Chapter 77: The Gap Between Rich and Poor

The Minghuoying appearing on Shen Siyuan’s hand seemed to sense the vibration, awakening one by one, then flapping their wings and soaring into the air, scattering in all directions.

Their wings beat, producing a continuous buzzing sound.

But soon, the sharp hissing of blades cutting through air followed.

These finger-length Minghuoying , like countless sharp swords, pierced the void, circling Shen Siyuan’s entire body.

Some landed on his shoulders, others on his lapels, still others on his head…

Shen Siyuan was immensely grateful that the Nine You Demon Lord had re-refined and cultivated these Iron-Eating Ying using the [Ten Thousand Souls Banner].

Otherwise, he could never have controlled them so effortlessly now, and might even have been devoured by them.

Yet these Minghuoying were truly few in number—Shen Siyuan counted them, totaling only seventy-nine.

Recall that the Nine You Demon Lord had once raised a million of them; when released, they darkened the sky and blinded the sun, and it was precisely this ability that allowed him to turn the tide and slay many demon-hunting righteous cultivators.

But for some unknown reason, the once-million-strong Minghuoying had dwindled to merely these seventy-nine.

Unfortunately, the Nine You Demon Lord failed his Tribulation Crossing, leaving only a wisp of residual soul, causing many memories to vanish—he himself could not know the exact reason.

Fortunately, these Minghuoying can reproduce; once he cultivates more in the future, imagining the grand spectacle of commanding them in vast, sky-covering swarms, Shen Siyuan couldn’t help but feel longing.

Yin Xingyue and Dou Dou, who had been practicing the [Embrace the Wind and Sleep] nearby, now stopped, both staring at Shen Siyuan with wide-eyed curiosity.

“Sweet Potato Pot, these bugs are so cute…”

“Sweet Potato Pot, are these ice-stick fireflies…?”

“Wow, Sweet Potato Pot, the ice-stick bugs all listen to you…”

“Sweet Potato Pot, can I play with them…?”

…

Dou Dou, this little chatterbox, could no longer hold back once all the Minghuoying had settled on Shen Siyuan’s body, bursting into a flood of words.

Yin Xingyue reached out to cover her mouth, but couldn’t stop her—this little thing was simply too lively.

Shen Siyuan chuckled softly; the two Minghuoying resting on his shoulders suddenly took flight—one landing on Yin Xingyue’s shoulder, the other on Dou Dou’s head.

Yin Xingyue: →_→

Dou Dou: (´◔‸◔`)

Both little girls froze in place, their faces adorable, not daring to move a muscle, afraid of scaring away the tiny cuties on them.

“I’m giving you these two Minghuoying —take good care of them. You can feed them with Minghuo or metal daily,” Shen Siyuan said.

“Really?”

Dou Dou’s eyes lit up with joy, though she spoke in a whisper, afraid of startling the bug on her head.

Yin Xingyue curiously extended her hand; a wisp of Minghuo appeared at her fingertip, and the Minghuoying on her shoulder immediately landed on it, devouring the Minghuo .

Seeing this, Dou Dou hurriedly mimicked Yin Xingyue, extending her chubby little finger—but after straining for a long time, she couldn’t produce even a wisp of smoke.

“Don’t bother—you’re already overfed. That Minghuoying on your head is about to burst.”

Only then did Dou Dou realize it; with a thought, the Minghuoying on her head dropped onto her fingertip.

“Her butt is glowing, hia~hia… Its butt is glowing, hia~hia…”

Watching her silly little face, Yin Xingyue and Shen Siyuan both couldn’t help laughing.

A ringing alarm woke the sleeping Shen Siyuan.

Without opening his eyes, he reached out and turned off the alarm, then opened them.

Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the round table beneath the sill; a gentle breeze blew through the thin curtains, swaying a potted plant on the table.

Shen Siyuan sat up abruptly from the bed.

He stretched, twisting his shoulders; muscles rippled like a great dragon, bones cracked like popping beans, one after another.

His mind felt clear and refreshed, his spirit brimming with energy; he felt endless strength coursing through him—even ordinary breathing felt exhilarating, as if every cell in his body was joyfully humming with vitality.

This was the immense power granted after forming the Second Phase.

He exhaled deeply, expelling stale air from his chest, then rose.

Yin Xingyue and Dou Dou had vanished again.

Of course, this was because Shen Siyuan never restricted their freedom—they came and went as they pleased.

He picked up his phone and first sent a message to Ruan Hongzhuang.

“Good morning, are you awake?”

But he received no reply from Ruan Hongzhuang—she must still be asleep.

She was different from him; she was the boss, he was the poor, overworked employee.

He only received her message while eating breakfast on his way to work—it was nearly eight, and she had just woken up.

Shen Siyuan took a photo of his breakfast and sent it over.

“Looks delicious.”

“Of course it does. Next time, bring some over and we’ll eat together.”

“Sure, when?”

Ruan Hongzhuang was direct and never pretended—when Shen Siyuan said he’d take her out, she took him at his word.

“How about tomorrow morning?” Shen Siyuan said.

Today was Friday, tomorrow Saturday—they’d already planned to meet early, so they’d have time for breakfast together.

“It’s a deal.”

Hearing this, Ruan Hongzhuang was delighted, looking forward to tomorrow’s meeting.

She didn’t know why, but she simply felt an inexplicable attraction to Shen Siyuan—being near him felt incredibly comfortable, as if their souls resonated perfectly.

Her feeling was not wrong: her own aura was drawn to Shen Siyuan’s far larger one, unconsciously pulling her closer, like two magnets—the smaller one inevitably drawn to the larger.

“What did you eat for breakfast?” Shen Siyuan asked casually.

Ruan Hongzhuang quickly sent a photo.

Then Shen Siyuan fell silent.

Because the photo she sent showed meat sauce pasta, steak, strawberry French toast, foie gras apple sandwich, fruit platter…

Altogether Qiba items, each portion small but exquisitely prepared.

Compare that to his own: a bowl of offal soup, two fried dough sticks, two steamer baskets of buns, a bowl of beef rice noodles—how could he have dared invite her to breakfast?

Seeing Shen Siyuan didn’t reply, Ruan Hongzhuang sent a question mark.

Shen Siyuan sighed helplessly: “Are you eating all this by yourself?”

“No, Jiang Tao is here too.”

Ruan Hongzhuang sent another photo: Jiang Tao, sitting across from her, eating breakfast.

Noticing Ruan Hongzhuang was taking a picture, she smiled and gave a peace sign.

Apparently, after dinner last night, she hadn’t gone home—she’d stayed overnight at Ruan Hongzhuang’s place.

Even with two people, this breakfast was ridiculously lavish.

Indeed, the world of the rich was utterly different from that of the poor.

Shen Siyuan instantly lost all interest in chatting.

“Not talking anymore, heading to work.”

“Alright, I’ll contact you at noon,” Ruan Hongzhuang said.

Though it was just plain text, for some reason, Shen Siyuan sensed a hint of excitement in her tone.

When he arrived at the company building, he happened to meet Lin Manzhi.

Seeing Shen Siyuan, she hurried forward several steps to greet him.

“Sister Manzhi, did you drive in today?” Shen Siyuan greeted her with a smile.

Lin Manzhi nodded, then immediately pressed: “How’s it going with Tingyu? What are you really thinking?”

Clearly, Jiang Tingyu had told her something last night.