Chapter 329: Tiger Demon: It Was I Who Implicated Fellow Daoist Chen

"You cut your hair? You look really sharp!" Chen Banxia raised her hand and ruffled his hair messily. Because of the height difference with her younger brother, she had to lift her hand above her own head to complete this action, but this did not affect the dignity of an elder sister. "Listen to your sister; that's a good boy."

"Go away, stop messing around!"

"How is this messing around? I'm complimenting you!"

"Shut up!"

"Is that how you talk to your sister!"

Chen Banxia frowned and scolded her brother, while simultaneously glancing at her little friend beside her.

There are outsiders here, can you give your sister some face?

"Get out, don't get in the way of my cooking!"

"I'll help you out!"

"You? It'd be good enough if you didn't cause trouble."

"You..."

Chen Banxia eyed her brother's back, raised her hand to strike, then felt a bit nervous—

If this slap landed, it would be fine if he didn't fight back; she would naturally be able to save face in front of her little friend. But what if he fought back? She couldn't beat him right now. A dignified elder sister, being beaten by her younger brother—wouldn't that be even more embarrassing? She was afraid she wouldn't even dare to speak loudly in front of her little friend in the future.

Chen Banxia couldn't help but frown even tighter. She glanced at her little friend again, immediately pretended to stretch, and gave a dry laugh:

"Hehehe, this child, he's been disrespectful since he was little. Don't mind it, don't mind it..."

"Get out quickly!"

"What's with the rushing? I know how to leave on my own!" Chen Banxia's voice was stern. She glanced at her little friend and bloomed with a smile again, "Let's go out and play. The cooking fumes here are too strong; if we go back, we'll smell like smoke, and I'm too lazy to change clothes."

"Your brother is so impatient..."

"Eh!"

Chen Banxia waved her hand at the air, completely indifferent: "He's just like that. Actually, deep down, he respects me a lot. Whatever I say goes!"

"Really?"

"Look, I only mentioned wanting to eat roast rabbit yesterday, and he bought two rabbits today immediately. See?"

"That's true..."

"See! Although I only said it casually, does he dare not listen to what I say?" Chen Banxia was extremely proud. "In the future, if he makes you angry again, don't make a big fuss. Just tell me directly!"

"You'll help me beat him up?"

"I'll help you talk to him!"

"Eh?"

"Don't get any wild ideas! If he needs a beating, he still needs a beating!"

"But he's at the Sixth Stage, and you're only at the Fifth Stage..."

"So what? As his sister, if I hit him, does he dare to fight back?"

"Emmm..."

Zhang Suannai couldn't help but scratch her head.

Chen Banxia led her to the stone table to sit down, admiring the autumn flowers in the courtyard, and finally let out a sigh of relief.

Today was another day of maintaining the dignity of an elder sister.

Because he was going to make roast rabbit for Chen Banxia in the evening, Chen Shu kept lunch simple. He made a few random dishes and the cumin potatoes that Xiaoxiao wanted to eat. The few of them sat by the stone table in the courtyard, eating while admiring the flowers, enjoying this holiday.

"Ah..."

Chen Banxia stretched and sighed, saying: "It's so good to have a holiday. Working is so annoying; I really miss the time when I was in school."

"Aren't you still pursuing advanced studies at school now?"

"Working while studying for a Doctoral Degree is even more annoying." Chen Banxia paused, "But I'll be able to get my Doctoral Degree at the end of this semester. By then, our school will hire me back as an Assistant Professor. I'll quit this job and focus on slacking off while teaching at school... From now on, you all call me Teacher Chen!"

"It's not even a sure thing yet."

"Haha, my advisor is the Dean of the Pharmacy College, the big boss of pharmacy in the whole country." Chen Banxia had an "you didn't expect that, did you" expression. "By then, the judges for my defense will all be his disciples and students."

Chen Shu pursed his lips, not wanting to say more.

Zhang Suannai, however, chimed in with a compliment:

"Envious!"

Chen Banxia was smug: "Just kidding! Who is your sister? Even without this connection, isn't getting a Doctoral Degree easy? I don't even know how many papers I've published in international pharmacy journals..."

This remark made Zhang Suannai worry—

She had to write a thesis next semester too.

Although she was a Sword Cultivator, the department and major she was in were called the "Martial Cultivation Academy," "Martial Cultivation Department," and "Traditional Sword Cultivation System Research." In this day and age, the country did not openly support ancient cultivation, so the nominal slogan of this major was to research the traditional Sword Cultivator system and engage in Sword Cultivator education. Therefore, she also had to take many theory courses during her usual classes, including general education courses and professional theory courses, referring to Jiang Lai of the Martial Artist major.

Naturally, she had to write a thesis and defend it to graduate.

Asking a Sword Sect Disciple to write a thesis was truly a bit difficult.

To be precise, while she was still in the Forbidden Land, she had already been assigned a graduation thesis advisor, and it was the one left over after everyone else had chosen. Since the beginning of this semester, the advisor had been urging them to write their thesis, using the excuse that "if you don't write it this semester, it will be too late to rush it next semester."

However, Zhang Suannai still decided to write it next semester—

Because she had never written a thesis before.

Even for some previous assessment courses where a thesis needed to be submitted at the end of the term, at most a few thousand words, she had always searched for them online. Or she spent money on forums to ask other students to help write them; she figured those students also searched online, but she didn't mind. Anyway, what she paid was just the price for copying.

This kind of thesis wasn't checked strictly.

A graduation thesis was different.

Zhang Suannai had a headache just thinking about such things now, and such a headache-inducing matter naturally had to be pushed to the future.

Let the future me have the headache.

Please, future me /fist bump/ /folded hands/ /bow/

This is something I learned from my roommate, the Xiaoxiao Method.

The Xiaoxiao Method is great! While her classmates are all worrying about internships and graduation theses, she lives freely and at ease, even able to invite her little sister-friend over this afternoon to eat a good meal made by that silly Qingcai Keke, with roasted rabbit, roasted fish, and a drink waiting for her in the evening; she is just a carefree little flower.

This is all thanks to the Xiaoxiao Method.

Moreover, whenever she thinks about how that silly Qingcai Keke opposes her in the group every day and fights with her over her roommate, yet still has to cook for her, she feels incredibly satisfied inside.

Just at this moment, her Mobile Phone vibrated.

The silly group had activity again.

Zhang Suannai didn't even look, just focusing on picking up the spicy pork intestine to go with her rice; she had already isolated everyone in the group.

However, she caught a glimpse of Chen Shu taking out his Mobile Phone.

……

Haoran: @All Members

Haoran: Recently, geniuses from various continents have gathered in Dayi. The Imperial Family wants to take this opportunity to lead the organization of an Imperial Exchange Meeting between peers. Fellow group members, if you are free and have nothing to do, you can sign up to participate. It is a very good opportunity for exchange and can also manifest the national prestige of our Dayi.

Gate of All Wonders: Is it to win glory for the country?

Haoran: Naturally, it is to win glory for the country.

Haoran: However, there is no need to be too eager. Our Dayi has a wealth of talent; if too many go, it will look like we are bullying them. Just a few will do.

Haoran: Currently, Luo Huaian and Eight-Pack Abs have already been confirmed to participate. Anyone who is willing can sign up.

Gate of All Wonders: @Grandma Always Says

Chen Shu put down his Mobile Phone and said to Zhang Suannai, "There's a chance to fight, go sign up in the group quickly."

"Swish!"

Zhang Suannai put down her chopsticks and took out her Mobile Phone.

Grandma Always Says: Where? Where is there a fight?

Grandma Always Says: I'll join one.

After Zhang Suannai finished typing, she glanced at Chen Shu again:

"Are you going?"

"If you go, I won't go. As the current number one among peers, it shouldn't be much of a problem for you to beat them up," Chen Shu offered a timely compliment. "I will take Qingqing and Xiaoxiao to cheer you on from the sidelines."

"Hmph hmph, it's good that you know."

This phrase "current number one among peers" really hit home for Zhang Suannai, making her feel light and airy inside.

Having eaten the meal Chen Shu cooked, she already couldn't be tough in front of Chen Shu, and once this sentence came out, it made her completely soften, to the point that seeing this person sitting together with her goddess roommate didn't feel quite as jarring anymore.

"However, this kind of competition is definitely domestic versus foreign, there won't be a civil war, so you can also sign up; no need to worry about facing me."

"……"

Chen Shu couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Gate of All Wonders: Are Senior Brother and Qingcai going?

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Amitabha, this poor monk will not go. With Benefactor Luo, Benefactor Muscle-Eight, and Benefactor Grandma there, there is no real meaning in this poor monk going as well.

Qingcai Keke: +1

Qingcai Keke: /Salted fish

Grandma Always Says: Why did you put me last?

Gate of All Wonders: I actually quite want to go.

Gate of All Wonders: Although my Daoist sect is not good at fighting, we have lost two consecutive times; the Heavenly Venerable has no face left.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: How strange.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: I have never seen Senior Sister Zhaoyeqing participate in this kind of thing.

Gate of All Wonders: Guess what her system is.

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Amitabha.

Grandma Always Says: Even a fool could guess.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: /Surprise

"Focus on eating!"

Chen Banxia came out again to display her authority as the eldest sister.

Chen Shu was speechless, but he still put down his Mobile Phone.

Seeing this, Chen Banxia was extremely satisfied.

In fact, the Dayi Imperial Family still follows the old routine of the "Celestial Empire" of the past; every dynasty has been like this. Whenever envoys from other countries come for exchanges, especially when there are talented people who are relatively strong in a certain aspect in the other party's delegation, they like to have an "exchange" with them to manifest the prestige of the superior country.

A salted fish like Chen Shu naturally has no interest in such things unless necessary.

It would be better if there were a civil war in this exchange meeting; Chen Shu would very much like to see who would win between the Sixth Stage Master Linjian and the Sixth Stage Zhang Suannai.

At the same time, at an international hotel in Yujing—

Four Demon Race geniuses gathered together.

They were the tiger demon Huang Chu, who was like a muscular Barbie; the fox demon Hu Chen, who had an honest face; the rat demon Shu Yongyi, who was exceptionally tall and handsome, as if trying to cover up the flaws of his original form; and the eagle demon, who actually had the highest beauty, a very hot figure, wore daring clothes, and had an extremely aggressive face, but in fact, her original form was a golden eagle. According to the customs of the Xia Dynasty, her Chinese surname was Jin, and she was called Jin Lan.

"What do you all think about this exchange meeting in the Xia Kingdom?" the eagle demon spoke first, her eyes sharp as she swept over the others.

"Exchange is certainly a good thing, and it's also a chance to see the level of geniuses from various countries," the fox demon said honestly, adding, "We can learn from each other's strengths to offset our weaknesses."

"Fellow Daoist Fox's words are reasonable," the rat demon said.

"During this trip to the Forbidden Land, did you encounter any geniuses you felt inferior to?" the eagle demon asked.

"I met two," the fox demon sighed and said. "They were truly incredible geniuses. One of them is a descendant of the long-lost Imperial Sect, whose Secret Contract target is at least a Ninth Stage existence; at least during the Intermediate Stage, I'm afraid there are no rivals among the same stage."

"And the other one?"

As the one with the highest cultivation among the four demons, the eagle demon was also the most concerned about the outcome of the exchange.

"As for the other one..."

The fox demon narrowed its slit eyes and shook its head repeatedly: "The other one's combat power might not be particularly outstanding, but his willpower is something I have rarely seen in my life. Previously, he was just an ordinary Martial Artist, unable to open a Spirit Sea. As for now... he might be the first transcendent Martial Artist, which one cannot help but admire."

"You are traveling with them?"

"That's right..."

The fox demon spoke with a slight lisp, but its voice was loud and warm: "I am traveling with them and have already forged some friendship."

"I encountered a genius from the Northern Continent and traveled with him for over two months; he also made me feel inferior," the rat demon replied. "If you were to face him, I estimate the odds of victory would be fifty-fifty."

"I also met one."

After swallowing the braised beef in its mouth, the tiger demon hurriedly said: "And I have more intelligence here. Besides the peerless genius I encountered, the Xia Kingdom actually hides even more geniuses, each one more incredible than the last."

"Please elaborate."

"Please speak, Hu Daoyou."

"..."

The tiger demon smacked its lips, thinking of that person from the Xia Kingdom whom it had treated as a tool.

That truly was a peerless genius.

Thinking of her, she still felt a bit guilty—

Under her own instigation, that Xia Kingdom genius had entered the depths of the Forbidden Land with her. Relative to their respective strengths, she had certainly taken advantage. In the end, when they encountered the pursuit of an Eighth Stage Resurrected One, she and he fled in separate directions. She had expected the Resurrected One to chase him, but unexpectedly, it came to chase her first.

Dying is just dying; it is not a big problem.

Although she died midway and it seemed like she wasted half the time and lost a lot, because they went deep into the Forbidden Land where the Divine Power was dense—and according to several Daoist friends, the density of Divine Power in the first month and the last month was worlds apart—calculating it all, the gains she obtained from following that tool deep into the Forbidden Land for over a month were likely higher than what Hu Daoyou and the rat demon gained from wandering the edges and exterior of the Forbidden Land for two and a half months, and perhaps not even weaker than Ying Daoyou.

It was just that the place was truly too deep. Once she died, with no one to look out for each other, that tool was likely in grave danger as well.

The tiger demon felt a bit sorry for him.