"Ding!"
With a crisp and pleasant chime, an arrogant voice rang out, "Step aside, all of you! This young master's reserving a grilled fish!"
As the voice fell, a gold soul coin slid into the gap of the grill, producing a soft, buzzing hum.
The newcomer drew frowns from many waiting in line. When they turned to look, it was none other than Xu Sanshi.
But Xu Sanshi didn't care at all about the murmurs around him. Swaggering up, he shoved past the line straight to the food cart. With a big grab—he caught nothing.
Surprised, he stared at the boy who had withdrawn and was now "protecting" the grilled fish in his hands. Xu Sanshi widened his eyes. "Kid, did you see clearly? That's a gold soul coin! Gold soul coin!"
"Get in line," Huo Yuhao frowned, pointing to the end of the queue.
His barbecue stall always had a limit—fifty fish per day, then he'd close. If Xu Sanshi cut in line, it would not only break the rules, but someone who had waited would leave empty-handed.
It just wouldn't be fair.
"Hey, you little brat—" Xu Sanshi began angrily.
"You wanna go? You wanna go?!!"
Before anyone could react, Tang Ya exploded. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to throw down.
"Tang—Tang Ya? What are you doing here?" Xu Sanshi's jaw dropped.
"What does it matter to you that I'm here? As expected from Shrek's garbage. Even here, all you know is how to bully the weak," Tang Ya snorted coldly.
At her words, those nearby instinctively stepped back—
Afraid Xu Sanshi's blood would splatter on them.
Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched. Bully the weak? Me?
At just thirteen years old, he was already a Soul Ancestor, had broken through to Level 4 Soul Engineer in just half a month, and had completed a second spirit awakening.
Yet in Tang Ya's eyes, he was the "weak" one.
Looking around at those present: the ghostly Nana with arms crossed and a look of disdain; the Soul King Tang Ya, who crushed soul tool geniuses effortlessly; the once Golden Generation member Bingjing Zhuchan Meng Hongchen who'd competed in soul tool tournaments...
And in the corner sat Xu Cheng, clearly present, yet with an aura so subtle it felt like he wasn't even there.
Huo Yuhao shook his head helplessly.
In the eyes of these people, I probably do look weak.
"It's just a grilled fish! Why are y'all ganging up on me?" Xu Sanshi pouted, eyes scanning the crowd. Just as he hesitated, he noticed Jiang Nannan talking and laughing beside Xu Cheng, clearly close—far more than "just friends."
Whatever Xu Cheng had said made her laugh so hard she nearly doubled over.
That sight made Xu Sanshi's scalp go numb, fury bubbling in his veins as if his whole body were about to boil.
"Nannan?"
But the next moment, he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his anger. He put on a strained smile and looked at Jiang Nannan, "I was gonna get you a grilled fish. Didn't think you were already eating. Haha... what a coincidence."
"Where'd this turtle come from? Think you can touch the moon?" Tang Ya sneered.
"Seriously, a toad trying to eat swan meat. Keep dreaming."
"You—! Tang Ya, don't push it!" Xu Sanshi's teeth clenched, his eyes nearly spitting fire.
If Tang Ya wasn't Beibei's woman, he'd definitely not let her off so easy.
"Hmph, wanna go to the Arena?" Tang Ya stood with hands on her hips, her ponytail swinging defiantly.
"The Arena..." Xu Sanshi hesitated, remembering the painful sting of her Dragon Beard Needles. He involuntarily shuddered and muttered, "So long as you don't use hidden weapons, I'll beat you into the ground!"
"Hidden weapons are just the easy way to deal with you. I'm a dignified Soul King, and I need to go all out to beat a Soul Ancestor like you?" Tang Ya scoffed.
"I'm not just any old Mysterious Underworld Turtle," Xu Sanshi said with some regained confidence.
"How'd you awaken?" Xu Cheng finally spoke up, curious, cutting into their argument. He looked directly at Xu Sanshi.
"Heaven's secrets can't be revealed! Why do you care how I awakened?" Xu Sanshi felt a little guilty under Xu Cheng's gaze but forced himself to sound confident.
"Heh..." Xu Cheng chuckled without saying more.
But inside, he was quite surprised.
Wasn't this guy head-over-heels for Jiang Nannan? How'd he 'awaken' so fast...?
"What, a turtle putting on a shell stops being a turtle?" Tang Ya snorted. "My Dark Blue Silver Grass isn't your average Blue Silver Grass either."
Tang Ya never held back when it came to enemies. She was fiery like a chili pepper.
"You, you, you—" Xu Sanshi stammered in rage, finally flinging his arm as he turned away.
He was outnumbered—just him and Beibei. It was dangerous.
"In the upcoming Academy Tournament, we'll settle this once and for all!" he barked as he left in frustration.
"Heh, you? I bet you won't even qualify to face me~" Tang Ya cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted back.
Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd—everyone was hyped for the tournament.
Xu Cheng watched it all with a smile.
Seems like the upcoming Academy Tournament has already captured people's hearts. As expected of Jing Hongchen—he really knows how to stir up the hype. Within the Sun Moon Empire, its prestige is probably on par with the All-Continent Soul Master Tournament.
And lately, more and more hidden clans had begun to...
"But... there's always someone licking their wounds in the shadows." He shook his head.
Elsewhere, on a street corner—
Xu Sanshi stopped and looked at the man whose face was hidden under a lowered hood, shrouded in shadow. He sighed and patted his shoulder.
"Let it go. Tang Ya's long since become shaped by him. And with his current power and influence, unless a top-tier expert pulls off an assassination, she'll never leave him... not even a sliver of hope."
"SHUT UP!!!"
Beibei's breathing grew rapid, and he roared in fury.
"Sigh..." Xu Sanshi exhaled, saying nothing more.
"Damn it... tragic brothers, the both of us. I get Tang Ya, but why the hell... Nannan..."
"Wanna go grab a drink?"
"..." Beibei remained silent.
"Come on, let's go..." Xu Sanshi gently tugged his friend toward a nearby tavern.
Beibei glanced back at the distant group—laughing, carefree.
His heart twisted like a knife.
"Young man, do you yearn to become a god?"
Just as Xu Cheng was happily eating grilled fish, singing songs, and enjoying his feast—
A voice suddenly echoed in his ears.
"Become a god?" Xu Cheng paused, the line felt oddly familiar.
"Yes, I see you're extraordinarily gifted, with remarkable bones. Why not accept my legacy, ascend to the heavens, live as long as the world itself? The benefits are countless. What say you?" the voice grew more excited.
It sounded as if it came from the Nine Heavens—ethereal and mysterious.
"And who are you?" Xu Cheng raised an eyebrow.
"'Again'?" The voice picked up on something wrong and grew wary. "You mean... someone else already approached you?"
Given Xu Cheng's monstrous talent, even he—a first-rank god who had seen countless geniuses—was stunned.
If this boy inherited his godhood, the position of God of Emotions might truly advance...
"Let's set that aside. Who exactly are you?" Xu Cheng's voice was calm.
"I... you can call me the God of Emotions," Rong Nianbing coughed lightly and introduced himself.
"What level god?"
"Uh... first-rank."
"That's a bit underwhelming." Xu Cheng shrugged. "The one who contacted me before was a God King—a lot stronger than a mere first-rank god."
"Wha—?!" Rong Nianbing's face twitched. This freak of a youth... already approached by a God King?!
Was it Tang San? Destruction? Maybe...
"Ahem, I may be a first-rank god, but that doesn't mean I'm weaker than a God King. Rank is one thing—true power depends on personal talent." Rong Nianbing cleared his throat in awkward defense.
"If I could get a Divine Enforcer or a God King position, why would I settle for a measly first-rank godhood?" Xu Cheng raised a brow. "With that kind of divine status, wouldn't my power leap to a whole new level?"
"I—" Rong Nianbing was completely dumbfounded.
This is nothing like what I expected!
He thought the boy would at least show some excitement—maybe even immediately swear fealty. Instead, in just a few short minutes, it felt like his divine position had been totally devalued.
Like it was dime-a-dozen.
He didn't push his luck and quietly left.
"Gone already?" Xu Cheng chuckled to himself.
He didn't dislike Rong Nianbing from the original story—but alas, the man leaned toward Tang San's side. Second only to the Seven Devils and Zhou Weiqing, and even ranked above the Seven Elemental Gods.
So the future is destined to be one of enmity.
There's no possibility of reconciliation.
But speaking of Zhou Weiqing...
Xu Cheng pondered for a moment.
In the original work, this guy was considered the ultimate backstabber. He originally inherited the position of the God of Destruction, serving under the God of Destruction. During the great war, he even helped capture Tang San.
But after getting hit with one of Tang San's signature speeches, he instantly turned against the God of Destruction.
He and Xiao Wu then helped suppress two major generals under Destruction, which was the key turning point that allowed Tang San's side to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Should I inform Destruction...?
Xu Cheng thought for a bit, then shook his head.
Right now, Zhou Weiqing was probably either still in the lower realm or just starting to inherit the God of Destruction's legacy. No need to act rashly.
"Ah Cheng, what are you thinking about?" Tang Ya leaned in, curious.
"Hmm?"
Xu Cheng turned his head, and just so happened to brush lips with Tang Ya's pretty face.
"What are you doing!" Tang Ya's fair face immediately turned crimson. She snapped in embarrassment, voice tinged with shyness.
"Nothing really. Just that this skewer of fish got burned." Xu Cheng smiled, placed the fish on the table, and patted Huo Yuhao on the shoulder. "Let me handle it."
"O-oh…" Huo Yuhao froze for a moment and then awkwardly handed Xu Cheng the skewer he had just brushed with soy sauce.
"There's no real trick to this—it's all in the spiritual power. Yuhao, your spiritual power is strong, but still lacks some finesse." Xu Cheng casually worked the skewer as he explained.
But there was no response.
Surprised, he turned to look—and saw Huo Yuhao had already pulled out a little notebook from his pocket.
"Cheng-ge Quotes…"
Xu Cheng: "…"
"Mmm~ So delicious! As expected of Ah Cheng, even among master chefs, there's a gap!" Meng Hongchen held her face with sparkling eyes full of admiration.
Jiang Nannan: "Delicious." (Tasting delicately in small bites)
Tang Ya: "Mmmf mmmf!" (Gobbling messily)
Zhang Lexuan: "Not bad." (Eats it every day, kinda over it)
"Heat, timing—they all need to be precisely calculated…" Huo Yuhao scribbled diligently in his notebook.
"Grilling is just the beginning. To become a true master chef and cook a wide variety of delicious dishes, you'll need to master steaming, boiling, frying, and other techniques." Xu Cheng continued teaching as he flipped the skewers.
"Give me another one~! I'll pay ten gold soul coins!"
"I'll pay a hundred!"
"I—"
"Sold out. All gone." Xu Cheng waved his hand and handed the stand back to Huo Yuhao, beginning to pack up.
"Awwww…"
A chorus of wails followed as the crowd could only watch Xu Cheng leave. None dared stop him, only sending off longing gazes.
…
"Ah Cheng, there's an oil stain at the corner of your mouth."
Everyone had gone off to do their own things.
Only Zhang Lexuan remained with Xu Cheng in the dorm.
The beautiful senior carefully stared at the corner of Xu Cheng's lips and said seriously.
"Really?" Xu Cheng looked puzzled.
He was just about to grab a napkin when Zhang Lexuan's soft, fair hands gently cupped his face. After a brief look, her lips curled into a smile—and then she softly kissed him.
"Sluuurp~"
A long moment passed before they separated.
Zhang Lexuan looked at Xu Cheng's helpless expression, licked the corner of her lips with her tongue, and chuckled, "It's fine now. All clean."
"So, Ah Cheng, are you going to shower first or sleep first?"
"What's the difference?" Xu Cheng said flatly.
"The difference is—one is sea, the other is land~" Zhang Lexuan replied, eyes twinkling.
"Of course, I've prepared for both scenarios." As she spoke, she pulled out two different sets of clothing and laid them out.
"Here, which one do you want today?"
"Damn, this is next-level!" Xu Cheng's eyes lit up.
He looked at Zhang Lexuan with a gaze full of amazement and awe.
Ever since that "prison roleplay" day, it seemed like he'd unlocked some very impressive skills from this senior sister of his.
Nicknamed: Hidden Version.
"Then what if I want both?" Xu Cheng grinned, lifting up the more revealing light blue outfit—barely any fabric at all—then picked up the other one, which had more material but was even more suggestive in its elegant design.
"Well, there has to be a first and second, doesn't there?" Zhang Lexuan moved closer with a graceful step and whispered into his ear.
"Then I guess I'll have to add an extra step—right here." Xu Cheng pulled out the handcuffs from Zhang Lexuan's soul tool, locking her smooth white wrist to the table's edge.
"You don't need my consent, Ah Cheng." Zhang Lexuan's breath tickled his cheek as her other hand gently caressed his face, eyes hazy. "In these moments, when I say no… I really mean yes."
"Bite the table edge."
Xu Cheng's smirk deepened, and his movements turned rough.
Inside the dorm—spring filled the air.
…
At the same moment.
In a shadowy corner of Mingdu.
A faint light flickered on.
A pale girl in a light yellow dress slowly opened her eyes. She looked up at the middle-aged beauty walking toward her—her chestnut hair was elegantly pinned up, her figure alluring, exuding a seductive charm that made bones go soft.
"Mmng~"
The girl struggled to rise, but collapsed to the floor again with a thud.
"Hey now, what's the rush? Big sis here isn't a bad person~" The woman squatted down, lifting the girl's chin with one finger. "Tsk tsk tsk… what a stunning little beauty. But the most surprising thing—an extremely rare Angel Spirit…"
(End of Chapter)