Chapter 354: Yuanzhou Winter Break

The sixth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Chen Shu finished his final exam.

He sauntered back to the Dormitory and began to pack his things.

Those two didn't know what had gotten into them; they both ran to the door of his bedroom and watched him pack.

Chen Shu didn't mind, only asking, "When are you two heading back?"

"I'm leaving tomorrow," said Meng Chunqiu.

"I'm going back tomorrow too, but I applied for a holiday to stay on campus, so I have to come back after the Laba Festival," said Jiang Lai. "I won't go back for good until the New Year."

"Why?" Chen Shu looked at Jiang Lai curiously.

"Because I have to train this winter break, and training might lead to injuries; if I go back to the academy, I'll scare everyone," Jiang Lai said, pausing for a moment. "Besides, I've already signed the contract for the Martial King Tournament, and I have to start playing ranking matches during the break, so I can't stay at the academy the whole time."

"Isn't it bullying people if you go to fight in the Martial King Tournament now?"

"Helping Boss Li fight..."

"I see."

Chen Shu knew that Boss Li was a straightforward person and had been very good to Jiang Lai. If Jiang Lai hadn't obtained the Founding Spiritual Power, according to the original trajectory, Jiang Lai would have gradually made a name for himself under his management, fought his way into the Martial King Tournament, won the Martial King title, and achieved a win-win for Jiang Lai and Boss Li. However, Jiang Lai, who had now obtained the Founding Spiritual Power, had already received high-level attention from the Imperial Family, the Government, and the military, and had already surpassed Boss Li's level.

Even if Jiang Lai wanted to follow Boss Li and honestly fight in the Arena to earn money, the Government and the Imperial Family would not allow it.

Fighting in the Martial King Tournament for a year was the absolute limit.

This could also be considered his repayment to Boss Li.

Looking at these two roommates, neither of whom seemed relaxed about the upcoming break, Chen Shu finally understood; as they watched him pack, they were actually secretly envious of him, who was about to gain his freedom.

"Tsk tsk..."

By comparison, Chen Shu felt that freedom was even more wonderful, so he continued stuffing his computer, data cables, and other things into his suitcase.

"Where is the Martial King Tournament being held?"

"It's not fixed."

"If it's not far, I'll come watch your matches next year."

"Sure."

"Done!"

Chen Shu finished packing, clapped his hands, put the suitcase into his Storage Space, and said to the two people watching him expectantly, "Let's go, let's have a farewell meal outside the school gate, and then I'm off."

The two followed him out the door.

Due to the improvement in Brother Jiang's personal financial situation, they adopted a dice-rolling strategy for this meal, each rolling a die in the roommate group chat; the one with the higher number would have the Joy of paying, and in the end, Brother Meng paid for the meal.

Immediately after, Chen Shu went to the Qingqing Small Courtyard.

On the seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, they returned to Yuanzhou.

The eighth was a Saturday.

Chen Shu started preparing to cook Laba porridge early in the morning.

The rice was ready-made rice bought at the supermarket. Knowing that many people would be cooking Laba porridge today, the supermarket had specially prepared rice for Laba porridge, with several varieties. When Chen Shu and Qingqing went shopping last night, they saw the quality was quite good, so they bought some that was a mixture of five types of rice: glutinous rice, pearl barley, rice, millet, and red rice. There were also pre-packaged ones with all the ingredients included, which you could just buy and cook, but Chen Shu disliked that the quality of the other ingredients inside was poor and the flavor was too fixed, so he didn't buy them.

Next, he bought black beans and kidney beans; there were mung beans and red beans at home.

The key to a delicious taste was the dried fruits and nuts.

Qingqing liked eating raisins, so Chen Shu prepared to add more; longan could significantly enhance the sweetness and fragrance of the Laba porridge, so Chen Shu also planned to add a few more; Chen Jiaoshou looked very frail, so he should be given more goji berries, and finally, he would give Wei Lvshi more red dates to nourish her Qi and blood.

In addition, there were peanuts, lotus seeds, lily bulbs, and walnuts, all prepared in normal amounts.

Some needed to be soaked, some needed to be washed.

From beginning to end, Chen Shu was the only one busy.

The heartless Wei Lvshi, despite not being at work today, actually sat on the side watching the whole time, without any intention of helping.

When it was halfway cooked, Qingqing finally arrived.

"Hello, Auntie. Hello, Uncle."

Ning Qing greeted Chen Jiaoshou and Wei Lvshi very naturally, then found slippers in the shoe cabinet to change into, and walked straight to the kitchen; Xiaoxiao and Taozi also learned from her, greeting the old couple and following behind her.

The fragrance of the Laba porridge had already emerged.

The old couple sat on the sofa in the living room, and could faintly hear the talking coming from the kitchen.

"Look, I washed a lot of raisins."

"Good job."

"Is there a reward?"

"No."

"How heartless."

Both old people were holding their Mobile Phones, one scrolling through short videos, the other looking at the deceptive remarks of a stock-trading blogger; hearing the sound, they both looked up, exchanged glances, and after exchanging opinions, they both silently lowered their heads and continued doing their own things.

However, the sounds from the kitchen kept drifting over:

"Should I make it sweeter or blander?"

"Sweeter."

"Then I'm deliberately not adding sugar!"

"..."

"Fine! I know! You must have known I would do this, you must have wanted to eat it blander, so I'm deliberately going to add more sugar!"

"..."

"Emmm... that expression of yours..."

"..."

"What do you think, Xiaoxiao? Should I add it or not?"

"Add some chili."

"Good idea!"

"Shut up, you two, bring the sugar."

"Barbarian..."

"Barbarian!"

"..."

Wei Lvshi raised his head again and met Chen Jiaoshou's gaze.

Wei Lvshi: These two are quite interesting.

Chen Jiaoshou: What does that have to do with you?

Wei Lvshi: Don't you think Qingqing has more emotions this year than before? Is it because she's in love?

Chen Jiaoshou: What does that have to do with me?

Wei Lvshi: It's a pity Chen Banxia didn't come back.

Chen Jiaoshou: What does that have to do with her?

Wei Lvshi: Are you looking to die?

Chen Jiaoshou:!

Today at noon, they would have Laba porridge.

Chen Shu had originally wanted to prepare a few side dishes the old couple liked, but thinking that Laba porridge was sweet, he felt it would be strange to eat dishes with it, so he pushed all the cooking to the evening and only made a few flour-based snacks at noon to eat like breakfast.

Naturally, he couldn't forget to post the photo in the group, letting his elder sister, who was far away in Yujing, eat first; if his elder sister was unhappy, that was because she had no manners.

The days spent at home on holiday were truly boring.

When Chen Shu logged into Wide and Narrow Alley again, he saw Mao Xiansheng's reply, which consisted only of the two words "Thank you." The file showed it had already been received by him, but until now, he hadn't sent any feedback, nor had he asked him for after-sales service.

Of course, he hadn't charged any money for this in the first place.

The Ancient Cultivation Group, however, remained lively.

Zhang Suannai was a strange person; with the date of her battle against Wu Eiwei drawing near day by day, she was still able to find plenty of time every day to spam the group. By comparison, Chen Shu hadn't seen Wu Eiwei pop up in the group for a long time, clearly putting all her effort into preparing to thrash Zhang Suannai.

However, Chen Shu could roughly guess a little about Zhang Suannai's thoughts.

"Forget about her."

Chen Shu turned off his computer and opened the "Great Blazing Sun Art."

The Small Blazing Sun Art was a simplified version of the Great Blazing Sun Art; one could also say the Great Blazing Sun Art was an upgraded version of the Small Blazing Sun Art. Those who had learned the Small Blazing Sun Art could upgrade to the Great Blazing Sun Art directly on the foundation of the Small Blazing Sun Art, with the original Small Blazing Sun Art serving as the activation core within the Spell structure of the Great Blazing Sun Art.

The main difference between the Great Blazing Sun Art and the Small Blazing Sun Art lay in the further refinement of the Spell structure, which increased Rune conflicts and also intensified them, using the power erupted by the Small Blazing Sun Art as a primer to draw out a weakened version of the True Blazing Sun Flame.

The appearance of the True Blazing Sun Flame meant that this Spell already had the shadow of the Blazing Sun World-Extinguishing Divine Art—

This was the main characteristic of the Blazing Sun World-Extinguishing Divine Art.

It was unknown how the person who originally developed the Blazing Sun World-Extinguishing Divine Art discovered this peculiar Spirit Power flame, but in any case, its dominance was incomparable. Driven by Spirit Power, it would burn everything in the world; steel, soil, air, including water and ice, would all become its fuel until the Spirit Power it carried was completely exhausted. Only then would it stop; before that, it would continue to spread, and conventional means could not extinguish it.

If a Spirit Saint were to use the Blazing Sun World-Extinguishing Divine Art, perhaps they really could burn this entire planet to ashes.

It was just that Chen Shu was still very far from that.

A single Great Blazing Sun Art was enough for him to study.

The time reached the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Morning.

Chen Shu lay on the bed, holding his Mobile Phone.

Qingcai Keke: Fellow experts, what time does the fight start? Which of you will be there?

Qingcai Keke: Start a livestream.

Qingcai Keke: /Begging everyone.

Qingcai Keke: I want to see them pulling hair and tearing clothes.

Zhaoye Qing:?

Qingcai Keke retracted a message.

Qingdeng Gufu: Don't be impatient, it doesn't start until twelve o'clock.

Qingdeng Gufu: This poor monk is still at the temple receiving guests.

Qingcai Keke: That late?

Qingdeng Gufu: Amitabha, Donor Grandma said it's too early and she can't get up.

Qingcai Keke: /Speechless.

Zhong Miao Zhi Men: By then, I, Brother Tongdeng, the Group Owner, the Group Owner's younger brother, and Donor Jiba will all be there, but they are so fast that even if I use my Mobile Phone to livestream for you, you probably won't see anything. Donor Qingcai, you are not destined to see it.

Huran Bilik: Brother Chen, I will video call you.

Qingcai Keke: /Cupped-fist salute.

Nainai Zongshuo: /Yawn.

Nainai Zongshuo: What's the rush? I just woke up; I played games until the middle of the night last night, I'm exhausted.

Nainai Zongshuo: Let me go out for breakfast, play a few more games, and then I'll head over.

Zhong Miao Zhi Men: /Complex expression.

Zhong Miao Zhi Men: I heard you were practicing in the mountains behind my temple until the middle of the night last night, and you hacked two mountains until not a blade of grass remained. My senior brother got up at four o'clock to relieve himself and still saw Sword Light filling the sky over there, bright as the stars, with sounds like thunder.

Nainai Zongshuo: /Jumps up to slap you in the face.

Nainai Zongshuo: I was just thinking that I was going to thrash Weiwei today, and I was so excited I couldn't sleep, so I went over to practice a little. I'm already back at school now.

Gate of All Wonders: Then you must not be at Yuan'an Temple?

Grandma Always Says: Of course.

Gate of All Wonders: Turn around.

Grandma Always Says:!

Chen Shu was so happy he kicked his feet on the bed.

"Woof?"

A white cat crawled out from under the quilt, staring at him in confusion, its eyes as blue as the sea.

This was brought by Qingqing to keep him company because she felt he was too bored alone.

"It's nothing."

Chen Shu waved his hand at it.

He then participated in the group's gathering activity, cracked melon seeds, and waited until Zhang Suannai stopped replying before opening WeChat again to ask when Chen Banxia would be back.