Clever Use

"Thank you for your teachings, Master!"

Only then did Xu Yi understand that the Qi Sea Realm was a hurdle. Below the Qi Sea Realm, even if one died, their soul wouldn't even be able to gather form.

"No need for thanks, just remember you owe me two gourds of wine!"

Master Zhou put on a posture of someone reaching out from a coffin – dead and asking for money.

"I remember, I remember! Please, Master, continue to enlighten me!" Xu Yi said profusely.

Master Zhou nodded, "Last question: what is the use of a powerful soul to a martial artist? Honestly, this question is difficult for me to answer, at least I can't give you an accurate answer, because I've never heard of methods for strengthening the soul, or for cultivating it. I'm afraid only those powerful beings in the Soul Sensing Stage could answer your question."

"Of course, as I said before, it doesn't prevent me from making an inference based on my life experience. Take ordinary people, for example. Those with strong Qi and spirit are powerful, energetic, and tenacious. If we were to apply this to a martial artist, if their soul is powerful, they should be able to effectively alleviate mental fatigue while practicing Martial Arts. Similarly, those with powerful soul force are intelligent and perceptive, with astonishing comprehension. Applying this to practicing martial skills would likely yield twice the results with half the effort. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. As for the specific benefits of strengthening soul force, you'll have to experience it yourself after you reach the Soul Sensing Stage."

Master Zhou's voice was light and his tone was soothing, without any passion. Yet, to Xu Yi's ears, it confirmed his long-held suspicions.

At this moment, the empty mountain was silent, ten thousand valleys bloomed with flowers, and the vast expanse of dark clouds dissipated!

"Damn heavens, you've finally opened your eyes!"

Xu Yi roared in his heart, but his face remained calm. He bowed respectfully, "I have learned much!" With that, he turned and left, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Master Zhou came back to his senses and shouted in a voice ten times rougher than when he was lecturing, "Don't forget the wine you owe me! Send it to Iron Cat Ear Alley in Guang'an City..."

After bidding farewell to Master Zhou, Xu Yi didn't rush to the Patrol Department. Instead, he quickly walked to the town center and entered the largest restaurant in Furong Town. In less than fifteen minutes, he emerged with a large food box and hurried towards the Mu Family's residence.

Pushing open the worn wooden door, he saw Qiu Wa eating in the courtyard.

A square stool with a broken backrest had been set up by Qiu Wa as a dining table. Two plates sat on it: cold steamed buns paired with salted fish. Qiu Wa, a small figure, sat on a small stool, eating with gusto.

Seeing Xu Yi enter, Qiu Wa complained, "Where did you go? I told you to guard the house. I thought there'd be hot food for lunch. You're so lazy! I even saved you half a fish." As she spoke, she pointed with her chopsticks to the large half of the fish remaining on the plate.

Uncle Mu wouldn't return from fishing until later. For the past two days, he had been preparing lunch for Qiu Wa. Since she hadn't gone out, he had only reheated the Mu Family's stored food – steamed buns and salted fish.

Now that he was going out, how could he settle for such meager food?

"You're eating without me and you have the nerve to complain? Fine, fine. You eat your food, I'll eat mine."

As he spoke, Xu Yi sat on the stone railing of the flower pond nearby. He opened the food box and spread the dishes out on the railing.

Osmanthus duck slices, cured meat and sausage, scallion-infused three-fragrance chicken, secret recipe suckling pig, braised golden carp...

Dish after dish was laid out, their colors rich, their aromas strong. In the dappled sunlight, they seemed almost sacred.

Qiu Wa stared blankly. Her mouth hung open, and the half-chewed steamed bun slipped out without her noticing.

Xu Yi, however, was not polite. He took a pair of chopsticks, exquisitely crafted from peach wood, from a hidden compartment in the food box's handle. He picked up a piece of duck and put it in his mouth, chewing with great relish.

"Wow!"

Qiu Wa, like a wooden statue, was suddenly brought to life by Xu Yi's action. She jumped up with her short legs and pounced towards Xu Yi, shouting, "Stinky beard uncle, rotten beard uncle! You have delicious food and you dare to eat it yourself? That's too much!"

Her words were unclear, but her chubby little body shot forward like a cannonball, nearly tumbling into the flower pond. She grabbed the greasy three-fragrance chicken with both hands and buried her small head into it ferociously.

This was the most lavish and delicious meal Qiu Wa had ever eaten since she was born. She was so busy she wished her parents had given her two more hands and mouths.

Seeing the little girl devour more than half a roast chicken and a pig's trotter, and still reaching for another plate, Xu Yi finally intervened, "Be careful not to choke!"

Qiu Wa pouted and struggled. Suddenly, she realized her little belly was tighter than ever before. Her ravenous appetite receded like a tide. She quickly moved her small body and collapsed onto Uncle Mu's old recliner, panting and exhaling with her mouth open. One small hand was struggling to rub her belly.

While the little girl was busy digesting, Xu Yi got to work.

This guy ate ten times more savagely than the little girl, truly like a whirlwind devouring clouds. A whole carp was like a fried dough stick, stuffed into his mouth from head to tail.

More than half a suckling pig and half a roast chicken were devoured like twisted dough in moments.

The remaining dishes were treated like peanuts, and he scooped them directly into his mouth from the plate.

The little girl hadn't even processed what was happening before Xu Yi had finished eating.

"Ahhh!"

Qiu Wa let out a strange cry, like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on. She jumped up, her eyes wide, and pointed a trembling finger at Xu Yi, then at the empty plates, but said nothing. Her expression was incredibly comical.

"So you're complaining I ate too much, haha. Little glutton, if you have the ability, grow a bigger belly, haha..."

Xu Yi was overjoyed.

The clouds in the sky seemed to be drawn in by his laughter. He couldn't remember if he had ever experienced such a moment of pure joy in his life.

After a lively meal, Xu Yi headed straight for the east side of town.

Fifteen minutes later, he appeared before the Furong Town Patrol Office.

This courtyard, marked with the sign of the Patrol Department, was large. Through an arched stone gate lay a spacious courtyard, or rather, a vast training ground.

Several strong men, bare-chested, were exerting themselves under the scorching sun on a set of heavy iron body-training equipment. Sweat poured down their bodies, bathing their muscles in a bronze hue.

The midday sun was intense. The pouring sweat was dried before it could even drip, and the air was filled with a strong, sour smell.

Seeing a stranger enter, someone called out, "Who are you looking for? If you have a case, beat the drum outside and submit your documents!"

Before Xu Yi could reply, Gu Jianming, who was flipping through a stack of documents, emerged from the main hall. He spotted Xu Yi from afar and quickly descended the steps, smiling, "Why are you only arriving now? I've been waiting. I thought you weren't coming."

"I had some matters at home that delayed me. My apologies, Captain Gu!"

Xu Yi replied, then continued to survey the place, his future workplace.