Chapter 30: Xixi, you must not love me anymore

Chen Xi’s rank had once again risen ahead of schedule, and this time, he directly surpassed the three great arbiters of the Lower Three Immortal Realm, becoming the leader of the Lower Three Immortal Realm.

At this moment, the entire Lower Three Immortal Realm was shaken by Chen Xi, as was Beast Island.

Leader of the Lower Three Immortal Realm!

This was enough to replace the three great arbiters. Originally, the leaders of the three sects, including Lingyun, were chosen as arbiters because of their positions on the Heavenly Path Rankings.

The realm fell silent, and the Lower Three Immortal Realm was immersed in a brief stillness. As for Lingyun and the others who had mocked Chen Xi in the past, they were all publicly slapped in the face. Especially Lingyun, who could barely lift his head. His hands trembled with rage, and he nearly wished to tear Chen Xi apart.

The rankings on the Heavenly Path were tied to an immortal’s influence in the Immortal Realm. No one could have imagined that Chen Xi’s seemingly playful live stream slander had actually caused an impact on Lingyun. Even the Heavenly Path Rankings judged that Lingyun’s virtue had flaws, and his rank dropped by two places, placing him below the previously last-ranked Daoist Ming Ling. He had now become the lowest-ranked figure in the Lower Three Immortal Realm. Had Chen Xi not been on Beast Island, Lingyun might not even have been able to maintain his position as an arbiter in the Qingyun Immortal Domain.

“Chen Xi, Chen Xi!” Lingyun roared in anger. At this moment, he could no longer maintain his façade of righteous authority, and his rage was palpable.

Immortals from other domains were also discussing it nonstop. Some regretted not attaching themselves to a powerful figure earlier, while others thought Chen Xi was simply lucky, born with great destiny.

Meanwhile, on Beast Island, the two Daluo Golden Immortals introduced by Daoist Ming Ling to Chen Xi looked at their humble straw huts with expressions akin to gazing at a golden nest. Even a dried-up stalk of straw seemed exquisitely luxurious.

After all, there was no better dwelling in the entire Lower Three Immortal Realm than where they were. Indeed, following Chen Xi meant an endless future of benefits.

The artisans from the Xianji Immortal Domain, who had once been squeezed into a tight corner by the alliance of Qingyun and Huanlang domains, were now deeply impressed by Daoist Ming Ling. With Chen Xi and Beast Island as allies, they could already foresee that they would soon benefit from being backed by a strong force.

—

Zefeng Cave Mansion

Just after finishing his live stream, Chen Xi returned to his cave dwelling, only to be surrounded by the accusing eyes of the little ones.

“Xixi Xixi, you’ve changed! You must not love us anymore~” The Moonlight Celestial Beasts that Chen Xi had left behind in the Zefeng Cave Mansion rushed up to him, tugging at his clothes and shouting. Their clear, cat-like eyes were full of reproach, making them look very pitiful.

Chen Xi was momentarily stunned.

For the past couple of days, he had been busy mocking Lingyun during his live streams. Although he had mentioned the Moonlight Celestial Beasts each time, he had indeed neglected these little round fluffballs a bit. Quickly, he bent down and began petting their fluffy little heads, quickly signing the unequal treaty of a typical “pooper-scooper.”

“Sorry, I was neglectful. We’ll make something delicious tonight.”

“No, noon! Do it at noon~” A soft, sweet voice once again enveloped Chen Xi. The greedy orange fluffballs became more demanding, clinging to his clothes and not letting go. Some even climbed up to his shoulders, nuzzling his neck and rubbing their faces, acting cutely and coquettishly.

The soft fur of the little cats was always the fluffiest, and their relentless nuzzling nearly melted Chen Xi’s heart. He could easily give them anything, from food to even selling himself to them, and he would still be content.

Thus, the principled pooper-scooper once again entered the kitchen. Meanwhile, the Moonlight Celestial Beasts, who had been ignored from the moment they entered, watched the chubby fluffballs clinging to Chen Xi. They subconsciously flexed their claws on the ground.

“Honored One.” It was still Li Qianling who understood the rules, and he obediently gave a bow to the Moonlight Celestial Beasts.

Hmph! The silver-gray kitten gave him a disdainful glance before suddenly leaping onto his head and swatting him back to his original form. Then, it satisfied itself by lying down on the tabby cat-shaped cushion.

Forget it, even if it was just a cushion, it still had to eat. In a few days, when they could no longer cling to Chen Xi, it wouldn’t matter, as Chen Xi would be too heavy for them to carry!

After all, nine out of ten orange cats are fat, with one being extremely fat.

Thinking about how the Moonshadow Celestial Beasts had become rounder recently, Moonlight Celestial Beast secretly decided that Chen Xi should give them extra meals more often from now on.

However, at this very moment, the Moonshadow Celestial Beasts, unaware of their elder’s plans, were still following Chen Xi around, sitting in the kitchen, waiting for him to fry fish.

Lake fish, mandarin fish, Yin Jade fish, Misty Cherry Blossom fish, and saury—Chen Xi seemed to be able to fry any type of fish.

The ingredients in the Immortal Realm were of excellent quality, and almost every kind of fish was as fresh as if it were still alive in the water.

Therefore, simply using ^[1]Huadiao wine (花雕酒) is a type of aged Chinese rice wine (Huangjiu, 黄酒) made from glutinous rice and wheat. It originates from Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, and is known for its rich aroma and … Continue readingHuadiao wine and a pinch of salt was the best seasoning for marinating fish. The flour and egg whites placed nearby were the magical ingredients that would give the fish a crispy coating.

Different types of fish required different preparations. The Yin Jade fish had the most delicate meat and was best sliced into thick pieces. The Misty Cherry Blossom fish, which required the most careful heat control, had to be cut into small pieces and cooked over low heat while being carefully monitored. As for the palm-sized saury, it was the simplest of all—just fry the whole fish in oil, and it would be delicious.

However, for the orange fluffballs, these three types of fish were not the ones they were most excited about. What they were eagerly waiting for was actually the mandarin fish that Chen Xi was preparing by removing its bones.

With a delicate fish filleting knife, Chen Xi skillfully moved it along the fish’s flesh, picking out every small bone. By the time he reached the fish’s tail, all the bones had been removed, leaving only a clean piece of fish meat in his hands. When placed in the cleaning water, it looked like a piece of white jade, clear and beautiful. Even the decorative cuts Chen Xi had made on the fish’s flesh formed unique, elegant patterns.

Squirrel mandarin fish was one of the most beloved fish dishes on Earth. But in Chen Xi’s hands, it had been transformed. The original sweet and sour sauce was replaced by a broth made from the whole lake fish. Once the mandarin fish was fried to a golden brown, the soft broth was poured over it, then sprinkled with toasted pine nuts. The broth was fragrant, the skin was crispy, and the fish melted in the mouth—just one bite, and it was unforgettable.

The Moonshadow Celestial Beasts, who had been eagerly waiting, pushed their small bowls to Chen Xi’s side and obediently sat in a row, waiting for their meal. Even the Moonlight Celestial Beast, who had been resting, came to the kitchen with the tabby cat.

Hearing the noise, Chen Xi quickly turned around after turning off the heat, only to meet the intense stares of several pairs of cat eyes.

“Don’t rush, wait a bit longer. The fish is too hot, let it cool down before eating.” Chen Xi petted each of the fluffy little cats and softly comforted them. When he saw the last cat, a pear-flower tabby, he paused. After exchanging a glance, he couldn’t help but reach out and gently pet its head.

Just a quick head pat, even though it could turn into a human, this wasn’t a big deal.

So, convincing himself, Chen Xi petted its head, then couldn’t resist pinching its ear. When he reached the Moonlight Celestial Beast, he let go completely. This time, not only did he pet it, but he even held its little paw and kissed its soft paw pads and belly. It wasn’t until the Moonlight Celestial Beast got annoyed and slapped him on the head that he stopped, finally getting back to the fish and eating a piece himself.

The white rice porridge, which had been simmered in the morning, became softer and fluffier when reheated at noon. After it was boiling hot, just adding a handful of wild vegetables made it wonderfully refreshing. Paired with pickles and fried fish, even the simplest meal could be satisfying.

The Moonlight Celestial Beast, who had been quietly eating the fish, curiously watched Chen Xi’s vegetable porridge. However, after just sniffing it, it turned its nose up and walked away. Seeing its reaction, Chen Xi couldn’t help but take the fried fish from his plate, cut it into small pieces, and place them on the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s plate. The Moonlight Celestial Beast, after thinking for a moment, took the lettuce from the bottom of its bowl and dropped it into Chen Xi’s bowl.

Humans are strange, they actually like eating things like this. After eating the fish that the pooper-scooper offered, the Moonlight Celestial Beast felt quite content and believed that Chen Xi would be grateful for the lettuce. After all, an celestial beast as considerate as it would never be found again.

Chen Xi, who had read the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s thoughts through the contract, couldn’t help but laugh.

—

Soon, after finishing their meal, it was time for the Moonshadow Celestial Beasts to sunbathe as usual.

On the sun-warmed grass, the most diligent tabby cat lay on the bottom, soon surrounded by the orange fluffballs. As for the Moonlight Celestial Beast, it lay gracefully on its contract master’s chest, licking its paws.

Ever since the transformation of Beast Island was completed, the lazy Goudan had become a dog-tail grass, wandering sleepily among the dozing cats, tempting them to stretch out their paws to grab it.

However, while everything was peaceful in the Zefeng Cave Mansion, those lower-level immortals still remaining on Beast Island were utterly terrified. They no longer felt that their future was uncertain, instead, they felt that their lives were about to be lost.

“What should we do? The Honored One probably already knows everything. We’re definitely doomed,” one immortal trembled in fear.

“But if we return to Qingyun Sect, the outcome will only be worse. Sect Master Lingyun and the Honored One are already at odds, and even if we go back, it will still be a dead end.”

“Then what should we do now? We can’t just sit here and wait for death, waiting for someone to come kill us.”

“What else can we do? Can you defeat Sect Master Lingyun, or can you deal with Chen Xi?” With these words, the room immediately fell silent.

That’s right, they were at their wits’ end. There was no way to break through the current situation.

When their scout died, they had already seen the situation clearly. When they truly felt the changes on Beast Island, they understood even more. The current Chen Xi was unstoppable in the Immortal Realm, there was no way to resist him. They couldn’t help but secretly regret, thinking that if they had realized this earlier, they would have been able to back a stronger force, and wouldn’t have ended up in such a passive and helpless position.

The atmosphere of despair gradually filled every corner of the cave mansion, and the immortals’ faces grew increasingly haggard.

“Why don’t we go to the Honored One and apologize? After all… we were deceived by Sect Master Lingyun’s people.” After a long silence, someone suggested quietly, but this time, no one objected. In fact, everyone silently agreed.

It was unclear who first mustered the courage to leave the cave mansion. Soon, more and more immortals followed suit, and together, they headed for the Zefeng Cave Mansion. Now, the spiritual energy on Beast Island had become quite abundant, and apart from some areas where celestial beasts lived, which were isolated by arrays due to their physical conditions, the rest of the places had relatively rich spiritual energy.

Even so, not a single immortal among them used teleportation or magic spells. They quietly walked all the way to Zefeng Cave Mansion.

To apologize.

This time, all the lower-level immortals on Beast Island came, and there were even a few Golden Immortals among them. At this moment, they were not trying to force Chen Xi to give up Beast Island, but instead showed their utmost sincerity, hoping to ask Chen Xi for mercy, to leave them a path to survive and spare them.

As for whether they were willing, that was no longer the point. The current Chen Xi was no longer the same as before. If they wanted to survive, they had to depend on him.

They waited for three whole days and nights. Chen Xi continued his livestream, and the Moonshadow Celestial Beasts continued to frolic all over the mountain. The immortals who had come to apologize were completely ignored, like they were air, with no one even sparing them a glance.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, and the hearts of the immortals became more and more fearful. But the most awkward ones were not them—it was the people from Qingyun Sect.

Right now, the clothes worn by these lower-level immortals were not the casual clothes they had worn when they were on Beast Island, but instead the sect robes of Qingyun Sect. This was because, when they had planned to assassinate Chen Xi with the help of Sect Master Lingyun, they had been persuaded by the scouts to change into these clothes. Now, as they came to the Zefeng Cave Mansion to apologize, no matter whether they originally came from Qingyun Sect or not, everyone was wearing Qingyun Sect robes.

And as Chen Xi continued his livestream, he wasn’t always in the Zefeng Cave Mansion. When he was outside, he would pass by them, and as he walked by, these anxious lower-level immortals would serve as the background, visible to all the immortals in the Lower Three Immortal Realms.

In the end, these immortals were just low-ranking Earth Immortals, the lowest tier of immortal practitioners. Even if they were let go, no one would care. But for Qingyun Sect, this was a real slap in the face.

Their disciples had come to Chen Xi’s doorstep to apologize. They even harbored deep hatred toward their own sect. Such a thing was so rare that you would be hard-pressed to find another example in the entire Immortal Realm.

Sect Master Lingyun, who had already been furious because of the Heavenly Dao List, was once again so angered by Chen Xi’s actions that he almost spat blood. As for the other immortals in the Lower Three Immortal Realms, they also experienced Chen Xi’s methods first-hand. It was a clear warning to others.

Zefeng Cave Mansion

No matter what chaos was happening outside, the Zefeng Cave Mansion remained lively as usual. In the afternoon, Daoist Ming Ling came again, informing Chen Xi that the Phoenix Clan’s patriarch, Immortal Vermilion Bird, wanted to come to Beast Island and meet with him.

“Does he need something from me?” Chen Xi asked curiously.

“Yes, it seems to be related to the Vermilion Bird Young Master. He wants to bring something for the Honored One to look at,” Daoist Ming Ling replied, inching closer to Chen Xi. Even so, a fluffy paw reached out from the side and tugged at his hair.

“H-Honored One…” Daoist Ming Ling edged even closer, casting a pointed look at the fiery gazes of the Moonshadow Celestial Beasts behind him. Just then, he was caught off guard by the arrival of a Moonlight Celestial Beast.

Without warning, Daoist Ming Ling immediately transformed back into his original form. His first instinct was to quickly take out a firefly cage and swiftly dive into it. The chubby little creatures, seeing Daoist Ming Ling revert to his true form, quickly surrounded the cage.

“Meow~” Now, the chubby little creatures could make a variety of different sounds, and this one was their instinctive reaction after spotting prey.

Their tails stood straight and occasionally swayed from side to side, signaling that they were ready to pounce at any moment. Their amber cat eyes widened, their pupils clearly reflecting the position of the firefly cage.

Inside the cage, Daoist Ming Ling remained still, feigning death, allowing the cat paws outside to slap the bamboo cage and make various noises. Occasionally, he would make faint “chittering” sounds, indicating that there was no way for him to escape the cage.

Chen Xi was laughing so hard his stomach hurt, while trying to coax the chubby little creatures away and rescue Daoist Ming Ling.

“Pitiful!” Goudan, who had been watching for a while, couldn’t help but sigh as he observed Daoist Ming Ling’s miserable state. He then purposefully transformed into a moth, flapped his wings a couple of times, and smugly said, “Next time, you should fly like me. That way, they won’t be able to reach you. After all, Moonshadow Celestial Beasts can’t fly.”

Not even a second later, a bolt of immortal lightning appeared out of nowhere and struck Goudan, sending him crashing to the ground. Before long, a second moth appeared inside the firefly cage, lying on its back and feigning death alongside Daoist Ming Ling.

This afternoon at the Zefeng Cave Mansion was still filled with vitality.

Chen Xi had spent a long time trying to manage the Moonshadow Celestial Beasts without any success. Seeing that Daoist Ming Ling was not in danger, he simply instructed Li Qianling, telling him to make sure none of the little creatures ate Daoist Ming Ling, and then he let them continue causing mischief. He himself, along with the Moonlight Celestial Beast, leaned back on a soft couch to rest. While resting, he thought about how to deal with the low-level immortals outside.

The Moonlight Celestial Beasts, who had been dozing off, soon sensed his concerns through their mental connection. One of them whispered in his ear. Chen Xi furrowed his brows at first, but then realized that the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s suggestion was, in fact, the best solution to all his problems at the moment.

Indeed, even though he was capable of everything on Beast Island, he could never handle everything alone.

—

That night, after keeping the low-level immortals waiting for a long time, Chen Xi finally appeared before them to give his final response. However, the first request Chen Xi made caused the low-level immortals to feel a sudden chill in their hearts.