery and said with a slightly serious expression, "No! You should stay away from that thing in the future, and it's best to take a detour if you see it." The influence of black energy on people is far-reaching. Su Bai's existence is too important to the demon realm. He can arrive in time once, but he cannot guarantee that he will arrive in time every time. Once he is completely parasitized by black energy, Su Bai will lose his function. Therefore, Hua Gengchen dares not be careless at all.

However, he did not expect that the twelve ice crystals plus his dragon scales would have no effect. Su Bai was still attracted by the black energy. It seems that the black crystals that suddenly appeared were more dangerous than he had anticipated.

Thinking this, the chill that had been easing around Hua Gengchen suddenly surged, causing everyone present to shiver, and some even nearly collapsed.

But Su Bai didn't notice anything at all; he just felt that Hua Gengchen seemed to have become even more terrifying in that instant.

"Huh?" Su Bai was surprised. It was just an ordinary stone. Why was Hua Gengchen so wary?

Could that black crystal be something cursed?!

A bizarre conjecture suddenly popped into Su Bai's mind, so absurd that he couldn't help but laugh. But then he thought, he'd already been reborn, and a system that only existed in novels had appeared; it didn't seem impossible for him to have some kind of curse as well.

Hua Gengchen's expression was so serious that Su Bai dared not mention the black crystal again, and could only ask the system again, "Are there any other ways to find energy substances?"

[System power is insufficient; only a general area can be detected at this time, and the exact location cannot be determined.]

Seeing this, Su Bai sighed. It seemed that he could only start looking at other things first. If he eliminated everything else, the answer would be obvious.

However, if the substance the system needs is indeed the black crystal in Bai Ze's possession, what excuse could he use to get Hua Gengchen to hand over the black crystal without revealing the system's existence?

Su Bai imagined it for a moment, and it seemed unlikely!

He could only pray silently that the black crystal wasn't something he needed!

After Hua Gengchen gave Su Bai a stern warning, he only received a simple "oh" in return. Su Bai then stopped talking and ate his breakfast listlessly. His lack of appetite made Hua Gengchen frown slightly, but he had no idea how to persuade him!

He opened his mouth, but the words he wanted to say suddenly became incoherent and he couldn't utter a sentence. Hua Gengchen had no choice but to close his mouth.

The black crystal has far-reaching implications, and he will absolutely not allow Su Bai to come into contact with it until he has determined its true danger.

Thinking this, Hua Gengchen's chill increased slightly, even affecting Bai Ze, who silently wrapped himself in the blanket tighter, but Su Bai still didn't react.

Because Su Bai had Hua Gengchen's scales on his hands, he could ignore the cold aura emanating from Hua Gengchen.

After quickly finishing his breakfast, Hua Gengchen watched Su Bai eat while thinking about his next plan. After Su Bai finished eating, he said, "I will be going to the company during the day and will not be back until the evening for the next few days. If you need anything, just ask Hua Jueming."

"Okay!" It's good that Hua Gengchen isn't here; Su Bai didn't want anything to feel amiss. "Then tonight..."

Before he could finish speaking, Hua Gengchen promised, "I remember, I will definitely be back on time." This matter was also very important to Hua Gengchen, and he was eager to have a good talk with Su Bai.

"Okay!" Su Bai was very happy to receive a satisfactory reply, and he couldn't help but smile. "Then you can go and get busy!" After saying that, Su Bai went back to his room on the second floor. The effects of the hangover were still there, and what he needed most right now was a good night's sleep. As for finding supplies, he could think about that after he had rested.

Seeing Su Bai return to her room, Hua Gengchen walked over to Bai Ze, and with a wave of his hand, pulled off the blanket wrapped around Bai Ze. Before Bai Ze could react, Hua Gengchen had already carried Bai Ze out of the house.

He was going to take Bai Ze with him to do something very important!