If you ask me, it's because Immortal Su is just too good at putting on an act

Su Ji walked out of the Spirit Medicine Hall.

The afternoon sun was as warm as ever, but he couldn't feel the slightest bit of warmth.

He wandered aimlessly through the sect.

Passing disciples would bow respectfully upon seeing him, greeting him as "Sect Master."

But Su Ji acted as if he didn't see them, walking straight past them.

He didn't know how long he walked, nor where he had wandered off to.

When he finally snapped back to reality, he found himself standing before the luxurious palace that belonged to the Sect Master.

The palace doors were currently lying isolated on the ground.

Su Ji took a glance, then kicked the pitiful door panel aside and walked in on his own.

The hall was completely empty, save for the mess scattered all over the floor.

Su Ji walked over to the large warm jade bed and plopped down.

From his storage ring, he took out a jar of wine.

This was the "Hundred Flowers Brew" offered up by the Hehuan Sect a few days ago. It was said to taste excellent.

Su Ji popped the clay seal, tilted his head back, and took a huge gulp.

He didn't like to drink.

The spicy liquid slid down his throat into his stomach, bringing a burning, fiery pain.

Su Ji didn't care at all, taking another massive gulp.

The jar of wine soon hit the bottom.

Su Ji casually tossed the empty jar aside and took out another.

He didn't know how much he drank.

He only knew that when he opened his eyes again, the moon was already high in the sky outside the window.

A thick stench of alcohol permeated the hall.

Su Ji shook his somewhat heavy head and stood up from the bed.

A cultivator's constitution was not weak.

This little bit of alcohol was not enough to make him drunk.

It only managed to calm his restless heart just a little.

He walked to the entrance of the hall, looked at the cold, bright moon outside, and remained silent for a long time.

He muttered to himself.

"Are you really not going, Su Ji?"

"Not going."

... Seven days later.

In the lands of Suhang, misty rain obscured the view.

A riverside teahouse was packed to the brim. Even the aisles were crowded with people, each stretching their necks with focused expressions.

Upon the high stage sat an Eight Immortals table, a folding fan, and a wooden gavel.

The storyteller, Mr. Qingshan, was handsome but carried an indescribable sense of vicissitudes that seemed out of place among the worldly fireworks of mortal life.

Smack!

The wooden gavel struck with a crisp sound, and the noisy hall instantly fell silent.

Mr. Qingshan gently waved his folding fan and spoke at a leisurely pace: "Last time, we left off at..."

The audience below listened as if intoxicated, holding their breath in rapt attention, terrified of missing a single word.

Right at this moment, an untimely voice rang out from the back of the crowd.

"Excuse me, make way."

A youth dressed in luxurious clothes, clearly a scion of a wealthy family, frowned as he squeezed his way in.

The listener beside him was just getting to the good part. Having his mood ruined, a look of displeasure immediately appeared on his face.

But when he got a clear look at the incredibly valuable jade pendant hanging at the youth's waist, that bit of displeasure instantly vanished into thin air, replaced by a polite, smiling face.

"Young master, are you also here to listen to the story?"

The youth looked utterly baffled. He patted the shoulder of a listener in front of him: "What story is being told here? Why is it so lively?"

The disturbed listener was a young man. He glanced back and, seeing the other party's extraordinary bearing, patiently began to explain.

"Brother, you might not know, but what this gentleman is recounting are the life anecdotes of Immortal Venerable Su."

"Starting as a mere tenant farmer, rising from the most humble beginnings, and carving out a bloody path through countless certain-death situations."

The young man grew more excited as he spoke, lowering his voice while his face flushed red.

"Let me tell you, the story this gentleman tells is better than any other version. It's so vivid and lifelike, it's as if... as if he has seen Immortal Venerable Su with his own eyes!"

"Entering the sect and using his wits to protect his spirit root."

"In the Heavenly Dao Secret Realm, catching the first glimpse of the future Demon God's form."

"Fighting deacons, slaying remnant souls, battling fire wyrms, and saving an entire city!"

Someone nearby immediately chimed in.

"Exactly! Listening to it can be summed up in one word: thrilling!"

"It makes my blood boil with excitement!"

Another person chuckled and added, "If you ask me, it's because Immortal Venerable Su is just too good at acting cool!"

The moment these words came out, many people around subconsciously nodded, showing expressions of deep agreement.

The luxuriously dressed youth was even more confused.

"Acting cool? What does that mean?"

The person who was asked scratched his head, seemingly unsure of how to explain it either.

"It's a word invented by the gentleman. Anyway... anyway, you'll understand once you listen for a bit."

The wealthy youth's curiosity was now thoroughly piqued.

He looked around and, seeing that there was truly no place to stand, waved at the busy teahouse waiter in the corner.

"Waiter, find this young master a private seat."

Saying that, he pulled two taels of silver from his robes and casually tossed them over.

The waiter caught the silver but smiled apologetically, looking very troubled.

"Good sir, I'm truly sorry, but two taels of silver... I'm afraid that's not enough."

The luxuriously dressed youth's face darkened.

"What a huge appetite. Are you trying to fleece me because..."

"Sir, please don't misunderstand."

The waiter uncharacteristically interrupted the customer, explaining with a bitter face.

"You think it's expensive, I think it's expensive too! But these people are like they're possessed. Just to hear Immortal Venerable Su act cool, a standing spot costs fifty copper coins. If you want a table, you won't get one for less than ten taels of silver."

Hearing this, the wealthy youth said no more.

He had plenty of money.

He simply assumed that this storyteller really did have some extraordinary skills.

He pulled out another ten taels of silver and slapped them into the waiter's hand.

"Clear out a spot. Keep the change as a tip."

The waiter immediately beamed with joy, agreeing repeatedly, and before long, he cleared out an empty table near the edge of the crowd.

Seeing this, the young man who had just spoken with the youth got a gleam in his eye and hurriedly squeezed over.

"Brother, could you do me a favor and let me share this table?"

Seeing the youth look doubtful, he hastily explained.

"I'm not trying to take advantage of you. It's just that I've been listening to this story from the very beginning. Since you're joining halfway through, I'm afraid you might be a bit lost. Having someone by your side to clear up any confusion would be excellent."

The wealthy youth thought about it and nodded.

"Fine."

A moment later, the two took their seats, and tea and pastries were served.

The young man took the initiative to start explaining things to him.

"Brother, you've come at a great time. Right now, this story has reached the most crucial turning point in the life of Immortal Venerable Su."

"At the succession ceremony of the Xiangsi Sect, with just one man and one sword, he suppressed the entire Great Xia cultivation world. Even the Holy Lord of the Puppet Heaven Holy Land was forced to retreat in defeat. His prestige had reached its absolute peak."

The young man lowered his voice, his face full of solemnity.

"It seemed like boundless glory..."

"But Immortal Venerable Su possesses the ability to see into the future. He foresaw a battle he is doomed to lose. The opponent is unimaginably strong, and if he goes, he will undoubtedly die..."

"Immortal Venerable Su has now fallen into a state of confusion."

"To go, or not to go."