C11 This Treasure Was Called "divine Competition"(1)

Zhong Wen crouched in the room, a clay pot perched before him with a fire flickering beneath.

His gaze was fixed intently on the pot's contents, occasionally scooping lake water into it with a bowl.

As the water evaporated, a white residue began to crystallize at the bottom of the pot.

Zhong Wen pinched off a small piece of the white crystal and tasted it on the tip of his tongue.

It was salty, with a peculiar flavor.

Success!

It wasn't the refined salt he was accustomed to from his past life, but this salt's flavor was far superior to the coarse salt made by boiling seawater. Zhong Wen surmised it was thanks to the quality of the salt lake waters in Medicine King Valley.

At last, he could leave behind those saltless days!

Tears brimmed in Zhong Wen's eyes; for a moment, spirit crystals, herbal medicines, cultivation methods, and spirit skills were all forgotten.

"Zhong Wen, dinner's ready!"

The little loli entered, carrying a meal, and upon seeing Zhong Wen with his arms raised to the heavens, she inquired curiously, "What are you doing?"

"I've just created a treasure," Zhong Wen replied with an air of mystery.

"A treasure?" The little loli's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"This," Zhong Wen said, cradling the salt jar, "is called 'Competitive Deity.' Just a pinch in food, and it transforms into an exquisite delight."

"That amazing?" The little loli's mouth watered. "Can I try some?"

"Of course," Zhong Wen declared generously. "Is that chicken soup? Here, let me show you the magic of the Competitive Deity."

He dropped a chunk of salt into the bowl of chicken soup and began to stir gently with a spoon.

"Gulp!"

The rich aroma of the hearty chicken soup filled the air, and Zhong Wen's stomach responded with an eager rumble.

He ladled a spoonful of soup, cooled it with a gentle blow, and savored a small sip.

"Ah~~~"

A profound sense of satisfaction welled up from the depths of his soul, washing over Zhong Wen, who couldn't help but moan with joy, nearly swooning with bliss.

"Is it really that tasty?" Zhong Wen's reaction piqued the little girl's curiosity. She eagerly scooped up a spoonful of the soup, blew on it gently, and tasted it.

It was incredibly delicious!

A flavor she had never encountered tantalized her taste buds, leaving her feeling slightly lightheaded.

Regaining her composure, Xiaodie's gaze returned to the clay pot in Zhong Wen's hands, her eyes alight with newfound interest.

"Zhong Wen, could you share some of your 'Spiritual Competitor' with me? I'd love for my master and senior sister to try it too," Xiaodie asked, batting her large eyes.

"Xiaodie, you're such a thoughtful child, always considering others when you have something wonderful," Zhong Wen said affectionately, stroking her head. "I've only made a little bit of the 'Spiritual Competitor,' but I'll share some with you. Just be careful not to add too much to the soup, or it might turn bitter."

With that, Zhong Wen scooped out a chunk of the precious substance and placed it in a bowl for her.

"Understood!" Xiaodie nodded vigorously, clutching the bowl as she dashed out the door, brimming with excitement.

"Hu~ Ha~"

Basking in the sunlight streaming into the room, listening to the symphony of birds and cicadas in the yard, and leisurely enjoying a hearty bowl of chicken soup, Zhong Wen reveled in the simple pleasures of life.

Full and content, with the warmth of the sun on his skin and another sleepless night behind him, Zhong Wen yawned, feeling the tug of sleepiness. He was contemplating a nap when the door swung open once more.

In came Xiaodie, along with Lau Qiqi and Zheng Yueting. Their eyes immediately fixed on Zhong Wen.

"Mr. Zhong, Xiaodie mentioned you crafted the 'Immortal Competition' yourself?" Lau Qiqi asked directly.

"Just call me Zhong Wen," he replied with a smile. "Yes, over the past few days, I've recalled a few things. The 'Spiritual Competitor' is a secret recipe I stumbled upon some time ago."

"Zhong Wen, is it possible to get some of that 'Spiritual Competitor'?" Lau Qiqi began, her voice trailing off as a hesitant look crossed her face.

"Big Brother Zhong, could I buy some from you?" Zheng Yueting interjected.

Zhong Wen gazed at her radiant face until a blush crept onto her cheeks, then he finally spoke, "Miss Zheng, as Miss Lau's dear friend, a bit of 'Spiritual Competitor' is hardly anything to fuss over. Let's not talk about selling. The only issue is that it requires certain materials and time to create. I only have this much on hand right now, but if you don't mind, please feel free to use it."

He produced a paper bag from his breast pocket, filled with salt scooped from a clay jar.

"No, no, that's too much. Half would be more than enough," Zheng Yueting said, waving her hands in embarrassment. "I would never have the audacity to ask for such a treasure under normal circumstances, but my mother has been unwell recently, with no appetite. She's barely eaten anything besides thin porridge for over ten days. I'm hoping the 'Spiritual Competitor' might help her regain her desire to eat."

"With such devotion, Miss Zheng, your mother is sure to make a swift recovery," Zhong Wen offered reassuringly.

Lau Qiqi looked on, biting her lip in hesitation.

Suddenly, Zhong Wen stepped closer, taking her right hand and pressing the half-bag of salt Zheng Yueting had returned into her palm.

Startled, Lau Qiqi attempted to decline, but Zhong Wen softly interjected, "This isn't hard to make, and I'll have another batch ready in a couple of days. I was already planning on giving you some to enhance your meals."

"Thank you," Lau Qiqi murmured after a pause, a delicate blush tinting her porcelain cheeks—a detail Zhong Wen missed, his mind preoccupied.

She practices her skills daily, yet her hands are so soft, without a single callus!

Zhong Wen resolved then and there not to wash his hands that day.

"Zhong Wen, are you done eating?" piped up the little loli, her large eyes fixed on him unblinkingly.

"Mhm, I've had my fill," he confirmed.

"Can you tell me more about 'Journey to the West' then?" she asked, her expression brimming with hope.

"Okay, fine." Zhong Wen couldn't resist the little girl's adorable charm and reluctantly abandoned the idea of a nap.

"Yay!" The little girl's excitement was palpable as she saw Zhong Wen agree. She scampered over to the table, clambered onto a stool, and rested her chin in her hands, her face alight with anticipation.

"We should get going," Zheng Yueting suggested, seeing that Zhong Wen was about to entertain the little girl with a story, and motioned for Lau Qiqi to follow.

"Let's wait a bit longer."

To her astonishment, Lau Qiqi mimicked the little girl's pose and settled in to listen, eager as any member of the audience.

Zheng Yueting couldn't help but wonder—wasn't she too old for storytime? Yet feeling awkward about leaving on her own, she reluctantly dragged a stool over and joined them.

"Where we left off," Zhong Wen began, his voice taking on the cadence of a seasoned storyteller, "the illustrious Monkey King had ascended with Taibai Jinxing to the celestial realms, a place of otherworldly splendor. Golden light shimmered and red rainbows twirled, while strands of auspicious purple mist spiraled skyward. The Southern Heaven Gate stood majestically, crafted from deep green glazed glass, adorned with sparkling jewels... The heavens boasted thirty-three palaces, including Qian Yun Palace, Pesha Palace, Five Bright Palace, Sun Palace, Che Le Palace... Each palace crowned with golden beasts; and seventy-two precious halls, among them the Imperial Hall, Lingxu Palace, Treasure Light Palace, Heavenly King Palace, Spiritual Official Palace..." He paused, then continued with gusto, "To think they would belittle me, Old Sun! Back on Mount Huaguo, I was a king, a patriarch. Why would I stoop to tend his horses? That's a task for underlings, not for someone of my stature. No, I refuse! I shall leave..."

The tale of the Heavenly Court was told with such rich imagination that the little girl's eyes sparkled with delight, and even Zheng Yueting found herself captivated, the thought of leaving long forgotten.

As Zhong Wen reached the epic confrontation where the Third Prince Nezha and the Monkey King each displayed their formidable prowess, sprouting three heads and six arms to engage in fierce combat, all three girls were utterly engrossed in the narrative. Lau Qiqi's fist was clenched tightly in excitement, her heart racing as if she were part of the legendary battle herself.

Time had flown by, and before anyone realized it, an hour had already passed.

"...By the decree of the Jade Emperor, the Great Strength Ghost King and the heavenly soldiers are to escort him to the Demon-Execution Platform and have this scoundrel hacked to pieces!!!" Zhong Wen's voice was hoarse from speaking, "That's all for today. To find out what happens next, you'll have to wait for the following installment."

"How can you stop there!" The little loli was at the edge of her seat, especially with the monkey about to face execution. She couldn't possibly let it end like this. Tugging insistently at Zhong Wen's sleeve, she pleaded, "Just a little bit more, please, just a bit more."

The two young ladies sitting in the back remained silent, yet their eyes clearly showed they were rooting for the little loli's plea.

"There, there. I didn't get enough sleep last night and I'm really worn out today. This tale is a long one, so let's take a break and I'll continue tomorrow," Zhong Wen soothed, gently patting the little loli's head.

"Okay!" The little loli, with her kind heart, couldn't stand the thought of Zhong Wen overexerting himself, so she refrained from pressing him further. Still, her mind buzzed with excitement, filled with images of the Monkey King's valiant figure, leaving her with no interest in her evening studies or martial arts practice.

Lau Qiqi and Zheng Yueting, being more mature, felt too shy to coax Zhong Wen into continuing. Realizing he was firm in his decision, they reluctantly left the room with a sense of resignation.

Their voices dwindled as they conversed outside the door:

"Do you think the Monkey King will die?"

"He can't, right? The monkey is the protagonist, after all."

"But Erlang Shen is so powerful, managing to defeat the Great Sage, Heaven's Equal."