While Yu Yi was asleep, Xue Chenjing carefully rubbed himself against her, wrapping himself in her scent. His senses were now very relaxed, especially towards Yu Yi, with no vigilance at all, which caused him to be unaware of the presence of another person in the room for a moment.
Xue Chenjing was busy peeling the troublesome skin of a pineapple while muttering to the system, forcing it to hand over its points.
To appease its host, the system reluctantly dug into its own retirement savings and exchanged them for a large amount of honey, jam, condensed milk, and a series of barbecue seasonings like New Orleans.
The seasonings and sauces that could be exchanged from the system could all be found in the world with similar flavors.
While exchanging, the system reminded him, "Master, you cannot reveal the existence of the system to anyone, so it's best to think of a suitable origin for these condiments, in case the heroine asks about them when she eats."
Xue Chenjing frowned, soaking the cut pineapple pieces in spiritual spring water, and said, "I know you're unsightly."
Privately, he certainly didn't want Yu Yi to know about the system's existence. If she found out that he was approaching her and pestering her because of the system's tasks, she would definitely be angry. What if she abandoned him and ran away again?
Xue Chenjing racked his brains and said, "Let's say they are my reserves from previous lives."
The system worried, "Won't the heroine think they are expired food? You know, food that has gone bad and can't be eaten after being stored for too long."
"There's a preservation spell," Xue Chenjing replied, frowning unhappily, "And, stop calling her 'the heroine' all the time. She has a name. I don't like you calling her 'Ah Yi,' but you can call her name, Yu Yi."
The system: "..." You're really picky! Who was it that didn't allow it to call her that before?
Seeing that their conversation had turned to how to prepare a feast that would amaze her, and there was no useful information, Yu Yi deliberately made a sound, pretending to just come downstairs.
The system was startled. Even though its host was now completely unguarded towards the heroine and it was understandable that he didn't notice her arrival, even it hadn't detected her approach earlier.
The system hurriedly reminded, "Master, shut up, Ah Yi is here."
By this time, Xue Chenjing had also heard the noise. He didn't have time to argue about the system's address and immediately turned around, his eyes shining brightly like washed chess pieces under the sunlight, calling out, "Ah Yi, did you wake up?"
Yu Yi rubbed her eyes, not in a hurry to expose them yet. After all, they often spent time together now, so she would hear more of the system's voice and eventually figure out what this system was all about.
She pretended to be puzzled, "I just heard you talking to someone?"
Xue Chenjing's gaze flickered for a moment before settling back on her face, "Sometimes when I'm alone, I can't help but talk to myself. Did you hear what I said?"
Yu Yi smiled and shook her head, "I didn't catch much."
Both the system and Xue Chenjing breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Yi walked up, seeing a table full of fresh fruit, including coconuts, pineapples, bananas, dragon fruits. The climate on this island was suitable for growing fruits, and there were many she couldn't recognize.
These fruits had been carefully processed, cut into small pieces, drizzled with honey and sauce, divided into several portions, with vibrant colors and a fragrant aroma. Some had been juiced and chilled in spiritual spring water.
Yu Yi, smelling the sweet fragrance, was already salivating, praising, "Ah Jing, your skills are getting better and better."
If Xue Chenjing had a tail, it would be wagging wildly now. He quickly picked up a piece of banana coated with condensed milk and fed it to her, "Try this."
Yu Yi opened her mouth to take it, her tongue enveloped by the sweet, creamy flavor, her eyes narrowing in delight. She was fed many pieces by Xue Chenjing, tasting each fruit, thoroughly satisfied.
Xue Chenjing had prepared for her to ask about the origins of these things, but she never did. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If possible, he didn't want to lie to Yu Yi anymore.
"Don't eat too much; I've caught a few seabirds for you to roast," Xue Chenjing said, wiping her mouth with his hand, pointing to a branch below, "Look."
Yu Yi followed his finger and saw a row of birds, stripped of feathers and cleaned, hanging there.
Yu Yi: "..." They swayed in the wind like little bird wind chimes.
Xue Chenjing clicked his tongue, "Those birds were so noisy; I asked Crane Senior Brother to catch them, planning to roast them."
Speaking of Crane Senior Brother, he arrived. The crane held an unruly seabird in its beak, flying over and dropping the barely alive bird onto the balcony with a thud, then folding its wings and landing on the roof, cawing twice.
Urging Xue Chenjing to hurry up and serve the food.
Besides the seabirds, Crane Senior Brother also brought some fish. Cooking these required smoke, so Xue Chenjing went to a wooden house on another branch, equipped with complete stoves and cooking utensils, whether it was originally used as a kitchen or he exchanged it with the system.
The sea breeze easily carried away the smoke through the open windows.
Yu Yi lay in a hammock in front of the wooden house, holding a bowl of fruit drizzled with honey, watching him work.
Xue Chenjing's technique was still not very skilled, needing the system to guide him through the recipe. Clumsy as he was, he still burned his hand occasionally, just like in Cloud Mountain.
Although she had heard the system's voice in Cloud Mountain, knowing his ill intentions, she often deliberately gave him some difficult tasks to see his frustration and pretended obedience.
But that period was the first time she had established a close relationship with someone after coming to this strange world. So when she realized that the foundation of that intimacy was built on lies and brainwashing, Yu Yi felt such disgust and repulsion.
However, Xue Chenjing was much cuter now than in Cloud Mountain; she could see his intentions at a glance.
The feeling of having someone to accompany was quite addictive.
Xue Chenjing learned quickly, and with the system's guidance and the abundant seasonings, the meal he prepared tasted great. The roasted birds had crispy skin and tender meat, the grilled fish was delicious, and the fish soup was white and fragrant.
After the meal, Yu Yi had Xue Chenjing take her around the island until she had digested enough to return to the spiritual spring of Haiwan Island.
Xue Chenjing was once again alone and decided to find something to do. He carved some tree branches, following the pictures the system gave him, planning to make what Yu Yi called a "big swing."
Time no longer seemed so hard to pass when he had something to do.
Day and night quietly alternated on this sea. Xue Chenjing had piled up a tall stack of wood, from small structural parts to large supports, all neatly stacked together, even the smallest parts engraved with runes.
The system was amazed for the first time by its host's craftsmanship. Xue Chenjing snorted, boasting, "Give me some time, and I can build any amusement park for her."
A bolt of lightning shot from the depths of the crescent-shaped island, illuminating Xue Chenjing's eyes. He looked over, seeing that Yu Yi's sword realm construction this time was more dramatic, with lightning bolts crisscrossing the island, connecting to the sky.
At the moment the lightning exploded, Xue Chenjing not only felt the power of her sword intent but also suddenly sensed some other abnormal energy fluctuations. He stood up abruptly, trying to concentrate, but felt nothing.
At the same time, the system suddenly beeped in his mind.
[System: Ding—Side plot "Wangye Demon Path" has been activated.]
The Wangye Demon Path, where his heart fire was lost. Almost as soon as the system's voice fell, Xue Chenjing felt the location of his heart fire for a moment. He turned his head and looked towards the inland direction.
Under the clear night sky, ripples like water waves suddenly spread through the air, causing the hidden spirit island's barrier to tremble slightly. A thunderous explosion echoed from outside, and Xue Chenjing swept his hand in a circular motion, forming a water mirror that reflected the scene of the outer islands.
Beyond the archipelago, a tall warship had arrived, and cultivators dressed in the uniforms of various immortal sects were leaping from the ship, beginning to break the magical formations he had set up around the islands.
"How annoying, they've finally found me," Xue Chenjing grumbled, glancing back at the arcs of lightning meandering in the Crescent Bay. With a leap, he jumped into the water mirror.
Outside the archipelago, this warship was three stories high, with a spacious deck where the leaders of various immortal sects stood, including Pei Jingchao and Shen Qingzhi.
The head of Lishan Sword Sect, Juechenzi, had been on the brink of death for a long time and finally succumbed to fate three months ago. The position of sect leader was taken over by Pei Jingchao, but the key to the sect's spiritual weapon and resource storehouse was handed only to Yao Yuxiu.
After the inauguration ceremony, Pei Jingchao personally led Yao Yuxiu to Yaohua Palace, the residence of the sect leader's wife, publicly declaring her identity and status. He personally redecorated the palace, selected servants and attendants, and visited her every night to comfort his grieving junior sister.
The entire Lishan Sword Sect spoke of the deep affection between the new sect leader and his wife, and Yao Yuxiu believed they were a united couple, willingly handing over the storehouse key to him, eagerly anticipating their wedding renewal after the mourning period.
Pei Jingchao accepted the key and kissed her on the forehead. What he thought was that his junior sister had finally been stripped of her support, becoming a little bird kept in a tower, needing only occasional coaxing, even if she got angry, she couldn't stir up much trouble. Even though she now held the title of sect leader's wife, she would never again have the opportunity to wield the sect leader's summons and force him to appear whenever she wished.
Apart from the power transition at Lishan Sword Sect, there were also changes at Zhaohua Palace. The palace master, Jiang Xi, was severely injured in the Chenghai Sea, transferring all her remaining cultivation into her daughter's body to extend Jiang Rao's life by another year.
Jiang Xi, having lost her cultivation, saw her black hair turn white overnight, and her life force withered away, dying. Before her death, she made Shen Qingzhi swear a solemn oath to retrieve the lotus seeds to help Jiang Rao reincarnate, or else he would spend the rest of his life feeding her with his own spiritual energy, just as she had done.
Shen Qingzhi had always been willing to rush around for the young palace master, even if it meant feeding her with his spiritual energy, he would have no complaints.
But when he swore the oath under Jiang Xi's demand, he suddenly found it hard to understand his master. Resurrecting Jiang Rao seemed to have become her obsession, a demonic fixation she couldn't let go of even in death.
In that moment, Shen Qingzhi suddenly saw his own future reflected in her.
Shen Qingzhi and Pei Jingchao came to exterminate the demon out of vengeance for their masters, while Yi Heng came under his mother's command. The immortal sects on this warship all had their own private motives, but everyone shared the same understanding: they had to kill the demon as soon as possible and prevent him from summoning the Heartfire and releasing the countless demons sealed in Wangye.
Otherwise, the world would face another upheaval.
Xue Chenjing stepped out of the water mirror and plunged into the sea, descending rapidly into a deep underwater cave within the islands. He wiped his palm, forcing his blood to flow rapidly, and a large amount of blood poured into the cave.
In the dark depths of the cave, a pair of huge eyes suddenly lit up, and a rumbling sound echoed from within, stirring up turbid mud and sand. A dark red tentacle shot out from the murky water, its tip thicker than Xue Chenjing's waist.
The tip of the tentacle wrapped around him, and he reached out to stroke it, "You've grown so big."
As the colossal creature in the cave began to wriggle out, Xue Chenjing heard the sound waves it emitted enter his ears and scolded, "Don't call me your father."
