In the kitchen, two Spirit Fish swam leisurely in the tank.
Suddenly, a hand reached into the water, startling them into darting in every direction. But the tank was only so big, and one of them was quickly caught.
A layer of mucus clung to its golden scales, making it feel somewhat slippery to the touch.
But Chi Jiuyu still held it firmly as she pulled it out.
The Spirit Fish struggled constantly, and it was quite strong. As she lifted it out, its tail accidentally smacked the tank, making the half-full container slide several feet across the floor.
"Good thing this tank's specially made."
Otherwise, it probably would've been smashed to pieces by that smack.
Holding the struggling Spirit Fish in one hand, she lightly tapped it on the head with the other.
Smack!
A trace of spiritual power struck it, instantly snuffing out the life in its body. She then skillfully scraped off its scales, gutted it, removed its entrails, and cut off its head. She set the prepared fish to one side.
Chi Jiuyu took out her phone, opened the camera, and used telekinesis to make it float behind her.
Once everything was ready, she walked over to the fish and gave it a sharp smack.
A surge of spiritual power sent the whole fish flying into the air. Chi Jiuyu fixed her eyes on it and swung the cleaver in her hand!
Whoosh!
Dozens of fine strands of Sword Qi crisscrossed through the air, slicing the fish as it rose into the air into even pieces. She picked up a porcelain plate with her other hand, and the fish slices, thin as cicada wings, landed in it in perfect order.
Chi Jiuyu set down the cleaver with a delighted grin and admired the neatly arranged fish slices on the plate.
I'm so damn good!
Actually, one slice had landed a little crooked just now, but she'd secretly adjusted it.
After admiring them for a while, she beckoned her phone over, trimmed out a few unimportant parts of the video she'd just recorded, then sent it to 'My Most Respected Master.'
Future Sect Master of Sword Sect: "How's this, Master? Martial Uncle and I are having fish today."
My Most Respected Master: "/hanging"
My Most Respected Master: "/whip Little Yellow Duck"
Tsk~
Chi Jiuyu tossed her phone into her storage ring, then carried the plate of fish slices out of the kitchen.
"Martial Uncle! Look how nicely I sliced the fish!"
Xu Xing was sitting on the sofa, phone in hand. A familiar, sweet voice came from it.
"I've arrived at the hotel~ The surroundings are really lovely, and they've even set up a spirit-gathering formation around the hotel. The spiritual energy is plentiful. If you're visiting Mystic Sword City, you can consider staying here too."
You definitely got paid to promote it this hard.
No, that wasn't the important part.
"Martial Uncle, you're watching a live stream from the Joyous Union Sect!"
So this time it wasn't because he was curious about the Joyous Union Sect's cultivation methods, right?
Xu Xing looked up at her. "Yeah. What about it?"
What about it...
Chi Jiuyu was momentarily at a loss for words. It was true; there didn't seem to be any rule saying Martial Uncle couldn't watch a live stream from the Joyous Union Sect.
Umm...
She set down the fish slices and turned back into the kitchen.
Xu Xing looked back at his phone. On screen was Jiang Yujiu, the Charm Cultivator from the Joyous Union Sect he'd met earlier. She was no longer wearing that long palace gown, but had changed into a tight white camisole and denim shorts. She knelt on the bed, her long, slender legs dazzlingly pale as streams of comments floated by.
[Exploring the ancient cultivator who emerged from seclusion in Mystic Sword City]
The disciples from the other Immortal Sects probably wouldn't be far behind.
Xu Xing closed the live stream and put down his phone.
In the kitchen, Chi Jiuyu took out the phone she'd just tossed into her storage ring.
Future Sect Master of Sword Sect: "Master, Martial Uncle is watching a live stream from the Joyous Union Sect!"
This time, the other side didn't reply immediately like before.
Hm?
Was the connection bad?
After quite a while:
My Most Respected Master: "My junior brother isn't that kind of person."
Chi Jiuyu raised an eyebrow.
I'm your disciple, and you don't even believe me!
At the hospital, Xiao Fan walked into a patient room.
A tall, muscular man lay on the bed by the window, eyes tightly shut, his breathing feeble.
A middle-aged woman sat beside him.
"Mom."
The woman paused and turned. When she saw Xiao Fan, a faint smile appeared on her face. "Xiao Fan, you're here."
"How's Big Brother?" Xiao Fan walked up to the foot of the bed. "Has he gotten any better?"
"Yeah. I asked today, and they said he could wake up at any time over the next few days."
After Xiao Fan's mother finished speaking, she saw that her son hadn't moved, as if lost in thought over something.
Worried, she asked, "Are you all right, Xiao Fan? Should you get checked out?"
Xiao Fan jolted and came back to his senses. He gave a somewhat forced smile. "Don't worry, Mom. I'm fine."
"Why don't you go back and rest for now? Your big brother's condition has stabilized. You don't need to worry."
Xiao Fan didn't refuse. He nodded. "All right, Mom. I'll head back, then."
With that, he turned and hurried out of the room.
Xiao Fan's mother watched her son's retreating figure, guilt growing in her heart.
Xiao Fan really sacrificed too much this time.
She didn't think much of it, assuming he was only in a bad mood because of the Pseudo Foundation Establishment.
After leaving the room, Xiao Fan lowered his head, a trace of fear in his eyes.
A terrifying voice, hazy and indistinct, real and unreal, echoed in his ears—one that only he could hear.
No!
It was as if it had risen from the depths of his heart.
Why sacrifice your own future to help your big brother?
Do they really not know you bought the Barrier-Breaking Spirit Liquid?
No, it's all lies!
They knew all along, but they wanted to save the more outstanding son. And you were the one they chose to abandon.
That's human nature for you. They deliberately let you see those Spirit Coins. Compared with you, they'd rather save your big brother.
You've been abandoned!
You've been abandoned!
You've been abandoned!
As the voice came faster and faster, Xiao Fan grew more and more agitated.
"Hey! Watch where you're going! This is a hospital."
"Shut up!" Xiao Fan turned around and roared.
His voice was so loud that everyone in the corridor looked over.
The person who'd warned Xiao Fan was a patient in a hospital gown, with a deathly pale face and a gaunt frame. After being shouted at like that, he looked rather offended.
But before he could say anything, Xiao Fan abruptly bowed.
"I'm really sorry. I'm in a bit of a bad mood. I didn't mean to just now. I sincerely apologize!"
His apology came so quickly that the patient didn't know how to react.
"It's, it's fine. Just be more careful next time."
After bowing once more, Xiao Fan turned and quickly walked out of the hospital.
Seeing that, the people who'd gathered to watch dispersed too. They'd thought there'd be a scene to enjoy.
Once outside, Xiao Fan looked back, still shaken.
Huff, huff...
It took several deep breaths before he started to feel a little better.
What was wrong with him?
He pressed one hand against his chest.
And what was that voice?
After a long while, Xiao Fan raised his head.
The crowds streamed back and forth, but one motionless figure stood out among them. The people around him seemed not to see him at all.
Xiao Fan froze. "Senior Confusion?"
"An opportunity was before you, yet you failed to seize it."
Confusion's voice was calm as he walked toward him. With every step he took, Xiao Fan felt himself growing farther and farther from the world around him.
By the time Confusion reached him, nothing remained by Xiao Fan's side. As far as he could see, there was only a vast expanse of white.
A method he couldn't understand at all.
Just how high was Senior Confusion's cultivation?
"Just this once."
Confusion raised a hand and pointed. A storage ring landed in Xiao Fan's palm.
An opportunity?
Xiao Fan quickly caught on.
Could Senior Confusion be talking about the cup he'd picked up earlier?
So it really had been a treasure?
Confusion looked at Xiao Fan and, for once, felt somewhat speechless.
He had bestowed great fortune upon many people, but he'd never encountered anyone like Xiao Fan, who'd passed up a great opportunity just within his grasp over two Spirit Coins.
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