Chapter 24

Shen Xingyan's jealousy had boiled over. He had no mind for anything else. His face darkened as he watched Ye Qingyao use spiritual energy to heal Lei Jiajia's wound, while Lei Jiajia gazed at her with open admiration.

When their skin brushed, Lei Jiajia didn't cry out in pain. Instead, she grinned like a lovestruck fool and earned a "How brave" from Ye Qingyao.

"Damn it!" Shen Xingyan clenched his fists. He wanted to beat Lei Jiajia until she was picking her teeth off the ground.

By the end of the first day's elimination rounds, the Immortal Sects Grand Tournament's final eight had been decided. Ye Qinghui, Shen Xingyan, Lu Lingxuan, Jiang Kui, Ye Qingyun, and the others had advanced.

With 2,000 Superior Spirit Stones, Ye Qingchuan and the others had won all the way through without lifting a finger, raking in over a million Superior Spirit Stones. Together with Lu Lingxuan of Spirit Sword Manor, they had created a gambling legend at this year's tournament.

Ye Zhenzhen then coaxed Ye Qingchuan into trading two Dragonblood Stones for the two million Superior Spirit Stones Lu Lingxuan had won.

Lu Lingxuan was overjoyed. A Spirit Sword forged with Dragonblood Stone could fetch a sky-high price. Ye Qingchuan had made a handsome haul too. More than three million Superior Spirit Stones were nearly bursting his Heaven-and-Earth Bag; once the tournament ended, he would have to get a Heaven-and-Earth Ring.

That evening, cultivators arrived with fifty Superior Spirit Stones in hand, eager to buy grilled fish, only to find the stall had vanished.

"Why aren't they selling grilled fish anymore? I really wanted one."

"Exactly! Once the tournament ends and I go back to my sect, I'll never get to eat grilled fish this good again. I was planning to buy one every day until then."

Third Senior Brother, even a fly's leg is still meat. Keep selling grilled fish and earn a few more Spirit Stones! Ye Zhenzhen watched in dismay as people arrived clutching their Spirit Stones, then left with them.

Ye Qingchuan tapped her little head. "We already have so many Spirit Stones. Isn't that enough? You still want to run your senior brother ragged?"

I just want to eat the grilled fish you make, Senior Brother. Ye Zhenzhen's muffled little voice turned coaxing.

"Since you made me so many Spirit Stones today, I'll grill one just for you." Ye Qingchuan hefted his heavy Heaven-and-Earth Bag.

Before long, the fragrant grilled fish was ready. Unfortunately, Ye Zhenzhen had only one tiny pointed tooth. All she could do was savor the tantalizing aroma and manage a bite or two, much to her frustration.

Why won't my teeth hurry up and grow? How much delicious food have I missed?

She puffed out her cheeks, trying to swallow the whole fish despite having no hope of managing it. Ye Qingchuan's lips curled into the triumphant, mischievous grin of a boy his age.

He was about to enjoy the grilled fish himself when Ye Zhenzhen stopped him without ceremony. Hold it, Senior Brother. You said this fish was my reward. If I can't eat it, Xiao Ba can. Xiao Ba is my contracted beast, so if Xiao Ba eats it, it's the same as me eating it.

She called Xiao Ba over for the grilled fish, and Xiao Ba shot out with a whoosh.

Over ten thousand years, Xiao Ba had eaten every kind of fish in the sea—sharks, whales, manta rays—but had never tasted grilled fish this fragrant and delicious. Xiao Ba swayed with excitement, all eight tentacles waving nonstop.

See how well I treat you, Xiao Ba? As long as you listen to me, there'll be plenty more grilled fish.

Xiao Ba nodded a head like a red egg. Then inspiration struck. One tentacle stretched to twice its usual length and reached toward Ye Zhenzhen. The meaning was clear: Can you grill my tentacle for me to eat too?

Whoa, you're so greedy you won't even spare your own tentacles! Xiao Ba made Ye Zhenzhen laugh so hard that her mouth opened wide, showing her tiny pointed tooth. That's my contracted beast, all right.

As the octopus tentacle grilled, waves of mouthwatering, charred aroma rose from it, carrying the distinctive scent of the deep sea. It drew a large crowd of passersby.

"How much for the octopus?" People stopped and asked the price.

"Five hundred Superior Spirit Stones." Ye Qingchuan named an outrageous price without blinking.

"Sure, here you go." Everyone scrambled to hand over five hundred Superior Spirit Stones, then clutched their grilled octopus and tore into it, smacking their lips as they ate.

Xiao Ba, you really are a little fish that brings in riches. Ye Zhenzhen's eyes nearly disappeared with delight. Third Senior Brother, do you still want to rest?

"Even a fly's leg is still meat. Five hundred Superior Spirit Stones isn't a small sum." Ye Qingchuan promptly cut off more of Xiao Ba's tentacles to grill. They would grow back anyway.

Why hadn't I realized Spirit Stones were so easy to earn? Hahahaha!

Making money felt incredible~

By the end of the first day's elimination rounds, the Immortal Sects Grand Tournament's final eight had been decided. Ye Qinghui, Shen Xingyan, Lu Lingxuan, Jiang Kui, Ye Qingyun, and the others had advanced.

When Ye Qinghui's opponent for this round entered the arena, every eye turned to her at once.

Dressed in red, she spun through the air, her long legs sweeping like a whirlwind, and landed on the platform with dashing poise. With one hand, she brushed aside a stray lock of hair; with the other, she raised her Fallen Blossom Slash. Her eyes were alluring, her skin smooth as cream, her figure slender and graceful. There was something indescribably captivating about her.

What a beautiful lady! Even Ye Zhenzhen stared, transfixed.

The newcomer was Jiang Wan, the foremost disciple of Immortal-Ending Hall. In that unusual sect, women held sway, and its disciples were all lovely young women with fair skin. Even among them, Jiang Wan stood out for both her looks and her cultivation.

But true beauties were formidable. Jiang Wan's Fallen Blossom Slash was notorious throughout the Cultivation World for its ruthlessness. It could break through several defensive barriers and lock onto an opponent, following like a shadow no matter how they dodged or leaped away.

"I've long heard of you, Senior Brother Ye. Please grant me the benefit of your skill." Facing the youth whose bearing was like polished jade, as though an immortal had descended to earth, Jiang Wan struck first and unleashed her Fallen Blossom Slash.

The Fallen Blossom Slash pursued Ye Qinghui like a crimson phantom, determined to cut him down beneath its rose-scented blade. Many men before him had been unable to shake its pursuit. Bewitched by the scent of roses as well, they had been wounded by the Fallen Blossom Slash and defeated in disgrace.