C7 This Fish Is Poisonous

Gu Xiaoxing wove through the forest, his excitement beyond words. He was contemplating a hidden spot to roast the big fish he'd caught, but something felt off.

He was well aware that the cultivators possessed incredibly keen senses. In the dead of night, whether in the mountains or at their base, any flame could hardly escape detection.

Being caught with a spirit fish could lead to severe punishment under the sect's rules.

"How is this fair? I just want to eat meat to grow strong. What's wrong with that?"

Gu Xiaoxing felt justified, yet he hadn't forgotten his harsh reprimand from Du Siyu. Whether fishing or roasting, he proceeded with utmost caution, knowing all too well that in the Cultivation World, walls have ears.

"No, a cave won't do either. It's too risky; I could still be found!" Gu Xiaoxing's brow furrowed, his mind momentarily void of solutions.

"But here on Spirit Peak, where's safer than the firewood yard?"

A spark of inspiration struck Gu Xiaoxing, and he hastened his pace, swiftly making his way back to the firewood yard.

Indeed, what place could be safer than the firewood yard on the entirety of Spirit Peak?

Du Siyu was immersed in deep meditation, her face bathed in moonlight, unlikely to stir until daybreak.

So, for now, didn't the firewood yard belong to Gu Xiaoxing?

"Tonight, the firewood yard bears the Gu name!"

With a heart full of bold declarations, Gu Xiaoxing's actions were feather-light. He carefully collected wood shavings inside the room, re-affixed the yellow talisman to the door to seal off any traces of his presence, and shut the door firmly. Soon, a soft glow emanated within.

Time passed, and there lay Gu Xiaoxing, contentedly wiping his oily lips and patting his full belly, reclining on the ground with a blissful smile. By his side, the remnants of a small extinguished bonfire and a pile of fish bones told the tale of his feast.

Gu Xiaoxing closed his eyes, savoring the moment. His entire being was suffused with satisfaction, having never experienced such culinary bliss. The sweet aroma and the tender softness of the fish meat lingered on his palate, leaving him with a sense of lightness. His body grew warm, then warmer still...

"Hmm? Why do I feel so hot?"

Slowly, Gu Xiaoxing sensed that something was amiss. Sitting up, the heat intensified, his body burning up, his skin flushing red.

"Could this fish be... poisonous?"

His eyes widened in disbelief.

But he quickly realized this was no poison. The fish was extraordinary, its flesh imbued with a powerful essence that needed to be absorbed. It might even boost his cultivation level.

If left unchecked, this power could wreak havoc, proving more dangerous than any toxin.

Understanding the stakes, Gu Xiaoxing wasted no time. He invoked the spirit control spell, commanding the Devouring Spirit Insect to assimilate the extraordinary power within him. As the power was drawn in, the insect at his brow quivered with excitement, as if feasting on the most delectable meal for the first time.

Once Gu Xiaoxing had absorbed every trace of the extraordinary power, a surge of mysterious energy erupted from the Devouring Spirit Insect, flooding into him, rejuvenating his flesh and blood.

As he slowly opened his eyes, taking in the transformation of his body, a thrill of delight washed over him, and he nearly burst into laughter.

His cultivation had indeed advanced, albeit slightly, propelling him to the mid-stage of the Qi Condensation First Layer.

Yet, it was the physical transformation that truly astounded him. If the old Gu Xiaoxing could knock down a cow with a punch, now he felt he could send it soaring with a single blow.

No longer could he be called skin and bones. Though still on the slender side, he was now comparable to an average person.

"Truly, delicious food is the ultimate secret to gaining weight!"

With a contented smile, Gu Xiaoxing gave his belly a satisfied pat, reveling in the newfound fullness. With a discreet wave of his hand, he swept the fish bones and firewood into his storage bag, leaving nothing behind but faint charred traces on the earth.

As he was about to scrub away the last of the soot, Du Siyu's icy voice drifted in from outside.

"Aren't you coming out to chop wood? Or have you decided to skip meals today?"

Gu Xiaoxing shivered, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes. He surreptitiously wiped his mouth and steadied himself before slowly opening the door to step outside.

Du Siyu was visibly taken aback at the sight of Gu Xiaoxing. She could hardly believe the transformation that had taken place overnight.

Feeling a bit unnerved under her intense gaze, Gu Xiaoxing summoned his thick skin and focused on the day's task of splitting logs.

Du Siyu watched him intently, her eyes brimming with doubt. She was on the verge of giving him a piece of her mind, but then she remembered his connection to Taoist Bai and let it go, thinking he might have received some cultivation resources from him. With that, she left the woodshed.

"Hmph! She's got it easy... just gallivanting around while I'm stuck chopping wood!" Gu Xiaoxing grumbled, channeling his frustration into each swing of the axe. Clenching his teeth, he vowed with a steely gaze and a resonant voice, "One day, the firewood yard will bear the name Gu!"

The feast on the spirit fish the previous night hadn't been in vain. By the day's end, near the western mountains and after cycles of depleting and restoring his cultivation, Gu Xiaoxing had neatly stacked twenty crates of firewood in the yard, finishing ten logs just as the sun dipped below the horizon.

With the wood secured, Gu Xiaoxing made his way to the summit. Passing the spirit pond, he licked his lips, savoring the memory, and continued his ascent to the peak of Spirit Peak.

Atop the mountain, a senior brother stood by the courtyard gate of the inner kitchen, seemingly waiting. Upon spotting Gu Xiaoxing, he greeted him with a warm, welcoming smile.

Inside the kitchen, Gu Xiaoxing noted a marked shift in the senior brothers' demeanor from the day before. They looked upon him with amiable smiles.

With the kitchen brothers in such high spirits, Gu Xiaoxing was more than happy to join in the camaraderie, and soon enough, his own face was lit up with a beaming smile.

Big Fatty's mouth twitched involuntarily; he sensed something sinister behind the other's smile, but he was powerless to do anything about it. With a strained grin, he stepped forward to meet him.

This was someone they simply couldn't afford to cross!

The mere thought of the individual backing him sent shivers down their spines!

"Junior Brother Gu, there was no need for you to come all the way out here for some firewood. You could have just let us know, and we'd have fetched it from the firewood yard ourselves," Third Fatty chimed in, his demeanor having undergone the most drastic change. Only yesterday, he had been all scowls, but today, his face was wreathed in smiles, and he even gave his chest a reassuring pat to underscore his sincerity.

The other senior brothers in the kitchen ceased their tasks and approached, eager to ingratiate themselves with Taoist Bai's "nephew."

"Enough already!" Big Fatty shot them a stern glance and said firmly, "Junior Brother Gu has been splitting wood all day long and is utterly spent. Quit your yammering and get back to work!"

With a dismissive wave, Big Fatty scattered the crowd, then turned to Gu Xiaoxing with a chuckle and a knowing waggle of his eyebrows. "Junior Brother Gu, follow me, please."

Gu Xiaoxing's eyebrows arched slightly, and he gave a subtle nod, following Big Fatty through the kitchen to a small chamber. As the door swung open, the aroma of cooked rice wafted out.

Gu Xiaoxing's eyes brightened, but he quickly adopted a look of concern. "Senior Brother, what's this about? I've only recently joined the sect and don't have any spirit stones to offer you."

"Junior Brother, you jest. Given your connection to him, we wouldn't dream of accepting your spirit stones," Big Fatty replied.

Gu Xiaoxing's eyes widened, his guard up. "Him? Who might that be?"

Still playing coy?

Leaning in, Big Fatty lowered his voice and said with a hint of intrigue, "Why, Taoist Bai, of course..."

Gu Xiaoxing looked utterly incredulous, even stepping back in shock. "You... how did you find out?"

Big Fatty's mouth twitched again, fighting the urge to lash out, yet his face betrayed a sycophantic smile. "I just happened to run into Junior Brother Cui today. A bit of chit-chat, and I learned a thing or two. I only hope... you'll keep our little side business here in the kitchen under wraps, Junior Brother."