Chapter 153: Discovering the Problem

Looking at so much bewildering powder, everyone fell into silence, but Hong Zun didn't give them a chance to think further.

What are you standing there for? Split up like before, change location and continue—this is only three hundred thousand ingredients, enough for who to eat?

Soon, everyone changed to another place, using the same method, achieving the same result, and continued to harvest a large amount of ingredients.

How strange, why is there still no movement?

Just after finishing a sound transmission with Lu Youyou, Hong Zun muttered, "Is the Demon King of the Eastern Sea hibernating? Why is there no movement at all?"

How so?

At this moment, Qing Shi also came over and asked.

Still no movement.

Then let's continue.

Still coming?

The bold get stuffed, the timid starve—how, are you scared again now?

Bullshit, I'd be scared?

As the words fell, another ten thousand plus bottles of bewildering powder appeared before everyone; this time, Qing Shi could no longer hold back and said.

I seriously suspect something's wrong with you—damn, who would lug over thirty thousand bottles of bewildering powder on their person?

Get lost, these are all taken from the Happy Buddha's body.

Happy Buddha? That demonic cultivator who harvests yin to supplement yang?

Exactly, back then I chopped off one of his arms and happened to seize his space ring.

Hong Zun explained, but Qing Shi looked doubtful; although the Happy Buddha could indeed do such a thing, Qing Shi simply couldn't believe he would carry over thirty thousand bottles of bewildering powder on his person.

You and the Happy Buddha won't......

Get lost, I damn well am a righteous gentleman—how could I associate with demonic cultivators?

While bickering, they again found a spot and continued their work.

The situation deviated somewhat from expectations; although they killed many water tribe members, not a single water tribe demon king appeared.

In the end, Hong Zun's bewildering powder was completely used up; for safety's sake, everyone then returned to the Jinhai Yingdi.

Little Qing......

They marched into the courtyard, everyone handed over their space rings to Ye Zhangqing; after a look, Ye Zhangqing was dumbfounded.

Is the water tribe sticking out their necks for you to chop?

Hearing that, Xu Jie put an arm around Ye Zhangqing's shoulder and laughed.

Who knows what the water tribe is up to—not a single demon king showed up, it's just strange.

Everyone was also puzzled—why did the water tribe show no movement at all?

Ye Zhangqing smirked, feeling that the water tribe's intelligence seemed off.

Isn't it said that after Xiūliàn, the Demon Race's intelligence is not much different from the Human Race's? How come this water tribe........

But for now, having obtained ingredients, everyone is naturally happy.

In the evening, Ye Zhangqing made a pot of braised fragrant snails.

Selecting good fragrant snails, first wash them with clean water, put them in cold water, add cooking wine, scallion, ginger slices to remove fishiness, blanch then fish out.

Then add garlic, round onion, cilantro, small green lime, add double chili sauce, soy sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and an appropriate amount of water, stir evenly.

Finally, pour the sauce over the cooked fragrant snails, stir evenly and it's ready.

It's not a new dish; its effect is to clear the mind and calm the spirit, and it can also eliminate inner demons.

As Fàn diǎn arrived, after a fierce scramble among the disciples, those who secured seats ate happily.

The disciples outside who didn't get a seat also didn't leave, each stretching their necks with expectant faces.

Shī xiōng, don't throw away the snail shells—let me suck on one.

Don't even think about it.

This braised fragrant snail dish is the disciples' favorite; besides taste, it's mainly good for storage.

After the snail meat is eaten, the shells can be kept; whenever you're craving, take one out and suck on it—it's equally delicious.

Thus, each disciple carefully stored their snail shells into their own Space Rings.

After the meal, the kitchen floor was completely free of any scraps.

After eating, the people should be chatting in the kitchen, occasionally taking out a snail shell to suck on.

Just as the people were chatting, Hong Zun, Qing Shi, Zhao Zhengping, and others gathered together to whisper about something.

Old drunkard, don't you feel something's odd today?

There is something not right.

With such a commotion, the water tribe's Demon Kings didn't appear; hearing that, Xu Jie beside also chimed in.

Master, do you think something happened to the water tribe?

It's possible.

Hong Zun nodded; immediately, the gazes of everyone collided in the air, wordless but they understood each other's meaning.

As of now, the water tribe likely encountered something; those water tribe Demon Kings are either absent or unable to free themselves.

Regardless, it means the water tribe currently has no capacity to attend to them.

Then things become simple—since your water tribe is in trouble, our Divine Sword Peak lending a hand in 'sending charcoal in the snow' should be fine, right?

Strike while you're sick to take your life, Master—want to do another?

Xu Jie said with a cold smile; hearing that, Hong Zun also grinned.

Hehe, you little brat, not bad—same as what I, as master, thought; but to be safe, we still shouldn't be careless—let's try first and then talk.

Not far away, Ye Zhangqing holding a large tea jar saw Hong Zun and the others gathering again; even with his toe he could tell the water tribe was about to suffer heavily.

As expected, that night Hong Zun's group again sneaked out of the formation and came to the East Sea.

"Without the bewitching powder, can we still do it?"

"Don't worry, we're just testing to see if the water tribe's Demon King really can't come."

"You all keep watch; I and Qing Shi will handle it—if a Demon King appears, we withdraw immediately."

"Yes."

This time it was just a probe; Zhao Zhengping and the others scattered, each holding a formation disk, while Hong Zun and Qing Shi boldly charged into the East Sea, launching a frenzied slaughter.

About half a Shíchén later, the group finally returned to the camp.

In the late-night kitchen courtyard, a cold Keke laughter rang out from time to time.

"Sure enough, just as the master guessed, the water tribe really is facing trouble; those Demon Kings probably aren't even there."

"Keke, since the water tribe's Demon King isn't here, then this East Sea isn't................"

"Sigh, what nonsense is this third junior brother spouting? We're slaying demons and eliminating evil, protecting the Human Race—this is a righteous act."

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for the instruction—when will we act?"

"Early tomorrow morning."

"Then what about this time?"

"Say nothing, just charge out and kill—but we still can't skimp on necessary precautions; we need to send people to watch every direction."

"You say these Demon Kings left on their own, leaving a bunch of ingredients right under our noses—what is this?"

"What else could it be? Thanks for nature's gift."

"Not bad—these are precious foods given by heaven and earth; we should be grateful."

"This time we need to gather enough for a whole year."

"Keke.........."

"Keke.............."

Ye Zhangqing also heard all of their words, his lips twitching—he really wanted to ask the Old Dragon King of the East Sea water tribe, what's wrong with you?

Even though they clearly knew Divine Sword Peak was right nearby, they still went and took away all the water tribe's Demon Kings.

This isn't letting an old cat sleep with salted fish—given their temperament, it's surprising they could even tolerate it.