Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Chapter 667 -667: No Room for Two Tigers (Part 1)

This world has no chili peppers.

But there are Sichuan and Chinese prickly ash peppers, and the technology to pickle sour vegetables has existed since ancient times.

As a food enthusiast, Wang Chen’s Sumeru Ring was naturally stocked with various seasonings and ingredients he had found, allowing him to cook the food he wanted even in the harshest environments.

The black fish head was split in half, its blood and fishy parts removed, then marinated with salt and cooking wine for a little under two hours.

The marinated fish head was rinsed clean, placed on a plate, covered with ginger and garlic paste, and then a layer of chopped peppers was spread on top.

The fish head was put into a pot and steamed for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

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Once cooked and out of the pot, boiling hot oil was poured over it, and with a sizzle, the fragrant aroma burst forth!

This chopped pepper fish head, made using authentic techniques, combined the flavors of freshness, fragrance, and numbness; the fish meat was extremely tender and melted in the mouth, and it was also infused with abundant spiritual power.

Along with a plate of chopped pepper fish head and mixed cold vegetables, Wang Chen polished off five bowls of Spirit Rice!

Each bowl had the quantity of one jin.

He had high accomplishments in body cultivation, did not abstain from rich foods and enjoyed a good meal; if he really let himself go, not to mention a mere five jins of rice, he could clean up even ten times more with no problem!

For Wang Chen, finding fresh ingredients in an area affected by the Evil Eye was undoubtedly very comforting for both his stomach and his spirit.

In the following days, Wang Chen’s life guarding the Northern Evil Eye became more regular.

He continuously explored the periphery of the Evil Eye, clearing the breeding Monster Spirits and Evil Wraiths, and gathering Yin Qi Pearls to refine Pure Yang Pearls.

Meanwhile, he also took time to absorb the She Qi from the Underground Dark River.

The Innate Five Elements Skill, Heavenly Dragon Vajra Method, and Mystical Mirage Dragon Jue—a primary and two secondary cultivation techniques—were all being advanced concurrently by Wang Chen.

It was as if he had been completely forgotten, the talisman messages he sent daily never received a response.

Wang Chen didn’t care about this; in fact, he had even begun to enjoy his current lifestyle.

With no one to disturb him, he could hunt and cultivate with single-minded focus, gradually accumulating his own strength.

But the tree that desires quiet is whipped by the wind, and some things that are meant to come will eventually arrive.

This day, Wang Chen had just finished his routine patrol and was returning to Free Residence when he felt something was not quite right even before he entered.

Free Residence was actually a large-scale magical treasure that provided comprehensive protection for cultivators stationed at the Evil Eye. Even though Wang Chen was using it now, he did not own it.

That is to say, as long as someone had the command talisman, they could come and go from Free Residence freely.

Wang Chen felt that there was someone inside at this moment!

His mind turned swiftly, and then he calmly opened the array’s seal and entered the house.

Wang Chen caught sight of the grey-robed cultivator sitting in the small living room at first glance.

This uninvited guest appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with a lean figure and a gaunt face, his demeanor serious and rigid, giving off an impression that he was not easily approachable.

The aura he exuded clearly indicated he was at the pinnacle of the Purple Mansion stage, just one step away from reaching the Golden Core!

When Wang Chen entered Free Residence, this unexpected guest was sitting on a chair, flipping through a thick Taoist scroll, seemingly completely unaware of the former’s arrival.

Wang Chen’s gaze flashed, and with neither servility nor overbearingness, he greeted, “Junior Wang Chen pays respects to Steward Sima.”

He recognized this grey-robed cultivator, one of the directors of the Supervisory Hall.

His surname was Sima.

“Hmm.”

Upon hearing the voice, Steward Sima raised his head, set down the Taoist scroll in his hand, nodded, and said, “Back from patrol, huh? Take a seat.”

As if he were the true master of Free Residence.

And Wang Chen was merely an insignificant guest.

His speech was casual and indifferent, carrying a hint of regional discrimination.

“Yes.”

Wang Chen took a seat at the lower position without betraying any emotion.

Steward Sima scrutinized him with a thoughtful look and asked meaningfully, “Wang Chen, have you grown accustomed to living here?”

Wang Chen felt a slight start inside.

He had never dealt with this supervisory director before, and they had no relationship to speak of.

Wang Chen wasn’t clear about why the other party had come, feeling something was off.

“Not bad.”

Wang Chen cautiously replied, “It’s just that the cultivation environment is somewhat poor, and spirit stones are too expensive to consume.”

“Hehe.”

Steward Sima smiled, “Do you really want to go back?”

Wang Chen nodded, “Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

Steward Sima sighed and said, “Lately, the Supervisory Hall really can’t reassign suitable personnel, so you’ll have to bear with staying here for a little longer. But rest assured…”

He paused for a moment, as if to give Wang Chen time to think, “You’ll definitely be able to go back!”

The last sentence of the director was said with resonance and strength, like a firm promise.

Moreover, while making the guarantee, he kept looking at Wang Chen, eyes conveying an expectant meaning.

It seemed as if he was waiting for something.

Wang Chen’s expression was blank, “Thank you, Steward…”

The other party’s hint was rather obvious, but he pretended to be completely oblivious!

Steward Sima waited for a moment but did not get the response he wanted.

His expression quickly turned cold as he pointed to the storage bag on the table, “Inside here is your salary and supplies for the next month. Work hard.”

After saying this, he stood up and left with a stride.

His arrival was sudden, and so was his departure.

After the other party had left, Wang Chen didn’t go to get the storage bag on the table but first went to check the quiet room and the bedroom.

Although there was nothing unusual in the two rooms, Wang Chen’s intuition told him that Steward Sima must have inspected them.

Luckily, Wang Chen knew from the start that Free Residence did not belong to him, so aside from some daily-use furniture, he didn’t keep any private items there.

Even if the other party turned the place upside down, they wouldn’t find anything unexpected!

Now came the question: Wang Chen was a stranger to Steward Sima, so why was the latter keeping tabs on him?

Did Wang Chen look like a wealthy mark?

While pondering, Wang Chen sat back down and reached for the storage bag to open it.

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What was inside took him by surprise!

It wasn’t that there were too many items, but that the quantities were too little—spirit stones, pills, talismans, spirit rice, and beast meat were all about a third less than usual.

For an ordinary cultivator, it would be very difficult to survive a month with these supplies!

A test? A warning? A threat?

Wang Chen put away the storage bag—though a mosquito was small, it was still flesh; he had every right to take what was his.

Originally, he was to wait until his day off to go to the Demon Den to collect this salary and resources.

But now, stationed alone at the Northern Evil Eye, Wang Chen had not a single day of rest, which is why the supply needed to be delivered by someone else.

However, such a task didn’t require a director to handle.

Unless the director volunteered for it.

That raised the question: For what possible reason did Steward Sima take the initiative to bring these items to him?

One might say he had high morals and was eager to help others, or perhaps he was just idly meddling.

But that was something Wang Chen would decidedly not believe!

What’s most important is, from the start, the other party’s words were filled with insinuations, the intent behind them quite obvious.

It’s just that he didn’t want to agree, nor did he want to give anyone leverage over him!

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