Calming down and thinking it through, Jiang Ke’er realized that compared to the System, she was indeed making things difficult for herself… but that sense of frustration was hard to shake off, leaving her chest tight and her mood heavy no matter how she tried to reason with herself.
Since it’s painful, then let that sorrow and anger fuel my strength!
I, stubborn Jiang Ke’er, refuse to be defeated by a mere simulation! Sooner or later, I will definitively defeat a fully powered fake opponent!
With silent determination, Jiang Ke’er resolved to train diligently, formulate a reasonable battle plan, and seek out the fake opponent to cause trouble whenever she had the time.
Oh, right, speaking of which, the time ratio in the Stellar Transdimensional Training Field is 10 to 1 compared to the real world.
So, not only could she go there to spar and hone her combat skills, but she could also handle other matters while she was at it.
It was a pity, though, that the Spiritual Energy there was rather sparse, so her training efficiency was about the same as in reality… but fortunately, her practice speed was already fast enough—no need to ask for more.
Cooking time~
Since Qiao Xiaoxian had left, Jiang Ke’er could make a smaller breakfast today.
Hmm, why am I thinking of her again…
Jiang Ke’er tried hard not to dwell on the name Qiao Xiaoxian, to avoid letting herself become restless.
After all, every time she thought of that name, her heart became deeply conflicted.
No more thinking! No more thinking!
A wonderful day starts with steaming hot lamb hotpot!
Meanwhile, Yuan Zheng suppressed his cultivation base and hurried to Shiwei Zhou.
The first thing he did upon arrival was to take out the delicious instant food he had brought from the Divine Palace and eat until he was stuffed to the point of nearly vomiting.
“Hmph, as long as I eat myself full like this, no matter how tempting the delicacies before me, they will all be as disgusting as filth! This is the most basic bodily reaction of living beings! An unbreakable natural instinct!”
He knew that Jiang Ke’er and Qiao Xiaoxian most likely escaped together carrying the Underworld Province Cauldron, so the new Houtu was probably connected to them.
It was even highly possible that the new Houtu was currently with Jiang Ke’er!
And if he were to face Jiang Ke’er, he would have to confront his own indelible inner demon… so he came up with this brilliant preemptive tactic of eating until he was completely full!
He was practically a genius!
Filled with pride and murderous intent, Yuan Zheng found his way to Sandao Village.
These ridiculous Underworld Province remnants foolishly thought they had escaped the gaze of the Tribulation Immortal Hall, unaware that their every move was already under the Hall’s complete control.
And within the entire Shiwei Zhou, only this group of Underworld Province remnants remained—so the birth of the new Houtu must be related to them.
Yuan Zheng concealed his aura and silently approached Sandao Village, overhearing the conversations within clearly.
“Houtu Your Highness said there’s a test today to check how much of yesterday’s lessons we remembered… everyone mustn’t slack off and disappoint Houtu Your Highness!”
“Of course! Whether physics, chemistry, or math, I have memorized everything by heart. Frankly, I think Houtu Your Highness teaches too slowly.”
“Then let me test you: what’s the formula for calculating pressure?”
“Uh… I forgot. Something like P equals I don’t know what…”
“What ‘P’? It’s called Pascal!”
Yuan Zheng wiped the sweat from his brow, utterly baffled by what these guys were talking about.
Was this some new cultivation technique? Or some secret code?
“Let’s go, it’s almost time. We should hurry up… being late would give a bad impression to Houtu Your Highness!”
Hearing that, Yuan Zheng’s spirit lifted!
Ha! Searching high and low was futile, but it all came easily in the end! These stupid Underworld Province remnants were completely unguarded, openly revealing Houtu’s whereabouts!
So if he followed them, he would soon find the new Houtu and complete his mission!
“Houtu Your Highness is kind-hearted, not only teaching us but also opening a cafeteria, asking us to eat nutrition meals every noon to replenish our brain and body energy… we should go early so the food won’t get cold and waste Houtu Your Highness’s kindness!”
“Yeah! Let’s go!”
Cafeteria? Nutrition meals?
Those two keywords immediately set off alarm bells in Yuan Zheng’s mind!
He quickly pulled out the dried meat he had brought and followed behind the Underworld Province remnants, walking and eating at the same time.
Although he was already stuffed to the brim and the meat had lost all flavor—so much that even looking at it made him want to vomit—he forced himself to eat. As soon as the fullness slightly subsided, he refilled his stomach again.
This way, everything would be foolproof.
Following along, Yuan Zheng soon found the destination with the students of the Underworld Province remnants.
At the Yan Family Compound, smoke curled from the kitchen chimneys, and long tables had been set up across the spacious yard. The tableware was laid out, but the food had not yet been served.
“You’re early,” Jiang Ke’er peeked out from the kitchen and greeted them, “please sit down and wait a moment.”
“Is it really Houtu Your Highness personally cooking?” someone exclaimed in surprise, “How can this be?”
“Oh, don’t be so polite, just sit properly. The food will be ready soon!” Jiang Ke’er said with a smile.
Houtu’s orders were supreme decrees. Though anxious and feeling undeserving, the Underworld Province remnants could only obediently sit at the tables.
The doors of the Yan Family Compound gradually closed, but barely a short while later, there was a rapid knocking on the door.
A Yan Family servant opened it, only to see a man in black standing at the entrance with an imposing aura, who stepped in without a word.
“Hey!”
The servant tried to stop him but was thrown back violently with a powerful burst of force upon barely touching the man’s clothing, crashing into the wall and evidently severely injured.
Hearing the commotion, Jiang Ke’er looked out and frowned when she saw the black-clad man.
“Guest, since you’re here, no need to bully the servants… Ming Ling, you and the other students, quickly take those two servants to see the Doctor.”
“But, Your Highness…” Ming Ling looked worried. This man in black clearly came with ill intent, radiating murderous intent and obviously here to cause trouble.
“Hurry!” Jiang Ke’er’s tone grew serious.
“Yes!”
Ming Ling dared not disobey and left the Yan Family Compound with the other students.
“A distinguished guest has arrived. Sorry for the poor reception. Would you like to sit down and have a meal together?” Jiang Ke’er smiled brightly at Yuan Zheng.
“Jiang Ke’er, how many identities do you really have,” Yuan Zheng’s eyes flashed with cold menace, “Fox Demon, Sword Cultivator, Houtu… Today I—”
“Sizzle~~~”
Jiang Ke’er ignored him completely, casually tossing chopped green onions, ginger, and garlic into the oil pan to sauté. The ingredients hit the hot oil with a crisp sizzle.
The aroma instantly filled the entire courtyard. Yuan Zheng’s eyes went wide.
His murderous intent slowly gave way to disbelief and then frantic struggle…
His eye sockets expanded as his eyes opened wider, water shimmering in his pupils until finally… they sparkled with starlight, filled with countless tiny stars.
No, no, no! Absolutely not!
Yuan Zheng hurriedly pulled out more dried meat, biting down hard on a chunk and chewing fiercely before swallowing it.
Just then, Jiang Ke’er’s kitchen knife lightly sliced through the fat and lean marbled pork on the cutting board, which immediately jumped into the oil pan with a loud sizzle.
The distinctive aroma of cooking meat exploded throughout the entire yard like a bomb.
Yuan Zheng was stunned.
The dried meat in his hand suddenly no longer smelled appetizing.
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